SpaceX launches historic civilian mission, while ECJ orders Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes.
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, led by
Elon Musk, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center with a four-person civilian crew, aiming to reach record orbital heights and conduct the first commercial spacewalk.
In Europe, the ECJ has ordered Apple to pay €13bn in back taxes to Ireland, while Google has been fined €2.4bn for market abuses, marking significant wins for the European Commission on antitrust issues.
Moving over to Hong Kong, the Asir Region Development Authority is courting global investors at the International Hospitality Investment Forum, highlighting its success in boosting tourism numbers as part of Saudi Arabia's economic diversification.
Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah has partnered with the University of Oxford to launch an AI-focused student exchange program, aiming to convert academic research into practical solutions, furthering their accolade-winning advancements like the "Fasyla" project.
Unfortunately, not all news is positive as American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was unintentionally killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank, prompting the White House to call for a thorough investigation.
Lastly, amid rising tensions and election pressures, Jordan has reopened the King Hussein Bridge crossing with the West Bank after a deadly attack, with the reopening occurring as voter turnout and political sentiments are deeply affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.