U.S. President Donald Trump again hinted at possible renewed military escalation against Iran as tensions rise in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing diplomatic contacts and efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire between the two sides. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform late o»»»

Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, met with Almud Weitz, Regional Director for Infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank Group, to discuss strengthening cooperation and advancing shared strategic priorities. Rostom affirmed that Egypt is pursuing»»»

Egypt has welcomed the implementation of the second phase of a $1bn development policy financing programme with the World Bank and is looking forward to launching a third phase, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday. The announcement came during Abdelatty’s meeting with World Bank Vice Pre»»»

Dubai: Dubai Customs’ “Green Corridor” initiative was launched as an emergency trade facilitation measure. Within weeks, it evolved into one of the Gulf’s most significant alternative logistics routes, helping businesses reroute cargo away from disrupted maritime corridors while keeping trade flows»»»

Pop star Dara returned to Bulgaria from Vienna on Sunday just hours after winning the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with "Bangaranga". At Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, she was welcomed by Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, members of the Bulgarian National Television manageme»»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Portugal HE Paulo Rangel. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them. They al»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call on Sunday from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Portugal HE Paulo Rangel. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and str»»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a telephone call with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif. Both sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them. They»»»

The UAE announced that Monday, May 18, will mark the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah, as the crescent moon was sighted on Sunday evening. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.When will Eid Al Adha begin? Eid Al Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, t»»»

RIYADH: Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, sees a renewed nuclear agreement between the US and Iran as the only realistic way to defuse one of the Middle East’s most dangerous flashpoints. Diplomacy, not military force, he said, offers the best chance of curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambiti»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held a telephone call on Sunday with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, HE Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif. Both sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the drone attack on the sisterly United Arab Emirates, including one drone that targeted Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra region, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to regional security. In a stat»»»

Dubai: India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has dramatically cut the cost of challenging Class 12 exam results, announcing that re-evaluation of answers will now cost just Rs 25 per question and that the fee will be refunded in full if a student's marks go up following the review. Th»»»

А host of Bulgarian artists, intellectuals and politicians, including some of the brightest stars on the national entertainment and intellectual scene and top government leaders, congratulated the singer Dara on winning the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with her song "Bangaranga". The firs»»»

Makkah Developments has announced a strategic partnership with Golden Tulip, part of Louvre Hotels Group, to provide hospitality and operational services within the Rowaq residential project in Sheikh Zayed City. The agreement includes plans for a four-star hotel and branded residential units, alon»»»

Egypt’s foreign trade has reached an impressive $104.7 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024, according to a recent report by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). This substantial figure includes $72.1 billion in imports and $32.6 billion in exports, emphasizing the country’s robust engagement with glob»»»

RIYADH: Kidana Development Company is completing comprehensive maintenance and readiness works at Mina’s Jamarat facility. As part of preparations for the Hajj season 2026, Kidana continues wide-ranging maintenance and upgrades at holy sites in Makkah. The company, which is the executive arm of the»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has welcomed the agreement reached between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party over the approval of a parliamentary resolution related to Albania’s European Union membership process. Speaking during his podcast “Flasim” on Sunday, Rama des»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has summarized what he described as several key developments of the week, focusing on Albania’s European integration process, its growing role in Euro-Atlantic security, and support measures for the country’s economy and entrepreneurship sector. Speaking at the end »»»

Riyadh, May 17 (SANA) Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud discussed with US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack the latest developments in Syria and ways to support stability in the country. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the meeting, held in Riyadh on Sunday, also included »»»

DOHA: Qatar has secured the top regional position in the 2026 Food Systems Resilience Index (RFSI), reinforcing its standing as one of the region’s leading performers in building a stable and sustainable food security system. Issued by the Economist Impact, the index serves as a global benchmark me»»»

Yemen’s Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haidan revealed what he described as the foiling of the "largest political assassination plot" in the temporary capital Aden, saying security forces had carried out a successful pre-emptive operation against terrorist cells linked to foreign actors th»»»

Doha, Qatar: KAHRMAA said on Sunday that the Minister of State for Energy Affairs in Qatar, HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, issued a set of decisions in 2026 aimed at regulating district cooling services in the State of Qatar and establishing a clear framework to ensure service efficiency, protect rights»»»

Rome: Roma took a huge step towards returning to the Champions League by beating local rivals Lazio 2-0 on Sunday in a feisty derby which finished with both teams down to 10 men, while Napoli won 3-0 at Pisa to secure a top-four spot. Roma's players pose ahead the Italian Serie A football match bet»»»

Skopje, 14 May 2026 (MIA) — Eliminating corruption requires the participation of every sector of society rather than "declarative efforts," officials and business leaders said at a conference Thursday. The conference, titled "Business Integrity for a Competitive Economy," highlighted that the fight»»»

How worrying is the global Ebola emergency? 9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames GallagherHealth and science correspondent Getty ImagesHealthcare workers pictured during a previous Ebola outbreak in Uganda in 2022 The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is concern»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. During the meeting, the two officials discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways to support stability in the country. Views on issue»»»

The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) reported today that Numisma Bank pledged to supply record amounts of cash dollars to it in its Second Phase of cash injection to the Libyan market. The pledge came during the hosting by Naji Issa, the CBL Governor, of senior officials from Numisma Bank last Tuesday (»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf on Sunday directed officials to spare no effort in facilitating Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, stressing the need for smooth travel, accommodation and support services. Pakistan is expected to send more than 179,000 pilgrims fo»»»

THAHABAN: The third Hajj Health and Security Forum opened on Sunday under the patronage of Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. Organized by the General Administration of Medical Services at the Ministry of Interior, the forum runs until May 19 and brings together min»»»

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»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Interior received a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior to learn about Qatar's experience in security and service sectors and to enhance security cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the Ministries of Interior of the State of Qatar and the sisterly Syr»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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: 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»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior received a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior to learn about Qatar's experience in security and service sectors and to enhance security cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the Ministries of Interior of the State of Qatar and the siste»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»