Kyrgyzstan’s Labor Ministry clarifies policy on attracting foreign labor - | 24.KG
Amid public discussions regarding the attraction of foreign labor and the stay of foreign citizens in Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic stated that the country is pursuing a balanced and controlled state policy in this area. The attraction of fo»»»
2 killed in Israeli strike on van in Bekaa
Two people were killed Thursday in an Israeli drone strike on a van in the Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali area in the Bekaa. An Israeli drone strike had overnight targeted a car in the southern town of Jannata, wounding one person, with Israel claiming that it struck a Hezbollah member. Israel has kept up reg»»»
5 killed in helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Tanzania's Civil Aviation Authority, TCAA, confirmed that five people were killed on Wednesday after a helicopter crashed at the Barafu Camp on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. "With deep regret, the authority confirms that all five people on board lost their l»»»
2025 in Retrospect: Revisiting the Outgoing Year’s Historic Events
This year was full of truly remarkable moments, yet, some of them stand out as truly significant milestones. Some pivotal, history-making events that will remain in all of our memories for years to come are: the high-stakes Putin-Trump summit in Alaska, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Sov»»»
Kyrgyzstan ranks among world’s top 3 countries by real GDP growth in 2024 - | 24.KG
Speaking at the IV People’s Kurultai, President Sadyr Japarov said that, according to the International Monetary Fund, Kyrgyzstan ranked among the world’s top three countries in terms of real GDP growth in 2024. He stressed that this is clear evidence of the effectiveness of the country’s economic »»»
Over 21 tons of Pakistani beef denied entry to Kyrgyzstan at Torugart checkpoint - | 24.KG
At the Torugart border veterinary control checkpoint in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, 21,800 kilograms of beef transported from Pakistan via China were denied entry into the country, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry reported. According to the ministry, the shipment »»»
Israel arrests citizen suspected of spying for Iran
Israeli authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of an Israeli man on suspicion of committing security offenses under the direction of Iranian intelligence agents, days after Tehran executed an Iranian accused of spying for Israel. The arrest is the latest in a series of cases in which Israel h»»»
Dubai’s RTA makes visiting Hatta Festival easy
Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced special transport arrangements to ease travel for visitors heading to the Hatta Festival 2025. The authority said dedicated parking areas have been set up around the festival venue and near Wadi Hub. Shuttle buses will operate through»»»
Vucic: New Sava bridge to open to traffic by end-March 2027
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday a new Belgrade bridge on the Sava River would be opened to traffic by end-March 2027, greatly facilitating traffic in the capital. "The new bridge must be opened to traffic by the end of March 2027," Vucic said during a visit to the con»»»
Türkiye Begins Black Box Analysis of Jet Crash That Killed Libyan Military Chief and 7 Others
The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday. The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali»»»
Tu Meri Main Tera movie review from UAE: Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday’s love story has zero spark or substance
Tu Meri MainTera Main Teri Tu MeriDirector: Sameer VidwansCast: Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan, Neena Gupta, Jackie Shroff★★Dubai: I went into Tu Meri, Main Tera, Main Tera, Tu Meri with the cautious optimism one reserves for Bollywood rom-coms. Maybe it would be frothy. Maybe it would be charming. M»»»
Nvidia expands AI empire with Groq talent grab
San Francisco, United States: Nvidia has hired the leadership of a promising AI chip startup, a statement said Wednesday, as the artificial intelligence giant expands its tech empire. Chip maker Groq said the departure of its top executives was part of a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidi»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.3894
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3894 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is down by 0.1 pct against the euro m-o-m and by 0.3 pct y-o-y and relative to the b»»»
Almost 40% of Ukrainians Believe Zelensky Part of Corrupt Scheme in Gov’t - Poll
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Over 90% of Ukrainians rate the level of corruption in the country as high, and almost 40% believe Volodymyr Zelensky was part of a corrupt scheme within his inner circle, a poll conducted by center for social and marketing research SOCIS showed. According to the poll, 54.8% of r»»»
PM says Egypt aims for lowest public debt levels in 50 years
CAIRO, Dec 24 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt had begun a downward path in its debt indicators, noting that public debt had fallen to about 84 percent of GDP from 96 percent two years ago, and that the government was working to reduce it to levels not seen in five decades. Madbo»»»
Sharjah Literature Festival 2026: All you need to know
The Sharjah Literature Festival will return for its second edition in 2026 with a rich line-up of workshops, author talks, performances, events, and panel discussions. It will run between Jan 5 and 11 at the University City Hall Square in Sharjah, under the theme ‘A Community Woven by Tales’. A num»»»
Israel Arrests Citizen Suspected of Spying for Iran
Israeli authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of an Israeli man on suspicion of committing security offences under the direction of Iranian intelligence agents, days after Tehran executed an Iranian accused of spying for Israel. The arrest is the latest in a series of cases in which Israel h»»»
India's NBCC makes first overseas real estate move with Dh15m Dubai land deal
Dubai: NBCC (India) Ltd has entered the Dubai property market with a Dh15 million land purchase, marking a rare overseas real estate investment by an Indian state-owned firm and signalling a shift toward global diversification. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The deal »»»
In Christmas homily, Pope condemns 'open wounds' of Gaza war
Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned the "rubble and open wounds" left behind by wars, singling out the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza as he conducted his first Christmas homily. "Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving »»»
Pakistan Association Dubai wins Gold at CDA’s Ethraa Awards
Dubai: Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) has been awarded Gold at the prestigious Ethraa Empowerment Program for Non-Profit Organisations, recognising its outstanding contributions to governance, service quality, and community impact. The award was presented by Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Director General »»»
Turkey arrests 115 IS suspects 'planning New Year's attacks'
Turkish authorities say they have disrupted planned attacks on Christmas and New Year's events after arresting more than 100 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group. Mass raids were carried out at 124 addresses across Istanbul, the capital's chief prosecutor said, with firearms, ammu»»»
Political Leaders Extend Christmas Greetings to Bulgarians
President Rumen Radev, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and political leaders extended their Christmas greetings to the Bulgarian people on December 25. In his Facebook message, President Radev wished that the great Christian holiday bring health, warmth and hope for a better future to ever»»»
Russia Has Plan to Respond to Possible Seizure of Assets Frozen in West - Deputy PM Novak
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has a plan to respond to the possible seizure of assets frozen in the West, and it will be implemented if necessary, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday. "An appropriate plan has been drawn up, and it will be implemented if such cases arise," Nov»»»
China-based AWOT picks Dubai to anchor Middle East, Africa and Europe expansion
Dubai: Dubai Airport Freezone welcomed AWOT Global Logistics Corporation's new regional headquarters Thursday, cementing the emirate's pull as a logistics powerhouse for one of the world's top 10 air freight companies. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.AWOT, ranked ninth»»»
Why Bulgarians Are Losing Money by Rushing to Exchange Leva For Euros
If someone decides to exchange Bulgarian leva for euros at a currency exchange office right now, the loss is noticeable. For every 100 leva, the difference compared to the official fixed rate amounts to around 1.70 leva, or about 0.88 euros, Radio Free Europe reports. After January 1, however, exch»»»
Su-35S Tops Russian Fighters in Targets Destroyed in Ukraine - Rostec
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Su-35S fighter has emerged as one of Russia's most in-demand combat jets, destroying the highest number of targets during the special military operation in Ukraine, Russian state tech corporation Rostec said on Thursday. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which is a subsi»»»
Doha Debates releases its first Latin America town hall
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates, in collaboration with Qatar’s Years of Culture, a national initiative that brings people together through cultural exchange, has released its first Latin America town hall, “How Should We Reinvent the City?” Held at Buenos Aires’ Usina del Arte, the eve»»»
QF students compete on global stage at Volleyball Championship in China
Doha, Qatar: The opening whistle did more than signal the start of volleyball matches; it marked the beginning of a learning journey undertaken by students from Qatar Foundation (QF) schools at the ISF World Schools Volleyball Championship in Shangluo, China, an experience that extended beyond athl»»»
Awqaf Ministry provides integrated service for responding to public inquiries on zakat
Doha, Qatar: The Zakat Affairs Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced the continued provision of its dedicated service for responding to public inquiries related to zakat rulings, as part of its advanced service framework aimed at enhancing zakat awareness and facilit»»»
Head of Kyrgyzstan states need to revive Kyrgyz film industry - | 24.KG
The time has come for a true revival of the Kyrgyz film industry, President Sadyr Japarov stated today at the People’s Kurultai. According to him, it is necessary to create the necessary conditions for the production of high-quality and competitive films—from modernizing film studios and supporting»»»
Industrial sector maintains solid growth trajectory
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has unveiled several key initiatives in the industrial sector in this year that aim at diversifying the economy, promoting sustainability, and fostering growth, in line with the National Vision 2030. In a post on its X platform, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) highli»»»
Al Sadd never stopped believing, says Mujica
Doha: Hat-trick hero Rafa Mujica attributed self-belief as the key factor for Al Sadd SC’s dramatic 4-2 comeback win over Shabab Al Ahli in their AFC Champions League Elite tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. Trailing 2-0 following goals from Federico Cartabia and Yahya Al Ghassani, Al »»»
Japan PM Reassures Markets with Fiscal Discipline in Next Year’s Budget
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sought on Thursday to ease market concerns over her expansionary fiscal policy, saying the government's draft budget maintains discipline by limiting reliance on debt. There has been growing investor unease about fiscal expansion under Takaichi's administratio»»»
Qatar's Sarah impresses on debut, Ikhlef eyes success
Doha, Qatar: Qatari weightlifter Sarah Al-Qubaisi made a striking debut at the combined Qatar International Cup, Arab Championship, and West Asian Championship, currently underway at the Ezdan Palace Hotel until December 27. Competing in the women’s 77 kg category, she lifted 60 kg in the snatch an»»»
Prime minister hopeful Tarique Rahman arrives in Bangladesh
Dhaka: Aspiring prime minister and political heavyweight Tarique Rahman was welcomed back to Bangladesh on Thursday by huge crowds of joyous supporters after 17 years in self-imposed exile. Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and heir apparent of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B»»»
Sports Minister visits Elite Referees’ Camp, reaffirms support
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Sports and Youth H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, visited the winter camp for elite referees currently underway at the Hilton Doha Hotel, in the presence of Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Hani Taleb Balan. During the visit, Sheikh Hamad close»»»
Bulgaria’s Ski Resorts Remain Among Europe’s Cheapest: Prices for the 2025–2026 Season
For yet another winter, Bulgaria’s leading ski resorts continue to rank among Europe’s most affordable mountain destinations. Borovets and Bansko again place in the top five cheapest resorts on the continent, drawing attention as the new ski season approaches. With Bansko officially opening the 202»»»
UAE: Warning for winter campers, park visitors on food safety risk
Abu Dhabi: With winter camping and outdoor gatherings surging across the country, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has launched a targeted awareness campaign warning desert-goers and park visitors against food safety lapses that could put public health at risk. Timed wit»»»
Real estate trading volume reaches QR463 million per week
DOHA: The total value of real estate transactions registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice from December 14 to 18 reached QR354,255,310, while the total value of residential unit sales contracts during the same period amounted to QR108,758,108. The weekly b»»»
Sadyr Japarov outlines Kyrgyzstan’s path to energy independence - | 24.KG
Speaking at the People’s Kurultai, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov emphasized that the energy sector is a strategic foundation for Kyrgyzstan’s stability, national security, and economic development. «Reliable electricity supply to every city, district, and village has a direct impact on the »»»
Fujairah marine clean-up: 740kg debris removed in volunteer effort
Fujairah: A total of 740 kilograms of marine debris were removed from the seabed off Fujairah during a major volunteer clean-up involving 134 professional divers and community members, organisers said. The effort marked the seventh and final activity of the national initiative “7 Volunteering Oppor»»»
Discovery Gardens: Paid parking starts January 15, 2026
Dubai Holding Community Management has informed Discovery Gardens residents that regulated parking services will be introduced across the community, with paid parking operations set to begin on Thursday, January 15, 2026. In an email sent to residents, Dubai Holding said the new system will be impl»»»
Sun Amer triumphs in nail-biting Muaither Cup finish
Doha, Qatar: Sun Amer emerged victorious in a tough field in a gripping Purebred Arabian Handicap (80–100) for four-year-olds, clinching the Muaither Cup by a head at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. The thrilling 1700m Class 2 contest saw several leaders, including Alhafar, Rammah and Al Mustafiz. »»»
Traffic alert: Sharjah Police announce temporary closure at Bridge 7
Sharjah: Sharjah Police, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), have announced a temporary traffic diversion affecting motorists heading towards the Northern Emirates. In a notice shared on social media, authorities said »»»
Education Ministry inspects Spring Break 2025 Student Activity Centres
Doha, Qatar: Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Maha Zayed Al-Qaqa’ Al-Rawaili, inspected the activities of the Spring Break 2025 Student Activity Centres yesterday at Saad Bin Muath School. During the visit, she received a detailed br»»»
Student Activity Centres for Spring Break 2025 launched
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has launched the seasonal Student Activity Centres for the 2025 Spring Break, running from December 22 to 31, 2025. This initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to investing in students’ free time in a way that contributes to»»»
President Radev, Outgoing PM Zhelyazkov Extend Christmas Greetings to Bulgarians
President Rumen Radev and outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov extended Christmas greetings to the Bulgarian people through messages published on Facebook. In his message, President Radev wished that the great Christian holiday bring health, warmth and hope for a better future to every Bulgaria»»»
North Korea's Kim Visits Nuclear Subs as Putin Hails 'Invincible' Bond
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a nuclear submarine factory and received a message from Russia's Vladimir Putin hailing the countries' "invincible friendship", Pyongyang's state media said Thursday. North Korea and Russia have drawn closer since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Uk»»»
Svinsko Sas Zele: Bulgaria's Ultimate Comfort Dish
When Bulgarians talk about real home cooking, svinsko sas zele—pork with cabbage—always comes up. This hearty, warming dish is the kind of food that makes you feel instantly better on a cold winter day. While it might not have the elegance of some holiday dishes, what it lacks in sophistication it »»»