QCB increases interest rates
Doha: Qatar Central Bank (QCB) announced that, following an assessment of the current monetary policy of the State of Qatar, it has decided to increase the current interest for the QCB Deposit Rate, QCB Lending Rate, and the QCB Repo Rate. According to an official statement issued by the central ba»»»
Vucic: Preservation of peace, stability crucial for Serbia
BELGRADE - In a public address following a Hague-based court's convictions of war criminals from the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army", Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday evening preservation of peace and stability was crucial for Serbia, but that the first-instance ruling did no»»»
Dramatic helicopter rescue saves horse trapped deep in muddy Spanish marsh
Emergency crews use helicopter in unusual rescue after animal becomes stuck in mud Dubai: Spanish emergency crews carried out an unusual rescue operation after a horse became trapped in a muddy marsh and was unable to free itself. The animal had become partially submerged in thick mud, leaving resc»»»
Amnesty says Iran committed 'crimes against humanity' in 2022 protests crackdown
In a report released Wednesday, Amnesty International said Iranian authorities committed “crimes against humanity” during the violent crackdown on the 2022 protests known as the movement “Woman, Life, Freedom” that was sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian authorities committed crimes agains»»»
Fed raises rates by 25 basis points, signals one more hike this year
BREAKING NEWSFed signals one more hike this year after unanimous 25-basis-point increase Dubai: The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, delivering its first increase since 2023 amid persistent inflation pressures. The decision was unanimous. Fed officials also sig»»»
UAE Central Bank raises base rate to 3.9% after US Fed rate hike
CBUAE lifts its base rate by 25 basis points to 3.9%, effective September 17 Dubai: The UAE Central Bank has raised its base rate by 25 basis points to 3.9%, following a similar increase by the US Federal Reserve. The Central Bank of the UAE said on Wednesday that the Base Rate applicable to its Ov»»»
Merz cancels UN trip amid election loss and sinking approval
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz has reportedly canceled his planned trip to the UN General Assembly in New York, as his political future hangs in the balance after a landslide loss to the right-wing AfD in state elections.Merz was scheduled to travel to New York next week, where high-level meeting»»»
Parliament Chair Dotsova, Czech PM Babis Discuss Expanding Bilateral Parliamentary, Economic Cooperation
Bulgaria's National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis have discussed opportunities to expand bilateral parliamentary and economic cooperation, Parliament's press centre said on Wednesday. Babis is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Prime Ministe»»»
Qatar Forum for Authors holds seminar on role of place in literary works
Doha: The Qatar Forum for Authors, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, held a literary seminar on the memory of place on Wednesday. Led by writer Badriya Hamad Al Marikhi, the seminar examined the role of place in literary works and how the built environment can evolve into an identity and a l»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Results are out - did you match the numbers?
Lucky Day Draw No. 260916 gives out cash prizes to several participants Dubai: Several participants have taken home cash prizes following the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw held on Wednesday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260916, the winning numbers in the Days section were 23, 29, 2, 9, 17, 7, while 1 »»»
Head of State Iotova Meets with European Parliament President Metsola
Bulgaria's President Iliana Iotova and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola discussed current issues on the European Union’s agenda on Wednesday. The EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 was a key topic of their talks. Iotova spoke of the planned new approach to the allocatio»»»
Budapest-Belgrade railway passenger services could be within sight, says minister
Passenger services on the Budapest-Belgrade railway line could be launched in the near future, according to Hungary’s Minister for Transport and Investment, Dávid Vitézy. Budapest-Belgrade line soon to become fully operational In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Vitézy said the project had reached an im»»»
Gaza residential building collapse toll rises to 21
Gaza: The death toll from the collapse of a damaged six-story residential building in Gaza City rose to 21 on Wednesday, including eight children, women, and elderly residents, according to Civil Defense teams. Rescuers extracted 21 bodies and rescued 20 unharmed individuals from the rubble in Tel »»»
Kuwait court sentences four to 10 years in prison over Hezbollah membership, financing
State Security Appeals Court also imposes combined KD6.283 million fine Dubai: Kuwait’s State Security Appeals Court has sentenced three Kuwaiti citizens and a Lebanese national to 10 years in prison after convicting them of joining and financing Hezbollah, and imposed fines totalling KD6.283 milli»»»
Saudi Arabia fines 10 establishments in crackdown on unlicensed recruitment services
Illegal operators face fines of up to SR250,000 for repeated violations, HR Ministry says Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has fined 10 establishments for providing recruitment and labour services without a licence as authorities step up enforcement against i»»»
Sheikh Hamdan meets first graduates of Dh1.1 billion scholarship, hails Emirati future leaders
New Emirati graduates poised to power Dubai’s knowledge economy and D33 agenda Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, met with the first cohort of graduates fr»»»
Featuring more than 560 events, Qatar Tourism launches Qatar Calendar 2026-2027
DOHA: Qatar Tourism announced the launch of the Qatar Calendar 2026-2027, which includes more than 560 events, with the participation of about 780 partners, and offers a comprehensive package of diverse events and activities that meet all interests, and bring together families and friends from all »»»
Failure to vaccinate animals against infectious disease can carry up to one year imprisonment, QR200,000 fine
Doha, Qatar: Animal owners in Qatar must report suspected cases of infectious, epidemic or zoonotic diseases within 24 hours under a new animal health law published in Issue 17 of the Official Gazette for 2026. Under Law No. 12 of 2026 regarding animal health, owners who suspect an animal is infect»»»
US secretly met Houthis; group pledges not to attack US, Israeli ships
Previously undisclosed talks held at US Embassy in Muscat as Yemen conflict escalates Dubai: US officials held previously undisclosed talks with representatives of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants in Oman over the weekend, days after the group seized a strategic stretch of Yemen’s Red Sea coast»»»
Russia Hits Container Ship With Cargo for Ukrainian Forces at Chernomorsk Port — Military
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces struck a container ship carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military at the port of Chernomorsk, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. "As a result of strikes on the port of Chernomorsk, a container ship that had delivered cargo intended to sup»»»
Man allegedly attacks grandmother after she refuses iPhone and Rs300,000 demand
Family says young man had recently been given a new motorcycle before making fresh demands A young man allegedly assaulted his elderly grandmother and aunt after they refused his demands for an expensive iPhone and Rs300,000, in a disturbing family dispute captured on video in northern India. The i»»»
This 19th-century Quran is just 26mm tall — and is on sale in Abu Dhabi
David Bryce miniature edition going for £2,750 at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair Abu Dhabi: World-leading rare book dealers Peter Harrington will offer an attractive copy of David Bryce's celebrated miniature Quran, one of the most iconic miniature books ever produced, at this year's Abu Dhabi I»»»
Nepal flood missing toll rises to over 6,000
Kathmandu, Nepal: The disaster authority in Nepal on Wednesday said it has sharply revised the missing person toll from recent catastrophic flooding and landslides, increasing the count by nearly 1,000 people to a total of 6,150 unaccounted individuals. "We have been collecting details on the missi»»»
Syria condemns Houthi militia attempt to target Mecca with drones
Damascus, Sep.16 (SANA) The Syrian Arab Republic strongly condemned Wednesday an attempt by the Houthi militia to target Mecca with drones, stressing that any attack on the Holy city, the Qiblah of Muslims, or its surroundings, or any act that puts worshippers, citizens and residents at risk, const»»»
Dubai-Sharjah traffic today: Heavy congestion hits E11 and E311
E611 offers a bit more leeway today Traffic between Dubai and Sharjah is experiencing significant congestion, with the latest supplied maps showing lengthy slowdowns on two of the busiest routes connecting the emirates. The most prominent congestion is on E11, particularly on the Dubai-Sharjah corr»»»
CEO of Qatar Media Corporation meets GCCJPPI Director General
Doha: CEO of the Qatar Media Corporation HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al-Thani met Wednesday with Director General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Joint Program Production Institution (GCCJPPI) Sheikh Mubarak Fahad Al Jaber Al-Sabah. The meeting discussed aspects of media cooperation a»»»
UAE roads record zero deaths on first day of new school year
385,700 join safety pledge as UAE reports drop in traffic fatalities Abu Dhabi: The UAE recorded zero traffic-related deaths on the first day of the new school year, the Ministry of Interior said, as 385,700 people took part in the “A Day Without Accidents” initiative this year. The initiative, lau»»»
US-Iran conflict: 5 things UAE residents need to know this evening
The practical issues to watch remain travel, shipping, and energy prices Fighting in Yemen, disruption to some of the world's most important oil routes and continuing uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz are keeping tensions high across the Middle East. There are some signs of diplomacy, but for U»»»
GCC tourism sector urges confidence as destinations prepare for stronger recovery
The region must tell a stronger story, adapt to demand, keep investing in experiences Dubai: The GCC’s tourism industry needs to speak with greater confidence about the region’s safety, attractions, and growing range of experiences as international travel continues to recover, according to industry»»»
Office Lease or Flexible Workspace? What Growing Businesses Should Consider
Every growing business in Australia hits this fork in the road eventually: sign a traditional office lease, or move into a flexible workspace arrangement. There’s no clean universal answer. It depends far more on your growth stage, cash flow position, and headcount projections than most advisors wi»»»
QSE Index closes lower
Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index lost 135.99 points, or 1.39 percent, to close Wednesday's trading session at 9,637.76 points. A total of 148,534,234 shares were traded during the session, with a combined value of QAR 359,708,124.974 via 22,232 transactions across all sectors. Shares of s»»»
Truth or Fake - Viral Putin, Modi and Xi selfie at BRICS summit is AI-generated
A viral selfie allegedly showing leaders including, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra at the BRICS summit in New Delhi is AI-generated. A SynthID watermark shows it was created using OpenAI tools. Several leaders pictured, including Br»»»
US troops leak PHOTOS of extensive damage to their bases from Iranian strikes
US troops have leaked new images to CBS News capturing widespread destruction at American military bases across the Middle East from Iran’s missile and drone attacks. The servicemen who provided the photos chose to stay anonymous because of harsh media restrictions in the US military, the outlet sa»»»
Dubai launches SARAAB, open-source AI designed to detect deepfake videos
Emirati-built model will let developers and researchers help improve deepfake detection Dubai: The Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) unveiled three cybersecurity initiatives at GISEC Global 2026, led by an open-source artificial intelligence model designed to detect deepfake videos. SARAAB wa»»»
EU chief calls for creation of ‘European Security Council’, backs partnership with Canada
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for the creation of a "European Security Council", with countries including Britain and Ukraine, in her State of the European Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Addressing this year's special guest, Canadian Prime Minister Mark C»»»
Microsoft on track to train 1 million learners in AI by 2027
Tech giant says initiative is already ahead of schedule as part of UAE's AI skills push Microsoft is working closely with the UAE government to build AI skills at scale, Amr Kamel, General Manager, Microsoft UAE said to Gulf News at GISEC 2026 on Wednesday, describing workforce training as a core p»»»
Oil prices fall on US inventory build despite Saudi supply concerns
London, Sept. 16 (SANA) Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an unexpected build in U.S. crude inventories outweighed concerns over Saudi supply following the suspension of loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 0.86%, to $107.82 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas I»»»
Lebanese, Israeli ambassadors meet in Washington as Issa visits south
Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter held a meeting overnight in the presence of U.S. State Department Counselor Daniel Holler. The meeting comes after a ninth round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon was delayed until October»»»
Video: What happens when drivers, pedestrians don't follow road rules?
It's dangerous to try and cross the road without warning, it says Abu Dhabi Police have called on all road users to adhere to safety rules in a social media post today (September 16). In the X post, which came with both message and video, it urged people to follow rules and warned of the dangers of»»»
US in constant contact with UAE, Saudi on Red Sea: Massad Boulos
Trump administration says Red Sea navigation remains a key priority Dubai: The United States is in constant coordination with the UAE and Saudi Arabia over security around Bab-el-Mandeb and the wider Red Sea, a senior White House adviser said on Wednesday. Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the US Pr»»»
Qatar strongly condemns Houthi attacks on Holy City of Makkah
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar has strongly condemned Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Makkah Al Mukkaramah, describing it as a violation of religious, moral and humanitarian principles. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Wednesday said Doha condemned in the strongest possibl»»»
7-year-old Dubai-based Indian child dies of ultra-rare brain disorder during Kerala vacation
Father shares 45-day ordeal; actress Shamna Kasim pays heartfelt tribute to dance student Dubai: A seven-year-old Indian expat student in the UAE has died after a sudden and ultra-rare neurological illness that affects one in a million children struck her during what was meant to be a happy summer »»»
Reader's letter: The things I learned to appreciate about Hungary after leaving
As a Paraguayan who lived in Hungary for six years, between 2018 and 2024, many things that once seemed unusual eventually became part of my everyday life. It was only after leaving the country and returning to South America that I began to see some of those ordinary experiences differently. Distan»»»
7-year-old Dubai-based Indian child dies of ultra-rare brain disorder during Kerala vacation
Father shares 45-day ordeal; actress Shamna Kasim pays heartfelt tribute to dance student Dubai: A seven-year-old Indian expat student in the UAE has died after a sudden and ultra-rare neurological illness that affects one in a million children struck her during what was meant to be a happy summer »»»
Video: Woman clings to moving car bonnet after confrontation
Driver arrested after woman is struck and carried on bonnet near popular Lucknow park A woman was struck by a car and carried along on its bonnet after confronting a man she knew near a popular park in northern India, with video of the frightening incident rapidly spreading online. The incident hap»»»
Gaza apartment block collapse leaves 20 dead, many missing
Among the dead are five infants, while dozens of people remain trapped GAZA CITY Gaza authorities said Wednesday that at least 20 people including five children had died and dozens more were missing after an apartment building collapsed from damage sustained in earlier Israeli strikes. The six-stor»»»
Qatar Cabinet approves draft law on precious metals and gemstones
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi»»»
Travel demand will return with a vengeance, says flydubai CEO
Bigger fleet, cargo and premium travel underpin flydubai's next growth phase Dubai: flydubai is confident that travel demand to the region will return “with a vengeance” as the impact of the US-Iran conflict fades, with the Dubai carrier preparing for its next phase of growth through a bigger fleet»»»
Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee to Hear SJC Candidates from Parliament’s Quota over Three Days
The parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs will hear the 20 candidates for members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) from Parliament's quota over three separate days. The hearings will take place from November 2 to 4, as it would not be possible to hear all the candidates in a single day, acc»»»
Jude Bellingham shares Dubai memories with Burj Khalifa snap
The Real Madrid star showed a number of pictures from his last trip to Dubai Dubai: Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has taken a trip down memory lane, sharing a collection of pictures from his previous visit to Dubai with his 56.2 million Instagram followers. The England midfielder posted a carous»»»