Briefing of KUNA main news for Friday until 00:00 GMT
KUWAIT -- Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Director General of Civil Aviation of the French Republic in Paris. KUWAIT -- Kuwait's Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah affirmed on Fri»»»
Kuwait Hackathon '25 concludes 3rd edition, after honoring winners
KUWAIT, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- The third edition of Kuwait Hackathon 2025, organized by CODED Academy and the National Cybersecurity Center, concluded on Saturday under the patronage of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yosef Saud Al-Sabah.The event aimed at supporting yout»»»
A week in France - French food safety agency finds PFAS in more than 90 percent of tap water
The ANSES has found that 92% of the country's drinking water contains forever chemicals known as PFAS. The report analyzed more than 600 tap water samples and an equal number of untreated water samples over a two-year period. Meanwhile another study has found that breakfast cereals, and bread»»»
Boosting Gulf-EU relations, strategic necessity for international security, stability: Advisor to PM and Spokesperson for MOFA
Doha: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Dr. Majed Mohammed Al Ansari emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the Gulf countries and the European Union (EU) politically, economically, and in terms of security, noting that suc»»»
Kallas calls Washington EU's 'biggest ally' after US security strategy slams Europe
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded Saturday to a new US National Security Strategy accusing Europe of facing "civilisational erasure" due to its immigration policies by saying that Washington remained the bloc's main ally. The strategy also called for the US to aggressively maintain domi»»»
GCC countries keen on Iran's stability - GCC Chief
DOHA, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Budaiwi affirmed Saturday that GCC countries are keen on Iran's stability and prosperity, stressing, "no one in the GCC wants Iran to collapse." The remarks came during a session at the Doha Forum 2025, which was»»»
US National Park Service removes free entry on MLK Day and Juneteenth
The US National Park Service (NPS) is removing Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth from its list of fee-free entrance days. The move is part of President Donald Trump's "modernisation" of the park service, which, beginning in 2026, also includes changing the parks' cost structure to favour Ame»»»
Operators, manufacturers align behind Amra City, citing big demand for smart infrastructure
AMMAN — The Kingdom’s major telecommunications and industrial companies said the Amra City project will be a "cornerstone" of the country’s digital and economic modernisation efforts, calling it a national undertaking that will require advanced infrastructure and broad private sector coordination.T»»»
US Supreme Court to review Trump's order to restrict birthright citizenship
The US Supreme Court agreed on Friday to review US President Donald Trump's order on birthright citizenship. Several lower courts have previously blocked Trump's bid to restrict the law that states anyone born on US soil is automatically an American citizen. The Supreme Court agreed on Friday»»»
Gaza truce incomplete without 'full withdrawal' by Israel, Qatar PM says
Qatar’s prime minister warned Saturday that the nearly two-month-old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered complete until Israeli forces fully withdraw under a peace plan backed by Washington and the UN. Qatar’s prime minister on Saturday said the Gaza ceasefire has reached a “crit»»»
Sharaa says Israeli demands for demilitarised zone puts Syria in 'dangerous' position
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa told the Doha Forum Saturday that Israel's continued insistence on a demilitarised zone in the country's south could lead the two nations to a "dangerous place". Israeli troops continue to occupy a UN-patrolled area in the Golan Heights and have repeatedly launched mil»»»
Deadly floods claim over 900 lives in Indonesia as survivors struggle to obtain aid
The death toll from cyclone-driven floods and landslides across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra rose to 908 people on Saturday, with over 400 listed as missing, government data showed. The disaster has also claimed around 200 lives in southern Thailand and Malaysia. Indonesia’s environment mi»»»
Rep. Adelita Grijalva says ICE agents shoved, pepper-sprayed her - UPI.com
Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., said she was pushed and pepper-sprayed by federal agents during an immigration-enforcement action outside a Tucson restaurant on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pushed and pepper-sprayed Rep.»»»
Nigel Farage to rally in Scotland as Reform UK gains ground ahead of elections
Right-wing politician Nigel Farage is set to address supporters in Falkirk on Saturday, aiming to capitalise on Reform UK’s unexpected rise in Scotland ahead of May’s devolved parliament elections. The anti-immigration party, once marginal north of the border, is now polling second behind the SNP, »»»
The Bright Side: Mediterranean’s first dolphin sanctuary for captive animals to open in Italy
Italy is set to open the Mediterranean’s first sanctuary for dolphins that have lived in captivity, offering a natural but supervised home for the animals as marine parks across Europe close. Located off Taranto, the San Paolo Dolphin Refuge is expected to receive its first dolphins by mid-2026 and»»»
Iranian diplomat praises Doha Forum, calls for regional economic focus
DOHA: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) Dr Saeed Khatibzadeh has praised the opening of the 23rd Doha Forum, commending the Qatari leadership for its "successful and skillful" organisation. Talking to Qatar Tribune on the si»»»
Iran arrests marathon organisers over women not wearing hijab
The Iranian judiciary says two organisers of a marathon have been arrested for allowing women who were not wearing hijabs to take part. The move comes after images appeared online of unveiled women competing in the race on Friday. Two thousand women and 3,000 men took part separately in the maratho»»»
Pentagon sets 2027 “hard deadline” to end support for Europe’s Nato conventional defences
The United States has told the European Nato allies that it will hand over responsibility for conventional defence capabilities by 2027 and no longer act as the automatic security guarantor, Reuters reports on December 6. The report comes one day after the White House released its latest National S»»»
Pentagon sets 2027 “hard deadline” to end support for Europe’s Nato conventional defences
The United States has told the European Nato allies that it will hand over responsibility for conventional defence capabilities by 2027 and no longer act as the automatic security guarantor, Reuters reports on December 6. The report comes one day after the White House released its latest National S»»»
Is ex-presidential aid Yermak going to skip Ukraine ahead of corruption charges?
Is the former head of Zelenskiy’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, going to skip the country before formal corruption charges are brought against him? That is the question being asked on the streets of Kyiv over the weekend after reports emerged that Yermak, until recently the second mos»»»
Stricken tandoori: Uzbek air pollution officials in hot water after demolishing clay ovens
Overzealous air pollution officials in Uzbekistan used excavators to demolish tandoor ovens, upsetting locals, according to a Gazeta.uz report. As disquiet over the disproportionate action mounted, the khokim (mayor) of Shakhrikhan district in the eastern region of Andijan, Khikmatillo Dadakhonov, »»»
Albania Welcomes Belgium and Denmark’s Decision to Open Embassies in Tirana
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Elisa Spiropali, has welcomed the decisions by Belgium and Denmark to open embassies in Tirana, calling the moves a significant signal of confidence in Albania’s progress toward European Union integration. In a message posted on X, Spiropali expres»»»
National Guardsman 'slowly healing' after being shot in Washington DC
A National Guardsman is on the mend after he was critically injured in an ambush-style shooting last month in Washington DC. The parents of Andrew Wolfe, 24, say "his head wound is slowly healing and that he's beginning to 'look more like himself,'" said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey. The»»»
Temperatures between 5°C and 14°C Saturday night
Tunis, Dec 6 (TAP) – The weather on Saturday night will be occasionally overcast over northern regions, with passing clouds elsewhere, and scattered showers along northern coastal regions.Intermittent rain is expected over northern coastal regions,...»»»
Sheikh Mohammed hosts delegation of top African business and philanthropic leaders
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai on Saturday met with a delegation of African business and philanthropic leaders visiting the UAE. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy »»»
US Gives European NATO Members Until 2027 to Sort Out Conventional Defense
Pentagon officials met with European delegations in Washington this past week to discuss plans to hand most of NATO’s conventional defense responsibilities over to the bloc’s European members. The transfer is expected to include everything from troops and weaponry to intel and missiles, with the US»»»
Dubai opens Farmers’ Souq with drone show honouring local farmers
Dubai: Dubai Municipality launched the fifth season of the Farmers' Souq at Quranic Park in Al Khawaneej on Saturday with a special drone show that paid tribute to the emirate's farming community. The surprise aerial display delighted visitors as it illuminated the evening sky, celebrating the dedi»»»
EU Struggles to Avoid Rift With the US
The European Union is in crisis over US attempts to broker a Ukraine peace deal and a rift within NATO, Bloomberg reports. The new US National Security Doctrine demands Europe take responsibility for its own defense and differs from leaders of EU states on where the Ukraine conflict is going."Europ»»»
Arsenal rocked by Villa as Buendia ends leaders' unbeaten run
Birmingham, United Kingdom: Emiliano Buendia shattered Arsenal's 18-match unbeaten run with the last-gasp strike that sealed Aston Villa's dramatic 2-1 win over the Premier League leaders on Saturday. Mikel Arteta's side fell behind to Matty Cash's first half goal at Villa Park before Leandro Tross»»»
Saudi Arabia: Newest State-of-the-Art Film Production Hub Launched in Qiddiya City
Qiddiya Investment Company has announced the official opening of PlayMaker Studios at Qiddiya City, marking the launch of Saudi Arabia’s newest state-of-the-art film production hub. The opening represents a major milestone in the Kingdom’s rapidly advancing film and creative industries. The launch »»»
New Berlin law allows police to install spyware in homes
Berlin police will be allowed to secretly enter private homes to install spyware, after the German House of Representatives approved sweeping changes to the city’s police law. Backed by the governing CDU-SPD coalition and opposition AfD, the law gives police broad new powers over both physical and »»»
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine
Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, after US and Ukrainian officials said they’ll meet on Saturday for a third day of talks aimed at ending the nearly 4-year-old war. Following talks that made progress on a security framework for postwar Ukraine, t»»»
Warsaw needles Zelensky over his ‘crown’ as diplomatic tensions rise
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky’s “crown would not have fallen off” if he paid a visit to new Polish President Karol Nawrocki instead of waiting for latter to visit Kiev, Warsaw’s top diplomat, Radoslaw Sikorski, has said. Kiev and Warsaw managed to get into a bitter diplomatic row last month over whic»»»
Sustainability is in pole position at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
ABU DHABI: Ethara, organisers of the 2025 Formula 1Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and operators of Yas Marina Circuit, have accelerated efforts to reduce the environmental impact of both the event and the venue. As thousands of F1fans descend on the circuit to witness the season finale, a numb»»»
Bethlehem Christmas tree lights up for first time since start of Gaza war
For two years during the Gaza war, all public celebrations for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank – where Christians believe Jesus was born. But after the recent ceasefire, the holy city decided that this year the festivities would return as symbolised by the lighting o»»»
IRGC Navy Unveils New Long-Range Missile Power in “Eghtedar” Naval Drills
Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, announced on Saturday that a missile fired during the force’s latest naval exercise has a range exceeding the full length of the Persian Gulf. The Admiral referred to the recent “Eghtedar” (Power) military drills con»»»
UAE and Ecuador Presidents forge stronger ties with new agreements on trade and energy
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Daniel Noboa, President of the Republic of Ecuador, today discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in the fields of the economy, trade, investment, renewable energy, sustainability, and other»»»
PM: Qatar keen on stability in region
DOHA, DEC 6 (KUNA) -- Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman affirmed on Saturday that Qatar is keen on the region's stability, saying the country considers this as part of its national security.Delivering a speech as part of the Doha Forum 2025, Shei»»»
Fujairah Police arrest woman brandishing sword at National Day event
Fujairah Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman after a video showing her brandishing a sword (talwar) in a crowd of youths during UAE 54th National Day celebrations in Al Fiqeit went viral. Authorities described the act as dangerous, inappropriate, and in violation of societal norms and the law.»»»
Amir meets several heads of state and government participating in Doha Forum
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at the Sheraton Doha Hotel with several heads of state and government from brotherly and friendly nations participating in the Doha Forum 2025. His Highness met separately with President of the Syrian Arab Republi»»»
bTV Media Group Chief Operating Officer: Media Support Means Reporting Facts, not Distorting Them
At a tourism forum here on Saturday, the Chief Operating Officer of bTV Media Group, Gospodin Yovchev, emphasized that in order for the tourism sector to develop, coordinated and targeted efforts are needed from all representatives of the state authorities, institutions, the sector, the media, and »»»
Arche picking up pace over Royal Paper Mill apartment construction in Konstancin
Arche has accelerated talks on the second phase of its Royal Paper Mill redevelopment in Konstancin-Jeziorna before special housing regulations expire in mid-2026. The controversial plan includes up to 2,000 apartments in dozens of multi-family buildings, sparking strong opposition from residents w»»»
Fees for using ATMs will go up next year in Poland
From February 2026, cash withdrawals in Poland are expected to become significantly more expensive due to new fee structures introduced by Visa and Mastercard. Instead of a flat fee, banks will pay a fixed charge plus a percentage of the withdrawal amount, increasing costs especially for larger tra»»»
BNR Director General: Tourism Is Source of Good News, They Should Come from Business
Tourism is a source of good news because when it is discussed, it shows the audience that Bulgaria is a place worth visiting, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) Director General Milen Mitev said here on Saturday. He was address a forum on BG TOURISM - WINTER 2025/2026, organized by the BTA in partnersh»»»
Stranded at Mumbai airport, IndiGo passenger’s 'Woh Lamhe' concert unites weary travellers
At Mumbai’s bustling airport, itself swirling in frustration over widespread flight cancellations, a lone traveler turned delay into a moment of calm. With his guitar in hand, he began strumming the early-2000s hit “Woh Lamhe,” instantly drawing fellow passengers into a spontaneous concert. The per»»»
Israeli occupation attacks on Gaza leave 6 martyrs within hours
GAZA, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- Latest Israeli occupation attacks on Gaza Strip left six Palestinian martyrs within a few hours on Saturday, declared the local health authorities.Simultaneously, paramedics carried bodies of five others from several scenes in the enclave over the past 48 hours, the authoritie»»»
24-year-old murder solved: Forest body, phone-booth trail and egg crates
In September 2001, a forest guard patrolling the Konanakallu Reserve Forest in Karnataka discovered a man’s body and immediately alerted the authorities. Initial clues — a passbook and a phone number in the victim’s pockets — pointed to a businessman in Shivamogga. But that lead quickly went cold. »»»
BG-ALERT Issued in Burgas as Two Rivers Overflow and Roads Close
Authorities in Burgas have issued an emergency warning after intense rainfall caused two local rivers to overflow, prompting the activation of the BG-ALERT system for several settlements in the region. The alert, ordered by Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, covers the villages of Izvor, Varshilo, Zidar»»»
Arche picking up pace over Ryal Paper Mill apartment construction in Konstancin
Arche has accelerated talks on the second phase of its Royal Paper Mill redevelopment in Konstancin-Jeziorna before special housing regulations expire in mid-2026. The controversial plan includes up to 2,000 apartments in dozens of multi-family buildings, sparking strong opposition from residents w»»»