More stormy weather ahead for Southern California; state of emergency declared - UPI.com
Torrential rains and stormy weather caused two deaths in Southern California on Wednesday and triggered a state of emergency and evacuations as the storm continues through Friday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Two have died as stormy weather enveloped Southern Califo»»»
Qatar affirms full support for all efforts to promote peace, social security in Yemen
DOHA: The State of Qatar expressed its full support for all efforts to promote peace and social security in the sisterly Republic of Yemen. In this context, it stressed the necessity of close cooperation among all Yemeni parties to avoid escalation and resolve all outstanding issues through dialogu»»»
Greek musician arrested after wife alleges domestic threat
Police arrested Greek musician Aris Mougopetros on Thursday following a complaint filed by his wife alleging a domestic threat. According to police sources, Mougopetros is being held at the Tripoli police security department. The incident occurred earlier in the day when he went to a residence wher»»»
Qatar to host FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025
Doha, Qatar: The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025 get underway in Doha on Friday, with Qatar hosting the elite global event until December 30. The tournament brings together the world's leading players to compete for four world titles in rapid and blitz chess across the men's and women»»»
Farmers ease some road blockages as Christmas exodus peaks
The Christmas holiday exodus from cities is continuing, with traffic conditions showing marked improvement after widespread disruption caused by farmers’ road blockades earlier in the week. According to police, negotiations between farmers and traffic authorities helped ease congestion at several k»»»
Coldest Christmas Day in Athens was in 1909, climate report says
The coldest Christmas Day in Greece occurred in 1909 (based on the Julian calendar used at the time) according to the records of the historic climate station of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), permanently stationed at the Nymphs Hill in the Thissio area that has been providing valuable in»»»
Dubai Airports lauded for seamless visitor experience
Dubai: Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, has praised Dubai Airports for ensuring a smooth and efficient arrival experience for visitors, following an inspection tour on Thursday. In a statement, »»»
GCC delegation visits Qatar’s Security Institutions to enhance emergency management, security cooperation
Doha, Qatar: As part of efforts to strengthen Gulf cooperation and exchange expertise, a delegation from the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the GCC Emergency Management Center paid a visit to a number of security entities, including the Police Academy, Ras Laffan Emer»»»
Qatar expresses full support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace, societal security in Yemen
Doha: The State of Qatar on Thursday expressed its full support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace and societal security in the sisterly Republic of Yemen. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar emphasized the necessity of close cooperation among all Yemeni parties »»»
Turkiye Gifts $11.9M Airbus Government Jet to Albania to Boost Diplomatic Ties
Turkiye’s flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, will transfer ownership of an Airbus A319?115J, a government-configured jet valued at $11.9 million, to the Albanian government under a bilateral grant agreement as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Accord»»»
Arqilea Koça Appointed Deputy General Prosecutor
Mr. Arqilea Koça has been appointed as the new Deputy General Prosecutor. The decision was taken by the General Prosecutor, Mr. Olsian Çela, taking into consideration the opinions of the prosecutors within the General Prosecutor’s Office during the relevant meeting.Mr. Koça currently serves as the »»»
Ombudsman Finds Violations of Medical Privacy in Erion Veliaj Case
Albania’s Ombudsman has found violations of the right to privacy and medical confidentiality in the case of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who is currently being held in pre-trial detention in Durrës. According to the published report, the presence of prison police officers during Veliaj’s medical exam»»»
SMEs face slightly more binding credit constraints than large enterprises (IACE)
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tunisia face slightly more binding credit constraints, both total and partial, than their larger counterparts, according to the Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) in its...»»»
Captured Ukrainian Fighter Says Enlistment Officers Told Him He Was Sent 'to Slaughter'
DONETSK (Sputnik) - After forcibly mobilizing a Ukrainian man, Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) officers told him he was being sent "straight to the slaughter," a captured conscript and former fighter of Ukraine's 25th brigade told Sputnik. "The next morning, I woke up and my military ID was re»»»
Economic fabric: IACE calls for new productive pact
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - The Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) called for the establishment of a new productive pact, aimed at rebuilding an entrepreneurial model grounded in competitiveness, transparency, and sustainability. In the first...»»»
Gaza, Nord Stream and Kiev’s golden toilets: Top stories of 2025 the West wants you to forget
2025 has yielded some extraordinary own goals that have exposed the posturing of Western politicians and left the EU isolated, irrelevant, and alone, pursuing policies contrary to self-interest. Unwelcome stories often cling to reality, like an alien to John Hurt’s face. And just as the notorious s»»»
Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro's surgery for hernia 'successful'
The jailed ex-president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has undergone a successful surgery for a double hernia, his wife Michelle says. The former leader is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 presidential election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Braz»»»
Fenerbahce president released after drug-related investigation
Turkish football club Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Sarar was released Thursday after giving a statement in a drug-related investigation. Sarar, who returned to Istanbul from abroad, was summoned to testify on December 20 in a preliminary probe into allegations of procuring and facilitating the use»»»
Israeli drones fly at low altitude over Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli drones fly at low altitude over Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) 25-12-2025 20:03 PM Latest News Urgent News Al-Manar corresponde»»»
Katara to open ‘Legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’ exhibition
Doha, Qatar: Cultural Village Foundation 'Katara,' in cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, has invited the public to attend the opening of the “Legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022” exhibition. The exhibition will open on December 29, 2025, at 5:30 pm, at Building 45 in »»»
IACE: Large enterprises face greater constraints in access to finance, workforce training, and labour regulation
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - Large enterprises in Tunisia face more pronounced constraints regarding access to finance, workforce training, and labour regulation, whereas SMEs are more affected by corruption, competition from the informal sector, and...»»»
Syria to redenominate currency to restore trust
Damascus, Dec. 25 (SANA) First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Mokhles Nazer said on Thursday that removing zeros from the new currency does not constitute a change in the Syrian pound’s purchasing power, but rather an attempt to restore it to its natural place in people’s lives and or»»»
Abu Dhabi launches indoor air monitoring system to track pollution in buildings
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has launched a new Indoor Air Quality Observatory, known as HawAQM, to closely monitor air quality inside buildings across the emirate. The initiative is a key project under ADPHC’s public health strategy and aims to improve living, learning and»»»
Al-Manar correspondent: An Israeli Merkava tank, positioned at a newly established site on Mount Blat, launches shells directly between Marwahin and Um Al-Tut, southern Lebanon - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent: An Israeli Merkava tank, positioned at a newly established site on Mount Blat, launches shells directly between Mar»»»
Central Bank of Egypt cuts interest rates by 100 basis points
Cairo: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided Thursday to cut the overnight deposit and lending rates, as well as the Central Bank's main operation rate, by 100 basis points, to 20.00 percent, 21.00 percent, and 20.50 percent, respectively. In a statement, the Cent»»»
Syria’s financial watchdog probes 246 corruption cases in 2025
Damascus, Dec. 25(SANA) The Central Organization of Financial Control maintained an accelerated pace of work throughout 2025, prioritizing the recovery of state and citizens’ rights, uncovering corruption cases and protecting public funds from waste, within a previously announced institutional fram»»»
IACE Report: 63.7% of SMEs face intense competition from informal sector
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - Small- and medium-sized enterprises in Tunisia are significantly more exposed to competition from informal operators at 63.7% compared to large enterprises at 36.9% according to the first National Enterprise Report 2025,...»»»
Djuric, Botsan-Kharchenko discuss key events in 2025, Serbia's energy security
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko on Thursday to discuss events that have marked the year 2025, as well as Serbia's energy security. Botsan-Kharchenko conveyed to Djuric Russian FM Sergey Lavrov's greetings for the upcoming New Ye»»»
Lebanon Says 3 Dead in Israeli Strikes
Lebanon said Israeli strikes near the Syrian border and in the country's south killed three people on Thursday, as Israel said it targeted a member of Iran's elite Quds Force and a Hezbollah operative. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities betwee»»»
Syrian security forces arrest the head of an ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell in Damascus countryside: reports - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Syrian security forces arrest the head of an ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell in Damascus countryside: reports 25-12-2025 19:05 PM Latest New»»»
Heavy rain, flash floods hit southern California
Los Angeles: Torrential rains unleashed flash floods and warnings of debris flow across southern California, particularly in fire-scarred areas, with further downpours forecast for Thursday as authorities declared a state of emergency in several counties. Driven by an atmospheric river known as "th»»»
Lebanon’s President Aoun Reflects on Christmas Amid Ongoing Israeli Aggression
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that this year’s Christmas comes amid ongoing suffering in southern Lebanon, speaking after a private meeting with Maronite Patriarch Béchara Raï. While cautiously optimistic about a potential easing of regional tensions, he emphasized that challenges pe»»»
Prevala and Troyan Mountain Passes Temporarily Closed Due to Heavy Snowfall
The Prevala and Troyan mountain passes are temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall, the press centre of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) said here on Thursday. A total of 582 snow-clearing machines are treating road surfaces across the national road network. The roads remain passable under win»»»
Gasic, Chinese ambassador discuss bilateral cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic met with Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation. Gasic said Serbia was exceptionally appreciative of the support provided to it by China and that the personal relationship between two leaders, President»»»
FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 daws over 1.2 million fans
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 attracted more than 1.2 million spectators and concluded with Morocco lifting the trophy, as the tournament underlined Qatar's growing reputation as a host of major global sporting events. Held from December 1 to 18, the competition featured 16 national tea»»»
Single ticket wins $1.817B Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve - UPI.com
The winning ticket was sold in Arkansas. A single ticket sold in Arkansas won the $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot prize in Wednesday night's Christmas Eve drawing. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A single Powerball ticket hit the $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve»»»
Sharjah Police’s ‘Aman’ initiative slashes crime incidents by 29%
Sharjah Police’s “Aman” initiative has helped reduce criminal incidents by 29 per cent in the first half of 2025, reinforcing safety and improving the quality of life across the emirate. The initiative, led by the General Department of Comprehensive Police Centers, focuses on preventive policing in»»»
Missing fire service commander prompts third day of search in northern Greece
Search efforts continued Thursday in northern Greece for a 45-year-old fire service officer who has been missing since Tuesday. The man, commander of the fire brigade unit in Ano Poroia, in the Serres region, disappeared after leaving the home where he lives with his wife and children. He left behi»»»
In a First, Armed Gang in Gaza Forces Displacement of Residents
In an unprecedented development, an armed gang active in Gaza City forced inhabitants of residential bloc to evacuate their homes under threat of arms. Field sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that identified the gang as the “Rami Halas Group”. At dawn on Thursday, its members opened fire in the air in t»»»
Zelensky Says Has Had Talks on Ukraine with US Envoys
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he had had "very good" talks with US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focused on ending the "brutal Russian war". "We discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work," he said in a post on social media. "»»»
Somalis vote in Mogadishu's first local election in decades
Mogadishu: Somalians voted on Thursday in the Mogadishu region's first direct local election in nearly 60 years, despite security concerns and a boycott by opposition leaders. The election is seen as a test ahead of the 2026 presidential ballot, in a country struggling to emerge from decades of con»»»
Lazarevic signs contract on Iran's participation in EXPO 2027
BELGRADE - Serbia's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Jagoda Lazarevic, who is also minister of internal and external trade, EXPO 2027 Director Danilo Jerinic and Iranian EXPO 2027 Section Commissioner Sodaif Beikzadeh signed on Thursday in Belgrade a contract on Iran's participation in the specialised expo. »»»
QSE index closes lower on Thursday
Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed on Thursday Lower by 36.39 points, or 0.34 percent, to reach 10,801.22 points. During the session, a total of 60,886,156 shares were traded, with a value of QR 156,597,584.724, through 6,526 transactions across all sectors. The session saw the share»»»
Tickets go on sale for H H The Father Amir Cup
DOHA: The Doha Equestrian Tour Organising Committee has announced that tickets are now on sale for the H H The Father Amir Cup, with the opening leg set to take place at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab from January 2 to 4. The prestigious event will bring together more than 240 elite riders competi»»»
Bodies of National Guard soldiers killed in Syria return home - UPI.com
The bodies of two members of the Iowa National Guard who were killed in an ambush in Syria earlier this month arrived home on Wednesday afternoon. Photo courtesy Gov. Kim Reynolds/X Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The remains of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in an ambush in Syria arrived at the Iowa Nat»»»
Indoor charcoal fires linked to 5 suffocation cases in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have reported five cases of suffocation linked to the use of charcoal and firewood for indoor heating, urging residents to follow safety guidelines during the winter season. The incidents were highlighted as part of the ‘Safe and Enjoyable’ winter campaign, launched join»»»
Syria Says Kills Senior ISIS Leader, Arrests Operative Near Damascus
Syrian authorities on Thursday said forces killed a senior leader in the ISIS group and arrested another operative in fresh operations near capital Damascus in coordination with the US-led coalition. Syrian security and intelligence forces, working in coordination with the international coalition, »»»
Defence Minister makes inspection visit to Menzel Bourguiba naval base
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) – Defence Minister Khaled Shili on Wednesday paid an inspection visit to the naval base in Menzel Bourguiba, Bizerte, to check on the living conditions of the military personnel assigned to the base and inspected the progress of...»»»
Bulgaria's Ministry of Interior Issues Safety Advice Ahead of Euro Launch: Banks and Post Offices Only!
As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Interior (MI) advises citizens to use only official currency exchange points, such as banks or post offices. During the first six months following the currency changeover, these exchanges will be free of charge. To ensure »»»