Ukraine has never been “so serious” about striking a peace deal as right now, the Washington Post cites a European diplomat as saying. Overall, "the feeling is that this has to do with the whole scandal on corruption and the whole domestic mess as well,” the source told the publication. Zelensky’s »»»

An exhibition of artistic and applied works created by inmates will take place in Bishkek on December 18 at 10:30 a.m. The press service of the State Penitentiary Service reported. The cultural and social event «Umuttun Kyl Kalemi» aims to showcase the creative potential of people who, while servin»»»

Dubai: DMCC has signed a strategic partnership with cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com to explore the use of blockchain technology in global commodities trade, with a focus on tokenisation, settlement efficiency and digital trade infrastructure. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & »»»

In tonight's edition: Some people are 200,000 displaced in DR Congo as the M23 rebels eye the mineral-rich south of the country. Also, ex-Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala is sentenced in France to 30 years in prison over atrocities committed two decades ago during the Second Congo War. And the »»»

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed four Syrian security personnel the day before, the SITE Intelligence Group reported. "The soldiers of the Caliphate attacked a patrol for the apostate Syrian government on the Maaret al-Numan road yesterday with machine gu»»»

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack held talks Monday in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials. The talks were to focus on preventing escalation in Syria and Lebanon, media reports said prior to the meeting. Informed sources meanwhile told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal t»»»

The European Union and Lebanon held Monday in Brussels the ninth meeting of the EU–Lebanon Association Council. The two sides reviewed the state of EU–Lebanon relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing the bilateral partnership within the framework of the Association Agreement an»»»

The Romanian Association for Advanced Strategic Research, Nanotechnologies and Quantum Technologies (ARCSANTQ) has relaunched the ARO program, through which the traditional Romanian auto brand will be reborn. The project is led by Eng. Eduard Costache – a member of the Association – and aims to rev»»»

PASOK lawmaker Michalis Katrinis, whose son was arrested early Tuesday morning for driving without a licence, speeding and refusing to stop at a police check, denounced the teenager’s “unjustified and illegal act.” “My younger son was driving without a license. An unjustified and illegal act. The l»»»

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev officially presented the unified state portal egov.kg at a government meeting. Opening the presentation, he emphasized the importance of open and transparent interaction between the state and citizens, as well as the need to prov»»»

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s leading professional body for marketing, will host an exclusive event in Dubai to mark the opening of its new regional hub in Dubai Knowledge Park. This expansion demonstrates CIM’s commitment to supporting both the UAE and the wider GCC as th»»»

A 32-year-old physician and mother of two was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at a Dollar Tree store in Miami’s Little Havana neighbourhood, police said, in an incident that has left authorities and the local community seeking answers. Officers from the Miami Police Department were called to th»»»

More than 4 in 10 chief financial officers (CFOs) assess the current economic environment as unfavourable, according to the latest edition of the CFO 2026 study conducted by international management consulting company Horváth. This perception is driven by rising economic complexity, in a context wh»»»

Services on Athens’ Metro Line 3 towards the city’s international airport has been restored, the operating company STASY said. Services were disrupted on Tuesday morning when the section between Holargo and the airport went out of service due to a technical problem with the signaling.»»»

Police in Thessaloniki filed a criminal case against a 55-year-old woman on Tuesday on charges of rape and abuse of a minor. Authorities said the complaint alleged that the woman’s sexual assault started when the victim, now aged 18, was nine years old, and ended in May 2025. Police said the woman »»»

In December of this year, KazTransOil JSC will increase oil supplies to Kyrgyzstan and resume transit to Uzbekistan. Inbusiness.kz reports, citing the company’s press service. According to the company, oil supplies to Kyrgyzstan resumed in November. Previously, transportation in this direction took»»»

Bulgaria’s “Revival” party has ruled out participating in any attempts to form a new government under the 51st National Assembly, reiterating its demand for early elections in March. Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov, accompanied by MPs Tsoncho Ganev, Yordan Todorov, and Svetoslav Todorov, met with »»»

Almost 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein arrived at and departed from UK airports, some with British women on board who say they were abused by the billionaire, a BBC investigation has found. We have established that three British women who were allegedly trafficked appear in Epstein's records o»»»

At a meeting of his cabinet at the White House two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump looked around the long room filled with his top advisers, administration officials and aides, and made a prediction. The next Republican presidential candidate, he said, is "probably sitting at this table". "It »»»

New York, USA: The State of Qatar affirmed that effective global leadership for peace requires comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, stressing that mediation remains an indispensable pillar for the peaceful resolution»»»

Doha, Qatar: Rain was observed in various areas of the country in the early morning today, including Doha. According to the Qatar Meteorology Department, Al Ghuwayriyah stations recorded the lowest temperature at 16°C, while the capital Doha recorded 21°C. The department observed light to moderate »»»

Thematic Digital, a digital sales house with an extensive portfolio, in partnership with Mediascope, a 360° brand management agency with expertise in trade marketing and in-house production, launches R1 Retail First, a new joint venture that brings together expertise in media, digital and trade mar»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police has hosted a specialised partner dialogue titled “VIP Protection in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”, bringing together security leaders and strategic partners to examine how emerging technologies are reshaping VIP protection operations. Organised by the General Department of»»»

Dubai: Wynn Al Marjan Island marked a pivotal construction milestone on Monday, with the resort's 70-floor tower topping out at 283 meters of structural concrete height. Just 27 months after foundations began, the project stands ready for its spire installation next year, pushing the full height to»»»

Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. military has attacked three boats in the eastern Pacific, killing eight people, amid the Trump administration's use of military strikes against vessels allegedly transporting drugs into the United States. U.S. Southern Command said in a statement that three people were killed »»»

At the start of consultations with Vazrazhdane on Tuesday morning, President Rumen Radev said that the socio-economic and political situation in the country is complex. On Monday, the head of State held talks with representatives of the two largest political forces in Parliament – GERB-UDF and Cont»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - London is urging the European Commission to justify seizing frozen Russian assets via "loopholes" in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), while brushing aside dissenting member states, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Tuesday. "London »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia wants to end the conflict and Ukraine and welcomes the efforts of the US administration, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said. "What I'm saying is we want to finish this on the premise that is sufficient to sides that are involved, and we are appreciative of»»»

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan has issued a storm warning for December 17-19 due to expected precipitation. According to the ministry, avalanches, snow drifts, and ice are predicted in the country’s mountainous regions during this period. Hazardous conditions are expected on the»»»

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 1.9 percent in November 2025, its lowest level in nine months, down from 2.2 percent in October, driven by easing housing costs and lower prices for food and beverages. On a monthly basis, inflation remained broadly stable, edging up 0.1 percent compar»»»

Iraqi wheat farmer Ma'an al-Fatlawi has long depended on the nearby Euphrates River to feed his fields near the city of Najaf. But this year, those waters, which made the Fertile Crescent a cradle of ancient civilization 10,000 years ago, are drying up, and he sees few options. "Drilling wells is n»»»

There is a quiet irony in corporate life. Organisations invest years and substantial budgets in building trust, credibility, and brand goodwill. Yet, when something goes wrong, many struggle with the most basic human response of all: saying sorry. The recent IndiGo episode brought this into sharp f»»»

The prospect of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seen here meeting at the DMZ on June 30, 2019, is on the rise, according to a report Tuesday by think tank KNDA. File White House Photo by Shealah Craighead/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- »»»

The country is in a very complex situation that the party sees as a crisis, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said during consultations with President Rumen Radev ahead of the awarding of exploratory government-forming mandates. “We see no reason to waste more time – the sooner new elections a»»»

Dubai: Emirates will deploy retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft with Premium Economy cabins on key routes to Beirut and Beijing starting early next year. The EK953/954 Dubai-Beirut service gets the upgrade from January 6, 2026, while EK306/307 to Beijing follows on February 1, 2026. Sign up for our dai»»»

Doha, Qatar: Paris Saint-Germain stepped up preparations for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 final with their first training session in Doha yesterday, ahead of tomorrow’s showdown with Brazil’s CR Flamengo at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The French champions took to the pitch just hours after a»»»

Chile on Sunday voted in far-right leader Jose Antonio Kast, making it the latest country in Latin America to ditch the left. As many voters are looking for solutions to economic woes, US President Donald Trump has also upped the ante vowing to pull US support for some countries if leftist can»»»

Anna TillackIn Romania, illegal logging claims huge tracts of forest every year. Authorities say organized crime is to blame. Activists and journalists risk their lives to document the illicit activity. https://p.dw.com/p/54qlXAdvertisementIn Romania’s Southern Carpathians, activists from risk thei»»»

By Kholood Al-Enezi MANAMA, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- Bahrain's national celebrations, on December 16, stand as a testament to an extended journey of construction and achievement led by a royal vision that laid the foundations of a modern state, consolidated pillars of progress and stability, and placed peo»»»

China on Tuesday reiterated its demand that Japan retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks about Taiwan, more than a month after Takaichi said an attack on the democratically governed island could be deemed an existential threat to Japan. "On key issues, Japan is still 'squeezing toothpaste'»»»

The Northern Borders Investment Forum 2025 has unveiled more than 240 investment opportunities in northern Saudi Arabia, with a total value estimated at SAR 40 billion ($10.6 billion), spanning key sectors including livestock and food production, mining and energy, tourism and environment, and logi»»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar has condemned the Israeli occupation government's approval of the establishment of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, considering it a flagrant violation of international law, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2334, and a blatant attack on the rights of the»»»

A 24-metre-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed during a powerful storm in Guaíba, a city in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, after strong winds swept through the region on December 15, 2025. The structure, located outside a Havan retail megastore, toppled in gusts estimated at 80–90 km»»»

Doha, Qatar: Supporters from across the region turned out in full force to cheer on their teams during the FIFA Arab Cup semi-finals at Al Bayt and Khalifa International Stadiums. Jordanian and Saudi fans filled the stands with vibrant chants, colourful banners, and unyielding energy, creating an e»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar condemns the Israeli occupation government’s approval of the establishment of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, considering it a flagrant violation of international legitimacy resolutions, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, and a bl»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hold talks with European leaders in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, December 15, 2025. Photo by Nadja Wohlleben/EPA Dec. 16 (UPI) -- European leaders are pledging to provide Ukraine with military force support against Russia, as talks between Washington and Kyiv t»»»

A 16-year-old was arrested early Tuesday morning following after a police chase in a northern suburbs of Athens. According to information, he is the son of a PASOK lawmaker. The teen, who did not have a driver’s license, allegedly failed to comply with a traffic light, resulting in a pursuit by off»»»