Bulgaria is moving toward another early parliamentary election in spring 2026, after political formations in the current National Assembly confirmed to President Rumen Radev that forming a new government within this legislature is unfeasible. In the meantime, MPs approved an “extended budget,” allo»»»

Dubai: As Imran Khan’s name trends once again in global headlines, we are revisiting an older interview conducted by Gulf News, with his former wife, writer and producer Jemima Goldsmith. She was married to the former Pakistani cricketer and former Prime Minister in her early twenties. The conversa»»»

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev described 2025 as a pivotal year for the Bulgarian Air Force, marking the start of a new era with the arrival of the first eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets at Graf Ignatievo Air Base in southern Bulgaria. He was s»»»

Police in London arrested two people who called for “intifada” during a pro-Palestinian protest, which followed a decision by authorities to toughen enforcement of hate speech laws after a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. The arrests Wednesday came hours after police in London »»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have warned motorists to exercise heightened caution during periods of rain and unstable weather, urging drivers to avoid entering valleys and watercourses while they are flowing, regardless of the perceived level of risk. The advisory comes as part of national efforts t»»»

Thursday's news media are dominated by the topics of legal changes on Bulgarians' second pension and the extension of the 2025 state budget into 2026. ECONOMY 24 Chasa reports on its front page that Bulgarians' second pension will be increased by linking it to the minimum wage. Under amendments to »»»

Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon on Thursday as a deadline looms to disarm the militant Hezbollah group along the tense frontier. The strikes came a day before a meeting of the committee monitoring the enforcement of a US-brokered ceasefire that halted »»»

Share: Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army’s operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo French, Saudi Arabian and Amer»»»

The parliamentary group of Velichie on Thursday issued a declaration calling for the resignation of the Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsman. The statement was read from the rostrum of the National Assembly by Velichie MP Larisa Savova. The declaration is based on a series of verifiable facts which, »»»

Dubai: Dubai government employees will shift to remote working on Friday, December 19, following directives from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, in response to prevailing weather conditions. The decision applie»»»

Manila: Fugitive former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co transferred approximately ₱5 billion (equivalent to around $100 million) overseas using cryptocurrency, based on intelligence from Co’s own associates, according to a senior official. Department of the Interior and Loca»»»

Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority opened bidding for 90 distinctive 2, 3, 4 and 5-digit vehicle plates in its 120th Open Auction, spotlighting rare super numbers like AA 25, BB 12 and BB 30. Plates from codes AA, BB, CC, K, N, O, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z go live Saturday December 27 at »»»

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will crack down on hate speech following Sunday's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Jewish festival. Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire at an event to mark the first day of Hanukkah. New laws will target»»»

Dubai: The sons of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan have revealed plans to visit Pakistan in January, as they expressed deep concern over the conditions in which their father is being held. Kasim and Suleiman Khan, speaking to Sky News’ Yalda Hakim from London, described the ex-pre»»»

Bulgaria has indicated that it will back the use of frozen Russian assets to fund a loan for Ukraine, provided that such a measure is agreed upon by other European Union (EU) countries. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov made the stance clear during remarks to journalists in Brussels on Wednesday. The»»»

With the background of global prices of a barrel of oil (Brent Crude) falling to US$ 55, negatively affecting the Libyan state’s main revenue, the Libyan dinar on the black-market at one stage yesterday falling to LD 8.40 per US$ putting further pressure on rising commodity prices, and the continui»»»

Sydney: Australia’s prime minister vowed to stamp out extremism Thursday as the nation mourned the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach shooting, a 10-year-old girl remembered as “our little ray of sunshine”. Father-and-son gunmen are accused of firing into crowds at a beachside Jewish festival on Su»»»

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appears at a military court in central Seoul on Thursday. (Photo by Yonhap) Ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday apologized to key military commanders who are standing trial for their involvement in his failed martial law bid, defending their action as th»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Government has issued a Federal Decree-Law establishing and regulating the National Media Authority, aimed at developing the national media ecosystem, enhancing its integration with evolving media trends, and strengthening the country’s media presence regionally and international»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday evening the official approval of a major natural gas agreement with Egypt. During a press conference, Netanyahu stated: ‘We are actively extracting gas from our territorial waters, and our economy remains one of the strongest in the w»»»

Israeli strikes targeted Thursday heights in Jouroud al-Hermel in eastern Lebanon and several other regions in the south. In the east, the strikes targeted Zaghrine. In the south, the Israeli military struck Iqlim al-Tuffah, al-Jabbour and al-Rihan heights, and Zawtar near the Litani river. Despite»»»

Dubai: The UAE’s Federal National Council (FNC) has approved 16 recommendations aimed at strengthening national birth rates, forwarding them to the government for consideration following earlier deliberations held in the presence of ministers and senior officials. The recommendations, discussed dur»»»

Aleppo, Dec. 18 (SANA) The Aleppo Palace of Justice hosted Thursday the second public hearing in the trial of defendants accused of violations during events in Syria’s coastal region. Judge Jomaa al-Anzi, head of the National Independent Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding into the coastal»»»

In a live interview from Brussels, Prime Minister Orbán declared the European Union’s proposal to hand over frozen Russian assets to Ukraine a "dead issue" and "nothing short of a declaration of war." The prime minister underscored Hungary’s rejection of any plan that could implicate the country in»»»

Parents (or adoptive parents) of children up to the age of 12 will be entitled to flexible working hours throughout the year, following the National Assembly’s final approval of amendments to the Labour Code at second reading. The initial proposal foresaw this option only during the summer school h»»»

Dubai: Prepare for a wet and windy day. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has confirmed that the UAE is entering the peak of the 'Al Bashayer' low-pressure system today, Thursday, December 18. While parts of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have already witnessed heavy downpours and hail this morn»»»

Abu Dhabi: All government departments and authorities in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with their partners, have announced heightened readiness and the mobilisation of emergency teams to deal with the expected weather conditions. Authorities affirmed that field teams are fully prepared to respond to a»»»

Two drill rappers from Liverpool who were seen carrying guns and parading with troops in Somalia during a cross-border clan conflict could be questioned by police upon their return to the UK, the BBC has learned. British citizens Abdifatah Gulaid, 31, and Noah Ihiekwe, 30, travelled to the north-ea»»»

Residents in the remote Turkmen village of Bokurdak have long depended on the Karakum Desert for their livelihoods, cultivating every square meter they can in a constant battle with nature. It is a battle that some fear they are now losing. Over recent years, large dunes have started encroaching on»»»

Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Thursday that guarantees offered by the EU over a plan to use Russian assets for Ukraine are so far "insufficient". "Belgium will not accept a solution where we are the only one bearing both the risks and the responsibility," De Wever told Belgian lawmakers»»»

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference a day after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, December 15, 2025. On Thursday, he announced plans to crack down on hate speech. Photo by Steven Markham/EPA Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Austral»»»

Israeli troops fired a mortar shell over the ceasefire line into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials said at least 10 people were wounded, and the army said it was investigating. The military said the mo»»»

Arab female film directors have helped change the landscape of Arab cinema in recent years, presenting stories that haven't been told before and claiming space in an industry in a region that rarely makes room for women to grow. Four influential female directors took part in this year's Red Sea Fil»»»

For the first time, The Trading Festival will take place alongside the iFX EXPO! A high-energy event built for traders who want to start 2026 ahead of the curve. Running 10–12 February 2026 the Festival lands in the middle of the region’s busiest financial week, when global brokers, platforms, prop»»»

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan met of Wednesday at the Victoria Palace with representatives of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC), in the context of Government consultations for the legislation required to prepare the state budget for 2026.According to a Government release, the discussions focused on»»»

DOHA: Mediators involved in the Gaza process are scheduled to convene tomorrow (Friday) to develop a comprehensive vision for moving to the second phase, aiming to ensure a smooth transition and sustain progress in ongoing negotiations. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Moha»»»

New York: The five European countries serving as members of the United Nations Security Council praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkiye to achieve a ceasefire and advance the 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip. This was stated in a joint press releas»»»

Dubai: A mixed-breed rescue dog named Brody has captured the hearts of Dubai’s pet lovers after starring as Sandy in Annie the Musical at Zabeel Theatre. After being badly injured in a dog fight in Sharjah, Brody, fresh from his theatre debut, is now in an adoption trial seeking his forever home. T»»»

Abu Dhabi: In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters and several strategic partners, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has launched the “Winter Safety” campaign. The initiative aims to raise community awareness of seasonal accident risks and encourage safe practices during»»»

On the way to Brussels for the European Council summit, Prime Minister Orbán warned that despite a long and diverse agenda, the coming days will be defined by a single, decisive question: war or peace. At the center of the discussions is whether the European Union should provide further support to »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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 »»»