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 »»»

Doha: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to the Amir of the sisterly State of Kuwait HH Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the anniversary of his assumption of power.»»»

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»»»

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An English man was convicted of ramming his Mercedes into a crowd last Christmas Day, killing a young man and seriously injuring four others in a "drunken rage" in London. Anthony Gilheaney, 31, of Longfield, Harlow, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and wounding with in»»»

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»»»

Jeddah, Dec. 19 (SANA) The Muslim World League welcomed Friday the United States’ decision to repeal the “Caesar Act,” describing it as a pivotal step toward a more promising future for the Syrian people. In a statement posted on the League’s official website, Secretary-General Muhammad bin Abdul K»»»

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»»»

Manama , Dec. 19 (SANA) The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the U.S. administration’s decision to lift sanctions imposed on Syria under the “Caesar Act,” praising the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump in this regard.“The Kingdom of Bahrain congratulates Syria on the issuance of this important deci»»»

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»»»

A traffic accident occurred on Friday afternoon in the Platykampos area of Larissa, when a private ambulance crashed into a riot police transport bus that had been stationed on the national road amid farmers’ protests. According to Kathimerini, the ambulance was passing through farmers’ roadblocks »»»

Sharjah Police are investigating the death of two men who were electrocuted in the Sharjah Industrial Area, they confirmed to Gulf News. The incident occurred in the industrial area and was reported to the police operations room. The victims’ bodies have been transferred to the forensic laboratory »»»

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An overdue library book was returned to the Chantilly Regional Library after 36 years and a trip to Greece. The Fairfax County Library system posted about the book's return on Facebook Thursday. Harry the Dirty Dog was initially checked out by Nov. 6, 1989 by diplomats living in D.»»»

A new rapid test could improve treatment of urinary tract infections, by identifying the most effective antibiotic for each individual patient. File Photo by Tamas Soki/EPA A new rapid test could improve treatment of urinary tract infections, by identifying the most effective antibiotic for each in»»»

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The proprietor of a sandwich shop in England attempted a Guinness World Record by spending 42 consecutive hours singing Christmas songs. Dave Purchase, aka "Mr. Toasty" of the On Toast sandwich shop, closed the store inside Gloucester's Warehouse 4 so he could attempt the record fo»»»

Taipei: Three people were killed and five others injured in a stabbing and smoke bomb attack targeting commuters at two metro stations in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Friday. Taiwanese Premier Chu Jung-tae stated after the incidents that the attack was carried out by a man armed with a knife i»»»

A five-month-old infant was found dead under unknown circumstances in the Nea Ionia area of Athens. According to reports, the infant’s parents called emergency services, whose rescuers found the baby cold and without a pulse. The death was confirmed at the scene, and the infant was transported to A»»»

Police trying to capture a wild boar near a school in Evosmos, Thessaloniki, recently drew online attention and renewed debate over the growing presence of wildlife in Greek cities. Wild boars, wolves and foxes are increasingly appearing in urban areas, troubling residents and farmers. According to»»»

Farmers in the EU have protested on many occasions over unfair foreign competition and the viability of their businesses. They gathered again in Brussels on December 18, while an EU summit was going on, this time focusing their ire on the Mercosur free trade agreement between the EU and Latin Ameri»»»

Doha: The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) announced today that it will stage the Qatar Oaks race on Sunday, at Al Rayyan Racecourse. In a statement, the club said that the Qatar International Derby will be held as scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, while the Qatar Oaks has been confirmed for Sun»»»

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Kshamenk, the last killer whale held in captivity in Latin America, died of cardiorespiratory arrest in Argentina at age 35, Mundo Marino said. The mammal spent 33 years in a marine park, exceeding the typical life expectancy of male killer whales in captivity and becoming an emble»»»

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the Ukraine War and matters between Ukraine and Poland while at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday. Photo by Pawel Supernak Poland Out/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Ze»»»

The Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held more than 50 initiatives before it formally ended with a meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on December 19, 2025, the Foreign Ministry said. The online meeting was cha»»»

Fujairah: Fujairah’s municipal and emergency services have successfully contained the impact of heavy rainfall that swept the emirate early on Friday, restoring normal conditions across roads and residential areas without reports of injuries or property damage. The Fujairah Public Works and Agricul»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has issued a resolution regulating veterinary medical practices in Abu Dhabi, in line with its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of veterinary services and strengthen the biosecurity system. The resolution aims to ensure anima»»»

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on Friday that Washington is exerting strenuous efforts to reach a humanitarian truce in Sudan, early January, that allows humanitarian organizations to urgently offer aid to civilians.Speaking to reporters in a news conference»»»

DOHA: The Joint Rain Emergency Committee, comprising relevant municipal authorities, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and security agencies from the Ministry of Interior, have undertaken intensive efforts to remove rainwater accumulations that recently affected the country. The total amount of»»»

1 of 2 | Former President Donald Trump and Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, greet the crowd at the North Carolina Republican Convention in Greenville, N.C., on June 5, 2021. Now-President Trump will travel to Rocky Mount, N.C. on Friday to campaign for Whatley, who »»»

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile as he arrives for the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on May 21. He appointed Bishop Richard Moss as the new leader of the Roman Catholic church in England on Friday. Photo by Angelo Carconi/EFE Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV on Fr»»»

The Australian government has announced plans for a national gun buyback following last week’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The scheme is expected to take hundreds of thousands of weapons out of circulation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday. The Bondi Beach shooting left at»»»

Danish Defense Intelligence Service, led by Director Thomas Ahrenkiel, said that Russia was behind two recent cyberattacks. File Photo by Emil Helms/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Danish government Friday said that Russia is behind two cyberattacks in 2024 and this year that were "destructive and disrupt»»»

There is no longer famine in Gaza thanks to improved aid access, but the war-ravaged territory still faces emergency conditions, a UN-backed global hunger monitor said on Friday, with around 1.6 million people forecast to face "crisis" levels of food insecurity over the coming months. A famine decl»»»

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- At least four militants were killed and as many soldiers embraced martyrdom in an attack on a security forces camp in tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan military said Friday.According to a press releas»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Al-Fahaheel Sporting Club (SC) won against Al-Tadhamon SC (1-0) on Friday in Zain Premier league, in the first official match played at its home in Naif Al-Dabbous Stadium.The stadium was inaugurated last Tuesday under the patronage and attendance of Deputy Prime Minister a»»»