A summit of Gulf states has quickly concluded in Saudi Arabia's capital amid signs of a thaw in relations between a host of blockading countries and Qatar - even though there was no concrete progress in solving the two-year diplomatic crisis. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani did not attend the 40th edition of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Riyadh on Tuesday but sent Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in his stead. Saudi King Salman, who earlier afforded the Qatari prime minister a traditional welcome, called for regional unity to confront Iran and secure energy supplies and maritime channels. A closed-door meeting lasted less than an hour before

The 24-year-old model stays in shape by cycling and swimming outdoors, but has said she'd never opt for running on a treadmill over taking a hike, because she hates the confined walls of a gym. She told Conde Nast Traveller: "I just can't go to the gym and run - I'd rather die. I grew up outdoors, so my favourite thing to do is to make the most of the scenery. I cycle everywhere and swim in the sea at any spare moment." Although she doesn't enjoy treadmills, Gigi does occasionally go to a specific boxing gym named Gotham Gym, and in 2016 she admitted she loved the gym's low-key atmosphere. She said at the time: "When I walk in [to Gotham Gym], it's like my big brothers. They don't care about

Saudi Arabia's 2020 budget will see an expenditure of 1.02 trillion riyals ($272 billion), compared to 1.05 trillion in 2019, and a revenue of 833 billion riyals, in line with pre-budget figures. The 2020 budget will include a deficit of 187 billion riyals. “This budget is a continuation of the government's policy to develop basic facilities and services for citizens, enhance social protection programs, upgrade government services, raise the level of quality of life, and support housing plans,” Saudi King Salman said as he announced the budget for 2020 in a televised broadcast. King Salman also ordered the extension of the cost-of-living allowance for an additional year until the end of 2020.

A stuntman performs on the well of death during the "Gadhimai Mela" festival at Bariyarpur in Nepal December 4, 2019. Dry cliffs are seen following a prolonged drought at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, December 4, 2019. Picture taken December 4, 2019. Aerial view of the migrant camp in Vucjak near Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 6,2019. Hindu devotees sit together on the floor of a temple to observe Rakher Upabash, in Narayangonj near Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 5, 2019. A car drives along a five-kilometre-long road, which is supervised by regional traffic services to connect the banks of the ice-covered Yenisei River during winter season, south of Krasnoyarsk, Russia March 3, 2019. Hindu

A federal panel on religion has urged the United States to weigh sanctions against India's Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah if the south Asian nation adopts legislation that excludes Muslims from a path to citizenship for religious minorities from its neighbours. Shah is a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Hindu nationalist-led government is seen by critics as pushing an agenda that undermines the secular foundations of India's democracy. More: What you should know about India's 'anti-Muslim' citizenship bill Why white supremacists and Hindu nationalists are so alike The new citizenship bill and the Hinduisation of India On Tuesday, the lower house of Parliament's approved

The FIFA Club World Cup is set to kick off on Wednesday with hosts Qatar facing a major test of the country's ability to deal with an influx of foreign fans. European champions Liverpool and South America's top side Flamengo are the favourites to feature in the final at Doha's Khalifa International Stadium on December 21. But for Qatar, which hosts the World Cup finals in November-December 2022, this is the biggest football event it has staged. More: Qatar to host next two FIFA Club World Cups Liverpool assured LGBT fans welcome at Club World Cup in Qatar Arabian Gulf Cup: Football, blockade and an 'historic' win Organisers have already had to make one late change to their plans with Saturday's

BEIRUT (AP) - A rainstorm paralyzed parts of Lebanon's capital Beirut on Monday, turning streets to small rivers, stranding motorists inside their vehicles and damaging homes in some areas. The flooding came as protesters have been holding nearly two months of demonstrations against the country's political elite and decades of widespread corruption and mismanagement. Protesters remained in their encampments in Beirut and other cities amid the heavy rain. Despite spending billions of dollars since the 1975-90 civil war on improving infrastructure, Lebanon still suffers hourslong electricity cuts every day, and many people rely on tanker trucks to bring water to their homes. Every year when it