BANGKOK: Across Bangkok, aromas of garlic, chili and grilled meat drift from roadside stalls and carts, but tighter controls on vendors threaten livelihoods and the street food culture that defines the Thai capital. Convenient, full of flavor and popular among locals and tourists alike, Bangkok’s s»»»

AMMAN — The Amman Stock Exchange recorded a positive performance during the week from April 26 to 29 in 2026, as the general index rose by 2.46 per cent to close at 3,932.4 points, compared with 3,837.9 points the previous week, indicating improved investor sentiment and renewed buying in leading s»»»

AMMAN — Arab Bank Group reported solid results for the first quarter of 2026, with 2 per cent increase in net income after tax reaching $275.8 million as compared to $271 million for the same period last year.The Group maintained its strong capital base with a total equity of $13.1 billion.Compared»»»

AMMAN — The Arab Potash Company (APC) reported a "strong" performance in the first quarter of 2026, with net profit rising 28 per cent to more than JD60 million, supported by higher sales, improved efficiency, and resilient logistics amid regional disruptions.Consolidated net sales revenue increase»»»

Anup Ojha Kathmandu, Nepal: As global fuel markets reel from the Middle East war, motorists in Nepal are increasingly turning to electric vehicles, with high demand putting a strain on dealerships. Electric microbus driver Purushottam Adhikari said he was now shuttling more passengers along the 300»»»

The war has triggered a global energy crisis, and its effects are increasingly being felt in the United States, even though the country has been more insulated from soaring prices than parts of Asia and Europe. With midterm elections approaching in November, rising fuel prices are becoming a growin»»»

Actors and writers created by artificial intelligence may be able to write and appear in films, but they will not qualify for Oscars under new rules issued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which address the use of AI for the first time. The role of artificial intelligence was one»»»

In the Gazan city of Khan Younis, workers are still clearing rubble seven months after the ceasefire that followed two years of war. The work continues around the clock, but it brings in only a few euros a day, barely enough to support their families. Liza Kaminov has more.»»»

Donald Trump said Friday that he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal for peace talks. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official said renewed fighting between the United States and Iran was “likely” after Washington rejected the latest offer of negotiations. The two countries remain deadlocked »»»

A senior Iranian officer on Saturday said that fresh fighting with the United States is “likely”, underscoring rising tensions after President Donald Trump dismissed Tehran’s latest negotiating proposal and issued fresh threats to attack the country.   A senior Iranian military officer said on»»»

President Donald Trump on Saturday doubled down on Washington's decision to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany, as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war. The Pentagon announced the 5,000-troop reduction on Friday, but Trump told reporters Saturday "we're going to cut way »»»

Miami: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami squandered a 3-0 lead to fall 4-3 to Orlando City on Saturday and remain in search of a first win at their new Nu Stadium. Miami appeared to be on their way in Argentine superstar Messi's 100th match with the South Florida side. But Orlando scored the final four go»»»

In Mali, the country’s army and its Russian mercenary allies lost control of a key northern military stronghold to armed rebels on Friday, marking a significant setback as Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups appear to be operating in a coordinated effort to challenge the ruling junta. Insurgents»»»

In Mali, the country’s army and its Russian mercenary allies lost control of a key northern military stronghold to armed rebels on Friday, marking a significant setback as Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups appear to be operating in a coordinated effort to challenge the ruling junta. Insurgents»»»

The latest war in the Middle East is having wide-ranging consequences that extend well beyond the region, including in countries already devastated by their own conflicts. Sudan has been among the hardest hit. Aid organisations report that the  Iran conflict has disrupted key shipping routes, »»»

Malian authorities say some military officers collaborated with jihadist and separatist fighters who carried out coordinated attacks across the country earlier in the week. A statement from the prosecutor’s office confirmed that the first arrests have been made and that efforts are continuing to tr»»»

A French teen taken into temporary custody over suspected involvement in the hacking of a government website. The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) stores personal identification data used for ID cards, passports, and driver’s licenses. The teenager is accused of taking part in a data br»»»

Up to 30,000 revellers were expected to attend an illegal rave party at a military site in central France over the weekend.  Authorities warned that the site is “extremely dangerous” due to the risks of stepping on unexploded mortars that have yet to be detected.  Roughly 20,000 partygoer»»»

Police fired tear gas into a crowd of hundreds of Indigenous people who gathered outside a hospital in the remote town of Alice Springs Thursday night following the arrest of a man accused of killing a five-year-old girl. Members of the crowd, who called for the suspect to be punished according to »»»

Iran's peace plan for the conflict with the United States and Israel consists of 14 points and includes reparations to Tehran and the creation of a "new mechanism" for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Tasnim news agency reported. IRNA previously reported that on April 30, Iran had handed over »»»

The Chinese Commerce Ministry issued a regulation that prohibits the enforcement of US sanctions against five Chinese oil companies. In April, the United States, as part of Operation Economic Fury against Tehran, sanctioned five China-based oil companies, including Hengli Petrochemical, for alleged»»»

US President Donald Trump announced his intention to reduce the number of American troops in Germany by more than 5,000 compared to previously announced plans. "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5000," Trump told reporters in Florida.A US administration review is lik»»»

Tehran: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned US President Donald Trump's remarks that called the US seizure of Iranian vessels "piracy." "The president of the United States has openly described the unlawful seizure of Iranian vessels as 'piracy,' brazenly boasting that 'we ac»»»

MIAMI: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami squandered a 3-0 lead to fall 4-3 to Orlando City on Saturday and remain in search of a first win at their new Nu Stadium. Miami appeared to be on their way in Argentine superstar Messi’s 100th match with the South Florida side. But Orlando scored the final four go»»»

A humpback whale that repeatedly beached itself near Germany's Baltic coast was released into the North Sea Saturday after two entrepreneurs financed a barge to transport the trapped creature to freedom.   A humpback whale that had been struggling to survive after beaching near the German»»»

The US will pull around 5,000 of its troops from Germany over the next year after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Tehran was "humiliating" Washington. NATO said Saturday that it is working with the US to understand the details of the decision.  NATO said on Saturday it was work»»»

NATO says it is working with the United States to understand the decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. President Donald Trump announced the move on Friday following a dispute with Germany’s chancellor over the Iran war. Transatlantic relations have been strained since Friedrich Merz quest»»»

Egypt has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta with an estimated production of around 50 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d). This will add to the country’s current output of about 4.2 billion cubic feet daily. In a statement, the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry said on S»»»

North Korea dismissed on Sunday US accusations that it has engaged in cyber crimes to generate illicit revenues, calling the criticism "absurd slander". Washington has accused Pyongyang of ramping up a cyber-warfare program responsible for the theft of billions of dollars in virtual assets in recen»»»

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was going to review a new Iranian peace proposal but cast doubt over its prospects, as a senior military officer in Tehran indicated renewed fighting was "likely." The dour outlook came after Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies said Tehran had submitted a»»»

Dubai: Fair to partly cloudy conditions are expected across the UAE on Sunday, with light to moderate winds at times, according to the national forecast. Winds are likely to pick up intermittently, while sea conditions will remain slight to moderate in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Tem»»»

BEIRUT: Israel carried out strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, its military saying it hit dozens of Hezbollah targets. The attacks have become a regular occurrence, despite a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war that has seen both sides accuse each other of violations. In a statem»»»

MAKASSAR, Indonesia: For more than a decade, Khairiyah bint Muhammad Bakri held on to a single, unwavering hope — to perform Hajj. The Indonesian pilgrim from North Maluku first nurtured the dream in 2013, carrying it through years she describes not as a burden, but as a spiritual journey marked by»»»

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico: Nelly Korda capped off a strong finish with a big drive and an 8-iron to 18 inches for eagle on the final hole Saturday, giving her another 5-under 67 that stretched her lead to three shots in the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. At stake for the No. 1 player in women’s golf»»»

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: The President of Formula 1’s governing body said the sport would miss Max Verstappen if he follows through with his remarks about potentially retiring at the end of the season, but he added that F1 would move on if the Red Bull driver decides to walk away. “If he goes, we wi»»»

MANILA: Animal rights advocates were crowing on Saturday after Korean Air banned transporting roosters on flights from the United States to the Philippines, which has a huge cockfighting industry. Filipinos wager tens of millions of dollars daily by some industry estimates as they watch two rooster»»»

ISTANBUL: A Saudi-led initiative is transforming the Hajj travel experience for pilgrims departing from Türkiye, using advanced technology and coordinated on-ground services to fast-track procedures from airport departure to accommodation in the Kingdom. A key feature of the Makkah Route Initiative»»»

West Palm Beach: US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was going to review a new Iranian peace proposal but cast doubt over its prospects, as a senior military officer in Tehran indicated renewed fighting was "likely." The dour outlook came after Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies said Tehra»»»

Dubai: A suspected far-right extremist armed with axes engraved with Nazi slogans and the names of Dutch royals allegedly plotted a “bloodbath” targeting two princesses — a chilling plan that was foiled before it could be carried out, prosecutors said. The 33-year-old man is suspected of preparing »»»

CAPE TOWN, South Africa: A China policy giving Africa’s biggest economies tariff-free access to its market for the next two years came into effect Friday while its economic rival the United States seeks to impose new import taxes under President Donald Trump’s push for protectionism. The China deal»»»

Dubai: Thailand is considering making health insurance mandatory for foreign visitors, a move aimed at curbing unpaid medical bills and reinforcing the country’s healthcare system as it pushes to remain a top global tourism hub. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the proposal is part of a»»»

PAMPLONA, Spain: Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres took Barcelona to the brink of the La Liga title with late goals to earn them a 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday. The Catalan giants moved 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid and will be crowned champions if their rivals drop points at Es»»»

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/DUBAI: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had been told about the concept of a deal with Iran, but was waiting for ​the exact wording, while warning there was still the possibility of restarting strikes on the country if Tehran misbehaves. A senior Iranian offici»»»

BERLIN: A planned drawdown of 5,000 US troops from Germany should spur Europe to strengthen its own defenses, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday, but two top US Republican lawmakers ​expressed concern, saying the troops should not leave Europe. The Pentagon announced the drawd»»»

BEIJING: China will not comply with US sanctions against five firms targeted for purchasing Iranian oil, Beijing’s commerce ministry said on Saturday. China is a key customer for Iranian oil, mainly through independent “teapot” refineries that rely on discounted crude from the Islamic republic. The»»»

SOLARES, Spain: Spain’s foreign minister on Saturday called for the immediate release of an activist detained by Israel after an aid flotilla bound for Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters. Saif Abukeshek, a dual Spanish-Swedish citizen of Palestinian origin, was detaine»»»

A Texas judge extended a temporary injunction on the state health department's ban on smokable hemp, which went into effect this year after Texas Gov. Greg Abbot vetoed a ban passed last year by the state legislature. File Photo by Paul Brinkmann/UPI May 2 (UPI) -- A Texas judge on Friday temporari»»»

Sovereignty, as defined in international law, is both crucial and complex. In the real shark-pool world of geopolitics, it is not hard to spot: if you have the ability to rule at home and resist attack from outside (any outside), then you are sovereign. Otherwise not. No exceptions. That’s why Iran»»»

QNA Doha Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah has affirmed that workers across the ministry’s various sectors represent the backbone of Qatar’s municipal sector, praising their efforts and vital role in serving the community. Marking International Workers’ Day, obs»»»