Doha, Qatar: The Katara Cultural Village Foundation has announced that the twelfth edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel received 2,610 submissions, marking the highest number of submissions since the prize’s inception in 2014. The previous record was 2,321 submissions in the seventh edition»»»

Doha: Fadi Yehia El Attar has been appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Building Engineering Company (QBEC), following a decision by Chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal bin Thani Al-Thani on January 21, 2026. He succeeds the company’s founder, his late father, Yehia Jomaa El Attar, who»»»

Doha, Qatar: Marc Saez emerged as the star scoring a brace and providing an assist as Muaither staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down to edge Al Markhiya 3-2 and book a place in the QSL Cup semi-finals at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. In the other quarter-final, Pablo Sarabia came off»»»

On March 24, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov held a working meeting on the implementation of China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway project. According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the main design materials have already been prepared, and refinement of the»»»

Dubai: Mubadala Investment Company has agreed to sell its minority stake in CoolIT Systems to Ecolab in a $4.75 billion transaction led by KKR, marking a timely exit from a segment gaining traction amid rising demand for artificial intelligence. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & »»»

Manila: A ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Thursday, days after the country declared a national energy emergency over the Middle East war. The Sierra Leone-flagged Sara Sky, bearing high-quali»»»

Sarah Mullally has begun her public ministry as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a historic moment for the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. The 63-year-old former nurse and midwife was formally enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral, becoming the 106th holder of the»»»

A relative lull hangs over efforts to shape Gaza’s future, as global and regional attention shifts to the US-Israeli war against Iran. Still, Israel has continued targeting commanders from Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, using intelligence from collaborators and surveillance devices. One»»»

Lebanon’s cabinet meets on Thursday in a first test of a deepening political crisis, after a sharp split between the “Shiite duo” of Hezbollah and Amal Movement and other factions over a decision to declare Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, persona non grata. The government will convene at»»»

Dubai: Dubai recorded strong growth across its construction sector in the first quarter of 2026, with more than 10,700 building permits issued and a sharp rise in total built-up area, according to Dubai Municipality. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The municipality iss»»»

Only weeks after Iranian diplomat Mohammad Reza Sheibani returned to Beirut as ambassador, his name has become the focus of a diplomatic crisis. Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry withdrew its approval and declared him “persona non grata”, reflecting rising tensions between Beirut and Tehran and drawing re»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has announced the resumption of operations at local agricultural produce markets, providing residents with renewed access to fresh, high-quality Qatari farm products. According to the Ministry, Al Mazrouah Market at Umm Salal Central Market will operate dai»»»

A Los Angeles County jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable in a social media addition case. File Photo by Adam Vaughn/EPA March 26 (UPI) -- A California jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for negligently designing addictive social media platforms that harm children, in a landmark verd»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing restrictions on the export of cash rubles to EAEU member states. The document was published on the legal information portal. Starting April 1, individuals will be able to export amounts over $100,000 in cash rubles only through airport ch»»»

The Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan approved a regulation on the digital technology system Electronic Enrollment of Children in State and Municipal General Education Organizations by its order. Children over 8, or those who do not have documents confirming the identity of the child or parent/le»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a law ratifying the exchange of notes between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of Japan on the project «Reconstruction (construction) of a bridge over Naryn River on Bishkek—Osh road to improve connectivity with the Tran»»»

President Karol Nawrocki has launched a Presidential Business Council to advise on legislation and help Poland overcome the “middle-income trap.” He said the body will support closer cooperation between entrepreneurs and the state while offering formal opinions on economic policy. Nawrocki highligh»»»

A surge in jet fuel costs—up over 90% in Poland since February—will push airfares higher despite Orlen’s recent wholesale price cuts. Global Jet-A1 prices jumped 83% in March, according to International Air Transport Association, driven by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel accounts for up »»»

Ever since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on 28 February 2026, Europe has appeared sidelined and divided over a conflict that could shape the international balance of power in the years ahead. As might be expected, differing approaches by its 27 member states show that the European»»»

Dubai: For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) living in the UAE, moments of crisis have only strengthened their decision to stay. From the Covid-19 pandemic to the current geopolitical situation, residents have noted that the country’s steady governance, accessible services, and strong communiti»»»

Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE are being urged to plan ahead as unstable weather continues across parts of the country, potentially affecting airport operations and flight schedules. Airlines including Emirates, Flydubai, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways, along with airport authorities, have is»»»

At Tashkent Water Week 2026 International Forum in the capital of Uzbekistan, it was noted that Russia is actively engaged in a dialogue on water resources issues with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, despite the lack of shared transboundary rivers. Maxim Korolkov, Deputy Minister of Natural»»»

A little ice-cream doesn’t hurt anyone. Dubai-based Aayati Manchanda admits that during the first few days of crisis, she would sneak in an ice-cream along with essentials of bottled water and vegetables. “I was trying to think practically, but also I’m human. I need to comfort myself,” she notes. »»»

The current escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is not just another distant war. For many of us living and working in the Gulf, it is a reminder that conflict now travels across borders, screens, and emotions, collapsing the distance between “here” and “there”. The present scen»»»

UAE schools are preparing to reopen with strict safety protocols as missile and drone threats continue, prompting active air defence responses. While education plans remain cautious, authorities ensure food supplies stay stable despite tensions. Broader concerns grow over regional water security, a»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met with Philippe Amon, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of SICPA SA. The presidential press service reported. The discussion focused on the implementation of joint projects, including the prospects for introducing innovative solutions and exchanging »»»

March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Southern Command said it killed four men in a strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean on Wednesday, the latest attack by the Trump administration in its aggressive crackdown on narcotics trafficking. The Trump administration has killed at least 163 people »»»

A California jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for $3 million in damages in a landmark lawsuit that aimed to hold social media platforms responsible for harm to children using their services. The case, along with several others, has been randomly selected as a bellwether trial, mean»»»

Dubai: The UAE is set to experience continued unstable weather, with rainfall, strong winds and reduced visibility expected across parts of the country before conditions gradually ease into the next week, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). In its latest bulletin, the NCM said th»»»

Share: File – Iran FM Abbas Araqchi Major developments we’re following: Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries. Two officials from Pakistan described the»»»

More than 5,500 people were killed in Haiti between March 2025 and mid-January as gang violence and security operations against armed groups ravaged the Caribbean nation, the United Nations said on March 24, calling for stronger action against corruption and impunity. »»»

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez is due to address an international investment summit in Miami on March 25, a day after opposition leader María Corina Machado made her own appeal to the energy industry at a separate conference in Houston, throwing into sharp relief the struggle for inve»»»

The United States has exported roughly 30,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba's private sector since early February, Reuters reported, disclosing for the first time the scale of a carve-out that allows private Cuban firms to receive American energy supplies even as Washington maintains a strict oil blockad»»»

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez is seeking to unlock roughly $4.9bn in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) held by the country at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), frozen since 2019 amid a dispute over the country’s political recognition, Spanish newspaper ABC reported.  »»»

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez is due to address an international investment summit in Miami on March 25, a day after opposition leader María Corina Machado made her own appeal to the energy industry at a separate conference in Houston, throwing into sharp relief the struggle for inve»»»

The United States has exported roughly 30,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba's private sector since early February, Reuters reported, disclosing for the first time the scale of a carve-out that allows private Cuban firms to receive American energy supplies even as Washington maintains a strict oil blockad»»»

The United States has exported roughly 30,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba's private sector since early February, Reuters reported, disclosing for the first time the scale of a carve-out that allows private Cuban firms to receive American energy supplies even as Washington maintains a strict oil blockad»»»

US President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that Iran was taking part in peace talks, suggesting Tehran's denials were because Iranian negotiators fear being killed by their own side. "They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they're afraid to say it, because th»»»

The United States has exported roughly 30,000 barrels of fuel to Cuba's private sector since early February, Reuters reported, disclosing for the first time the scale of a carve-out that allows private Cuban firms to receive American energy supplies even as Washington maintains a strict oil blockad»»»

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez is seeking to unlock roughly $4.9bn in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) held by the country at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), frozen since 2019 amid a dispute over the country’s political recognition, Spanish newspaper ABC reported.  »»»

LONDON — Here are the latest facts about Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway virtually closed off by its forces in the Middle East war.A fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait in peacetime, before the United States and Israel launch»»»

Dubai: The UAE’s food supply chain is holding steady amid geopolitical strain, but the real story lies in how the system is designed to adapt and not just withstand disruption. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.“The UAE’s food supply chain is structurally resilient, but »»»

Iran on March 25 an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries. Its own plan includes a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations »»»

As the regional conflict between Israel and Iran enters a volatile new phase, a banned weapon of war is reappearing over civilian centres. While Israel’s defence systems remain robust, a new threat - the cluster ballistic missile - is testing the limits of safety. Unlike a single warhead, these mis»»»

The Iranian regime has been running an online influence campaign using AI-generated photographs, videos and memes to sow confusion about the war in the Middle East. Experts say the main goal is to ramp up anti-war sentiment in the US and pressure President Trump to end the conflict When P»»»

The US military has reportedly escalated operations in the Strait of Hormuz. According to General Dan “Razin” Caine, A-10 "Warthogs" and Apache helicopters are now actively targeting Iranian fast-attack boats, including remote-controlled vessels laden with bombs that threaten oil tankers. AH-64 Apa»»»

The BBC has announced the appointment of former Google executive Matt Brittin as its new director-general, placing the UK’s state media outlet in the hands of a tech businessman with no media experience. In a statement on Wednesday, BBC chairman Samir Shah said Brittin will take over the reins at t»»»

BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Stefan Be»»»

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity" in a move advocates hailed as a step towards healing and possible reparations. The United States, Israel and Argentina opposed the measure while Britain and EU member states»»»

At least 21 Kenyan counties have been affected by floods since their start in March, raising concerns over public safety, infrastructure damage and growing humanitarian needs. According to authorities, over 34,000 people have been displaced. The capital, Nairobi, has been particularly hit. Although»»»