The rescue operation to get Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado out of Venezuela involved disguises, two boats through choppy seas and a flight, the man who says he led it told the BBC. Dubbed Operation Golden Dynamite, the dangerous journey was cold, wet and long -»»»

NIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday in Nis the Serbian Armed Forces were not the same as they were ten years ago, especially when it comes to arms and equipment. "Only the emblems are the same, and the rest is not comparable, either when it comes to personnel or equipment. At th»»»

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BusinessSri LankaSri Lanka: Cyclone aftermath disrupts economic recovery Murali KrishnanCyclone Ditwah has devastated critical infrastructure and disrupted key sectors, threatening Sri Lanka's already fragile economic recovery program. https://p.dw.com/p/55EnnThe UN estimates over 16,000 kilometers»»»

Former Iraqi President Barham Salih is on track to become the next head of the U.N. refugee agency, according to a letter from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres shared with The Associated Press on Friday. Salih, 65, is set to succeed longtime UNHCR veteran Filippo Grandi as the U.N. High Comm»»»

Russia's Central Bank has filed a lawsuit against Belgian financial institution Euroclear, the Brussels-based clearing house that holds most of Moscow's frozen assets in Europe, the bank said Friday. It wasn't immediately clear what the lawsuit could achieve since it was filed in Moscow. The Europe»»»

Jerusalem: Israel will ban children from using mobile phones in primary schools from February, the education ministry’s website said Friday, emphasising the devices’ “negative effects” on students. In implementing the ban, Israel will join a growing number of countries moving to prevent children fr»»»

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to curb individual state-level regulation of artificial intelligence, until a nationwide policy is adopted. A fragmented legal landscape threatens America’s AI competitiveness compared to China, the US federal government has said. The »»»

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Ukrainian people supported his peace proposal, which was rejected by Vladimir Zelensky. Trump previously said the Ukrainian leader was “losing” ground to Russia and urged him to hold elections, since his five-year presidential term expired in May 2024.»»»

As the festive season gets into full swing in France, a video showing people seizing Christmas trees has gone viral on social media. Some, including the spokesperson for Eric Zemmour's far-right Reconquête party, are falsely claiming that the footage is proof that immigrants are destroying Chr»»»

Police used tear gas to disperse protesting farmers on Friday as veterinarians moved in to cull over 200 cows infected with nodular dermatitis, or lumpy skin disease, at a farm in southern France. The deadly outbreak, which cannot be passed to humans, has sparked fears among locals and highlighted »»»

The decisions regarding Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone have already been adopted and will remain in force, a spokesperson for the European Commission said Friday at a press conference in response to a question about whether a change could occur before January 1 next year due to the political »»»

The boss of Lululemon Athletica, the brand known for its expensive yoga leggings and other sports clothing, is to leave the company early next year. Calvin McDonald, the firm's chief executive, will depart at the end of January after more than seven years at the helm. The decision comes amid a run »»»

Damascus, Dec. 12 (SANA) The governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Husariya , said the U.S. repeal of the “Caesar Act” constitutes a pivotal moment that is expected to positively influence Syria’s monetary and economic stability. “If the repeal of the Caesar Act may appear miraculous, »»»

Parents are divided over how schools should adapt to the nationwide shift of Friday prayer time to 12:45 pm starting January 2026 – a change that could push school pick-ups even earlier than the current 12 pm dismissal. As education regulators gather feedback before issuing final guidelines, scores»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior announced the launch of a project to replace existing vehicle number plates with newly developed plates featuring an enhanced design that aligns with the best international standards and supports modern technologies used in smart traffic systems. This national »»»

Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP)- Tunisia is committed to moving ahead with reforms to improve the business environment and address obstacles encountered by local and foreign investors as enterprises are the driver of growth and national wealth, said Minister...»»»

Germany has accused Russia of a cyber-attack on air traffic control and attempted electoral interference, and summoned the Russian ambassador. A foreign ministry spokesman said Russian military intelligence was behind a "cyber-attack against German air traffic control in August 2024". The spokesman»»»

GENEVA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday sounded alarm over the situation in Sudan, saying that its operations are on the verge of a major collapse due to a critical funding shortfall.The WFP said it will be forced to dramatically cut food rations starting in April 2026 at »»»

Lebanon has received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing for a large-scale military operation against Lebanon, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said Friday. "We are intensifying our diplomatic contacts to protect Lebanon and Lebanese facilities from any Israeli strik»»»

The Culture Ministry, through the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, has announced an international tender for the long-term concession of 24 buildings – apart from the museums – at the historic Tatoi Estate to a private operator. The Tatoi Estate served as the summer palace and exp»»»

HEADLINES Friday’s print media focus heavily on the political crisis in the country, following the resignation of the government on Thursday, possible early elections, and decisions linked to the adoption of the euro and the 2026 State Budget. 24 Chasa leads with several political front-page headli»»»

GAZA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- A severe storm in Gaza Strip has left 12 Palestinians dead, including two children, and caused widespread destruction to homes and shelters for displaced families, the Government Media Office said Friday.In a press statement, the office confirmed that the victims included tho»»»

President Joseph Aoun announced Friday that the return of the Lebanese captives held in Israel “represents a priority in the negotiations,” adding that “contacts are ongoing for their release.” In a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Association for Captives and and Liberated Detainees, Ao»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatari passport holds a global passport power rank of 44 with a mobility score of 120, revealed the Global Passport Power Rank 2025 released by Arton Capital recently. The Qatari passport gives its citizens visa-free access to 69 countries and allows visa-on-arrival entry to 42 countri»»»

Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP) – 4,586 agricultural investment operations, worth TND 323.027 million, were approved by the end of September 2025, representing a 30% increase in value compared with the same period in 2024, according to data published Friday...»»»

Beirut: A series of Israeli strikes hit south and east Lebanon on Friday, state media reported, as Israel’s army said it was targeting Hezbollah sites, the latest such raids despite a year-old ceasefire. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported strikes in around a dozen locations, in»»»

Swiss Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo announced Thursday they are returning their trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in next year’s contest amid the Gaza war. The singer said the decision contradicts Eurovision’s values of inclusion and dignity, as several countries pull out amid g»»»

US prosecutors on Thursday sentenced cryptocurrency entrepreneur Do Kwon to 15 years in prison over fraud tied to the collapse of his company, which erased about $40 billion in investor funds and rattled global crypto markets. Kwon pleaded guilty in New York after an international manhunt and still»»»

A popular Ghanaian social media influencer known as Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, has been arrested over allegations he orchestrated a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of over $8m (£5.9m). Prosecutors said he used AI tools to create fake online identities, targeting vic»»»

During his working visit to the Russian Federation, Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, participated in an international conference on cooperation in science and technology. The Cabinet Chairman, along with the Prime Ministers of the EAEU countries, toured the mu»»»

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Adult content creator Tia Billinger, better known as Bonnie Blue, will be deported from Indonesia after being cleared of breaking the country's strict anti-pornography laws. She was found guilty of a minor traffic offence, but was deported for an immigration violation due to working on a tourist vi»»»

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said he hoped Hezbollah's leader Sheikh Naim Qassem "understands that Iran cannot use Lebanon, or a segment of the Lebanese Shiites," to negotiate its nuclear program "or anything else". Jumblat said Thursday night that Lebanon is "between the»»»

Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP)- Tunisia is committed to moving ahead with reforms to improve the business environment and address obstacles encountered by local and foreign investors as enterprises are the driver of growth and national wealth, said Minister...»»»

Dubai: A prominent Saudi social media personality, Abdullah bin Marda’ Al Atif Al‑Qahtani, widely known as “Abu Marda’”, was killed in a road traffic collision in the Hail region on Thursday, authorities said, prompting an outpouring of grief from his large following. The crash occurred on the old »»»

WASHINGTON - Serbian Ambassador to the US Dragan Sutanovac met with US Assistant Secretary of State David L Fogel to discuss new opportunities for strengthening Serbia–US trade relations. "Our conversation focused on expanding investment, supporting companies from both countries, and addressing exi»»»

A roadmap for expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation has been signed between the city of Osh and Andijan region of Uzbekistan. The press service of the City Hall of the southern capital reported. The official meeting was attended by Osh Mayor Zhenishbek Toktorbaev, Presidential Plenipotentia»»»

It is no secret that a tabby named Larry wields considerable power in Downing Street. Now in Belgium, a rescue cat named Maximus has shot to social media stardom as bewhiskered sidekick and PR weapon of Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Taken in from a shelter by the Flemish conservative leader over th»»»

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan and caused small tsunami waves but no apparent damage Friday, days after a stronger quake in the same region. Friday's quake occurred off the east coast of Aomori prefecture, in the north of Honshu, the main Japanese island, at a depth of 20 kilom»»»

A phone app for a panic button to help women at risk of violence will be developed by the University of Telecommunications and Post in Sofia and the Bulgarian-Turkish Women Business Club (BTWBC). The app's development was presented by BTWBC Chair Turkyan Turker at a conference on "Life Without Viol»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic met on Friday with a World Bank delegation headed by Regional Director for Infrastructure for Europe and Central Asia Charles Cormier. The minister said diversification of supply sources and routes, as well as strengtheni»»»

The UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has issued a fresh notification confirming that all qualifications issued by Midocean University are no longer recognised in the country, following a comprehensive compliance review that found “fundamental violations” of nation»»»

Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP)- The digitisation of 80% of administrative services by 2030 is sought, Minister of Communication Technologies Sofiene Hemissi told participants in a debate on flexible economy management. This is the best approach to tackle...»»»

Dubai: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Friday delivered the long-awaited verdict in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case, sentencing six men, including prime accused Pulsar Suni, to 20 years in jail. The court also ordered a fine of Rs50,000 each. The decision to withhold capital punishme»»»

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the creation of a new elite global forum — dubbed the “C5” or “Core Five” — that would bring together the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan, potentially sidelining traditional Western-led groupings such as the G7. The proposal was firs»»»

Pro-Palestine Lebanese activist who spent 40 years in French prisons Georges Abdallah stressed on Thursday that “the resistance alone represents legitimacy and sovereignty.” In an Interview with Al-Manar, Abdallah described the Lebanese people as “the environment which nurtures the resistance,” add»»»

Dubai Health’s Al Jalila Children’s Hospital celebrated an inspiring moment as five-year-old Alexis O’Shea rang the hospital’s “Bell of Hope,” marking the end of her treatment and the beginning of a brighter chapter ahead. The ceremony, the hospital’s first, symbolizes the completion of a child’s c»»»

While the liberation of the strategic Donbass city is another “important element in the piggy bank of the future victory,” it also carries much broader implications, military analyst Igor Korotchenko told Sputnik. Big picture-wise, it shows that “today the Russian Armed Forces hold the strategic in»»»