President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine by diplomatic or military means, and would seek to expand a "security buffer zone" there. "First, the goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to do this and addres»»»

Senior British police officials said Wednesday that in the light of recent deadly antisemitic attacks they would now arrest protesters using language or signs that intimidate Jews. File photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Demonstrators on the streets of Britain's two largest cities, chant»»»

Pakistan’s information minister said Wednesday that his country has been the victim of a coordinated online disinformation campaign following the mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach. Attaullah Tarar accused “hostile countries,” including India, of spreading false claims that one of the two att»»»

Britain removed duplicate entries from some of its sanctions lists on Wednesday, the government said in a notice, as it moves to consolidate its designations under a single authority, Reuters reported. The update, which does no affect any restrictions already in place, eliminated four duplicate lis»»»

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab met Wednesday at the Baabda Palace with President Joseph Aoun. “We discussed the parliamentary (elections) juncture and the current hurdles that are in its way, seeing as bickering and provocation cannot lead to parliamentary elections,” Bou Saab said after the meeting»»»

BusinessVenezuelaVenezuela blockade: What it means for Maduro and oil marketsArthur SullivanUS President Donald Trump has threatened Venezuela with a naval blockade to thwart its oil exports — a move that would hit the Maduro government hard but may leave global oil markets unfazed. https://p.dw.co»»»

ConflictsAfghanistanIndia seizes Afghanistan trade opening amid Pakistan riftMurali Krishnan in New DelhiThe Pakistan-Afghanistan crisis and border closures are reshaping regional trade. India is capitalizing on the conflict by deepening economic ties and strategic engagement with Kabul. https://p.»»»

A beloved South African radio and club DJ, Warrick Stock, known to fans as DJ Warras, was shot dead in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon, according to a report on BBC. Police said Stock, 40, was approached by three suspects in the city centre, one of whom opened fire before fleeing on foot. The mot»»»

Dubai: European airlines are upsizing for Dubai’s winter rush. Carriers from Europe are quietly turning Dubai into a big-jet battleground this winter, rolling out larger aircraft and extra capacity as demand for the city surges. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Accordin»»»

Venezuela has denounced US President Donald Trump’s oil blockade on the country, saying his “interventionist and colonialist” rhetoric proves Washington’s long-standing plan to seize Venezuelan natural resources. Trump had announced the move in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, describing it as “a to»»»

Hungary no longer feels a “loyal” obligation to cooperate with the EU after Brussels deprived Budapest of its veto rights on the issue of frozen Russian assets, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. Last week, the EU temporarily immobilized roughly $230 billion in Russian central bank assets by inv»»»

Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar headed to Bulgaria on Wednesday to question a shipowner wanted in connection with the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port blast, a judicial official told AFP. The long-awaited questioning comes after a court this month refused Lebanon's request to extradit»»»

Dubai: More than 51,000 passengers were stopped from boarding flights at Pakistani airports this year after failing immigration checks, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told a National Assembly panel on Wednesday. Lahore and Karachi airports recorded the highest numbers of offloaded traveller»»»

Dubai: Pakistan on Wednesday has again extended restrictions on Indian aircraft flying through its airspace until January 23, a week before the previous ban was set to expire on December 24, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). “Pakistan airspace will remain closed to Indian-register»»»

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea on Wednesday called on all MPs to boycott Thursday’s legislative session, while accusing Speaker Nabih Berri of “blackmailing the North’s MPs over the Qoleiat airport clause.” Geagea also urged voters “who want expats to vote for the 128 seats at their places of r»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is ready to assist Iran in the search of a suitable settlement of the crisis connected with its nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. "Russia reaffirms its readiness to help our Iranian friends to find acceptable solutions to resolve th»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borissov warned that prolonging the existing budget framework would have serious social and financial repercussions. In a video statement from the party headquarters, he reiterated the position earlier voiced in parliament by GERB deputy group chair Denitsa Sacheva: in the plenary»»»

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the US will impose a blockade on all “sanctioned oil tankers” entering or leaving Venezuela, dramatically escalating his administration’s campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. The move follows the recent seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coa»»»

In a further escalation of tension between the United States and Venezuela, President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade to stop sanctioned oil tankers from entering and leaving the South American country. Venezuela - which has the world's largest proven oil reserves - is highly dependent on»»»

US President Donald Trump's administration has warned that it could impose fees or restrictions on European service providers, escalating a transatlantic dispute over what Washington describes as discriminatory EU actions targeting US companies. President Donald Trump’s administration warned on Tue»»»

Dubai: A week after the trial court delivered its verdict acquitting actor Dileep and convicting six others in the 2017 Kerala actor abduction and sexual assault case, the survivor has once again approached the police, this time alleging cyber harassment and the circulation of an online video that »»»

The Bulgarian parliament witnessed another politically charged day as the ruling coalition, comprised of GERB, BSP, TISP, and “DPS-New Beginning,” moved to put the draft budget for 2026 on the agenda, sparking widespread public outcry. Hundreds of thousands of citizens had already protested against»»»

At the entrances to Damascus branching off the Mezzeh highway, just before Umayyad Square, young men with a quasi-military appearance line both sides of the road, selling flags and banners for “Liberation Day.” In narrower streets and at intersections leading deeper into the city, they are met by w»»»

South Africa has accused the US of using Kenyan nationals who did not have work permits at a facility processing applications by white South Africans for refugee status. Seven Kenyans were arrested after intelligence reports revealed that people "had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas a»»»

The topic of early snap elections dominates Wednesday's news media. POLITICS 24 Chasa's front-page story is about the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. The daily writes that March 22 or 29 is the most likely date for the vote. The political forces seem to agree on these two dates. Some of them»»»

The State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday designated another drug cartel as a terrorist organization . Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The United States has designated Colombia's Clan de Golfo as a terrorist organization, the latest drug-traffick»»»

A popular South African radio and club DJ has been shot dead in the country's largest city, Johannesburg, sending shockwaves across the nation grappling with entrenched crime. Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, was gunned down in the city centre on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the 40-ye»»»

A woman has been charged in Bengaluru after allegedly stalking and threatening a serving police inspector with suicide in an effort to pressure him into a personal relationship, police said. According to a complaint filed at the Ramamurthy Nagar Police Station, Inspector Satish GJ, who serves as th»»»

1 of 8 | A statue of Barbara Rose Johns is unveiled during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a Black teenage girl who protested segregation, has been unveiled a»»»

Former Minister of Transport Alexandru-Razvan Cuc was detained on Tuesday by anti-corruption prosecutors in a case in which he is accused of complicity in bribery.Prosecutors from the National Anticorruption Directorate - Section for Combating Corruption Crimes have ordered the initiation of crimin»»»

The escalating tension between the US and Venezuela has led to the biggest military build-up in the Caribbean since the end of the Cold War. The last time so many US warships and troops were sent to the region was in 1989, when Washington removed Panama's President Manuel Noriega – whom it accused »»»

US President Donald Trump has said he is ordering a "a total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela. In a post on Truth Social, he said Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's government had been designated a foreign terrorist organisation and accused it of »»»

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on Tuesday amid a crisis in his country’s relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ongoing disagreements with the West over a nuclear deal. Ahead of Araghchi’s arrival, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Iran»»»

The first of the funerals for victims of the Bondi Beach shooting has taken place in Sydney, with thousands gathering to mourn Rabbi Eli Schlanger. He was among 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on a festival marking the first day of Hanukkah. Australia's prime minister said that the att»»»

Doha: Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi met separately with Minister of Justice of Romania H E Radu Marinescu, Minister of Justice of Iran H E Dr. Amin Hossein Rahimi, and Policy Advisor for Anti-Corruption at the Ministry of Justice and »»»

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack held talks on Tuesday on the latest developments in Syria a year after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime. They discussed the measures needed to establish stability in Syria and maintain its territorial integrity. Tu»»»

Attorney General of the State of Qatar H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi has held separate meetings in Doha with senior legal officials from Iran and Kyrgyzstan, H E Dr Al Nuaimi met yesterday with Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H E Dr Amin Hossein Rahimi, and with Pros»»»

Myanmar's junta on Wednesday said it was pursing charges against more than 200 people for alleged disruption of upcoming elections under new laws banning criticism of upcoming elections, which rights groups and the UN have dismissed as a sham to entrench military rule. Myanmar's junta said Wednesda»»»

Irish tricolour flags have been erected on street lights all over Dublin in recent months in what has been branded by some as an anti-immigration campaign. Several politicians and anti-racism activists have accused those putting up the flags of marking territory and intimidating tactics. Far-right »»»

US President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income. It is unclear how Trump will impose the move against the sanc»»»

President Donald Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on December 16, 2025. Later that day, he ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered "a»»»

Venezuela has expressed outrage at US President Donald Trump's announcement of a naval oil blockade “with the aim of stealing the riches” that belong to the republic. Any attempts by the US to block oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela constitute a violation of international law, stated Venezu»»»

President Donald Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on December 16, 2025. Later that day, he ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered "a»»»

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday added Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders to a full travel ban. The decision to include Syria, a country Trump has moved to rehabilitate internationally, came days after thr»»»

Benin on Tuesday jailed around 30 people, most of whom were soldiers, linked to an attempt to oust President Patrice Talon, legal sources said. The attempted coup was defeated by loyalist army forces with the help of the Nigerian air force and French special forces. Benin jailed on Tuesday aro»»»

1/20A woman reacts during a sack race as she celebrates Eid Al Fitr at a park in Quezon City, Philippines, on March 31.AP2/20Schoolgirls and cadets dance as they attend a rehearsal of a ceremony on the first day at school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv on September 1.AP3/20Visitors, wearing stuffed cost»»»

Heavy rains on Hormuz Island in southern Iran transformed parts of the island’s shoreline — known locally as Red Beach — into a vivid crimson tide, captivating visitors and viewers across social media. Videos and images shared online show rainwater washing rich red mineral soils from the slopes int»»»

The FBI arrested Louisiana resident Micah James Legnon on Friday as he was driving to New Orleans to allegedly carry out an attack on federal agents there. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A suspect identified as Micah James Legnon has been arrested by agents from the »»»

Dubai: Malayalam actress and survivor Bhavana was the chief guest at the Christmas feast hosted by the Kerala government in Thiruvananthapuram, an event highlighted by Minister V. Sivankutty, who shared photographs of the occasion on social media. The actor’s presence at the official event comes ne»»»

Gaurav Gogoi, 43, is the deputy leader of the Congress in Parliament and the Assam state chief of the Congress, who will be taking on Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP Chief Minister of Assam, in a closely contested election early next year. Gogoi is poised, calm and steely, yet makes his points with a »»»