Dubai: As Dileep returns to Malayalam cinema and UAE big screes this Thursday, December 18th, with the action-comedy Bha Bha Ba, several of the industry’s biggest stars are publicly backing him, raising questions about accountability and the ethics of image make-over. This wacky actioner marks his »»»

China's core artificial intelligence (AI) industry scale is expected to exceed the 1-trillion-yuan ($140 billion) benchmark in 2025, according to industry data, a trend that experts said highlights the vast potential of the country's AI development, driven by broader application scenarios, technolo»»»

GENEVA, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that more than 17 million Afghans are currently facing acute food insecurity an increase of three million people compared to last year.Speaking online from Rome during a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WFP Director o»»»

BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- European leaders discussed the establishment of a new international body in The Hague, under the name "International Claims Commission for Ukraine," which would be tasked with adjudicating compensation to be paid to Ukraine for damages resulting from the Russian attack.Th»»»

Wizz Air, one of Bulgaria’s leading low-cost carriers, has announced the launch of direct flights between Sofia and Warsaw (Modlin). The new service will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Tickets are now available for purchase through the airline’s website and »»»

Bayut, the UAE’s leading proptech innovator, has now more than 9,000 active TruBrokers on its flagship credibility programme for real estate professionals. It’s the highest ever recorded since its launch, solidifying Bayut’s position as the region’s most trusted ecosystem for real estate profession»»»

As Fidia Farmaceutici enters the Romanian market following the acquisition of Meditrina Pharmaceuticals, Sorin Mocanu, Cluster Manager for South-Eastern Europe, explains how Romania is becoming a strategic hub for regional expansion, portfolio diversification, and long-term growth across Eastern Eu»»»

Ukraine's biggest energy provider is living in permanent crisis mode because of Russian attacks on the grid, its chief executive has told the BBC. Most of Ukraine is suffering from lengthy power cuts as temperatures drop and Maxim Timchenko, whose company DTEK provides power for 5.6 million Ukraini»»»

Three of the seven defendants who appeared before an investigative magistrate working with the European Prosecutor’s Office to testify in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently collect EU agricultural subsidies in Crete through the state payment agency OPEKEPE, were released on condition»»»

DOHA: QatarEnergy has signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) for up to 15 years with Uniper Global Commodities SE (Uniper) for the supply of 70 million cubic feet per annum of helium from its facilities in Ras Laffan. In a press release issued on Tuesday, QatarEnergy said that this a»»»

The two Iowa National Guard members killed in a weekend attack in Syria that the U.S. military blamed on the Islamic State group were identified and remembered as dedicated soldiers. The U.S. Army named them as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29,»»»

Dubai: Binghatti Developers and Mercedes-Benz have announced plans to develop the world’s first Mercedes-Benz branded city in Dubai, a master-planned project with a total investment value of Dh30 billion. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The development, named Mercedes-»»»

Doha, Qatar: QatarEnergy has signed a long-term sales and purchase agreement (SPA) for up to 15 years with Uniper Global Commodities SE (Uniper) for the supply of 70 million cubic feet per annum of helium from its facilities in Ras Laffan, starting in September 2025. In a press release issued Tuesd»»»

As green public procurement becomes a legal obligation under Romania’s 2025–2030 framework, Business Review spoke with Ioana Viorică, Senior Managing Associate at Pop Briciu Crai, about readiness, compliance risks, and how sustainability criteria will reshape public contracts and market dynamics. G»»»

Renew Europe Tuesday expressed strong support for Ilhan Kyuchyuk and others in Bulgaria defending democracy against coercion and intimidation, to use their word. They held a news conference in Strasbourg to announce their position, following the European Public Prosecutor’s Office request to lift K»»»

Dubai: Passengers arriving at Dubai airports on Tuesday were greeted with a special passport stamp reading “Bahrain, Heart and Eyes” as the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) marked the National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The initiative underscores the »»»

His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended an official ceremony on Monday to mark the formal inscription of the Faya archaeological site onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. The event, held at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, celebr»»»

Lebanon's judiciary approved the release on bail of former economy minister Amin Salam on Tuesday after six months of detention over corruption linked to contracts deemed suspicious, a judicial official said. Salam, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Najib Mikati from 2021 to 2025, »»»

In 2007, when online marketing in Romania was still in its infancy and “SEO” or “PPC” were niche concepts, a small digital project born in Cluj-Napoca laid the foundation for what would later become a long-standing player in the industry. Founded by Valentin Bolboacă, Klain has now reached its 18th»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday parliamentary elections in the country would be called before the expiry of the term of the current parliament and that local elections in several municipalities would be held in five or six months. "There will be early parliamentary ele»»»

Negotiations over a technology deal between the UK and US have stalled due to stumbling blocks in wider trade negotiations between the two sides. The Technology Prosperity Deal - which was billed as "historic" when it was unveiled during US President Donald Trump's state visit in September - saw bo»»»

Over the past weeks, the U.S. has increased pressure on Lebanon to work harder on disarming Hezbollah and canceled a planned trip to Washington last month by Army chief Gen. Rodolph Haykal. U.S. officials were angered in November by a Lebanese army statement that blamed Israel for destabilizing Leb»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced new remarks about Hezbollah and the situation in the Middle East. “We have legitimate peace in the Middle East. The first time in 3,000 years … We’ll see what happens with Hamas. We’ll see what happens with Hezbollah, but regardless, we have countries that wan»»»

The extended 2026 budget, protests, and President Rumen Radev’s potential political plans are among the topics that dominate the Bulgarian news media on Tuesday, with no single issue fully prevailing the coverage. Reports focus on budgetary measures and infrastructure funding, ongoing price monitor»»»

Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev will continue government-forming consultations with representatives of parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly on Wednesday, the head of State's Press Secretariat said on Tuesday. On December 17, the President will first meet with representatives of BSP -»»»

GAZA, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday that its crews treated five members of a family, a father, mother, and three daughters, due to an attack by colonists after midnight last night in Al-Auja area near Jericho.According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), I»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates, plans to recruit 5,000 pilots in eight years, the airline’s Co-Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer Adel Ahmed Al Redha, told Gulf News, as the aviation giant accelerates its expansion plans to meet surging travel demand. Sign up for our daily busi»»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has introduced the UAE's first bank-branded gold bars, dubbed Emirates NBD Gold, in 10g, 50g and 100g sizes. Each bar carries the bank's logo, a unique serial number and a certificate of authenticity. Customers can buy through the ENBD X app or relationship manager, then choose »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, announced a temporary full closure on part of Environment Street for traffic heading towards Rawdat Umm Lekhba Intersection. The closure will take effect from Friday, December 19, 2025 to Thursday, December 25, 2025 from 12 midnight till 5am daily, »»»

Pro-Trump supporters breach the security perimeter of the U.S. Capitol to protest against the Electoral College vote count that would certify President-elect Joe Biden as the winner in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. Under federal law, Jan. 6 is the date Electoral College votes determining th»»»

Despite logging a record trade surplus, economic data for November showed China's domestic woes are deepening. Retail sales grew at their slowest pace in three years and investment slowed sharply, signalling that Chinese consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly cautious. Plus, Roomba make»»»

Dubai: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has announced the commencement of the second phase of Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022, which prohibits the import, manufacture and trade of an expanded range of single-use consumer plastic products and bags. The measure will take e»»»

A French court has sentenced a former rebel leader and politician from the Democratic Republic of Congo to 30 years in jail after finding him guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity more than two decades ago. Roger Lumbala headed a rebel movement backed by neighbouring Uganda accused of com»»»

US military strikes on three suspected narco-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific killed eight people on Monday, US Southern Command said, part of an ongoing campaign that has left more than 90 dead. The command said intelligence showed the vessels were operating along known trafficking route»»»

France’s first lady Brigitte Macron apologised on Monday for using a slur against activists that triggered a feminist backlash and a social media trend against her. Speaking to Brut, Macron, 72, said she was sorry if she hurt women, but defended the remarks as private comments. France's first lady&»»»

At the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2025, amid the sea of runners on the streets, one figure stood out not just for crossing the 10km finish line, but for the story she carried with her. Dr Mariam Al Blooshi, an Emirati grandmother, senior energy professional and athlete, ran with a quiet confidence th»»»

The EU looks set to scrap a ban on petrol and diesel cars that was supposed to come into effect in 2035, as European car makers are struggling against fierce competition from China and slow consumer update of electric vehicles. The EU looks set to scrap a landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel »»»

Yordan Tsonev, deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of DPS-New Beginning, declared during consultations with President Rumen Radev that the 51st National Assembly has effectively ended its political life and that early elections are necessary. Speaking on behalf of his party, Tsonev emphasize»»»

Crosspoint Real Estate, the International Associate of Savills in Romania, has brokered the transaction through which Eeze, a software and technology company and next-generation casino supplier, with headquarters in Malta and offices in London and Bucharest, has leased 1,200 square metres of office»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Director General Dr. Faisal Al-Hamidan on Tuesday said artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal tool capable of transforming water challenges into promising opportunities and turning data into accurate decisions that »»»

Lahore: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced a senior leader of a banned Islamist party to 35 years in prison for inciting violence, more than a year after the cleric publicly called for the killing of the country’s then-chief justice, court officials and a defense lawyer said Tuesday. Zaheer»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has announced metrolink service updates on the metro network. In a social media post, Qatar Rail announced that from tomorrow, December 17 to Thursday, December 18, the M143 buses will operate from Hamad Hospital station Exit 3 instead of Corniche St»»»

Every day of inaction worsens the problems at Toplofikatsiya Sofia, the municipal heating utility, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said on Tuesday. He was speaking as he submitted, jointly with Sofia Municipal Council Chair Tsvetomir Petrov, a report seeking the approval of the Municipal Council for a c»»»

The UK unemployment rate in the three months to October has increased to 5.1%, according to official figures. That marked a rise from 5% for the three months to September. The number of people in the UK who are unemployed is now at its highest level since January 2021, just below the peak rate seen»»»

US President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the British state broadcaster of doctoring video of his January 6, 2021 speech to make it appear he incited violence at the US Capitol. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami on Monday, claims the B»»»

US President Donald Trump has repeated his attack on Rob Reiner - after his earlier remarks about the killed Hollywood director, a longtime Trump critic, sparked widespread condemnation. The US president told reporters the director was "very bad for our country", having earlier written on Truth Soc»»»

Over the past weeks, the U.S. has increased pressure on Lebanon to work harder on disarming Hezbollah and canceled a planned trip to Washington last month by Army chief Gen. Rodolph Haykal. U.S. officials were angered in November by a Lebanese army statement that blamed Israel for destabilizing Leb»»»

Dubai: Mubadala Bio has opened a new high-potency pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi and launched a portfolio of advanced oncology medicines, strengthening local drug production and supply in the UAE. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The facility, locate»»»

Manila: Australian authorities are intensifying an investigation into a month-long trip to the Philippines taken by the two men accused of carrying out the deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. A probe is on to determine whether the visit was connected to extremist activity, Australian med»»»

PASOK lawmaker Michalis Katrinis, whose son was arrested early Tuesday morning for driving without a licence, speeding and refusing to stop at a police check, denounced the teenager’s “unjustified and illegal act.” “My younger son was driving without a license. An unjustified and illegal act. The l»»»