U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Friday the suspension of a lottery run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that allocates up to 50,000 green cards to applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | Lice»»»

“Drones today play a key role along the entire line of contact, determining the success or failure of assault units in various situations,” National Defense magazine editor-in-chief Igor Korotchenko said, commenting on President Putin’s remarks at Friday’s year-end presser about Russia’s drone supe»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy Parliament Speaker Marina Ragus said on Friday Serbia was under no obligation to align with the EU foreign and security policy at this time and that 100 per cent alignment was an obligation only right before a country joined the EU. Commenting on a decision by EU member st»»»

As clear skies return to Dubai and people begin to go about their business,, Dubai Municipality has issued a notice stating that due to the improvement in weather conditions in the emirate, beaches, public parks, and its open-air markets have now returned to their normal schedule. The authority did»»»

Damascus, Dec. 19 (SANA) Syria welcomed on Friday the full repeal of the Caesar Act sanctions, describing the move as a significant step toward easing the burdens on the Syrian people and opening the door to recovery and stability. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the Uni»»»

Dr Sheikha Noura Al Qassimi, President of ESO, captured the essence of this alignment during the signing: “This partnership represents a significant milestone for the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology and reflects our shared commitment with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to advancing ophthalmic educat»»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar’s diplomatic, consular, and representative missions abroad continued to celebrate the State’s National Day, in commemoration of the Founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. Heads of the State of Qatar’s diplomatic, consular, and representative missions abroad, conveye»»»

The Ministry of Defence has signed a framework agreement for the delivery of over 4,300 pistols for the Army, outgoing Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov said on Friday in response to a question in Parliament. At the request of the Land Forces Command, the Ministry of Defence conducted a public p»»»

As life in Abu Dhabi returns to normal after a day of quick, harsh showers, Abu Dhabi Mobility, the emirates integrated transport centre) announced on X that the upcoming days would see a key road temporarily closed. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street in Abu Dhabi will remain closed from today, Dec»»»

The Bulgarian political party "Revival" announced plans to challenge the National Assembly’s recent decisions at the Constitutional Court. The party intends to contest the parliament’s rejection of President Rumen Radev’s proposal to hold a referendum on adopting the euro, as well as the approval o»»»

GENEVA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called Friday for the urgent restoration of evacuation from Gaza to the West bank, including East Jerusalem, and to other countries.In a post on (X), Ghebreyesus warned that more than 1,092 p»»»

The South African government has dismissed accusations by the US that it harassed and intimidated American officials during a raid on a centre processing applications by white South Africans for refugee status in the US. Tuesday's raid saw seven Kenyans expelled from South Africa for working in the»»»

Civilian and military representatives from Lebanon and Israel met on Friday as part of the 'Mechanism' committee monitoring implementation of the year-long Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said, noting that the "security and economic tracks" advanced "in parallel" in the talks»»»

Two minors, aged 14 and 15, were arrested in western Greece for assaulting a peer and sharing footage of the incident on social media, authorities said. The 14-year-old allegedly struck a fellow student in the face and then psychologically coerced him to kneel and apologize to individuals not prese»»»

Life is beginning to get back to normal in the Emirates. In Abu Dhabi, residents and citizens can now follow up on any weekend plans that involve a visit to parks or beaches. Abu Dhabi Media Office announced the reopening of Abu Dhabi City Municipality parks and beaches to the public as weather con»»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized the EU’s decision to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion interest-free loan, warning that the move brings the bloc “closer to war.” He argued, however, that an alternative plan to seize Russian frozen assets would have been even worse. Speaking ea»»»

Israel's military said Friday a man seized last year in Lebanon's Batroun was a Hezbollah operative who played a key role in planning a covert maritime force for the militant group. The Israeli army said special unit troops apprehended Imad Amhaz in November 2024 from the north Lebanese city of Bat»»»

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

Doha, Qatar: The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, announced that its field teams successfully dealt with the heavy rainfall that the country experienced on Dec. 18, confirming that traffic flow was restored back to normal on most roads and tunnels within a few hours. Eng. Mohammed Al Kubaissi from »»»

The National Assembly ratified, 108-57 with no abstentions, a Contribution Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Investment Bank (EIB) concerning the EU for Ukraine Fund. The ratification was preceded by a debate on Friday. Bulgaria's participation in the EU for Ukraine Fund w»»»

An Indian expat living in Qatar has hit the jackpot in Dubai.Jomy John, 32-year-old resident of Doha, won $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire series 527 draw held at Dubai International Airport. Also Read: Sharjah father of eight wins $1 million Dubai Duty Free raffleJohn’s luc»»»

CAIRO, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Friday stressed the importance of cooperation and integration among Nile Basin countries to achieve mutual benefits and shared interests for all parties involved.A press release by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said this came d»»»

Israel's military said Friday a man seized last year in Lebanon was a Hezbollah operative who played a key role in planning a covert maritime force for the militant group. The military said special unit troops apprehended Imad Amhaz in November 2024 from the north Lebanese city of Batroun, and tran»»»

In a market where deals close fast but investor protection often lags behind, Resura Real Estate has launched a comprehensive advisory-led investment model that fundamentally reimagines how international buyers navigate Dubai's booming property sector. The boutique firm's new framework addresses wh»»»

Raluca Tintoiu, Head of Wholesale Banking and a member of the Executive Committee at ING Bank Romania, talked to Business Review about the bank’s ambition to steer its clients and partners to more sustainable business practices and the way it manages to maintain focus on such goals amid market unce»»»

The discussion about AI in UI/UX has quickly become very present, but also very noisy. There is a lot of talk about automation and speed, less about decision and real impact on users. Looking towards 2026, one thing is clear: AI will be part of any relevant digital product. The difference will not »»»

In 2025, Altex Romania integrated the Brico Depot network and carried out a comprehensive upgrade of its digital infrastructure, setting the foundation for a broader, more efficient retail ecosystem. Founder and CEO Dan Ostahie reflects on the impact of these developments and on the growing role of»»»

More than 55% of Bulgarians have a positive attitude towards the European Union (EU), a survey by the Myara polling agency, presented on Friday at the Bulgarian News Agency’s National Press Club in Sofia, shows. The survey on Bulgarians’ attitudes towards the EU was conducted at the request of Bulg»»»

BELGRADE - Air Serbia exceeded on Friday last year's result of 4.4 mln passengers carried, almost two weeks earlier than last year, "directly reflecting growing passenger demand, efficient fleet management, expansion of the destination network and the stability and strength of the company’s brand,"»»»

Dubai Police have made it easier for residents to obtain official certificates for vehicles damaged by weather conditions through their website and smart app. The move is part of Dubai Police’s ongoing efforts to streamline services and reduce the need for in-person visits. Motorists can now apply »»»

The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan has disrupted the activities of a transnational criminal group involved in large-scale economic smuggling in Osh region. As part of a special operation, 25 members of the scheme were detained, including two officers of the Customs Servi»»»

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly on Friday at the Grand Serail in Beirut, focusing on bolstering bilateral cooperation across several sectors.In a press statement, Salam said the talks reviewed cooperation priorit»»»

Sweden summoned the Iranian ambassador this week following reports that a Swedish citizen had been sentenced to death in Iran, the country's foreign minister said on Friday. "Sweden and the EU's position on the death penalty is very clear. We always oppose it. Everywhere and regardless of circumsta»»»

Dubai: AGMC, Geely's UAE distributor, launched a recall for 5,584 Emgrand sedans built from August 3, 2023 to July 4, 2024 after headquarters in Hangzhou flagged faulty fuel filler caps. Non-vented caps can build vacuum pressure over time, potentially deforming fuel tanks and risking leaks if they »»»

Huawei set the stage in Dubai last night with the highly anticipated Unfold the Moment launch event, unveiling a new lineup of flagship devices. From innovative foldable engineering to ultra-luxury wearables and cutting-edge tablets, the event introduced the HUAWEI Mate X7, the brand’s latest folda»»»

Dubai Health announced that its Genomic Medicine Center (GMC) has earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the globally-recognized authority in laboratory quality assurance, marking a significant milestone that reflects its commitment to the highest global standards of »»»

Lebanese Army chief General Rodolphe Haykal agreed to document the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah during talks Thursday with international envoys in Paris, the French foreign ministry said, as Beirut seeks to forestall expanded Israeli attacks. Israel and Hezbollah clashed for more than a y»»»

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal met Thursday in Paris with French army chief Fabien Mandon ahead of a key meeting with U.S., French and Saudi officials to discuss ways of assisting the army in its mission to boost its presence in the border area. The Paris meeting will discuss reinforcing th»»»

In a recent Facebook address, GERB leader Boyko Borissov dismissed concerns over the choice of voting methods for upcoming elections, stating that whether ballots are counted by machines or on paper makes no difference to his party. “GERB has won under both systems. Whatever is decided, it doesn’t »»»

Kyrgyzstan ranked 41st in the global ranking of average gasoline prices, published by the analytical portal Global Petrol Prices. According to the ranking, the average price of a liter of gasoline in the country is $0,935, or approximately 81.8 soms. Over the past year, Kyrgyzstan has fallen 13 pla»»»

As of 4 p.m., Bishkek ranked third in the global ranking of cities with the most polluted air. This data is based on the international air quality monitoring system, the Air Quality Index (AQI). According to the published data, air pollution levels in the capital of Kyrgyzstan reached 202 AQI units»»»

A top Hamas official said that talks in Miami on Friday to advance the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire must aim to end Israeli truce "violations" in the Palestinian territory. "Our people expect these talks to result in an agreement to put an end to ongoing Israeli lawlessness, halt all violations»»»

Vòya, a groundbreaking education technology platform, today announced its launch as the first unified digital ecosystem designed to integrate academics, career development, finances, productivity, and community into a single intelligent interface. Built for the modern learner, Vòya marks a signific»»»

More than a month after Iraq's parliamentary elections, the country's top leaders remain locked in talks to form a government while facing pressure from Washington to exclude Tehran-backed armed groups. Amid seismic changes in the Middle East, where new alliances are forming and old powers waning, »»»

A top Hamas official said that talks in Miami on Friday to advance the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire must aim to end Israeli truce "violations" in the Palestinian territory. U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is to meet senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Fl»»»

Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP)- Rain is expected Friday in most regions with storm showers in the south and west central areas. Locally heavy rain is in the forecast during the afternoon and overnight in northeastern and central eastern areas, the National...»»»

In a video posted on Facebook on Friday, GERB leader Boyko Borissov said that when elections come around, people immediately start talking about the Election Code, voting machines, and fraud. GERB has won elections with machine and paper ballots alike, "so whatever they decide, it makes no differen»»»

Dubai: A video capturing a lone man standing in the pouring rain at Business Bay, directing traffic, has gone viral on social media. On Instagram, footage shows a man braving heavy rain in Business Bay, directing traffic and helping motorists navigate waterlogged streets — a striking act of heroism»»»

Heavy rains have triggered flooding and ground collapses in parts of Dubai and Sharjah, leaving several vehicles stranded and causing disruption to residents. In Muhaisnah, a viral video shows multiple vans, reportedly belonging to courier companies, partially buried after rain-softened soil sudden»»»