RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 27.50 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 10,967.94. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.91 billion ($768 million), as 77 stocks advanced and 179 retreated. Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu »»»

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Saturday the calendar for the 1448 AH Umrah season, including schedules and electronic services related to visa issuance, contracting procedures and the reception of Umrah pilgrims. According to the ministry, the official Umrah season calendar »»»

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»»»

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned of a joint initiative by the Federation of GCC Chambers and the International Labor Organization to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of the war on the private sector and labor markets across Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The initiative is expected to contri»»»

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»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers inside a tent in the town of Al-Bayada with a loitering drone, evacuat»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli warplane strikes the southern Lebanese town of Ma’roub in Tyre district: Al-Manar correspondent 17-05-2026 15:22 PM Latest News Urg»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Amal Movement on 43rd anniversary of May 17 Agreement: Israeli aggression doesn’t target a specific group, sect, party, or movement, but ra»»»

Barcelona: The Catalan MotoGP was red-flagged on Sunday after a horrific crash involving multiple riders, including Alex Marquez, on the 12th lap. Marquez, who was flipped off his bike after it hit a wall, was removed from the track in an ambulance and taken to hospital. Offiials remove the destroy»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel’s cabinet on Sunday approved ‌a plan to build a defense compound on the site of the recently demolished premises of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ​in East Jerusalem. Israel in January demolished structures inside the UN Palestinian refugee agency’s East Jerusalem comp»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has called on pilgrims to adopt positive environmental practices during the performance of their rituals, contributing to the cleanliness of the holy sites and the protection of ecosystems. The ministry also emphasized the protec»»»

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva joined a host of Bulgarian politicians, artists and intellectuals in congratulating the singer Dara on winning the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Georgieva said in a social media post: "I congratulate Dara on her victory in»»»

Damascus, May 17 (SANA) U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said recent developments in Syria marked significant progress, adding that the coming period could bring “tremendous progress for the Syrian people and lasting stability.” In a post on X on Sunday, Barrack said the “visionary meeting” »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Amal Movement calls for vigilance and caution against the risks of internal strife, “from which only the Israeli enemy benefits” 17-05-2026»»»

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»»»

Bangkok: Denmark's Anders Antonsen won the badminton men's singles final of the Thailand Open on Sunday, getting his revenge against homegrown Kunlavut Vitidsarn who defeated the Dane last year. World-ranked No. 3 Antonsen won 9-21, 24-22, 21-18 in 1 hour 37 minutes in Bangkok on Sunday. The 29-yea»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Military Media statement 3: Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an Israeli military vehicle in the town of Al-Bayyada with a loi»»»

Lebanon has received a proposal through its embassy in Washington concerning efforts to achieve a complete and comprehensive ceasefire within 24 to 48 hours, starting at midnight between Saturday and Sunday, diplomatic sources said. The diplomatic sources told MTV that contacts intensified on Satur»»»

"Bravo, DARA / Darina Yotova! We are proud of you and of your success!" wrote the Chair of Bulgaria's National Assembly, Mihaela Dotsova, on Facebook after Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest. Bulgaria will host next year's edition of the contest after the singer Dara won the 2026 edition in V»»»

Dubai: Private landlords in the UAE can now request the credit scores of prospective tenants through a new digital screening service launched by Etihad Credit Bureau in collaboration with UAE PASS. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The new “Tenant S»»»

NÜRBURG: Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen’s chances of victory in his 24-hour racing debut at the famed Nürburgring track have been ended by a mechanical issue with his car. Verstappen had been leading Sunday morning by over half a minute, sharing a Mercedes AMG GT3 car with experienced »»»

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»»»

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh has opened a new admissions track allowing high-performing students to be automatically selected for certain courses. It applies to courses that require a foundation year, and students are automatically granted a place on the full course if they»»»

Dubai: More than 100 houses were set ablaze in Pakistan’s Sindh province after a violent mob attack triggered by a dispute over a free-will marriage between two people from different communities, according to media reports. The attack took place in Jacobabad district, where armed men allegedly stor»»»

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»»»

London: The British military's aerial display team and the Royal Navy, which was recently maligned by Donald Trump, will soon visit the US to mark 250 years of American independence, the UK government said Sunday. The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows will in June embark on a one-month "showcase tour" o»»»

TEHRAN: Iranian media on Sunday said the United States failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Iran’s proposal for negotiations to end the war. Fars news agency said Washington gave a five-point list which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and »»»

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»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehciles with a barrage of rockets: Hezbollah Military Media stateme»»»

CAIRO: Israeli strikes ‌killed at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, health officials said. Medics said an Israeli strike killed one Palestinian near a police post in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said it killed a militant who posed an immediate thre»»»

Cannes, France: Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight, who is writing the next "Bond" movie, has strongly hinted that the ageing British spy is about to get really shaken and stirred. The writer said that Amazon has given him a licence to play with the legendary MI6 secret agent created by author I»»»

Cannes, France: Outspoken Spanish star Javier Bardem told AFP he was "getting more work than ever" despite his public campaigning against Israel's war in Gaza, something he attributed to "the narrative changing" around the conflict. At the last Oscars ceremony in February, the openly political star»»»

Large crowds have descended upon central London for an anti-immigration rally dubbed ‘Unite the Kingdom’. Videos and photographs circulating on social media on Saturday showed demonstrators with Union Jack flags, crosses, and other Christian symbols marching through the streets of the British capit»»»

Dubai: Having tested the world’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz through wartime oil disruptions, Iran is now signaling it could target another critical global artery — the subsea internet cables carrying financial transactions, cloud services and digital communications between Europe, Asia and »»»

RIYADH: Jazan Industrial City will host a new green ammonia plant under a new agreement between Saudi Arabia Refineries Co. and China’s Ally Hydrogen Energy to establish a local hydrogen equipment manufacturing and assembly hub. The new non-binding memorandum of understanding will also include the »»»

Modena, Italy: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday visited people wounded by a driver with a history of mental health problems who ran over several pedestrians in a city centre in northern Italy. The driver, a 31-year-old Italian man of Moroccan heritage, hit several people before crash»»»

Malé, Maldives: An international dive safety group sent experts to the Maldives on Sunday to join a multinational recovery effort after five Italians and a rescue diver died in the Indian Ocean tourist destination's deadliest diving disaster, an official said. The five Italians drowned while in a d»»»

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»»»

Germany, France, Australia and Canada are emerging as the top choices for students exploring international education, according to Clint Khan, Director at Y-Axis, Platinum Sponsor of Edufair. Speaking on the sidelines of Gulf News Edufair in Abu Dhabi, Khan said students are increasingly factoring »»»

The US-Israeli war on Iran has triggered a logistics shockwave — and the Gulf is now paying the price. The Strait of Hormuz squeeze has forced shipping companies to scramble to move cargo by land, reports the FT.Businesses now face exploding costs, delays stretching for months, and mounting supply »»»

Ankara, May 17 (SANA) Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Sunday that escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the war in the Middle East pose a significant challenge to the global economy and international trade. In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Bolat said the current de-escalation»»»

Tunis, May 17 (TAP) — The International Food Industry Exhibition for Africa (IFSA Africa) will hold its next edition at the Kram Exhibition Centre in Tunis from June 9 to 11, 2026.According to the organizers, the event has become a leading reference...»»»

Tehran: 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 representa»»»

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, known as Darah, is participating in the Doha International Book Fair as part of the Saudi pavilion. The participation reflects Darah’s commitment to promoting Saudi history and cultural heritage and strengthening the Kingdom’s interna»»»

Abu Dhabi: Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire incident on Sunday, May 17, 2026, after an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region caught fire. According to a statement released by the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the incident w»»»

Dubai: A video showing thousands of drones forming the iconic silhouette of Michael Jackson in front of Burj Khalifa has taken over social media feeds across the UAE and beyond. The clip, set to some greatest hits by the King of Pop on different social media channels, sent viewers into a frenzy, wi»»»

Bulgarian musicians, actors and writers, including some of the brightest stars on the national entertainment and intellectual scene, congratulated Dara on winning the Eurovision Song Contest on the night of Saturday to Sunday with her song "Bangaranga". Bulgaria has won the contest for the first ti»»»

RIYADH: Egypt’s vast New Delta project will transform a swathe of desert west of the mouth of the Nile River into arable land and include infrastructure investments worth 800 billion Egyptian pounds ($15 billion), President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said. El-Sisi made the remarks during the inauguration»»»