The World Bank has slashed its 2026 growth forecast for Middle East economies, saying overall GDP growth in ⁠the region is expected to slow from an estimated 3.6% in January to 1.8% for 2026. The closure of the strategic ⁠Strait of Hormuz, and destruction ⁠of energy and public infrastructure, had d»»»

As Donald Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran ahead of his latest deadline for Tehran to open up the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar's foreign ministry official warned that the world was nearing a point beyond which the war would be out of anyone's control. Oil markets continue to b»»»

A two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran on Wednesday led to a steep drop in oil prices and a rebound in Asian and European equities. In this edition, we see what the various stakeholders are saying the deal means for the future of the Hormuz Strait through which a fifth of»»»

Construction of Min-Oruk — Samarkandek road continues in Batken region of Kyrgyzstan. Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the region, Mamyrzhan Rakhimov, inspected the progress of the road construction, his press service reported. The head of the region met with construction workers and local gov»»»

Bulgaria recorded the fastest annual increase in industrial producer prices among EU member states in February, Eurostat data showed on April 8, underlining persistent cost pressures in the bloc's newest eurozone member. I»»»

Doha, Qatar: Shagraan delivered a commanding performance to land the Msheireb Cup for owner-trainer Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. Positioned comfortably in midfield for most of the race, the six-year-old bay gelding unleashed a powerful turn of foot in the hom»»»

Doha, Qatar: The shares in Qatar’s stock market witnessed a notable bounce-bank as the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index surged 376.67 points or 3.66%, yesterday to close at 10,662.33 points. Global markets reacted quickly to the announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with »»»

Wars cause large and persistent economic losses in countries where fighting takes place, with output declining by roughly 7% over five years on average, and economic scars lasting for more than a decade, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in research released on Wednesday. The IMF examined »»»

Law enforcement agencies in Issyk-Kul region solved 347 crimes in March as part of Arsenal campaign, detained 20 wanted individuals, and found 23 missing persons, the press service of the regional Internal Affairs Department reported. During the raids, officers inspected 3,647 hunters and 27 licens»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar University (QU) announced that its College of Business and Economics has received international recognition through the selection of its Dean, Prof. Rana Sobh, as a recipient of the AACSB International Global Impact Award in the category of Impactful Leadership. The recognition h»»»

Police have arrested four people on suspicion of trafficking large quantities of drugs in the Greater Athens region, and confiscated 165 kilograms of marijuana. A police statement said Wednesday’s arrests followed a surveillance operation in which the suspects were observed loading sacks of drugs f»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs honoured 48 students who memorised the holy Quran during the first quarter of 2026. These students were enrolled in Quranic learning centres under the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance. The ceremony, part of the “Quran Memorisation Co»»»

Doha, Qatar: The crisis across the Middle East exacted a devastating toll on millions of children, with urgent calls for stronger international action to safeguard their rights, according to speakers at a high-level webinar convened yesterday by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secre»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Katara Cultural Village Foundation has announced that the fifth edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Poetry, themed “Mothers of the Believers” (may God be pleased with them), received 562 entries from 25 Arab and international countries. The prize committee selected Sawda bint Za»»»

Doha, Qatar: When teachers are parents themselves, they have the opportunity to observe how children learn and behave at home during online lessons. Reflecting on this, Leena Ayoub, a mother of three daughters and a teacher at Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Academy Doha (QAD), the same school her childre»»»

Doha, Qatar: The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) organised Skills Day 2026, a co-curricular highlight of the academic year, reinforcing its dedication to hands-on learning, creativity, practical problem-solving, and teamwork. The event brought together 1,000 students across 48 »»»

I know I have to do this. But I can't. That's the inner monologue that most, have been facing of late. And it could be something as basic as sending an email. Sometimes, it’s almost physically difficult to do it. There's a heaviness that settles on your fingers. You can't finish a task. You’re func»»»

The DPRK’s Academy of Defence Science and Missile Administration conducted a series of tests of key weapon systems on April 6–8, KCNA reported. The tests included electromagnetic weapons, carbon fiber bombs, and tactical missile warheads, as well as verification of a mobile short-range anti-aircraf»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Halting hostilities in Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran, Vice President JD Vance claimed o Wednesday, further calling the matter a "misunderstanding". US President Donald Trump earlier on Wednesday said ending hostiliti»»»

US President Donald Trump said after the meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the alliance will not help the United States if it needs assistance. “NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.The statement comes a»»»

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun reached Shanghai at midday on April 7 to begin a tour of China set to last until April 12, XinhuaNet reports. The KMT mission represents the first time in a decade that a sitting head of the party has taken a delegation to the r»»»

Indonesia recently announced that it had delayed the rollout of its windfall tax proposal on coal and nickel exports. The country noted that the complexity of balancing fiscal needs with industrial policy is behind the delay, Indonesia Business Post reports. »»»

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun reached Shanghai at midday on April 7 to begin a tour of China set to last until April 12, XinhuaNet reports. The KMT mission represents the first time in a decade that a sitting head of the party has taken a delegation to the r»»»

A new energy pathway is emerging for developing economies, one that challenges the assumption that fossil fuels are a prerequisite for growth, according to a new report by Ember. More than 700mn people still lack access to»»»

A new energy pathway is emerging for developing economies, one that challenges the assumption that fossil fuels are a prerequisite for growth, according to a new report by Ember. More than 700mn people still lack access to»»»

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun reached Shanghai at midday on April 7 to begin a tour of China set to last until April 12, XinhuaNet reports. The KMT mission represents the first time in a decade that a sitting head of the party has taken a delegation to the r»»»