On Wednesday, the Varna Regional Court ordered bail as a preventive measure for municipal councillors Yordan Kateliev and Nikolay Stefanov. The two are defendants in a case involving an alleged criminal conspiracy to obtain unlawful benefits together with Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev. Until now, bot»»»

Abu Dhabi: Blood samples in Abu Dhabi could soon travel through the air rather than via city roads, as the emirate launches a pilot project using drones to speed up the movement of critical medical diagnostics between healthcare facilities. PureLab, operator of the largest network of laboratories i»»»

Dubai: Dubai Municipality issued crucial safety guidelines on Wednesday to help residents protect themselves and their properties as weather conditions shift and the UAE is bracing for rains and strong winds. The civic body shared preventive measures designed to help people navigate rainfall and st»»»

Bulgaria is expected to see mostly sunny skies on Thursday, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) forecast for December 18. Fog or low clouds will linger in many plains and lowland areas until midday, but visibility is expected to improve rapidly after a weak weste»»»

Abu Dhabi Police have warned the public about the spread of unauthorised QR code stickers in some locations, cautioning that they may be used in digital fraud schemes aimed at stealing banking and personal information. In a statement, the police said fraudsters have been placing counterfeit QR code»»»

Doha In a world rife with crises and conflicts and facing several challenges, the name of the State of Qatar stands out as a shining beacon of dialogue, mediation, and the promotion of peace, security, and stability around the world, thanks to the wise guidance and sound vision of His Highness the »»»

Doha The Amir HH 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 afternoon to celebrate Qatar National Day. Personal Representative of HH the Amir HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Abd»»»

Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to fend off a hostile bid by Paramount Skydance to buy the company. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Warner Bros. Discovery's board of directors urged shareholders on Wednesday to reject the hostile takeover by Paramount Skydance. The board s»»»

Dubai: Unsettled weather conditions are expected across the UAE on Thursday, with clouds thickening over parts of the country and the risk of rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. The Centre said the weather will be partly cloudy to overcast, with th»»»

The Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce reported last Monday (15 December) that the Second Session of the Libyan Indonesian Joint Committee convened in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday, to strengthen the existing friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. The Libyan side wa»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed lower on Wednesday, decreasing by 72.03 points, or 0.67 percent, to reach 10,654.65 points. During the session, a total of 166,818,535 shares were traded, with a value of QR 699,216,571.020, through 18,702 transactions across all sectors. The»»»

Dubai: The UAE has sharply accelerated the processing of work permit quotas, cutting approval times from up to 10 days to just one second, as part of the country’s efforts to eliminate bureaucracy and embed artificial intelligence across government services. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emir»»»

Jamaican superstar Sean Paul is set to return to Bulgaria on May 13, 2026, with the Rise Jamaica concert at Vidas Art Arena, organized by Fest Team. Fourteen years after his first performance in the country, the artist brings a large-scale show promising to immerse fans in the vibrant rhythms of th»»»

Crude benchmarks were rising on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said the US would put a stop to any traffic of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela. The country's oil revenue is a lifeline for the Maduro government, which now mainly sells its barrels to China. Also in this editi»»»

1/5Residents capture rare scenes of snow settling on rocky slopes in Trojena.SPA2/5White blankets the mountains of Tabuk as rare snowfall draws residents and visitors outdoors.SPA3/5Cold conditions bring snowfall to higher elevations, offering a striking contrast to the desert climate.X4/5Snow clin»»»

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.»»»

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov, talking to journalists in the parliamentary lobby on Wednesday, said that the best solution for the country is to adopt a completely new state budget. According to him, the current situation in parliament is absurd and unprecedented, as an attempt is being ma»»»

Dubai: Emirates is set to operate its shortest-ever Airbus A380 service next week, deploying the double-decker aircraft on a brief two-and-a-half-hour flight between Dubai and Madinah in Saudi Arabia, in an unusual move aimed at meeting surging demand for Umrah travel. The one-off service is schedu»»»

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB), said that "CITUB and all our federations are calling on MPs to approve the regular budget, which has been updated and adjusted." He made the remarks at a news co»»»

BELGRADE - Economic progress - Serbia's key interest - has materialised in the past 13 years, with its GDP rising from around 33 bln euros in 2012 to more than 90 bln in 2025, Acting Secretary General at the Serbian MFA Dusan Kozarev said on Wednesday. Addressing a Belgrade Economic Forum panel on »»»

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»»»

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»»»

The National Assembly has adopted at first reading the so called “extended” state budget, following what several parties described earlier in the day as a "political test" by GERB and TISP. Further reading: Bulgaria: Ruling Coalition Tried Again to Pass Controversial 2026 Budget, Opposition Calls f»»»

Dubai: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has rejected a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, siding instead with a previously agreed deal with streaming giant Netflix and escalating one of the most closely watched media consolidation battles in years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, »»»

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»»»

Skopje, 16 December 2025 (MIA) - In 2024, Macedonians living abroad sent EUR 310 million in personal transfers, representing a surplus of two percent of the country's GDP, as per Eurostat data. Personal transfers in 2024 dropped from EUR 319 million in 2023 and EUR 331 million in 2022. In regional »»»

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev will continue government-forming consultations with representatives of parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly on December 18, the head of State’s Press Secretariat said on Wednesday. The President will first meet the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued on Wednesday the Amiri Decision No. 64 for 2025, appointing Tariq Ali Faraj Hashim Al Ansari as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada. HH the Amir also issued the Amiri Decision No. 65 for 2025, appointing Dr. Sultan M»»»

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»»»

A newspaper announced the results of the presidential elections in Santiago, Chile, on Monday. The far-right Jose Antonio Kast won the second round of the presidential elections a day earlier. Photo by Adrianna Thomasa/EPA Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Latin America's political shift toward conservative governm»»»

A 9-year-old student was hospitalized in Agrinio, western Greece, on Monday after participating in a dangerous challenge involving antipsychotic medication, according to reports on Wednesday. Authorities said the child ingested aripiprazole, which a classmate had given him as part of the challenge.»»»

Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday voted, 149-38 with 12 abstentions, to pass on first reading a 2026 Budget Extension Bill. No debate was held on the draft legislation. The votes in favour came from GERB-UDF, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, MRF - New Beginning, There Is Such a People, A»»»

In a video address released on Wednesday, GERB Chair Boyko Borissov said that the consequences of an extended budget would be severe. He confirmed GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva's words, who earlier Wednesday said that GERB-UDF would only back the budget extension in Parliament. Boris»»»

Doha, Qatar: With the Qatar National Day holidays just around the corner, the country is gearing up for a long weekend of celebration. Here are some must-visit venues where you can fully enjoy the Qatar National Day festivities. Doha CornicheThe National Day Parade will kick off on December 18, 202»»»

There Is Such a People (TISP) Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov said here on Wednesday that making changes to the Election Code shortly before elections is extremely harmful, as parties tend to pull the rules in their favor. He spoke to journalists at the President's administration following consultatio»»»

The United States will support dialogue between Bulgaria and North Macedonia but will not act as a mediator, U.S. Ambassador to Skopje Angela Aggeler confirmed in an interview. Speaking on North Macedonian television channel Sitel, Aggeler emphasized that while the U.S. welcomes progress, it will n»»»

Representatives of the STOP student initiative called for higher academic scholarships, fair elections with machine voting, and amendments to the Election Code at a press conference in Sofia on Wednesday. The topic of the public discussion was Stop and Restart of the State and Higher Education. The»»»

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) presented a donation to the Children's ENT Department at University Hospital Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISUL here on Wednesday. The donation was handed over by Patriarch Daniil and Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovech, head of the BOC’s Cultural and Educational Department. A cere»»»

Companies, foundations and individuals donated more than BGN 240 million in 2024, Bulgarian Donors’ Forum (BDF) Executive Director Teodora Bakardzhieva said on Wednesday, while presenting information collected from the National Statistical Institute, the National Revenue Agency, municipalities and »»»

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MP Ivaylo Mirchev told journalists on Wednesday in the parliamentary lobby: “They were obviously frightened by the protest we organized, and Peevski's ruling coalition, the curator of the Museum of Socialist Budgets, immediately voted in the opposit»»»

Dubai: When the name Dileep hits the headlines in Kerala today, it rarely comes without controversy. The actor, once celebrated for his charm and box-office draw, is now the center of a moral and cultural debate that spans the Malayali diaspora. His upcoming film Bha Bha Ba, released after his rece»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line has reached 12 per cent completion, with more than 3,500 personnel now deployed across 12 active sites to ensure the project meets its 2029 deadline. The progress update followed a meeting of the Dubai Metro Blue Line Forum, chaired by Mattar Al Taye»»»

Dubai: Residents and travellers in the UAE are experiencing atmospheric instability as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasts a mix of heavy rainfall ,duststorms, and shifting winds. A significant shift in the UAE's weather pattern is currently underway as a deep low-pressure system mov»»»

Deir Al Balah: Palestinians in Gaza struggled to recover Tuesday from torrential rains that battered the enclave for days, flooding camps for the displaced, collapsing buildings already badly damaged in the two-year war and leaving at least 12 dead, including a two-week-old baby. The downpour, whic»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s beachfront resorts are heading for sell-out status this New Year’s Eve, as UAE residents rush to lock in last staycation deals under Dh1,000 before they disappear. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.With room rates driven up by record visitor arrivals and s»»»

In an unusual diplomatic move, the ambassadors of Germany and France, H.E. Irene Plank and H.E. Marie Dumoulin, personally met with Galina Zakharova, chairwoman of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), to express support for the independence of Bulgaria’s judiciary. The joint statement from the two e»»»

A European Ariane 6 rocket blasted off from France's Kourou space base in French Guiana early Wednesday, carrying two Galileo global navigation satellites, according to an AFP correspondent. Lift-off was at 2:01 am local time (0501 GMT) for the fourth commercial flight of the Ariane 6 launch system»»»