Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has announced a price reduction of up to 30 percent at selected restaurants and cafés in the Sealine area during the winter camping season. In a social media announcement, the Ministry stated this applies only to participating food and bever»»»

Syria’s government has ordered soldiers to guard a mass grave created to conceal atrocities under Bashar al-Assad and has opened a criminal investigation, following a Reuters report that revealed a yearslong conspiracy by the fallen dictatorship to hide thousands of bodies on the remote ​desert sit»»»

More than 10,000 complaints and reports have been filed with the Ombudsman between January 1, 2025, and mid-December, which is close to that figure from the previous year, the national Ombudsman's press service reported on Monday. There were nearly 700 complaints to the Ombudsman against heating co»»»

According to the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the first six months of 2025 amounted to $562.7 million, compared to $462.2 million in the same period in 2024, marking a 21.7 percent increase year-on-year. Ravshanbek Sabirov, Head o»»»

Alex Skouras and Leonidas Anastasopoulos, co-founders & managing partners of Alesonor, talked to Business Review about the company’s strategy to focus on delivering high-end, sustainable real estate projects on the local market and building resilient communities around them. By Anda Sebesi What wer»»»

2025 brought strategic expansion for SPEEDWELL Development, both in Romania and abroad. Country Manager Yannick Van de Parre tells Business Review about how the company navigated a volatile fiscal environment, transforming market challenges into opportunities through a focus on high sustainability »»»

Egypt and Japan on Sunday signed an executive agreement for a US$22 million grant project from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – equivalent to one billion Egyptian pounds – to finance the construction and delivery of the first-of-its-kind DSV (Dive Support Vessel) for the Suez Can»»»

In 2025, public transport users in Bishkek purchased 34,560 Tulpar school cards, 20,600 concession cards for pensioners and people with disabilities, and 90,500 standard cards. Bekzhan Akmatbekov, Tulpar project’s Operations Director, announced at a press conference. According to him, a total of 1,»»»

Dubai: A Saudi criminal court has sentenced an organised fraud ring of 11 defendants to a combined 155 years in prison after convicting them of orchestrating complex financial scams that netted about SR40 million from a range of victims, including a former national team official, a Saudi poet and a»»»

China opposes any attempt to split territories ​in Somalia, the foreign ministry said on Monday, affirming Chinese support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial ‌integrity of ‌the East ‌African ⁠country. "No ​country ‌should encourage or support other countries' internal separatist forces for »»»

Fighting has eased but not stopped following the October 10, 2025 ceasefire: more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since then, according to Gaza officials. US President Donald Trump is expected to "push for progress" during Monday's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benja»»»

Kyrgyzstan has become one of the top five importers of cottage cheese and cheese from Russia, according to data from the Federal Center for the Development of Agricultural Exports Agroexport. It is noted that from January to October 2025, Russia increased exports of cheese and cottage cheese in mon»»»

Mexico City: At least 13 people died and close to a hundred others were injured Sunday when a train partially derailed in southern Oaxaca state, Mexican authorities said, updating an earlier toll. "As a result of this accident, 139 people are out of danger, 98 were injured... and unfortunately, 13 »»»

Dubai: A fierce bidding battle for the coveted car plate number 12 set the tone for Dubai’s latest distinctive number plate auction, propelling total sales to a record-breaking Dh109 million, the highest ever achieved by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The auction held on December 27 was h»»»

Dubai: People who drink bottled water every day may be ingesting an extra 90,000 microplastic particles annually, according to a new review of scientific research by researchers from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The review analysed more than 140 scientific studies and found that, on av»»»

Oil prices rose on Monday as investors weighed the outcome of talks between the US and Ukrainian presidents on a potential ​deal to end the war in Ukraine, as well as Middle East tensions that could disrupt supply. Brent crude futures rose 67 cents, or 1.1%, to $61.31 per barrel at 0751 GMT, while »»»

China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing's "military intimidation". Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military act»»»

Bulgaria will enter 2026 with mostly stable winter weather, marked by sunshine, wind and low temperatures in the opening days of the new year. During the first half of New Year’s week, conditions will be largely calm and bright, with limited atmospheric disturbances. Monday and Tuesday will bring p»»»

Specialists who received education funded by state scholarships and taxpayers’ money should return and work in Kyrgyzstan. Education Minister Dokturgul Kendirbaeva said live on Birinchi Radio. According to her, the ministry is interested in attracting young and proactive professionals to the educat»»»

As 2025 draws to a close, we will all reflect on the year gone by- the highs, the lows and what to hope for in 2026. For me this year was marked by finding comfort in nostalgia. I can’t say 2025 has been a bad year for me personally but there were immense moments of stress. And for most of us, what»»»

KGST stablecoin, pegged to the Kyrgyz som, continues to trade on the Binance cryptocurrency exchange without significant deviations from its settlement rate. An analysis of exchange data for late December says. KGST quotes remain within a narrow range aligned with the national currency, indicating »»»

On Dec. 29, 1975, a terrorist bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring 75. 1 of 6 | On December 29, 1975, a terrorist bomb exploded at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring 75. File Photo courtesy the FBI Dec. 29 (UPI) -- On th»»»

Seoul, South Korea: South Korea's former first lady was alleged by prosecutors Monday to have accepted lavish bribes totaling over $200,000, including fine art, jewellery and a handbag, as well as meddling in state affairs. Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arreste»»»

Beijing, China: China will on January 1 launch an "action plan" for boosting management and operations of its digital currency, a deputy governor of the country's central bank said Monday. "The future digital yuan will be a modern digital payment and circulation means issued and circulated within t»»»

Dubai: People who drink bottled water every day may be ingesting an extra 90,000 microplastic particles annually, according to a new review of scientific research by researchers from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The review analysed more than 140 scientific studies and found that, on av»»»

Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has apologised for several of his old tweets that have resurfaced, as calls grow for him to be deported from the UK days after he arrived following his release from an Egyptian jail. The Conservative and Reform UK leaders say the home secretary should c»»»

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The Chinese armed forces are conducting live-fire drills at sea targets in areas north and southwest of Taiwan on Monday, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said. "The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA is conducting drills with live-fire at sea ta»»»

Dubai: In October 2017, the Government of the United Arab Emirates launched the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy, marking the next phase beyond the Smart Government era. This initiative laid the foundation for future services, sectors, and infrastructure, in alignment with the UAE Centennial 20»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) has launched a new service, ‘Awn 60+’, aimed at supporting senior citizens aged 60 and above by making access to government services easier and more convenient. The service enables seniors to complete transactions without visiting SEDD’s h»»»

The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has ordered a mechanic to pay Dh32,139 in compensation and imposed an additional fine of Dh10,000, after ruling that a private vehicle he repaired was not roadworthy and broke down during use. The case was brought by the car’s owner, who filed a civil lawsuit agains»»»

A total of 11,747 traffic accidents were recorded on Fujairah roads from the beginning of the year until the end of November, resulting in seven deaths and 201 injuries of varying severity, according to a traffic statistics report. The report showed that one fatality was recorded in each of Februar»»»

Starting February 3, 2026, a one-day vignette will be available for passenger vehicles up to 3.5 tons, allowing access to Bulgaria’s national road network for 24 hours, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) announced. The cost of the new vignette will be 4.09 euros (8 leva). For 2026, all vignettes »»»

Sharjah: Residents across the emirate continue to report a strong sense of safety, according to the results of the Survey on the Perception of Safety of Lives and Property in the Emirate of Sharjah 2025, released by the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority in collaboration with the Department of Statist»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: A financial dispute between former spouses has ended in a court-brokered settlement at the Ras Al Khaimah Court after ruling in favour of the woman and ordered her ex- husband to repay Dh750,000 he had taken during their marriage. The settlement was reached at the court of first ins»»»

A Dubai civil court has annulled the sale contract of a luxury vehicle and ordered the selling company to refund Dh600,000 to the buyer, after it was established that the car was internationally wanted by Interpol, rendering the subject of the contract unlawful. The ruling followed a civil lawsuit »»»

Coast guard crews on Monday recovered the body of a migrant during a search and rescue operation for four people reported missing north of the eastern Aegean island of Samos. Details about the victim’s identity were not immediately known. Authorities launched the operation after police located 26 m»»»

by Amal Nabil Retail banking in Egypt is one of the sectors attracting the most customers as difficult financial conditions prevent many from acquiring products they need or capital for starting small businesses. The Middle East Observer discussed this issue with some retail experts from different »»»

London: Tottenham ground out a much-needed three points for the under-fire Thomas Frank with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, while high-flying Sunderland were held 1-1 by Leeds yesterday. Archie Gray was Spurs’ unlikely match winner at Selhurst Park with his first senior goal as Frank’s men won for ju»»»

Karachi: Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan returned to Pakistan’s squad for next month’s three-match Twenty20 international series in Sri Lanka, selectors said yesterday. The 27-year-old missed a large part of Pakistan’s cricket with a shoulder injury since June but regained full fitness after surge»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center organised an intensive course for ten students from the Daad Center in the Russian Federation. The Daad Center is dedicated to promoting and teaching the Arabic language, and the students’ visit to the center came as part o»»»

Doha, Qatar: Represented by the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, is organising an Umrah trip for twenty outstanding Qatari students from private schools. This in»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center celebrated the graduation of students from the Arabic language course from the Republic of Mongolia. The course lasted for a full month and benefited 11 male and female students. The organisation of such courses comes withi»»»

Dubai: Oman’s hospitality sector maintained strong momentum through the first nine months of 2025, as robust domestic and international travel lifted hotel occupancy, guest volumes, and total revenues. According to new research by Cavendish Maxwell, hotel revenues rose more than 18% year-on-year to»»»

The United States on Monday announced a $2 billion pledge for UN humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to slash US foreign assistance and warns United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in a time of new financial realities. The money is a small fraction of wh»»»

Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand convened with their Chinese counterpart on Monday as the Beijing government, building on its expanding presence in the world diplomatic arena, sought to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countrie»»»

A ceremony to unveil a monument to film director, People’s Artist of the USSR, Toktogul State Prize laureate, and public and government figure Tolomush Okeev will take place on December 30 at 12:00 at the intersection of Chui Avenue and K. Akiyev Street. The event was reported by the press service »»»

Rabat: African player of the year Achraf Hakimi will make his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations when hosts Morocco play Zambia on Monday, coach Walid Regragui confirmed. “What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui said yes»»»

Dubai: Nick Kyrgios beat women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes” yesterday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans. Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the »»»

Sixteen people have been killed and three left injured after a fire tore through a nursing home for elderly residents in northern Indonesia, local authorities say. The fire department was alerted to a fire at Damai retirement home in the city of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, on Su»»»