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»»»
Al-Manar correspondent: An Israeli Merkava tank, positioned at a newly established site on Mount Blat, launches shells directly between Marwahin and Um Al-Tut, southern Lebanon - 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: An Israeli Merkava tank, positioned at a newly established site on Mount Blat, launches shells directly between Mar»»»
Central Bank of Egypt cuts interest rates by 100 basis points
Cairo: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided Thursday to cut the overnight deposit and lending rates, as well as the Central Bank's main operation rate, by 100 basis points, to 20.00 percent, 21.00 percent, and 20.50 percent, respectively. In a statement, the Cent»»»
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»»»
IACE Report: 63.7% of SMEs face intense competition from informal sector
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - Small- and medium-sized enterprises in Tunisia are significantly more exposed to competition from informal operators at 63.7% compared to large enterprises at 36.9% according to the first National Enterprise Report 2025,...»»»
Djuric, Botsan-Kharchenko discuss key events in 2025, Serbia's energy security
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko on Thursday to discuss events that have marked the year 2025, as well as Serbia's energy security. Botsan-Kharchenko conveyed to Djuric Russian FM Sergey Lavrov's greetings for the upcoming New Ye»»»
Lebanon Says 3 Dead in Israeli Strikes
Lebanon said Israeli strikes near the Syrian border and in the country's south killed three people on Thursday, as Israel said it targeted a member of Iran's elite Quds Force and a Hezbollah operative. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities betwee»»»
Syrian security forces arrest the head of an ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell in Damascus countryside: reports - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Syrian security forces arrest the head of an ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell in Damascus countryside: reports 25-12-2025 19:05 PM Latest New»»»
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»»»
Gasic, Chinese ambassador discuss bilateral cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic met with Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Ming on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation. Gasic said Serbia was exceptionally appreciative of the support provided to it by China and that the personal relationship between two leaders, President»»»
FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 daws over 1.2 million fans
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 attracted more than 1.2 million spectators and concluded with Morocco lifting the trophy, as the tournament underlined Qatar's growing reputation as a host of major global sporting events. Held from December 1 to 18, the competition featured 16 national tea»»»
Single ticket wins $1.817B Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve - UPI.com
The winning ticket was sold in Arkansas. A single ticket sold in Arkansas won the $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot prize in Wednesday night's Christmas Eve drawing. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 25 (UPI) -- A single Powerball ticket hit the $1.817 billion jackpot on Christmas Eve»»»
Partly cloudy weather over most regions Thursday night
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) - Partly cloudy weather will persist over most regions on Thursday night, with local fog expected over coastal areas and Sfax towards the end of the night, according to the National Institute of Meteorology.The wind will blow...»»»
Sharjah Police’s ‘Aman’ initiative slashes crime incidents by 29%
Sharjah Police’s “Aman” initiative has helped reduce criminal incidents by 29 per cent in the first half of 2025, reinforcing safety and improving the quality of life across the emirate. The initiative, led by the General Department of Comprehensive Police Centers, focuses on preventive policing in»»»
Missing fire service commander prompts third day of search in northern Greece
Search efforts continued Thursday in northern Greece for a 45-year-old fire service officer who has been missing since Tuesday. The man, commander of the fire brigade unit in Ano Poroia, in the Serres region, disappeared after leaving the home where he lives with his wife and children. He left behi»»»
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»»»
Lazarevic signs contract on Iran's participation in EXPO 2027
BELGRADE - Serbia's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Jagoda Lazarevic, who is also minister of internal and external trade, EXPO 2027 Director Danilo Jerinic and Iranian EXPO 2027 Section Commissioner Sodaif Beikzadeh signed on Thursday in Belgrade a contract on Iran's participation in the specialised expo. »»»
QSE index closes lower on Thursday
Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed on Thursday Lower by 36.39 points, or 0.34 percent, to reach 10,801.22 points. During the session, a total of 60,886,156 shares were traded, with a value of QR 156,597,584.724, through 6,526 transactions across all sectors. The session saw the share»»»
Stock market drops 0.2% on Thursday
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) – The stock market dropped 0.2% on Thursday, to 13,254 points, on a relatively strong trading volume of TND 14.7 million, according to stockbroker Tunisie Valeurs.The session was marked by the execution of a block trade worth TND...»»»
Tickets go on sale for H H The Father Amir Cup
DOHA: The Doha Equestrian Tour Organising Committee has announced that tickets are now on sale for the H H The Father Amir Cup, with the opening leg set to take place at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab from January 2 to 4. The prestigious event will bring together more than 240 elite riders competi»»»
Bodies of National Guard soldiers killed in Syria return home - UPI.com
The bodies of two members of the Iowa National Guard who were killed in an ambush in Syria earlier this month arrived home on Wednesday afternoon. Photo courtesy Gov. Kim Reynolds/X Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The remains of two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in an ambush in Syria arrived at the Iowa Nat»»»
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»»»
Syria Says Kills Senior ISIS Leader, Arrests Operative Near Damascus
Syrian authorities on Thursday said forces killed a senior leader in the ISIS group and arrested another operative in fresh operations near capital Damascus in coordination with the US-led coalition. Syrian security and intelligence forces, working in coordination with the international coalition, »»»
Defence Minister makes inspection visit to Menzel Bourguiba naval base
Tunis, Dec 25 (TAP) – Defence Minister Khaled Shili on Wednesday paid an inspection visit to the naval base in Menzel Bourguiba, Bizerte, to check on the living conditions of the military personnel assigned to the base and inspected the progress of...»»»
Bulgaria's Ministry of Interior Issues Safety Advice Ahead of Euro Launch: Banks and Post Offices Only!
As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Interior (MI) advises citizens to use only official currency exchange points, such as banks or post offices. During the first six months following the currency changeover, these exchanges will be free of charge. To ensure »»»
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»»»
Riyadh Air Launches ‘Employment First’ Overseas Aviation Training Scholarship Program
Riyadh Air has announced its ‘Employment-First’ Overseas Scholarship Program, which aims to launch several scholarship tracks, starting with two specialized paths for engineers in Australia, followed by a pilot training program in the United States. The initiative falls under ‘Promising Path’, one »»»
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»»»
Hezbollah Mourns Scholar and Resistance Figure Sheikh Reda Mahdi
Hezbollah mourned on Thursday the Islamic scholar and resistance figure Sheikh Reda Mahdi, extending condolences to the Islamic nation and to religious seminaries and their scholars. In a statement, the group said Sheikh Mahdi passed away peacefully after a long life devoted to learning and struggl»»»
Myanmar sets late January date for final election round
Yangon: Myanmar's junta will stage the third and final round of its heavily restricted elections on January 25, a statement said Thursday, just days before polls open for the first batch of ballots. Democracy watchdogs say the junta-run vote is a charade to rebrand the rule of the military, which s»»»
FAO launches FEMBIOTEC platform in Tabarka
Tunis, Dec. 25 (TAP) – The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has officially launched the FEMBIOTEC platform in Tabarka. The platform is aimed at providing direct access to all sources of information in relation to...»»»
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»»»
King Charles Calls for More Compassion in Christmas Speech
Britain's King Charles III called for "compassion and reconciliation" at a time of "division" across the world in his annual Christmas Day message broadcast on Thursday. The 77-year-old monarch said he found it "enormously encouraging" how people of different faiths had a "shared longing for peace"»»»
Syria to launch new currency in January 2026
Damascus: Syria's central bank has announced that a new national currency would be introduced on Jan. 1, 2026, with a process to exchange the existing notes set to begin on the same date. Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Husrieh, said a 2025 presidential decree authorizes the laun»»»
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»»»
Last Christians gather in ruins of Turkey’s quake-hit Antakya
Antakya: Saint Peter’s, one of the world’s oldest rock churches, is a sacred rallying point for the isolated Christians still left in quake-hit Antakya in southeastern Turkey, the city known in ancient times as Antioch. “Since the earthquake, our community has scattered,” said worshipper Mari Ibri.»»»
Shop owner arrested near Thessaloniki for illegal fireworks sales
Police in northern Greece arrested a 46-year-old shop owner for illegally selling fireworks. Officers from a crime prevention and suppression unit detained the man in the municipality of Thermi, near the northern port city of Thessaloniki. He owns a convenience store selling snacks, sweets and toba»»»
Soyuz-2.1a Rocket Launched From Plesetsk Cosmodrome – Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian space forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying a satellite from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "On Thursday, December 25 ... a combat crew of the space forces successfully launched a S»»»
Qatar Shooters end Arab Championship Campaign with 12 medals
Muscat, Oman: Qatar's shooters have completed their Arab Shooting Championship campaign in Muscat with a haul of 12 medals. The Qatari men's team claimed bronze in the 25-meter central fire pistol team event, with Mohamed Abdulmohsen, Abdullah Al Obaidli and Mohammed Al Yafei finishing third. Overa»»»