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»»»
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»»»
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. »»»
Hezbollah Mourns Scholar and Resistance Figure Sheikh Reda Mahdi
Hezbollah mourned on Thursday the Islamic scholar and resistance figure Sheikh Reda Mahdi, extending condolences to the Islamic nation and to religious seminaries and their scholars. In a statement, the group said Sheikh Mahdi passed away peacefully after a long life devoted to learning and struggl»»»
Israel Says Member of Elite Iran Unit Killed in Lebanon Strike
The Israeli military said it killed a member of Iran's elite Quds Force in a strike in Lebanon on Thursday, accusing him of planning attacks against Israel, AFP reported. The military said the strike killed Hussein Mahmud Marshad al-Jawhari, "a key terrorist in the operational unit of the Quds Forc»»»
Israel arrests citizen suspected of spying for Iran
Israeli authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of an Israeli man on suspicion of committing security offenses under the direction of Iranian intelligence agents, days after Tehran executed an Iranian accused of spying for Israel. The arrest is the latest in a series of cases in which Israel h»»»
Israel Arrests Citizen Suspected of Spying for Iran
Israeli authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of an Israeli man on suspicion of committing security offences under the direction of Iranian intelligence agents, days after Tehran executed an Iranian accused of spying for Israel. The arrest is the latest in a series of cases in which Israel h»»»
Al Sadd never stopped believing, says Mujica
Doha: Hat-trick hero Rafa Mujica attributed self-belief as the key factor for Al Sadd SC’s dramatic 4-2 comeback win over Shabab Al Ahli in their AFC Champions League Elite tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. Trailing 2-0 following goals from Federico Cartabia and Yahya Al Ghassani, Al »»»
Front-runner to be Bangladesh PM returns after 17 years in exile
Tarique Rahman, the front-runner to be the next prime minister of Bangladesh, has returned to the country after 17 years in exile ahead of landmark general elections. The 60-year-old is the figurehead of the influential Zia family and the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The party he leads»»»
More than 400 influential women urge Iran to halt execution of female activist
Four Nobel laureates and several former heads of state are among the more than 400 prominent women who have signed a letter demanding the immediate release of Zahra Tabari, an Iranian engineer facing execution. The letter, organised by a London-based association, stated that Tabari faced "execution»»»
EU to vote on Reparation Loan. How will Russia retaliate?
EU leaders meet on December 18-19 to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»
MOSCOW BLOG: Is Russia close to collapse? Russia vs US wartime budget deficits
Is Russia close to collapse? Russia vs US wartime budget deficits One of the EC executive assumptions for wanting to extend the war in Ukraine by two years is they seem to believe Russia’s economy is close to collapse. EU »»»
EU to vote on Reparation Loan. How will Russia retaliate?
EU leaders meet on December 18-19 to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»
KSE: Ukraine Reparation Loan Europe and UK litigation risk analysis
Ahead of the European Council meeting on 18-19 December, KSE Institute, together with the Centre for Liberal Modernity (LibMod) and a group of international legal and economic experts, has released a new legal analysis of the reparations loan for Ukraine — a Europ»»»
Russia throttles WhatsApp as Kremlin pushes for ‘internet sovereignty’
Russian authorities have escalated restrictions on WhatsApp, sharply reducing the platform’s speed by as much as 80% in recent days, in what digital rights advocates describe as an effective precursor to a full ban. The cl»»»
EU to vote on Reparation Loan. How will Russia retaliate?
EU leaders meet on December 18-19 to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»
China-Iran trade plunges 24% as sanctions bite and Beijing shifts oil suppliers
Trade between China and Iran fell 24% to $9.09bn in the first 11 months of 2025 from $12bn over the same period in 2024, with Chinese exports to Iran declining 22% to $6.23bn whilst imports dropped 27% to $2.86bn, China's General Administration of Customs reported on December 24. »»»
China-Iran trade plunges 24% as sanctions bite and Beijing shifts oil suppliers
Trade between China and Iran fell 24% to $9.09bn in the first 11 months of 2025 from $12bn over the same period in 2024, with Chinese exports to Iran declining 22% to $6.23bn whilst imports dropped 27% to $2.86bn, China's General Administration of Customs reported on December 24. »»»
Russian official says economy has pivoted east with 87% of trade to non-Western nations
Russia has reoriented 87% of its trade in physical terms towards non-Western countries compared to around 40% five to six years ago, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stated on December 24. Overchuk, Russia's technocra»»»
Iranian rial under renewed pressure as dollar climbs past IRR1.36mn
The Iranian rial weakened sharply in recent days, pushing the open-market US dollar rate beyond IRR1,360,000, as a mix of domestic policy strains, tightening foreign exchange supply and heightened geopolitical risks fuelled renewed volatility in the currency market. »»»
China-Iran trade plunges 24% as sanctions bite and Beijing shifts oil suppliers
Trade between China and Iran fell 24% to $9.09bn in the first 11 months of 2025 from $12bn over the same period in 2024, with Chinese exports to Iran declining 22% to $6.23bn whilst imports dropped 27% to $2.86bn, China's General Administration of Customs reported on December 24. »»»
Iraq launches first international transit shipment under TIR system
Iraq's General Commission for Customs received its first international transit shipment from Iran through Shalamcheh border crossing en route to Kuwait via Safwan crossing under the International Road Transport (TIR) system using internationally approved electronic tracking and locking systems, Al-»»»
Iraq launches first international transit shipment under TIR system
Iraq's General Commission for Customs received its first international transit shipment from Iran through Shalamcheh border crossing en route to Kuwait via Safwan crossing under the International Road Transport (TIR) system using internationally approved electronic tracking and locking systems, Al-»»»
Iraq launches first international transit shipment under TIR system
Iraq's General Commission for Customs received its first international transit shipment from Iran through Shalamcheh border crossing en route to Kuwait via Safwan crossing under the International Road Transport (TIR) system using internationally approved electronic tracking and locking systems, Al-»»»
Iraq launches first international transit shipment under TIR system
Iraq's General Commission for Customs received its first international transit shipment from Iran through Shalamcheh border crossing en route to Kuwait via Safwan crossing under the International Road Transport (TIR) system using internationally approved electronic tracking and locking systems, Al-»»»
Lebanon: Retired officer with ties to capture of downed Israeli navigator Ron Arad vanished – Ya Libnan
Share: PHOTO-A handout photo by Israel’s television made available on July 13, 2008, shows a photograph of Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator who was captured after his fighter jet was shot down in Lebanon in 1986. (HO / AFP) Reports say Ahmad Shukr, brother of the man involved in capturing d»»»
Washington deploys more troops to Caribbean – WSJ
The US is reportedly expanding its military posture near Venezuela by deploying additional forces to the Caribbean amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The movements include special operations aircraft and military transport planes, the newspape»»»
Iran Rejects IAEA Inspection Calls Until Watchdog Clarifies Stance on US and Israeli Strikes
Iran will reject International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of bombed nuclear sites until certain conditions are met, President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami said, as quoted by Tasnim. If the IAEA deems military attacks acceptable, it should formally declare U»»»
Syria State Media Says 3 Dead in Clashes in Latakia Province
Syrian state media said three people were killed Wednesday in clashes with security forces in coastal Latakia province, the heartland of the country's Alawite minority community. "Three members of remnants of the former regime were killed after clashes with internal security forces" outside the cit»»»
Israel Accuses Hamas of Violating Gaza Truce, Says It Will Respond
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas on Wednesday of violating the Gaza ceasefire by refusing to disarm, and said Israel would retaliate after a military officer was wounded by what the military described as a bomb. In a speech at a graduation ceremony for Air Force pilots, Netan»»»
How Trump’s Decisions Reshaped Syria
In a crowded regional and international landscape shaped by overlapping security, strategic, economic, and political pressures, the administration of US President Donald Trump has moved since its return to the White House in January 2025 to recalibrate its approach to Syria. After years of US polic»»»
Venezuela accuses US of ‘greatest extortion’ in history
The US is subjecting Venezuela to the “greatest extortion” in the country’s history, Caracas’ envoy to the UN, Samuel Moncada, has said. Moncada made the statement during a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, called by Caracas after Washington seized another tanker off the Latin American countr»»»
As the holiday season begins, don't fall for fake concert, travel, and event tickets
As the holiday season approaches, Abu Dhabi Police, the UAE Cybersecurity Council, and experts in artificial intelligence and digital technologies have warned the public against falling victim to scammers and cybercriminals who attempt to lure victims into purchasing fake tickets and entry passes f»»»
4 mistakes that led to the death of Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah’s former SG – Ya Libnan
Share: File – Smoke billows following Israeli strikes over Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces . Hezbollah has issued a statement confirming the death of its secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, ending his 32-year tenure as the group’s leader.(AP»»»
Central authority exposes major corruption case at Syrian grain corporation
Damascus, Dec 24 (SANA) The Central Authority for Control and Inspection revealed on Wednesday a significant financial corruption case at the Syrian Grain Corporation, amounting to more than nine billion Syrian pounds, involving a former minister from the era of the ousted regime. According to a st»»»
Syria: Israeli Occupation Forces Attack Citizens in Quneitra, Carry out Incursion in Daraa
Israeli occupation forces ramped up aggression in southern Syria, staging attacks on citizens in Quneitra and carrying out more incursions in the area as well as Daraa. SANA news agency reported an Israeli occupation patrol, consisting of two vehicles, a Hilux and a military Hummer, fired smoke bom»»»
Who are the deluded ‘experts’ trying to send Germans to war with Russia?
The governments and media elites of the West pride themselves on providing and promoting freedom of thought, opinion, and debate. Together with a selective feminism that easily sacrifices the women of, say, Libya, Iraq, and Palestine, and a very odd understanding of “democracy” that includes the us»»»
Syrian close to Assad-era commander killed in Lebanon
A former Syrian intelligence officer who was close to one of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad's top army commanders was killed in Lebanon, a judicial official said, with the army announcing it had arrested a suspect. It was the first confirmation since Assad's ouster in December last year of a former S»»»
Venezuela’s Maduro Decries US Naval Piracy as Trump Expands Sanctions - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Venezuela’s Maduro Decries US Naval Piracy as Trump Expands Sanctions 12-12-2025 15:09 PM Donald Trump has exerted more pressure on Venezue»»»
Iran, Russia Sign Cooperation Document, Affirm Solid Ties - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran, Russia Sign Cooperation Document, Affirm Solid Ties 17-12-2025 15:32 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Russian count»»»
Iran Continues to Progress despite Challenges: Leader
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that Iran has defeated decades of Western pressure, stressing that the country will continue to progress despite existing challenges. Iran commemorated the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima al-Zahra with nationwide celebrations on Thursday, as thousands of e»»»
FM Araghchi Affirms Armed Forces Readiness to Defend Iran
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasized that Iran never seeks war, but it wants to resolve issues through diplomacy. “We have never trusted America as an honest negotiator, the US has not been honest about anything, and in my opinion, no one can trust America,” Araghchi told al-Jazeera telev»»»
EU’s Decision to Support Ukraine Confirms that It Does Not Want Peace: Russian Diplomat
The EU’s decision to continue financing Vladimir Zelensky’s regime confirms that “Russophobes in the EU do not want peace in Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Commenting on the results of the European Council meeting, she said: “It has been confirmed that EU membe»»»
Israeli Occupation Forces Raid Villages in Syria’s Southern Quneitra Countryside
Israeli occupation forces advanced on Friday into several villages in southern countryside of Quneitra, southwestern Syria, setting up temporary checkpoints. SANA news agency reported that a force consisting of three vehicles entered from the town of Bir Ajam toward the village of Breiqa, briefly s»»»
Iran Condemns US Threat of Use of Force against Venezuela
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the US’ threat to use force against Venezuela and its actions that undermine maritime security in the Caribbean, describing them as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. Araqchi made the remarks at a telephone conversation with»»»
Israeli Occupation Steps Up Incursions into Syria’s Quneitra
Israeli occupation army renewed its violations of Syria’s sovereignty on Saturday by entering villages in the countryside of the southwestern Quneitra province and setting up checkpoints, Syrian media reported. State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV said Israeli troops moved into the village of Ain Ziwan using »»»
Focus on Your Own Country”: Maduro Rebuffs Trump, Asserts Venezuela’s Sovereignty and Economic Gains
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro asserted on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump should concentrate on domestic social problems, stating that Venezuela is fully capable of managing its own affairs. “Seventy percent of his speeches and statements are about Venezuela,” Maduro said, addressing»»»
Syria and Russia deepen strategic partnership as Damascus moves in reconstruction
Moscow, Dec. 24 (SANA) Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said Wednesday that Syrian-Russian relations are entering a new phase, emphasizing that talks between the two countries are now conducted with greater transparency and openness. Speaking after a meeting with Russian Foreign Min»»»
The much-delayed refurbishment of Tripoli's historic Grand Hotel commenced by ODAC
The state implementation agency, the Organisation for the Development of Administrative Centres (ODAC), announced last Monday (22 December) that the (long delayed) rehabilitation, development and equipping of Tripoli’s historic Grand Hotel (Al-Kabir Hotel) has begun. The original hotel, which was »»»
Analysis: Is Lebanon controlled by 'mini deep states'? - UPI.com
Bank customers and Depositors Association members hold placards during a protest organized by the 'Depositors' Outcry', a group campaigning for the rights of depositors, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday Customers are angry over the continued restrictions that local banks have imposed on withdrawals »»»