Fashion Fund Unveils New Identity as Saudi Arabia's First Fashion Investment Fund
The Fashion Fund unveiled its new identity under the name “ZYA Fund,” marking Saudi Arabia's first private equity fund dedicated to the fashion sector. The fund was established through a partnership between the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) and Merak Capital. The Fund's Board of Directors held it»»»
US President says Iran should not impose Strait of Hormuz fees
Washington, USA: US President Donald Trump said that Iran should not impose fees on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and called on it to stop immediately if it is doing so. In a post on his Truth Social platform today, Trump cited reports of Iran imposing fees on oil tankers passing through the »»»
Oil prices jump back toward $100 on Mideast ceasefire doubts
LONDON — Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of a shaky Middle East ceasefire lasting the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening.Traders were also locking in profits from Wednesday's relief rally as the first-quarter earnings season gets under way, wh»»»
Al Sadd confident in QSL title push, shift focus to ACL Elite test against Al Hilal
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd remain firmly on course to retain the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title, but their attention is already turning to a crucial AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite showdown against Al Hilal. Coach Roberto Mancini rewarded his players with a day off after Al Sadd defeated Al Sailiya 3-1 »»»
Al Hadi, Al Suwaidi shine as Hathab Tour resumes
Doha, Qatar: The ninth edition of the Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour resumed yesterday with the tenth round of the championship at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s main arena. The Tour paused for the prestigious Doha Equestrian Tour, which wrapped up over the weekend. The three-day event fe»»»
Al Wakrah, Al Shamal reach Qatar Cup semis
Doha, Qatar: Al Wakrah and Al Shamal advanced to the semi-finals of the 13th edition of the Qatar Basketball Cup for the 2025–2026 sports season, after defeating Qatar SC and Al Gharafa respectively in the quarter-final clashes held yesterday. At Al Gharafa Hall, Al Wakrah beat Qatar SC 86-73, deli»»»
Philippines shifts focus to EVs — scraps multi-year, multi-million incentives for Toyota Vios, Mitsubishi Mirage
Manila: Amid the global price shock due to the Middle East war, the Philippines has now cancelled the multi-year, billion-peso incentives for automakers like Toyota and Mitsubishi aimed at encouraging them to "develop" local manufacturing capacity based on internal combustion engines (ICE). In a ma»»»
Asian stocks extend gains on Iran talks optimism, markets watch next move closely
Dubai: Asian equities climbed on Friday, extending their first weekly gain since the Middle East conflict began, with investors leaning into optimism ahead of planned US-Iran talks this weekend. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8%, whi»»»
Team Qatar ready for European Le Mans Series season opener in Barcelona
Doha, Qatar: Team Qatar GT will launch its 2026 campaign in the European Le Mans Series, with the opening round scheduled at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from April 10 to 12. The team arrived in Barcelona last week to take part in the official Prologue pre-season test. The sessions served as »»»
Phone surveillance convictions head to appeals court
Four businessmen convicted in a sweeping phone surveillance case will face an appeals court on December 11, 2026, as investigations ordered by the court of first instance continue to unfold. The men were each sentenced to 126 years in prison – with eight years to be served – for offenses including »»»
Over 3,000 maritime transport transactions registered in Q1 2026
Oha, Qatar: Qatar witnessed growth in the maritime transport transactions in the first quarter (Q1) of this year as the Ministry of Transport (MoT) completed 3,074 transactions through the Maritime Transport Affairs in Q1, the Ministry posted on its X platform, yesterday. The transactions were rela»»»
Bishkek asks Moscow to increase duty-free fuel and lubricants supplies - | 24.KG
Bishkek has requested an increase in duty-free fuel and lubricants supplies from Moscow for next year and expects a positive outcome. First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Daniyar Amangeldiev, said. According to him, Kyrgyzstan is counting on Russia’s positive decision on»»»
Up to 10 percent of public posts to be filled without competition in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a decree introducing amendments to the procedure for filling administrative state and municipal positions. The document aims to further regulate the system of public and municipal service. Under the new rules, certain administrative positions may be fill»»»
ADB forecasts Kyrgyzstan's economic growth at 8.9 percent in 2026 - | 24.KG
The economy of Kyrgyzstan will grow by 8.9 percent in 2026. The April edition of the Asian Development Bank’s Asian Development Outlook (ADO) says. Analysts estimate that growth will slow down compared to 2025, when it reached 11.1 percent, but will remain sustainable. Domestic demand will remain t»»»
QU’s Al Bunyan Club wins ‘Akhlaquna’ award in Al Shabab Youth Category
Doha, Qatar: Qatar University (QU) announced that Al Bunyan Club, a student club dedicated to community service and social engagement, has won the Akhlaquna Award in the Al Shabab Category (18–25) during Akhlaquna Day, in recognition of the club’s initiatives that promote ethical values and communi»»»
CGB organises workshop to develop Ministry of Sports and Youth’s unified digital platform
Doha, Qatar: The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, yesterday held an idea-generation workshop to advance the ministry’s unified digital platform project. According to posts on CGB’s official social media accounts, the sess»»»
Katara to host roundtable on social cohesion and community resilience on Sunday
Doha, Qatar: Katara Cultural Village will host an important roundtable discussion titled “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Building Community Resilience in the Face of Crises” on Sunday, April 12, at Building 15. The event, scheduled for 6pm, brings together a distinguished group of specialists and ac»»»
Zelenskiy proposes a new European version of Nato that includes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed the creation of a new European-centred security bloc that would include Ukraine, the EU, the UK, Turkey and Norway, as concerns mount over the future of US support for Nato. »»»
Israel-Lebanon Direct Negotiations Expected Next Week in Washington
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected next week in Washington, according to a person familiar with the matter, a day after deadly Israeli strikes targeted several areas simultaneously around the country and pounding the capital, Beirut. "We can confirm that the Department will host a»»»
China's Xi hosts Taiwan's KMT chair in landmark Beijing meeting
China’s President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has met Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s main opposition party – the Kuomintang (KMT). Cheng is visiting China at the invita»»»
China's Xi hosts Taiwan's KMT chair in landmark Beijing meeting
China’s President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has met Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s main opposition party – the Kuomintang (KMT). Cheng is visiting China at the invita»»»
ASIA BLOG: How Taiwan’s KMT risks the nation’s sovereignty
As Taiwan’s opposition leader, Cheng Li-wun leads a senior Kuomintang (KMT) delegation across China this week, complete with ceremonial stops at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and high-level meetings in Shanghai and Beijing, the fine line between opposition outreach and quasi-diplomacy is being delibera»»»
China's Xi hosts Taiwan's KMT chair in landmark Beijing meeting
China’s President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has met Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s main opposition party – the Kuomintang (KMT). Cheng is visiting China at the invita»»»
EU paid €2.88bn for Russian Arctic LNG in first quarter
The EU paid an estimated €2.88bn ($3.33bn) to Russia for liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Arctic LNG project, majority owned by Novatek (NVTK.MM), in the first quarter of 2026, according to analysis of shipping data published by campaign group Urgewald on April 10. The payments were driven in p»»»
Peru vote puts new Senate, not presidency, at centre of democracy battle
With polls set to open on April 12, Peru enters its most consequential vote in a generation, defined less by who wins the presidency than by who controls a brand-new Senate — and whether democratic institutions can survive the candidates now vying to lead them. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Shipping begins moving through Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data from April 9 shows vessels beginning to transit the Strait of Hormuz, providing the first visual evidence that shipping is cautiously resuming through the waterway a day after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect. »»»
Uzbekistan’s National Investment Fund eyes IPOs in London and Tashkent
Uzbekistan’s National Investment Fund (UzNIF) on April 9 announced that it is considering dual initial public offerings (IPOs) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Tashkent Stock Exchange (TSE). Its listing»»»
Oil price spike: How does the Kremlin tax its oil industry?
Oil prices have spiked and that should produce a huge windfall for the Kremlin which has been desperately short of cash to fund its war machine in Ukraine since the start of this year. For its part, Ukraine has been workin»»»
EU paid €2.88bn for Russian Arctic LNG in first quarter
The EU paid an estimated €2.88bn ($3.33bn) to Russia for liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Arctic LNG project, majority owned by Novatek (NVTK.MM), in the first quarter of 2026, according to analysis of shipping data published by campaign group Urgewald on April 10. The payments were driven in p»»»
Oil price spike: How does the Kremlin tax its oil industry?
Oil prices have spiked and that should produce a huge windfall for the Kremlin which has been desperately short of cash to fund its war machine in Ukraine since the start of this year. For its part, Ukraine has been workin»»»
Diesel price plunge: Rollback of up to ₱6.50/L seen in the Philippines next week
Manila: A major rollback in diesel fuel prices, possibly as high as ₱6.50/L, may hit the pumps next week as the fragile US‑Iran ceasefire holds in the Middle East. The projected cut would translate into a potential savings of about $0.11–0.12 per liter (roughly $1.10–1.20 per 10 liters) for drivers»»»
EU paid €2.88bn for Russian Arctic LNG in first quarter
The EU paid an estimated €2.88bn ($3.33bn) to Russia for liquefied natural gas from the Yamal Arctic LNG project, majority owned by Novatek (NVTK.MM), in the first quarter of 2026, according to analysis of shipping data published by campaign group Urgewald on April 10. The payments were driven in p»»»
Vijay’s final film ‘Jana Nayagan’ leaked in HD before release, fans furious
Dubai: Tamil actor Vijay’s much-anticipated final film before he plunges fully into politics, Jana Nayagan, has reportedly been leaked online even before its theatrical release, sending shockwaves through the film industry and his fanbase. According to reports, the leak comes at a particularly sens»»»
Pharmaceutical plant to be built in Mailuu-Suu - | 24.KG
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, held a meeting with investors regarding the construction of a pharmaceutical plant. Representatives of the Chinese companies EHD (Eurasian Healthcare Development), Qinhuangdao Taizhi Medical Technology Company Limited, and the »»»
Qatar advances urban greening and native plant restoration initiatives
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is accelerating nationwide efforts to expand green spaces, restore native vegetation, and promote environmental sustainability as part of a broader strategy to combat desertification and enhance the country’s ecosystem. Officials and environmental experts highlight that Qatar pos»»»
Grundberg Urges Need to Keep Yemen out of Regional Escalation
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded a visit to Aden, where he met with senior Yemeni government officials to discuss the implications of recent regional and national developments on prospects for peace in Yemen, and priorities for the political, economic and military/security tracks»»»
DIFC moves to ease business costs with payment breaks and fee relief across Dubai’s financial hub
Dubai: Dubai’s financial hub has moved to ease pressure on companies operating within its ecosystem, introducing a package of temporary support measures to stabilise cash flows and give firms breathing space. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Dubai International Financia»»»
Calls to invoke the 25th Amendment after Trump's Iran threats 'useless'
US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy “a whole civilisation” in Iran has reignited calls to invoke the 25th Amendment and drawn condemnation across the political spectrum. Yet despite a growing chorus of critics, from Democrats to former MAGA allies, the mechanism remains politically out of»»»
Argentine MPs approve Milei-backed bill to allow mining in glaciers
Argentina's lower house of parliament on Thursday approved a bill backed by President Javier Milei to permit mining in glacier regions. Environmentalists and scientists have warned that mining in in frozen parts of the Andes mountains would threaten water resources. The law takes effect»»»
Melania Trump delivers statement denying Epstein ties, knowledge of his crimes
US first lady Melania Trump gave an extraordinary statement from the White House on Thursday denying any ties to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said the "lies" linking her to Epstein were "mean-spirited attempts" to defame her reputation. First lady Melania Tr»»»
Venezuela police tear gas protesters calling for pay and pension rises
Police in Caracas on Thursday launched tear gas at thousands of protesters marching towards the presidential palace to demand pay raises and pension increases. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced wage increases on May 1 without disclosing the amount, as many Venezuelans live on salarie»»»
Worship Starts Again at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel Approves New Settlements
Thousands of Palestinians prayed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque at dawn Thursday, according to Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian religious authority that administers the compound. For the first time in 41 days, Muslim worshippers returned to Al-Aqsa, which had been shuttered since the start of the war»»»
Pro-Iran Groups Have Used AI to Try to Control the War Narrative
Pro-Iran groups have used artificial intelligence to create slick internet memes in English to try to shape the narrative during the war against the US and Israel and foster opposition to it. Analysts say the memes appear to be coming from groups linked to the government in Tehran and are part of a»»»