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»»»

Bangkok: The latest round of Thailand-Cambodia conflict has left at least 19 Thai soldiers and 19 Thai civilians dead, with over 270,000 people displaced, Thailand's defense ministry announced on Wednesday. The ministry's spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said that from Tuesday night to early Wednesda»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The Prime Minister has said Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich must "pay up now" to victims of the war in Ukraine or face court action. Mr Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, pledged in 2022 that money from the sale of the club would be used to benefit victims of the Russian invas»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Police have arrested a 52-year-old male teacher in Tondo, Manila, for allegedly maltreating a student whom he reportedly forced to consume a cockroach to ensure his silence regarding a separate molestation incident. The suspect, identified by authorities only as 'Nel,' was apprehended by Man»»»

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»»»

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.»»»

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»»»

Six Canadian members of parliament, along with a delegation of 24 other people, were denied entry by Israel to the occupied West Bank on Tuesday while trying to cross the border from Jordan. The group were attempting to enter as part of a trip to Israel and the West Bank sponsored by non-profit org»»»

Nestlé Egypt CEO and Chairman, Yasser Abdul Malak stated: “Nestlé has been delighting consumers in Egypt since 1870 and we have strong roots in the country where we have long been an integral part of the local community. Over the past 4 years, Nestlé Egypt has invested close to 1 Billion EGP behind»»»

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»»»

Ukraine attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure extended into a fifth day overnight with a drone strike on an oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai. The strikes are part of a campaign targeting Russia's war-fighting ability by attacking the infrasructure it depends on for fuel, munitions and other criti»»»

Dubai: In a city that never stops innovating, Rashed Al Mansoori found inspiration in something deeply traditional, the abaya. From that simple yet powerful symbol of Emirati identity, he built 3bayti, an app created to give Emirati women a bigger stage for their creativity and businesses. “I just »»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) announced the listing of Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) Sukuk on the Sukuk and Debt Instruments Market, marking a landmark milestone as the first Islamic Sukuk to be listed in the Exchange’s history. This achievement reflects the continued developmen»»»

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»»»

Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Park Zoo and Resort (EPZR) has launched a complimentary shuttle service from Al Wahda Mall, aimed at making visits more convenient for families, residents and tourists.The initiative comes as part of a year-long partnership between the zoo and the mall. Operating every Friday, »»»

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»»»

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»»»

The General Headquarters of Ajman Police has introduced a simple, one-step service for obtaining a parking permit for People of Determination through the Ajman Police smart app, as part of its zero-bureaucracy initiatives and efforts to streamline government procedures. Colonel Abdullah Humaid Al M»»»

by Maye Kabil Fears of a China-led slowdown in global economic growth are leading financial markets, two weeks after the Chinese decision to devaluate the Yuan. Shares are falling across the globe on increased signs of China’s economic troubles, which have spurred competitive devaluations in emergi»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: CEO of the Qatar Media Corporation HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al-Thani received today in his office Director General of the Gulf Radio and Television Corporation HE Majri Al Qahtani. During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance media integration and cooperation amo»»»

The Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Brussels today to take part in the EU–Western Balkans Summit, bringing together leaders from the Western Balkans and senior representatives of the European Union. Rama was received in a meeting by the President of the European Council, António Costa. The Albanian p»»»

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»»»

Brigadier Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Community Happiness at Dubai Police, chaired a key coordination meeting of the Joint Media Team for Dubai’s New Year 2026 celebrations. The session brought together representatives from government, semi-government, and private»»»

Greek prosecutors have filed felony charges against an alleged Greek cocaine trafficker and four others in connection with the drug-laden fishing vessel Ourania, authorities said. The alleged ringleader appeared at the prosecutor’s office wearing a bulletproof vest, while investigators believe the »»»

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 »»»

Paddy Power Betfair has agreed to pay £2m for failing to step in quickly enough when customers appeared to be problem gambling. The Gambling Commission identified instances where the bookie did not intervene soon enough to customers engaging in harmful gambling behaviour, including when one custome»»»

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»»»

As the festive season approaches, homes across the UAE are beginning to sparkle with lights, ornaments and Christmas trees – a tradition embraced by the Christian community in the country and increasingly by local retailers catering to every budget and taste. From hypermarkets and home stores to va»»»

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»»»

DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met on Wednesday in his office at Lusail Palace with Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States of America, Kristi Noem, and her accompanying delegation, who are visiting the country. The meeting discussed »»»

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»»»

Skopje, 15 December 2025 (MIA) - Wizz Air is set to launch the Skopje-Prague flight at the Skopje International Airport on Monday. Deputy PM and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski announced the flight over the summer, alongside the airline's other destinations that were set to launch by the en»»»

Dubai: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s investment arm, XRG P.J.S.C., has secured near-total control of Covestro AG, holding about 95.10% of the company’s voting rights, according to recent regulatory filings in Germany. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The disclosures,»»»

Police in northeastern Spain carried out eviction orders Wednesday to clear an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants were living in a squat north of Barcelona. Knowing that the eviction in the middle of winter was coming, most of the occupants had left to try to f»»»

White Image, Romania’s longest-established email marketing company, has launched the Customer Loyalty Index, a large-scale analysis based on aggregated data from campaigns run for brands in retail, financial services, e-commerce, and B2B. The index analyses post-purchase consumer behaviour in Roman»»»