Japan’s cabinet has approved a shift towards a demand-driven rice production policy, alongside new measures to address supply shortages, as prices of the staple have risen sharply in recent years. The government of Sanae T»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi clinched the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) League title for the 2025-2026 season, sealing the prestigious title for a third time in a row, with a 91-79 win over Al Rayyan in the second game of the best-of-three finals at Al Gharafa Hall yesterday. Al Arabi had won the open»»»

Cuba said Thursday that it will release more than 2,000 inmates. File Photo by Ernesto Mastroscusa/EPA-EFE April 3 (UPI) -- The Cuban government has announced it will pardon more than 2,000 prisoners, its second such release in less than a month. The Embassy of Cuba in Washington announced Thursday»»»

Doha, Qatar: Aneed Al Shahania clinched the H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy while Basalt emerged the Ebraz Cup winner to light up the Al Rayyan Racecourse, which hosted major races last evening. Competing in the Local Purebred Arabians, Aneed Al Shahania returned to winning form for»»»

Milan: The head of Italy’s football federation (FIGC) resigned yesterday, falling on his sword after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time. Gabriele Gravina revealed he would step down as the country’s top football official following a meeting held»»»

Doha, Qatar: England’s Andrew Sanders fired an opening round of 72 to take the first-round lead at the 40th Qatar Open Golf Championship, which got underway at Doha Golf Club yesterday. In a field of 90 players competing over three days, Sanders set the early pace in the singles stroke-play format,»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un petted puppies and kittens with his delighted daughter as they toured a new Pyongyang housing district, state media said Friday. The Hwasong area, formerly mostly farmland, is a newly developed residential district with about 40,000 housing units built through a seri»»»

A man armed with knives was arrested after setting off pyrotechnics on a high-speed train in Germany, injuring 12 people, police said Friday. The incident occurred late Thursday on an Intercity Express train, the German equivalent of France's TGV, bound for Frankfurt in western Germany, with around»»»

The UN Security Council has postponed a vote scheduled for Friday on authorizing the use of "defensive" force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks, according to the official program. The 15-member body was set to vote Friday morning on a draft resolution brought by Bahra»»»

A fresh 20 cm of snow fell on Rozhen Peak, bringing the total snow cover there to 59 cm, meteorologists at the station told BTA on Friday. Snow fell in the higher parts of the Rhodope Mountains over the past 24 hours, while rain fell elsewhere. The Mountain Rescue Service in Pamporovo told BTA that»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), held a coordination meeting yesterday bringing together major suppliers in Qatar and a number of relevant local companies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chains at the»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index ended the week’s trading up by 0.66 percent, raising its balance by 66.85 points to reach 10,227 points, supported by the positive performance of five sectors, particularly the industrial sector, which recorded an increase of 1.62 percent. In this c»»»

Seoul: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday Donald Trump’s mocking comments about his marriage did not merit a response, calling them “neither elegant nor up to standard”. But after days of tensions over US-Israeli strikes on Iran and over NATO, an apparently irritated Macron launched »»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has amended several resolutions governing the licensing of alcoholic products. Under the new decree, provisions related to retail alcohol sales have been removed from the regulatory framework. Specifically: As a result, licensing regulation in the sector has b»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai edged slightly higher on Friday morning, offering a pause after the sharp declines seen through much of March. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Chequ»»»

Dubai: UAE authorities have confirmed that the country’s air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, as regional tensions rise. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an advisory that the sounds heard in parts of the country were due to air defence »»»

Doha, Qatar: Surging global oil and gas prices are creating a new set of economic challenges for countries worldwide. The most prominent of these challenges is the fight against stagflation, with major fears of stagflation, central banks are now facing a dilemma over raising interest rates to contr»»»

The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a draft resolution allowing a “defensive” force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran’s actions disrupt a vital global trade route. Backed by the United States, the measure comes amid rising tensions and concerns over energy supplies a»»»

North Korea will hold a ceremony this month to bury the remains of its soldiers killed while fighting overseas alongside Russia against Ukraine, state media said Friday. Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops -- as well as missiles and munitions -- to support Russia's war in Ukraine. Seoul estimate»»»

The NATO alliance has in recent years survived existential challenges - ranging from the war in Ukraine to multiple bouts of pressure and insults from US President Donald Trump, who has questioned its core mission and threatened to seize Greenland. But it is the US-Israeli war with Iran, thousands »»»

Doha, Qatar: As part of its institutional responsibility and commitment to the safety of its community, Qatar University (QU) confirmed that it continues to implement measures aimed at strengthening institutional preparedness in response to the directives issued by the Ministry of Interior and rele»»»

Doha, Qatar: Hamad, Doha, Ruwais Port handled over 291,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in first quarter (Q1) of 2026, along with around 237,000 tonnes of general cargo and more than 200,000 tonnes of bulk cargo. The ports also processed nearly 25,000 RoRo units and 75,779 heads of livestock»»»

Doha, Qatar: LuLu Hypermarket marked World Autism Awareness Day 2026 by illuminating its D-Ring Road branch in blue, demonstrating support for individuals with autism and promoting awareness across the community. Aligned with this year’s global theme, “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value “wh»»»

The official opening ceremony of a Traditional Crafts Center was held at the Gapar Aitiev Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts. This event was made possible through cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Korea. The initiative aims to modernize production and introduce digital ma»»»

Over the past 60 years, the average annual temperature in Kyrgyzstan has risen by approximately 1.2°C — twice the global rate. Zhibek Kadoeva, a senior specialist at the Main Department of Environmental and Climate Policy of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, sai»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) enter a welcome luncheon at the presidential Blue House in Seoul Friday. Photo by Yonhap President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage t»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs will host the third seminar in its fourth season of the cultural project “Ummah Seminar” in the evening of April 7 at Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab Mosque. This season’s seminars are organised »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Doha-based Arab Centre for Educational Training for the Gulf States organised a virtual symposium yesterday on educational leadership in crises, with the participation of a select group of educational leaders and specialists from Gulf and Arab countries. The seminar, held as a cont»»»

Doha, Qatar: Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced the expansion of its temporary operations from King Fahd International Airport to include Istanbul (IST), Athens (ATH), and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Amid the temporary closure of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s airspace »»»

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday they planned to boost defense cooperation and work together to address the economic and energy crises triggered by the war in Iran. Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday for a two-day state visit after also»»»

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has asked General Randy George to step down as chief of staff of the US Army, an official said Thursday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report from US broadcaster CBS that said George had been asked to take immediate retirement. The »»»

President Sadyr Japarov signed a law ratifying an agreement with the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to finance a healthcare project. The project is part of One Health program — the first phase of an initiative aimed at pandemic pr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, represented by the Scholarship Department and the School and Student Affairs Department, recently organised a specialised training workshop for academic advisors from both public and private schools, with the participation of approximatel»»»

Egypt stressed on Thursday its keenness on developing its bilateral ties and strategic partnership with Russia, along with coordinating over regional and international affairs, most notably the impact of the war on Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin received in Moscow on Thursday Egyptian Forei»»»

Every winter, storms wipe out swathes of the picturesque Spanish coast, undoing summer reconstruction work and threatening the foundations of the country's vital tourism industry. Faced with a futile cycle of damage followed by reparations of artificial material, some beach holiday destinations are»»»

Heavy rainfall, strong winds and low visibility due to wind-borne north African dust will affect southern Greece Friday, with a gradual improvement in the days leading up to Orthodox Easter. In the Greater Athens region there may be rainfall in the afternoon. Local storms are forecast in the southe»»»

Doha, Qatar: As the world marked World Autism Awareness Day yesterday, parents and caregivers are being encouraged to better support children with autism, particularly during times of stress and uncertainty. Consultant Developmental Pediatrician at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Aboud Babiker Ali Eltom says s»»»

Doha, Qatar: Aspire Academy has announced that its flagship “Aspire in the World Fellows - The Workshop Tour” will make its European debut in Bucharest next month, marking the third stop of the global initiative aimed at advancing youth football development through international knowledge exchange.»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation (QF) is marking World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on April 2, by lighting its headquarters in Education City, along with Education City Stadium and Sidra Medicine, in blue over three consecutive evenings. World Autism Awareness Day is a global initiative pr»»»

Officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Service on Drug Control uncovered a case of illegal drug trafficking in Naryn region. On April 1, during operational and investigative activities, three suspects were identified — 39, 52, and 53. A search of their vehicle revealed narcotics, which wer»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Core Curriculum Programme at the Deanship of General Studies at Qatar University (QU) organised a virtual seminar titled ‘How Does Volunteering Enhance Your Character?’ which was attended by more than 150 students from various colleges across the university. The seminar was held vi»»»

There was little sign Friday of the war in the Mideast winding down as Israel said it faced incoming fire from Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain reported being under attack, and Iran said eight people were killed while celebrating the close of Persian new year near a major bridge hit by a US strike. Tehran »»»

The United Nations announced on Thursday that it was officially resuming operations in the Sudanese capital Khartoum after three years of war. UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian and Development Coordinator in Sudan Denise Brown said the move was significant and allows UN agencies to reach all»»»

Kyrgyzstan has officially launched a national digital exchange trading mechanism for precious metals on the platform of the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KSE). The KSE, Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC, and Central Depository CJSC have signed a trilateral agreement enabling the free buying and selling of precious metals »»»

Dubai: Fair to partly cloudy conditions are expected across the UAE on Friday, with humid weather forecast overnight into Saturday morning in some coastal and internal areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Light to moderate winds are expected during the day, occasionally fre»»»

Doha, Qatar: National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) yesterday announced the launch of a new Cloud Computing Privacy Assessment Tool aimed at helping organisations enhance privacy governance and strengthen data protection as the country accelerates its digital transformation. In a post on X, the agen»»»

AMMAN — The Ministry of Investment (MoI) has announced the holding of a public introductory session for the Amman Bridge project, which will be implemented under a public-private partnership system.The session aimed to review the most prominent features of the project, which i»»»

AMMAN — The government has announced on Thursday that the Jordan-European Investment Conference will be postponed until the end of 2026.The decision, made in coordination with the European Union, comes amid logistical challenges arising from regional developments, according to the Jordan News Agenc»»»

BAGHDAD — Iraq has begun exporting crude using tanker trucks through Syria, its oil ministry said, more than a month into a war that has wrought havoc on energy markets.A founding member of the OPEC oil cartel, Iraq is hugely dependent on its oil exports, accounting for some 90 percent of its budge»»»

Journalist Hristo Rimpopov told Bulgarian National Radio that there is no basis to assume Bulgaria could become a target of Iranian attacks, following confirmation by the Foreign Ministry that Tehran had sent a diplomatic note concerning the presence of US aircraft at a Bulgarian airport. The clari»»»