Author: Editorial Team

VIENNA — Thousands of Austrians protesting against noise and pollution caused by excessive congestion blocked a key European highway linking Germany and Italy on Saturday, but widely feared traffic chaos was averted after the closure was lifted by evening. Because of the protest, authorities closed part of the highway and surrounding roads to transit traffic from 11:00 am (0900 GMT) to 7:00 pm. Authorities and motoring organizations had feared traffic chaos due to the closure and the Whitsun holidays in Germany. “All lanes are open again,” a spokesman for the motorway operator Asfinag said on Saturday evening. Heading north, the…

MADINAH — As pilgrims head to Madinah after completing their Hajj rituals, the Ministry of Commerce continues its inspection and supply-monitoring tours to assess the availability of goods in markets and retail outlets to meet an increase in demand. The tours also aimed to verify the quality and efficiency of services provided to pilgrims, as well as to enhance regulatory compliance and supporting market stability. The ministry’s inspection teams are carrying out these tours across various targeted locations in Madinah, verifying the availability of essential goods and products and monitoring commercial establishments’ compliance with applicable regulations and instructions. Source: Saudi…

The UAE has announced fuel prices for June 2026, marking its first pricing update as an independent oil producer following its exit from Opec and Opec+ in May. The country’s Fuel Prices Monitoring Committee has increased the rates from May as the Middle East conflict continues, with an ongoing ceasefire in place and diplomatic talks continuing in the background. The UAE’s Ministry of Energy-approved fuel prices are determined monthly based on the average global oil price, after adding distribution companies’ operating costs. The new rates will apply from June 1 and are as follows: Stay up to date with the latest…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, recorded a surge of 18.9 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, decreased by 0.1 percent. According to the 2025 International Merchandise Trade Report, published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Sunday, merchandise exports rose by 2.1 percent reaching SR1,170 billion while oil exports declined by 4 percent. The report showed an 8.8 percent increase in imports, reaching SR949.8 billion, and a 19.2 percent decrease in the trade surplus, falling to SR220.2 billion compared to 2024. The share of petroleum exports in total exports decreased…

MAKKAH — The Saudi Ministry of Health’s announcement that the 2026 Hajj season was free from any epidemic outbreaks or health threats affecting public health received widespread praise from the World Health Organization (WHO). The global health body commended Saudi Arabia’s success in managing one of the world’s largest human gatherings in accordance with the highest health standards. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Saudi Arabia on the successful Hajj season, praising the dedication of healthcare workers and their vital contribution to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for pilgrims. This recognition reflects international confidence in the efficiency of…

WASHINGTON, 1st June, 2026 (WAM) — YouTube has introduced a new set of updates that elevate the overall YouTube Premium experience by launching three AI-powered features aimed directly at podcast listeners. According to YouTube data, Premium users are major podcast consumers, having watched over 800 million hours of podcasts in April 2026 alone. The first feature is Auto Speed, which automatically adjusts the playback speed in real time based on dialogue activity, dynamically speeding up during slower speech or conversational lulls to save time and slowing back down during information-dense segments that require more focus. The second tool is On-the-go…

JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received on Sunday a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron. During the call, the leaders discussed the latest developments in the region and the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region, as well as ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation. The Crown Prince and Macron reviewed areas of joint cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France, and explored ways to support and further strengthen them across a number of fields. Several regional and international issues of mutual interest were also figured in their…

BOSTON — A graduation ceremony of Saudi students from Boston universities held at Harvard University on Saturday. Cultural Attaché at the Saudi Embassy in the US, Acting Attaché in Canada and Supervisor for South American Countries Tahany Aleisa presided over the ceremony, attended by students, their families, and members of the academic community. Speaking on the occasion, Aleisa said the ceremony celebrated 70 male and female graduates from several prestigious institutions, led by Harvard University with 29 graduates, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with nine, Boston University with 19, and Tufts University with 10, alongside graduates from the…

Question: I worked during the Eid Al Adha break and plan to take compensatory days off later. Can these days be combined with my annual leave to extend the total duration of my time off? Answer: Pursuant to your query, it is assumed that you are employed by an employer based in the mainland of Dubai, hence the provisions of the Employment Law (as defined below) are applicable. Pursuant to the provisions of the Employment Law, an employee is entitled to fully paid leave on public holidays, and should the employee be required to work on a public holiday, the…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s general operating revenue index for wholesale and retail trade statistics recorded an increase of 7.3 percent during the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The index also rose by 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the preliminary results, published on Sunday by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The operating revenue index for retail trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, increased by 9.5 percent while wholesale trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, rose by 5.5 percent. Operating revenue for the sale and…