Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company
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Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Meets with Chairman of Chinese Tus-Holdings Company

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha met in China Thursday with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tus-Holdings Co, Wang Jiwu, and corporate leaders to set the future direction of the partnership and to establish an incubator for innovation in deep technologies in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, which will be the first launch of joint innovation incubators as part of the cooperation between the two countries.

Al-Swaha is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of KACST and the Research, Development, and Innovation Development Authority (RDIA).
The minister reviewed the fruitful partnership with Tus-Holdings in laying the foundations for the success of the innovation oases in the Kingdom to include the foundational and digital infrastructure, digital resources, and platforms that support the provision of the best services and enablers for the entrepreneurship system, incubated startups, and hosted technology companies of all sizes.
Al-Swaha explained that these oases will positively impact strengthening the research, development, and innovation system in the Kingdom and contribute to building a sustainable economy.



Japan's Nintendo Fans Test Switch 2 ahead of Launch amid Tariff Worries

An attendee plays Mario Kart World by Nintendo Switch 2 during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center in London, Britain, April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
An attendee plays Mario Kart World by Nintendo Switch 2 during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center in London, Britain, April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
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Japan's Nintendo Fans Test Switch 2 ahead of Launch amid Tariff Worries

An attendee plays Mario Kart World by Nintendo Switch 2 during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center in London, Britain, April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
An attendee plays Mario Kart World by Nintendo Switch 2 during the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center in London, Britain, April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Nintendo fans were given a chance to try out the company's new Switch 2 gaming device at an event near Tokyo on Saturday, ahead of a release that some worry could be overshadowed by tariffs driving up prices.
"Since Mr. Trump became president tariffs have gone up so I am concerned about a price hike not just for the game console but for accessories too," said Hidenori Tanaka, 55, a real estate company employee, who attended the event.
Consumers around the world could face higher prices for electronic devices as tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump's administration on trading partners including China raise costs for companies operating global supply chains. While Trump has rolled back some tariffs, the threat of a damaging trade war still looms, Reuters said.
Gamers at the pre-launch event began lining up outside the Makuhari Messe convention center near Tokyo from mid-morning to play Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, and other titles on the Switch 2.
Despite the possibility of higher prices, there are early indicators of robust consumer demand for the successor to the Switch, which has sold more than 150 million units since 2017 and transformed Nintendo's fortunes.
The Kyoto-based gaming company said on Wednesday it had received 2.2 million applications in the lottery for Switch 2 in Japan and could not fulfil all the demand.
"Honestly, I didn't think I had a shot. Everyone on social media was saying they missed out, so I figured I would too," said Hyuma Hashiguchi, 28, who won the lottery to be among the first to buy the Switch 2.
Nintendo is holding hands-on events around the world including in New York, Berlin and Hong Kong.
The Switch 2 will sell for 49,980 yen ($350) for a Japanese-language-only version. In the United States, Nintendo initially paused pre-orders due to tariff concerns but later said it would maintain pricing at $449.99.