Trump touts successes, bashes Biden in address to nation - UPI.com
President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Pool Photo by Doug Mills/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- In a relatively brief, campaign-style speech on Wednesday night, President Donald T»»»
Whiz Consulting accelerates outsourced accounting support for UAE businesses ahead of new regulations
Whiz Consulting, a global accounting and bookkeeping outsourcing firm, is ramping up its finance and accounting services for UAE businesses that are gearing up for major regulatory shifts set to hit in 2026. VAT, corporate tax, and digital reporting are turning to be more demanding, and with that, »»»
Police book four in Kerala over viral ‘Pottiye Kettiye’ parody song used in election campaign
The Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police on Wednesday registered a case over the parody song ‘Pottiye Kettiye’, which went viral during the recent local body election campaign in Kerala. The case was filed following a complaint by Prasad Kuzhikkala, general secretary of the Thiruvabharana Patha Sam»»»
Putin warns that Russia will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that Moscow will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin's demands in peace talks. US President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting following Russ»»»
Assange brings ‘instrument of war’ case against Nobel Foundation
WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has filed a criminal complaint against the Nobel Foundation, accusing it of misusing Nobel Peace Prize funds by awarding them to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, who has publicly called on the US to attack her own country. The complaint, dated W»»»
Disparaging plaques for Biden, Obama appear in Trump's White House 'Walk of Fame'
US President Donald Trump has added partisan and subjective plaques to his White House presidential "Walk of Fame", taking personal swipes at his predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama and repeating false claims about his 2020 election defeat. US President Donald Trump, who has made no mystery of »»»
Brazil Senate backs bill cutting Bolsonaro jail term, setting up clash with Lula
Brazil’s Senate has approved legislation that could sharply reduce the prison sentence of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted over an alleged coup plot after his 2022 election defeat, in a move that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vowed to veto. Brazil’s Senate on Wednesday»»»
Meher Castelino, first Miss India and fashion journalism icon, dies at 81
Meher Castelino, India’s first-ever Miss India and one of the country’s most respected fashion journalists, passed away on Wednesday. She was 81. She is survived by her son Karl, daughter-in-law Nisha, and daughter Christina. Born in Mumbai, Castelino rose to national attention in 1964 when she won»»»
France detains 22-year-old suspect over interior ministry cyberattack
French authorities have detained a 22-year-old man over a cyberattack on the email servers of the French interior ministry that compromised files containing criminal records. Prosecutors say the suspect is known to police and was convicted of similar crimes earlier this year. A 22-ye»»»
'Maybe she's an angel now' says aunt of 10-year-old Bondi victim
The family of the Bondi shooting's youngest victim Matilda urged the community to not let her death fuel anger, as they said a final goodbye to the 10-year-old on Thursday. Matilda was among 15 people who were shot dead when two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the start of Hannukah at Sydney»»»
WATCH LIVE: Trump addresses the nation
President Donald Trump is delivering a live address to the nation from the White House in what he has billed as a wide-ranging update on the state of the country and his administration’s agenda. The US president said it has been “a great year for our Country” and promised in a Truth Social post on »»»
Earthquake of magnitude 4.4 strikes Myanmar
Naypyidaw: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck Myanmar on Thursday, a statement by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 100km. Also In This Package Watch: Rooftop pools overflow as Bangkok sways in quake Downpours drench homeless survivors of Myanma»»»
Ask Gulf News: Can you claim compensation when someone shares your photos without permission in UAE?
Question: I received a verdict from the criminal court confirming a violation of my privacy by a man who took a photo of me while photographing himself and then used it for advertising without my permission. My question is: How much compensation can I claim, and is there a maximum limit for the cla»»»
Migrants forced to leave Canada after policy change feel 'betrayed'
After accepting a job near Montreal, Mansef Aloui packed up his life in Tunisia, hopeful his children would thrive in Canada -- but his pathway to settle in the country has been shut down. "I'm broken. My life has been upended. My daughter is in her room, she cries day and night," the 50-year-old t»»»
Paris Meeting Sets Three Priorities to Back Lebanese Army
Paris will host a four party meeting on Thursday bringing together representatives of France, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Lebanon, amid fears that an Israeli escalation could upend a ceasefire agreement in place for more than a year. French officials say Paris senses an imminent threat faci»»»
Government admits pilot errors in deadly D.C. air collision - UPI.com
The Department of Justice says U.S. Army helicopter pilot decisions were a "proximate cause" of the collision between the helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342 on January 29, which killed 67. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Government officials admitted errors by p»»»
Who is Sheikh Shakil, Indian expat honoured by UAE President for his extraordinary kindness?
Al Ain: He is not a wealthy businessman. Neither is he a celebrity with deep pockets. Yet, he has been honoured by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for making modest contributions to support patients with chronic illnesses. Meet Sheikh Shakil, an Indian expat in the»»»
Damascus Foils New Weapons Smuggling Attempt into Lebanon
The new Syrian government is stepping up an aggressive campaign to seal its border with Lebanon, seeking to dismantle smuggling routes that under Bashar al-Assad’s rule served as a critical lifeline for Hezbollah, channeling weapons and money from Iran. In this context, the Interior Ministry announ»»»
Trump expands US travel ban list
US President Donald Trump has expanded America’s travel ban list, adding eight more countries, including Syria and the Palestinian Authority. The new restrictions are set to take effect on January 1. The move is part of a broader effort to tighten entry restrictions for foreign nationals whose coun»»»
Warner Bros board rejects takeover bid from Paramount, favours deal with Netflix
Warner Bros Discovery's board has urged shareholders to reject a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying it failed to provide adequate financing assurances. The board argued that the terms of a rival merger deal with Netflix represent "superior, more certain value f»»»
Why luxury watches go for millions of dirhams at auctions in UAE, across GCC
Dubai: Walk into a high-end watch auction in Dubai today and one thing becomes clear almost immediately. Buyers are calm. Phones stay down. Bidding starts late. No one looks surprised when prices climb into seven figures. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.These rooms no »»»
Circular economy of hype: Inside AI’s self-financing machine
When Oracle Corp. announced a multi-hundred-billion-dollar computing deal with OpenAI last September, its stock jumped 30-40 percent in a single day. The $330 billion leap in market value was larger than Oracle’s total revenue for the previous decade. The company later admitted it would lose money »»»
EU leaders face crunch decision on loaning Russia's frozen cash to Ukraine
European Union leaders begin two days of talks in Brussels with a momentous decision to be taken on whether to loan tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine to fund its military and economic needs. Most of Russia's €210bn (£185bn; $245bn) worth of assets in the EU are held by B»»»
BP names new boss as current CEO leaves after less than two years
BP has appointed a new chief executive, making Meg O'Neill the first woman to run a major global oil firm. The London-based energy giant said its current boss Murray Auchincloss would step down less than two years after he replaced Bernard Looney, who was found to have committed "serious misconduct»»»
Brazil legislature approves bill to reduce Bolsonaro prison sentence
Brazil's Senate gave the green light Wednesday to a bill that would reduce right-wing ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence for coup-plotting, after the measure passed the lower chamber last week. The vote in Brazil's upper chamber was 48-25, and it now heads to President Luiz Inacio Lula d»»»
In this secret missile factory, Ukraine is ramping up its domestic arms industry
We're driven blindfolded to a secret location where Ukraine is making one of its latest weapons. We're told to turn off our phones - such is the secrecy around the production of Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missile. For Ukraine, dispersing and hiding the production of weapons like this is key to survi»»»
Should more be done to tackle 'ghost jobs', vacancies that don't exist?
The phrase "ghost jobs" might sound like something from Halloween, but it refers to the practice of employers advertising vacancies that don't exist. In some cases the positions may have already been filled, but in others the job might not have ever been available. It's a real and continuing proble»»»
Indian scientists predict how bird flu could spread to humans
For years, scientists have warned that bird flu - better known as H5N1 - could one day make the dangerous leap from birds to humans and trigger a global health crisis. Avian flu - a type of influenza - is entrenched across South and South-East Asia and has occasionally infected humans since emergin»»»
Hunt for US college mass shooter drags into fifth day
A manhunt for the mass shooter who opened fire in an exam room at one of America's top universities stretched into a fifth day Wednesday with no apparent police progress in identifying a suspect or a motive. The only new information from police at a media briefing Wednesday was an appeal for a witn»»»
Sanctioned oil vessels divert from Venezuela as Trump threatens blockade
MIAMI: Some oil vessels are diverting away from Venezuela after US President Donald Trump threatened a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country, a dramatic escalation in the White House’s pressure campaign on leader Nicolás Maduro. Also Read: Tanker seized»»»
Senators sound alarm, seek answers on AI-powered toys - UPI.com
Concerns over toys that use artificial intelligence spurred two U.S. senators to seek answers from toymakers on Tuesday. Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Fears of risks to children's mental health and development have two U.S. senators sounding an alarm and seeking informati»»»
U.N. head António Guterres calls for Houthis to release detained personnel in Yemen - UPI.com
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks before the U.N. General Assembly on September 23. On Wednesday he called on Houthis in Yemen to release 59 U.N. and other NGO personnel. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres»»»
Trump demands ‘oil back’ from Venezuela
President Donald Trump has said the United States is seeking to reclaim oil, land, and other assets from Venezuela, arguing that previous administrations allowed Caracas to strip Washington of its economic interests in the country. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Trump said Venezuela had take»»»
Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director
Dan Bongino has said he will leave his role as the FBI's deputy director in January. "I want to thank President Trump, AG (Pam) Bondi, and Director (Kash) Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose," Bongino wrote on X. It comes after US President Donald Trump said earlier on Wednesday the for»»»
Crude prices surge after Trump orders Venezuela oil blockade
LONDON — Oil prices surged on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of "sanctioned" oil tankers heading to and leaving Venezuela.Both Brent and WTI contracts jumped more than two per cent before paring gains."The big news is the oil-price rally after President Donald Trump an»»»
Ghislaine Maxwell asks court to set aside her 20-year prison sentence
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has asked a federal court to vacate or amend her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Maxwell claimed that "substantial new evidence" has emerged from civil cases, investigative reports and other documents demonstrating th»»»
PSG edge Flamengo on penalties for first FIFA Intercontinental Cup title
Tribune News Network Doha Paris Saint-Germain ended a banner year on a high as they defeated CF Flamengo 2-1 in a penalty shootout to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 after a 1-1 draw in regulation on Wednesday night. It has been an incredible 2025 for Luis Enrique’s men, who won a treb»»»
Qatari banks maintain stability with QR2.126 trillion assets in October
Satyendra Pathak Doha Qatar’s banking sector continued to exhibit underlying strength and stability in October 2025, with total assets standing at QR2.126 trillion, marginally lower by 1.1 percent month-on-month (MoM) but still higher by 3.9 percent compared to year-end 2024, reflecting sustained a»»»
Qatar, US agree to redouble efforts for Gaza truce second phase: PM
Tribune News Network Washington Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced on Wednesday that Qatar and the United States have agreed to redouble efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Speaking during »»»
PM, Rubio launch seventh US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue
Continued from page 1 In a statement, the US State Department said Secretary Rubio praised Qatar’s role in advancing US objectives in the M-E and Africa.Rubio and Sheikh Mohammed launched the seventh US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue during the visit, reaffirming the strong strategic partnership between »»»
AMIR MEETS US SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AMIR MEETS US SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States of America Kristi Noem and her accompanying delegation in his office at Lusail Palace on Wednesday. The meeting discussed the strategic bil»»»
Qatar-based teacher in top 50 shortlist for $1mn global prize
Tribune News Network Doha Hossam Ibrahim Hassan Asal, a science teacher at Hamza bin Abdulmotalib Preparatory School in Doha, Qatar, has been named in the top 50 shortlist for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026, a Varkey Foundation initiative organised in collaboration with UNESCO. Hossam»»»
Qatar presents strategy to promote integrity and corruption prevention
QNA Doha The State of Qatar highlighted the National Strategy to Promote Integrity, Transparency and Corruption Prevention 2025–2030, at a side event held as part of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP11). The session was chaired by»»»
‘Anti-corruption agencies need to coordinate efforts, exchange information’
QNA Doha President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) and President of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad, stressed that anti-corruption agencies cannot confront transn»»»
MoCI recalls models of BMW, Mercedes Benz vehicles and Xiaomi power bank
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Alfardan Automobiles, Qatar’s BMW dealership, has announced the recall of BMW X3 20 xdrive & X3 M50 2025-2026 models. The recall is due to a failure in the steering sensor caused by an error in the software, which may cause a warning»»»
New cohort of experts takeslegal oath at justice ministry
QNA Doha A new group of experts was sworn in on Wednesday at the Ministry of Justice, a step that allows them to be registered on the official roster of experts authorised to appear before the country’s judicial authorities, in accordance with Law No. 16 of 2017 regulating expert work. The new coho»»»
Doha Design District hosts InStudio pop-up celebrating local design talent
Tribune News Network Doha Doha Design District successfully hosted the InStudio Fashion Pop-Up, in partnership with InStudio Club, a dynamic activation which brought together emerging designers and local brands in a collaborative space to dedicated to creativity, collaboration, and artistry. Held f»»»
AMIR PARTICIPATES IN QATAR’S ARDA
The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in Qatar’s Arda (traditional sword dance), which was held in the courtyard of Lusail Palace on Wednesday to celebrate Qatar National Day. Personal Representative of HH the Amir HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, HH Sheikh Abdullah»»»
Qatar marks founder’s anniversary amid broad achievements under HH Amir’s leadership: PM
QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani stressed that the State of Qatar is marking this year’s anniversary of the founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, amid comprehensive achievements across all fields under the wise l»»»