The Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has signed new partnerships with government and private entities with a financial impact exceeding SAR 4 billion ($1.1 billion), as part of its role in expanding financing for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises across the Kingdom. Speaking to Asharq »»»

The Israeli military said it killed three Hezbollah members in strikes Sunday on southern Lebanon, where it has carried out repeated attacks despite an ongoing ceasefire with the Iran-backed group. The Lebanese health ministry said three people were killed in strikes in the Yater, Safad Al-Battikh »»»

A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that the country would "resolutely support" Hezbollah, its ally in Lebanon, in the group's efforts to confront Tehran's regional foe Israel. The remarks by Ali Akbar Velayati came as Lebanon faces pressure from the United States and Israel to di»»»

Nearly one in five residents in Greece and Bulgaria struggle to keep their homes warm. Both countries rank among the EU member states most affected by energy poverty, unable to maintain adequate heating. The surge in energy-poor households across Europe is linked to disruptions in energy markets fo»»»

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov introduced the new deputy ministers to the Ministry of Health staff. According to the relevant Cabinet order, Aibek Matkerimov has been appointed First Deputy Minister of Health. He was a member of the Parliament of the 7th con»»»

Professional dominatrix Madelaine Thomas isn't your average tech founder. After the repeated humiliation of clients leaking her private explicit images, she felt "angry enough to do something about it" and turned to technology for answers. "These were beautiful pictures, I'm not ashamed of the pict»»»

At first glance, my emails are polite and warm, after all "I'm just checking" in on a deadline but "no worries either way". However, a closer look reveals my messages are punctuated by unnecessary apologies, smiley faces, exclamation marks and even kisses. I like to think I'm being friendly and app»»»

Bucharest enters a new phase in its real estate evolution with the launch of The Edition 1011 Featured by Versace Ceramics, a residential concept that transforms everyday living into an expression of personal identity.Through this project, North Bucharest Investments reinforces its strategic focus »»»

Australia's leaders agreed on Monday to tougher gun laws after the country's worst mass shooting in almost three decades saw a father and son open fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people including a child. The duo fired into crowds packing the Sydney beach for the start of Hanuk»»»

Construction is surging across the Aegean island of Milos, where illegal roads, fence walls and half-built hotels are reshaping landscapes near the famed Sarakiniko beach. A scar carved into volcanic rock leads to a flooded foundation pit, as new complexes rise along the northern coast and bulldoze»»»

GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva attended the President Rumen Radev's first government-forcing consultation on Monday. As a representative of the largest parliamentary group, she said that GERB-UDF will not take part in another cabinet in the 51st National Assembly and that a proposal f»»»

An expert meeting was held in Bishkek, bringing together representatives of government agencies, the expert community, international partners, and businesses to discuss one of the country’s most important issues — the future of the pension system, the Social Fund reported. According to the Fund, th»»»

Dubai: Global Village will ring in 2026 with a unique New Year’s Eve celebration, offering visitors the chance to experience seven countdowns from different countries in a single evening. On Wednesday, December 31, the family-friendly destination will open its gates with extended hours from 4pm to »»»

Bulgarian citizens expect stability and responsibility in governance - regardless of who is in power - especially with regard to the 2026 budget and the introduction of the euro, in the complex situation in which our country finds itself, President Rumen Radev said at the beginning of consultation »»»

Kyrgyzstanis have begun using pyrotechnic products less frequently. Nursultan Tashibek uulu, head of the Air Protection Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, said on Birinchi Radio. According to him, more than 1,000 tons of pyrotechnic products were imp»»»

Political consultations began on Monday in Bulgaria as President Rumen Radev is scheduled to meet with representatives of parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly to discuss forming a new government following the resignation of the Zhelyazkov cabinet. The resignation was unanimously accep»»»

The rapid acceleration of development programs across the Gulf, powered by national visions and landmark mega-projects, is transforming not only the region’s economies but also the consulting industry that supports them. As governments and companies pursue unprecedented scale and ambition, they are»»»

Dubai: Emirates and Dubai Humanitarian have launched a humanitarian airbridge to rush emergency aid to Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the airline announced Monday. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.For the next two weeks, Emirates will prov»»»

Dubai: The UAE government has issued a new Federal Decree-Law amending key provisions of the Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses, introducing clearer mechanisms for calculating and settling corporate tax obligations. The latest changes also establish a f»»»

Five men have been arrested in Germany suspected of being involved in a plot to drive a vehicle into people at a Christmas market. Three Moroccans, an Egyptian and a Syrian were detained on Friday over the plan to target a market in the southern Bavarian state. Authorities said they suspected an "I»»»

Vladimir Putin may have a reputation among some as a ruthless autocrat, a master manipulator of the international scene. But one thing Russia's president does not have is a poker face. The late US Senator John McCain used to joke that when he looked into Putin's eyes, he saw three things, "a K and »»»

Damascus, Dec.15 (SANA) The “Food Manufacturing Quality, Smart Agriculture, and Human Resource Rehabilitation” conference has officially opened at Damascus University. Organized by EMBS for Administrative Engineering and Quality in partnership with the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, the event»»»

Scientists working at a remote British research station in Antarctica have received a new Royal Mail post box in time for Christmas – thanks to the King. Kirsten Shaw, a station support assistant who runs the British Antarctic Territory Post Office at Rothera Research Station, wrote to the monarch »»»

DOHA: Visit Qatar has successfully concluded the inaugural Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final, held from December 10 to 13 in Lusail, marking a major milestone in Qatar’s growing international sporting calendar. The four-day event brought together elite athletes, amateur competitors and »»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has unveiled the country’s first bank-branded gold bar. Branded as ‘Emirates NBD Gold’, the new product represents a step forward for savers and investors by merging physical wealth ownership with institutional trust. Available in 10, 50 and 100 gram denominations, each gold bar»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Multilateral structures and institutions for protection of human rights deliberately remain silent regarding the killings of journalists in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday as Russia commemorates journalists who died in the line of duty»»»

A man described by local residents as mentally ill has assaulted women in Sofia’s Ovcha Kupel 1 neighborhood, attacking strangers without provocation. According to people living in the area, the approximately 40-year-old has been roaming between residential blocks for some time, targeting women he »»»

Riyadh, Dec. 14 (SANA) The Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation with the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, aimed at strengthening partnership and exchanging expertise in the civil aviation sect»»»

Scientists working at a remote British research station in Antarctica have received a new Royal Mail post box in time for Christmas – thanks to the King. Kirsten Shaw, a station support assistant who runs the British Antarctic Territory Post Office at Rothera Research Station, wrote to the monarch »»»

On Dec. 15, 1973, the American Psychiatric Association reversed its longstanding position and declared that being gay isn't a mental illness. 1 of 6 | Spectators kiss from a window while watching parade-goers move down the parade route at the 2023 NYC Pride March on June 25, 2023, in New York City.»»»

At least 95 Yutong buses have been delivered to Bishkek from the People’s Republic of China and are currently located at depot No. 1. The press service of the City Hall reported. Each bus is 12 meters long and has three doors. They are equipped with air conditioning for the summer and heating for w»»»

Dubai: Dubai is stepping up the fight against economic fraud with the launch of a national awareness campaign by the Economic Security Center of Dubai (ESCD) under the slogan ‘Strong Economy … An Aware Society.’ The initiative is designed to arm individuals, businesses, and institutions with the kn»»»

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Lucid Group, the manufacturer of some of the world’s most advanced electric vehicles, announced on Sunday the inauguration of the first Electric Vehicle Innovation Center in the Middle East, located in Saudi Arabia. The new center, inaugura»»»

A mischievous cat in eastern China is lucky to be alive after taking an unplanned spin in a washing machine. Jintiao, the adventurous feline, somehow climbed into the drum while the machine was running and spent more than 10 minutes being tumbled around. Miraculously, the only visible damage was a »»»

Next year could start with a decrease in mortgage interest rates in Romania, both in the fixed segment, which represents over 98% of total new mortgage loans, and in the variable interest segment, as a result of the decrease in the reference indicator for mortgage loans granted to consumers (IRCC).»»»

The share of problem (non-performing) loans fell to 2.85% in September 2025 for the population, which shows that people are managing their debts well. However, the situation is much worse for companies, the National Bank shows in the Stability Report. Unfortunately, companies have greater problems »»»

Romania has no alternative to fiscal discipline, but the PNRR can represent the engine of investments and can mitigate the contractionary effects coming from fiscal policy, argues Cristian Popa, member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania (BNR), in the article "The engine of gr»»»

The most recent report published by the European Commission (EC) on the VAT collection deficit (VAT Gap), covering the period 2019 – 2024, indicates a compliance gap of 30% in 2023, at the same level as in 2019. Again, Romania is in last place in this ranking. At the European level, member states l»»»

A new shipment of food aid from Russia has arrived in Kyrgyzstan. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported. According to the WFP, more than 1,147 tons of food have arrived at warehouses in Bishkek and Osh. This contribution will support vulnerable families across the country through projects that»»»

Egypt has signaled a new push to deepen economic cooperation with Qatar, announcing a set of investment facilitation measures aimed at boosting bilateral trade and attracting Qatari capital. The announcement came during the Egyptian–Qatari Business Forum held in Cairo on Sunday. Egypt’s Minister of»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Library has launched a first-of-its-kind exhibition titled Heritage in Art: Reflections by Qatari Artists, featuring works by seven Qatari artists. The opening took place yesterday in the presence of Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, H E Dr. Hama»»»

Doha, Qatar: The twelfth annual Gulf Studies Forum concluded in Doha yesterday. The forum was organised by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and held over two days. This year’s forum was structured around two parallel tracks: the first examining “Arab Gulf States and Transformations i»»»

Iran on Sunday said its armed forces are in full readiness to deal with any emergency, while reiterating its continued contacts with the International Atomic Energy Agency to reach a solution to its nuclear file. On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied the presence of»»»

The average net salary in Romania stood at 5,492 lei, in October, up 4.3% compared to the same period last year, with the highest values recorded in information technology service activities (11,810 lei), according to data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).At the opp»»»

Romania saved, by means of hard measures, less than half of what it could save by VAT incomes at EU27 level. At the same time, reducing VAT gap to 9.5% would bring additional incomes of 1.4% to GDP, according to Social Monitor data, a project of Friedrich Ebert Romania foundation. “Romania has by f»»»

Net investments in the national economy amounted to 143.196 billion lei between January 1 and September 30, 2025, up 3.9% compared to the same period last year, according to provisional data released by the the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Friday.By sector, growth was recorded in new c»»»

Romania did not collect about 35% of the estimated profit tax for 2019, the year analyzed by a European Commission report, the non-collection rate being three times higher than the average rate estimated at 10.9% of the 23 EU member states included in the analysis, representatives of consulting com»»»

Romania's annual inflation rate held steady at 9.8% in November, with services up 10.99%, non-food goods 10.73% and food products 7.64%, according to data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS)."The consumer price index in November 2025 compared with October 2025 was 100.»»»

The BlueSpace Technology company presented on Friday the prototype of the first armored vehicle made entirely in Romania, and the first vehicle intended for series production could be ready at the end of the first quarter of 2026."The way in which public opinion reacted to VLAH, the first armored v»»»