RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s first-quarter 2026 budget performance figures showed the government remained firmly committed to development and social spending, with total expenditure surging 20 percent year on year to about SR387 billion ($103.2 billion), compared with SR322 billion in the same period a y»»»

The EU’s turn to American ‘identity politics’ was the product of a legitimacy crisis facing the bloc in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, argues Frank Furedi, executive director of MCC Brussels, a conservative think-tank. Questions about European identity are now at the heart of a cu»»»

Sydney, Australia: Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele lost power in a no-confidence vote held Thursday in the South Pacific nation's parliament, ending months of political uncertainty. Parliament was adjourned to allow the governor general to make arrangements for the election of a new »»»

MOSCOW: Russia’s defense ministry said on Thursday that its forces had destroyed almost 350 Ukrainian drones overnight, days before Moscow holds World War II commemorations and amid competing calls from both sides for a temporary ceasefire. Ukraine had announced a unilateral truce on May 6 — a requ»»»

The Israeli military said in a statement Thursday that an "explosive drone impact" had wounded four of its soldiers -- one severely -- in southern Lebanon the previous day. Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs Wednesday in the first such attack in nearly a month, killing a senior Hezbollah comma»»»

Iran denied on Thursday attacking a South Korean cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz this week, as U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war was "very possible" but warned Washington would resume bombing if talks failed. Tehran's embassy in Seoul said it "firmly rejects and categoricall»»»

BOSTON: At IBM Think 2026 in Boston, IBM’s bet on Saudi Arabia went beyond expanding its role in AI infrastructure. The US technology company sought to position itself as a partner in a tougher phase, turning that investment into large-scale industrial and institutional execution. That message came»»»

Doha, Qatar: From Brazil to China, Mauritania, and beyond, the graduates who represent Qatar Foundation’s Class of 2026 are entering the next stage of their lives with a more defined sense of purpose – with their journeys at Education City having shaped not only how they see the world, but also how»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices moved higher on Thursday morning, extending a strong rebound that has taken 24K gold back near Dh570 a gram after a sharp rise earlier in the week. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for ou»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, is advancing orthopedic care in Qatar with the introduction of a specialised pediatric orthopedic sports medicine service. The latest offering from the Orthopedics Department, delivers growth-sparing surgical techniques, tailored for childr»»»

LONDON: British voters cast ballots Thursday in midterm local and regional elections that could shake up the country’s politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Starmer’s center-left Labour Party is bracing for big losses in polls that will choose about 5,000 local »»»

SYDNEY: A group of women linked to Daesh terrorists face arrest when they land in Australia on Thursday, returning home years after allegedly sneaking into Syria to join the group’s self-declared caliphate. Four women and nine children — all Australian citizens — are due to land on Thursday evening»»»

RIYADH: Medical teams of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program on Thursday began the complex procedure of separating 18-month-old Tanzanian twin girls Nancy and Nice. The surgery is taking place at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in Riyadh. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor to the royal co»»»

In 2025, Nasos, a performance-led growth company, generated over $150 million in revenue for its clients across the GCC and beyond. This milestone reflects a broader shift in how modern businesses approach growth, moving away from fragmented marketing efforts toward fully integrated, revenue-focuse»»»

Dubai: The Emirates Group has announced a remarkable 20-week salary bonus for its employees following a record performance in the fiscal year 2025-2026 after the group achieved historic highs in net profits, revenues, and cash balances. Dubai's flagship airline recorded these earnings despite the o»»»

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1,200 people. 1 of 6 | On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1,200 people. File Photo by Library of Congress May 7 (UPI) -- O»»»

French utility Engie is still looking to grow and develop its profile of energy assets in the Middle East despite the disruptions ⁠from the Iran War, Engie's ⁠finance chief Pierre-Francois Riolacci told reporters on Thursday. "We don't see ⁠any questioning of our development plan in the Middle East»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index surged 144.63 points or 1.38 percent to close at 10,649.25 points yesterday. During yesterday’s session the volume of shares traded stood at 189,988,779 from 120,313,594 on May 5. Meanwhile the value of shares reached QR487.361m as a result of imple»»»

The medical and surgical teams of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program (SCTP) began on Thursday the complex procedure of separating 18-month-old Tanzanian twin girls, Nancy and Nice. The surgery is taking place at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital (KASCH) at King Abdulaziz Medical City of »»»

Damascus, May 7 (SANA) Syrian Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar met Wednesday with an Emirati business delegation led by businessman Mohamed Alabbar to discuss investment opportunities and economic cooperation between Syria and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting, attended by UAE Ambas»»»

The collapse of Romania's governing coalition could complicate talks on the 2027 budget, Karen Vartapetov, Lead Analyst for CEE & CIS Sovereign Ratings at S&P Global Ratings, warned on Wednesday, Reuters reports."This is important as Romania's commitment to cut fiscal deficits implies additional co»»»

Romania sent the second-largest delegation from the EU to the SelectUSA Investment Summit to strengthen bilateral economic ties, a delegation led by US Ambassador to Bucharest Darryl Nirenberg, the diplomatic mission informed.According to the quoted source, the Romanian delegation included represen»»»

The President of UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania), Kelemen Hunor, stated that his party considers the main solution to be the re-establishment of the governing coalition that had been in place until a month ago - made up of PSD (Social Democratic Party), PNL (National Liberal Party)»»»

Doha, Qatar: beIN Sports, the leading sports broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), will mark the one-month milestone to the FIFA World Cup 2026 with comprehensive, bi-lingual, multi-channel coverage across the region on Monday 11 May. The 23rd edition of the global football showpi»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi SC completed a historic domestic treble after overpowering Al Sadd SC 84-63 in the final of the 2025-2026 Amir Basketball Cup yesterday. At Al Gharafa Hall, the final saw Al Arabi dominate from start to finish and cap one of their most successful seasons in the club’s basketba»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula has delivered a deeply informed and compelling analysis of one of the most pressing current affairs subject of the day. Written with clarity and authority, the article reflects both academic rigor and a seasoned editorial »»»

CEBU: Conflicts far beyond Southeast Asia are expected to dominate meetings of the regional ASEAN bloc that began on Thursday in the Philippines, with the Middle East crisis posing serious challenges for its fuel import-dependent economies. Concerns of energy and food supply security will take cent»»»

TOKYO: Oil prices rose over $1 on Thursday, rebounding from the previous day’s sharp losses, as investors weighed ‌the prospects of a Middle East peace deal succeeding. Brent crude futures were up 78 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $102.05 a barrel at 07:00 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate gai»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military warned Thursday it would respond strongly against any attack as it marked the anniversary of last year’s four-day conflict with neighboring India that brought the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of war before a US-brokered ceasefire halted the fighting. The military»»»

US President Donald Trump will host his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday -- the latest test of the ideological opposites' tenuous relationship, with security and investment topping the agenda. At the helm of the Americas' two largest economies, the lead»»»

Divers are due later Thursday to try and inspect the wreck of a Turkish-operated freighter that sank off the Aegean Sea island of Andros without loss of life but raising questions over potential environmental damage. Greek authorities, including the National Intelligence Service, are also taking a »»»

Dubai: Emirates expects a stable operating outlook as it enters the 2026–27 financial year, supported by fuel hedging, secured supply and strong cash reserves, even as geopolitical uncertainty persists. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum,»»»

Mounds of slimey carcasses pile up on a riverbank in Jakarta where authorities are fighting an uphill battle against a fast-breeding invasive fish flourishing in Java island's heavily polluted waterways. The sapu-sapu, a sucking fish introduced from South America decades ago to keep Southeast Asian»»»

Dubai: Emirates has retained its position as the world’s most profitable airline, reporting record financial results for 2025–26 despite operational disruption in the final month of its financial year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Emirates follows an April-to-March »»»

Dubai: TA’ZIZ has secured $2 billion in financing for the UAE’s first world-scale methanol plant, moving one of Abu Dhabi’s major industrial projects closer to production and strengthening the country’s push to build more chemicals and manufacturing capacity at home. Sign up for our daily business »»»

DEIR AL-BALAH: As the music comes on in a Gaza refugee camp, a group of boys and girls start showing off their breakdancing moves, kicking and spinning with intense focus on their fast footwork. Two young girls grin at each other as they nailed a tricky part of the routine.It’s a rare moment of res»»»

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India remains “steadfast as ever” in its determination to defeat terrorism and its “enabling ecosystem,” marking one year since a deadly clash with arch-enemy Pakistan. Relations between nuclear-armed neighbors plummeted last year after an April 22 attac»»»

MBOUR: Fallou softly whispers that since his mother’s death he has chosen to remain quiet, while young Sokhna recounts the many nightmares she has had following her father’s disappearance: for the children of Senegalese migrants lost at sea, the torment of grief is long-lasting. Known as “those who»»»

JAKARTA: Mounds of slimey carcasses pile up on a riverbank in Jakarta where authorities are fighting an uphill battle against a fast-breeding invasive fish flourishing in Java island’s heavily polluted waterways. The sapu-sapu, a sucking fish introduced from South America decades ago to keep Southe»»»

BUENOS AIRES: Officials and experts in Argentina are scrambling to determine if their country is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has gripped an Atlantic cruise.The health emergency aboard the ship that’s moored across the ocean comes as Argentina sees a surge of hantavirus cases tha»»»

In light of the rapid economic transformations taking place globally, localization is no longer merely a matter linked to employment rates or labor market dynamics. It has become a strategic pathway toward building a more resilient economy, one that is better equipped to adapt to change. Strengthen»»»

Regional authorities on Lesvos have appealed to the government to allow “targeted” vaccinations to stop the deadly foot-and-mouth livestock disease that’s causing havoc with the northeastern Aegean Sea island’s economy. In a letter to the Rural Development Ministry, the regional official responsibl»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that there is a strong possibility that the United States and Iran could reach a diplomatic solution, despite the publicly stated differences between the two sides. In an int»»»

Dubai: As anticipation builds around Daadi Ki Shaadi, Neetu Kapoor has shared an emotional memory from the film’s shoot that revealed just how protective her son Ranbir Kapoor can be. The actress was filming in Shimla when tensions between India and Pakistan intensified during Operation Sindoor in »»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stressed the importance of “national unity” as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it was premature to talk of any high-level meeting between Lebanon and Israel. Speaking during a meeting with heads of Akkar municipal federations and mukhtars at Baabda Palace on Wedne»»»

Syrian forces have arrested Uzbek fighters during a security sweep in the northwest, after a dispute involving one of them escalated into protests outside a government security facility, two Syrian security officials said. The tensions began after authorities sought to detain an Uzbek fighter accus»»»

In quarter 1 2026, 2,821 new dwellings were built, 4.3% more than a year earlier. The number of dwellings to be built based on issued construction permits and simple declarations was 9,291, 64% more than in the same period of 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, 2,821 dwellings were put to use, an i»»»

America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, will visit the first US pope, Leo XIV, on Thursday, seeking to ease tensions between Washington and the Vatican while also promoting President Donald Trump's interests. The US secretary of state flies in weeks after Trump's extraordinary criticism of Leo, the he»»»

The EU imported more Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas in the first four months of 2026 than in any equivalent period since the Yamal LNG project began exporting in 2017, according to new analysis of Kpler shipping data published by campaign group Urgewald — paying an estimated €3.88bn to Moscow»»»

The EU imported more Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas in the first four months of 2026 than in any equivalent period since the Yamal LNG project began exporting in 2017, according to new analysis of Kpler shipping data published by campaign group Urgewald — paying an estimated €3.88bn to Moscow»»»