Gold is a $31 trillion asset. Why aren’t portfolios catching up?
Dubai: The global gold market is now valued at around $31 trillion, built on nearly 220,000 tonnes of above-ground stock accumulated over centuries, making it one of the largest and most enduring asset classes in the financial system. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.De»»»
New UN report urges action to restore navigation through Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) confirmed in a new report released Wednesday that maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a standstill, recording a 95% decrease in the number of vessels passing through daily over the past month. »»»
Trump’s Nato threat rattles alliance as global economy reels from Iran's choking of Hormuz
Of all the pressure tactics in Donald Trump’s playbook, threatening to pull the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) has always been one of the most powerful—and destabilizing. Asked by The Telegraph whether he was reconsidering US membership in the Western military al»»»
New UN report urges action to restore navigation through Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) confirmed in a new report released Wednesday that maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a standstill, recording a 95% decrease in the number of vessels passing through daily over the past month. »»»
Venezuela opens for business, but investors weigh promise against reality
The months since Nicolás Maduro's capture have brought Venezuela closer to the global economy than at any point in a generation. New laws, a US sanctions rollback and a resumption of international engagement have redrawn the investment landscape with striking speed. Yet for many of the large Wester»»»
FIFA World Cup line-up complete as Iraq claim final spot
Lions of Mesopotamia defeat Bolivia in play-off to become 48th and final team at first edition of expanded finalsFIFA Iraq were the last team to qualify, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament at Monterrey Stadium, Mexico, on Tuesday to earn the final spot in Group I a»»»
Qatar participates in 43rd sessionof Arab Interior Ministers Council
QNA Doha The State of Qatar participated in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, held on Wednesday via videoconference. Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani led the State of Qatar’s delegation participating in the session»»»
Novo Nordisk Qatar announceslaunch of its ‘New Me Can’ obesity awareness campaign
Tribune News Network Doha Novo Nordisk Qatar has announced the launch of ‘New Me Can’, a nationwide disease awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of obesity as a serious chronic disease and supporting informed public dialogue on long-term health. Obesity has emerged as a major global epidem»»»
MECC rehabilitates wild trees damaged by recent rainfall
QNA Doha The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), through its Wildlife Development Department, has intensified efforts to rehabilitate wild trees affected by recent weather events. Field teams have stabilized partially fallen trees, reinforced surrounding soil, and repaired damaged tr»»»
MECC announces launch ofmarine turtle nesting season
QNA Doha The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change a ( MECC) announced on Wednesday the start of the marine turtle nesting season in Qatar, which runs from April 1 to August 1. This announcement comes as part of the country’s strong commitment to protecting endangered species and monitoring ra»»»
MSDF to host first Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work on Sunday
QNA Doha Under the esteemed patronage of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) will organise the first edition of the “Rawda Award” for Excellence in Social Work on Sunday to honour the winning social initiatives. The Rawda Award»»»
PM, Greek defence minister discuss regional issues
QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Minister of National Defence of Greece Nikolaos Georgios Dendias in Doha on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed relations between the two countries and ways to support a»»»
Amir meets Greek defence minister
His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in his office at Lusail Palace on Wednesday morning with HE Minister of National Defense of the Hellenic Republic Nikolaos Georgios Dendias. During the meeting, they reviewed developments in the region and their repercu»»»
DEPUTY PM MEETS GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani met with Minister of Defence of Greece Nikolaos Georgios Dendias in Doha on Wednesday. The meeting discussed latest security developments in the region, along with aspects of defence »»»
Amir-UAE president talks in Abu Dhabi praised by ministers
Ministers also praised Tuesday’s discussions held in Abu Dhabi between HH the Amir and HH President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which reflected the close fraternal relations and strategic partnership between the two nations and addressed escalating regional tensi»»»
WCM-Q experts highlight role of acupuncture in pain management
Tribune News Network Doha The Institute for Population Health (IPH) at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has published a series of papers evaluating the effectiveness and acceptance of Western medical acupuncture (WMA) for pain management in athletes and its broader role in modern integrative me»»»
MoPH participates in World Autism Awareness Day
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health is participating in the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on 2 April. This year’s observance is held under the theme “Autism and Humanity – Every life Has Value,” as designated by the United Nations. The observance h»»»
QC opens mosque and Qur’an centre in Côte d’Ivoire
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Charity (QC), with generous support from donors, has inaugurated a new project comprising a mosque and a holy Qur’an education and memorisation centre in Songon District of the Abidjan Region, in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The project aims to strengthen education»»»
Shafallah Center marks World Autism Awareness Day with call for inclusion
QNA Doha Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities marked World Autism Awareness Day with an event highlighting inclusion and human dignity. The event, held under the theme ‘Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value’, aimed to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder and promote greater un»»»
QU increases institutional preparedness to ensure safety of the community
Tribune News Network Doha As part of its institutional responsibility and commitment to community safety, Qatar University (QU) confirmed that it continues to implement measures aimed at strengthening institutional preparedness, in line with directives issued by the Ministry of Interior and relevan»»»
Lebanese president, Qatar’s envoy discuss bilateral ties
QNA Beirut President of the Republic of Lebanon General Joseph Aoun met on Wednesday with Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Lebanon HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. At the outset of the meeting, HE the Ambassador conveyed the greetings of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the»»»
MoT moves Autonomous E-Mobility Forum from April to September 7-9
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has moved the 2nd edition of the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum to September 7-9, 2026, against the backdrop of the current regional situation. The Forum was initially scheduled this April 7-9. Organised by Just us & Otto Marketing Services, th»»»
QA to add more flights to over 120 destinations by mid-May
Tribune News Network DOHA Qatar Airways is set to continue the gradual increase in flights to and from Doha to more than 120 destinations by mid-May 2026, across the airline’s global network. All flights to and from Doha continue to operate through dedicated flight corridors established in close co»»»
Qatar to distance itself from regional conflicts: Al Muftah
Tribune News Network Geneva Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva HE Dr Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah on Wednesday participated in an event titled ‘Diplomacy and Security: Shaping Peace in a Fragmented World’, at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in »»»
UAE affirms embrace of Iranian community as integral to its diverse social fabric: MoFA
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has issued a statement affirming that the UAE is home to a respected and valued Iranian community that forms an integral part of its social fabric and contributes to its diversity and openness. The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities, reflect»»»
War snuffs out signs of recovery in Turkish manufacturing, shows March PMI
Ill-effects of the conflict in the Middle East in March snuffed out the beginnings of a possible recovery in Turkish manufacturing, according to the latest Istanbul Chamber of Industry Turkiye Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on April 1 by S&P Global. »»»
War snuffs out signs of recovery in Turkish manufacturing, shows March PMI
Ill-effects of the conflict in the Middle East in March snuffed out the beginnings of a possible recovery in Turkish manufacturing, according to the latest Istanbul Chamber of Industry Turkiye Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on April 1 by S&P Global. »»»
Aircon: from comfort to matter of life and death
The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner. As a species, humans can only t»»»
Aircon: from comfort to matter of life and death
The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner. As a species, humans can only t»»»
Aircon: from comfort to matter of life and death
The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner. As a species, humans can only t»»»
Aircon: from comfort to matter of life and death
The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner. As a species, humans can only t»»»
Armenian PM strikes assertive tone in talks with Putin
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan adopted an assertive tone during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 1, with sharp differences emerging over elections, security ties and Armenia’s geopolitical direction. »»»
Tisza needs supermajority victory in Hungarian elections to unlock EU frozen funds
Hungary’s ability to unlock billions in frozen EU funding will depend heavily on the outcome of its parliamentary election on April 12. The opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar will need to win a supermajority if it is to undo laws that have blocked the release of billions of euros in frozen »»»
Gulf interest, market jitters and EU delays shape Ukraine’s defence industry outlook
Ukraine’s defence sector is drawing growing interest from Gulf states even as financial pressures mount and European support faces delays, reported Ukraine Business News. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his recent tour »»»
Gulf interest, market jitters and EU delays shape Ukraine’s defence industry outlook
Ukraine’s defence sector is drawing growing interest from Gulf states even as financial pressures mount and European support faces delays, reported Ukraine Business News. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his recent tour »»»
UAE air defences intercept 5 ballistic missiles, 35 UAVs
ABU DHABI: The UAE air defences on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs. The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members o»»»
Russian manufacturing PMI slips further into the red to 48.3 as demand weakens
Russia’s manufacturing sector slipped further into the red in March, as weakening demand, falling output and declining business confidence highlighted mounting pressure on industrial activity, according to the latest data from S&P Global. (chart) »»»
Armenian PM strikes assertive tone in talks with Putin
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan adopted an assertive tone during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 1, with sharp differences emerging over elections, security ties and Armenia’s geopolitical direction. »»»
Minister of Investment holds meeting with Jordanian-Swedish business network
AMMAN — The Minister of Investment, Tariq Abu-Ghazaleh, held a meeting recently, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Jordan, Maria Sargren, with the Jordanian-Swedish Business Network, which consists of representatives of a number of Swedish companies operating in Jordan.D»»»
Trump attends birthright citizenship hearing at Supreme Court in historic first
In a historic first, Donald Trump became the first US sitting president to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as it weighed his bid to restrict birthright citizenship. During more than two hours of questioning, justices from across the ideological spectrum assessed the policy’s»»»
The Observers - Bedouins in Israel’s Negev desert face bomb shelter shortage
As Iranian and Hezbollah air strikes on Israel continue, tens of thousands of Bedouins living in the country’s southern Negev desert have no access to shelters. While some NGOs are attempting to install mobile shelters, they are primarily calling on the government to take action, denouncing "discri»»»
Macron hails France-Japan ties after talks in Tokyo with PM Takaichi
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday hailed his country's "historic" ties with Japan following talks in Tokyo with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, part of a three-day visit that will include a meeting with the emperor of Japan. Touching on the war in the Middle East, the two leade»»»
Qatar's Permanent Representative to UN Office in Geneva participates in diplomacy and security event
Geneva: HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah took part in an event titled "Diplomacy and Security: Shaping Peace in a Fragmented World," held at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. In her remarks, Her Excellency said that in »»»
Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work prepares for its inaugural ceremony
Doha: Under the gracious patronage of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) has announced to organise the inaugural ceremony of the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work on April 5 to honour the winning social initiatives. The “Rawda” Awa»»»
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs state version of SAVE Act into law - UPI.com
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law Wednesday making voters prove their citizenship. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo April 1 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Wednesday a state bill similar to the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. The law will take ef»»»
Arab interior ministers condemn Iranian attacks and Israeli policies
Riyadh ,Apr. 1 (SANA) The Council of Arab Interior Ministers condemned on Wednesday the heinous Iranian attacks on several Arab countries during a virtual meeting that included Syria. The Council of Arab Interior Ministers reiterated, in a final statement, its full solidarity with the affected stat»»»
There are more female same-sex households than male, survey finds - UPI.com
Attendees watch as participants march down 5th avenue at the 2019 New York City LGBT Pride March during Pride Week on the weekend of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City. A new Census Bureau survey showed that in 2024, there were more female same-sex households than male. Fi»»»
Suit fights Gulf drilling exemption tied to national security claim - UPI.com
A court battle has begun after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico necessary for national security and received an exemption from endangered species protections. File Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA April 1 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth de»»»
Iran’s President to US People: Choosing Confrontation Will Affect Future Generations
The Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian sent on Wednesday a message to the American people, stressing that the Iranian people harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futi»»»
Mucunski, Haddad meet in Paris for talks on faster, merit-based EU integration
Paris, 1 April 2026 (MIA) — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski met Wednesday with France's Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad for talks on strengthening bilateral ties, deepening political dialogue and boosting economic cooperation as well as the count»»»