Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is booming, with international revenues soaring to SR49.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a 9.7% increase year-on-year. A travel surplus of SR26.8 billion highlights the Kingdom's growing appeal. Strategic reforms, improved infrastructure, and enhanced services are driving this growth, aligning with Vision 2030's goals for economic diversification and global tourism leadership.
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Hamas has responded positively to the latest ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, expressing readiness for immediate negotiations on implementation. While the specifics remain unclear, Hamas seeks guarantees of a complete end to the war following the initial truce.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump welcomed Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held in Gaza, to the White House. Alexander, an American-Israeli abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was held for 584 days before his release on May 12, 2025. Trump reaffirmed his commitment to bringing all hostages home, having previously met with other freed hostages in March.
Bigg Boss 19 is set to make history with the reported entry of Habubu, a UAE-based AI doll, as the first non-human contestant. Developed by IFCM, Habubu features emotional AI, multilingual skills, and traditional Emirati aesthetics. Her inclusion highlights the UAE’s innovation in artificial intelligence and brings a unique cultural-tech blend to South Asia’s most-watched reality show.
A powerful storm caused devastating flash floods in Texas. The Guadalupe River overflowed, destroying homes and a summer camp. Many people died, and several are missing. Camp Mystic was completely destroyed. Hundreds of people have been rescued. Rescue efforts are underway. Residents did not receive flood warnings. Rainfall exceeded forecasts. The Texas Hill Country's geography worsened the flooding.
Emirates has expedited the launch of its Airbus A350 on the Dubai-Muscat route to meet surging summer travel demands, commencing a week ahead of schedule. This upgrade offers passengers enhanced comfort and connectivity between the UAE and Oman. The A350 features optimized overnight departures, facilitating seamless connections to global destinations.
In a late-night session, the Senate advanced President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite opposition from Republican senators Tillis, Paul, and initially Johnson. The bill, featuring tax breaks and national security funding, faces criticism for Medicaid cuts and increased debt. Trump hailed the procedural clearance as a victory, thanking supportive Republican senators.
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A massive explosion rocked a petrol station in Rome's Prenestino district on Friday morning, injuring at least 45 people, including emergency responders. The blast, triggered by a suspected gas leak during fuel-tank refilling, sent a huge fireball into the sky and severely damaged the station.
Li Qiang will represent China at the upcoming Brics summit in Brazil. This marks a change as President Xi Jinping will not attend. The summit occurs amidst cautious thawing of China-India relations. Prime Minister Modi will also be present. Xi's absence sparks speculation about China's engagement with Brics. Observers are looking towards the SCO summit in 2025 as a possible venue for a Modi-Xi meeting.
