Switzerland holds Brexit-style referendum on proposed 10 million population cap
Swiss voters will decide on Sunday whether to approve a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million by 2050, a measure critics say could have Brexit-like consequences for the economy and relations with the European Union. The referendum reflects growing anti-immigration sentiment seen ac»»»
Bulgaria Plans Defence Spending Increase to 5% of GDP by 2035
The Bulgarian government has approved a national plan to gradually increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, according to the Council of Ministers. The decision was announced on Wednesday and aligns with commitments made at the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague. Under the framework, Bulgaria is e»»»
Netherlands face Japan in high-stakes opener
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup is only just beginning, but for the Netherlands and Japan, the margin for error already feels slim. When the two nations walk onto the pitch at AT&T Stadium in Dallas tonight (11pm, Qatar time) they will not simply be opening their World Cup campaign. They will be ta»»»
Brent falls to lowest since March on expected peace deal
Doha, Qatar: Brent crude prices fell on Friday to their lowest levels since early March as traders grew more confident about an imminent peace agreement between the US and Iran. Brent crude futures settled at $87.33, and US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) finished at $84.88. For the week, Brent»»»
Global trade outlook improves amid persistent headwinds
Doha, Qatar: Global trade has faced significant challenges in recent years, shaped by rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions. These headwinds, compounded by a slowdown in global manufacturing, weighed heavily on cross-border flows through 2023 and early 2024. In 2025, however, trade growth »»»
Dr. Saud bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah appointed Chairman of Board of Trustees of Al-Attiyah Foundation
Doha, Qatar: The Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development is pleased to announce the appointment of H E Dr. Saud bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah as Chairman of its Board of Trustees. Dr. Saud is a distinguished government leader with more than 20 years o»»»
Sustainable Fitch confirms QIIB’s strong commitment to sustainability standards, with QR2.85bn in eligible finance
Doha: Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) announced that Sustainable Fitch, the leading global sustainability ratings agency, has issued its Post-Issuance Review relating to the allocation disclosure for the proceeds of QIIB’s Sustainable Sukuk issued in January 2024. In its report, published f»»»
QC explores investment opportunities in Tanzania
Doha, Qatar: First Vice Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC), Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar Al Kuwari, received yesterday a trade delegation from the United Republic of Tanzania, headed by Eng. Peter Sikalumba, representative of the Ministry of Public Works. The meeting was attended by Qatar Chamber Board M»»»
Farmers urged to intensify palm tree monitoring against red palm weevil
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has called on farmers to conduct regular inspections of palm trees to ensure the early detection of infestations by the red palm weevil, one of the most destructive pests affecting date palms. In an agricultural advisory issued as part of its ongoing effort»»»
Al Misnad attends session on promoting peace, democracy at Paris conference
Paris, France: Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad on Friday participated in a session on promoting discourse on peace, democracy, and reform at the Paris International Conference of Civil Society Organizations on the Two-State Solution, held in the »»»
Ali Ibrahim Al Gharib appointed CEO of Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation
Doha, Qatar: The Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim Charitable Foundation has announced the appointment of Ali Ibrahim Al Gharib as Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, effective June 1, 2026. The appointment comes as part of the Foundation’s strategic efforts to enhance operational efficiency and f»»»
Sharjah announces free public parking on Hijri New Year holiday
Sharjah: Public parking users in Sharjah will be exempt from parking fees on Monday, 15 June 2026, on the occasion of the Hijri New Year. The exemption will not apply to smart parking zones or paid parking areas that operate throughout the week and on official holidays. These locations are marked w»»»
Doha Debates podcast examines what football reveals about society
Doha, Qatar: As football captures the world’s attention, the season finale of the Doha Debates Podcast asks a question that extends far beyond the pitch: What can football tell us about who we are? Recorded live in Buenos Aires, Argentina — the country that gave the world Maradona and Messi — and m»»»
Awqaf Ministry publishes 'Al-Fath Al-Mubeen', a scholarly exploration of Prophet’s biography
Doha: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has released Al-Fath Al-Mubeen ‘ala Kitab Noor Al-Yaqeen fi Seerat Sayyid Al-Mursaleen (The Clear Victory: A Commentary on Noor Al-Yaqeen in the Biography of the Master of Messengers), a landmark scholarly work regarded as an important reference for r»»»
'CRPD shifting from welfare to rights'
New York: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) marked a global turning point, shifting from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based approach. National Human Rights»»»
Al Markhiya Gallery to present Lines of Belonging at Fire Station: Artist in Residence on Tuesday
Doha, Qatar: Al Markhiya Gallery at Fire Station: Artist in Residence, in collaboration with the Dalloul Artist Collective, announced yesterday the launch of an art exhibition titled ‘Lines of Belonging’, featuring Qatari artist Salman Al Malek and Lebanese artist Fawzi Baalbaki. The exhibition wil»»»
Egypt's Industrial Revolution: Zones and Complexes Redraw the Economic Map Arab Finance For Information Technology
Egypt is entering a decisive phase in its industrial policy, with industrial zones and complexes emerging as the backbone of its economic transformation. Far from being mere clusters of factories, the complexes are designed as integrated ecosystems that align government incentives with private inve»»»
India’s Prestige to establish $20M denim facility in West Qantara Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: India-based textile manufacturer Prestige Denim Mills signed a deal with the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) to develop a denim fabric production facility in the West Qantara Industrial Zone, according to a statement. With investments totaling $20 million (EGP 1 billion), the integr»»»
GCC Secretary-General, Arab Parliament denounce malicious media allegations against Qatar and UAE
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, has vehemently condemned the malicious media allegations and unverifiable information circulating against the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar. He stressed that these allegations and i»»»
Qatar Reads to support early literacy and parent-child bonding
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Reads, a national initiative under Qatar National Library dedicated to fostering a culture of reading across the country, has announced the launch of a new research-driven initiative under its “Parents-to-Be” Programme, in collaboration with the Women’s Wellness and Research Cent»»»
Qatar reinforces public sector capabilities through AI training
Doha, Qatar: The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) has carried out an initiative to enhance digital transformation and technological innovation within the public sector by hosting a specialised training workshop titled ‘Artificial Intelligence for Project Managers.’ The initiati»»»
Ministry of Awqaf in push to advance sustainability
Doha. Qatar: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has reinforced its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency by organizing a specialized training workshop on the use of solar energy systems in mosques, as part of its efforts to modernize facilities, improve resource man»»»
HBKU study offers fresh insights into improving efficiency of online food delivery
Doha, Qatar: A new study by researchers at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), member of Qatar Foundation has found that where food delivery couriers wait for orders can have a greater impact on service performance than how often they are moved around a city, offering fresh insights into improving»»»
New regulations accelerate growth of Qatar’s district cooling sector
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has taken a significant step toward enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and governance of its district cooling sector by introducing four new regulatory decisions in 2026. The measures, introduced by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) in coordina»»»
Two men charged over England World Cup 'heist'
Kansas City: Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said. Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Pr»»»
Why Trump and other G7 leaders meeting without China might be a mistake
PARIS: From the outset, China wasn’t included when major powers gathered in 1975 at a chateau outside Paris to fix the slumping global economy, the first of what have become annual summits by the G7 club of wealthy nations to forward their interests. No surprise there. Imagining Chinese revolutiona»»»
‘Limitless’ Pedri emerges as Spain’s natural heir to Xavi, Iniesta
ATLANTA: Pedri watched his heroes Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta conquer the world from his family’s bar as a boy, now Spain’s latest midfield maestro is chasing the same dream. The 23-year-old has already proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi and Iniesta at club level with Barcelona, winning thre»»»
5.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Southwest Mexico
Mexico City: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck the state of Guerrero in southwest Mexico, with no reports of injuries or significant damage. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers in the Pacific coastal re»»»
HDP, TULUA pen agreement with Radisson Blu for hotel development at The Island project Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Housing and Development Properties (HDP), the real estate arm of Housing and Development Bank, has signed a partnership agreement with TULUA Developments and Radisson Blu to develop and operate a hotel within Blu Stays, the final phase of The Island project in Marina 5 on Egypt's Nort»»»
Japan to Send Delegation to Greenland to Study Rare Earth Metal Mining - Reports
The Japanese government will send specialists to Greenland this summer to study the possibility of mining rare earth metals and other critical minerals, the Nikkei newspaper reported. According to the newspaper, the experts will consult with the Greenland Autonomous Government and inspect mines whe»»»
Death Toll From Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Reaches 3,756 - Lebanese Health Ministry
The death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2 has reached 3,756, with 11,632 injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. "The total number of victims of the aggression from March 2 to June 13 is 3,756 dead and 11,632 wounded," the ministry said in a statement.Taking into account the »»»
Arab Parliament condemns misleading media claims targeting UAE and Qatar
Cairo: Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, has condemned what he described as misleading media reports and allegations that lack accuracy and objectivity and target the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar in a futile attempt to undermine their efforts, standing and»»»
Iran Agrees Not to Charge Tolls in Strait of Hormuz Under Deal With US - Reports
Iran has agreed not to charge tolls on ships in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a settlement agreement with the United States, Fox News claims citing a source. Iran will open the strategic strait where tolls will not be charged, the news channel said.A senior US administration official told the cha»»»
No outdoor work under direct sun in UAE from 12:30pm to 3pm starting Monday
Dubai: The UAE will begin enforcing its annual midday work ban tomorrow Monday, marking the 22nd consecutive year of a policy designed to protect outdoor workers from extreme summer heat while maintaining critical services through tightly controlled exemptions. The measure, which runs until 15 Sept»»»
Knicks beat Spurs to claim first NBA title in 53 years
NEW YORK: The New York Knicks, fueled by a sensational 45 points from Jalen Brunson, beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to win their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday. The Knicks won the best-of-seven championship series 4-1, denying Victor Wembanyama and his young Spurs teammates on their home»»»
Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’
Kansas City: Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said. Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Pr»»»
Scotland hang on for first World Cup win since 1990 with 1-0 victory over Haiti
BOSTON: Scotland, roared on by their Tartan Army of traveling fans, savoured their first World Cup win in 36 years on Saturday when they edged past Haiti 1-0 thanks to a first-half strike by John McGinn. The Scots — needing three points against a side ranked among the minnows of the game before fa»»»
Iran protests target top diplomat over US deal talks
Paris: Dozens protested Saturday outside a foreign ministry office in Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad, chanting slogans against top diplomat Abbas Araghchi after a televised interview in which he discussed signing a peace deal with the US. In a video shared by Fars news agency, women in black c»»»
Two men charged over England World Cup ‘heist’
Kansas City: Two men were charged Saturday over the theft of $18,000-worth of kit and equipment from the England team at the World Cup, a US prosecutor said. Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Pr»»»
Swiss Banks Acting Arbitrarily in Interpreting Russia Sanctions - Russian Ambassador
GENEVA (Sputnik) - Russians are facing arbitrary actions from Swiss banks, which are interpreting anti-Russian sanctions extremely broadly, Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Sergey Garmonin said in an interview with Sputnik. According to the ambassador, the problem of the collateral impact of anti-»»»
Burnham and Streeting: possible Starmer successors?
Events move fast in Britain nowadays. Just as I finished writing this article, Sir Keir Starmer lost one of his most important ministers. When the news came in that his Defence Secretary, John Healey, had resigned, it was clear I’d have to go back to the beginning and start again. Soon after, Minis»»»
The US should not encourage Syria to enter Lebanon
On 7 June, US President Donald Trump remarked in an interview that he would “like to see a more surgical attack on Hezbollah...we can help with that, or we can recommend Syria...They have a very good leader (President Ahmed al-Sharaa)...and he would love to help.” In the days that followed, multipl»»»
Arab Parliament condemns misleading media claims targeting UAE and Qatar
Cairo: Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, has condemned what he described as misleading media reports and allegations that lack accuracy and objectivity and target the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar in a futile attempt to undermine their efforts, standing and»»»
UAE weather: Hot conditions persist as humidity climbs overnight in coastal areas
Dubai: The UAE will see generally fair weather on Sunday, with partly cloudy skies at times in eastern areas, while humidity is expected to increase overnight and into Monday morning across some coastal regions, raising the possibility of mist formation, according to the National Centre of Meteorol»»»
Dubai GDRFA keeps services running smoothly this Hijri New Year
Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) has announced its working hours for the Hijri New Year holiday, confirming that all digital services will remain available around the clock through its website and smart application to ensure uninterrupted access for cu»»»
McGinn gives Scotland win over Haiti on World Cup return
A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday. Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside »»»
Industrial growth hides broad manufacturing slowdown
The volume of industrial production grew by 0.9% year-on-year in April 2026. The working-day adjusted index is equal to the non-adjusted one. Production decreased in the majority of the manufacturing subsections. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data industrial output was 1.1% lower»»»
Doctors in England call off strikes after last-minute offer in long-running dispute
LONDON: Resident doctors in England have called off strikes that were due to start next week after a last-minute government offer, their unions said on Saturday, raising the prospect of ending a long-running pay and staffing dispute. The walkout had been scheduled to run from Monday to Friday. It w»»»
Trump to meet Mideast leaders, attend Ukraine session at G7 summit in France
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will meet leaders from the Middle East and join a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during next week's Group of Seven summit in France, senior US administration officials said on Saturday. Trump is scheduled to travel to Evian on Monda»»»
Trump turns 80 with cage fight at the White House
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump celebrates his 80th birthday in typically forceful style on Sunday, as the oldest US president ever to take office holds a bloody cage match on the White House lawn. The unprecedented “UFC Freedom 250” event will see 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship stars beat each other t»»»