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Alberta’s contentious new electoral riding boundary proposals were released to the public on Monday, triggering immediate condemnation from Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi, who accused Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government of attempting to rig the next election. The tabling of the maps sets the stage for a legislative debate and potential legal battles over the fairness of the redrawn districts.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signaled progress on Monday in talks with Iran to avoid a return to war, as Tehran reported “intensive” exchanges and offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions. The diplomatic signals came ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republican Party is trying to keep control of Congress amid voter dissatisfaction over the conflict and the soaring fuel prices it has caused.

HONG KONG: A Hong Kong court will sentence pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday in his second national security trial, which could see him jailed for life, as reported by the judiciary’s website. The website showed on Tuesday that a sentencing hearing was scheduled for Nov 5.

South Korea’s labor share of gross domestic product has fallen to its lowest level since comparable data began in 2010, hitting 41.1% in the second quarter. This decline coincides with a surge in corporate profits driven by the semiconductor industry, prompting experts to call for government intervention to address growing economic polarization.

SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank raised its central interest rate to an 18-year high on Tuesday, citing the prolonged war in the Middle East and persistent inflationary pressures. In a statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said it would raise its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.

Merchant operating system provider littlefish and enterprise SoftPOS technology developer Halo Dot have announced a strategic partnership designed to help financial institutions replace traditional payment terminals with secure mobile solutions. The collaboration integrates Halo Dot’s certified contactless payment infrastructure directly into the littlefish platform, allowing banks and merchant acquirers to offer a unified software-based solution that combines payment acceptance with business management tools.

Disney+ has launched its highly anticipated royal fantasy series "The Remarried Empress" ahead of schedule, offering viewers a glimpse into a lavish, fictional empire. At a press event in Seoul, the main cast detailed the complexities of adapting the hit web novel, from navigating unfamiliar court etiquette to performing alongside computer-generated counterparts.

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) issued nine violation reports and destroyed 115 kilograms of meat of unknown origin during an inspection tour of food establishments in Farwaniya Governorate, the authority announced on Monday. The tour was carried out by the authority’s Farwaniya food inspection department.

HONG KONG: Asian stock markets struggled on Tuesday after another AI-fueled tech selloff on Wall Street outweighed a plunge in oil prices and signs of a possible breakthrough in talks to end the Iran war. Investors were also watching the US midterm elections.

Egypt is accelerating the construction of a 341-kilometer railway line that will link Bir al-Abd, Arish, and Ras El-Naqab near Taba Airport. Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir recently inspected active work zones along the route, emphasizing the need to maintain round-the-clock operations to meet technical standards and construction schedules for this key infrastructure project.

Field exercises simulating emergency-response procedures were conducted at Hamad International Airport (HIA) Monday as part of the nationwide WATAN 2026 exercise, Qatar Airways announced. In a notice posted on its official X account, the national carrier said passengers and airport visitors may notice increased ground activity at designated locations across the airport, as well as related activities in the surrounding airspace.

'Dukes of Hazzard' actor John Schneider has formally acknowledged a debt of roughly $3.7 million in back spousal support to his ex-wife, Elvira Schneider, marking a shift in their ongoing divorce proceedings. While admitting the financial obligation, Schneider is contesting a court order that would divert half of his Social Security benefits to satisfy the arrears.

Every year on Nov 2, the world marks the Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) as one of the most consequential dates in the history of freedom of expression. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013, recognising the far-reaching consequences of impunity, particularly for crimes committed against journalists.

Philippine authorities have confirmed that their investigation into Thomas Markle Sr.’s alleged possession of child pornography is progressing, with Acting Director Pmgen Wilson Casueta stating the probe is moving in the "right direction." The inquiry follows allegations by Markle’s son, Thomas Jr., who reported finding graphic materials at his father’s Cebu City residence.

Two new analyses warn that a specialized accounting method known as GWP* enables major beef-producing countries to significantly understate their methane emissions. Researchers from Greenpeace and the University of California, Los Angeles, argue that this metric creates a misleading picture of climate progress, allowing nations to claim neutrality while actual warming continues.

Web Summit Qatar 2026 has delivered a billion-riyal boost to the national economy, with its growing international appeal translating into higher visitor spending, increased business activity and fresh investment opportunities, reinforcing Doha’s emergence as a global technology and entrepreneurship hub. The four-day summit, held from February 1-4, generated approximately QR1.

Human-caused climate change significantly intensified Atlantic hurricanes over the past five years, according to a new analysis by Climate Central. The study found that elevated sea surface temperatures increased maximum wind speeds for most storms between 2019 and 2023, as well as every recorded storm in the 2024 season.

An oil spill off the United Arab Emirates that has prompted temporary restrictions on fishing and on access to several beaches has raised concerns over the risk of environmental contamination and the potential impact on desalination plants. The spill is from a vessel that shipping sources have identified as crude oil tanker Gem No.

Qatar’s rapid advancement in utility-scale solar energy and industrial sustainability offers significant opportunities to optimise long-term asset performance through localised engineering strategies, as reported by global technical consultancy SgurrEnergy. “Conditions vary considerably across Middle East and Africa, so a maintenance strategy that works in an inland desert should be validated before being applied to a coastal Qatari site, Arif Aga, director at SgurrEnergy, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.

Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail announces an exclusive collaboration with Carolina Herrera, bringing together the world of luxury fragrance and the art of afternoon tea in a distinctive experience at Peacock Alley. Inspired by the best-sellers from the Herrera Confidential collection, Cedar Chic, and Stallion Leather Suede, and the novelty Peccato Nobile, the limited-edition afternoon tea brings the character of each fragrance to life through an elegant collection of sweet and savory creations.

Bekaert already uses AI agents alongside the optimization engines in Unison Planning™ to speed up decisions and advance toward autonomous planning

Democrats teed up final get-out-the-vote rallies Monday on the eve of midterm elections where they expect to win at least partial control of Congress and impose political constraints on President Donald Trump for the first time in two years.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi claimed a first career hat-trick at the weekend in a 5-1 Ligue 1 rout of bottom club Le Havre.

Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers blocked a major highway and clashed with police on Monday, demanding a monthly minimum wage more than double current pay, as protests spread across industrial hubs.

Japan urged the United States to enforce discipline among its troops after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of drink driving during a curfew in the wake of another serviceman's arrest on a murder charge, the defence minister said on Monday.

Hosting Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, Slavia Prague are facing the mammoth task of ending a drawn-out winless streak in the competition as an unwelcome record looms.

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg poured in 37 points as the Golden State Warriors shrugged off the absence of Stephen Curry to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-112 on Sunday.

Minnesota became the last NFL club to tumble from the unbeaten ranks on Sunday while Denver made a game-ending defensive goal-line stand to deny Patrick Mahomes and edge Kansas City in a thriller.

One of the world's rarest bats could be at risk if ExxonMobil forges ahead with a Papua New Guinea gas project, a law firm working with impacted landowners warned Monday.

South Korea will double spending on AI and semiconductors in 2027 to a record high, the president said Monday, pledging to use the technology to turn the military into a "smart, elite force".

Asian stocks were mixed Monday as investors struggled to recover from last week's tough run fuelled by disappointing earnings from tech titans, while eyes were also turning to the United States ahead of crucial midterm elections.

Tiny pinewood bonfires burned through the night at a mountain cemetery as the largely Christian Philippines remembered its dead, turning the fog-shrouded hilltop into a vast, fragrant altar of light.