Uzbekistan has registered a strong first-quarter GDP expansion of 8.7% y/y, experiencing broad-based growth increasingly driven by services and construction, according to preliminary official data. Gross domestic»»»

KHARKIV: Chaplain Mykola Bagirov placed pieces of consecrated bread on an altar set up behind a camouflage net in a forest in northeastern Ukraine, several dozen kilometers from the front. Ukrainian soldiers lined up around him, emerging from the rows of surrounding pine trees. “Dear brothers and s»»»

Tel Aviv: Hezbollah has launched a new weapon against northern Israel in the latest round of fighting: small drones controlled with fiber-optic cables the width of dental floss that avoid electronic detection. These drones - used widely in the war in Ukraine - are small, hard to track and potential»»»

Jakarta, Indonesia: A fire broke out in an apartment building in West Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday morning. Thick smoke was seen rising from the building at around 715 a.m. local time, prompting residents to evacuate. Firefighters were still working to extinguish the blaze and evacuate residents»»»

TEHRAN, WASHINGTON, BEIRUT, JERUSALEM: President Donald Trump said a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years, which held into Thursday. Meeting oil executives, Trump contended that the blockade of Iranian ports — w»»»

US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel 3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleWill GrantBBC's Mexico, Central America and Cuba correspondent Getty Images US prosecutors have accused the sitting governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, Rubén Rocha Moya, of conspiring»»»

Qatar Foundation students reflect on the support they received during times of uncertainty Doha, Qatar: When regional tensions escalated, students across Qatar Foundation’s Education City found themselves navigating uncertainty, disruption, and concern. For many students, the greatest difficulty ca»»»

Washington: Apple Inc. is planning to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the iPhone’s camera app by adding a new Siri mode alongside existing photo and video options in its upcoming iOS 27 operating system, Bloomberg reported. According to the report, the company is expected to introduce a»»»

Glass shards flew everywhere as Eric Gockel waited out one of the worst hailstorms to hit the US State of Missouri. One of the softball-size hunks of ice that hit the Springfield area on Tuesday measured 4.75 inches (12 centimeters). The hail killed an emu at the zoo, injured some drivers, knocked »»»

Ever since a ceasefire was declared between the United States, Israel, and Iran by US President Donald Trump on 8 April, a debate has raged in Israel over the effects of the war that began on 28 February. Israel’s next legislative elections are to be held on 27 October, so politicians of all stripe»»»

LONDON — Oil prices shot higher Wednesday on concerns of an extended blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while stocks slid as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a US Fed rate decision and a slew of tech firm earnings.Both main oil contracts jumped around five per cent following a Wall Stree»»»

In Kyrgyzstan, the mining industry and financial sector remain the highest-paying areas of the economy. In January—February 2026, employees in these sectors earned about twice the national average. A report of the National Statistical Committee says. Highest-paying sectors Workers in mining operati»»»

DUBAI: At Al-Nassr FC’s latest home game in Riyadh, a group of Saudi women turned heads in custom modest fanwear created by Saudi designer Nora Al-Shaikh, offering a fresh spin on matchday style with a refined take on football fashion — a dress that blends modest silhouettes with subtle club signif»»»

TEL AVIV: Hezbollah has launched a new weapon against northern Israel in the latest round of fighting: small drones controlled with fiber-optic cables the width of dental floss that avoid electronic detection. These drones — used widely in the war in Ukraine — are small, hard to track and potential»»»

NAIROBI: Years after a lead acid battery recycling plant shut down in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, residents of Owino Uhuru say they are still suffering from lead poisoning, a growing public health risk as Africa’s clean energy boom drives a surge in battery use. Faith Muthama, 40, a mother of »»»

Greece will suffer major transport disruptions Friday as labor unions have called strikes to mark May Day that will cancel all ferry and train and most Athens public transport services. Island ferries will be tied up in port all day after the PNO umbrella seamen’s federation called a 24-hour walkou»»»

Doha, Qatar: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group, Jamal Abdulla Al-Jamal, announced the approval of the financial statements for the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 during the board meeting held yesterday. He highlighted the Group’s outstanding performance reflected in th»»»

Washington: YouTube officially launched its fully customized Multiview feature in the YouTube TV app, after it appeared experimentally with some users last week, and is now expanding to all channels with full control over the viewing experience. The new feature allows viewing multiple live streams »»»

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a global leader in chemicals, said on Wednesday it returned to profit in the first quarter of 2026, posting net earnings of SAR13.2 million ($3.52 million) compared to a SAR1.21 billion ($322 million) loss a year earlier. This increase is mainly attribute»»»

Dubai: The UAE Fuel Price Committee on Thursday announced the retail prices for petrol and diesel for May 2026. Under the new rates, Super 98 petrol will cost Dh3.66 per litre, compared to Dh3.39 in April, while Special 95 petrol is priced at Dh3.55 per litre, compared to Dh3.28 last month. Get upd»»»

Dubai: In Wednesday’s Dh30 million UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw, a number of participants have bagged cash prizes, although the top jackpot was not hit. In Draw No. 260429, the winning numbers from the Days section were 19, 11, 1, 31, 22, and 21, while the Months section number was 12. Moreover, thre»»»

The Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan has approved a bill abolishing the requirement for mandatory notarization of document copies for law enforcement officers and their close family members. The initiative was developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as part of broader reforms aimed at reducing b»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation, participated in the 2026 APCDA Conference, organised by the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA), which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from April 27 to 30, 2026, under the theme “Inclusive Career D»»»

Doha, Qatar: Fashion is becoming the latest platform for closer cultural cooperation between Qatar and Canada, as three emerging Qatari and Qatar-based designers prepare to debut their work in Toronto this spring. Backed by and presented by the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, the dele»»»

Doha, Qatar: Strengthening its regional footprint, almeera continues to grow its presence in the Sultanate of Oman through a steady expansion of its retail network. almeera has opened a new store at Al Mouj Muscat, its sixth location in the Sultanate, marking continued momentum in the Group’s expan»»»

Doha, Qatar: Three days after an eventful final round of the Qatar Stars League (QSL), the country’s top clubs will return to action in the thrilling Amir Cup quarter-finals tomorrow, with the prestigious title at stake. Qatar’s most popular tournament features 20 teams – 12 sides from the QSL comb»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority (GTA) and Edaa announced the signing of an electronic linkage agreement, in a strategic step aimed at enhancing data exchange systems and improving the efficiency of tax operations, in line with Qatar’s digital transformation agenda and reinforcing principles »»»

Doha, Qatar: Industries Qatar (“IQ” or “the Group”), yesterday announced a net profit of QR734m for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026 representing a decrease of 26% compared to the same period of last year. In line with our previous announcement, the Group stopped and reduced production o»»»

President Donald Trump said a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years, which held into Thursday. Trump is expected to receive a briefing on Thursday on new plans for potential military action in Iran from Admiral B»»»

Dubai: The UAE Fuel Price Committee on Thursday announced the retail prices for petrol and diesel for May 2026. Under the new rates, Super 98 petrol will cost Dh3.66 per litre, compared to Dh3.39 in April, while Special 95 petrol is priced at Dh3.55 per litre, compared to Dh3.28 last month. Get upd»»»

Dubai: New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani may have kept things solemn at the September 11 attacks memorial, but his off-stage remarks? Far more pointed. According to The Independent, Mamdani said that if he ever had a private audience with King Charles III, he wouldn’t waste the moment. “If I were »»»

An appeals court on Wednesday denied President Donald Trump's request to rehear his appeal of writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 30 (UPI) -- A full federal appeals court rejected Donald Trump's request to rehear his appeal of an $83.3»»»

The Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan warns citizens about a rise in fraudulent messages involving fake tax payment notifications, its press service reported. According to it, scammers are sending counterfeit notices pretending to be official letters from the State Tax Service, attempting to mislead people»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar, represented by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), is participating in the 2026 session of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, taking place in Geneva from April 28 to May 8, 2026. The Qatari delegation is headed by Engineer Ahmad bin Abdulla AlMus»»»

Steven Trask Sydney: There was "no meaningful shift" away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia's world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show. Australia in December banned under 16s from a raft of popular social media»»»

Authorities are investigating the death in detention at the police headquarters building in Athens of a suspect arrested on suspicion of drugs offenses, police said. A police statement said the man, only identified as a foreign national, was found dead in a holding cell on Wednesday afternoon. A fe»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has continued a series of high-level consultative sessions aimed at shaping its National Human Rights Action Plan (2026-2030), with a strong emphasis on judicial reform and alignment with international standards. The sessions are being presided over by Minister of State for Inter»»»

Doha, Qatar: Birla Public School hosted the Kindergarten Graduation Day on April 15, 2026, celebrating a significant milestone in the lives of its young learners. The event, organised by the kindergarten section, was themed “Little Luminaries”, highlighting the bright potential and achievements of »»»

Mostafa Ahmed Mostafa is the heir to a long line of groundskeepers who have guarded Sudan's ancient pyramids of Meroe. Now, three years into the war between the army and paramilitary forces, he stands near-solitary sentinel over his heritage. "These pyramids are ours, it's our history, it's who we »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defenses shot down 189 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "During the past night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 189 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. It said the drones were shot down»»»

Dubai: In a film industry where release dates can make or break a project, Varun Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai has found itself in a far more advantageous position after an unexpected reshuffle. The romantic comedy, which had earlier been advanced to May 22 to avoid a clash, will now arrive»»»

TOKYO: The Japan-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship League convened a high-level general meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, bringing together Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, former Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, 21 parliamentarians including SASAKI, Secretar»»»

Rain and a temperature drop are forecast first in northern and later in parts of central Greece Thursday after a spell of perfect weather, with potential storms in the north and scattered snowfall in the mountains. The rest of the country will see almost clear skies. Winds will gradually pick up, w»»»

New York: The US Justice Department on Wednesday charged the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa and other officials with drug trafficking. The US attorney for the Southern District of New York said 10 people including Governor Ruben Rocha Moya are accused of working with the Sinaloa cartel to»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, is developing a new Sensory Integration Gym as part of its continued expansion of specialised paediatric rehabilitation services. The gym will provide an advanced therapeutic environment for children with neurodevelopmental, behavioural, and sensory processing challenge»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Science & Technology Park, a member of Qatar Foundation, in partnership with Merck, marked the start of the QSTP× Merck FemTech Accelerator. The programme officially began following its opening session held on April 20, which brought together applicants and selected founders to k»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, achieved fifth place in the Kazan International Quran Contest in the Russian Federation. This achievement underscores the significant efforts dedicated to serving the Holy Quran and supporting its memorisers »»»

Doha, Qatar: The annual Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) was held yesterday at its headquarters. The quorum was present, in person and by delegation, pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 15 of 2014 Regulating Charitable Activities, Decree-Law No. 21 of 2020 Regar»»»

The majority of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely still at its Isfahan nuclear complex, which was bombarded by airstrikes last year and faced less intense attacks in this year’s US-Israeli war, the UN nuclear agency’s leader. Rafael Grossi told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Intern»»»

South Korea will support the development of a water supply master plan for rural areas in Jalal-Abad region. The agreement was discussed during a meeting in Seoul between Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov and representatives of SAMAN and»»»