LONDON: King Abdullah of Jordan met in Amman with Richard Marles, the Australian deputy prime minister and minister for defense, to discuss regional development and security matters. The meeting on Sunday focused on ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors, particularly military and security-»»»

The UAE’s air defences intercepted three drones, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. The Ministry said the drones entered the country from the western border on May 17, 2026, adding that two were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electricity generator outside the inner perimete»»»

Skopje, 14 May 2026 (MIA) — Eliminating corruption requires the participation of every sector of society rather than "declarative efforts," officials and business leaders said at a conference Thursday. The conference, titled "Business Integrity for a Competitive Economy," highlighted that the fight»»»

Dubai: A senior UAE delegation led by Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, travelled to Hangzhou, China, for the World Digital Education Conference 2026, held under the theme AI + Education: Transform»»»

THAHABAN: The third Hajj Health and Security Forum opened on Sunday under the patronage of Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. Organized by the General Administration of Medical Services at the Ministry of Interior, the forum runs until May 19 and brings together min»»»

DOHA: Qatar Charity launched its new strategy for the period 2026-2030, which aims for further institutional development and maximizing its humanitarian impact both within and outside the State of Qatar. The strategy also seeks to solidify its position as a leading international humanitarian and de»»»

Four Egyptian students were killed in a fuel tank explosion inside a house in Upper Egypt’s Assiut Governorate while they were studying together ahead of upcoming exams, security and local sources said. The incident occurred in the village of Bani Shaqir in the Manfalut district, where the four gra»»»

DAMASCUS, May 17 (SANA) Syria’s Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections said representation in the upcoming parliamentary elections will be based on qualifications rather than quota systems, as preparations for voting continue in several regions. Nawar Najma, spokesperson for the committee»»»

Vienna: The UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, on Sunday expressed "grave concern" over a drone strike near a United Arab Emirates nuclear plant that triggered a fire, though it said that radiation levels remained normal. The International Atomic Energy Agency on X said its head, Rafael Grossi, voiced t»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Interior received a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior to learn about Qatar's experience in security and service sectors and to enhance security cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the Ministries of Interior of the State of Qatar and the sisterly Syr»»»

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has launched a new digital service enabling company partners to renew their work permits independently through its “Ashal Services” online portal. The authority said the new feature was introduced as part of broader efforts to expand e-government services, str»»»

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced a series of regulations for the 2026 Hajj season, including a ban on political and sectarian flags, slogans and chants in Mecca, Medina and the holy sites. The ministry said the restrictions apply across the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in M»»»

Saudi Arabia deported 11,272 illegal residents in one week after nationwide inspection campaigns targeting residency, labour and border security violations, the Interior Ministry said. Security authorities arrested 9,576 people during joint operations carried out between May 7 and May 13 in coordin»»»

TEL AVIV: ​Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said ‌he ‌was ​scheduled ‌to ⁠speak ​with US President ⁠Donald Trump on ⁠Sunday. Netanyahu ‌said that ‌in ​he ‌expected ‌to hear about ‌Trump's trip to China, while ⁠suggesting ⁠they would also discuss Iran.»»»

Paris, France: FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described as "excellent" and "constructive" the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Iranians are scheduled to be bas»»»

Ali Akbar Velayati, Senior Advisor on International Affairs to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has warned that Washington is “walking into a strategic trap” allegedly set by Israel, cautioning that another war on Iran would further erode US credibility in West Asia. In a post on X, Velayati—a»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior received a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior to learn about Qatar's experience in security and service sectors and to enhance security cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the Ministries of Interior of the State of Qatar and the siste»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie met Sunday with Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Qatar, HE Walid ElFeky. Both sides reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, particularly in envir»»»

Cairo — Egypt’s stock market ended trading on Thursday, 14 May 2026 on a mixed note, with the benchmark index extending its recent decline as investors continued trimming positions in large-cap stocks, while broader indices maintained modest gains supported by selective buying in mid- and small-cap»»»

Muscat, Oman: Data issued by the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf revealed that the Council countries achieved a remarkable milestone in the field of immunization, as the coverage rate for essential vaccines reached 100 percent during 2024, compared to »»»

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly disclosed that the government plans to localize the production of selected items identified by the Ministries of Housing and Industry, following a ministerial group meeting that focused on industrial development. Among the selected items are electric motors, generato»»»

Hisham Ezz Al-Arab, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial International Bank (CIB), has warned that the rapid expansion of Egypt’s non-banking financial sector could create future risks for the broader economy if growth continues without sufficiently strict credit controls and risk-management stand»»»

The International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR 2026), the biennial event dedicated to the national security and civil defence sectors, has announced the launch of five new flagship events as part of its ninth and largest edition to date, set to take place from May 19 to 21 »»»

RIYADH: The Saudi Sports for All Federation, the national body responsible for advancing physical activity in Saudi Arabia, has concluded its participation in the 29th TAFISA World Congress in Prague. The world congress, held from May 13-17, brought together 500-plus delegates from more than 80 cou»»»

The son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas won a seat on Fatah's top decision-making body on Sunday, as initial results emerged from the Palestinian movement's first congress in years. Yasser Abbas, 64, a businessman who spends most of his time in Canada, secured a place on the central committe»»»

The first phase of the Julyana project in Benghazi, which includes the construction of five modern bridges as part of the infrastructure development projects implemented by the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, were inaugurated yesterday. ‎ The project was inaugurated by Khalifa Haftar and»»»

Abu Dhabi: Discussions around regional investment opportunities and cross-border infrastructure collaboration took centre stage at the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS) 2026, with industry leaders highlighting growing momentum in Gulf markets, including Qatar’s dynamic inves»»»

Dubai: Livestock traders across the UAE say they are entering the Eid Al Adha season with strong supplies of sacrificial animals and rising consumer demand, despite mounting cost pressures driven by regional developments and higher transport expenses. Traders said demand for sacrificial animals is »»»

Sebha International Airport was inaugurated yesterday during a lavish ceremony following the completion of its construction and equipping under the supervision of the National Development Authority (NDA). The inauguration was attended by the NDA Director General, Mahmoud Al-Farjani, along with repr»»»

An Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday that mediators were continuing their efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and that contacts had not stopped in order to prevent any deliberate disruption of negotiations by Israel after its latest “unacceptable” escalation in the »»»

The General Authority for Investment (GAFI) said it approved the establishment of 1,741 companies with combined investments of EGP 3.6 billion during March, according to a report. The companies’ total combined capital amounted to EGP 3.2 billion, according to GAFI. Capital owned by Arab and foreign»»»

On May 17, 1875, Aristides was the winner of the first Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. 1 of 5 | On May 17, 1875, Aristides was the winner of the first Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo On this date in history: In 17»»»

Lebanon will test before dawn on Monday whether Israel will honor a ceasefire and halt attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and whether Hezbollah will match that commitment, in a push to turn a fragile pause into real calm on the ground. The expected de-escalation would pave the way for th»»»

The arrest by the US authorities of Kataib Hezbollah figure Mohammed Baqer al-Saadi has drawn renewed attention to the faction’s role in cross-border operations. Many viewed it as the start of tougher US measures against individuals and figures linked to the Quds Force, the regional arm of Iran’s R»»»

London: Pep Guardiola hopes Manchester City's FA Cup final victory against Chelsea can help propel them to a miraculous Premier League title triumph. Guardiola's side won the FA Cup for the first time since 2023 thanks to Antoine Semenyo's audacious back-flicked goal in the second half at Wembley o»»»

A French investigative magistrate is set to investigate a complaint filed by rights groups against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, also known as MBS, over the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according t»»»

The starting point for our opposition work is that this was Hungary’s most successful period of the past hundred years, the most successful 16 years of Hungarian civic development. A Christian, national constitution, full employment, average income quadrupled, a migrant-free country, independent go»»»

NEW ORLEANS: US Sen. Bill Cassidy is fighting for his political life in Louisiana’s Republican primary on Saturday as he faces a challenge backed by President Donald Trump, the latest attempt by the president to purge the party of politicians he views as disloyal. Trump endorsed US Rep. Julia Letlo»»»

WASHINGTON, United States: Top Trump administration officials will address a mass prayer meeting in the heart of Washington Sunday — an event organizers bill as reclaiming the country’s religious foundations, but critics say is a quasi-official rally for Christian nationalism. Defense Secretary Pet»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia staged its first internationally sanctioned athletics competition this weekend with the conclusion of the inaugural Saudi Grand Athletics Prix 2026 in Riyadh, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s push to become a global sports destination. The two-day event, held at the »»»

by Maye Kabil In his visit to New York to attend the UN’s 70th General Assembly, the Egyptian president delivered the message that Egypt is determined to achieve comprehensive development alongside security stability to fight corruption and to remedy the poor exploitation of resources. President Ab»»»

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani visited the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair on Saturday. The deputy PM was received by Minister of Culture HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani. The fair is being»»»

Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In a record-breaking edition that reflects Qatar’s expanding cultural ambitions, the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair draws large crowds, publishers, writers and intellectuals from across the Arab world and beyond. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, the exh»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani visited the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair on Saturday. The Deputy PM was received by Minister of Culture HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad A»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Doha Film Institute (DFI) on Saturday announced the launch of ‘Atlas of Cinematic Affinities: 15 Years of Doha Film Institute’, a landmark publication and the first-of-its-kind documentation of collective cinematic journeys of independent filmmakers from the MENA region an»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Olive International School has declared a cent percent pass rate in the AISSCE 2025–2026 CBSE board examinations. The latest results underscore yet another milestone in the school’s tradition of academic excellence in both Science and Commerce streams, the institution said»»»

QNA Doha Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad has renewed Qatar’s firm stance regarding the Palestinian cause being the Arab and Islamic worlds’ central issue. The minister stressed that achieving a just and comprehensive peace begins with the »»»

NEW DELHI: Iran ‘s foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations to end the war with the US, saying Friday that Tehran would be open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help ease tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory message»»»

PARIS: Palestinian activist Ramy Shaath said French authorities are seeking to deport him on the grounds that he is a threat to public security, accusing France of targeting him over his pro-Palestinian activism. Shaath, 54, said in a May 14 face-to-camera video statement posted online that the mov»»»

ABU DHABI: Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Iran conflict and wider regional developments during a phone call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday. In a statement, the Kremlin said both leaders stressed the importance of continuing political and diplomatic effort»»»