Russian arms revenues rise 23% as domestic war demand offsets export collapse
Russia’s leading defence firms recorded strong revenue growth in 2024, driven by surging domestic demand for weapons to sustain the war in Ukraine, even as Western sanctions and falling arms exports weighed on international sales, Russia’s arms-makers boosted income last year despite Western sancti»»»
Israeli occupation settlers, troops attack, injure Palestinians in the West Bank -- WAFA
GAZA, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Israeli occupation settlers on Sunday assaulted Palestinians and foreign sympathizers east of the West Bank town of Ramallah inflicting injuries, the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported.WAFA said the attack coincided with an ongoing raid by the Israeli occupation »»»
Egypt sees ‘optimistic’ outlook over IMF’s 5th and 6th reviews
Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan al-Khatib and Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat on Saturday received the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in several separate meetings as part of the fifth and sixth reviews for the join»»»
CSB: Kuwait yearly inflation up 2.39 percent in August
By Fawaz Karami KUWAIT, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) said Sunday that the consumer price index (inflation) went up 2.39 percent on an annual basis in August, while it inched up 0.07 percent compared with July.The annual increase was mainly driven by higher prices for ke»»»
Education Min. receives 2025 Hamdan Award Winners
KUWAIT, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabai on Sunday received the winners of the 2025 Hamdan bin Rashid Award for Distinguished Educational Performance at the GCC level: teacher Huda Awadh Al-Mutairi (Outstanding Teacher category) and student Hessa Barak Al-Kakak (Outstanding S»»»
UAE, Int'l Falconry Chief commends Kuwait for organizing World Falcon Cup
KUWAIT, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- The United Arab Emirates and Secretary General of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing Rashed bin Markhan commended Kuwait's outstanding organization of the first UAE World Falcon Racing Cup, saying the high professionalism shown made this heritage spo»»»
Benin govt says 'foiled' coup attempt
Cotonou, Benin: Benin's government on Sunday said that it had thwarted an attempted coup, after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon. West Africa has experienced a number of coups in recent years, including in Benin's northern neighbours Nig»»»
UK police arrest man after Heathrow Airport car park fight
London: UK armed police arrested a man on Sunday for suspected assault after 21 people needed medical treatment following an incident involving "a form of pepper spray" at a Heathrow Airport car park. London's Metropolitan Police said the incident at Terminal 3's multi-storey car park was sparked b»»»
Musk calls for abolition of EU
US-based tech billionaire Elon Musk has called for the dissolution of the European Union after the bloc fined his social media platform X. On Friday, the European Commission fined X €120 million ($163 million) for “breaching its transparency obligations” under the 2022 Digital Services Act, which s»»»
Acting Interior Undersecretary chairs regular coordination meeting
KUWAIT, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Acting Interior Ministry Undersecretary Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Adwani on Sunday chaired a coordination meeting at the ministry headquarters with assistant undersecretaries and sector heads to review workflow and discuss key security and administrative updates.The ministry said in »»»
CBL instructs banks, fuel distribution companies and the bakeries’ union to increase the use of e-payments
In several Central Bank of Libya (CBL) circulars dated 3 and 4 December directed to banks, fuel distribution companies, the bakeries’ union, the CBL has instructed the recipients to either introduce a new method of e-payment or start using e-payments. The CBL also urged the Municipal Guards to take»»»
Public Health Minister meets Albanian counterpart, WHO EMRO Regional Director and Bill Gates
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Public Health, HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, met separately on Sunday with Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Albania, HE Dr. Evis Sala, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMR»»»
Qatar and Malta discuss closer energy ties in Doha meeting
Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi held talks in Doha on Sunday with HE Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, as the two countries explored ways to deepen cooperation in the energy sect»»»
Qatar, Turkiye hold talks on boosting trade and investment ties at Doha Forum
Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Trade HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed held talks here on Sunday with HE Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Turkiye, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, as the two countries explored ways to deepen their economic partn»»»
Prime Minister meets members of The Elders during Doha Forum
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Sunday with a delegation from The Elders, on the sidelines of the 23rd Doha Forum 2025. The delegation included HE Mary Robinson and Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, both prominent»»»
Prime Minister meets several officials on sidelines of Doha Forum
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met separately on Sunday with Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) HE Deemah Al Yahya; President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council of the Global Green»»»
Syria after liberation… President al-Sharaa opens the country’s doors to the world
Damascus, Dec. 7 (SANA) Since December 8, 2024, Damascus has emerged from years of isolation and conflict, shedding the weight of war and authoritarian rule. Liberation has transformed the city into a hub of diplomatic activity, welcoming dozens of Arab and international delegations and signaling S»»»
The new era of digital leadership will be defined by trust and collaboration
For more than two decades in public service, I have believed that leadership is ultimately measured by one question: Did we expand opportunity for people who had limited access to it before? Whether building essential infrastructure, advancing institutional reforms, promoting social inclusion or br»»»
National Social Security Institute Unanimously Approves 2026 State Social Security Budget
The Supervisory Board of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) unanimously approved the draft budget of the State Social Security for 2026, announced Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Maria Mincheva, and Podkrepa Labour Confederation President Dimitar Manolov. »»»
Prime Minister meets Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Sunday with HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta, Dr. Ian Borg. The meeting took place on the margins of the 23rd Doha »»»
UAE President holds talks with Seychelles President
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday met with Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of Seychelles, who is visiting the UAE to attend the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the 2025 Formula One World Championship. Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Presi»»»
Saudi Arabia's luxury Dream of the Desert train: Bookings are now open
Saudi Arabia is on track for the deployment of its luxury train service, named aptly Dream of the Desert, in 2026. You can now book your suite for next year and expect a luxury retreat on wheels. Here's a look at 5 things you need to know about the luxe new offering and the five itineraries you can»»»
BALKAN BLOG: Croatia’s left-right divide deepens
The largest anti-fascist demonstrations Croatia has seen in years have highlighted a widening rift between the country’s political left and right, as disputes over the wartime legacy of the Ustasha regime intensify. Thousands of people marched through central Zagreb on November 30, rallying against»»»
Russia's central bank lifts limits on foreign currency transfers abroad from December 8
Russia's central bank will remove restrictions on foreign currency transfers abroad for Russian citizens and residents of “friendly countries” from December 8. Russia classifies countries as "friendly" or "unfriendly" based on whether they have imposed sanctions. Western nations including the Unite»»»
Doha Forum underscores international momentum behind Syria’s transition to stability
Doha, Dec. 7 (SANA) Syria’s progress and challenges were the focus of a dialogue session at the Doha Forum, where key international and Syrian officials discussed the country’s path toward stability, recovery, and regional cooperation. Syria’s Foreign Minister and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaiba»»»
Arab League urges global support to UNRWA, hold staff killers accountable
CAIRO, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- The Arab League urged the international community on Sunday to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ensure it can continue its work, calling for an international investigation into the killing of 380 UNRWA staff in Gaza.This st»»»
Chernobyl shield lost confinement ability in drone strike, UN nuclear watchdog says
A protective shield covering the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine can no longer provide its main containment function following a drone strike earlier this year, according to a UN watchdog. Inspectors found that the massive structure, built over the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost i»»»
Young boy dies in Zakynthos dog attack, parents arrested
The parents of a 2-year-old boy who was fatally mauled Saturday by the family’s recently adopted dog on Zakynthos have been arrested on negligent homicide charges and were later released by order of a prosecutor. The attack occurred when the child was alone at a space of the family home. The dog, a»»»
Authorities revise Crete migrant boat death toll to 17
Authorities have revised the death toll from a migrant boat capsizing off southeastern Crete on Saturday, confirming that 17 migrants have died, down from an initial report of 18. The dinghy was spotted 36 nautical miles off Ierapetra by a Turkish-flagged cargo ship, triggering a rescue operation. »»»
UAE–Ecuador ties in focus as Sheikh Mohammed meets President Daniel Noboa
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met on Sunday with Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa at Zabeel Palace, where the two leaders discussed plans to expand cooperation across key sectors and strengthen long-term t»»»
BUBSPA Deputy Chair: Plovdiv Airport Gateway to Pamporovo
Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), Zhivko Ivanov, said that for him, Plovdiv Airport serves as the gateway to Pamporovo. Ivanov was speaking during the BG TOURISM – WINTER 2025/2026 forum held in Pamporovo on Saturday. The forum was organized by BTA in partn»»»
EU drowning in corruption – Orban
The EU is still claiming “the moral high ground” despite “drowning” in corruption, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said, accusing Brussels and Kiev of shielding each other from graft scandals. Orban ripped into the EU leadership on Friday in an interview with Kossuth Radio, invoking the l»»»
Egypt: Nile Basin challenges cannot be addressed unilaterally
CAIRO, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Hani Sewilam affirmed Sunday that challenges facing the Nile Basin cannot be resolved through unilateral measures but through genuine cooperation and sustainable management of shared resources in line with international l»»»
IndiGo flight cancellations: DGCA issues second notice – what passengers should know
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a second show-cause notice to IndiGo, addressing the airline’s accountable manager a day after serving a similar notice on CEO Pieter Elbers, as widespread cancellations and delays continued to disrupt air trav»»»
Podkrepa Labour Confederation Ready to Endorse 2026 State Social Security Budget Despite Concerns
Podkrepa Labour Confederation will probably endorse the 2026 draft financial plan, though “with clenched teeth”, Podkrepa President Dimitar Manolov told reporters before the Saturday meeting of the Supervisory Board of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI), which is to discuss the 2026 draf»»»
Katy Perry goes Instagram official with Justin Trudeau
Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau have gone Instagram official after the singer posted a string of photographs and videos of their trip to Japan. In one picture, Perry and Trudeau are seen smiling for a selfie, with their faces touching. In another video, the pair are seen»»»
Prime minister meets Maltese deputy prime minister
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Malta HE Dr Ian Borg. The meeting took place on the margins of the 23rd Doha Forum. The meet»»»
US Pretends to Be Mediator While Unleashing ‘Israel’ to Continue Lebanon Aggression: Hezbollah MP
Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc at Lebanese Parliament MP Hussein Jishi lashed out at the United States over its green light to the Israeli enemy to continue its attacks on Lebanon. In a memorial service on Sunday, MP Jishi said the US pretends to be mediator while unleashing the I»»»
Nobel Laureates Arrive for a Week of Events and Awards in Stockholm and Oslo
Nobel week was underway in Stockholm and Oslo with laureates holding news conferences and lectures before they will be awarded the prestigious prizes. Hungarian László Krasznahorkai, who won the Prize in literature for his surreal and anarchic novels that combine a bleak world view with mordant hum»»»
Security forces kill 12 militants in SW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- At least 12 militants were killed by security forces in an operation in Pakistanآ’s southwestern Balochistan province, said the military on Sunday.According to a press release by Pakistan militaryآ’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces condu»»»
Woman and child die in Offaly house fire
A young boy and a 60-year-old woman have died in a house fire in County Offaly. Gardaí (Irish police) say the fire occurred at a domestic residence in Castleview Park, Edenderry, at 19:45 local time on Saturday. A second woman, in her 50s, is in hospital with serious injuries. Gardaí are appealing »»»
UN Security Council delegation urges all sides to stick to Lebanon truce
A United Nations Security Council delegation has urged all parties to uphold a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, expressing support for a state weapons monopoly at the end of a Lebanon visit. A November 2024 ceasefire was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel»»»
Saudi Arabia deports over 11,000 illegal residents in nationwide crackdown
Dubai: Saudi authorities detained 19,790 illegal residents over the past week in one of the kingdom’s largest coordinated enforcement drives this year, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday. The arrests were made between November 27 and December 3 following joint inspections carried out by»»»
Mediators Qatar, Egypt call for next steps in Gaza truce
Qatar and Egypt, guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, called on Saturday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilization force as the necessary next steps in fully implementing the fragile agreement. The measures were spelt out in the U.S.- and U.N.-backed pea»»»
From stress to smiles: Majlisna brings play and joy to families at Abu Dhabi’s SKMC
A new community space at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is transforming hospital areas into playful, culturally rooted environments that promote joy, well-being and family connection. Building on the success of the first Majlisna site in Al Falah by Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authori»»»
Man Arrested after Pepper Spray Attack in London's Heathrow Airport Parking Garage
Police arrested a man in London on Sunday after a group of people were assaulted with pepper spray in a parking garage at Heathrow Airport. The victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance but their injuries were not believed to be serious, the Metropolitan Police said. The incident in the Termi»»»
Meet new CEO of Qatar Airways Group: Hamad Ali Al-Khater
In its latest leadership transition, Qatar Airways Group has appointed Hamad Ali Al-Khater as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, effective December 7, 2025. The move marks the end of Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer's two-year tenure at the helm, Bloomberg reported. Also Read: Qatar Airways to intro»»»
Russia, US Aligning Provisions of Future Document on Ukraine Settlement - Kremlin Aide
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and the United States are underway aligning those difficult provisions that will determine the form and fate of the future document on Ukraine settlement, and some issues require the US to make "radical changes" in papers, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Sunday. "We are »»»