English-language daily newspaper based in Riyadh, serving business, diplomacy, and executive audiences.
Emma Rybakina has withdrawn from the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells, saying she is "not physically ready to compete" and will rest for the 2027 season. The WTA has cited a viral illness as the official reason. Marta Kostyuk will replace her in Group 1 and will open against Linda Noskova on Sunday.
India have claimed the second one-day international in Wellington via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain halted their chase at 113-7 in 26 overs, four runs ahead of the par score. Gurnoor Brar has taken 4-30 and Auqib Nabi 2-31; India need one more win to seal the five-match series ahead of Tuesday's Hamilton match.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reported that multiple oil tankers and a tugboat have caught fire after striking naval mines or being hit while transiting routes it calls unauthorised in and near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command has said it has cleared primary transit routes; independent maritime confirmation is absent. Reports include crew evacuations and at least 22 rescued.
Saudi air defences have intercepted missiles and drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia; falling shrapnel has damaged an Aramco administrative building in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District but caused no injuries. The Saudi-led coalition says it has destroyed Houthi missile launchers in Yemen; local authorities have lifted early-warning alerts after assessing limited damage.
The UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO in Western Sahara has ended after 35 years amid a US-Russia standoff at the UN Security Council. Repatriation of personnel and the closure of facilities are underway, with uncertainty over regional stability as Morocco asserts sovereignty and the Polisario Front seeks independence.
Iranian state media report strikes on Qeshm Island while U.S. and regional actors discuss bridging gaps on Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump describes recent action as minor; mediators press for concessions before talks, as regional tensions rise.
Israel has held tightly contested elections that have produced a record Arab-led Knesset presence: Ra’am has increased to eight seats and the Joint List to 11, giving Arab parties a combined 19 of 120 seats. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition has reached 61 seats, leaving Arab lists with potential leverage over coalition formation.
Arab and Gulf states strengthen security coordination amid regional tensions. Egypt pledges defensive support to Saudi Arabia, stressing that Saudi security is tied to Egyptian and wider Arab stability. Qatar moves toward defence autonomy, while Gulf states push to blunt Houthi attacks and secure maritime routes.
Voters head to the polls as midterm campaigns intensify. Polls show Democrats leading on economy and inflation concerns, while Trump-aligned candidates seek to close gaps. Early voting indicates high turnout in several key states.
Bloomberg reports that Trump’s envoy praised Putin as a humanitarian during Saint Petersburg talks, amid discussions for trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine to end the war. The government has signaled willingness to resume negotiations, while Trump’s stance shifts toward Russia ahead of midterms.
Gulf mediators have continued shuttle diplomacy after an eight-month war that began on Feb. 28. Qatar has led talks with Tehran and is hosting indirect consultations that aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. UAE and Gulf officials have said they hope for a diplomatic breakthrough while remaining prepared for renewed military escalation.
The UAE is containing an offshore oil spill from the GEM No. 2 tanker. Beaches across Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah have been closed as a precaution while teams monitor pollution, conduct environmental assessments and restore operations. Odors are not posing health risks, and drinking water supplies remain unaffected.
Israeli forces have launched a large operation in Hebron after two soldiers were killed at a checkpoint, displacing roughly 3,000 people, demolishing homes and infrastructure, and imposing a citywide lockdown. Israeli leaders have defended the raids as counterterror measures; UN officials and rights groups have warned the steps amount to collective punishment and risk ethnic cleansing.
Muslim residents in Hebron are displaced as Israeli forces continue a focused operation following a deadly October attack. Troops have demolished homes and searched multiple sites, while thousands remain displaced and security measures extend across the city amid election-season tensions.
China has concluded its fifth plenum with a renewed push to institutionalise anti‑corruption and internal self‑discipline across the Communist Party, promoted military anti‑graft chief Zhang Shengmin to the Politburo and revealed an unprecedented number of empty seats as more than a quarter of the 2022 Central Committee cohort remain absent.
Williams has been knocked out in the Guangzhou Open doubles semifinals, while her singles run ends in the first round. The 46-year-old American and her partner were defeated by Lilli Tagger and her partner as Williams continues a winless streak on tour.
A private geospatial firm has found that Russian military and government satellites have been orbiting above Saudi oil and military sites before and after missile and drone strikes between July and October. Investigators and Saudi officials have linked the satellite activity to improved targeting by Iran-backed Houthis and allied militias, which has hit pipeline pumping stations and a Saudi air base.
Arab News and Al Jazeera report a thaw in Turkish, Iraqi and Syrian relations. Erdogan plans a Syria visit; Iraq-Syria dialogue focuses on security, energy and trade. Damascus and Baghdad are reviving energy links and coordinating on regional stability.
Arab-led parties have surged to a record 19 seats in the Knesset, up from prior records, complicating coalition prospects as Netanyahu faces a fractured field. The opposition bloc may need Arab partners to form a government, while the president will oversee the coalition process.
Lebanon is grappling with a government crackdown as 13 people face charges over a truck carrying explosives linked to Hezbollah. Authorities say two suspects are in custody, with 11 others charged in absentia. Hezbollah acknowledges ownership of the cargo, saying it was meant for Israel; the government has outlawed its militant activities amid rising tensions.
Israel has signaled it will push for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon while urging disarmament of Hezbollah. US-mediated talks on a framework to end fighting have stalled, with Lebanon and Israel trading warnings over possible renewed hostilities. The situation remains tense as both sides press for security guarantees and regional stability.
The United States is weighing new military actions as Iran vows an immediate, impactful response to threats, and Tehran updates its military targeting lists. Discussions among US officials have underscored a preference for a diplomatic path, even as midterm politics heighten the risk of renewed conflict.
UN rights officials have called for a prompt, independent investigation into the death of Mohammad el-Shami, a UN OHCHR staffer detained by Yemen’s Houthi authorities since June 2024. Families have only recently been informed, and researchers warn of broader risks to detained workers as the humanitarian crisis deepens in Yemen.
Protests across Dhaka and industrial zones over a proposed minimum wage of 30,000 taka continue as the government forms a six-member wage board to review workers’ demands. The garment sector, a major export earner, faces disruption as thousands of workers demand higher pay amid rising living costs.
Filipinos abroad observe Undas, the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day tradition, by combining virtual and physical observances. Immigrants in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and beyond still honor ancestors with altars, candles, and prayers while maintaining ties with loved ones back home through video calls and remembrances.
Sudan’s humanitarian agencies warn that urgent funding is depleting critical shelter stocks, with three in four displaced people being women and children. In Yemen, sieges and blocked roads have left hundreds of thousands without access to shelter, food, and medicine as aid delivery narrows to a fraction of needs.
AI-driven post-training, embodied AI, and robotics research are accelerating investment and development globally. Startups and legacy players are racing to enable robots to learn tasks from minimal demonstrations, while women’s leadership and regional policies shape the adoption and governance of these technologies.
Protests across France have resumed, focusing on school conditions, university places, and the cost of living. By Nov. 5, authorities report around 41 high schools blockaded, with thousands affected earlier in the month. Government offers include capping class sizes and funding to renovate schools, but student leaders say more is needed as demonstrations expand.
Protests across Gaza and the West Bank have intensified over UNRWA funding shortfalls and planned staff dismissals, with unions and Palestinian groups demanding restored services and sustainable donor support. The protests highlight concerns over health, education and relief services for Palestinian refugees amid ongoing financial pressure on UNRWA.
Syria has indicated it is exploring membership in the Mecca Joint Defence Pact, arguing Gulf security is integral to its own stability. Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani says Damascus is discussing political, economic, and security cooperation with Gulf partners and may join a regional security framework, while condemning attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirming support for Gaza’s path to a sovereign state.
Protests in France have intensified and spread beyond student groups to include unions and public workers, highlighting a widening crisis over education and living costs. Authorities have imposed curfews and restricted demonstrations as the state faces mounting pressure from both sides of the political spectrum.
The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from 7 January 2027 to 23 December 2027–21 January 2028. Organisers have said "exceptional circumstances" and logistical and travel disruptions have made the original dates untenable. Saudi domestic fixtures have been rescheduled and other regional sporting events have been cancelled or delayed.
Nigeria’s NESG measures show October activity remaining in expansion, led by Trade and Service sectors, while Manufacturing and Agriculture show slower growth. Power outages and credit constraints continue to lift operating costs; future optimism rises on year-end demand.
Since Tuesday, at least seven passenger flights across Europe have reported bomb threats. Authorities have searched aircraft in Poland, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and elsewhere; fighter jets have escorted at least one flight and a Warsaw airport briefly closed. All planes have landed safely and searches have found no explosives.
Syria’s General Intelligence Service says it has foiled a plot by a Hezbollah-linked cell to attack the Homs refinery, with two members arrested and explosives seized. Hezbollah denies involvement and says it has no presence in Syria. The incident follows a string of attacks on Syria’s energy infrastructure and comes as Damascus tightens security around strategic facilities.
The cross-border strikes by Jordan into southern Syria have killed civilians and prompted Syria to condemn the action as a sovereignty violation. Jordan and Syria agree to form a joint security committee to investigate the strikes and to strengthen border coordination as both sides seek to avoid further civilian harm.
Opposition leaders have moved to form a Zionist government to oust Netanyahu, with talks focusing on a coalition that could include ultra-Orthodox and Palestinian parties. The plan confronts deep divisions over Palestinian participation and Haredi drafting exemptions, while Arab parties gain unprecedented leverage with 19 seats in the Knesset.
Yemen’s government says Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps networks are directly guiding Houthi military operations, with experts plotting missiles, drones and maritime attacks. Authorities warn of renewed regional risk as fighting persists and international pressure grows. The issue features claims from Yemeni officials and documented activity across Hodeidah, Sanaa, and Taiz.
The NFL’s abroad expansion runs into a fractured European league landscape after ELF meltdown and emergence of AFLE in Europe, with Madrid hosting another high‑profile game as teams seek stability and a single path to growth.
The Gaza Strip is facing a humanitarian crisis in burn care and prosthetics. WHO says thousands of amputees have been assessed, but only a fraction have permanent prosthetics. MSF warns that dual-use restrictions and material blockages are halting 3D-printed masks for facial burns, risking permanent disfigurement and loss of function for children and adults.
A Palestinian-Israeli journalist has been detained in Jaffa on suspicions tied to an interview. Rights groups say the arrest is part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian political expression in Israel. Detention is being extended as investigations continue ahead of a court hearing.
A firefighting helicopter in Indonesia has crashed into a river during a water-bombing mission in South Kalimantan, killing one crew member and injuring others. Two foreign pilots were reported safe, as authorities investigate the cause amid ongoing wildfire suppression efforts across Borneo and Sumatra.
Gadi Eisenkot has formally received the mandate to form Israel’s next government after polls indicated a fragmented Knesset. He is pursuing a national emergency government, seeking backing from Likud, Arab parties, and ultra-Orthodox groups, while avoiding another election and aiming to address Israel’s security and domestic challenges.
Proposed counterterrorism and anti‑organised crime laws have been submitted to Parliament in Sri Lanka, drawing criticism from human rights groups and labour activists who warn the measures grant sweeping powers and risk abuses. Protests are escalating as leaders defend the bills as draconian but necessary.
Israeli forces have withdrawn from Hebron after a 10-day siege that disrupted education, demolished homes and displaced thousands. Authorities say residents are returning, but widespread damage and closures persist as security forces monitor the area.
A major winter storm is flooding tents and shelters in Gaza, forcing families to flee and seek urgent aid. Civilians report widespread damage as shelters struggle to cope with rain, wind, and contaminated water amid ongoing restrictions on relief supplies.
Iraq has confirmed discussions with the United States on closing most border crossings with Iran, while keeping two open in Kurdistan. Officials say the move is part of economic pressure on Tehran; Iraq also says it has reached understandings to allow oil exports through Hormuz shipping lanes.
Drone strikes have targeted the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, knocking out a large portion of electricity generation. Officials say gas supply to power plants is halted, with authorities prioritising critical facilities; no casualties have been reported. Several outlets confirm the attack occurred tonight, affecting multiple cities.
Trump has acknowledged in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that his deportation policy has been too tough and says he is open to an immigration deal with Democrats. The move comes after the GOP’s midterm losses. He has elevated Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff, signaling a hardline stance while pursuing negotiations.