AL HAYAT - Round-the-clock news from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the world in seven languages

Pallister stuns Ledecky in Pan Pacs 800m free as two world records carry Douglass to gold

The Ukrainian social media channels tracking Russian missiles

Rampant Bangladesh make history with first-ever Test win in Australia

Disney offers fans an escapist bubble at D23 event

UK's media-savvy PM Burnham shifts messaging to TikTok, podcasts

Thousands await aid after deadly Indonesian quake

Gay badminton star Gilmour urges progress on LGBTQ rights in Asia

Chinese ship sets off for Europe through Arctic, halving travel time

Pallister takes down Ledecky in Pan Pacs 800m freestyle

Bangladesh on verge of historic win in Australia as Mehidy takes five

Douglass breaks 50m free world record again to claim Pan Pacs gold

Messi sees penalty saved as Nashville routs Inter Miami in MLS

As Opel turns to Chinese partners, its hometown frets about the future

Heat is on as German winegrowers struggle to protect vines

'Sincaraz' set to dominate as 2026 tennis season kicks off

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set for more world domination in 2026, starting at the Australian Open, while Aryna Sabalenka is bubbling with confidence as she chases further Grand Slam success.

Bulgaria readies to adopt the euro, nearly 20 years after joining EU

Bulgaria was preparing to switch to the euro on Wednesday night to become the 21st eurozone member, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.

Trump v 'Obamacare': US health costs set to soar for millions in 2026

Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman was already paying a hefty price for health insurance, but his premium is set to skyrocket in January when major government subsidies expire, after US President Donald Trump's Republican party declined to extend them.

Isiah Whitlock Jr., 'The Wire' actor, dies at 71

American actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., who played a corrupt politician on HBO crime drama "The Wire" and had roles in numerous films directed by Oscar winner Spike Lee, died at age 71 on Tuesday, his manager said.

SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment

Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after completing the second stage of a $41-billion investment in the maker of ChatGPT.

Bangladesh mourns ex-PM Khaleda Zia with state funeral

Bangladesh bids farewell on Wednesday to former prime minister Khaleda Zia with a state funeral expected to draw vast crowds, mourning a towering leader whose career defined politics for decades.

TSMC says started mass production of 'most advanced' 2nm chips

Taiwanese tech titan TSMC has started mass producing its cutting-edge 2-nanometre semiconductor chips, the company said in a statement seen by AFP on Wednesday.

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn 'in induced coma'

Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn has been rushed to hospital in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, media reports said Wednesday.

Guinea junta chief Doumboya elected president: election commission

Guinea's junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country's election commission published on Tuesday.

Caballero defends Maresca after Palmer substitution sparks jeers

Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero defended Enzo Maresca's decision to replace Cole Palmer after the controversial substitution sparked jeered from angry fans during the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

In The News

Depleted Man Utd 'lack quality', says Amorim