BenArmani

Smoke-choked Sydney ushered in the New Year with a huge fireworks display, kicking off celebrations for billions around the world and ringing in the new decade. Australia’s largest city usually puts on a dazzling display of pyrotechnics over the glittering harbour, but this year’s celebrations were overshadowed by calls to cancel the fireworks as devastating bushfires rage across the country. Toxic...

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation yesterday in a bid to win support for a pension overhaul that has prompted the biggest transport strike in decades, upending travel plans for thousands over the holidays. The strike – now the longest such transport stoppage since the mid-1980s – is proving a key test of Macron’s ability to implement his vow...

President Vladimir Putin called on Russians to unite for the sake of the country’s future in a New Year’s address yesterday, marking two decades since his ascent to power. Appearing per longtime tradition outside the Kremlin for a message to be broadcast just before midnight, the 67-year-old leader spoke to Russians for the 16th time since Boris Yeltsin’s shock New...

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani exchanged cables of greetings on Tuesday with the leaders of friendly countries on the occasion of the New Year, wishing them good health and happiness and their peoples further progress and prosperity. ______________________________ Tweeting New Year wishes earlier Tuesday, His Highness the Amir said: "May Allah make 2020 a year of goodness...

A two-day workshop organised by electrical engineering faculty at Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) brought together experts and practitioners from the US, Europe and Qatar to focus on ensuring delivery of electric power in Qatar safely and reliably. Presented in partnership with Vito Middle East and Energyville, with funding support from the Qatar National Research Fund, the workshop shared...

Children continue to pay a deadly price as they succumb to a nearly three-fold rise in attacks over the last 10 years in conflict-ridden areas, the United Nations has said. Violations against minors in wars include killing, maiming, sexual violence, abductions, denial of humanitarian access, child recruitment and attacks on schools and hospitals. More: Yemen 'could lose six million children' from malnutrition Red Cross's Peter...

Operations have resumed at Iraq's southern Nasiriya oilfield, the oil ministry said on Monday, but oil sources added that it will take up to two days for output to be fully restored. Protesters broke into the oilfield, which produces 80,000-85,000 barrels of oil a day, on Saturday and forced employees to cut off electricity from its control station, taking it...

A Sudanese court on Monday sentenced 29 intelligence agents to death for killing a teacher in detention during protests against Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's longtime former leader, earlier this year. The defendants were found guilty of deadly abuse against Ahmed al-Kheir at an intelligence services facility and sentenced to be hanged, judge Sadok Abdelrahman said. The teacher was beaten and tortured to death after he...

Opaque, chilly smog blanketed northern India on Monday as low temperatures collided with hazardous levels of air pollution. Across many cities in the region, including New Delhi, the capital, visibility was reduced to 200 metres (656 feet), according to the India Meteorological Department. More: What is the cost of India's deadly air pollution? Delhi gasps under 'eye-burning' smog amid worst pollution crisis India...

France and Egypt, which back forces loyal to a renegade military commander in Libya, have called for "the greatest restraint" by Libyan and international authorities to avoid escalating the conflict there, according to French President Emmanuel Macron's office. Macron held talks late on Sunday with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, his office said on Monday, in which both agreed that warring Libyan powers need...

Spain's state attorney has called for the temporary release of a Catalan separatist politician, in what was widely seen as a gesture of political goodwill as the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) seeks support to form a government. The state attorney's office asked the Spanish Supreme Court on Monday to allow Oriol Junqueras to travel to Brussels to take his seat as a...

Dancers perform at Souq Waqif in Doha Sunday as part of the Spring Festival 2019 which runs until January 4. Entertainers from many countries regale visitors at Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah, two of Qatar’s popular tourist destinations from 4pm to 10pm. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Source:gulf-times.com

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one among the largest jewellery retailers globally with a strong retail network of over 250 outlets spread across 10 countries, organised a blood donation drive in association with Hamad Medical Corporation on December 26 near to their outlet at Grand Mall. The initiative, hosted by the jeweller’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, saw 70 donors, including...

Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, signed a deal to supply HBK Contracting Company with Mercedes-Benz Actros heads. The agreement aims to upgrade the HBK Contracting Company’s fleet of trucks and meet the increasing demands of its projects. Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al-Thani, operations director, Auto, at Nasser Bin Khaled Holding, said: “NBK Automobiles...