Two million POS transactions in a single day across 67,000 points cause collapse of e-payment system - CBL apologises
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) was forced to apologise yesterday on behalf of Libya’s commercial banks after the sudden disruption to electronic payment services. The CBL confirm that services have been restored to normal. However, there were still further reports of the card payment system not wo»»»
QF Art expert highlights how healing power of art can support our mental health
Doha, Qatar: Art has always been a language beyond words, but in times of emotional strain that we all experience in our lives, it can become a lifeline for children and communities. Community Arts Lead at Qatar Foundation Ameera Al Aji and a specialist in fine arts and art therapy, emphasises that»»»
Iran, Oman in Talks on New Procedure for Ships' Passage Via Strait of Hormuz - Official
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran and Oman are holding negotiations to determine a new procedure for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani said on Wednesday. "Iran and Oman, as adjacent coastal states, are negotiating »»»
Media Review: May 27
FOREIGN POLICY Dnevnik.bg reports that Prime Minister Rumen Radev is visiting France and Belgium on Tuesday for talks with European and NATO leaders. The government press service says Radev is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris before travelling to Brus»»»
Office market remains steady as commercial supply expands
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s office and retail real estate sectors remained broadly stable during the first quarter of 2026 despite softer activity toward the end of Q1 amid regional uncertainty and seasonal factors, noted ValuStrat in its latest report. The data showed that approximately 23,300 square met»»»
Qatar to mark Eid Al Adha with prayers, festivities and celebrations
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is set to celebrate Eid Al Adha today with thousands of worshippers expected to gather for Eid prayers at mosques and prayer grounds across the country, while a packed calendar of family-friendly events and cultural activities promises a festive atmosphere throughout the holiday.»»»
Hantavirus cases from cruise outbreak rise to 13 following new case in Spain, WHO says
GENEVA: The number of cases of Hantavirus linked to a cruise ship at the center of an outbreak has increased to 13, the head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. “Spain reported a new case among the passengers who are in quarantine, which brings the total number of cases to 13,”»»»
How the UAE helped this Nepali expat grow from cashier to finance leader
Dubai: Barun Khanal still remembers the uncertainty he felt when he arrived in the UAE from Nepal in May 2007 on a three-month tourist visa. Despite holding an MBA in finance, he had no job offer, no long-term plan, and no guarantee that he would succeed. To support himself, he took whatever work h»»»
Bahamas, Canada, Thailand impose Ebola-related travel restrictions - UPI.com
The Bahamas, Canada and Thailand on Tuesday imposed travel restrictions affecting travelers from Ebola-hit the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as well as neighboring South Sudan. File Photo by EPA May 27 (UPI) -- The Bahamas, Canada and Thailand are imposing travel restrictions on traveler»»»
Qatar hospitality sector remains resilient in Q1 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s hospitality market demonstrated resilience during the first quarter of 2026 despite softer tourism volumes and broader regional uncertainty, according to a report by ValuStrat, which highlighted stable hotel pricing and continued strength in the country’s premium accommodation »»»
Warning Over Bulgaria’s Public Finances as New Debt Delay Seen as RiskyOpinions
Konstantin Prodanov, chair of the Temporary Committee on Budget and Finance from “Progressive Bulgaria,” said the country should not delay issuing new state debt, pointing to a tight fiscal environment and growing financing needs in the coming months. Speaking on bTV, he described Bulgaria’s public»»»
Ukraine Has Become NATO’s Real-World Laboratory for AI Warfare, Drones and Terrorism Against Russia
“Ukraine was viewed by Western countries - primarily the United States and its NATO satellites - from the very beginning as a key testing ground for developing advanced military technologies,” Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security (RANEPA), tells Sputni»»»
Something unexpected is happening on the shores of Lake Balaton: and not everyone will benefit
Hungary’s holiday home market around Lake Balaton is experiencing a huge transformation. While prices remain sky-high in the country’s most prestigious resort towns, fresh data shows the once-booming Balaton Uplands are losing momentum, the southern shore is rapidly catching up with the north, and »»»
US Navy Assisting Ships Cross Strait of Hormuz
The US Navy is quietly assisting commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as the US-Iran negotiations remain uncertain, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Citing US military officials, the newspaper said a Greek supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil was guided by the US»»»
US partial Gaza rebuild could prove a high-stakes gamble
Plans by the United States to press on with Gaza’s rebuilding and governance in areas not controlled by Hamas offer a glimmer of hope for the people of this war-shattered territory, even though considerable challenges lie ahead. The decision comes after the international Board of Peace, headed by U»»»
Strait of Hormuz closure chokes trade and aid for Afghanistan
KABUL: When landlocked Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan started fighting late last year and their border crossings closed, Afghans turned to their western neighbor, Iran, for an alternate to Pakistan’s major shipping hub of Karachi. They rerouted shipments through Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas, b»»»
LEGO Foundation Donates $97 Million to Bring Play-based Learning to More Children in Conflict Zones
Global conflicts from South Sudan's political crisis to the United States' recent war with Iran are putting more children at risk of suffering. One humanitarian duo wants to ensure conflict-stricken children get funding for an often-overlooked need: education. Under an agreement announced Wednesday»»»
Dread and denial at heart of deadly DR Congo Ebola outbreak
MONGBWALU: Unlike other residents of Mongbwalu, a town at the heart of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest devastating Ebola outbreak, Laureine Sakiya believes that the blood-letting virus exists after seeing some of her neighbors die. Already suspicious of the Congolese state followi»»»
Indian sailors risk work at sea, as Iran war grinds on
NEW DELHI: Born to landless Indian farmers, Sunil Pooniya thought a job at sea would be his ticket out of poverty. Instead his first voyage saw him diving into the ocean to escape a deadly attack driven by the Iran war. For hundreds of thousands of Indians, merchant shipping jobs are a lucrative pr»»»
Central bank keeps cautious stance
Inflation prospects are being shaped by opposing forces, with high energy prices and bond market developments in advanced economies warranting caution, while a stronger forint and the postponement of removing price restrictions are helping to curb inflation, Mihály Varga, governor of the Hungarian »»»
Saudi king, crown prince receive Eid greetings from Muslim leaders
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received congratulatory messages from leaders across the Islamic world ahead of Eid Al-Adha, according to a report carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The messages were sent on the occasion of the Islamic holiday, whic»»»
Warsaw revives wind power
Poland’s government has adopted measures designed to speed up the modernisation of existing onshore wind farms, despite an earlier presidential veto that blocked broader liberalisation of wind-energy regulations. The new rules simplify procedures for so-called repowering projects, allowing older tu»»»
In the UAE, perfume is identity: How it became the Capital of fragrance culture
The romance with frankincense had already begun before 1500 BC, and humans had already discovered the beauty in the resin tears of frankincense trees. They slowly made their way to the outside world and formed the foundation of the incense road, according to researcher Elise Vernon Pearl, the autho»»»
TSMC employees angered by layoff, bonus cut rumors despite record profits - UPI.com
Workers at Taiwan semiconductor giant reportedly discuss strike action online after rumors spread of staff cuts and reduced bonuses despite historic earnings growth Close-up exterior view of the logo of TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, outside its office building in Hsinchu»»»
South Carolina Senate adjourns without new map, defying Trump - UPI.com
"Polling Place" signs are displayed on Election Day in 2024. On Tuesday, voters in South Carolina headed to polls for the start of in-person voting, while the South Carolina state Senate declined to vote on a redistricting plan that would throw out those votes. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | Licen»»»
Israeli strikes kill 31 in south Lebanon as Israel expands ground operations
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed 31 people on Tuesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel said it was intensifying attacks despite a truce in its war with Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group meanwhile said it faced Israeli troops entering the southern town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, a»»»
Russia says US did not grant visa for official to attend UN meeting
MOSCOW: Russia’s UN ambassador said on Tuesday that the United States did not grant a visa for Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov to attend a UN Security Council meeting and called it a breach of US obligations as host of the UN Vassily Nebenzia made the comment at a meeting of the 15»»»
Live updates : Israel deploys ‘significant ground forces’ to expand operations in southern Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: The Israeli army has deployed “significant ground forces” to expand its operations in southern Lebanon, taking control of “strategic areas”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. Earlier, the town of Nabatiyeh was targeted by Israeli strikes following an unprecedented ev»»»
1.7m pilgrims performing Hajj this year, 2.04% more than last year
ARAFAT: More than 1.7 million pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, the majority of whom live outside of Saudi Arabia, according to authorities in the Kingdom. The total number of 1,707,301 is an increase of of 34,071, or 2.04 percent, compared with the 1,673,230 who attended the 2025 Hajj. This »»»
Officials confirm diphtheria death in Australia amid outbreak - UPI.com
A nurse administers a vaccine to a patient in 2021. Diphtheria cases are declining in Australia's Northern Territory after a vaccine blitz that involved immunizing more than 10,000 people. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo May 26 (UPI) -- Health officials in Australia said Tuesday that »»»
Relations with Qatar robust and longstanding: Jordanian minister
QNA Amman Jordan and Qatar have robust and longstanding relations, a senior Jordanian official has said. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Minister of Government Communication Dr. Mohammad Momani said both countries are keen to further develop bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation acros»»»
Muslim pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj reaches its peak
ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia: Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia for intense prayers on Tuesday, the second official day and the climax of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and the surrounding p»»»
WHO warns rapid spread of Ebola in Congo, Uganda
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the rapid spread of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is exceeding the capacity of current response efforts, noting that the number of deaths suspected to be linked to the outbreak has risen to 220. Dr. Ted»»»
Muslim worshippers defy blistering heat for Hajj pilgrimage at Mount Arafat
Mount Arafat (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – More than 1.7 million Muslims gathered for this year's climax of the hajj pilgrimage, enduring scorching desert heat on Tuesday to fulfill a lifelong religious duty. Pilgrims prayed under temperatures topping 44°C, while Saudi authorities depl»»»
Tick bite ER visits are climbing as peak season approaches - UPI.com
Emergency room visits for tick bites in April 2026 were up by almost double over those reported in April 2025. File Photo courtesy of CDC Emergency room visits for tick bites climbed in April compared to the same month last year, a sign that tick activity is ramping up as millions of people head ou»»»
Israel expands ground operation beyond ‘Yellow Line’ in southern Lebanon
BEIRUT: The Israeli military has expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond a demarcation line that Israel set up several kilometers inside Lebanese territory after an April 16 ceasefire with Hezbollah, two sources said on Tuesday. The sources gave no further details on the extent »»»
USMNT announces 26-man squad for home World Cup
WASHINGTON: After years of buildup and months of conjecture, the 26-man United States roster for this summer’s home World Cup was unveiled Tuesday on Fox at an event in New York. As expected, the roster put together by announced by manager Mauricio Pochettino is anchored by a number of longtime Am»»»
UAE or India? Where gold offers better value for expats or travellers this Eid
Dubai: Gold buyers travelling between the UAE and India are increasingly finding that Dubai remains the cheaper market for jewellery and bullion purchases, as rising import duties and rupee depreciation continue pushing prices higher in India. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News»»»
Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano out of shadow of big-city neighbors in Conference League final
LEIPZIG, Germany: There’s an ironic prize on offer if Crystal Palace can beat Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday: A spot in the competition Palace originally should have been playing in anyway. A season which began with Palace in court appealing in vain against demotion from»»»
How Saudi Arabia plans to turn AI into an economic growth engine
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to become a technology powerhouse in the Middle East, with the Kingdom already having a comprehensive and structured ecosystem to drive growth in advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence, experts told Arab News. The comments come against the backd»»»
Saudi firms seek English skills amid AI boom, but Arabic still leads
RIYADH: Arabic remains a fundamental language skill in the Middle East business community, even as demand for English proficiency grows, an industry expert said. The comments from Anil Singh, chief business officer for Saudi Arabia at TASC Outsourcing, came after a new study found that nine in 10 h»»»
Iran looking to 'buy time to rebuild its military' amid talks to end war
Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight US strikes targeting Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats. Despite the strikes, the US is adamant that a deal was within reach, and a top Iranian official delegation in Qatar says»»»
'How to shoot down an F-18': Videos show Iran militia members training to use anti-aircraft missiles
Iran’s military forces are preparing for a potential new round of US-Israeli attacks by deploying more man-portable air defence systems, or MANPADS, drawing on lessons from the recent war and the downing of multiple US and Israeli aircraft. FRANCE 24 obtained documents and videos revealing mass tra»»»
Sabalenka’s necklaces sparkle as world No. 1 triumphs
PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka’s diamonds sparkled in the sun when she won her first-round match at the heat-soakedFrench Open on Tuesday. Top-ranked Sabalenka looked light on her feet on Court Philippe-Chatrier, despite wearing two thick necklaces in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. “Diamond»»»
McTominay’s wonder goal lands on banknote as Scotland mark World Cup return
MANCHESTER: Scotland’s long-awaited World Cup return is being marked in unique fashion, with an image of Scott McTominay’s goal for the ages appearing on a limited-edition £20 banknote. The Bank of Scotland has unveiled the note featuring McTominay’s jaw-dropping overhead kick in a 4-2 victory ove»»»
Senegal's ex-PM elected National Assembly speaker despite sacking from president
Senegal's National Assembly elected ousted prime minister Ousmane Sonko as its speaker on May 26 in a vote boycotted by the opposition, following months of tension that culminated in the sacking. The high-profile political divorce risks pitting president Faye against Sonko's supporters in parliamen»»»
France in focus - Teens and screens: The smartphone trap
Smartphones, video games, online homework: screens are everywhere in teenagers' lives. Faced with the risks of addiction and the effects on mental and physical health, some French parents and teachers are push»»»
Louvre’s $100 million jewel heist to be adapted for the big screen
The audacious $100 million Louvre jewel robbery that stunned France last year is heading to the big screen, with director Romain Gavras adapting a new book on the case. Despite arrests and months of investigation, the stolen gems remain missing, fuelling intrigue around one of the most spectacular »»»
Here’s why many Western leaders’ approval ratings are tanking
Every political and social order comes in two flavors: What its small elite and the minority exploiting it to the full want everyone to believe, and the reality that most of its members actually live in. The two never match, but this mismatch need not be a big problem. However, if the difference be»»»
Flávio Bolsonaro seeks campaign boost with Trump meeting - UPI.com
Brazilian senator and presidential hopeful Flávio Bolsonaro traveled to Washington seeking a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as his campaign faces mounting pressure following the release of audio recordings linking him to a finance scandal. Photo by André Borges/EPA May 26 (UPI) -- Brazili»»»