EFG Holding posts strong Q1 growth despite regional pressures
Dubai: EFG Holding reported a strong start to 2026, posting an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in revenues to EGP 6.6 billion during the first quarter, supported by growth across all three of its business verticals despite mounting regional geopolitical tensions. The financial institution, which »»»
US lost 42 aircraft in Iran war as Operation Epic Fury, Congressional report says
Dubai: At least 42 United States military aircraft — including fighter jets, drones, refuelling tankers and surveillance planes — were lost or damaged during the war with Iran, according to a report prepared for the US Congress, highlighting the scale and cost of a conflict that Washington initiall»»»
Five people die in house fire in Kuwait’s Jleeb area
Five people were killed after a fire broke out in a house in Kuwait’s Jleeb Al Shuyoukh area on Wednesday, the country’s General Fire Force said. Firefighters from the Al Somoud and Ardiya fire stations responded to the blaze and brought the fire under control, according to a statement carried by K»»»
People’s Resilience Stronger Than Israeli Brutality and ‘Illusory Ceasefire’ Claims: Hezbollah MP
Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Hussein Hajj Hasan hailed Lebanese people’s resolve “The people possess an unyielding will to live, persevere, and endure despite all pain,” MP Hajj Hasan told Al-Manar correspondent in Beirut’s southern suburb, Dahiyeh, Hussein Awwa»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 12:20 on Wednesday 20-05-2026 a Merkava tank at Baydar Al-Faq‘ani in Taybeh town with a loitering glider [FPV], achieving a confirmed hit: statement 4 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 12:20 on Wednesday 20-05-2026 a Merkava tank at Baydar Al-Faq‘ani in Taybeh town with a loitering g»»»
CEO of Qatar Media Cooperation meets UK Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: CEO of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani met on Wednesday with Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar, HE Neerav Patel. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries in the media fields and ways to su»»»
Deputy PM Donev to Head Administrative Reform Council, Council for People with Disabilities
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev has been appointed Chair of the Administrative Reform Council by a decision of the Council of Ministers, the Government Information Service reported on Wednesday. The Council is an advisory body to the Council of Ministers tasked with coordinat»»»
Cabinet Adopts Legislative, Operational Program for May - June 2026
At its weekly meeting on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers adopted a legislative programme in the May-June period. The Cabinet also adopted an operational programme for the period, which provides information about the consequences of the implementation of the proposed legislation, about the goals»»»
Deputy PM Hristov to Head Central Commission for Juvenile Antisocial Behaviour
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov has been appointed head of the Central Commission for Juvenile Antisocial Behaviour by a government decision adopted on Wednesday. The change comes after a new cabinet stepped into office on May 8, the Government Information Service reported. Under the C»»»
Berri postpones amnesty session after 'sectarian' protests
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri postponed Wednesday a parliamentary session that was scheduled for Thursday to discuss the amnesty draft law, after "sectarian" protests across Lebanon. "Despite the efforts made by the parliamentary departments and joint committees to reach a national consensus (on t»»»
Amir appoints Chairman of Real Estate Regulatory Authority
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Amiri Decree No. 25 of 2026, appointing HE Mohammed bin Hassan Al Malki as Chairman of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The decision is effective starting its date of issue and is to be published in the»»»
India's first disease-modifying Alzheimer's treatment drug costs almost one lakh per dose: Does it work?
Dubai: For decades, treating Alzheimer's has largely meant managing symptoms. A new drug launched in India this month is trying to change that, though the reality is more nuanced than the headlines suggest. US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, one of the world's largest drugmakers, has launched donan»»»
Taiwan author wins International Booker for ‘slyly sophisticated’ novel
London: Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King won the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for “Taiwan Travelogue”, a playful postcolonial novel with a culinary bent. The prestigious award, which was handed out in a ceremony at London’s Tate Modern gallery, recognises works of fi»»»
Sharjah Ruler pardons 227 prisoners ahead of Eid Al Adha
Sharjah: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has ordered the release of 227 inmates from punitive and correctional institutions in the emirate ahead of Eid Al Adha. The pardon applies to prisoners of various nationalities who were serv»»»
UAE urges Iraq to prevent attacks from its territory 'immediately'
The UAE demanded on Wednesday that Iraq "immediately" prevent further attacks from its territory, following an accusation by the Emirates that a drone targeting a nuclear plant was launched from there. The foreign ministry in a statement called on "Iraq to prevent all hostile acts originating from »»»
In Tehran, weapons parades show defiance as threat of war remains
Iranian Revolutionary Guard members now regularly show the public in Tehran how to handle Kalashnikov-style assault rifles. Parades through the capital feature military vehicles mounted with belt-fed Soviet-era machine guns. And at one mass wedding, a ballistic missile, like the one that rained dow»»»
India issues heatwave warnings as fear of El Nino looms
New Delhi: India's weather agency warned on Wednesday of the risk of upcoming "extreme" heat made worse by the potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern, issuing heatwave preparedness guidelines as temperatures soared. "Heat waves in India are becoming longer, stronger, and more frequent," the I»»»
Vucic meets with Chinese ambassador ahead of visit to Beijing
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming ahead of a trip to China, and noted that he looked forward to meeting with President Xi Jinping again and that the support and friendship demonstrated by the Chinese leader towards Serbia remained a lastin»»»
UAE, Tajikistan highlight global cooperation ahead of Dushanbe water conference
Abu Dhabi: The Embassy of Tajikistan and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised a press briefing in Abu Dhabi on preparations for the upcoming Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Ac»»»
EGX rebounds as domestic buying lifts market after recent correction
Cairo — Egypt’s stock market rebounded on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, recovering part of the previous session’s losses as local buying returned to the market following several days of broad-based declines. The benchmark EGX30 rose 1.48% to 52,774.98 points, according to data from the Egyptian Exchange (E»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 11:00 on Wednesday 20-05-2026 a gathering of vehicles and soldiers belonging to the “Israeli” enemy army at the riverbed on the outskirts of Deir Siryan town with artillery shells: statement 3 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 11:00 on Wednesday 20-05-2026 a gathering of vehicles and soldiers belonging to the “Israeli” enemy»»»
Parliament Ratifies European Stability Mechanism Treaty
Parliament ratified on Wednesday at two readings in a single sitting the Treaty Establishing the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and its amendments. The motion was supported by 189 MPs from Progressive Bulgaria, GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Democratic Bulgaria and Continue the Cha»»»
Families of Beirut strike victims vow to fight for justice
Standing before their devastated building in central Beirut, childhood neighbors Wael Sabbagh and Ghida Krisht vow to fight for justice after an Israeli strike killed their family members. On April 8, hours after a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Iran, Israel launched a massiv»»»
Minister inspects key healthcare facilities in Makkah
MAKKAH: Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel inspected several healthcare facilities at the holy sites operated by the private sector, reviewing the readiness of health services, operational efficiency, and overall preparedness for the Hajj season. The inspection aimed to ensure integrated, high-qual»»»
Vucic meets with Chinese ambassador ahead of visit to Beijing
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming ahead of a trip to China, and noted that he looked forward to meeting with President Xi Jinping again and that the support and friendship demonstrated by the Chinese leader towards Serbia remained a lastin»»»
Watch: Live frog found inside bag of lettuce from grocery store - UPI.com
May 19 (UPI) -- A customer brought home a bag of lettuce from an Australian grocery store and discovered a live frog among the leaves. Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine, who are originally from New Zealand, said their roommate returned to their Esperance home from a trip to Woolworths and called their»»»
Look: Lawnmowing speed record broken in Kentucky - UPI.com
Hali Rieman, a turf care influencer known as the "Lawn Queen," broke a Guinness World Record in Kentucky by mowing a football field-sized area in under 15 minutes. Photo courtesy of TurfMutt May 19 (UPI) -- An influencer known as the "Lawn Queen" broke a Guinness World Record in Kentucky by mowing »»»
Watch: Ohio family sends Slinky down a record-breaking 53 stairs - UPI.com
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords) May 19 (UPI) -- An Ohio family broke a Guinness World Record by sending their Slinky down a flight of 53 stairs at a local stadium. Joe and Christelle Luchsinger visited Otterbein Stadium in Westerville with»»»
Elite dive rescue team recovers bodies of final 2 Italians in Maldives - UPI.com
An elite interational dive rescue team begins a complex operation on Wednesday to recover the remains of the last two of four Italian divers from underwater caves more than 200 feet down off the Maldives' Vaavu Atoll. Photo courtesy Maldives President's Media Division/EPA May 20 (UPI) -- The final »»»
Salam says he will not allow anyone to bypass the state, from now on
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the Lebanese government "is moving forward with steady steps and will not back down from any decision it takes to rescue the country from the crises it is floundering in." In remarks published Wednesday in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa, Salam reiterated his commitme»»»
Cabinet approves draft law to regulate social professions in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired on Wednesday morning the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali A»»»
Smart kiosks guide pilgrims on religious matters
MADINAH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has launched a video call service at Al-Qiblatain Mosque and Sayyid Al-Shuhada Mosque in Madinah to answer inquiries from pilgrims and worshippers. The initiative is part of the ministry’s Hajj operational plan and aims to enhance religious guidance and outr»»»
Arafat sermon to be translated into 35 languages
MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that this year’s Arafat sermon will be translated into 35 languages and broadcast via its digital platforms and affiliated channels. These efforts aim to convey the sermon’s message to Muslims worldwi»»»
Saudi Arabia steps up with operational plan to enhance pilgrims’ services during Hajj
RIYADH: Saudi ministries are implementing operational plans for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage with regulatory, supervisory and social initiatives aimed at improving services and the pilgrim experience. The ministry of interior has initiated strict measures for the Hajj season under the slogan “No Haj»»»
Russia-China Alliance Grows Stronger Despite Western Pressure - Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing have built a strategic partnership strong enough to withstand Western pressure, pointing to expanding energy cooperation, growing technological coordination and a trade turnover exceeding $200 billion. Lavrov said relations between Mosc»»»
Why your insurance may get more expensive in the UAE
Dubai: Insurance premiums in the UAE could become more expensive as insurers face rising claims, higher technology costs and tougher regulatory demands, according to a new Alpen Capital report released Wednesday, May 20. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The warning come»»»
Why Pakistan is reopening offshore energy exploration
Dubai: Pakistan has reopened its offshore oil and gas exploration sector after nearly two decades, with the government signing agreements for 23 offshore blocks in a move aimed at attracting foreign investment and reducing reliance on imported energy. The Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and Ex»»»
Stop hostile acts, UAE tells Iraq after Barakah strike
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the terrorist drone attack launched from Iraqi territory targeting the peaceful Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, after one of the drones struck an electricity generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter on Sunday. In a statement, the ministry sa»»»
Opposition Warns of Democracy Backsliding amid Proposed Changes to Parliament's Rules of Procedure, Progressive Bulgaria Denies
For third consecutive day, opposition political forces and Progressive Bulgaria (PB) clashed over the amendments to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure proposed by the ruling coalition. On Wednesday, opposition parliamentary groups warned of democratic backsliding, while PB denied accusation»»»
Death toll of Deir Qanoun strike rises to 12
The death toll of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr rose Wednesday to 12, including four women and three children of the same family and a Syrian national. Three were wounded, including a child. Israel's military did not immediately comment on the casualties or specific inc»»»
Whale of a time: Humpbacks set new distance record
Paris, France: Two humpback whales have set new records for the longest-known distances travelled for their species by embarking on a journey of over 14,000 kilometres between Brazil and Australia, scientists said Wednesday. The international team of researchers were able to piece together the sepa»»»
UAE Eid travel searches jump 51% as families plan smarter holidays
Dubai: As Eid Al Adha approaches, UAE residents are showing a strong appetite for travel but with a more calculated approach than ever before. New insights from Skyscanner reveal that travellers are increasingly prioritising smarter planning, flexible itineraries and family-focused getaways as they»»»
New Aggression against Iran to Push War beyond Region, IRGC Warns - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe New Aggression against Iran to Push War beyond Region, IRGC Warns 20-05-2026 14:33 PM IRGC Navy forces participate in Great Prophet-19 mili»»»
Art Basel Qatar reveals curator, theme
DUBAI: Art Basel Qatar has announced new details for its upcoming second edition, including the appointment of Iraqi-born curator Wassan Al-Khudhairi as artistic director and the unveiling of the fair’s curatorial theme. Based in New York, Al-Khudhairi is widely recognized for her work across conte»»»
QMMF unveils Team Qatar drivers line up and livery ahead of debut in 24 Hours of Le Mans
Doha, Qatar: Team Qatar will make its debut at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans from June 10 to 14, marking a landmark moment for Qatari motorsport as the nation takes its place on the grid of one of the world’s most prestigious and demanding races. The programme is delivered through a strategic part»»»
What’s making Schengen visa appointments harder to get for UAE travellers?
Dubai: Travellers in the UAE trying to secure Schengen visa appointments for Europe this summer are increasingly facing a new problem: AI bots and unofficial agents snapping up free appointment slots and reselling them at inflated prices. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balance»»»
Parliament approves agreement with Japan on elimination of double taxation - | 24.KG
Deputies of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan today, during a plenary session, reviewed and approved the draft law «On the ratification of the agreement between the Kyrgyz Republic and Japan on the elimination of double taxation with respect to income taxes and the prevention of tax evasion and avo»»»
Putin, Xi hail 'unyielding' ties in talks after Trump visit
Beijing: President Xi Jinping hailed China and Russia's "unyielding" ties in talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as the pair met to underscore their alliance days after Donald Trump's own visit to Beijing. The two countries' ties have deepened since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Russia »»»
Third round of Qatar-Ethiopia political consultations convenes
Doha, Qatar: The third round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was held on Wednesday in Doha. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi chaired the Qatari side, where»»»
Cabinet extends best wishes to Amir on Eid Al Adha, approves draft law regulating social work professions
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani chaired the regular Cabinet meeting at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HEIbrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi»»»