RIYADH: Riyadh hosted the signing of an agreement on Thursday to establish the first regional headquarters of the Institute of Internal Auditors outside the US. The event was attended by President of the General Court of Audit and Chairman of the Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors Dr. Hussam Alan»»»

Dozens of ships set sail from southwestern Türkiye as part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Thursday, an organizer told AFP. "Around 50 ships sailed from Marmaris around an hour ago," Gorkem Duru, a member of the Türkiye branch of the Global Sumud Fleet said. "They will be joined by four or five shi»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced the gravest threat yet to his leadership on Thursday as unrest within the Labour Party spilled into open rebellion, with potential successors manoeuvring for position after the party’s bruising local election losses. The crisis deepened after Health Secreta»»»

RIYADH: Students from kindergarten age up to year 11 came together on stage at Beech Hall School in Riyadh for an orchestra and choir performance celebrating Saudi Arabia’s rich history, thriving present, and ambitious future. Youngsters from a variety of nationalities performed “From Desert Sands »»»

Beijing: Donald Trump paid a visit to the Temple of Heaven in the Chinese capital on Thursday, but the US president had a face like thunder. Standing stiff and unsmiling next to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump appeared unmoved by the former imperial temple in Beijing where emperors once prayed »»»

S. Carfil SA, MATE-FIN, and the British company Alford Technologies signed at BSDA 2026 – Black Sea Defense, Aerospace and Security, a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes the framework for strategic cooperation in specialized fields relevant to defense, security, and technical intervention»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi entrepreneur Nada Malki is giving consumers the option to experience classic art in a whole new way. With her brand Atheera, a concept born from a lifelong connection to literature and art, Malki is transforming classic paintings into handcrafted wooden clutches that carry art beyond »»»

Donald Trump is in China, where he is set to take part in talks with President Xi Jinping. Major American businessmen are also joining the talks – including Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The two sides are to discuss trade, the war in Iran, and Taiwan. Story by Liz»»»

An international flotilla carrying over 500 activists is set to depart from Turkey on Thursday in a renewed attempt to defy Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, despite prior interceptions and ongoing threats. Organizers of the Global Resilience Flotilla announced in Marmaris, southwestern Turkey, t»»»

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has linked the success of the direct talks with Israel — which begin this Thursday in Washington — to the implementation of a "genuine" ceasefire. "If a genuine ceasefire is not achieved, it means all is lost," Berri told ad-Diyar in remarks published Thursday. Berri »»»

In a significant move to secure long-term energy supplies, Turkish energy company Boru Hatları ile Petrol Taşıma AŞ (Botas) has signed a 10-year agreement with France’s TotalEnergies to purchase 16 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The landmark deal, set to commence in 2027, was »»»

Egypt-based venture capital firm Averroes Ventures is preparing a new $50 million investment fund focused on “waste-to-value” startups across the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting growing regional interest in sustainability-driven industrial investments, resource security, and economic diver»»»

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu aims to attract investments worth SR2 trillion ($533 billion) over the next five years, a target that was originally set for 2045, at a time when current investments have already exceeded SR1.5 trillion, according to RCJY President Khalid Al-Sale»»»

Genmin Limited (ASX:GEN) said it had received strong interest from international investors and commodities traders to help finance development of its Baniaka iron ore project in Gabon, as the company seeks to secure about $200mn in project funding ahead of a final investment decision. »»»

Genmin Limited (ASX:GEN) said it had received strong interest from international investors and commodities traders to help finance development of its Baniaka iron ore project in Gabon, as the company seeks to secure about $200mn in project funding ahead of a final investment decision. »»»

Genmin Limited (ASX:GEN) said it had received strong interest from international investors and commodities traders to help finance development of its Baniaka iron ore project in Gabon, as the company seeks to secure about $200mn in project funding ahead of a final investment decision. »»»

Genmin Limited (ASX:GEN) said it had received strong interest from international investors and commodities traders to help finance development of its Baniaka iron ore project in Gabon, as the company seeks to secure about $200mn in project funding ahead of a final investment decision. »»»

Daily water consumption in the Iranian capital Tehran has climbed to nearly three billion litres before the start of summer, with reservoirs sitting at just 22% of capacity, according to newly released information on May 14 by state media. »»»

As geopolitical instability redraws Eurasian trade routes, the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) says the South Caucasus is emerging as an increasingly important transit bridge between Europe and Asia. Yet while Georgia currently dominates this east-west corridor, mounting political tensions with We»»»

As geopolitical instability redraws Eurasian trade routes, the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) says the South Caucasus is emerging as an increasingly important transit bridge between Europe and Asia. Yet while Georgia currently dominates this east-west corridor, mounting political tensions with We»»»

The US signalled a major shift in its approach to Bosnia & Herzegovina’s international oversight on May 12, saying the next international peace envoy should have a reduced mandate, a stance that exposed growing differences among Western powers over how quickly the Balkan country should be left »»»

At the Hungarian National Bank's (MNB’s) FX swap tender providing euro liquidity, the central bank of Hungary has reduced the maximum allowable swappoints, effectively lowering the annualised forint yield by around 50bp to 5.25%, MBH Bank said in a note on May 13, according to financial website&nbs»»»

Bekzhan Beishekeev, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan involved in a traffic accident in the U.S. state of Indiana, has reportedly been left without a lawyer, according to members of the Kyrgyz community in the United States. According to them, the prosecutor’s office requested a 28.5-year prison sentence for»»»

Fine particulate matter levels in 2025 were higher than a year earlier, Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova-Blagova said in Burgas on Thursday. Karamfilova-Blagova was speaking on the sidelines of a forum on upgrading the national air quality monitoring system. Karamfilova-Blagova»»»

It may just be my imagination, but there seems to be an unusual amount of angst and tension in the world of cricket at present. In the last week alone, the proposed privatization of the Big Bash League in Australia has hit the buffers. A consequence of that pushback has been to inflame tensions in »»»

The World Press Institute (WPI) held the international conference New Horizons in Journalism: Truth Under Pressure on Thursday. The forum was organized with the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) and support from the America for Bulgaria Foundation. At the opening, Radio »»»

Dubai: The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority expects more than 91,000 taxable persons to benefit from the Corporate Tax Late Registration Penalty Waiver initiative, as it urged unregistered businesses to apply and complete their first filing within the required timeline. Sign up for our daily business ne»»»

Donald Trump is in China where he's set to take part in highly-anticipated talks with President Xi Jinping. The two sides are to discuss trade, the war in Iran, and Taiwan. This is the US President's first visit to the country in ten years. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Beijing, Yena Lee.»»»

China's President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump that Chinese markets will be more open to US and global trade in the future as a two-day summit got under way in Beijing on Thursday but warned that persistent disagreements over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous»»»

ROME: ​Pope Leo on Thursday decried rising European military spending, which grew last year by the highest amount since the end of the Cold War amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, saying it was a betrayal of diplomacy.Leo, who has drawn Trump’s ire in recent weeks after criticizing the Ir»»»

Abu Dhabi: Following the directions of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation have launched the “UAE Skills Platform”. This launch reflects a national directio»»»

Dubai: DP World is accelerating plans to modernise Syria’s Port of Tartous under an $800 million investment programme aimed at rebuilding the country’s maritime and trade infrastructure as economic ties between the UAE and Syria deepen. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, met Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, Ch»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel will open the third round of preliminary negotiations on Thursday in Washington under US sponsorship. Weeks of political and diplomatic maneuvering by Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, channeled through American interlocutors, have failed to firmly lock in a stable truce. »»»

BusinessEuropeWho is Charlemagne Prize winner Mario Draghi?Timothy RooksThe Charlemagne Prize honors those who advance European unity. This year's winner is Italy's Mario Draghi, a former European Central Bank chief and a key architect of European stability during a time of economic crisis. https:/»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources confirmed the readiness of the food industries sector for the Hajj season, noting that Hajj represents a strategic opportunity to introduce millions of visitors to Saudi products. During a tour of production lines at factories in Jed»»»

OVERVIEW All media report on the three Progressive Bulgaria (PB) MPs who resigned from the National Assembly on Thursday. Two of them, Ilko Iliev and Mario Smarkov, will be appointed to the position of regional governors of Varna, on the Black Sea, and Targovishte, North Eastern Bulgaria, respectiv»»»

London: Pressure mounted on Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday when his former deputy Angela Rayner emerged as a potential challenger in a frenzied battle for the leadership. Starmer, who led his Labour party to victory in 2024 elections ending 14 years of Conservative rule, is fighting»»»

Mobility and delivery platform Uber announced a new set of products and features at its annual GO–GET product event, including hotel bookings and new travel tools. The company said the updates reflect its continued platform strategy to bring more of everyday life into one simple user experience and»»»

Dubai: flydubai will launch direct flights to Benghazi next month, becoming the first UAE carrier to connect Dubai with the Libyan city. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai-based airline said flights to Benghazi Benina International Airport will begin on June 17,»»»

Israel's military said it launched strikes against Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon on Thursday, hours before US-brokered talks between the two countries were set to begin in Washington. "The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in several areas in southern Lebanon,»»»

Serbia is not satisfied with a revised proposal from Hungary’s MOL Group to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic said on May 13, adding negotiations would continue. »»»

Serbia is not satisfied with a revised proposal from Hungary’s MOL Group to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic said on May 13, adding negotiations would continue. »»»

A Hezbollah drone strike injured several Israeli civilians on Thursday, the Israeli military said, hours before US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon were set to begin in Washington. "A short while ago, an explosive drone that was launched by the Hezbollah terrorist organization fell within »»»

Following immersive learning journeys to India, 60 Emirati professionals and university students have returned to the UAE to build on their experiences through the development of capstone projects. Guided by Zayed Education Foundation’s mission to nurture purpose driven leaders, the UAE–India Leade»»»

HMS Prince of Wales is carrying helicopters set to play a key role as NATO forces conduct submarine detection training in the Norwegian Sea next week. Dynamic Mongoose is NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in Europe, and it is no coincidence that it takes place near the Arctic Circle. S»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced the increasing prospect of a leadership challenge on Thursday, with his health minister reported to be ready to resign and his former deputy calling on him to "reflect" on his position. Starmer, who has repeatedly said he would fight to keep his job, has so»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate remained relatively stable in April, with consumer prices rising 1.7 percent year on year. Data released by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics showed the Consumer Price Index edged up 0.2 percent month on month in April, reflecting moderate increase»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, have praised the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the energy and space sectors, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The talks between the two ministers took place Wednesday i»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said it launched strikes against Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon on Thursday, hours before US-brokered talks between the two countries were set to begin in Washington.“The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in several areas in souther»»»

ABU DHABI: The UAE Open Muay Thai Championship returns to Mubadala Dome at Al-Jazira Club on Friday, May 15, bringing together 599 male and female athletes from 75 clubs for three days of competition across 86 weight categories. Organized by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, the champion»»»