Sharjah: Residents across the emirate continue to report a strong sense of safety, according to the results of the Survey on the Perception of Safety of Lives and Property in the Emirate of Sharjah 2025, released by the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority in collaboration with the Department of Statist»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: A financial dispute between former spouses has ended in a court-brokered settlement at the Ras Al Khaimah Court after ruling in favour of the woman and ordered her ex- husband to repay Dh750,000 he had taken during their marriage. The settlement was reached at the court of first ins»»»

A Dubai civil court has annulled the sale contract of a luxury vehicle and ordered the selling company to refund Dh600,000 to the buyer, after it was established that the car was internationally wanted by Interpol, rendering the subject of the contract unlawful. The ruling followed a civil lawsuit »»»

Coast guard crews on Monday recovered the body of a migrant during a search and rescue operation for four people reported missing north of the eastern Aegean island of Samos. Details about the victim’s identity were not immediately known. Authorities launched the operation after police located 26 m»»»

by Amal Nabil Retail banking in Egypt is one of the sectors attracting the most customers as difficult financial conditions prevent many from acquiring products they need or capital for starting small businesses. The Middle East Observer discussed this issue with some retail experts from different »»»

London: Tottenham ground out a much-needed three points for the under-fire Thomas Frank with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, while high-flying Sunderland were held 1-1 by Leeds yesterday. Archie Gray was Spurs’ unlikely match winner at Selhurst Park with his first senior goal as Frank’s men won for ju»»»

Karachi: Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan returned to Pakistan’s squad for next month’s three-match Twenty20 international series in Sri Lanka, selectors said yesterday. The 27-year-old missed a large part of Pakistan’s cricket with a shoulder injury since June but regained full fitness after surge»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center organised an intensive course for ten students from the Daad Center in the Russian Federation. The Daad Center is dedicated to promoting and teaching the Arabic language, and the students’ visit to the center came as part o»»»

Doha, Qatar: Represented by the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, is organising an Umrah trip for twenty outstanding Qatari students from private schools. This in»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center celebrated the graduation of students from the Arabic language course from the Republic of Mongolia. The course lasted for a full month and benefited 11 male and female students. The organisation of such courses comes withi»»»

Dubai: Oman’s hospitality sector maintained strong momentum through the first nine months of 2025, as robust domestic and international travel lifted hotel occupancy, guest volumes, and total revenues. According to new research by Cavendish Maxwell, hotel revenues rose more than 18% year-on-year to»»»

The United States on Monday announced a $2 billion pledge for UN humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to slash US foreign assistance and warns United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in a time of new financial realities. The money is a small fraction of wh»»»

Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand convened with their Chinese counterpart on Monday as the Beijing government, building on its expanding presence in the world diplomatic arena, sought to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countrie»»»

A ceremony to unveil a monument to film director, People’s Artist of the USSR, Toktogul State Prize laureate, and public and government figure Tolomush Okeev will take place on December 30 at 12:00 at the intersection of Chui Avenue and K. Akiyev Street. The event was reported by the press service »»»

Head of the Information Policy Service of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, reported he climbed Uchitel Peak and replaced the damaged state flag of Kyrgyzstan with a new one. According to him, information had previously appeared online that the flag on Uchi»»»

Rabat: African player of the year Achraf Hakimi will make his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations when hosts Morocco play Zambia on Monday, coach Walid Regragui confirmed. “What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui said yes»»»

Dubai: Nick Kyrgios beat women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes” yesterday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans. Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the »»»

Sixteen people have been killed and three left injured after a fire tore through a nursing home for elderly residents in northern Indonesia, local authorities say. The fire department was alerted to a fire at Damai retirement home in the city of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, on Su»»»

Beijing: China’s sprawling high-speed rail network passed 50,000 kilometres (31,000 miles) in total operating distance with the opening of a new line , state media reported. The country has the world’s largest rail network -- one-fifth longer than the circumference of the earth. The trip begins in »»»

Doha, Qatar: Amid a large crowd that filled the stands of the dedicated drift circuit at Qatar Racing Club (QRC), and with the participation of an elite group of drift champions from Qatar, the GCC, and the wider region, the third round of the Qatar Drift Championship came to a close. The champions»»»

Rabat: Algeria secured their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after a Riyad Mahrez penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso yesterday. Captain Mahrez converted from the spot midway through the first half at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat and Algeria then held on to »»»

A draft resolution by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan introducing a temporary ban on the export of mineral fertilizers beyond the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has been submitted for public discussion. The document proposes imposing a six-month temporary ban on the »»»

President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree stripping Almazbek Atambayev of the state awards of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the document, the decision was made in execution of the verdict of the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek dated June 3, 2025, and in accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz»»»

Washington: Apple has released the first beta of iOS 26.3 for iPhone users. Among the foremost changes in iOS 26.3 -which is poised to be officially released in late January 2026 -is the new “Transfer to Android” feature, designed to make it easier for users to switch to Android devices. The update»»»

Doha, Qatar: QNB Group announced the launch of its first-ever sonic identity, marking a new milestone in the bank’s brand evolution and customer engagement journey. Developed in collaboration with Sixième Son, a global leader in sonic branding, the new musical identity is rooted in QNB’s brand pers»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Mitsubishi Montero Sport shines with its design, performance and durability, always making it the ideal car for all road conditions and. The Montero Sport and wide range of Mitsubishi models are obtainable at Qatar Automobiles Company, the authorized general distributor of Mitsubis»»»

Dubai: Temperatures are set to fall sharply across parts of Saudi Arabia as a third winter cold wave grips the Kingdom on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). The NCM said the cold spell will affect several regions, including Al Jouf, the Northern Borders, »»»

Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al-Ahmed recalled the moment he ran towards one of the attackers and wrestled the gun from him, saying in an interview published Monday with a US outlet he wanted to protect "innocent people". Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah »»»

Yemen's eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra are passing through a critical phase amid the unprecedented unilateral military escalation carried out by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) that has been met with widespread regional and international condemnation. Observers have said the S»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. The crucial meeting at Trump's lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are s»»»

Ahead of the New Year, Osh Mayor Zhenishbek Toktorbaev presented the keys to an apartment to Rosa Abdykarova, a mother of eight children. The Osh City Hall’s press service reported. Rosa Abdykarova has worked for many years as a technical staff member at the S. Zhigitov school. Earlier, during a vi»»»

For the third consecutive year, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in collaboration with the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai, has organised a special New Year celebration dedicated to the emirate’s workforce. The initiative reflects Dub»»»

A commission of Kyrgyzstan, headed by Deputy Mufti and Chairman of the Hajj 2026 headquarters, Zholdoshbek azhy Abdyldaev, visited the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, the sides discussed a number of key issues related to the organization of the Hajj in 2026. In parti»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Islamic Affairs, has published the book ‘Durrat al-Tanzīl wa Ghurrat al-Ta’wīl’ by the eminent scholar Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Khatib al-Iskafī (d. 420 AH). This publication comes as part of the ministry’s ong»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Language Institute of Qatar Armed Forces, represented by Acting Commander of the Language Institute, Brig. Khalid Hamad Al-Kaabi signed an agreement to extend the partnership and cooperation with the French Institute in Doha, represented by Deputy Director of the French Institute, »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) hosted a delegation of Gulf and Arab journalists visiting Doha under the patronage of the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism, as part of their participation in the forum titled “The Cultural Dimension of Sports Tourism and Media.” The visiting delegation in»»»

The pull of home can be strong – even when it is a place you can't remember. That is how it is for Ahmed, 18. He emerges from a mosque in the heart of Gaziantep in south-east Turkey - not far from the Syrian border - wearing a black T-shirt with "Syria" written on the front. His family fled his hom»»»

In Plovdiv, students at Tsar Simeon the Great Secondary School are learning about the euro and how to handle money ahead of Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone. Special interactive lessons have been prepared for the fourth-graders, combining theory with practical exercises. Presentations introduce t»»»

In 2026, Kyrgyzstan’s economy will maintain its regional leadership in GDP growth, reaching approximately 9.3 percent. The forecast was prepared by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Analysts note that this growth will be driven by increased investment in transport, energy, water supply, and hous»»»

Doha, Qatar: A recent tourism market analysis by Mordor Intelligence highlights Qatar’s travel sector as a key driver of economic diversification, projecting ongoing expansion in visitor numbers and tourism infrastructure through 2026, supported by strategic marketing and enhanced connectivity. The»»»

The man who disarmed one of the gunmen who killed 15 people at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach has revealed his thoughts in the moments before his heroic actions. In verified footage, Ahmed al Ahmed - a Sydney shop owner born and raised in Syria - tackled one of the two shooters from behind, wrestlin»»»

Qatar Amiri Air Force as part of his visit to Qatar. During the visit, he met with Commander of Qatar Amiri Air Force Maj Gen (Pilot) Faisal Khalid Al-Ghanim. During the meeting, the two sides discussed topics of mutual interest and ways to enhance and develop them. During the visit, the Chief of S»»»

Doha, Qatar: The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has received full accreditation from the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) for its Diploma in Information Technology (Dip IT) and Diploma in Information Systems (Dip. IS), offered through the College of Computing and»»»

Doha, Qatar: For the young musicians of Qatar Music Academy, a one-week camp at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid offered far more than intensive training – it was a transformative experience that boosted confidence, broadened horizons, and opened new pathways for the future. In the month w»»»

Dubai: A five-year-old boy has died at a Japanese ski resort after his arm became trapped in an outdoor moving walkway, prompting an investigation into why the machine’s automated safety systems failed to engage. Hinata Goto, a kindergartner from Sapporo, was visiting the Asari Ski Resort in Otaru,»»»

The UN is experiencing a financial crisis due to unpaid contributions from several countries, including the largest payer and, by extension, the largest debtor - the US, which owes over $3 billion. The UN is barely involved in resolving most of the world's conflicts today and must regain this role,»»»

Dubai: New car prices across the Gulf have held broadly steady this year, although affordability still varies sharply between markets, with Saudi Arabia remaining the most cost-effective place to buy a mass-market vehicle and the UAE at the other end of the scale. A new comparative pricing study co»»»

A professional cycling team, Lokomotiv Manas, has been formed in Kyrgyzstan. The Cycling Federation reported. The new professional road cycling team Lokomotiv Manas will represent the country at international competitions. The team has already obtained a UCI continental license and plans to compete»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has underscored the increasing role of Al Sudan Bus Station within Qatar’s integrated public transport network, reaffirming its capacity, service readiness and alignment with the country’s sustainability objectives. In a post on its official X account ye»»»

Doha, Qatar: Reinforcing its commitment to supporting local production and food security, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar, in cooperation with the Agricultural Affairs Department under the Ministry of Municipality, officially launched the ‘Made in Qatar – Qatari Products Our First Choice’ campaign at LuLu H»»»