Gulf News 8m

Abu Dhabi Police offer traffic points relief at Liwa International Festival

Abu Dhabi Police have invited motorists to benefit from traffic points services during the Liwa International Festival, offering eligible drivers the opportunity to restore their driving licences or reduce accumulated traffic points. Also Read: Abu Dhabi Police tighten rules for drivers under 21The»»»

gulfnews.com
Al Awsat 9m

Xi Says China to Hit 2025 Growth Target of 'Around 5%'

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the country's economy is expected to have grown "around five percent" in 2025, despite "pressure" during a year he described as "very unusual", state media said. The announcement came in a New Year's Eve speech by Xi to a top political consultative b»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 9m

EU Warns Israel Suspending Gaza NGOs Would Block 'Life-Saving Aid'

The EU warned Wednesday that Israel's threat to suspend several aid groups in Gaza under new registration rules would block "life-saving" assistance from reaching the population. "The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law can not be implemented in its current form," EU humanitarian chief Hadj»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 21m

Heavy Snow in Poland Leaves Drivers Stranded in Tailbacks of up to 20 Km

Heavy snowfall in Poland caused tailbacks stretching as far as 20 km (12.43 miles) on a motorway between ​the capital Warsaw and the Baltic port city of Gdansk during the night, police said on Wednesday. While the situation left hundreds of people trapped in their cars in freezing conditions, by th»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 21m

Iran Appoints New Central Bank Governor After Record Currency Fall and Mass Protests

Iran on Wednesday appointed a new governor to the central bank after the former one resigned following a record currency fall against the US dollar that sparked large protests. The plummeting of the rial, Iran's currency, sparked the largest protests in the country in three years, with rallies that»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 21m

Iran Prosecutor Pledges ‘Decisive’ Response if Protests Destabilize Country

Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response". "Peaceful livelihood protests are part of social and understandable realities," Mohammad Movahedi-Azad told »»»

english.aawsat.com
Bulgarian News Agency 23m

GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Reflects on 2025, Predicts 2026 Will Not Be Easier but Could Be Clearer

Taking stock of the outgoing year in a Facebook post on Wednesday, GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva said that 2025 was like a kaleidoscope and predicted that "2026 will not be any easier but it could be clearer." "The euro area was discussed as if it were both a lifebuoy and an apocalyp»»»

bta.bg
Tanjug 23m

Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.2820

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.2820 dinars for one euro on Wednesday, which is a slight change relative to Tuesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is up by 0.1 pct against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and by 0.2 pct relativ»»»

tanjug.rs
Al Manar 28m

Israeli settlers destroy crops in West Bank’s Jordan Valley - Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli settlers destroy crops in West Bank’s Jordan Valley 31-12-2025 10:13 AM Latest News Urgent News Israeli Occupation to Suspend Dozen»»»

The Peninsula 31m

QatarEnergy reduces fuel prices for January 2026

Doha, Qatar: QatarEnergy has announced on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the fuel prices for January 2026. According to its announcement, the prices for Premium-grade petrol and Super have been reduced in comparison to December 2025. The Premium-grade petrol is now priced at QR 1.95 per litre, while»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Middle East Observer 34m

Elsewedy Electric Accelerates European Renewable Deployment with 2026 Project Pipeline

Elsewedy Electric, Egypt’s leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate (SWDY), has announced plans to invest in at least two new renewable energy projects in Europe during 2026, as part of a broader strategy to expand its diversified clean-energy portfolio across the continent. The company revea»»»

Gulf News 36m

Emirates’ 2025 report card: 29,000 laps around the Earth, 55.6m travellers

Dubai: Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, wrapped up 2025 with milestones that reshaped global travel. The airline carried 55.6 million passengers in 2025, operating nearly 180,600 flights and circling the Earth more than 29,000 times. It took 29, 290 laps around the earth to be precise. The airli»»»

gulfnews.com
France24 37m

Syria arrests suspects, imposes curfew in Latakia after sectarian violence

Syrian authorities have arrested 21 people in the coastal province of Latakia over alleged links to the ousted government of former president Bashar al-Assad, state media reported, after sectarian violence prompted an overnight curfew in the provincial capital. Authorities in Syria’s Latakia provin»»»

france24.com
BBC 38m

Mali and Burkina Faso impose travel ban on US citizens in tit-for-tat move

Mali and Burkina Faso say they will bar US citizens from entering their countries in response to a similar move by the Trump administration. The two West African states were recently placed under full entry restrictions under US President Donald Trump's expanded travel ban. In separate statements, »»»

bbc.com
Gulf News 45m

No more fingerprint failures? What changes in Pakistan’s biometric system

Dubai: Pakistan’s federal government has amended the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules to formally recognise facial and iris scans as valid biometric identifiers, expanding the definition of biometrics beyond fingerprints, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) said on Wednesday.»»»

gulfnews.com
France24 46m

Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner since July border clashes

Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner since border clashes broke out between the two countries in July as part of a renewed ceasefire signed Saturday. Dozens of people have been killed and more than a million more driven from their homes after renewed fighting erupted in December. T»»»

france24.com
The Peninsula 55m

Doha named 2026 “GCC Tourism Capital” 

Doha, Qatar: The committee responsible for the GCC Tourism Capital has officially announced Doha as the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026, within the framework of strengthening joint tourism cooperation among GCC member states. This decision has been approved by Their Excellencies the Ministers responsi»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Business-review 56m

Servier Romania: Healthcare innovation with a long-term view

2025 was an important year for Servier Romania, as the company continued to strengthen its leadership in cardiology and venous disease, expanded access to oncology treatments, and advanced major public health initiatives. Under the leadership of General Manager Dr. Jan-Frederic Kesselhut, Servier R»»»

business-review.eu
Gulf News 56m

Indian expat in UAE hit by e-scooter dies, gives life to six for New Year 2026 through organ donation

Abu Dhabi: As the New Year approaches, six patients have been given a second chance at life, following a generous decision by the family of an Indian expat in the UAE to donate his organs after a tragic accident. M. Baburajan, a 50-year-old goldsmith from Kerala, died following a road accident in A»»»

gulfnews.com
BBC 1h

Hundreds of thousands mourn Bangladesh's ex-PM at state funeral

Hundreds of thousands of people travelled from across Bangladesh to the capital Dhaka on Wednesday to pay their final respects to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Zia, who was the country's first female prime minister, died on Tuesday from a prolonged illness. She was 80. The mourners held out th»»»

bbc.com
The Peninsula 1h

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs bids farewell to Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the State of Qatar, HE Marat Nuraliev, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs thanked the Ambassador for his»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 1h

General Tax Authority announces tax return filing period for the financial year ending December 31, 2025

Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced that the tax return filing period for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, will commence on January 1, 2026 and continue until April 30, 2026. This comes in compliance with the provisions of Income Tax Law No. (24) of 2018, its Execu»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 1h

The QF Generation: People and their stories

Doha, Qatar: As Qatar Foundation marks its 30th anniversary, it has launched The QF Generation, an immersive storytelling initiative that brings together 30 individuals whose lives have been shaped by QF. Through personal reflections, they share their journeys and highlight how they are now contrib»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 1h

Over 7 million visitors recorded at Old Doha Port in 2025

Doha, Qatar: Old Doha Port unveiled its key milestones in 2025, concluding an exceptional year across tourism performance and maritime operations, with record figures across key indicators. During the year, the Port expanded its international presence and implemented tourism initiatives that contri»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Gulf News 1h

Karachi revives double-deckers after more than six decades to ease traffic woes

Dubai: Double-decker buses have returned to Karachi after more than six decades, marking a significant moment for public transport in Pakistan’s largest city as authorities seek to ease chronic mobility problems for its growing population. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Wednesday inau»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Pakistan enters 2026 as 5th most populous country

Dubai: Pakistan is set to enter 2026 as the world’s fifth-most populous country, with its population surpassing 225 million, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The milestone highlights the urgent need to address rapid population growth amid high fertility rates, persistent gen»»»

gulfnews.com
24 News Agency 1h

Bishkek residents invited to welcome New Year with pop stars - | 24.KG

On New Year’s Eve, top performers of Kyrgyzstan will take the stage for audience on Ala-Too Square. The press service of Bishkek City Hall reported. According to the announcement, the festive show program on December 31 will begin at 6 p.m. «Altynai Asanbekova, Nazik Abdymamytova, Akbar Suyunbaev, »»»

24.kg
24 News Agency 1h

New Rector appointed at Diplomatic Academy of Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Ministry - | 24.KG

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev introduced Ruslan Rakhimov to the staff of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the new rector. During the meeting, it was noted that the newly appointed rector has extensive experience in research activitie»»»

24.kg
The Peninsula 1h

Germany bank heist nets about 30mn euros in cash, valuables: Police

Berlin, Germany: Robbers used a large drill to break into a German savings bank's vault room and steal cash, gold and jewelry worth some 30 million euros ($35 million), police said Tuesday. The heist in the western city of Gelsenkirchen saw the thieves break into more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes,»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 1h

Ministry urges public to follow safety guidelines at public gatherings

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged citizens and residents to strictly follow safety guidelines when attending gatherings in public areas. The Ministry emphasised the importance of complying with laws, regulations and public etiquette, and avoiding any behaviour that could cause h»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 2h

General Tax Authority announces tax return filing period for the financial year 2025

Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced that the tax return filing period for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, will commence on January 1, 2026 and continue until April 30, 2026. This comes in compliance with the provisions of Income Tax Law No. (24) of 2018, its Execu»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Gulf News 2h

Iran’s biggest protests in three years: What’s driving the unrest — and why it matters

Dubai: Iran is once again facing a moment of deep uncertainty as economic collapse, public anger and regional tensions converge. In recent days, the country has seen its largest protests in three years, sparked by a sharp fall in the national currency and a steady erosion of living standards. While»»»

gulfnews.com
Al Awsat 2h

Global ‘Fragmentation’ Fueling World’s Crises, Warns UN Refugee Chief

The outgoing United Nations refugee chief fears an increasingly fragmented world is fueling global conflicts and crises, and inflaming hostility towards people desperately fleeing for safety. Reflecting on his decade at the helm of the UNHCR, Filippo Grandi told AFP that one of the most worrying de»»»

english.aawsat.com
UPI 2h

S. Korea to prioritize confirming fate of separated families' kin in N. Korea - UPI.com

South Korea's Unification Ministry said Wednesday it would prioritize confirming the fate of separated family members in North Korea if inter-Korean relations improve. In this February 2021 photo, visitors look at ribbons wishing for Korean Unification near the DMZ. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI»»»

upi.com
BBC 2h

Jailed Hong Kong tycoon's 'teeth rotting and fingernails falling off'

The daughter of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy tycoon jailed in Hong Kong, has expressed concerns about her father's deteriorating health in prison, saying that his fingernails "sometimes fall off" and his teeth are rotting. Lai, 78, has been detained since December 2020 and faces life in prison. Ear»»»

bbc.com
Al Awsat 2h

China’s Factory Activity Snaps Record Slump on Festive Stockpiling

China's factory activity unexpectedly grew in December, snapping a record eight straight months of decline, lifted by a rise in pre-holiday orders ​as officials seek to spur the $19 trillion economy's manufacturing sector without worsening deflation. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) ro»»»

english.aawsat.com
Novinite 2h

Bulgaria Sees Migration Reversal as Arrivals Far Outnumber Departures

In 2025, Bulgaria recorded a markedly positive migration balance, with arrivals significantly outnumbering departures. Data from the National Statistical Institute, cited by Nova TV, show that around 13,000 people left the country during the year, most of them heading to Germany and the United King»»»

novinite.com
The Peninsula 2h

Qatar Rail announces service hours updates for Lusail QNB

Doha, Qatar: Doha Metro and Lusail Tram announced updates to their service hours for today, December 31, 2025. According to a statement on X, the last train from Lusail QNB will be at 2:22am while the last train from Lusail QNB that allows connection to Gold and Green lines is scheduled for 2:07am »»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Al Awsat 2h

Russia’s Gerasimov Says Putin Ordered Ukraine Buffer Zone Expansion in 2026

Russia’s top general said its forces were pressing forward in northeastern Ukraine and President Vladimir ​Putin had ordered expansion of territory Moscow calls a buffer zone there in 2026, Russian news agencies said on Wednesday. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Putin ordered expan»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 2h

World Bids Farewell to 2025, a Year of Trump, Truces and Turmoil

New Year's Eve revelers celebrated the end of 2025 on Wednesday, waving goodbye to 12 months packed with Trump tariffs, a Gaza truce and vain hopes for peace in Ukraine. It was one of the warmest years on record, the stifling heat stoking wildfires in Europe, droughts in Africa and deadly rains acr»»»

english.aawsat.com
Sana 2h

Turkish ambassador in Damascus pledges to strengthen ties with Syria

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz said he is determined to do everything possible to strengthen relations between his country and their dear neighbor “Syria”. In a post published Tuesday on the X platform, Yilmaz expressed his thanks for what he described as a warm rec»»»

sana.sy
UPI 2h

On This Day, Dec. 31: Brexit trade agreement goes into force - UPI.com

On Dec. 31, 2020, the historic Brexit trade agreement with the European Union entered legal force in Britain just hours before the official end of the transition period. 1 of 5 | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to No.10 Downing St after attending debate at the Houses of Parliament rega»»»

upi.com
Al Manar 2h

Israeli glider dropped a bomb on an excavator in the town of Ayta Al-Shaab: Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon - Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli glider dropped a bomb on an excavator in the town of Ayta Al-Shaab: Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon 31-12-2025 10:04 AM Lat»»»

Al Manar 2h

4 Palestinians injured as Israeli occupation forces attack Jaba in West Bank’s Jenin: Palestinian Red Crescent - Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe 4 Palestinians injured as Israeli occupation forces attack Jaba in West Bank’s Jenin: Palestinian Red Crescent 31-12-2025 09:27 AM Latest N»»»

Al Manar 2h

Somali President Warns Israeli Recognition of Somaliland Could Fuel Gaza Displacement Plan - Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Somali President Warns Israeli Recognition of Somaliland Could Fuel Gaza Displacement Plan 31-12-2025 09:58 AM Somali President Hassan Shei»»»

english.almanar.com.lb
Gulf News 2h

Gazans say goodbye to a year marked by war and loss

Dubai: As 2025 ends, Palestinians in Gaza are marking the close of a year many describe as a “nightmare,” shaped by prolonged conflict, loss, and displacement. A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place since October 10, offering a pause after two years of intense fighting that »»»

gulfnews.com
Al Awsat 2h

China Will Push More Proactive Macro Policies in 2026, Xi Says

China will implement more proactive ​macroeconomic policies next year, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, according ‌to state ‌media. The ‌Chinese ⁠economy ​is ‌expected to achieve about 5% growth for 2025, to about 140 ⁠trillion yuan ($20 trillion), ‌Xi said. The ‍country ‍will promote ‍effec»»»

english.aawsat.com
24 News Agency 2h

India–Maldives friendship grows from basics to bonds - | 24.KG

Relations between India and the Maldives represent one of South Asia’s most stable and organically developed partnerships. Maldives Insight reports. Long before diplomatic ties were formalised in 1965, the two nations were linked through maritime trade, cultural exchange and people-to-people contac»»»

24.kg
BBC 2h

Isiah Whitlock Jr: The Wire and Veep actor dies at 71

Isiah Whitlock Jr, who was known for his memorable acting roles on The Wire and Veep, has died at the age of 71, according to his manager. "It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr," manager Brian Liebman wrote on Instagram. Whitlock, who»»»

bbc.com
Al Awsat 2h

Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian Prisoners of War as Part of Ceasefire Agreement

Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war held for five months, fulfilling the terms of a ceasefire agreement the two countries signed to end bitter fighting along their border. The release was stipulated in the ceasefire agreement signed Saturday by the defense ministers of the »»»

english.aawsat.com