Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said that the capital is the best prepared city in Bulgaria to host Eurovision 2027. In an interview on Nova Television on Sunday, he said he is “extremely happy” about Dara's triumph at this year's edition of the song contest. “It is incredible that despite all the attem»»»

JEDDAH: Oman’s insurance sector revenues rose 3.86 percent in 2025 to 501.6 million Omani rials ($1.3 billion), driven by stronger investment returns, stable underwriting activity, and growing digital adoption. Audited data released by Oman’s Financial Services Authority showed revenues of national»»»

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi witnessed on Sunday the inauguration of the “New Delta” integrated developmental project, recognized as one of the largest agricultural and developmental mega-projects executed by the state in recent years. Massive Agricultural Reclamation: The mega-project aims to re»»»

Incheon, South Korea: A North Korean women's football team landed in the Republic of Korea on Sunday, marking the first visit by a sports team from the isolated country to its southern neighbour in eight years, to play in the Asian Champions League semi-finals. Naegohyang Women's FC -- which means »»»

Israeli attacks intensified across southern Lebanon on Sunday, in continued violation of a declared ceasefire, just two days after Lebanese authorities announced a 45-day extension of the truce, an agreement that has yet to translate into calm on the ground. The attacks took place in Nabatieh, Bint»»»

Tunis, May 17 (TAP) — The National Congress on Energy Transition, organized by the National Agency for Energy Management (ANME), will take place on May 20–21, 2026, under the theme “Towards a Fair, Sustainable and Innovative Energy Transition.”The...»»»

DUBAI: Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire incident that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region following a drone strike. No injuries were ‌reported, radiological safety levels ⁠were unaffected and ⁠the Fe»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar News Agency (QNA) launched a five-day training course on Sunday titled "The Journalist Correspondent: Field Reporting," as part of the 2026 training plan of the QNA Training Center. The course, presented by Mohammed Al-Hadi Karmous, a media expert and senior editor at QNA, target»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has announced the end of the agricultural season and revealed the final operating dates for local vegetable markets across Qatar. In a post on social media, the Ministry said that local agricultural product yards in Al Sheehaniya, Al Wakrah, Al Shamal, Al K»»»

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»»»

Abu Dhabi authorities responded to a fire that broke out in an external electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, following a drone strike. No injuries were reported, and officials confirmed there was no impact on radiological safet»»»

DOHA: Vice Chairman of the Board of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at the Qatar Chamber HE Dr Sheikh Thanibin Ali bin Saud Al Thani, emphasised the State of Qatar's strong focus on developing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. In his remarks at»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he will no longer recommend the United States as a destination for his children to study or work, citing what he described as a worsening “social climate” in America. Speaking at a Catholic youth conference in Wuerzburg on Friday, the conservative leader sa»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli warplanes strike southern Lebanese towns of Kfar Sir and Majdal Selm: Al-Manar correspondents in south Lebanon 17-05-2026 12:42 PM »»»

PARIS: 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 based and p»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost over 285 soldiers in combat against Russia's Vostok battlegroup over the past 24 hours, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "The enemy lost over 285 military personnel, two armored combat vehic»»»

Dubai: Abu Dhabi-based Modon Holding and Montage Hotels & Resorts have launched a luxury resort and branded residences project at Egypt’s Ras El Hekma development on the Mediterranean coast, marking Montage’s first entry into the Egyptian market. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf N»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli drone targets car in the southern Lebanese town of Zrayriyeh: Al-Manar correspondent 17-05-2026 12:43 PM Latest News Urgent News Is»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Qatari FM, Saudi counterpart discuss efforts to ease tension in Middle East, Qatari Foreign Ministry says 17-05-2026 11:35 AM Latest News U»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Consultative Council has approved a draft 2026 law regulating the use of drones after introducing a number of amendments during its 16th session of the third ordinary term of the 11th legislative chapter. The session was held at the council’s headquarters in Sharjah and chaired»»»

DUBAI: French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri is at the Cannes Film Festival to promote her latest project, “In Waves.” The actress attended a screening of the film before she headed to a red carpet event for “Fatherland,” by director Pawel Pawlikowski. The film “centers on the relationship between t»»»

London: London police said Sunday officers arrested 20 people the previous day at a march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and 12 people at a counter-demonstration fused with a pro-Palestinian protest. The city's Metropolitan Police -- which had already disclosed making 43 arrests Sat»»»

Dubai Police have issued an urgent warning over a series of viral social media videos promoting the excessive consumption of energy drinks, cautioning that the online trends pose severe health risks to children and young people. The force’s Cybercrime Department, operating under the General Departm»»»

LONDON: Wes Streeting’s ambition to head the British government was one of the worst-kept secrets in UK politics. But if anyone was unaware, it’s now official — the former health secretary announced on Saturday his intention to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “We need a proper contest with the be»»»

London: Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as the club's manager on Sunday on a four-year deal with the Spaniard the latest coach tasked with turning around the club's fortunes. The Blues lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday and lie ninth in the Premier League with two games of the campa»»»

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday announced new facilities to address student queries and concerns following the declaration of results. The Board has introduced a tele-counselling helpline for information related to exams, results and evaluation, aimed at reducin»»»

Israel's military said Saturday that one of its soldiers died in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing its losses to 21 personnel since the war with Hezbollah began in early March. Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, 24, "fell during combat in southern Lebanon," the military said, without providing additi»»»

Hezbollah said Saturday it struck a military target in northern Israel, as the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has not stopped fighting in the war that began on March 2. In a statement, the Iran-backed militant group said its fighters targeted "the Ya'ara barracks... with a swarm of at»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund maintained a $12 billion US equity portfolio in the first quarter of 2026, down from roughly $12.9 billion at the end of 2025, as it continued to recalibrate investments across global markets. A filing submitted by PIF to the US Securities and Exchange »»»

Moscow: A huge wave of almost 600 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, killing three people in the Moscow region and one in the Belgorod region, authorities said on Sunday. Air defences shot down 556 drones overnight across the country, Russia's defence ministry said, with another 30 drones »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index rose marginally at the start of Sunday's trading by 0.02 %, gaining 2.11 points to reach 10,495 points, compared to the close of the previous session, backed by three sectors. Figures released by QSE showed positive performance in the Transportation sec»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli warplanes targets southern Lebanese towns of Teir Debba and Zibqine in Tyre district: Al-Manar correspondent 17-05-2026 11:13 AM La»»»

Dubai: The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority has launched an integrated logistics corridor connecting the emirate with ports in Oman through land border crossings, in a move aimed at strengthening regional trade connectivity and supply chain resilience. Get updated faster and for FREE»»»

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 »»»

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who recently emerged as a chief negotiator in talks with the United States, has been appointed to oversee relations with China, Iranian media reported on Sunday. "Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has recently been appointed as a special representative of »»»

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who recently emerged as a chief negotiator in talks with the United States, has been appointed to oversee relations with China, Iranian media reported on Sunday. "Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has recently been appointed as a special representative of »»»

Pakistan's interior minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday "to facilitate" the peace talks between Iran and the United States that have stalled despite a fragile ceasefire, Iranian media reported. "Mohsin Naqvi arrived today in the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official two-day visit as part of Pa»»»

Modena, Italy: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday will visit people wounded by a driver with a history of mental health problems who ran over pedestrians in a city center in northern Italy. The driver, an Italian of Moroccan heritage, hit several people before crashing into a shop wind»»»

TEHRAN : Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who recently emerged as a chief negotiator in talks with the United States, has been appointed to oversee relations with China, Iranian media reported on Sunday.“Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has recently been appointed as a special representati»»»

LONDON: Xabi Alonso will take ​over as Chelsea’s new manager, the Premier League club ‌said ‌on ​Sunday, ‌with ⁠the ​Spaniard signing a ⁠four-year deal beginning on July 1. “Chelsea is ⁠one of ‌the ‌biggest ​clubs ‌in ‌world football and it fills me with ‌immense pride to become manager ⁠of ⁠this g»»»

TAIPEI: The expression “Taiwan independence” means the island neither belongs to nor is subordinate to Beijing and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday. Lai’s comments, a reiteration of his views, come days after President Donald Trump met hi»»»

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»»»

INCHEON, South Korea: North Korean women’s football club Naegohyang FC arrived in South Korea on Sunday for an Asian Women’s Champions League semifinal, marking the first visit by athletes from the isolated state to the South in eight years. The delegation of 27 players and 12 staff entered the cou»»»

DOHA: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited QatarEnergy’s Golden Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Sabine Pass, Texas. In a statement, QatarEnergy explained that Secretary Wright’s visit included a tour of the project’s facilities and highlighted the growing role of LNG in driving glob»»»

Dubai: Saudi authorities have announced the completion of extensive preparations for this year’s Hajj season, deploying tens of thousands of workers, smart technologies and operational systems aimed at improving safety, cleanliness and services for pilgrims across the holy sites. The preparations a»»»

Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev told bTV on Sunday that he will do everything in his power to give Eurovision winner Dara a fitting welcome in Bulgaria. “What happened last night was a real Bangaranga,” he said, using the name of the winning song. “It’s thunder, lightning - it’s something phenomena»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev will visit Berlin, where he will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday, the Cabinet's press centre said on Sunday. Following the official welcoming ceremony for the Bulgarian Prime Minister with military honours at the Chancellor's Office, Radev and M»»»

Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov congratulated Dara for her win at the Eurovision contest. In a Facebook post on Sunday, he wrote: "A wonderful story of immense talent, boundless effort, and faith in success, despite the criticism. Thank you, Dara, and everyone involved! Bulgaria is number one.»»»