Business
Indians Can Now Make Payments Through UPI Across Qatar
New Delhi: Indian travellers can now use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Qatar, with Qatar Duty Free outlets becoming the first merchant to go live, according to a release from NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL). The development comes through a partnership between NIPL and Qatar National Bank (QNB), enabling UPI acceptance across Qatar via QR code-based transactions at point-of-sale terminals. The system is powered by NETSTARS’ payment solution and is expected to ease transactions for Indian visitors, who are the second largest group of international tourists to Qatar.
The introduction of UPI in Qatar allows Indians to make real-time payments at tourist attractions and retail outlets, reducing the need for cash or currency exchange. The move will also support Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors by boosting transaction volumes for merchants acquired by QNB.
Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO of NIPL, said, “We aim to enhance the acceptance of UPI globally and create a truly interoperable global payment network. The partnership with QNB is a step towards this journey. It will help millions of Indian travellers make seamless, secure digital transactions and reduce their dependence on cash. As UPI makes its mark, we are focused on driving interoperability and making cross-border payment experiences hassle-free for users.”
From Qatar’s perspective, the introduction of UPI is being seen as a boost for its economy. Yousef Mahmoud Al-Neama, Group Chief Business Officer of QNB, said, “We are excited to introduce UPI in Qatar and proud to be at the forefront of innovating the payment landscape.
This milestone not only enhances the convenience for Indian travelers but also brings significant benefits to the Qatari market by promoting cashless transactions, boosting retail and tourist sectors, and strengthening interoperability in the payments ecosystem. Importantly, it will also enable local merchants to thrive by attracting more customers and providing them with seamless digital payment options.”
Qatar Duty Free, which operates outlets at Hamad International Airport, is the first merchant to offer UPI payments.
Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer, Qatar Airways Group, said, “At Qatar Duty Free, we are committed to enhancing convenience and accessibility for travellers. As the first entity in Qatar to enable UPI as a payment option, we are proud to offer Indian travellers a seamless, secure, and cashless transaction experience at our outlets. This partnership with NPCI International and Qatar National Bank reflects our dedication to embracing innovative payment solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our diverse customer base. By integrating UPI, we aim to elevate the retail experience at Hamad International Airport, ensuring a smoother journey for millions of visitors.”
Technology partner NETSTARS also highlighted the significance of the launch.
Tsuyoshi Ri, Representative Director and CEO of NETSTARS Co., Ltd., said, “We are honoured to be part of this strategic partnership and milestone, enabling UPI for the first time in Qatar together with NPCI International, Qatar Airways Group and Qatar National Bank. This aligns with our mission to expand seamless and secure payment experiences globally. We are proud to contribute to this launch in Qatar, which will empower local merchants in Qatar to accept digital payments conveniently and efficiently from millions of international travellers.”
Toy maker Jellycat is planning to pay its owners £110m in dividends after it more than doubled its annual profit in 2024.
From eggs with sad faces to smiling peanuts, the Jellycat craze has made a big impact on the toy industry.
Its viral cuddly toys are sold all over the world and made the company a before-tax profit of £139m in 2024, up from £67m the previous year.
Chief executive, Arnaud Meysselle, said Jellycat was “humbled” by its growth and will continue to “bring more characters to life”.
Jellycat founder and chairman Thomas Gatacre said: “Our mission is simple: to create joy and try to be the most loved soft toy company in the world.”
First reported by the Financial Times, Jellycat’s most recent Companies House accounts show the firm saw a 66% increase in revenue to £333m for the year to 31 December.
The dividends the privately owned company plans to pay are a 75% increase from the £63m paid out to its owners the previous year.
Mr Gatacre said the Jellycat team has been running “faster than ever” to keep up with demand for the soft toys in 80 countries.
He added that the company is striving to make sure “every Jellycat arrives in tip top condition, build to last, and made responsibly”.
Jellycat’s success has been linked to its popularity on social media and a rise in adults buying toys for themselves.
As well as just selling the toys, Jellycat has a range of pop-up “experiences”.
Currently at London’s Selfridges, you can buy fish and chips soft toys, sold to you by an assistant pretending to fry and put salt and vinegar on your selected teddies.
In New York, you can visit a Jellycat diner and Paris has its own Jellycat patisserie with adults lining up to buy the toys.
Videos of such experiences have millions of views online, with fans essentially advertising to each other.
Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning on display at the New York International Auto Show on March 28, 2024.
Danielle DeVries | CNBC
DETROIT – Sales of electric vehicles and large SUVs drove Ford Motor‘s third-quarter sales up by 8.2%, the Detroit automaker reported Wednesday.
Ford said sales of all-electric vehicles increased by 30.2% during the period to a new quarterly record of more than 30,600 units. Its “electrified” vehicles, including EVs and hybrids, increased 20% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Sales of Ford’s SUVs increased nearly 10% during the quarter, including massive gains for its larger SUVs as well as the Mustang Mach E EV, which was up 51% from a year earlier.
EV sales during the third quarter are expected to be a record, as buyers pulled ahead plans to purchase a new zero-emissions vehicle ahead federal EV incentives of up to $7,500 ending in September.
Ford CEO Jim Farley on Tuesday said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if sales of EVs fell from an industry market share of around 10% to 12% this month — which is expected to be a record — to 5% after the incentive program ends.
Cox Automotive forecasts sales of EVs hit 410,000 during the third quarter, up 21% from a year earlier. That would easily be the highest amount of EVs ever sold in a quarter in the U.S., as well as a record 10% market share.
Sales of EVs as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that also qualified for federal incentives are expected to assist in boosting third quarter vehicle sales up between 4% and 7%, according to forecasts from Cox and CarMax’s Edmunds.
This is breaking news. Please check back for additional details.
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The fee for biometric updates has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 125, a rise of Rs 25, marking UIDAI’s first Aadhaar service fee hike in nearly five years
The fee changes apply to updates of names, addresses, biometrics, and other details once an Aadhaar card is issued. (Representative/News18 Hindi)
The cost of updating or correcting Aadhaar cards has increased as the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) raises fees for Aadhaar-related services, effective October 1.
While there is still no fee for issuing a new Aadhaar card, the fee for updating an existing Aadhaar card has gone up from Rs 50 to Rs 75. Similarly, the fee for biometric updates has been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 125, meaning an additional charge of Rs 25. This marks the first fee increase by UIDAI in nearly five years.
Updates for Aadhaar cards for newborns will remain free. The fee changes apply to updates of names, addresses, biometrics, and other details once an Aadhaar card is issued. After issuing Aadhaar cards for newborns, a biometric update is required at age five, with subsequent updates needed between ages 5 and 7 and again between 15 and 17 years.
UIDAI has provided relief for children and adolescents aged 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 years by waiving the biometric update fee, which was previously Rs 50. Despite the fee waiver, these updates remain mandatory.
The fee for updating Aadhaar details through a machine delivered to your home or convenient address remains unchanged at Rs 700. To access this service, one must email UIDAI.
October 01, 2025, 17:50 IST
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