More than 3 million Syrians have returned home since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's rule a year ago but a decline in global funding could deter others, the UN refugee agency said on Monday. Some 1.2 million refugees in addition to 1.9 million internally displaced people have gone back home follo»»»

Doha, Qatar: After intense contests and nail-biting final races, the curtain fell on the third round of the Qatar Drag Racing Championship, held at the Qatar Racing Club’s (QRC) drag strip. The round witnessed record numbers of participants from Qatar, the Gulf, and the region with six new champion»»»

Doha, Qatar: The United Arab Emirates stayed perfect in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) U-23 Gulf Cup with a 3-1 comeback win over Yemen at Aspire Academy yesterday. Yemen struck first at the end of the opening half through Nasser Mohammed, who sent his side into the bre»»»

Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani met yesterday with US Special Envoy to Syria H E Tom Barrack, at the National Command Center (NCC). The meeting discussed a host of topics of mutual interest. Barrack was »»»

Doha, Qatar: At a landmark Doha Forum panel titled “The New Syria One Year On: Assessing Progress, Opportunity & Challenges,” discussions centred on Syria’s path over the past year, its opportunities, and the international support helping to shape its recovery. The forum brought together key figure»»»

Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage of Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, final preparations are underway for the second edition of World Summit AI – Qatar 2025. The summit is organised by InspiredMinds and in partnership with the Ministry of Communic»»»

Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia and Morocco meet today at the Lusail Stadium in a decisive Group B fixture at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. At the iconic FIFA World Cup venue, Saudi Arabia will look to maintain their perfect start, while Morocco will aim for the top spot in their group. Saudi Arabia lead»»»

Doha: As part of strengthening joint cooperation in refugee affairs, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The MoU aims to enhance collaboration between the two sides in capacity-buildi»»»

EU states are expected on Monday to back tougher migration rules, including plans for “return hubs” outside the bloc, as governments seek to blunt far-right gains. Interior ministers in Brussels will vote on proposals to tighten controls on migrant arrivals and accelerate returns, the first test of»»»

A year ago, Mohammad Marwan found himself stumbling, barefoot and dazed, out of Syria’s notorious Saydnaya prison on the outskirts of Damascus as opposition forces pushing toward the capital threw open its doors to release the prisoners. Arrested in 2018 for fleeing compulsory military service, the»»»

Dedicated lanes for public transport have been reintroduced on the roads of Bishkek. The City Hall’s press service reported. It has been decided to organize more than two kilometers of dedicated lanes for public transport along Akhunbaev Street, from Zhukeev-Pudovkin Street to Chingiz Aitmatov Aven»»»

Doha, Qatar: An official talks session was held yesterday between the Shura Council and the People’s National Assembly of the sisterly People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, focusing on bilateral relations between the two sides, particularly in the parliamentary domain, and exploring ways to stre»»»

Doha, Qatar: Palestine and Syria advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 after sharing a goalless stalemate in their final Group A tie at Education City Stadium yesterday. Both finished on five points in Group A, with Palestine topping the group on goal difference. Hosts Qatar and »»»

The latest assessment from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that Bulgaria will maintain solid economic momentum this year, with GDP expected to rise by around 3 percent. According to the OECD’s new Global Economic Prospects report, growth will moderate in the foll»»»

Beginning on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its official currency, marking the final step toward full participation in the Economic and Monetary Union. During the month of January, both the lev and the euro will circulate side by side. People will be able to pay in either currency»»»

A court in the southern Indian state of Kerala has acquitted Malayalam superstar Dileep in the case of abduction and rape of a leading actress. The trial court convicted six others in the case but cleared Dileep who was accused of planning the assault. The actress, who has worked in more than 80 fi»»»

People with a migration background accounted for more than 5% of South Korea's total population in 2024, the Ministry of Statistics and Data said Monday. In this October photo, a children's choir performs at a multicultural festival in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap People with a migration background accou»»»

Doha, Qatar: When Jordan took on Kuwait in the second round of the group stage of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, it became clear to everyone that the Jordanians had every intention of continuing their impressive run of form. They put pressure on Kuwait’s goal right from kick-off and opened the scori»»»

Doha, Qatar: Oman still have an outside chance of reaching the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals as they take on already-eliminated Comoros at Stadium 974 today in their final Group B match, with head coach Carlos Queiroz insisting his team remains very much alive in the tournament. The Gulf side must b»»»

Dubai: The Dubai Shopping Festival’s most anticipated spectacle—the DSF Drone Show 2025—returned on 5 December, delivering an enchanting visual experience above the bay between Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR. This season introduces more than 1,000 next-generation LED drones, faster, brighter and mor»»»

8 December marks one of the most enduring and festive traditions among young Bulgarians - the official Students’ Day. This date traces its origins back to the early years of higher education in Bulgaria, and over more than a century it has become a symbol of student identity, solidarity, and celebr»»»

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday Tehran is not convinced Washington was ready for real and serious negotiations. But, the FM added, “If they change their approach and are prepared for a fair and mutually beneficial negotiation, we are prepared as well.” In an exclusive inter»»»

Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne pledged to donate 25 million Sri Lanka rupees (Dh300,000) to the Sri Lanka Dubai and the Northern Emirates Consul General Alexi Gunasekera as an immediate contribution to the relief and recovery fund being raised for the country which was recently devastated by Cyclon»»»

A fire broke out in an apartment in a high-rise residential building on Abdumomunov Street in Bishkek, eyewitnesses reported. According to witnesses, the flames engulfed an apartment on the upper floors, with fire visible from the windows and thick black smoke seen from afar. Bystanders near the sc»»»

Officers of the Main Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan have uncovered a stable organized criminal group operating in southern Kyrgyzstan. According to law enforcement agencies, the group was founded by G.M., known in criminal circles by the nickname»»»

A foreign national has been found guilty of espionage in Kyrgyzstan. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported. According to the SCNS, the foreign citizen was detained during the investigation of a case initiated under Article 324 (Espionage) of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Repub»»»

Doha, Qatar: Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a defining feature of economic competitiveness and geopolitical power. For resource-rich nations looking beyond hydrocarbons, AI offers potential pathways to build new industries, attract investment, and leapfrog traditional development model»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar marked its successful participation at LPS Shanghai 2025, Asia-Pacific’s leading luxury real estate exhibition, for the second consecutive year. Held from 5 to 7 December, the Qatar Pavilion served as a dynamic platform to showcase the country’s vibrant and fast-grow»»»

Nations from around the world converge today in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as the inaugural edition of the Bridge Summit officially kicks off—marking the world’s largest global event dedicated to the media, content, and entertainment sectors. The summit hosts 60,000 participants from 132 countries»»»

On the first anniversary of 8 December 2024, marking the end of the civil war in Syria and the fall of the Assad regime, we wholeheartedly congratulate the Syrian people as they celebrate their Liberation Day. Over the past year, despite facing numerous challenges, the Syrian Government has pursued»»»

A year after dictator Bashar al-Assad's ouster in Syria, little has changed in Amina Beqai's desperate quest. She types her missing husband's name yet again into an internet search box, hoping for answers to a 13-year-old question. In vain. Beqai has nowhere else to turn. A National Commission for »»»

The United Nations on Monday appealed for an aid budget only half the size of what it had hoped for this year, acknowledging a plunge in donor funding at a time when humanitarian needs have never been greater. By its own admission, the $23 billion UN appeal will shut out tens of millions of people »»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he expected the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire to begin "very shortly" once Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage whose body was taken by Palestinian militants during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Israel's army chief Lieuten»»»

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his readiness to support promising projects in Kyrgyzstan implemented through the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund. He made this statement at a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Bakyt Torobaev. The Cabinet’s press s»»»

Unknown assailants targeted a police station in the central Athens district of Kypseli on Sunday evening, authorities said. No injuries were reported. Police said at least six attackers approached the station shortly before 8 p.m. and hurled five petrol bombs at the building before fleeing. No arre»»»

Doha, Qatar: Industry leaders, policymakers, and global energy experts gathered recently in Doha for the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s fourth CEO Roundtable of the year to examine how the defining events of 2025 have reshaped global energy systems and what these shifts mean for the year ahead. Held under»»»

Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim, seen here at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 2, 2025, said Monday that "complete denuclearization" of North Korea remains official U.S. policy. Photo by Yonhap A U.S. envoy reaffirmed Monday that "complete denuclearization" of North Korea remains the policy »»»

Doha, Qatar: Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani, the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ), met with H E Atheer Dawood Salman Al Ghrairi, Minister of Trade in the Republic of Iraq, during his visit and the accompanying delegation to the State of Qatar. During the me»»»

Doha, Qatar: On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) yesterday launched the National Volunteer Work Lab, under the auspices and in the presence of Minister of Social Development and Family H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi. Represen»»»

A year ago, the war that President Bashar al-Assad seemed to have won was turned upside down. A rebel force had broken out of Idlib, a Syrian province on the border with Turkey, and was storming towards Damascus. It was led by a man known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, and his militia group, Hayat Tahr»»»

The UAE is well known for its leadership in artificial intelligence. As adoption has accelerated, government agencies have led the way. AI is being put to work across the country’s public sector in a variety of use cases. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (»»»

On December 7, the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of the Kyrgyz Republic (CEC) reviewed the issue of accountability of chairpersons of certain precinct election commissions in multi-mandate constituency No. 13. Following the meeting, the territorial election commissions of Nooken »»»

Multiple reports now confirm that a major emergency response at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 on Sunday was triggered by a pepper-spray assault and robbery inside a multi-storey car park, causing widespread transport disruption. The trigger incident: Robbery in a liftThe dramatic pepper-spray assau»»»

King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded notable growth in operational performance during November 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The total number of passengers reached 4.86 million, marking an increase of 8.6 percent, while the total numbe»»»

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on the red carpet for the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump suggested Sunday night that the »»»

Doha, Qatar: Director General for Global Affairs at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Mikael Lindvall has described the Doha Forum as a rare global platform where a “diversity of opinions” can be expressed openly and respectfully. In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula yesterday Lindva»»»

Nations from around the world converge today in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as the inaugural edition of the Bridge Summit officially kicks off—marking the world’s largest global event dedicated to the media, content, and entertainment sectors. The summit hosts 60,000 participants from 132 countries»»»

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has introduced a new silver collectible coin, «Tushoо Kesuu», as part of the series Kyrgyz Customs and Traditions, aimed at preserving and promoting national customs. The coin entered circulation on December 8. The collectible coin is available for purchase at a pric»»»

Construction of Sary-Talaa — Kyzyl-Tash — Zardaly road, leading to one of the region’s most remote mountain villages, is nearing completion in Batken region. According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan, the project will be commissioned in the coming days. The road is 17.»»»

A military ceremony for the formal hoisting of the Bulgarian Navy flag on the newly acquired multipurpose modular patrol vessel Hrabri (Brave) will take place on Monday at Varna Naval Base, the press office of the Defence Ministry announced. The ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Atanas »»»