No Deliberate Actions Against Bulgaria in Drone Incident, Chief of Defence Says
"There were no deliberate actions against Bulgaria," the country's Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, said in Varna on Saturday regarding a drone from the north that exploded 100 metres inside Bulgaria's territory, near Kardam, earlier in the day. Eftimov specified that the aircraft was a deco»»»
UAE renews call to protect freedom of navigation and international trade routes
Jaipur: Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, participated in the 2026 BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting (TMM), held at Maharani Mahal, Hotel Sawai Man Mahal, in Jaipur, India. Hosted by India under its BRICS Chairmanship, the meeting brought together trade ministers and senior offi»»»
Saudi Music Commission partners with Jazz in Jeddah to connect local artists with global stages
JEDDAH: Emerging Saudi musicians are set to gain new training, mentorship and international performance opportunities through a strategic partnership between the Saudi Music Commission and Jazz in Jeddah. The partnership aims to develop local talent while bringing Saudi and international musicians »»»
Amir sends condolences to Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the passing of the mother of HH Prince Bandar bin Mansour bin Abdullah bin Jalawi Al Saud.»»»
Saudi aid agency opens Gaza school to help war-hit children return to education
GAZA: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency has opened a school in southern Gaza to help children return to education and restore learning opportunities after the war devastated much of the enclave’s education system, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Makkah School, launched by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and »»»
What to expect from the new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan deal
Riyadh: A defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan heralded a new security alliance seeking to deter a bellicose Iran, offset an unreliable US and send a message to Israel, analysts say. As the Middle East war drags on, this alliance binds three powerful Sunni countries that are strat»»»
US Senate narrowly confirms Trump loyalist Todd Blanche as attorney general
The US Senate on Saturday voted 50-49 to confirm President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as the country's attorney general. Blanche was serving as the top US law enforcement officer in an acting capacity after Trump fired another loyalist, Pam Bondi. His confirmation caps one o»»»
Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan: Deal for joint support amid regional war
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, aimed at strengthening collective deterrence. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all. Simon Moritz tells us more about what’s in the agreement.»»»
India’s tourism industry eyes Saudi arrivals with Riyadh Air’s new Mumbai route
NEW DELHI: India’s tourism players are expecting a boost in premium and business travel from Saudi Arabia, following the launch of Riyadh Air’s daily flights to Mumbai. Riyadh Air started operating flights between the Saudi capital and Mumbai on Tuesday, marking the airline’s first Indian route and»»»
Social Development Bank backs 15 cottage industry families at Rafha festival
RAFHA: The Social Development Bank supported the participation of 15 families working in the cottage industry at the Farmers’ Market Festival in Rafha governorate. The festival was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Northern Borders region, with the partic»»»
King Abdulaziz Qur’an contest enters final rounds
MAKKAH: Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Alsheikh inaugurated on Saturday the final rounds of the 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorizing, Reciting and Interpreting the Holy Qur’an at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Held under the patronage of King Salman, the event»»»
How vegetarianism is evolving in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Not too long ago, avoiding animal products was considered unusual in Saudi Arabia. Telling people you were vegetarian often came with an inevitable question: But what do you eat? Today, while vegetarianism remains a niche lifestyle, that experience is gradually changing. Nada Al-Dagher, a n»»»
Amir sends condolences to Saudi King
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the death of the mother of His Highness Prince Bandar bin Mansour bin Abdu»»»
Riyadh falcon auction opens with $144,000 sales
RIYADH: The first auction night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction saw two falcons from JW Falcons sold for a total of SR540,000 ($144,000), amid a strong turnout of falconers and visitors interested in the heritage. Organized by the National Center for Falcons at its headquarters in Malh»»»
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attack on UAE’s ADNOC tanker in Hormuz
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday the targeting of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, expressing full solidarity with the UAE. The Kingdom stressed that the “unacceptable attacks” on shipping threatened maritime security and glo»»»
Mohanlal denied Australia visa, apologises as Sydney show is postponed
Dubai: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has apologised to his Australian fans after an unexpected delay in securing his visa forced the postponement of his much-awaited live show in Sydney. The event, titled Vaikittu Endha Paripadi (What’s on the agenda this evening?), was scheduled for Saturday, Augus»»»
Jeddah Olympiad inspires Saudi students to shape Kingdom’s nuclear future
JEDDAH: As the third International Nuclear Science Olympiad draws to a close in Jeddah, Saudi team members say the competition marks the beginning of a longer journey toward contributing to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in nuclear science, energy and medicine. For the young Saudis who earned the right t»»»
Expired milk, fungus on veggies: Bengaluru 5-star hotels face action
Several three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru are facing action after a special food safety inspection drive uncovered expired food, fungal growth on vegetables and unhygienic storage and handling practices. The Food Safety Wing of Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department d»»»
Philippines, GCC to open more clinics for Gulf-bound workers
MANILA: The Philippines and the Gulf Cooperation Council are in talks to open more accredited medical centers and clinics in the Southeast Asian country, as they seek to improve health screening for Filipino workers headed for the Gulf. More than a million Filipino nationals are living and working »»»
King Salman’s Umrah guests explore Islamic heritage at Madinah museum
Jeddah: A group of 250 Umrah pilgrims hosted under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program explored the history and heritage of Islam during a visit to the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Madinah on Friday. The guests, who arrived i»»»
Tisza chooses next President, announces emergency funding for airports and changes to education
Hungary’s ruling Tisza Party is set to decide on its candidate for the country’s next president, with three names reportedly under consideration ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary vote. The Tisza parliamentary group held a key meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the presidential nomination. “We ar»»»
BREAKING: Tisza announces its nominee for Hungary’s next president
Hungary’s ruling Tisza Party has nominated András Baka, the former president of the country’s Supreme Court, as its candidate for President of the Republic. The party’s parliamentary group made the decision in a secret vote on Saturday, selecting the 73-year-old legal scholar from three potential c»»»
Watch: Rain hits Sharjah as UAE braces for more unsettled weather
Sharjah: Rain fell across the Al Madam area in Sharjah's Central Region on Saturday as unstable weather continued to affect parts of the UAE, with forecasters predicting further showers over the coming days. The rainfall followed moderate to heavy showers on Friday in several parts of the country, »»»
UAE condemns missile attack on an ADNOC-linked tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has strongly condemned and denounced the Iranian attack targeting an ADNOC-affiliated tanker with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No injuries were reported. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack constituted a flagrant violation of»»»
Israel targets Lebanese army in al-Mansouri, wounding soldier
The Lebanese Army entered the southern town of al-Mansouri overnight to clear roads after Israeli shelling and strikes. To obstruct the Lebanese soldiers from deploying in the town and clearing the roads for residents to return, the Israeli military targeted the army's bulldozer, dropped sound bomb»»»
Houthi attacks kill at least 10 in Yemen as rebels target oil-rich Marib
At least eight members of Yemeni government forces and two civilians were killed Friday in new attacks by Houthi rebels in an oil-rich province. Houthi attacks on Yemen's Marib province killed at least 10 people Friday, according to a minister and military source, as the rebels escalated strikes on»»»
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign key defense agreement
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a defense agreement on Friday that would treat an attack on one as an attack on all three, Turkish and Pakistani officials said, solidifying cooperation between the three regional powers at a time of growing security concerns. The agreement was signed in the»»»
Houthi attacks kill 10 in Yemen as rebels target oil-rich Marib
Houthi attacks on a strategic Yemeni province killed at least 10 people, according to a minister and military source, as the rebels escalated strikes on the oil-rich region. A 2022 truce between the Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi-supported Yemen government unravelled last month and at least 5»»»
UAE's peak summer is almost over. Here's why August 24 matters
Abu Dhabi: The UAE and the wider Arabian Peninsula will enter the final phase of the peak summer season on August 11, with the rising of the Al Kulaybin stars marking the beginning of Marakhiyat Al Qalaid, the last period of the traditional qayz (peak summer), according to Emirati astronomer Ibrahi»»»
Hayy Jameel celebrates International Cat Day with cinema, music and animal welfare initiatives
JEDDAH: Visitors gathered at Hayy Jameel over the weekend to celebrate International Cat Day through a blend of independent cinema, live entertainment and community activities, while raising awareness and funds for rescued animals. The celebration transformed Hayy Cinema into a pet-friendly space, »»»
Why Houthis’ targeting of civilians, infrastructure is raising stakes across region
LONDON: For much of the past decade Yemen’s Houthi militia built its reputation as an insurgent force fighting a domestic war against the internationally recognized government and Saudi-led coalition. Today, however, its military campaign extends far beyond Yemen’s borders. From missiles and drones»»»
Al-Nassr address financial crisis; now free to sign new players, report says
DUBAI: Al-Nassr completed the necessary procedures to address the financial restrictions imposed on it for accumulated debts exceeding SR800 million ($212 million), opening the door for the reigning Saudi Pro League champions to carry out signings ahead of the new season, Arriyadiyah has reported. »»»
Startup wrap — Saudi Arabia leads MENA investments in July
RIYADH: Startups operating in the Middle East and North Africa region raised $172.6 million across 45 deals in July, a monthly increase of 16 percent. According to Wamda data, Saudi Arabia regained the top spot in July after ranking outside the lead for the entire first half of the year, with start»»»
Israeli Tanks and Infantry Push Toward Kfarshouba as Artillery Pounds Nabatieh
An Israeli enemy army infantry force, accompanied by two Merkava tanks, advanced this morning toward the Shmeis area on the outskirts of Kfarshouba, according to Al-Manar’s correspondent. The correspondent reported that the forces conducted search and sweep operations in the wooded areas that the e»»»
Americana Restaurants posts 59.2% jump in H1 net profit as revenue tops $1.36bn
Americana Restaurants International PLC reported strong financial results for the first half of 2026, with double-digit growth in revenue, earnings, and cash flow, supported by higher like-for-like sales, continued restaurant expansion, and improved operating efficiency. The restaurant operator, li»»»
KNAU and Altai SAU to join forces in research and personnel training - | 24.KG
The Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU) and Altai State Agricultural University signed a memorandum. KNAU noted that the agro-industrial complex is one of the key areas of economic cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. Growing demand for food, the development of»»»
How MENA’s homegrown platforms are democratizing access to finance
RIYADH: Across the Middle East and North Africa, homegrown fintechs are addressing financial exclusion from two entirely different starting points, and two platforms illustrate that divide well: Valu in Egypt, and Arib in Saudi Arabia. Valu is an Egyptian buy now, pay later and consumer finance pla»»»
AI factories will power Saudi Arabia’s next phase of digital transformation, NVIDIA says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is entering one of the biggest technology infrastructure shifts since the rise of cloud computing, with data centers set to evolve into artificial intelligence factories, a senior NVIDIA executive told Arab News. Marc Domenech, vice president enterprise for Middle East, Turkey,»»»
Don't be fooled by discounts: Dubai shares shopping tips for parents
Dubai: The Dubai Consumer Protection Department has intensified inspection campaigns across retail outlets, markets and shopping centres as back-to-school promotions get under way, aiming to ensure compliance with promotional regulations, price transparency and consumer rights. Ahmad Ahli, Acting D»»»
Iran bets Strait of Hormuz leverage will force US to yield
Washington: The Strait of Hormuz is, by some accounts, named for a Zoroastrian deity destined to emerge victorious after a 9,000-year standoff with an adversary. Iran's leaders feel their own victory is at hand and won't require the same epic patience. They are betting that military pressure will u»»»
Why the United States keeps losing wars
If you are American, then you might be getting damn tired of losing wars. I know I am. And you may be asking yourself, “Why does this keep happening?” It’s an intriguing and disheartening puzzle: Although the United States has been far-and-away the world’s most powerful country for many decades, wi»»»
Priorities for a new Hungarian foreign policy are set out
What is underway at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs may prove to be more than a simple change of leadership: it could amount to a restructuring that reaches to the institution’s foundations. The institute has been transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office back to the Ministry of»»»
Strong labour market underpins US economic resilience: QNB
Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Bank (QNB) said the US economy continues to demonstrate resilience in the face of current domestic and external pressures, despite a moderation in the labour market and increased economic uncertainty. In its weekly commentary, the bank said the moderation in the pace of »»»
Ivorians set eyes on talking drum for first time
Abidjan: The Djidji Ayokwe, a sacred "talking drum" which was taken by French colonial troops in 1916 and then to France, arrived back in its home village in Ivory Coast on Friday. The ceremony, on Ivory Coast's national independence day holiday, was the first time today's Ivorians were able to see»»»
Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact, Iran blockade, UAE flights: What UAE residents need to know today (August 8, 2026)
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact, the US Navy is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, and Iran and Oman are nearing a shipping deal for the Strait of Hormuz, all as the Houthis are blamed for an attack on Najran. Meanwhile, most UAE flights are operating as sche»»»
Rybakina advances while Andreeva exits at Toronto
Toronto, Canada: Reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Friday while French Open winner Mirra Andreeva was eliminated by Canada's Leylah Fernandez. World number two Rybakina from Kazakhstan defeated American 28th seed Ann Li 6-2, »»»
'Water batteries' for the Philippines? 5 things to know
Manila: The Philippines is entering an unusual phase of its energy transition. It is adding solar and wind power at a pace that could eventually transform the electricity system, while at the same time confronting one of the oldest problems in power generation: What happens when the sun stops shini»»»
Why is it a problem if Péter Magyar decides who can lead Hungary's public media?
Péter Magyar’s intervention in two public media appointments has caused debate over the independence of Hungary’s state broadcaster. The independence of Hungary’s public media has been one of the country’s most sensitive political issues ever since the democratic transition of 1989–90. Following th»»»
Saudi landmarks illuminated with flags of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan to mark defence agreement
Riyadh: Prominent landmarks and towers across Saudi Arabia are illuminated with the national flags of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to celebrate the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The light displays across various regions »»»
Rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds are set to continue across parts of the UAE
Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set for several days of unsettled weather, with the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasting thunderstorms, rainfall and strong winds across parts of the country through Tuesday as an extension of a surface low-pressure system combines with a weak upper-air trough. On »»»