Marek: Air Serbia has become regional leader
TORONTO - At a reception that marked the launch of direct flights between Belgrade and Toronto, Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek said the Serbian national airline would keep increasing the number of new long-haul flights and that, with more than a hundred destinations operated, it had become the regional »»»
Bulgaria Holds Strong Position as Wheat Consumption Set to Overtake Production WorldwideOpinions
The global wheat market is entering what experts describe as a structural turning point, with early projections for the 2026 harvest indicating that worldwide consumption will surpass production. This assessment was presented by Vasil Simov, executive director of the Sofia Commodity Exchange (SCE),»»»
ICAO urges airlines to follow COVID-era protocols amid deadly Ebola strain's spread in Africa
As a deadly Ebola strain continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with cases also confirmed in Uganda, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is urging governments and airlines to follow health protocols introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic to limit aviatio»»»
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade grows 6% to $26bn in Jan to April
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reached $26.3bn in January to April, marking a year-on-year increase of $1.44bn, or 5.8%, according to data released by the national statistical committee. Exports declined 16.8% to $9.97bn, while imports climbed 26.7% to $16.36bn, resulting in a trade defi»»»
LEGO Foundation donates $97m to help children in Middle East, Africa conflict zones
NEW YORK: 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»»»
US needs years to replenish weapons’ stockpiles after Iran war, analysis says
WASHINGTON: US military contractors need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of three key weapons systems used heavily in the Iran war, according to an analysis released Wednesday, adding to concerns that American forces would have limited firepower in any future conflict with China. The w»»»
ECB warns Middle East conflict could weigh on eurozone growth
Frankfurt, May 27 (SANA) The European Central Bank warned on Wednesday that an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, combined with global trade tensions, could weaken economic growth in the eurozone and pose risks to financial stability. In its twice-yearly Financial Stability Review, the »»»
WHO warns of ‘catastrophic collision’ between Ebola and Congo conflict - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Health workers wearing full personal protective equipment prepare to transport the body of an Ebola victim for a safe burial at Sofepadi Hospital in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Saturday. The World Health Organization recently raised the national risk level o»»»
‘I feel like I’ve come out of prison’: Iranians back online after 88 days
Dubai: For nearly three months, millions of Iranians lived in near silence online — unable to freely message loved ones, read independent news, stream films or even run businesses that depended on the internet. Now, after what internet monitors and activists describe as the longest nationwide inter»»»
War and Displacement Rob Beirut of Eid al-Adha Joy
The shape of Eid al-Adha has changed for many Lebanese as the war continues, along with the escalation, warnings, and daily anxiety accompanying it. Security developments resulting from the conflict have disrupted family gatherings that have become increasingly limited, while fear and anxiety conti»»»
Lebanese Army Says One Soldier Killed in Israeli Strike in Bekaa
The Lebanese army said on Wednesday that a soldier had been killed in an Israeli air strike near his post in Bekaa and that it had retrieved his body, Reuters reported. It said the retrieval was delayed from the previous day due to the security situation in the area. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its f»»»
US preparing Ebola quarantine center in Kenya: WSJ
WASHINGTON: The United States plans to open a quarantine center in Kenya, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, as a deadly Ebola outbreak surges in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The facility is primarily intended for Americans who test positive for the virus or have been exposed to it, »»»
Student sports body FISU allows Russians to compete in all disciplines
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) has allowed Russian athletes to compete in its events in all disciplines via a neutral status. In sports where a relevant federation has already lifted restrictions on Russia, they will be able to participate with their national flag and anthem,»»»
Meet the 100-year-old ballet teacher inspiring generations
Dubai: Leaning on a cane or the barre in her Santiago dance studio, 100-year-old Evelyn Cordero continues to teach ballet with grace and dedication. “Even in my dreams, I dance,” says the veteran instructor, whose passion for ballet has lasted nearly a century. Cordero began dancing at the age of f»»»
Saudi Arabia rolls out special services for elderly, disabled pilgrims
MAKKAH: In a display of the care Saudi Arabia lavishes on pilgrims, the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque expanded its services this year at the Grand Mosque for elderly pilgrims and those with disabilities, drawing on a combination of on-site facilities»»»
Djuric meets with Kyrgyz FM in New York
NEW YORK - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Kyrgyz FM Jeenbek Kulubaev on the sidelines of a UN Security Council session on Tuesday. Djuric said Serbia and Kyrgyzstan were "connected by traditionally good and friendly relations" and expressed gratitude for Kyrgyzstan’s "principled and consistent su»»»
Swiatek sees off Bejlek to reach third round at French Open
PARIS: Iga Swiatek navigated her way into the third round of the French Open on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-3 success over world number 35 Sara Bejlek. The four-time Roland Garros champion is seeking to reclaim the title she won three times consecutively between 2022 and 2024, before losing out at the »»»
Social Policy Minister Presents Priorities, Says Social Payments Are Secured
As she presented her priorities on Wednesday, Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova said that social payments were secured. “Social payments are guaranteed - pensions, supplements and assistance for people with disabilities, as well as for families and children, will continue to be pa»»»
Sofia2Go: Sofia's New App-Based Public Transport Cards
Sofia Municipality and the Centre for Urban Mobility Wednesday presented the new Sofia2Go mobile app, which integrates public transport cards in Sofia into a phone’s digital wallet via Google Wallet. The service enables travel without a physical card and was developed with Google and NXP. Sofia May»»»
Through the eyes of first-timers — the workers discovering Hajj from the other side
ALKHOBAR: For millions of pilgrims, Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. For thousands of workers behind the scenes each season, it is something else entirely: a crash course in pressure, unpredictability and human endurance. Nothing fully prepares first-time Hajj workers for the scale o»»»
Arab Finance - Transport and Storage: Positioning Egypt as a Regional Logistics Hub
Egypt’s transport and storage sector has quickly become a key driver of the country's economic growth, supporting both domestic productivity and international trade. Once viewed as just a supporting service, the sector is now a key part of Egypt's economic transformation. The sector’s growth is not»»»
Arab Finance - Egypt's auto sales rise 3.2% in March
Arab Finance: Auto sales in Egypt increased by 3.2% month-on-month (MoM) to 17,800 vehicles during March 2026, according to data from the Automotive Market Information Council (AMIC). This growth reflects increased consumer demand for cars as they anticipate higher prices in the coming period, driv»»»
Arab Finance - Valu, ElTawkeel.com launch Egypt's 1st fully integrated digital automotive e-commerce platform
Arab Finance: Valu, through its specialized arm Valu Shift, partnered with ElTawkeel.com to launch Egypt's first fully integrated digital automotive e-commerce platform focused on the new car segment, as per an emailed press release. The partnership aims to provide customers with a single platform »»»
Israel announces killing of new Hamas military chief
The recently appointed commander of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Odeh, has been killed in an airstrike in Gaza, the Israeli authorities have claimed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to carry out attacks on specific targets in Gaza despite a US-brokered ceasefire being in place in the Pal»»»
Iran says US, Israel goal still to overthrow Islamic republic
TEHRAN: Iran’s intelligence ministry said on Wednesday that the goal of the United States and Israel remained to overthrow the Islamic republic and break up the country. “The enemy is now pursuing through other means the objective of overthrowing and partitioning the country, which it openly declar»»»
Leftist ex-PM brings new party to fragmented Greek politics
ATHENS: A decade after his notorious clash with Greece’s international creditors, former leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras is back — with a new party in a political scene fragmenting under the weight of scandals and income malaise. In a speech in Athens late Tuesday, the 51-year-old said he was»»»
Lebanese Army Defies Israeli Threats, Retrieves Body of Fallen Soldier in Qaraoun Dam
Lebanese Army on Wednesday to retrieved the body of a fallen soldier from Qaraoun Dam road, defying threats by the Israeli enemy which has been since Tuesday obstructing all recovery attempts, Al-Manar correspondent reported. Lebanese Military units advanced into the heavily targeted zone to recove»»»
Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict, WHO warns
Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict, WHO warns 10 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDan Sales ReutersDR Congo is the epicentre of the outbreak though a few cases have been detected in Uganda Ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is ha»»»
Ousted Turkiye opposition leader says no plans for new party
ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s ousted opposition leader Ozgur Ozel on Wednesday ruled out any plans to leave the crisis-hit CHP and form a new party, urging fellow members to stay put, Turkish media reported. The CHP, Turkiye’s oldest political party, has been badly shaken by a May 21 court ruling that overtu»»»
Energy affordability pressures reveal a wider consumer wellbeing issue – EY research
Rising energy costs are no longer just a budget concern but are increasingly shaping how people live, according to findings from the latest EY global energy consumer research. Based on a global survey of more than 17,200 residential energy consumers across 20 markets, the research shows that afford»»»
Rare 'Blue Moon' to light up skies on May 31: How and when to watch the celestial event in the UAE and worldwide
Skywatchers in the UAE and around the world are preparing to witness a rare celestial event on May 31, commonly known as a “Blue Moon”, one of the most unusual lunar phenomena of the year. Astronomers said the moon would begin appearing full on the night of May 30, reaching peak illumination at 3:4»»»
Alvarez & Marsal Returns to Lebanon’s Central Bank to Trace Missing $20 Billion
Lebanon’s central bank (BDL) has formally reappointed consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit on the period from October 2019 through the end of 2023, in a move aimed at uncovering possible misuse, embezzlement, and waste involving more than $20 billion in deplete»»»
Hezbollah says clashed with Israeli troops north of Lebanon’s Litani river
BEIRUT: Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in a town north of the Litani river on Wednesday, a day after Israel’s military said it was expanding its ground operations. Israel intensified the scope of its strikes on south and east Lebanon on Tuesday despite a ceasefire, killing »»»
WHO chief says DR Congo facing ‘catastrophic collision’ of Ebola and war
GENEVA: The World Health Organization chief warned Wednesday that conflict raging in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was dramatically complicating efforts to rein in a deadly Ebola outbreak and urged an immediate ceasefire.“Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict»»»
The bin decides: Why waste habits begin at home
Every day, across millions of households, someone stands at a bin, deposits whatever they are holding, and considers the task complete. That moment is automatic, shaped more by physical environments than by conscious deliberation. What the object communicates, people tend to interpret as instructio»»»
'US veto' prohibits Israel from striking Beirut and its southern suburbs
The reason the Israeli army has not carried out an attack in Beirut and its southern suburbs despite the latest escalation is an "American veto," unnamed sources told Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday. Israel's Channel 12 meanwhile reported that "there are behind-the-scenes disagreeme»»»
Trump says peace is near — so why does the Iran war keep escalating?
Dubai: US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that peace with Iran was within reach, only for fresh military threats, strikes and new tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to follow days — and sometimes hours — later. For weeks, Trump has alternated between declaring diplomatic progress, threa»»»
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-Sharqiyeh, a»»»
Air India cuts on domestic flights as fuel cost soars
New Delhi: Air India has reduced the number of flights on some domestic routes between June and August as the loss-making airline struggles to cut costs amid soaring fuel prices triggered by the Middle East conflict, a statement said on Wednesday. The Tata Group-owned airline said in the statement »»»
Iran-linked missiles behind attack on S. Korean vessel in Hormuz: foreign ministry - UPI.com
A bulk container ship operated by South Korean shipper HMM Co. is docked at a port in Dubai in this file photo taken May 9 after being damaged from a fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz. File Photo by Yonhap Anti-ship missiles developed and used by Iran are believed to have been use»»»
Trump’s Board of Peace has ‘zero dollars’ despite pledges: FT
US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has "zero" cash in its official fund, despite member countries pledging billions of dollars, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Trump first conceived of the board to rebuild Gaza, where Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-backed ceasefire in October in»»»
Israel kills new chief of Hamas armed wing in Gaza strike
Israel said on Wednesday it had killed the new head of Hamas' armed wing in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, after killing his predecessor earlier this month despite an ongoing ceasefire. Since Hamas' October 2023 attack, Israel has systematically targeted the group's leaders, both in Gaza and across the regio»»»
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 »»»
Air conditioning system fails in Hungarian hospital
The air conditioning system at Veszprém’s Csolnoky Ferenc Hospital broke down despite having been put into operation only on 11 May. Maintenance and restart require components from South Korea. Air conditioning system down According to a recent post by Hungary’s new Health Minister, Dr Zsolt Hegedű»»»
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.»»»