Dubai: IHC reported a near doubling of first-quarter profit after tax, supported by stronger operating performance, higher investment income and gains across its diversified portfolio. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Abu Dhabi-based investment company said profit a»»»

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, like the one pictured here, attacked and disabled the rudder of a Iranian-flagged ship that violated a U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports on Wednesday. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo May 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. military enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports h»»»

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell earlier confirmed that the Department of War plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. Polish President Karol Nawrocki said that he will try to persuade US counterpart Donald Trump to keep the forces in Europe.He added that Poland»»»

Iran denied any involvement by its armed forces in damage to a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, its ‌embassy in Seoul ‌said on ‌Thursday ⁠in a statement, adding ⁠that safe passage through the waterway requires strict adherence to Iranian regulations. On ⁠Monday, a Panama-flagged ‌ship ‌»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s first-quarter 2026 budget performance figures showed the government remained firmly committed to development and social spending, with total expenditure surging 20 percent year on year to about SR387 billion ($103.2 billion), compared with SR322 billion in the same period a y»»»

BusinessGermanyCOVID pioneer BioNTech: The fall of Germany's pandemic heroNik MartinBioNTech, once celebrated for its COVID-19 vaccines, is grappling with falling demand, restructuring and the departure of its founders. Can its ambitious cancer trials turn it from a one-hit wonder into a biotech gi»»»

The police on Thursday defended its response to complaints of repeated threats and attacks against a Cretan youth in the lead-up to his fatal shooting by a man who blamed him for the traffic death of his teenage son. Police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou said that each time officers had responde»»»

The EU’s turn to American ‘identity politics’ was the product of a legitimacy crisis facing the bloc in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, argues Frank Furedi, executive director of MCC Brussels, a conservative think-tank. Questions about European identity are now at the heart of a cu»»»

People watch a live TV broadcast at Seoul Station on Thursday showing the appeal hearing of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The court reduced Han's sentence to 15 years over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law.. Photo by Yonhap An appeals court on Thursd»»»

MOSCOW: Russia’s defense ministry said on Thursday that its forces had destroyed almost 350 Ukrainian drones overnight, days before Moscow holds World War II commemorations and amid competing calls from both sides for a temporary ceasefire. Ukraine had announced a unilateral truce on May 6 — a requ»»»

AMSTERDAM: Countries worldwide scrambled on Thursday to trace people ​who had left the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak before it got marooned off the coast of Cape Verde, in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease. Three people — a Dutch couple and a German national — died in th»»»

Iran denied on Thursday attacking a South Korean cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz this week, as U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war was "very possible" but warned Washington would resume bombing if talks failed. Tehran's embassy in Seoul said it "firmly rejects and categoricall»»»

BOSTON: At IBM Think 2026 in Boston, IBM’s bet on Saudi Arabia went beyond expanding its role in AI infrastructure. The US technology company sought to position itself as a partner in a tougher phase, turning that investment into large-scale industrial and institutional execution. That message came»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices moved higher on Thursday morning, extending a strong rebound that has taken 24K gold back near Dh570 a gram after a sharp rise earlier in the week. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for ou»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, is advancing orthopedic care in Qatar with the introduction of a specialised pediatric orthopedic sports medicine service. The latest offering from the Orthopedics Department, delivers growth-sparing surgical techniques, tailored for childr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has inaugurated the Saif bin Saif Al-Maadadi Jami’ mosque in the Muaither Al-Wukair area, marking a new addition to the country’s expanding network of places of worship designed to meet growing community needs. The newly opened mosque, construc»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) organised humanitarian visits for cancer patients, including children at Sidra Medicine and adult patients at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, as part of its sustainable “Patient Visits” programme. The initiative aims to provide psychosocial »»»

LONDON: British voters cast ballots Thursday in midterm local and regional elections that could shake up the country’s politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Starmer’s center-left Labour Party is bracing for big losses in polls that will choose about 5,000 local »»»

SYDNEY: A group of women linked to Daesh terrorists face arrest when they land in Australia on Thursday, returning home years after allegedly sneaking into Syria to join the group’s self-declared caliphate. Four women and nine children — all Australian citizens — are due to land on Thursday evening»»»

Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday he will have a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the next three or four days at which he would seek assurances that his country will be respected at the World Cup in the United States.Canada, which is co-hosting the June 11 to July 19»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. At the start of the meeting, Jassim Al Thani conveyed to Sheikh Mohamed the UAE President the »»»

RIYADH: Medical teams of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program on Thursday began the complex procedure of separating 18-month-old Tanzanian twin girls Nancy and Nice. The surgery is taking place at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in Riyadh. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor to the royal co»»»

Australia will look to stave off energy shortages by forcing major gas companies to reserve 20 percent of their exports for domestic use, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Thursday. The country is one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), a key fuel source in hot demand as»»»

Dubai: The Emirates Group has announced a remarkable 20-week salary bonus for its employees following a record performance in the fiscal year 2025-2026 after the group achieved historic highs in net profits, revenues, and cash balances. Dubai's flagship airline recorded these earnings despite the o»»»

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1,200 people. 1 of 6 | On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania off the coast of Ireland, killing nearly 1,200 people. File Photo by Library of Congress May 7 (UPI) -- O»»»

French utility Engie is still looking to grow and develop its profile of energy assets in the Middle East despite the disruptions ⁠from the Iran War, Engie's ⁠finance chief Pierre-Francois Riolacci told reporters on Thursday. "We don't see ⁠any questioning of our development plan in the Middle East»»»

A total 268 migrants have reached the southern island of Crete over the past 24 hours, as arrivals in small boats from north Africa have picked up again following a brief hiatus. According to the Coast Guard, a total 142 people were rescued off three small boats overnight and taken to a temporary r»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Shareholders’ Council of the Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation “Dhaman”, chaired by the head of the Lebanese Republic’s delegation, elected a new Board of Directors for the Corporation for the next three years during its 53rd meeting in the UAE. The Council also»»»

Doha, Qatar: Elegancia Facilities Management, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding, has secured a prestigious portfolio of high-value contracts across Qatar, further strengthening its position in the region’s facilities management sector as a trusted partner to the nation’s most iconic institutions. A»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index surged 144.63 points or 1.38 percent to close at 10,649.25 points yesterday. During yesterday’s session the volume of shares traded stood at 189,988,779 from 120,313,594 on May 5. Meanwhile the value of shares reached QR487.361m as a result of imple»»»

The medical and surgical teams of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program (SCTP) began on Thursday the complex procedure of separating 18-month-old Tanzanian twin girls, Nancy and Nice. The surgery is taking place at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital (KASCH) at King Abdulaziz Medical City of »»»

Damascus, May 7 (SANA) Syrian Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar met Wednesday with an Emirati business delegation led by businessman Mohamed Alabbar to discuss investment opportunities and economic cooperation between Syria and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting, attended by UAE Ambas»»»

Former Deputy Prime Minister Dragos Anastasiu believes that, regardless of who will govern, the Romanian state must respect the law in its relation with the business environment, continue debureaucratisation and avoid granting state aid schemes funded by entrepreneurs if it wants to regain trust.Th»»»

Romania has entered a new period of political uncertainty that risks accentuating economic problems, and the signals that Bucharest is now sending to foreign markets are vital to keep the economy afloat and to save the country's rating, says consultant Adrian Negrescu in a specialist analysis publi»»»

Romania sent the second-largest delegation from the EU to the SelectUSA Investment Summit to strengthen bilateral economic ties, a delegation led by US Ambassador to Bucharest Darryl Nirenberg, the diplomatic mission informed.According to the quoted source, the Romanian delegation included represen»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi SC completed a historic domestic treble after overpowering Al Sadd SC 84-63 in the final of the 2025-2026 Amir Basketball Cup yesterday. At Al Gharafa Hall, the final saw Al Arabi dominate from start to finish and cap one of their most successful seasons in the club’s basketba»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula has delivered a deeply informed and compelling analysis of one of the most pressing current affairs subject of the day. Written with clarity and authority, the article reflects both academic rigor and a seasoned editorial »»»

Beverly Hills: FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value. FIFA has faced searing criticism over the c»»»

Doha, Qatar: Excitement is building ahead of the highly anticipated Amir Cup final, with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) yesterday confirming full readiness to host Saturday’s showdown at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium. Record 19-time champions Al Sadd will take on defending champion»»»

CEBU: Conflicts far beyond Southeast Asia are expected to dominate meetings of the regional ASEAN bloc that began on Thursday in the Philippines, with the Middle East crisis posing serious challenges for its fuel import-dependent economies. Concerns of energy and food supply security will take cent»»»

TOKYO: Oil prices rose over $1 on Thursday, rebounding from the previous day’s sharp losses, as investors weighed ‌the prospects of a Middle East peace deal succeeding. Brent crude futures were up 78 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $102.05 a barrel at 07:00 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate gai»»»

US President Donald Trump will host his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday -- the latest test of the ideological opposites' tenuous relationship, with security and investment topping the agenda. At the helm of the Americas' two largest economies, the lead»»»

After launching its first scheduled flights (three times a week) to Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport on 1 May, Air Cairo announced that it is planning to expand its services to Libya soon – with new flights to the cities of Benghazi, Misrata and Sebha. The revelation was made by Hussein Al-Sharif, Chairman»»»

Divers are due later Thursday to try and inspect the wreck of a Turkish-operated freighter that sank off the Aegean Sea island of Andros without loss of life but raising questions over potential environmental damage. Greek authorities, including the National Intelligence Service, are also taking a »»»

Dubai: Emirates expects a stable operating outlook as it enters the 2026–27 financial year, supported by fuel hedging, secured supply and strong cash reserves, even as geopolitical uncertainty persists. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum,»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation (QF) celebrated the achievements of its Class of 2026 at a convocation ceremony yesterday, highlighting not only strong academic performance but also a growing emphasis on innovation, research, and real-world impact. A total of 16 students were honoured with the presti»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Shahania and Al Kharaitiyat gear up for the play-off tomorrow, with both sides chasing a spot in next season’s Qatar Stars League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7pm, with the fixture bringing together a top-flight team fighting to retain their status and a Second D»»»

Washington: OpenAI announced the official launch of the ChatGPT add-in for Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets spreadsheet models, making it available to all users globally after the end of the beta version. The company began testing the add-in in Excel last March, before making it available in Googl»»»

Shipping group Maersk posted first-quarter operating profits slightly above analyst forecasts on Thursday and kept its full-year earnings guidance unchanged. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the January-March period came in at $1.73 billion, comp»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s paid parking network added about 49,000 spaces in the first quarter of 2026, taking Parkin’s total portfolio to 258,000 spaces across public, developer and multi-storey parking facilities. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The increase was announced in Par»»»