War and energy shortages boost China’s Influence in Asia
HONG KONG: As the war in Iran drags on, China has deepened its influence with fuel-starved neighbors, offering to ease shortages while pushing its renewable energy technology.In th…
Argentina fans hurt by FIFA World Cup ticket prices
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Matias Celestino rattles off in order all 18 qualification games the Argentina men’s national soccer team played en route to this year’s World Cup. He att…
US -Iran talks teeter after tanker strikes
A US warplane disabled two Iranian tankers to enforce a port blockade on Friday, after Washington’s top diplomat said he was awaiting Tehran’s response to the latest proposed deal…
Top seeds shine as Oman Open badminton begins
Muscat, May 8The 2026 Oman Open Badminton Championship got off to an exciting start on Thursday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, with a packed opening day featuring…
Is loving food the secret to eating less of it?
PETE WELLSLosing weight and keeping it off are diabolically hard for many people. Nearly 2 in 5 Americans suffer from obesity. Around 1 in 8 are diabetic. In the United States, spe…
Oman desert retreat redefines resilience
As Oman sharpens its position as a global hub for experiential travel, a standout addition to its 2026-2027 adventure calendar is the ‘Desert Resilience Retreat’ — a programme that…
Indonesia volcanic eruption kills 3 hikers
NORTH HALMAHERA, INDONESIA: Three hikers — two Singaporeans and a local — died in an eruption on Friday of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano where they found themselves in a no-go z…
Pentagon releases declassified UFO files dating back to 1940s
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Friday released a first batch of secret files documenting reported sightings of unidentified flying objects — some dating back to the 1940s — fanning sp…
Hantavirus risk to public ‘absolutely low’: WHO
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation insisted on Friday that there is a minimal risk from the hantavirus to the general public, as countries prepared to repatriate passengers stuc…
Hooked on your phone? Here’s how to break free
Nearly two decades after the arrival of smartphones, society is grappling with a problem that has grown worse over time: People love their phones so much that they can’t put them d…