MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Thursday that the new Oreshnik missile system was put on combat duty in Belarus on December 17. "The first positions are equipped with the Oreshnik missile system; we received it yesterday and it is now on combat duty," Lukas»»»

Dubai: The UAE Football Association announced that the third-place playoff between the UAE national team and Saudi Arabia at the Arab Cup in Doha was officially cancelled on Friday by decision of FIFA, after severe storms and heavy rainfall left the pitch at Khalifa International Stadium unplayable»»»

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would expand access to cannabis, a long anticipated move that would mark the most significant shift in US drug policy in decades. The order is expected to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I narcotic, to a Schedule III drug - plac»»»

Two of Italy’s top newspapers, La Repubblica and La Stampa, are likely to be sold to Greek media tycoon Theodore Kyriakou, whose political and business links abroad have sparked concern over editorial independence. The proposed sale, which involves foreign investment from Gulf allies and has drawn »»»

Tunis, Dec. 18 (TAP)- The stock market closed Thursday’s session on a positive note, rising 0.3% to 13,220.3 points on a solid trading volume of 14.3 million dinars, according to broker Tunisie Valeurs.The session was marked by two block trades on...»»»

General Rudolf Heikal, the Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, met with French Chief of Defence Staff Fabien Mandon on Thursday to discuss strategic security challenges as international powers move to formalise a mechanism for disarming Hezbollah. The meeting in Paris, attended by repr»»»

The head of the UN refugee agency in Lebanon said Thursday that the move by the United States to lift sweeping sanctions on Syria could encourage more refugees to return to their country. The US Senate voted Wednesday to permanently remove the so-called Caesar Act sanctions after the administration»»»

Moderna announced a $54.3 billion investment from CEPI to fund its Phase 3 trial of a bird flu vaccine. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced it will invest up to $54.3 million with Moderna to fund a Phase 3 »»»

The firm behind President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform is merging with a Google-backed energy company in a deal valued at more than $6bn (£4.4bn). Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) and TAE Technologies announced the plans on Thursday in a joint statement, which said the move would "crea»»»

Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has warned of continued unstable weather conditions across the United Arab Emirates this weekend, with heavy rain, lightning and hail expected to persist through Friday. The "Al Bashayer" low-pressure system, which moved across the country, is forecas»»»

A TAE Technologies worker is inside the Norm nuclear fusion device in Foothills Ranch, Calif. The company announced a merger with Trump Media Thursday. Image courtesy of TAE Technologies. Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Trump Media announced Thursday that it's merging with TAE Technologies, a nuclear fusion compa»»»

New Delhi: Delhi authorities on Wednesday intensified vehicle checks across the National Capital as stringent pollution-control measures under GRAP Stage IV (Severe+) came into force, including denial of fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate and restrictions on »»»

Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook for Bulgaria’s public finances downward, increasing its projections for future budget deficits, while keeping the country’s sovereign credit rating unchanged at BBB+ with a stable outlook. The rating was raised earlier in the year, following the announcement of»»»

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and war correspondent Peter Arnett has died at the age of 91, according to US media reports. Arnett won the international prize in 1996 for his Vietnam War coverage at the Associated Press (AP). But he is also well known for his work at CNN, having become a househo»»»

Belgium insisted on Thursday that its European Union partners must provide ironclad guarantees that it will be protected from Russian retaliation before it would back a massive loan for Ukraine. At a high-stakes EU summit in Brussels, the 27-nation bloc's leaders are set to decide on whether to use»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has approved a $35 billion natural gas export deal to Egypt, the biggest gas deal in Israeli history. The agreement could also help repair relations between the two countries strained during the two-year war in the Gaza Strip. The gas will be delive»»»

The US Senate confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman to become President Donald Trump's NASA administrator, making an advocate of Mars missions and a former associate of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the space agency's 15th leader. The vote on Isaacman, who Trump removed and then renamed as »»»

Saturn's giant moon Titan may not have a vast underground ocean after all. Titan instead may hold deep layers of ice and slush more akin to Earth’s polar seas, with pockets of melted water where life could possibly survive and even thrive, scientists reported Wednesday. The team led by researchers »»»

President Rumen Radev held government-forming consultations here on Thursday with representatives of MECh, following the resignation of the Cabinet, announced by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and unanimously accepted by Parliament last week. During the consultations, MECh Chair Radostin Vasilev r»»»

After a three-and-a-half-month trial, anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier was sentenced Thursday in Besançon to life in prison for all the charges against him, a verdict he plans to appeal. Péchier is accused of poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died, between 2008 and 2017. A French court on Thursday sen»»»

Thailand says it has bombed a "logistics centre" near the Cambodian town of Poipet, known for being a major casino hub and the biggest land crossing between the two countries. The bombings comes as renewed border clashes show no sign of abating. Cambodia's defence ministry said Thai forces dropped »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Central Bank said on Thursday that it still plans to recover losses from European banks in the Russian arbitration court due to the blocking of its assets. "In connection with the ongoing attempts by the authorities of the European Union to illegally seize/use, withou»»»

Interest rates have been cut to 3.75%, the lowest level in almost three years, but further reductions are set to be a "closer call", the Bank of England has said. In a knife-edge vote, policymakers voted 5-4 in favour to lower rates from 4% reflecting concerns over rising unemployment and weak econ»»»

Farmers in tractors blocked roads, threw potatoes and eggs, and set off fireworks in Brussels on Wednesday outside a European Union leaders' summit, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons as protesters rallied against a major free-trade deal with South American nations. Farmers»»»

Police in London arrested two people who called for "intifada" during a pro-Palestinian protest, which followed a decision by authorities to toughen enforcement of hate speech laws after a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. The arrests Wednesday came hours after police in London »»»

One of the goals of the US-led oil blockade on Venezuela is to try to weaken President Nicholas Maduro politically while hoping to create divisions within the country’s political elite, says Dr. Vinicius Vieira, Associate Professor of Economics and International Relations at the Armando Alvares Pen»»»

Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday as investors assessed the likelihood of further US sanctions against Russia and the supply risks posed by a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers. Brent crude rose 32 cents or 0.54% to $60 per barrel at 0910 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 38 cents, or»»»

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has argued that Israeli strikes against Hezbollah do not violate Lebanon’s sovereignty, noting instead that the Iran-backed group is the party undermining the country’s sovereignty. In an interview with Al-Arabiya English, Saar said Israel has only “minor” dispu»»»

The head of the U.N. refugee agency in Lebanon said Thursday that the move by the United States to lift sweeping sanctions on Syria could encourage more refugees to return to their country. The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to permanently remove the so-called Caesar Act sanctions after the administra»»»

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a stark warning Thursday as he arrived for a key European Union summit in Brussels, saying that if Ukraine's allies failed to provide it with financial support to continue defending itself against Russia and keep the country running, Europe would be next. Ph»»»

A 54-year-old academic accused of defrauding the family of a missing doctor by claiming he could help locate him using “quantum technology” is expected to appear before judicial authorities in Crete on Friday. The suspect was brought before prosecutors on Tuesday but was granted a delay and will be»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have urged citizens, residents, and tourists to avoid swimming or using marine vessels as the emirate faces a period of unstable weather, warning that sudden changes at sea could endanger lives and property. Lieutenant Colonel Ali Hamid Al Shamsi, Acting Director of the Ports Po»»»

The EU will not discuss plans to seize Russian assets during Thursday's summit in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Wednesday, calling it a “victory.” The bloc has temporarily immobilized roughly $230 billion in Russian central bank assets by invoking Article 122, an emer»»»

The US Senate has confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, installing a strong advocate of Mars missions to lead the space agency as it faces deep budget cuts and intensifying competition with China to return humans to the Moon. The US Senate on Wednesday confir»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia will soon open its embassy in Tbilisi, which will be the right place for kick-starting many business initiatives as well as for boosting bilateral cooperation further, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after a meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili in Belgrade.»»»

Ras Al Khaimah – Ras Al Khaimah Police have issued an urgent safety alert as heavy rain and hailstorms continue to affect the emirate, urging residents and motorists to remain cautious and follow official instructions. Authorities warned the public to avoid valleys (wadis), flood-prone areas, and s»»»

Police in London arrested two people who called for “intifada” during a pro-Palestinian protest, which followed a decision by authorities to toughen enforcement of hate speech laws after a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. The arrests Wednesday came hours after police in London »»»

Dubai: Dubai’s cargo security has been given a major upgrade, as Dubai Police will now be able to monitor and operate X-ray machines across dnata’s Dubai International Airport (DXB) warehouse from a single high-tech control room. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new»»»

During consultations with President Rumen Radev here on Thursday, ahead of the procedure to hand out mandates for forming a new government, MECh Chair Radostin Vasilev said that his party sees no possibility of forming a functioning government through "political betrayals". Vasilev said: "The curre»»»

Thursday's news media are dominated by the topics of legal changes on Bulgarians' second pension and the extension of the 2025 state budget into 2026. ECONOMY 24 Chasa reports on its front page that Bulgarians' second pension will be increased by linking it to the minimum wage. Under amendments to »»»

Share: Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army’s operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo French, Saudi Arabian and Amer»»»

The Tripoli based Libyan government reported yesterday that the head of the Executive Team for the PM’s Initiatives and Strategic Projects, Mustafa Al-Mana, along with team members, reviewed the implementation plan for several multi-storey suspended car parks. This came in implementation of the Pri»»»

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will crack down on hate speech following Sunday's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Jewish festival. Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire at an event to mark the first day of Hanukkah. New laws will target»»»

Washington: President Donald Trump promised Americans an economic boom in an address to the nation on Wednesday, while blaming Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for high prices that have hit the Republican’s popularity. “Good evening America. Eleven months ago I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,”»»»

Sydney: Australia’s prime minister vowed to stamp out extremism Thursday as the nation mourned the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach shooting, a 10-year-old girl remembered as “our little ray of sunshine”. Father-and-son gunmen are accused of firing into crowds at a beachside Jewish festival on Su»»»

SportsIndiaMessi's India tour and rise of the solo athlete sports brandJonathan HardingIn 2025, many global sports stars went on promotional tours purely to support their individual brands. Lionel Messi's tour of India is a reminder of how sport is changing. https://p.dw.com/p/55M8oLionel Messi is »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia consistently advocates for normalizing dialogue between the United States and Venezuela and steps to deescalate the situation in the Caribbean region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "We consistently advocate for normalizing dialogue between Washington and C»»»

UN/MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres by phone to warn of the escalation of threats against Venezuela and their dangerous consequences for regional peace, the Venezuelan government said. "Nicolas Maduro Moros spoke by phone t»»»

Around 67% of Belgians oppose the EU scheme to use frozen Russian central bank assets to back a ‘reparations loan’ to prop up Ukraine, according to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos and Belgian news outlets published on Monday. The bulk of sovereign Russian assets frozen in the West are held in the »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ghislaine Maxwell, an accomplice of infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein, has filed a petition in a US District Court to overturn or reconsider her conviction, according to a court document seen by Sputnik. "Petitioner Ghislaine Maxwell, proceeding pro se, respectfully moves this C»»»