Lebanon said Monday it plans to purchase natural gas from Egypt, seeking to reduce its reliance on fuel oil for its ageing power plants in a country hamstrung by regular electricity cuts. The electricity sector has cost Lebanon more than $40 billion since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war, and suc»»»

The Kiev regime attempted to attack the residence of the Russian President in the Novgorod region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday. "On the night of December 28 to 29, the Kiev regime launched a terrorist attack using 91 long-range UAVs on the state residence of the Russian Pr»»»

The suspect in the stabbing of three women in the Paris metro last week is French, the interior ministry said Monday, after previously saying he was an undocumented Malian ordered to leave the country. A source with knowledge of the case, requesting anonymity because not allowed to speak to the pre»»»

Damascus, Dec. 29 (SANA) The Syrian Ministry of Interior expressed its deep condolences and sympathy to the Republic of Turkey following the martyrdom of three Turkish police officers during clashes with the ISIS terrorist organization in Yalova, which also resulted in the killing of six ISIS membe»»»

British boxer Anthony Joshua arrives for his non-title heavyweight bout against US boxer and influencer Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on December 19, 2025. Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was injured in a fatal highway accident that killed two people on December »»»

Tehran: Some shopkeepers in Tehran closed their stores on Monday in protest against economic hardships and sharp swings in Iran’s embattled currency, Iranian media reported, following similar demonstrations a day earlier. State news agency IRNA said some shopkeepers and traders at Tehran’s bazaar “»»»

China's military on Monday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert and called the Chinese govern»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borissov Monday hailed billions in a new National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) payment, claimed credit for all payments under this Plan and slammed the opposition for any delays. "The Bulgarian State’s portfolio for Bulgarian businesses is up by several billion levs," Boris»»»

Despite Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s announcement about the readiness to begin arms monopolization north of the Litani River, the Lebanese state has not taken such a decision in the current period, a media report said. “Not moving to cleaning out North Litani does not stem from a negative stance fr»»»

Palm Beach: 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 his fragile Gaza truce plan. Netanyahu is also expected to try to shift some focus onto Iran, amid reports he will call for more US strikes o»»»

TUNIS, Dec. 29 (TAP) – Tunisia’s investment policy is based on guaranteeing freedom of investment, protecting the rights of both domestic and foreign investors, and continuously improving the services provided to them, Minister of Economy and...»»»

TUNIS, Dec. 29 (TAP) – Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef said that agreements and memorandums of understanding are not merely formal documents, but rather a clear government commitment to overcoming...»»»

Meeting with outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov on Monday, the leaders of the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) said the institutions act swiftly in cases of unjustified price hikes, imposing sanctions while ensuring strict compliance with the Act »»»

Political opposition leaders in the United Kingdom have called for a human rights activist to be stripped of his citizenship over past social media posts allegedly containing violent and antisemitic language within days of the dual national returning to Britain after years in Egyptian prisons. The »»»

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has met with a number of Lebanese ministers in recent days, the U.S. Embassy said on Monday. “Economic and financial reforms are critical – alongside peace and security -- to secure Lebanon’s stability and restore international confidence,” the Embassy said in»»»

Saudi Arabia has begun implementing the third group of major road corridor development projects in Riyadh, with a total value exceeding SR8 billion, to be delivered over a period of three to four years. The programme forms part of wider efforts to modernise the capital’s transport network and impro»»»

A Ukrainian soldier, captured by Russian forces, shared his experience of a three-day journey to a location in Kupyansk for a photoshoot meant to "prove" the supposed presence of Ukrainian troops in the city. President Vladimir Putin earlier stated that the town of Kupyansk is under the control of »»»

Hungary has vowed a “revolt” against the EU in 2026, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said, declaring that Budapest will lead a rebellion against the bloc’s new Migration Pact. The policy, expected to take effect in July, forces member states to contribute in proportion to their population and »»»

Tunis, Dec. 29 (TAP) – Economy and Planning Minister, Samir Abdelhafidh, said that Saudi Arabia ranks among the top ten investors in Tunisia, with total investments exceeding $375 million by the end of 2024.Speaking at the Saudi-Tunisian Business...»»»

Following a U.S. mediation, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed to open a new chapter of cooperation between them, especially in files related to Lebanon and Syria, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday. Doha had on Sunday witnessed a meeting over the Lebanese file between State Minister at the Qat»»»

War and crisis-hit Lebanon will sign Monday a deal with Egypt for energy cooperation that will allow Lebanon to increase its electricity production. Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi was in Beirut Monday and met with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih »»»

Dubai: The Dubai Court of Cassation has ruled that equality must be observed in gifts and similar dispositions made to children and wives, unless a legitimate interest justifies differentiation. The landmark ruling was issued following an appeal filed by the Dubai Attorney General in the interest o»»»

US President Donald Trump will turn his focus to the Middle East on Monday, as he hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida for talks that are expected to cover Gaza and a range of other pressing issues. Any decisions made could have a potentially momentous impact on questions that»»»

In 2024, women held the highest relative share of managerial positions in the judicial power (54.1%) and the lowest in the legislative power (23.3%), the National Statistical Institute (NSI) announced on its website on Monday. Men occupy 68.3% of senior managerial positions at the highest managemen»»»

Bulgaria is stepping up its oversight of pricing practices as the euro adoption approaches, with a focus on preventing unjustified price hikes. During a regular Euro Mechanism meeting convened by outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Consumer Protection Commission (CPCo) Chairman Alexander Koly»»»

Mexican Navy troops secure the scene of a deadly train derailment in Asuncion Ixtaltepec municipality in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Sunday. At least 13 people were killed and 98 were injured, according to the Navy Secretariat which operates the country's rail network. Photo by Luis Villalobos/EPA Dec. 29 (»»»

Ajman: His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, on Monday performed the funeral prayers for the late Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi and Fatima bint Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi at Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The prayers were also attended by She»»»

Damascus, Dec. 29 (SANA) Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said on X, “Some tried, out of illusion or lack of awareness, to replicate scenes from the great Syrian revolution in certain locations to mask their sectarian projects and cover their narrow objectives. They failed, for they did not em»»»

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 his fragile Gaza truce plan. Netanyahu is also expected to try to shift some focus onto Iran, amid reports he will call for more US strikes on the countr»»»

Authorities have reclassified the 2022 death of 87-year-old Eleni Papadopoulou from accidental to homicide, with her 60-year-old son now facing charges. Papadopoulou, widow of a former PASOK minister, was found burned in her Kolonaki apartment alongside her pet dog. Initial reports suggested a ciga»»»

Poland must remain “ready to defend the western border” with Germany, President Karol Nawrocki has declared. The remarks drew pushback from Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who insisted that as long as Germany is an EU and NATO member, it poses no threat. Nawrocki delivered his warning on»»»

Monday's news media are dominated by reports of strong winds causing damage across the country, expected challenges surrounding the upcoming euro changeover, and the recent visit of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, among other topics. PATRIARCH DANIIL'S ISTANBUL VISIT Spea»»»

Thailand's army has accused Cambodia of breaching a newly-signed ceasefire deal reached after weeks of deadly clashes that forced nearly one million people from their homes. In a statement, the Thai army said than more than 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected flying from the Cambodian»»»

Thailand's army on Monday accused Cambodia of violating a newly signed ceasefire agreement, reached after weeks of deadly border clashes, by flying more than 250 drones over its territory. The Thai army said "more than 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected flying from the Cambodian side»»»

Israel's Supreme Court has issued an interim order suspending a government decision to shut down Galei Tsahal, the country's decades-old and widely listened-to military radio station. In a ruling issued late Sunday, Supreme Court President Isaac Amit said the suspension was partly because the gover»»»

ISIS militants clashed with police in northwest Türkiye on Monday, leaving three police officers and six militants dead, Türkiye's interior minister said. At least eight other police officers and a night guard were wounded. The shooting occurred in Elmali district in Yalova province, south of Istan»»»

Ahead of the New Year holidays, law enforcement agencies in Kyrgyzstan have switched to an enhanced duty mode, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. More than 12,000 police officers across the country will be deployed on New Year’s Eve to maintain public order and ensure citizens’ safety. In p»»»

Higher pay for service members, numerous amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act, and the arrival of the first eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets were among the major developments affecting Bulgaria’s Armed Forces in 2025, while the personnel shortage in the army remained one of the main chall»»»

DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi has met with Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the State of Qatar HE Ridwan Hassan, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs extended thanks to the ambassador for his effor»»»

In a strategic initiative to modernize its mining sector, Egypt will launch a Digital Mining Platform in early 2025, as announced by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi. This platform aims to streamline operations and attract both local and international investors, aligning wi»»»

Egypt has signed a new oil and gas exploration agreement with Terra Petroleum, marking the British firm’s first entry into the country’s upstream energy sector, as Cairo steps up efforts to attract foreign investment and lift hydrocarbon output. The deal, signed between the Egyptian General Petrole»»»

Egypt has signed $1.15bn in new industrial investment agreements with three Chinese companies in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, underscoring accelerating foreign interest in the country’s manufacturing push. The contracts, signed between TEDA Egypt and the Chinese firms, will be implemented in the S»»»

Dubai: An Indian expat community leader in the UAE has received a personal condolence letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the death of his mother last month, in a gesture that has deeply moved his family. Jitendra Vaidya, CEO and stakeholder of a quality inspection service pro»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Monday with HE Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the State of Qatar, Ridwan Hassan, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs extended thanks to HE the Ambass»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received on Monday a phone call from Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, HE Dr. Abbas Araghchi. During the call, they discussed cooperation relations between the two»»»

Islamic State militants clashed with police in northwest Turkey on Monday, leaving three police officers and six militants dead, Turkey’s interior minister said. At least eight other police officers and a night guard were wounded. The shooting occurred in Elmali district in Yalova province, south o»»»

Egypt and Japan on Sunday signed an executive agreement for a US$22 million grant project from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – equivalent to one billion Egyptian pounds – to finance the construction and delivery of the first-of-its-kind DSV (Dive Support Vessel) for the Suez Can»»»

Dubai: A Saudi criminal court has sentenced an organised fraud ring of 11 defendants to a combined 155 years in prison after convicting them of orchestrating complex financial scams that netted about SR40 million from a range of victims, including a former national team official, a Saudi poet and a»»»

Fighting has eased but not stopped following the October 10, 2025 ceasefire: more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since then, according to Gaza officials. US President Donald Trump is expected to "push for progress" during Monday's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benja»»»

China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing's "military intimidation". Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military act»»»