RIYADH: Three months after the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the Middle East remains gripped by instability, stretching from Gaza and Lebanon to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. For Nomi Bar-Yaacov, the veteran human rights lawyer and international peace negotiator, the ver»»»

Omani customs authorities have seized more than six kilograms of marijuana concealed in the luggage of a passenger arriving at Muscat International Airport, as the Sultanate continues its efforts to combat drug smuggling. Customs officials said 17 packages of marijuana weighing a total of 6.179kg w»»»

France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after Israeli forces seized the medieval Beaufort castle in Lebanon, the French foreign minister said Sunday, AFP reported. "I have requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council because, while w»»»

Saudi Arabia will begin issuing Umrah visas for the new Umrah season from today, May 31, marking the start of preparations for the 1448 AH season following the conclusion of this year's Hajj. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the visa issuance and the arrival of international pilgrims for the new»»»

President Joseph Aoun is leading intensive efforts with the Americans in an attempt to reach a ceasefire or de-escalation and to halt the Israeli advance, the al-Modon news portal reported on Sunday "Contacts are ongoing with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an attempt to reach a ceasefire," »»»

RIYADH: With the 2026 Hajj season now over and pilgrims leaving Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, Saudi authorities have begun a major operation: dismantling temporary facilities, maintaining infrastructure and preparing the holy sites for next year’s pilgrimage. According to official statistics»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he ordered the Israeli army to deepen its deployment in Hezbollah strongholds north of the Litani River, noting that "soon Hezbollah will no longer have the ability to threaten northern Israel." Netanyahu also declared that Israeli forces' ca»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago. The fighting in Lebanon has been the broadest spillover of the Iran war,»»»

NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend an annual parade honoring Israel on Sunday, breaking with a decades-long political custom because of his support of Palestinian rights. Though it has gone by different names over the years, the Israel Day parade has always been a must-att»»»

Saudi Arabia is building a large scale waste processing city south of Mecca as part of efforts to strengthen environmental services and support the growing needs of the holy city and surrounding pilgrimage sites. The project, known as the Waste Processing City, is being developed on an area of 8.5 »»»

Dubai: Saudi authorities have arrested 8,090 people for violating residency, labour and border security regulations during nationwide inspections carried out over the past week, the Ministry of Interior said. The ministry said joint operations conducted from May 21 to 27 resulted in the arrest of 4»»»

RIYADH: Middle Eastern airlines posted a 46.6 percent drop in passenger demand in April, pulling global air traffic down 3.4 percent as regional conflict disrupted travel networks. According to the International Air Transport Association’s latest passenger traffic report, global demand would have r»»»

Russia said on May 30 it has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations over what it described as Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union, escalating tensions between the traditional allies just days before Armenia's June 7 general election. The move comes amid a widening »»»

Russia said on May 30 it has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations over what it described as Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union, escalating tensions between the traditional allies just days before Armenia's June 7 general election. The move comes amid a widening »»»

NEW DELHI: Saudi dates are becoming increasingly popular in India, dry fruit traders and the Kingdom’s regulator say, as Indian buyers look for healthier alternatives to sugar and better-quality fruit than the Iranian dates that used to dominate the market. Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Palms »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Cabinet has approved in May 2026 a series of decisions and draft laws targeted at advancing social development, strengthening family cohesion, enhancing governance, and supporting the country's digital transformation efforts. In a statement by the Council of Ministers Secretariat G»»»

US and Cuban military officials have held a rare in-person meeting at the Guantanamo Bay naval base as Washington continues to increase pressure on the island nation. The US acquired the site on Cuba’s southeastern coast in 1903. While Cuba retains formal sovereignty over the territory, Washington »»»

US President Donald Trump has toughened the terms of peace talks with Iran, the New York Times and Axios reported on Saturday, citing officials familiar with the matter. On Thursday, the two countries reportedly agreed on a memorandum of understanding that would extend the ceasefire reached in Apri»»»

Op-ed by Valentin Ionescu, President of Institute for Financial Studies (ISF) At the international conference “Economic Issues – New Challenges” EINCO 2026, organized by the University of Oradea, the President of the Institute for Financial Studies, Mr. Valentin Ionescu, stated: “We are living thro»»»

Israel's flag flew over the medieval fortress on Beaufort in Lebanon on Sunday as it warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate a large area of the south of the country ahead of stepped up ground operations. Shelling was audible and smoke rose from the surrounding area as the invading army's banner was »»»

Average weekly working hours in the European Union stood at 35.9 hours in 2025 for employees aged 20-64, covering both full-time and part-time work in primary jobs. This marks a decline from 36.9 hours a decade earlier, according to Eurostat data. Within the EU, Greece recorded the highest average »»»

The Euphrates River flood has forced Syria’s government into a swift push toward the eastern provinces, not only to contain rising water levels, but also to narrow the gap between residents there and the central administration in Damascus. Some citizens accuse the government of looking only at the »»»

Dubai: The UAE is set to enter the hottest phase of the year, with summer weather shaped by five major air masses that influence temperatures, humidity and wind patterns across the country, according to a leading Emirati astronomer. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emira»»»

Warsaw: Crowds gathered, intrigue was sparked and questions were answered as Sharjah brought the culture and traditions of the UAE to Poland. Sharjah's participation as Guest of Honour at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026 continued the emirate's efforts to strengthen cultural dialogue and exp»»»

Colombia votes in presidential election that could redefine relations with US 7 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePaulin KolaandAleks Phillips EPAThe election has polarised Colombia after months of tension with the US Colombia is heading to the polls to choose a new president. The elect»»»

Activists in southern Lebanon have opened the first political confrontation with Hezbollah, issuing two appeals in the names of Tyre and Nabatieh that call for the cities to be declared “free of weapons” and placed “under the authority and protection of the Lebanese state.” Their aim is to protect »»»

Dubai Police have returned a lost bag containing $20,000 in cash and 150 grams of gold to an Arab traveller who was hours away from boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia. The black bag, which also contained various foreign currencies, multiple mobile phones, and official personal documents, was discove»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi received on Sunday a copy of the credentials of HE Ambassador of the sisterly United Arab Emirates to the State of Qatar Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi.HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs wished HE the Ambassado»»»

A wave of Israeli assassinations targeting commanders of al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, has thrown the movement and its military command into greater difficulty. Filling the vacuum at the top of Qassam’s general staff has become harder at what Hamas sees as the most perilous stage in its hi»»»

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has begun implementing the new Wage Protection System (WPS) tomorrow, Monday, 1 June 2026, under which the first day of every calendar month will serve as the unified salary due date for workers in private sector establishments for the prece»»»

Dubai: The Gulf’s role in the global energy market is evolving beyond its traditional status as a major producer, with flexibility, adaptability and reliable delivery emerging as critical pillars of energy security amid growing market uncertainty. As energy markets grapple with rising freight costs»»»

Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter century, bragging about planting the flag on the medieval fortress of Beaufort. The capture of Beaufort near the city of Nabat»»»

On May 31, 2005, Mark Felt admitted that, while No. 2 man in the FBI, he was "Deep Throat," the shadowy contact whose help to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the 1972 Watergate break-in led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation. 1 of 6 | On May 31, 2005, Mark Fe»»»

Doha: Al Jazeera Documentary will premiere a new documentary following Qatari adventurer, presenter, and cyclist Ali bin Towar Al Kuwari on an extraordinary cycling journey across Morocco, created in partnership with the Years of Culture initiative as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture.»»»

Egypt’s airports play a part in the nation’s economic modernization. Facilities such as Cairo International, Hurghada, and Sharm El-Sheikh serve as gateways for millions of travelers each year. Yet, their operational frameworks remain inefficient, limiting Egypt’s ability to fully leverage its geog»»»

US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as reports emerged he had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Tehran. Any tweaks to the proposal could prolong even further an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and open the S»»»

Famine pockets are emerging in Houthi-controlled areas of northern Yemen, amid an unprecedented deterioration of living and economic conditions and severe funding shortfalls, threatening to slide millions of Yemenis into catastrophic levels of food insecurity, recent UN data showed. In its Yemen Ma»»»

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel in a televised address on Saturday of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” following new Israeli strikes in the south of the country. A ceasefire between Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah officially took effect on April 17 but has not been observed»»»

In the little-known constituency of Makerfield in northern England, the leadership of the United Kingdom for the next three years could soon be decided, because a win for the Labour candidate could decide the leadership of the Labour Party, which currently governs the country with a large parliamen»»»

MAKKAH: Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit departed Makkah for Madinah after completing the Hajj rituals, concluding a key stage of their pilgrimage under a royal initiative that this year hosted 2,500 pilgrims from 104 countries, the Saudi Press Agen»»»

SINGAPORE: ‌Japanese defense minister Koizumi Shinjirō denied accusations of “new militarism” in a speech delivered ​at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum for defense leaders, militaries and diplomats. “Think about it. There’s a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear ‌we»»»

Share: Reports suggest Washington and Tehran may have reached a memorandum of understanding vis-a-vis Hormuz, despite contradicting public statements. The United States and Iran are still inching towards a deal to extend the ceasefire in the Middle East war and provide a framework for longer-term p»»»

Ethiopia is heading to the polls, but not everyone can vote 12 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKaleb MogesBBC Africa AFP via Getty Images Ethiopia's general election takes place on Monday as conflict rages in parts of the country, meaning many people will not be able to vote. In fact,»»»

QNA Nicosia President of Cyprus Dr. Nikos Christodoulides has praised Qatar’s important and pivotal role, under the leadership of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in supporting efforts to promote calm and de-escalation, in addition to strengthening dialogue in the region. The »»»

Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched a national awareness campaign highlighting the importance of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in reducing healthcare-associated infections and enhancing the safety of both patients and healt»»»

QNA Nicosia President of the Republic of Cyprus HE Dr Nikos Christodoulides praised the State of Qatar’s important and pivotal role under the leadership of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in supporting efforts to promote calm and de-escalation, in additio»»»

LONDON: As the elevator doors opened right into the top floor of a luxurious flat on the famous Strand in London, I was humbly greeted by Othman Al-Omeir — a titan of Arab media and the founder and current editor of Elaph. There is a mythology that tends to gather around veteran editors like Al-Ome»»»

Ecuador accused of meddling in Colombian election with tariff vow 10 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAleks Phillips Getty ImagesEcuadorian President Daniel Noboa was accused of "meddling" in Colombia's poll Colombia's foreign ministry has accused Ecuador's president of "deliberate int»»»

Nicosia: HE President of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Nikos Christodoulides praised the State of Qatar's important and pivotal role, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in supporting efforts to promote calm and de-escalation, in addition to strengthening dialogue in »»»

Dubai: Israeli authorities suspended in-person classes and imposed new restrictions across parts of northern Israel on Saturday following a sharp escalation in hostilities with Hezbollah, as cross-border exchanges of fire intensified despite a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. Kiryat S»»»