Nature in focus: 2025’s most striking moments from the wild
Dubai: From the tiniest hatchling to the planet’s largest predators, 2025 delivered some of the most powerful images ever captured of animals and the natural world. These photographs go beyond visual beauty, offering quiet but urgent reminders of how fragile life on Earth has become — and how resil»»»
Dubai Court: Insurer must pay Dh93,450 for traffic accident damages
Dubai A Dubai Civil Court has ordered an insurance company to pay Dh93,450, plus 5 per cent legal interest until full settlement, following a traffic accident that caused significant damage to a vehicle. The dispute arose between two insurance companies after a collision in which liability was esta»»»
Stay prepared: Rainy, foggy conditions expected across UAE this weekend
Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said weather conditions across the UAE on Friday will be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with a chance of rainfall over islands and some northern and eastern areas as a weak low-pressure system affects the region. Also Read: Gulf countries face bitt»»»
‘Merry Christmas to all’: Trump says US launched ‘deadly’ strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria
Palm Beach: President Donald Trump said US forces conducted "powerful and deadly" strikes Thursday against ISIS militants in northwestern Nigeria, after he warned the group to stop killing Christians in the country. The Department of Defense said "multiple terrorists" were killed in an attack condu»»»
Winter storm could affect post-Christmas travel in the Northeast U.S. - UPI.com
A winter storm bearing down on New York City and the Tri-State area could make road travel dangerous for those returning from holiday destinations on Friday and Saturday. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A winter storm could make road travel dangerous and disrupt a»»»
Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea?
A Russian archaeologist detained in Poland is at the centre of an intense debate over the role of museums and experts and the role they play in Kremlin war propaganda. Alexander Butyagin is under arrest in Warsaw, awaiting a Polish court decision on a request to extradite him to Ukraine. Until now,»»»
UAE petrol, diesel prices for January 2026: Will you see a rise or fall at the pump?
Dubai: Fuel prices in the UAE for January 2026 will be announced in the coming days. Global oil markets have moved slightly higher at the end of December, and this could influence what drivers pay in the new month. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Super 98 rose from Dh2»»»
U.S. military strikes ‘Islamic state terrorists’ in northwest Nigeria - UPI.com
President Donald Trump said the U.S. military carried out deadly strikes on ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria on Thursday in retaliation for deadly attacks on Christians in the West African nation. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. military carried out several st»»»
Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 2: What did Katy Perry sing on that all-female space flight?
As spring turned to summer, Mark Carney led Canada's Liberal Party to an unlikely victory, Prince Harry told the BBC he wanted to reconcile with the Royal Family, and David Beckham got a knighthood. But how much attention did you pay to what else happened in the world? Test your memory of April to »»»
Louisiana National Guard deploys in New Orleans - UPI.com
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, left, is deploying up to 350 Louisiana National Guard members to New Orleans through February to ensure safety and assist the Trump administration's federal immigration law enforcement efforts there. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Up to 3»»»
India's solar boom faces a hidden waste problem
India's rapid solar energy expansion is widely hailed as a success. But without a plan to manage the waste it will generate, how clean is the transition? In just over a decade, India has become the world's third-largest solar producer, with renewables now central to its climate strategy. Solar pane»»»
Indonesians raise white flags as anger grows over slow flood aid
For weeks now, angry and distressed residents in Indonesia's westernmost province have been raising white flags over, the state's slow response to a series of deadly floods. Triggered by a rare cyclone in November, the deluge killed more than 1,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands across »»»
Bangladeshi P.M. hopeful Tarique Rahman returns from 17-year exile - UPI.com
Acting Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman, center, speaks to members and supporters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after ending 17 years of exile by returning from London on Thursday. Photo by Monirul Alam/EPA Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka o»»»
Putin wishes Happy New Year to Kim
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent New Year greetings to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hailing the past year as one of “special significance” for bilateral relations between Moscow and Pyongyang and a deepening strategic partnership. In a telegram published by the Korean Central News Agen»»»
Heavy rain storms in California leave three dead as of Christmas night
Atmospheric rivers dumped heavy rains on large parts of California, causing floods and mudslides and leaving three dead as of Christmas night, according to local officials. The storms - which were expected to continue through Friday - brought 11 inches (27 cms) of rainfall to some parts of Los Ange»»»
Hamas denies responsibility for Rafah blast
Hamas has denied responsibility for a bomb blast that struck an Israeli armored vehicle in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, and has asked the international community to put pressure on Israel to comply with a ceasefire agreement. The US-brokered ceasefire, which took effect in Gaza on October 10, ca»»»
North Korea shows off its first nearly-complete nuclear submarine (PHOTO)
Pyongyang has shared new images of its first nearly completed nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally inspected the vessel. Kim hailed its construction as an “epoch-making crucial change,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday. »»»
Zelensky hails 'new ideas' on peace after talks with US envoys
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a positive assessment of a conversation he had with US envoys on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky said Thursday's call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which lasted nearky an hour, had yielded "new ideas in terms of formats, meetings,»»»
Trump ballroom plans to undergo review in January - UPI.com
The National Capital Planning Commission will review the Trump administration's plans to modernize the White House's East Wing, including ballroom construction, during a Jan. 8 meeting. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The National Capital Planning Commission has added»»»
Msheireb Properties, U Events partner to showcase Al Jazeera Orchestra at Barahat Msheireb
Tribune News Network Doha Msheireb Properties and U Events have announced a cultural partnership that will bring the acclaimed Al Jazeera Orchestra & Choir to Barahat Msheireb for a two-night musical premiere. Scheduled for January 15 and 16, 2026, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the Baraha Musical Conce»»»
QF’s Academic Bridge Program hosts inspirational lecture series
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Foundation’s Academic Bridge Program (ABP), part of its Pre-University Education, launched the “Inspirational Lectures Series” during the current academic year, reaffirming its commitment to enriching students’ educational experiences and connecting them with inspiri»»»
‘MoM seeks to transform cleanliness froma service into a way of life and culture’
QNA Doha The Public Cleanliness Department at the Ministry of Municipality organised the first National Forum on Public Cleanliness on Thursday, under the slogan ‘Towards a Clean, Smart and Sustainable City,’ with broad participation from government agencies, private sector partners, universities, »»»
MoM launches National Smart Hygiene Award
QNA Doha The Ministry of Municipality (MoM), represented by the Public Hygiene Department, on Thursday announced the launch of the “National Smart Hygiene Award,” the first of its kind this year, as part of its efforts to promote innovation and develop the public hygiene sector using modern technol»»»
Qatar launches spring holiday activity centers to promote students’ skills
QNA Doha The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has launched a series of seasonal student activity centers as part of its spring holiday programme for 2025. The initiative, which runs until December 31, aims to help students make productive use of their school break by developing sk»»»
Polish Air Force intercepts Russian military aircraft over Baltic Sea - UPI.com
The Polish Air Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Russian military reconnaissance aircraft near Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea on Thursday amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe. Photo by Jakub Karczmarczyk/EPA Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Polish Air Force fighters intercepted a Russian milit»»»
Tensions with Venezuela are skyrocketing. So why is oil so cheap?
Dubai: Oil prices barely moved in Christmas Eve trading as thin holiday volumes and mixed supply signals kept markets cautious, even as geopolitical friction rose between the United States and Venezuela. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped three cents to trade near $58 a barrel, ending a five-day»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Israeli Settler Attack Injures Palestinian Baby, Five Arrested
Israeli security forces announced on Thursday the arrest of five Israeli settlers over their alleged involvement in an attack on a Palestinian home that injured a baby girl in the occupied West Bank. The eight-month-old infant suffered "moderate injuries to the face and head" in the late Wednesday »»»
Abu Dhabi hotels and restaurants can now welcome pets
Abu Dhabi: Hotels and restaurants with tourism licences across Abu Dhabi can now welcome pets, following changes to the emirate’s animal control regulations in public venues. The Department of Municipalities and Transport announced amendments to Chairman’s Decision No. (4) of 2018, issued under Law»»»
Derailing peace in Sudan by deliberate design
Attempts to secure peace in Sudan and halt the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe have continued for nearly two-and-a-half years of war. Yet a determined belief within the army and those backing it that military victory is still possible has prevailed. The result is unending destruction, displaceme»»»
Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve
A Powerball player in Arkansas won a whopping $1.817bn (£1.34bn) jackpot in a Christmas Eve drawing, making it the second-largest lottery prize ever claimed. The single winning ticket matched all six numbers - 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19 - giving the winner the option of taking a lump-su»»»
Mohammad Bakri, renowned and controversial Palestinian actor and filmmaker, dies at 72
Tel Aviv: Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72. Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directe»»»
Israeli army killed a key member of Quds Force in Eastern Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: The Israeli army announced in a statement that a prominent member of the Quds Force was killed during a raid on the al-Nasariya area in eastern Lebanon.Israel did not reveal his identity The Quds Force ('Jerusalem Force') is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (I»»»
Petkovic: December 28 elections crucial for survival of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs
NIS - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Thursday the upcoming December 28 elections for the Kosovo-Metohija provincial assembly in Pristina were crucial for the survival of Serbs in the province. Petkovic called on internally displaced Serbs who ar»»»
Al-Manar correspondent reports Israeli occupation forces fired grenades at a house in the southern town of Blida, setting it ablaze - 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 reports Israeli occupation forces fired grenades at a house in the southern town of Blida, setting it ablaze 25-12-2»»»