Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever mocked Politico on Thursday after the outlet branded him “Russia’s most valuable asset,” joking that he was heading back to his “dacha in St. Petersburg” to join “neighbours” Gérard Depardieu and Bashar al-Assad. Axel Springer-owned Politico, which has a staff o»»»

The Pentagon has released footage showing US and allied forces carrying out large-scale strikes against alleged Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist targets in Syria as part of Washington’s retaliation for the recent killing of American personnel. In a post on X late Friday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) »»»

Artists and music fans from around the world have been rediscovering the 1970s sound of Zambia known as Zamrock in recent years, and now one of the country's biggest stars is embracing it, hoping to give it a fresh twist. When devising her third studio album, Sampa the Great looked to the niche, br»»»

Dubai: 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson is among a roster of global music legends whose names and images appear in in a newly released batch of Jeffrey Epstein-related files published by the US Department of Justice. The records include photographs showing Jackson alongside Epstein, as well as images »»»

Dubai: Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan seems to be doing a good job about stepping away from his superstar dad's shadow. Last night on December 19, Aryan marked a major milestone in his career, winning Best Debut Director of the Year for his Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood at the NDTV India»»»

The United States has launched airstrikes against alleged Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria in what President Donald Trump described as “very serious retaliation” for the killing of American personnel earlier this month. In a statement on Friday, Trump said the strikes were ordered in response »»»

Mouth-watering kebabs, fragrant biryani and whipped cloud-like desserts. The northern Indian city of Lucknow has always been a food lovers' paradise, with locals and visitors swearing by its cuisine. Last month, Unesco recognised it as a Creative City of Gastronomy - adding it to a select list of g»»»

A federal judge on Friday issued a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from revoking funding for homeless programs after recently changing funding requirements. File Photo by Paul Beaty/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration fro»»»

Slovakia will not provide further funding for Ukraine’s military because the conflict cannot be settled on the battlefield, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist in 2024, was speaking after EU leaders failed to reach agreement on »»»

The line for a selfie with South Korea's disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol stretched around Seoul's iconic Gwanghwamun gate. Except Yoon wasn't there; it was just a picture of him. The real Yoon is in prison facing insurrection charges. But that didn't matter to the thousands of excited youn»»»

Dubai: Financial inclusion in the UAE is entering a new phase, with the focus shifting from access to actual usage. While the Wage Protection System has ensured near-universal digital salary payments, a large share of low-income workers still operate largely in cash. Sign up for our daily business »»»

1 of 4 | Workers make final adjustments after President Donald Trump's name is added to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's name was affixed Friday to The Kennedy Center »»»

Reporters ask world leaders questions all the time. No big deal. Right? But what's it like putting a question to Vladimir Putin - the president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leader whose country was accused this week by the head of MI6 of "the export of chaos"? And imagine ask»»»

GENEVA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that hunger, malnutrition, disease and the scale of agricultural destruction remained alarmingly high despite the declaration of the end of fa»»»

DOHA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) concluded in Doha on Friday with call to maximize the potential of AI systems to address corruption and economic crime.The world's largest anti-co»»»

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US forces have commenced "OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE" in Syria against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).The operation aims "to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US fo»»»

Germany is on track to post its largest budget deficit since reunification, the country’s central bank has warned, as Berlin ramps up military spending and financial aid to Ukraine. In its December forecast, published on Friday, the Bundesbank said the government shortfall will rise steadily and re»»»

The U.S. military began striking suspected ISIS targets in central Syria on Friday during an hours-long assault after President Donald Trump promised to retaliate for the shooting deaths of two U.S. soldiers and their civilian interpreter on Saturday. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo Dec. »»»

1 of 3 | Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican serving a district in New York state appears at a bill signing in the White House's Oval Office to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team. The team won the gold medal in her district. Photo by Francis Chung/UPI | License P»»»

The US says its military has carried out a "massive strike" against the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria, in response to a deadly attack on American forces in the country. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Hawkeye Strike was aimed at eliminating IS "fighters, infrastructure, and weapon»»»

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends the Nobel Peace Prize presentation ceremony at Oslo City Hall on December 10 in Oslo, Norway. Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit's lung condition has worsened, and her doctors are considering »»»

Timothée Chalamet has finally quashed rumours that he is cult anonymous rapper EsDeeKid - by performing alongside him in a new video. Speculation has run riot that the Oscar-nominated US actor had been leading a double life as the masked rapper, who only ever reveals his eyes. Some followers spotte»»»

Thousands of records released by the US Justice Department provide a detailed and often unsettling look at materials gathered during federal investigations into late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The trove includes photographs, call logs, interview transcripts, grand jury ma»»»

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced she is dropping out of the race for governor of New York and will not seek re-election to Congress. Her announcement comes days after Republican Bruce Blakeman, who like Stefanik is a close Donald Trump ally, said he intended to challenge her in»»»

The Justice Department released hundreds of thousands of files from the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case on Friday in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and said more are coming. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Justice Department on Friday rele»»»

This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse and violence which some readers may find distressing. Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention. The Un»»»

The US Justice Department has released a large tranche of records related to its investigations into late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, publishing the files online on Friday. The documents were made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation signed by Presi»»»

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. On Friday he gave a year-end news conference and spoke about deals to end the war in Ukraine and Russia. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that U.S. negotia»»»

Israel’s disclosure of a naval commando operation in the northern Lebanese town of Batroun has thrust back into focus a case that straddles security, political, and legal fault lines. The announcement, accompanied by Israeli claims surrounding Imad Amhaz, comes at a delicate moment, coinciding with»»»

Damascus, Dec. 19 (SANA) Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar affirmed that the repeal of the Caesar Act was not merely a legal step, but rather the removal of a heavy barrier that had shackled Syria’s economy and burdened the lives of Syrians for years. He noted that the decision opens »»»

Attorneys for former Special Counsel Jack Smith on Thursday asked House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to hold a public hearing regarding Smith's efforts to prosecute President Donald Trump. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Attorneys for former special cou»»»

Home sales rose only slightly in November, as supply dips. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Sales of previously owned homes rose 0.5% in November from October, reflecting a slowdown, due to high mortgage rates, high prices and less supply. Home sales were 1% lower »»»

An Iraqi official said security cooperation with the United States is intensifying in the fight against terrorism, following a rare joint helicopter raid by Iraqi special forces inside Syrian territory. An Iraqi intelligence unit, coordinating with Syrian security forces and the US-led internationa»»»

3266576 KUWAIT -- Kuwait Airways cancels its flights KU675 and KU677 from Kuwait International Airport to Dubai due to unstable weather. 3266563 DOHA -- Morocco's national football squad defeat Jordan's 3-2 in an epic final of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. 3266538 ADEN -- An explosion hits near a p»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- 1959 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah signed a decree regulating the judiciary. 1999 -- The UN Secretary General designated Kuwait's Higher Education Undersecretary Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah as board member of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research »»»

It’s not clear if the Trump administration wants to genuinely resolve the proxy war with Russia, or if it is merely trying to extricate itself from the mess Washington helped instigate. But one thing is clear: the major Western European capitals are desperate to keep the war going. Various pretexts»»»

Mediators are convening for fresh talks in Miami, Florida, as efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement remain stalled, months after the truce came into effect on Oct. 10. The meeting, which mediators say will focus on outlining a framework for the next phase, comes amid a»»»

The ousted chair of Ben & Jerry's has accused the company which owns the brand of threatening to launch a public smear campaign against her. Anuradha Mittal, who chaired Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, told the BBC that Magnum had threatened to publish "defamatory statements" about»»»

Aero,exico remain Mexico's flagship carrier, but faces competition from low-cost carriers. File Photo by Jose Mendez/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Mexican low-cost airlines Volaris and Viva Aerobus announced an agreement to create a new holding company through a merger of equals -- a deal aimed at expanding»»»

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, also known as (UNIFIL), handed over on Friday to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a cleared minefield during a ceremony held near the Blue Line in Blida, southeastern Lebanon.This marks the first handover of a cleared minefield since »»»

Albania's President Bajram Begaj has issued a decree relieving Ilir Gjoni from his post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nato. The decree, which takes effect immediately, follows a proposal from Prime Minister Edi Rama, in line with constitutional and legal procedures for the fore»»»

Protesting farmers on the island of Evia blocked the New Halkida Bridge for three hours on Friday afternoon, bringing vehicle traffic to a halt. The farmers announced that the bridge connecting Evia with mainland Greece would remain closed in both directions from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. According to r»»»

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Pakistan summoned the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission on Friday and issued strong demarche to the Taliban regime on terrorist attacks against Pakistan, perpetrated from Afghan soil targeting a security forces camp in tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhw»»»

Two Wisconsin Republican lawmakers on Friday told Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan to resign or be impeached after being convicted of felony obstruction in federal court on Thursday. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Wisconsin's Republican leaders will begin»»»

A man protests the opening of Shein's first physical store in BHV building in Paris on Nov. 5. On Friday, a Paris court declined a government request to suspend the website's operation in France. File Photo by Teresa Suarez/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A Paris court denied an effort by the French governmen»»»

Tourists in Italy's capital Rome will soon have to pay a €2 (£1.75; $2.34) entrance fee if they want to see its famed Trevi Fountain up close. The new barrier for visitors to view the Baroque monument will come into force from 1 February 2026. While the coins tossed into the fountain are donated to»»»

GAZA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Palestinian Health officials in Gaza Strip reported on Friday that several Palestinians were killed and others wounded when Israeli occupation forces targeted a school sheltering displaced people east of Gaza City.Palestinian eyewitnesses inside the school, who survived the a»»»

Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, has honoured a number of outstanding employees from the Forensic Evidence and Laboratories Department in recognition of their dedication, professionalism and contributions to strengthening the emirate’s security system. »»»

Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP) - Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub, on Friday, presided over the closing of a training programme for a group of journalists from various print, electronic, and audiovisual media at the headquarters of...»»»

Palestinians crowd to receive hot meals in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, Gaza, in June. A hunger watch group said Friday that Gaza is no longer in famine, but there is still critical food insecurity. File Photo by Anas Deeb/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An international hunger watchdog g»»»