MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Kremlin said on Saturday. The footage shows Putin and Nazarbayev sitting together at a round table decorated with white flowers. The last time the Russian president met with the form»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Myanmar’s generals have finally produced the ballot box they have been promising since their 2021 coup. After five years of civil war, mass displacement of entire towns and villages and systematic repression across the country, the junta has staged the first part of what it calls a return to democr»»»

Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»

Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»

PTOLEMAIDA, Greece — Mayor Panagiotis Plakentas fears what will happen to the town of Ptolemaida and the surrounding region when the last of the brown coal power plants in northern Greece close next year.He told AFP that eight out of 10 young people who leave the region to study never come back and»»»

AMMAN — Foreign trade data for the first ten months of 2025 showed mixed performance among Jordan’s key exported commodities, with several major production sectors recording notable increases in export values.Garments and related items topped the list of exported goods during the ten-month period i»»»

AMMAN — National exports to the European Union countries recorded a notable increase of 45.7 per cent during the first ten months of 2025, according to foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics (DoS).Official figures monitored by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, showed that the Kingdo»»»

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon's government on Friday approved a draft law to distribute financial losses from the 2019 economic crisis that deprived many Lebanese of their deposits despite strong opposition from political and banking officials.The draft law is a key demand from the international commun»»»

Manila: As retirement destinations go, the Philippines is ramping up efforts to attract overseas retirees with its Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) — a residency programme that combines affordable long-term stay privileges with a tropical lifestyle and low cost of living. The visa, administer»»»

The Treasury is set to insure the Bayeux Tapestry against damage for an estimated £800m while it is on loan to the British Museum next year. The 70m-long embroidery depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 will travel from France to London as part of a deal between the two nations' governments. The»»»

For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant. As an Uber driver in the snarled streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, it hasn't been easy for him to put money aside. On bad days he makes as little as $12 (£9) in »»»

Dubai: A minor earthquake measuring 2.9 magnitude was recorded south of Musandam in the early hours of Sunday, December 28, according to the National Seismic Network. The tremor occurred at 4:44am local time at a depth of 5 kilometres, seismological data showed. Also Read: 6.6-magnitude earthquake »»»

Dubai: The UAE is set to experience unsettled weather conditions today and over the coming days, as an extension of a weak surface low-pressure system continues to influence the country, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s luxury property market has entered a phase where square footage alone no longer explains price. Two homes with similar layouts, finishes and even locations can now sit millions of dirhams apart. The difference increasingly comes down to one factor that cannot be replicated or expande»»»

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake about 20 miles off Taiwan's east coast briefly disrupted rail services and power to 3,000 homes late Saturday night. Photo by Ritchies B. Tongo/EPA Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A 6.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday night, but no injuries »»»

Dubai: The future of US immigration rules is again under debate, and this time the concerns are not only political — they are personal for thousands of expats in the UAE and elsewhere who either travel regularly to the US for work or have family members on H-1B visas. Sign up for our daily business»»»

During the war with Ukraine, the number of billionaires in Russia has reached an all-time high. But in the 25 years Vladimir Putin has been in power, Russia's rich and powerful - known as oligarchs - have lost almost all their political influence. All this is good news for the Russian president. We»»»

As the year came to an end, country music icon Dolly Parton reassured fans that reports of her demise were not true, British teen Bella Culley was freed from prison in Georgia, and the first batch of Epstein files were finally released. But how much attention did you pay to what else happened in th»»»

Saudi Arabia on Saturday said it would back Sanaa's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces in a statement that came a day after reported Saudi air strikes in Yemen's Hadramawt province.The Southern Transition Council (STC) separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates have»»»

US-backed air strikes in Nigeria targeted Islamic State group fighters who were attempting to enter the country from the Sahel region, according to the Nigerian government. US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform that the strikes were carried out on Thursday »»»

A man carrying 55 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in gift-wrapped boxes was arrested for drug trafficking near Louisville, Ky., on Monday. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A Nebraska man was arrested near Louisville, Ky., when police found 55 pounds of suspected methamphetamin»»»

Officials in US President Donald Trump’s closest circle no longer believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can be trusted to push forward with the Gaza peace plan, Axios reported on Friday, citing insiders. The future of Trump’s grand Gaza war settlement roadmap, unveiled in September»»»

Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatke smiled as he held his arms aloft to acknowledge his audience for the last time. Last month in London, the 82-year-old pioneer, who has done much to bring his blend of musical styles to the world, played his final live concert after a six-decade performing care»»»

Myanmar is going to the polls in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, many of their leaders jailed and as much as half the country unlikely to vote because of an ongoing civil war. The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after »»»

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster as a fiscal year 2026 budget battle is expected in January and could trigger another government shutdown. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 27 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent »»»

The UK is to impose visa restrictions against people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government failed to agree to measures allowing the return of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. Ministers say the DRC has not made changes required under the toughening up of»»»

Annette Dionne, the last surviving sister of the Canadian quintuplets, has died at 91, the Dionne Quints Home Museum has announced. The five identical sisters, born in Ontario at the height of the Great Depression in 1934, were the first known quintuplets to survive past infancy. They quickly becam»»»

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency said on Saturday that security services were blocking its attempt to raid parliament, as investigators alleged that sitting MPs were implicated in a new graft probe. The probe comes at a delicate time for President Volodymyr Zelensky, as he seeks better terms for Uk»»»

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa on Saturday promised the European Union's unfaltering support for Ukraine ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's talks with US President Donald Trump on Sunday. The Ukrainian president first spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney d»»»

Italian officials on Saturday announced the arrests of nine people who are accused of using charities to raise $8.2 million, most of which funded Hamas. File Photo by Mohammed Saber/EPA Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Nine people who are accused of raising more than $8 million in Italy to help fund Hamas have bee»»»

Khaled Al Hameidi Doha At a time when cities are rapidly evolving and their features constantly reshaped, the exhibition ‘Memory of Place’, currently underway at the Souq Waqif Art Center, offers an artistic approach that goes beyond local documentation toward a broader, global question: how can ar»»»

QNA Doha The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, in collaboration with the Mosques Administration, has launched a new branch of the adjudicated Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani Waqf Award, dedicated to imams, preachers and muezzins o»»»

QNA Doha The Ministry of Culture on Saturday announced that the registration for the 35th Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) will continue from January 1 to February 12, 2026. The ministry clarified that online registration will be available via the fair’s official website, amid expectations of a »»»

Darlene Regis The Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneurs Movement (OFIE-M), in partnership with the Ateneo Alumni Association – Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (AAALSE) Qatar, capped off 2025 in style with “OFIE-M Goes Classic”, a gala night celebrating Filipino leadership, ent»»»

Darlene Regis MFEC stole the spotlight with its sensational Rockstar 2025 Season 11 Dance Recital, held on December 11-12. MFEC Qatar is a Doha-based street dance academy known for training young dancers and competing internationally through its elite crews like CrewQ. This year’s “Rockstar” theme »»»

Tribune News Network Doha Powered by the generosity of Qatar’s donors, Qatar Charity (QC) has reached 21 million people in 2025 through humanitarian aid, development projects, and social care across nearly 70 countries, advancing its mission to ease suffering and build resilient, dignified lives. Q»»»

QNA DOHA The foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Türkiye, Yemen, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have strongly rejected Israel’s announ»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Hilton Doha The Pearl celebrated its sixth anniversary this week, a milestone that coincides with Qatar National Day and highlights the hotel’s continued rise as one of the most distinctive hospitality destinations.Owned by First Qatar Real Estate Development Company, the »»»

Ashraf Siddiqui Doha A three-day 2025 Qatar-China Film Festival at the Katara Cinema in Doha concluded recently on a high note promoting cultural diplomacy between the two countries. This significant cultural event, hosted by the China Film Administration, was organised by the China Film Archive in»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent New Year greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the past year “truly meaningful” for Moscow–Pyongyang ties. In a statement carried by KCNA on Saturday, Kim said the relationship was further strengthened by “sharing blood” on the Ukraine confl»»»

US President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s latest peace proposal to end the conflict with Moscow, arguing the discussions could move forward only with his blessing. Trump’s remarks come as he is expected to hold talks with Zelensky in Florida on Su»»»

Sao Paulo: At least 10 people were killed Saturday in a head-on collision between two vehicles on a highway in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, the Federal Highway Police said. The crash occurred on federal highway BR-101, the country's longest highway, near the city of Mucuri in the far »»»

The J. Edgar Hoover Building will close permanently after the FBI moves its headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Friday. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The FBI Hoover headquarters in Washington soon will be vacant as the»»»

Only two days after Tu-95 strategic bombers took off from Olenya, Kola Peninsula, as part of a massive terror raid against Ukraine, similar aircraft from the same base set off towards the Norwegian Sea. There was no proper ground deicing of the Tu-95 strategic bomber that took off from the Olenya a»»»

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) has issued a warning for strong and stormy winds for Sunday, December 28. Yellow and orange weather alerts will be in effect, the institute announced on its website. A second-level orange code alert for strong to stormy north-westerly winds»»»