Mubkhar Al Shahania lands Ras Mlaiji Cup
Doha, Qatar: Mubkhar Al Shahania produced a commanding front-running display to land the Ras Mlaiji Cup, the feature event at Al Uqda Racecourse, stamping his authority in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (65–85) for 3YO+ over 2000m. Breaking smartly, the grey colt was quickly into stride and as»»»
MoCI’s ‘Saif’ AI-assistant enhances access to patent rights information
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) is expanding the utility of its artificial intelligence-powered assistant, Saif, to help residents, inventors, businesses, and intellectual property stakeholders navigate the nation’s patent rights system with greater ease and clarity. The M»»»
Ministry of Awqaf releases digital edition of ‘Banking Tawarruq’ book
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced the availability of an electronic version of the book “Banking Tawarruq: A Methodological Treatment of Its Impact on Islamic Financing Instruments” through its official website, as part of its ongoing efforts to disseminate benefi»»»
MoCI holds workshop on beneficial ownership identification procedures
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) organised a specialised training workshop titled “Beneficial Ownership Identification Procedures within the Implementation of Due Diligence Measures” with the participation of a number of trust and company service providers, auditors, and de»»»
January 15 deadline for ‘Agricultural Lens of Qatar’ photography competition
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has renewed its call for photographers and visual storytellers to take part in the “Agricultural Lens of Qatar” photography competition, inviting the public to capture the beauty, innovation, and sustainability of local farms through the camera lens. The co»»»
All-new MG RX9 premium SUV available at MG showrooms in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: The all-new MG RX9 premium SUV combines elegant design, advanced technology, and powerful driving performance. It represents the next level of luxurious SUV experience, dedicated for modern lifestyle suitable for both city and outdoor use. The MG RX9 and the full line-up of MG cars are»»»
Court ruling: Al Ain employees fined for Snapchat defamation
An Al Ain court has ordered two employees of a mobile phone retailer to pay Dh100,000 in damages after using their company’s Snapchat account to defame a competing business, accusing it of deceiving customers and selling counterfeit products. The Al Ain Court for Civil, Commercial, and Administrati»»»
Abu Dhabi sets 42 violations for private schools with fines up to Dh150,000
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has introduced a detailed framework of administrative violations and financial penalties governing private schools and partnership schools, outlining 42 types of offences related to school policies, with fines starting at Dh5,000»»»
Iraqis Cover Soil with Clay to Curb Sandstorms
Deep in Iraq's southern desert, bulldozers and earthmovers spread layers of moist clay over sand dunes as part of a broader effort to fight increasingly frequent sandstorms. Iraq has long suffered from sand and dust storms, but in recent years they have become more frequent and intense as the count»»»
MoI integrates advanced tech to enhance Metrash services
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has adopted modern standards and advanced technologies in the development of the new Metrash application, marking a significant step toward enhancing digital government services and improving user experience through smart solutions, including artificial i»»»
Interior Minister crowns winners of Founder Festival camel races
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, crowned the winners of the final races of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Festival for Purebred Arabian Camels for the 2025-2026 season, held»»»
Dubai battery firm to pay insurers Dh299,000 for warehouse fire
Dubai: A battery company in Dubai has been ordered to pay Dh299,000 in compensation to an insurance firm, after finding it liable for a fire that broke out at its warehouse due to unsafe storage practices. In a judgment delivered in open court, the Dubai Civil Court ruled that the battery company m»»»
Qatar golfers claim U-16 team and individual titles
Doha, Qatar: Qatar golf team was crowned champion in both the team and individual Under-16 categories at the Gulf Golf Championship, hosted by Ghala Golf Club in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from December 21 to 25. Qatar delivered a strong and consistent performance over three days of competition, fi»»»
Artemiev beats Carlsen, shares lead with Niemann in Doha
Doha, Qatar: World No.1 Magnus Carlsen suffered his first loss at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, while Vladislav Artemiev and Hans Moke Niemann of the US shared the lead at the end of nine games at the Qatar University’s Sports and Events Complex yesterday. Norway’s Carlsen, aiming »»»
'Acoustic Hazard': Noise Complaints Spark Vietnam Pickleball Wars
The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports -- or rage at the noise it makes. The initial craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a paddle per capi»»»
Khamenei Says Confrontation with the West is Over the World Order
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that the conflict between his country and Western powers is not on the nuclear program but opposition to Iranian plans on the international order. He framed the confrontation as resistance to an “unjust global order and the system of domination.” The prob»»»
Mortgage transactions value reaches QR3.760bn, reflecting market expansion
Doha, Qatar: The volume of mortgage transactions of Qatar’s real estate sector registered 115 transactions worth QR3.760bn in November this year. Doha Municipality registered the highest number of mortgage transactions with 45 (equivalent to 39.1 percent) of the total number of mortgaged properties»»»
Oil falls 2% on looming supply glut, hopes of Ukraine peace deal
Doha, Qatar: Oil prices settled more than 2 percent lower on Friday as investors weighed the prospect of a global supply glut, while also monitoring the possibility of a Ukraine peace deal ahead of talks this weekend between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States. Brent crude futures settl»»»
Al Shahania shock leaders Al Gharafa in QSL
Doha, Qatar: Mohamed Bader Sayyar scored a brace as Al Shahania resumed the Qatar Stars League (QSL) in emphatic fashion, pulling off a major upset by thrashing table-toppers Al Gharafa 3-0 at Al Khor Stadium yesterday. Al Gharafa came into the match as firm favourites, aiming to extend their four-»»»
Newly released Jordanian-British exchanges over the Iraq war are revealing
In the weeks leading up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the region stood on the cusp of a historic transformation. The invasion profoundly ruptured the Middle East's structure and fundamentally altered how the West managed its relationship with the region. Recently released British documents detai»»»
Global growth recovery reflects major economies’ resilience: QNB
Doha: QNB affirmed that the recovery in global growth forecasts for 2025 does not indicate a lack of risks as much as it reflects the ability of major economies to adapt to shocks in a world characterized by rapid change and rising uncertainty. It highlighted that forecasts were no longer on a fixe»»»
'Acoustic hazard': Noise complaints spark Vietnam pickleball wars
Hanoi, Vietnam: The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports -- or rage at the noise it makes. The initial craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a»»»
Lavrov: European Troops in Ukraine Would be Legitimate Targets for Russia
Any European troop contingents deployed to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks published by state news agency TASS on Sunday. Lavrov, without providing evidence, also accused European politicians of being driven by “amb»»»
Iran Facing ‘Full-Scale War’ With US, Europe and Israel — Iranian President
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that Iran is fighting a “full-scale war” with the United States, Israel and Europe. “Western pressures aim to prevent Iran from rising, but the unity of the people is capable of thwarting conspiracies,” Pezeshkian said in remarks published on the»»»
Venezuela Reaffirms Support for Somalia’s Sovereignty
The Venezuelan government rejected Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland and backed Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, Foreign Minister Yván Gil said in a statement on Telegram. “Venezuela adheres to and supports the UN Security Council resoluti»»»
Putin Meets Kazakhstan's First President Nazarbayev - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Kremlin said on Saturday. The footage shows Putin and Nazarbayev sitting together at a round table decorated with white flowers. The last time the Russian president met with the form»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
COMMENT: Myanmar’s 2025 vote - an election with the ending already written
Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»
UPDATE – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»
UPDATE – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»
Exodus fear in Greece's north as brown coal plants close
PTOLEMAIDA, Greece — Mayor Panagiotis Plakentas fears what will happen to the town of Ptolemaida and the surrounding region when the last of the brown coal power plants in northern Greece close next year.He told AFP that eight out of 10 young people who leave the region to study never come back and»»»
Fertilisers, mining drive growth as Jordan’s export performance remains mixed
AMMAN — Foreign trade data for the first ten months of 2025 showed mixed performance among Jordan’s key exported commodities, with several major production sectors recording notable increases in export values.Garments and related items topped the list of exported goods during the ten-month period i»»»
Exports to EU countries increase ‘notably’ by nearly 46% in 10 months - DoS
AMMAN — National exports to the European Union countries recorded a notable increase of 45.7 per cent during the first ten months of 2025, according to foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics (DoS).Official figures monitored by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, showed that the Kingdo»»»
Lebanon's cabinet approves draft law on financial crisis losses
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon's government on Friday approved a draft law to distribute financial losses from the 2019 economic crisis that deprived many Lebanese of their deposits despite strong opposition from political and banking officials.The draft law is a key demand from the international commun»»»
How much it costs to retire in this Asian country in 2026
Manila: As retirement destinations go, the Philippines is ramping up efforts to attract overseas retirees with its Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) — a residency programme that combines affordable long-term stay privileges with a tropical lifestyle and low cost of living. The visa, administer»»»
Treasury to cover Bayeux Tapestry for estimated £800m
The Treasury is set to insure the Bayeux Tapestry against damage for an estimated £800m while it is on loan to the British Museum next year. The 70m-long embroidery depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 will travel from France to London as part of a deal between the two nations' governments. The»»»
Fearing deportation, Hondurans in the US send more cash home than ever before
For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant. As an Uber driver in the snarled streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, it hasn't been easy for him to put money aside. On bad days he makes as little as $12 (£9) in »»»
Minor earthquake recorded south of Musandam, tremor felt lightly in UAE
Dubai: A minor earthquake measuring 2.9 magnitude was recorded south of Musandam in the early hours of Sunday, December 28, according to the National Seismic Network. The tremor occurred at 4:44am local time at a depth of 5 kilometres, seismological data showed. Also Read: 6.6-magnitude earthquake »»»
UAE braces for rain, dust and falling temperatures through midweek
Dubai: The UAE is set to experience unsettled weather conditions today and over the coming days, as an extension of a weak surface low-pressure system continues to influence the country, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with»»»
Why views and privacy now trump size in Dubai’s luxury home market
Dubai: Dubai’s luxury property market has entered a phase where square footage alone no longer explains price. Two homes with similar layouts, finishes and even locations can now sit millions of dirhams apart. The difference increasingly comes down to one factor that cannot be replicated or expande»»»
Magnitude 6.6 earthquake near Taiwan disrupts rail services - UPI.com
A 6.6-magnitude earthquake about 20 miles off Taiwan's east coast briefly disrupted rail services and power to 3,000 homes late Saturday night. Photo by Ritchies B. Tongo/EPA Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A 6.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday night, but no injuries »»»
More US immigration proposals complicate life for expats worldwide
Dubai: The future of US immigration rules is again under debate, and this time the concerns are not only political — they are personal for thousands of expats in the UAE and elsewhere who either travel regularly to the US for work or have family members on H-1B visas. Sign up for our daily business»»»
Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia's billionaires on side in the war
During the war with Ukraine, the number of billionaires in Russia has reached an all-time high. But in the 25 years Vladimir Putin has been in power, Russia's rich and powerful - known as oligarchs - have lost almost all their political influence. All this is good news for the Russian president. We»»»
Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 4: Who was the mysterious Fedora man pictured outside the Louvre?
As the year came to an end, country music icon Dolly Parton reassured fans that reports of her demise were not true, British teen Bella Culley was freed from prison in Georgia, and the first batch of Epstein files were finally released. But how much attention did you pay to what else happened in th»»»
Saudi Arabia backs Yemen's government, urges separatists to withdraw from seized provinces
Saudi Arabia on Saturday said it would back Sanaa's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces in a statement that came a day after reported Saudi air strikes in Yemen's Hadramawt province.The Southern Transition Council (STC) separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates have»»»
US air strikes in Nigeria targeted IS group fighters trying to enter from Sahel, govt says
US-backed air strikes in Nigeria targeted Islamic State group fighters who were attempting to enter the country from the Sahel region, according to the Nigerian government. US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform that the strikes were carried out on Thursday »»»