Major incident declared over giant hole at canal
A major incident has been declared at a Shropshire canal where a giant hole has emerged, with boats left stricken in the cavity or teetering on the edge of the drop. The incident on a stretch of the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch has been blamed by engineers on an "embankment failure", with its col»»»
Kuwaiti shooting team bags two more medals in Arab tourney
MUSCAT, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's national shooting team on Monday won two more medals in the Arab Pistol and Rifle Shooting Championship.The shooters won two bronze medals in the 50m 3 Position Men and Women, lifting number of the bagged trophies to three -- one silver and two bronze.Head of the K»»»
Billionaire Ellison offers personal guarantee for son's bid for Warner Bros
Washington, United States: Oracle tech tycoon Larry Ellison is offering a $40.4 billion personal guarantee to back Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, deepening a bidding war with Netflix, a statement said on Monday. The amended proposal, worth a total $108 billion from the company »»»
Police: Bondi Beach attackers had pipe bombs, a tennis ball bomb - UPI.com
A Hanukkah menorah drawing is among items, including cards, photos and artworks that are collected to be included in memorials and the Jewish Museum as staff clean up the tribute site at the Bondi Pavilion following a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Police released new details and images Monday »»»
Japan, Australia FMs vow multi-layered cooperation
TOKYO, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on Monday agreed to promote multi-layered cooperation with like-minded countries, including frameworks such as Japan-US-Australia and the four-nation "Quad" group invoving India to realize »»»
British woman detained in Iran shares pain in poem
A British woman jailed in Iran for almost a year has spoken of the pain of separation from her family in a poignant Christmas message written in her cell. "At a time when we should be connected, we find ourselves alone, down, dejected," Lindsay Foreman wrote in a poem entitled A Sad Voice From Evin»»»
India's nuclear expansion draws global interest – DW – 12/22/2025
PoliticsIndiaIndia's nuclear expansion draws global interestMurali Krishnan in New DelhiLandmark nuclear reform opens India's nuclear sector to foreign firms, aiming for massive growth, but critics highlight safety, oversight and supply chain gaps. https://p.dw.com/p/55oXLIndia is on track to meet »»»
Pepe Escobar: Europe’s Elites Pay For The Privilege of Losing Conflict
PALERMO, Sicily - When in doubt, Europeans should always re-read Tacitus. As a true Roman, he considered that sacrifice was only worthy if conducted at the service of the motherland. In his time, the Roman Empire. In our time, that would be civilization-state Italy. Tacitus was a keen student of Re»»»
Dubai gold prices break records twice in one day on strong global demand
Dubai. Gold prices in Dubai rocketed to a fresh all-time high for the second time Monday, reaching Dh531.50 per gram for 24-karat by 4:15 pm after touching Dh526.50 at 7:45 am. The 22-karat variety climbed to Dh492.25 from Dh487.50, mirroring a global surge that puts both metals on track for their »»»
Lush co-founder takes pride in being a 'woke nerd'
Most companies and bosses would squirm at the idea of being called "woke" and may even regard it as an insult. But not Mark Constantine. Lush's outspoken co-founder and chief executive wears it like a badge of honour and is not ashamed of turning it into a business philosophy. The firm is renowned »»»
From Musk to Yamal: These are the world’s most Googled people in 2025
Dubai: Politics, technology and entertainment dominated global search behaviour in 2025, with a small group of public figures accounting for a disproportionate share of online attention, according to an analysis by PlayersTime using Ahrefs search volume data. Sign up for our daily business newslett»»»
Japan, Australia FMs vow multi-layered coop.
TOKYO, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on Monday agreed to promote multi-layered cooperation with like-minded countries, including frameworks such as Japan-US-Australia and the four-nation "Quad" group involving India to realize»»»
Iraq's political future in limbo as factions vie for power
Political factions in Iraq have been maneuvering since the parliamentary election more than a month ago to form alliances that will shape the next government. The November election didn't produce a bloc with a decisive majority, opening the door to a prolonged period of negotiations. The government»»»
Macron ‘betrayed’ Merz – FT
French President Emmanuel Macron “betrayed” Friedrich Merz by failing to back the German chancellor’s push to steal Russian assets frozen in the EU to fund Ukraine, the Financial Times has claimed. Earlier this week, EU leaders failed to agree on the European Commission’s controversial proposal to »»»
India and New Zealand finalize free trade agreement as global uncertainties persist
India and New Zealand announced Monday they have reached a free trade deal, seeking to deepen economic ties and shore up growth at a time of mounting global trade uncertainties. The move comes as New Delhi accelerates efforts to diversify export destinations as part of a broader strategy to offset »»»
Russian LNG Exports to China Rise to Record High
Deliveries more than doubled from 2024 to 1.6 million metric tons last month, Bloomberg reports, citing China Customs Office data. The jump saw Russia overtake Australia to become China’s biggest supplier after Qatar. Australian LNG supplies to China fell by a third from 2024.China started importin»»»
Hezbollah won't hand over 'single bullet' north of Litani, report says
Pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said Monday that Hezbollah will not hand over a single bullet north of the Litani River. The daily said that according to sources the group intends to notify relevant parties of this decision. Hezbollah says the ceasefire with Israel does not cover areas north of t»»»
Is Christmas a public holiday in the UAE? Here’s what you need to know
Dubai: As Christmas approaches and offices across the UAE enter the year-end slowdown, many employees are asking a familiar question: Is Christmas Day a public holiday in the UAE? The short answer is no. Christmas is not listed among the UAE’s official public holidays under the Cabinet resolution r»»»
Shurooq sells 4,000+ units for Dh5.8 billion across Sharjah flagships
Dubai: Shurooq reported Dh5.8 billion in real estate sales with 96% of units sold across three major projects. More than 4,000 units went to local and international buyers in Maryam Island, Sharjah Sustainable City and Ajwan Khorfakkan. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.»»»
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
At a rail yard near Milton Keynes, a group of men in orange outfits are making final checks on huge slabs of railway track, preparing them so that they are ready to be installed over Christmas and New Year. At a time when many commuters stop work to enjoy celebrations with friends and family, rail »»»
Job crisis: Airstrip turns exam hall - 8,000 candidates compete for 187 low-paying government jobs
Thousands of job seekers converged on a small airstrip in Sambalpur district this month for a home guard recruitment exam, transforming the venue into an open-air classroom. According to PTI, more than 8,000 candidates contested just 187 vacancies, highlighting Odisha’s deepening unemployment crisi»»»
UAE clarifies new school admission rule: Age cut-off alone won’t guarantee admission
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education has clarified that meeting the new age cut-off requirement alone will not guarantee school admission for students from the 2026-2027 academic year onwards. The ministry made this crucial clarification while presenting answers to frequently asked questions regard»»»
'Love is not complicated, but don't be desperate': Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday's take on modern romance
Dubai: It was a soggy, chaotic Friday in Dubai when Bollywood’s IT couple, Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, touched down to promote their new rom-com, hitting UAE cinemas on December 26. Rain poured relentlessly, the streets gleamed like Korean glass-skin, and I low-key wondered if my car would sur»»»
Timeline: How the Bondi Beach mass shooting unfolded
Sydney: Australia is reckoning with its deadliest mass shooting in decades after a father and son opened fire on crowds gathered for a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach. Using newly released police allegations, witness testimony, and official statements, AFP pieced together a timeline of the December »»»
Media Review: December 22
POLITICS Trud covers the creation in Nessebar of the Treti Mart [March 3, Bulgaria's Liberation Day] Movement, whose founders describe President Rumen Radev as an informal leader, while Radev distances himself in advance from similar formations. Political scientist Pervan Simeonov says on bTV the n»»»
Israeli FM Urges Jews to Move to Israel a Week After Sydney Attack
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called on Sunday for Jews in Western countries to move to Israel to escape rising antisemitism, one week after 15 were shot dead at a Jewish event in Sydney. "Jews have the right to live in safety everywhere. But we see and fully understand what is happening, an»»»
A dark December: Analysing the convergence of global violence in late 2025
The mid-December period of 2025 has been marked by a tragic convergence of violence across three continents, shattering the festive atmosphere of Hanukkah and the pre-Christmas season. The events at Bondi Beach in Australia, Brown University in the United States, and a cluster of Germany-related ho»»»
Middle East M&A jumps 260% in 2025 driven by diversification push
Dubai: Middle East mergers and acquisitions rebounded sharply in 2025, with deal values surging 260% to $53 billion in the first nine months of the year, defying earlier market volatility and reinforcing the region’s reputation as one of the world’s most resilient dealmaking hubs. Sign up for our d»»»
President Radev Reiterates His Lack of Connection to Treti Mart Movement
President Rumen Radev said at the start of November that the Treti Mart [March 3, Bulgaria's Liberation Day] Movement, the movement for presidential republic as well as any other derivatives have nothing to do with him and the presidential institution, the head of State's press secretariat said on »»»
Iran Does Not Rule Out New Israeli Attacks against it
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said Tehran “does not rule out” the possibility of a new Israeli or US attack on its nuclear facilities, but remains “fully prepared, even more than before.” “This doesn't mean that we welcome another war, but it is exactly to prevent a war. And the »»»
Alleged Bondi shooters conducted 'tactical' training in countryside, Australian police say
The two suspects in a deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach carried out "tactical" training in the countryside, police alleged Monday, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to the country's Jewish community and vowed tougher laws against extremism. Father and son Sajid Akram and N»»»
Mubadala backs Central and Eastern Europe renewables push with €300m deal
Dubai: Mubadala Investment Company committed around €300 million to partner with Actis in Rezolv Energy, a fast-growing renewable platform in Central and Eastern Europe. The deal bolsters Mubadala's clean energy push and aims to position Rezolv as the region's top independent power producer. Sign u»»»
President Dan: I will initiate one question referendum: 'Does CSM act in the public interest?'
President Nicusor Dan announced on Sunday, in a press statement, that he will initiate a referendum in January within the body of magistrates with a single question: 'Does the Superior Council of Magistracy act in the public interest or does it act in the interest of a group within the judicial sys»»»
Alleged Bondi Shooters Conducted ‘Tactical’ Training in Countryside, Police Say
Two suspects in last week's deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach trained for the attack in the countryside, police alleged in court documents Monday, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed tougher laws against hate speech and extremism. Father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed are accused»»»
Russia, US Discussing Architecture of Security in European Direction
Russia and the United States are discussing, among other things, the architecture of security in the European direction, but Europe has no place in this dialogue, Russia's deputy envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Maxim Buyakevich, told Sputnik. "There are ind»»»
Bint Mohaather seals Qatar Oaks honours
Doha, Qatar: Al Jeryan Stud’s Bint Mohaather won the QA Listed Qatar Oaks for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at the QREC’s Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. The day’s feature saw the bay filly double her tally, rewarding a string of recent placed efforts with a decisive success. Settled off the pace fo»»»
S Korea’s critical minerals push faces workforce gap deepen - UPI.com
The Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mining Industry Corporation and universities shared information showing the industry struggles to secure human resources domestically and internationally. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI. Dec. 21 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's drive to strengthen critica»»»
Abu Dhabi’s Modon takes majority stake in 54-storey New Jersey waterfront tower
Dubai: Modon Holding announced a joint venture Monday to develop Harborside 4, a 54-story luxury residential tower on prime waterfront land in downtown Jersey City. The Abu Dhabi-listed group takes a majority equity stake alongside US developers Related Companies and Panepinto Properties. Sign up f»»»
Qatar nears water self-sufficiency through expanded production, storage
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has nearly achieved the level of water self-sufficiency it requires, while continuing to advance plans to expand production plants and increase storage hours to meet future needs. The country also ranks among the best globally in minimising water loss, recording one of the lowest»»»
BOK unveils temporary steps to stabilize FX market as won weakens - UPI.com
A South Korean dealer works in front of monitors at the KEB Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, 09 March 2018. File Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN/ EPA Dec. 19 (Asia Today) -- The Bank of Korea said Thursday it will temporarily ease regulations and offer incentives to financial institutions in a bid to stabi»»»
China’s one-child policy fuels growing elder-care strain - UPI.com
Chinese men play a game of checkers on a sidewalk in Beijing on February 6, 2017. China made its first major change to its "one-child policy" in nearly 30 years to wrestle with a massive shift in its population toward the elderly, who cannot work and need support. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI |»»»
Dubai gold surges to record levels in December rally
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai surged to a new all-time high on Monday morning, tracking the global rally that has pushed the precious metal to its strongest levels in more than four decades. At 7:45 am in Dubai, the 24-karat variety stood at Dh526.50 a gram, while 22-karat gold was priced at Dh487.50»»»
Alex Iwobi says Afcon is a special football tournament
He's played on some of the biggest stages in the world in the Premier League, but Alex Iwobi believes the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is a "special" experience. The tournament will see 24 teams battling for the continental crown across the next couple of weeks. Fulham midfielder Iwobi will repres»»»
Why Indian property developers are expanding into the UAE
Dubai: Indian property developers are expanding their presence in the UAE at a faster pace, drawn by regulatory clarity, strong demand from global buyers and a market structure that rewards execution over scale. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Executives from Indian re»»»
A memorial ends - but Bondi tragedy has left Australia reeling, again
As helicopters circled overhead, sirens descended on her suburb, and people ran screaming down her street on 14 December, Mary felt a grim sense of deja vu. "That was when I knew there was something seriously wrong – again," she says, her eyes brimming with tears. Mary - who did not want to give he»»»
Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.6 billion for Monday drawing - UPI.com
Signs for the Powerball lottery jackpot are displayed on Second Avenue in New York City, in 2023. The grand prize has climbed to $1.6 billion for Saturday's jackpot after 45 consecutive drawings with no winners. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The Powerball jackpot»»»
Australia holds national day of reflection one week after Bondi Beach massacre - UPI.com
Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard attends the National Day of Reflection vigil and commemoration for the victims and survivors of the Bondi Massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, 21 December 2025. Photo by Dean Lewins/EPA Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Seven days after a mass shooting devastate»»»
In rebel-held Myanmar, civilians face devastating air strikes and a sham election
Late one night last month Iang Za Kim heard explosions in a neighbouring village, then fighter jets flying overhead. She ran out of her home to see smoke rising from a distance. "We were terrified. We thought the junta's planes would bomb us too. So we grabbed what we could – some food and clothes »»»
QF’s BilAraby advances dialogue at Al Sharq Youth 9th Int’l Conference 2025 in Istanbul
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Foundation’s BilAraby initiative participated in the Al Sharq Youth 9th International Conference 2025, marking a further step in expanding its regional engagement and reinforcing its role as a platform for Arabic-language knowledge, creativity and innovation. BilArab»»»