London. BP agreed to sell a 65% stake in its Castrol lubricants business to Stonepeak Partners at an enterprise value of $10.1 billion, generating around $6 billion in net proceeds to slash net debt. The deal marks a key step in BP's $20 billion divestment push, with over half now completed or anno»»»

New York, Dec. 24 (SANA) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday that humanitarian needs across Syria “remain severe,” with 16.5 million people, nearly two-thirds of the population, still requiring assistance. The UN News website quoted OCHA as s»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is leveraging its booming tourism sector to create jobs, foster innovation, and empower entrepreneurs, supported by over Dh33 billion in national funding programmes. Tourism, which contributes significantly to GDP, has emerged as a cornerstone of the UAE’s economic diversificatio»»»

Global technology company, SLB, has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The move is part of a broader multi-billion contract, supporting one of the largest unconventional gas»»»

Spokesperson of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Tuesday that his country’s naval, ground, and missile forces are ready to confront any threat or hostile scenario. Speaking at a meeting at Sharif University, Shekarchi said much of Iran’s military capabilities ha»»»

In 2024, at least 263,100 jobs were created, and another 229,200 were created in the first nine months of 2025. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev announced during a plenary session of the Zhogorku Kenesh. According to him, the country has seen significant employm»»»

Skopje, 22 December 2025 (MIA) – Construction of energy facilities with a total capacity of 1,265 MW is planned for 2025, representing about €1.4 billion in investments, Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska said Monday. As Bozhinovska informed during a briefing with jo»»»

Kyrgyzstan is set to undergo large-scale transformations over the next five years. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev said today at a session of the Zhogorku Kenesh. According to him, the state continues to implement major strategic infrastructure projects outline»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to engage in a direct conflict with NATO, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said. NATO chief Mark Rutte claimed earlier this month that “we are Russia’s next target” once the Ukraine conflict ends. He suggested that Moscow “could be ready to »»»

Dubai: Father Christmas is making his annual dash around the world, and Flightradar24’s live tracker has him locked in. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.According to a festive version of global flight monitoring, Santa 1 — aircraft type: Sleigh — departed the North Pole»»»

Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage of Qatar International Islamic Bank, the seventh edition of the Padel Championship for Qatari students in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland concluded. The tournament was organised by the Cultural Attaché in cooperation with the Qatar Padel Federation, w»»»

Dubai: British buyers arriving in the UAE property market often bring expectations shaped by the UK’s predictable mortgage system, slower price cycles and uniform ownership structures. Those assumptions can lead to costly mistakes when they try to move quickly in a market that functions differently»»»

* A recent study reveals the pressure on holiday spending: lower budget for 51% of Romanians, up 17% compared to last year. The annual study conducted by Reveal Marketing Research ahead of the holidays aims to provide a clear picture of how Romanians’ plans for the winter holidays are evolving, as »»»

Almost half of Romanians expect to spend much less or less over the winter holidays compared with last year, while 18% say they will spend more or much more, according to a survey conducted by the Avangarde Group for Socio-Behavioural Studies.Some 25% said they will spend much less (22% in urban ar»»»

A recent IRSOP survey titled “Fear of the Neighbor’s Fire” highlights widespread concerns among Romanians regarding global security risks and the country’s own safety amid ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe. The survey, conducted between December 15–19, 2025, interviewed 1,010 adults across Romania»»»

Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu, who was on a visit to Chisinau on Monday, attended the Annual Meeting of the Diplomacy of the Republic of Moldova and held political consultations with her Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popsoi.The head of Romanian diplomacy was also welcomed by Republic of Moldova P»»»

The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp at Jebel Jais has reopened to visitors after completing safety assessments and maintenance work. The popular adventure camp in Ras Al Khaimah temporarily closed its doors to conduct necessary inspections following recent rainfall in the area. The camp's management dec»»»

On Dec. 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first national Christmas tree on the White House lawn. 1 of 4 | On December 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first national Christmas tree on the White House lawn. File Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Dec. 24 (UPI) -- On this »»»

If you've never experienced Бъдни вечер (Badni vecher) in Bulgaria, you're missing out on one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations in Bulgarian culture. First things first: Christmas Eve in Bulgaria is a fasting day. But don't worry, this doesn't mean you'll go hungry. Quite the opposi»»»

Russia plans to put ​a nuclear power plant on the moon in the next decade to supply its lunar space program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station as major powers rush to explore the earth's only natural satellite. Ever since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to go into spa»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has collaborated with Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Herfah Program to develop the first Dye Plants Garden at the historic Al Khater house in Education City. This collaboration marks a milestone in strengtheni»»»

Doha, Qatar: Time is running out to experience Portals in Flux, the culminating exhibition of the ninth Artist-in-Residence (AIR) programme at Fire Station. The showcase will officially close on December 31, 2025 at the Garage Gallery. Portals in Flux explores the concept of movement and transforma»»»

Singapore: Oil prices witnessed slight gains on Wednesday, extending the advances made in the previous session, supported by strong economic growth in the United States and concerns over potential supply disruptions from Venezuela and Russia. Brent crude futures rose by four cents, or 0.06 percent,»»»

The Bishkek Electric Networks Company has warned residents of the capital about a mass remote disconnection of consumers with outstanding electricity debts. According to the company, on December 25, the automated metering and control system will automatically disconnect more than 6,000 consumers. T»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) office in Afghanistan, in partnership with Afghan Red Crescent Society and in coordination with local authorities and target communities, has commenced the implementation of the Warm Winter Campaign 2025–2026 projects. The initiative aims to provide es»»»

Doha, Qatar: United Development Company (UDC) has concluded its sports, cultural, and entertainment activities held in celebration of the Arab Cup 2025, following an exceptional season that transformed The Pearl and Gewan Islands into vibrant destinations alive with colour, music, and enthusiastic »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, in cooperation with Waseef, a subsidiary of Barwa Real Estate Group, organised a series of recreational activities dedicated to workers at both the Al Khor Workers’ Sports Facilities Project and Barwa Al Baraha, in celebration of the 11th editio»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Central Military Band of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan recently delivered a special performance of “Lel Ulla Ya Watani” by Fahad Al Hajri across the streets and promenades of The Pearl-Qatar. Accompanied by the use of traditional Kazakh musical instruments, the per»»»

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo H E Therese Kayikwamba Wagner received a copy of the credentials of H E Hamad bin Dhaen Al Kuwari as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Democratic R»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Department of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has officially registered a testamentary legacy consisting of one-third of a benefactor’s estate. This significant contribution encompasses a diverse range of movable and immovable assets, including real »»»

Doha, Qatar: QIIB organised a Health Day for its employees at the Bank’s headquarters, in cooperation with Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), as part of the ongoing collaboration between the two sides. The event aimed to raise awareness about common illnesses, particularly daily health concerns, an»»»

The Ajman Federal Court of First Instance has sentenced a 36-year-old Arab TikToker woman to six months in prison, followed by deportation, after convicting her of publicly insulting another individual during a TikTok live stream. Court verdictOn December 18, 2025, the court found the Arab TikToker»»»

After the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad, Israel supported Druze fighters in the south, in an effort to weaken Syria’s new government under the rule of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and thus complicate his efforts to unify the country after its long civil war, according to a Washington Post»»»

As Bulgaria prepares to join the eurozone on January 1, 2026, businesses and consumers are making last-minute adjustments for the currency switch. The Association of Bulgarian Banks confirmed that starter packs of euro coins, valued at €10.23, are available online for 20 leva, though payments by ca»»»

Doha: As part of the implementation of the Ministry of Justice’s 2025-2030 strategic plan, which included initiatives and projects specialising in training, qualification, and development of legal and practical skills for various legal categories in the country, the ministry will launch a legal tra»»»

New Delhi, India: India's space agency launched its heaviest ever payload on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the deployment "a significant stride" for the space sector. The LVM3-M6 rocket launched the US-built AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into low-Earth orbit. The I»»»

Even as we enjoy the winter break from schools and routines, Ajman Police has urged parents and guardians over social media to keep an eye on their wards. As part of its Take Care campaign, the authorities put out a video showing the mistakes young people might be making while riding their bikes or»»»

Dubai: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), in cooperation with relevant authorities, has revoked the licence of Oud Al Reem Agency for Domestic Worker Services, operating in Ajman, after serious violations of domestic labour regulations were confirmed. The decision followed f»»»

Almatar Group has announced the launch of a new technical integration with ZenHR, enabling companies to manage employee travel processes more efficiently by consolidating all travel-related steps into a single platform without the need to switch between multiple systems. Through this integration, c»»»

EL-Amaim: Workers have started laying tracks in the desert east of Cairo for Egypt’s first high-speed train, which will link the Red Sea and the Mediterranean in the latest attempt to modernise transport in the vast country. Described by transport minister Kamel Al-Wazir as a “new Suez Canal on rai»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2026 has announced the opening of online registration for all exhibitors, participants, and visitors to its ninth edition, scheduled to take place from January 19 to 22 at the Qatar National Convention Centre. I»»»

Doha, Qatar: Students from Qatar Foundation schools secured multiple medals and awards across the Advanced and Intermediate categories at the World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC) held in Thailand, reaffirming their strong presence on the international academic stage. This achievement marks th»»»

Dubai: Dhurandhar, Aditya Dhar’s high-octane spy thriller led by Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, is making waves—not just at the box office, but online as well. The film recently became the center of controversy when content creator and political commentator Dhruv Rathee released a video criticis»»»

Dubai: Who said a 20-year age gap could slow down Ranveer Singh and Sara Arjun? Clearly, Dhurandhar didn’t get the memo. Since hitting theaters on December 5 in India and beyond, Aditya Dhar’s high-octane thriller has been smashing records—storming past Rs 10 billion globally. Box office history? C»»»

Rawdat Muhanna, or Muhanna's Garden, located near the town of Al-Nabqiyah in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia’s Qassim region, has witnessed a notable influx of visitors and picnickers in recent days following rainfall that filled the Rawdat with water, transforming it into a vast natural lake. The»»»

Riyadh Air achieved a significant milestone in the delivery process of its first aircraft from Boeing with the successful completion of the initial test flight (B1 Flight) of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Tuesday. The aircraft departed from Boeing’s manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Caro»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar-China Film Festival has officially opened marking a significant cultural milestone in the deepening relationship between Qatar and China. The inaugural edition of the three-day festival, which runs until today, December 24, is being conducted under the theme of cultural dialo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Director General of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation Prof Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti yesterday inaugurated the mural “Rawda in the Comfort of the South” on the facade of Building 46 in Katara Cultural Village. The inauguration was attended by Ambassador of the Kingdom of S»»»

Muscat: Yemen’s Houthis and its internationally-recognised government yesterday agreed to a prisoner swap that includes nearly 3,000 people, including seven Saudis — making it the largest such exchange should it succeed. The breakthrough deal came after nearly a fortnight of discussions between Yem»»»

Bangkok: Thailand yesterday rejected a request by Cambodia to hold bilateral talks in a neutral country, leaving a planned meeting to negotiate an end to deadly border clashes in doubt. The nations’ long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce, killing more than 4»»»