Council of Competitiveness to hold Fourth Edition of Arab Competition Authorities Simulation Model from January 13 to 22, 2026
Tunis, Dec. 8, 2025 (TAP) – The Council of Competitiveness will host the fourth edition of the Arab Competition Authorities Simulation Model from January 13 to 22, 2026.Targeted at Arab university students in law, economics, and political science,...»»»
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launches Qatar's National Adaptation Plan
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched on Monday the State of Qatar's National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which forms the comprehensive national framework to enhance the country's ability to cope with the impacts of climate change, protect its vital resources and its econo»»»
EGX Extends Gains with Market Value Approaching EGP 2.92 Trillion
Egypt’s stock market concluded the first week of December on a mixed but largely stable note, reflecting a balanced interplay between blue-chip strength and uneven performance across the broader indices. On Thursday, 4 December, the benchmark EGX30 index edged up by 0.38% to 41,499.07 points, exten»»»
Volkswagen Evaluates East Port Said as Future Electric-Car Hub
Germany’s Volkswagen Group has entered a pivotal stage in its long-term automotive investment plans for Egypt, as the government confirmed progress in the feasibility study for a $240 million electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturing and localization project. While no final investment decision has yet be»»»
TMG Unveils Over $5bn Investment in Oman Through “Jood” and “Yamal” Megaprojects
Talaat Moustafa Group Holding (TMG), one of the Middle East’s largest real estate developers, announced over USD 5 billion in new foreign investments through its two landmark projects, “Jood” and “Yamal,” in the Sultanate of Oman. The announcement was made during an official inauguration ceremony h»»»
Egypt Strikes Strategic Defence Deals and Deepens Partnerships at EDEX 2025
The fourth edition of the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX 2025) concluded in Cairo with a wave of new industrial partnerships, co-production agreements, and technology-transfer frameworks that underscore Egypt’s accelerating shift from an import-dependent defence buyer to a regional manufacturing hub. The»»»
Egypt’s Non-Oil Sector Records Fastest Growth in Five Years
Egypt’s non-oil private sector recorded its strongest improvement in more than five years in November, signalling a welcome rebound for businesses after months of sluggish activity. According to the latest report from S&P Global, the country’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose sharply to 51.1, »»»
UN Palestinian Aid Agency Says Israeli Police ‘Forcibly Entered’ Compound in Jerusalem
Israeli police forcibly entered the compound of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem early Monday, escalating a campaign against an organization that has been banned from operating on Israeli territory. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the N»»»
New US National Security Strategy Appealing to Russia, Focuses on Dialogue - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The nuances of the new US National Security Strategy are appealing to Russia, as the document focuses on dialogue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. "This is the nuance that we see in the new concept, and it certainly appeals to us. It speaks about the need for dial»»»
UNRWA says Israeli police 'forcibly entered' compound in Jerusalem
Israeli police forcibly entered the compound of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem early Monday, escalating a campaign against an organization that has been banned from operating on Israeli territory. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the»»»
UAE National Day: Aster plants 2,000 mangrove saplings to boost coastal restoration in Ras Al Khaimah
Dubai: In a major environmental initiative to mark the 54th UAE National Day, Aster Volunteers UAE, the corporate social responsibility arm of Aster DM Healthcare, led a large-scale drive that saw 2,000 mangrove saplings planted in Ras Al Khaimah. The effort, conducted in partnership with the Envir»»»
UAE ranks among top 10 globally for project management
Dubai: The UAE has reached 8th place worldwide for active Project Management Institute certifications, totaling 23,670, according to recent data. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The rankings of PMI, a key international authority that sets widely used standards for proj»»»
WHO Says over 100 Killed in Attacks on Sudan Kindergarten and Hospital
More than 100 people, including dozens of children, were killed in attacks on a kindergarten in Sudan that continued even as parents and caretakers rushed the wounded to a nearby hospital, the World Health Organization said on Monday. Health facilities in Sudan have repeatedly come under attack nea»»»
Syria’s Sharaa Calls for United Efforts to Rebuild a Year After Assad’s Ouster
President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday urged Syrians to work together to rebuild their country, still marred by insecurity and divisions, as they marked a year since the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. The atmosphere in Damascus was jubilant as thousands of people took to the streets of the»»»
Syria opens broad investment horizons – UK’s Independent
London, Dec. 8 (SANA) The British newspaper The Independent reported that Syria’s post-liberation economic openness is paving the way for new investments, particularly in the oil sector. Foreign companies, including Chevron, recently held preliminary talks with the Syrian Petroleum Company to explo»»»
Abu Dhabi’s ADQ doubling down on infrastructure and supply chains, says minister
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s powerhouse sovereign wealth fund, ADQ, will continue to drive investments in infrastructure and supply chain resilience rather than chase short-term technology trends, according to Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADQ»»»
Media Review: December 8
2026 DRAFT BUDGETS The government is expected to submit the 2026 budget bills to the National Assembly on Monday, December 8, after they were redrafted following massive public protests, Bulgarian media say. The legislative package includes the state budget, the public social insurance budget and t»»»
Partners Split on Health Insurance Fund Budget: One Employer Organization Opposes, One Trade Union Abstains
The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, bringing together the government, employers and trade unions, examined the 2026 National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Budget Bill on Monday. The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) did not support the proposal, while the Confederation of »»»
Shura Council, Algerian People's National Assembly hold talks session, sign MoU
DOHA: An official talks session was held 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 strengthen them and a»»»
UNIFIL chief says has 'no evidence' of Hezbollah rebuilding in south Lebanon
Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Diodato Abagnara has said that UNIFIL has no evidence that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities south of the Litani. In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, Abagnara said that the presence of Israeli troops along the Blue Line »»»
Thousands flee Thai-Cambodia border after deadly clashes
Residents on both sides of Thailand's and Cambodia's border evacuated in droves on Monday as fresh clashes erupted, killing at least five people. Both sides have each accused the other of starting the violence, which is the most serious confrontation between the two countries since they agreed to a»»»
UAE ministry strips university of accreditation over serious violations
Fujairah: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has withdrawn recognition for all qualifications issued by Midocean University, which operates an executive office in Fujairah, following serious compliance violations uncovered during a joint inspection. The decision came »»»
IndiGo crisis: What Air India, Air India Express passengers must know — refunds, waivers, how to claim
Air India and Air India Express have capped economy fares on non-stop domestic routes from December 4 to comply with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s directive and curb sharp price spikes. Also Read: Air India, Air India Express cap fares amid IndiGo flight disruptionThe airlines are offering a one»»»
‘Israel’ Acknowledges Over 22,000 Soldiers Injured Since Start of Gaza Offensive
The Israeli Occupation Ministry of Defense has disclosed that its rehabilitation department is currently treating approximately 82,400 soldiers and veterans wounded during military service. This figure includes more than 22,000 injuries sustained since the beginning of the military offensive on Gaz»»»
Politico: Bulgaria Among EU States Pressured to Back Ukraine Loan with €1.2B Guarantee
EU countries will each have to secure guarantees worth billions of euros for the loan to Ukraine funded by frozen Russian assets, Politico’s Brussels edition reports. The amounts each country will need to provide are calculated based on their GDP, following the same method used to determine their c»»»
Asyad Group executes a complex air transport from Italy to Oman for OQRPI
Muscat, Oman: Asyad Group successfully executed a mission-critical transport operation for OQ Refineries and Petrochemical Industries (OQRPI). The specialised project involved rapid and secure relocation of 25 tons of essential, heavy equipment from Italy to Oman using a dedicated (Boeing F 747) ca»»»
Bulgarian Navy Receives First New Ship in 100 Years
The Bulgarian Navy received a completely new ship on Monday for the first time in 100 years, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in Varna. He participated in a military ritual of the solemn raising of the naval flag of Bulgaria on the newly acquired multifunctional modular patrol ship Hrabri. Za»»»
Aoun says only negotiations have chance to achieve goals
Negotiations have a much higher chance of ending the Israeli violations than staying locked in one place, President Joseph Aoun told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Monday. Aoun's comments come as Lebanon and Israel moved toward direct negotiations aimed at defusing tensions. "If we st»»»
French envoy to discuss economy, security with Lebanese leaders in Beirut
French Special Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive Monday in Lebanon where he will meet President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, media reports said. Le Drian will also meet with foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and the meetings will discuss economic and s»»»
The FMCG Management Shortage: How a Ukrainian Entrepreneur Built a System for Developing Leaders
According to McKinsey & Company’s The State of Grocery & FMCG 2024 report, 72% of global CEOs cite a shortage of qualified middle managers as the key threat to growth, surpassing logistics challenges. While major players search for solutions, Ukrainian company Avangard-Grand has successfully develo»»»
Amir arrives in Riyadh to warm welcome from Saudi Crown Prince
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived today in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was received at the King Khalid International Airport by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Ara»»»
Qatar Chamber explores enhancing cooperation with Turkiye's TUSIAD
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Chamber (QC) hosted on Monday a delegation from the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD). QC and TUSIAD held a meeting where the Qatari side was headed by HE First Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber, Mohamed bin Twar Al Kuwari while the Turkish delegation was led by TUS»»»
Santa's go global — skiing, racing and riding camels as Christmas approaches
Dubai: With Christmas still a few weeks away, Santa Claus is already making spirited appearances at festive events across the world. From snowy mountains to desert landscapes, Santas are racing, skiing, and even riding camels as communities embrace early seasonal celebrations. In Switzerland, dozen»»»
Report: 2026’s beginning brings lower mortgage interest rates
The beginning of 2026 will bring a decrease of mortgage loans interest rates applied in Romania, both on fixed interest rates segment, which represent over 98% of loans granted currently, and also on the variable interest rates segment, as a result of the decrease of the benchmark index for loans t»»»
Turkish police officer dies from gunshot wounds suffered in Istanbul drug raid
A police officer died Monday after being shot and seriously wounded during an early morning drug raid in Istanbul, Turkish officials said. Officer Emre Albayrak died of his wounds in a hospital. He was part of a special operations team carrying out the raid in the Cekmekoy district on Istanbul’s As»»»
Thailand launches air raids on Cambodia as disputed border clashes intensify
Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian positions Monday after Cambodian troops opened fire along a disputed border. Both sides traded blame for the hostilities, which have killed at least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians, according to officials. Thailand launched air strikes »»»
Radujko: I believe Paunovic will remain Serbia boss for long time
BELGRADE - Football Association of Serbia (FSS) Secretary General Branko Radujko said on Monday he believed Veljko Paunovic would remain head coach of the Serbia men's national football team for a long time. On December 4, Paunovic signed a contract until 2030 with the FSS directors. "Paunovic came»»»
D’Olive Study: Global trends in olive oil industry are increasingly reflected in Romania
These global changes are directly reflected in Romania, where extra virgin olive oil consumption remains low per capita but is growing steadily, and the market is undergoing an obvious premiumization process. In a market traditionally dominated by sunflower oil, more and more Romanian consumers are»»»
No Christmas homecoming: Families mourn victims of Goa nightclub fire
A son planning to return home for Christmas, two brothers with weddings scheduled early next year, a family visiting a tourist hotspot for the first time, and a young man on holiday with friends. These were some of the victims of the fire that broke out at a popular nightclub in India's coastal sta»»»
Water leak in Louvre damages hundreds of books
Paris, France: A water leak at the Louvre Museum in late November damaged several hundred books in its Egyptology library, French media reported on Sunday. The museum's deputy administrator, Francis Steinbock, said the incident on November 26 affected between 300 and 400 volumes, including Egyptolo»»»
Beijing court orders compensation in some MH370 flight cases
Beijing, China: A Beijing court ordered Malaysia Airlines on Monday to pay compensation to the families of eight passengers from flight MH370, more than a decade after the plane disappeared. The Chaoyang District People's Court said in a statement that 47 other lawsuits had been withdrawn, after th»»»
4 Tips for Building a Healthy SIPP Account in 2026
Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, but what are the best ways to look after your retirement funds as we move into 2026? More than six million UK investors have opted to take control over their retirement pot by opening a SIPP, and it’s clear th»»»
Japan and China trade blame after jets square off over Pacific
Tokyo and Beijing have exchanged accusations after their fighter jets had at least two close calls amid Chinese naval drills. Japan was the first to report the incident, stating that Chinese J-15 fighter jets locked their fire control radars on Japanese F-15J warplanes on at least two occasions on »»»
PM Zhelyazkov: Tripartite Cooperation Council Meeting Extremely Important Due to High Public Expectations, Political Climate
Today’s meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) is extremely important due to the high public expectations and the current political climate, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said at the opening of the NCTC, on Monday at the Council of Ministers. The agenda includes discuss»»»
What legal experts say about second US strike on Venezuela boat
Several legal experts have told BBC Verify that the second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat by the US military was probably illegal, and would likely be considered an extrajudicial killing under international law. On Monday, the Trump administration confirmed that a follow-up strike on the»»»
Thieves snatch eight Matisse artworks from library in Brazil
Two armed men have stolen eight engravings by French artist Matisse and at least another five by Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari from a library in São Paulo. Brazilian officials say the thieves held up a security guard and an elderly couple who were visiting the library before making off with t»»»
East Grain and Poultry Investment take over of UBM Feed Romania
The newly established shareholder structure – 50% East Grain, 50% Hodler Capital – creates one of the most robust production platforms in the feed industry, bolstered by European capital, technological expertise, and vertical integration within the livestock sector. The company will retain its curr»»»
Coffee, Tea & Chocolate Festival returns to Doha, draws large crowds
Doha, Qatar: The 10th edition of Qatar’s Coffee, Tea & Chocolate Festival is currently underway at Al Bidda Park, bringing together rich flavors, warm beverages, and a family-friendly festive atmosphere. The 10-day event runs until December 13, featuring 40 kiosks showcasing coffee, tea, chocolate,»»»
Bridge Summit 2025 kicks off in Abu Dhabi, sets bold tone for future of global media
Abu Dhabi: The activities of Bridge Summit 2025 officially began today in Abu Dhabi, attracting more than 60,000 creatives, media and content specialists, artists, producers, publishers, entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and research centres. The summit features over 400 global speakers — inc»»»
Microsoft President: Saudi Arabia is Moving from Exporting Oil to Exporting Artificial Intelligence
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its national transformation under Vision 2030, the region’s technology landscape is undergoing a decisive shift. For the first time, “the region is not merely participating in a global transformation, it is clearly leading it,” said Naim Yazbeck, President of Microsoft f»»»