Sofia Mayor Says Capital Is Bulgaria's Best Prepared City to Host Eurovision 2027
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»»»
Oman insurance revenues climb 3.9% to $1.3bn in 2025
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»»»
12 key facts about the New Delta project: One of Egypt’s largest agricultural mega-projects
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»»»
North Korean women footballers land in South ahead of rare match
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 Strikes Escalate Across Southern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire Extension
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»»»
Abu Dhabi authorities respond to fire incident near nuclear power plant in Dhafra
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»»»
QNA launches field reporting course
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»»»
Egypt’s Industrial Revolution: Harnessing Local Resources for Global Impact
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»»»
Egypt’s Consumer Finance Boom sparks a Regulatory Debate
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 respond to fire incident at Barakah nuclear plant site
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»»»
Friedrich Merz says US no longer ‘Land of Opportunity’ for young people
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»»»
Iran have ‘constructive’ meeting with FIFA over World Cup preparations
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»»»
Modon, Montage launch luxury resort project at Egypt’s Ras El Hekma
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»»»
New drone rules approved in Sharjah covering flights and airspace
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»»»
UK police detail arrests after far-right rally, counter demo
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»»»
Viral energy drink videos spark Dubai Police health warning
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»»»
Wes Streeting of the Labour Party wants to be Britain’s next prime minister
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»»»
Xabi Alonso appointed Chelsea manager on four-year deal
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»»»
Class 12 exam row: CBSE launches helpline and email support for post-result queries
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»»»
Hezbollah says it struck military target in northern Israel
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»»»
Saudi PIF keeps US equity portfolio at $12bn amid investment shift
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 »»»
Mass Ukraine drone barrage kills 4 in Russia: Moscow
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 »»»
Sharjah launches Oman logistics corridor, sends first shipments to Sohar Port
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»»»
Abu Dhabi’s ISNR 2026 ISNR 2026 launches five major events and two new platforms
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 Chief Negotiator Ghalibaf Appointed to Oversee Ties with China
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 chief negotiator Ghalibaf appointed to oversee ties with China
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 »»»
Pakistani minister arrives in Tehran to 'facilitate' US-Iran peace talks
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»»»
Italian PM to meet victims of Modena car incident
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»»»
Chelsea hires Xabi Alonso as coach on four-year deal
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»»»
‘Taiwan independence’ means we don’t belong to Beijing, president says
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 to host 8th TAFISA World Sport for All Games 2028
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»»»
North Korean women’s football club arrives in South amid strained ties
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»»»
US energy secretary visits QatarEnergy's Golden Pass LNG project
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»»»
Saudi Arabia activates huge smart service network for Hajj pilgrims
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 Vows to Do Everything in His Power to Welcome Dara Back to Bulgaria in Appropriate Manner
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»»»
Germany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota cars
Nature and EnvironmentAsiaGermany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota carsMartin FritzDuring a recent visit to Japan, Germany's transport minister Patrick Schnieder toured hydrogen projects aimed at bringing the fuel into the mainstream. https://p.dw.com/p/5DqgKGerman Minister Patrick S»»»
Umrah visa issuance starts May 31 under new Saudi calendar
Dubai: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the Umrah season calendar for the year 1448 AH as part of preparations to receive pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia under an integrated system of services and care. The ministry said the new calendar outlines the operational stages and deadl»»»
Nepali duo break own records on Everest
Kathmandu, Nepal: A Nepali climber dubbed the "Everest Man", Kami Rita Sherpa, scaled Mount Everest for a record 32nd time Sunday, while Lhakpa Sherpa broke her own women's record with an 11th summit. "This is another milestone in Nepal's mountaineering history," Himal Gautam, spokesperson for Nepa»»»
Spacecraft to Probe How Earth Fends Off Raging Solar Winds
A joint European-Chinese spacecraft is set to blast off Tuesday to investigate what happens when extreme winds and giant explosions of plasma shot out from the Sun slam into Earth's magnetic shield. Particularly fierce solar storms can knock out satellites, threaten astronauts -- and create colorfu»»»
US Aims to Double Nuclear Submarine Production - Document
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Navy plans to procure at least three nuclear submarines annually, effectively doubling the current construction pace, according to the service’s annual shipbuilding plan reviewed by Sputnik. From fiscal years 2027 to 2031, the United States intends to build at least on»»»
Chelsea hires Xabi Alonso as coach on four-year deal
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»»»
“We Won’t Stop Hezbollah Attacks Even If We Occupy Entire Southern Lebanon: Israeli Security Circles - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe “We Won’t Stop Hezbollah Attacks Even If We Occupy Entire Southern Lebanon: Israeli Security Circles 17-05-2026 11:00 AM Screen capture of »»»
UAE deploys 50 AI-powered stations to monitor traffic in real time
Abu Dhabi: The UAE federal government has approved a package of smart traffic initiatives aimed at improving traffic flow and road safety, including the deployment of 50 intelligent monitoring stations supported by artificial intelligence technologies, according to a report issued by the Federal Na»»»
First Phase projects in Benghazi’s Julyana district inaugurated - including five bridges
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»»»
Nepali Duo Break Own Records on Everest
A Nepali climber dubbed the "Everest Man", Kami Rita Sherpa, scaled Mount Everest for a record 32nd time Sunday, while Lhakpa Sherpa broke her own women's record with an 11th summit. "This is another milestone in Nepal's mountaineering history," Himal Gautam, spokesperson for Nepal's Tourism Depart»»»
Al-Attiyah storms to 18th Jordan Rally victory
Doha, Qatar: Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Candido Carrera cruised to a comfortable victory at the Jordan Rally yesterday. The Autotek Motorsport Škoda Fabia RS driver won each of the dozen special stages in the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley areas to repeat a clean sweep of stage wins that he last achie»»»
Italian PM to meet victims of Modena car incident
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»»»
Al-Ahli confirm SPL third place after win over Al-Kholood
DUBAI: Al-Ahli beat Al-Kholood 3-0 at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday night to confirm third place in the Saudi Pro League going into the final week of the season. The reigning AFC Champions League Elite winners scored all their goals in the first half, with Ivan Toney grabbing the opener in »»»
Ukraine Drones Kill 4 in Russia, Moscow Faces Biggest Attack in Over a Year
At least four people were killed in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions, including Moscow, which faced its largest assault in more than a year. Three people died in the Moscow region and one in the Belgorod region, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov s»»»
WCM-Q workshop boosts understanding of evidence-based healthcare
Doha, Qatar: Healthcare professionals from across Qatar gained a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of healthcare research at a two-day workshop run by the Institute for Population Health (IPH) at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). Titled “Understanding Basics of Health Research,” the work»»»