Russia hits back at Europe's big plan to loan Moscow's frozen cash to Ukraine
Ukraine is running out of cash to keep its military and its economy going, after almost four years of Russia's full-scale war. For Europe, the solution to plugging Kyiv's budget hole of €135.7bn (£119bn; $159bn) for the next two years lies in frozen Russian assets sitting in Belgian bank Euroclear »»»
Kairos Refloating Stays on Track, Government Allocates BGN 1.2m for Tow
The operation to refloat the tanker Kairos, which ran aground near Ahtopol, is proceeding on schedule and without delays, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said on Friday. The government approved BGN 1.2 million to finance the operation, and the agreement with the selected contractor is »»»
Massive fire ravages Manila residential area, leaves 500 families homeless
Manila: A devastating fire erupted in a densely-packed residential neighbourhood in Barangay Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong City, on Friday (December 12, 2025). Local media showed towering flames and thick black smoke engulfing rows of closely spaced homes, illuminating the evening night sky with an o»»»
Samat Isabekov appointed Director of EEC Customs Infrastructure Department - | 24.KG
Samat Isabekov has been appointed Director of the Customs Infrastructure Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). The organization’s official website says. He assumed his duties on December 10, 2025. Samat Isabekov was born in 1972. He graduated from the Kyrgyz National University with»»»
Consumer prices up four percent in November: statistics
Skopje, 9 December 2025 (MIA) - The Consumer Price Index in November, compared to the same month in 2024, increased by four percent, while the Retail Price Index increased by three percent, said the State Statistical Office on Tuesday. Inflation measured through the Consumer Price Index in November»»»
Hell unleashed at Hungarian psychiatric clinic: Patient seriously injured in brutal attack
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Co-financing agreement for €3.6 million inked with KfW for smart industrial zone in Monastir
Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP) – A co-financing agreement worth €3.6 million (around TND 12 million) has been signed with the German Development Bank (KfW) for the development of the new smart industrial zone of Ras El-Marj in the governorate of Monastir. The...»»»
Italy's national strike called by main union disrupts transport and school services
A national strike called on Friday by Italy's largest trade union in protest against the government's budget plans widely disrupted transportation, health and school services across the country. The protest, which targets the 2026 budget bill proposed by the conservative government of Premier Giorg»»»
Bulgaria’s Workforce Hits 3.7 Million as Productivity Sees Modest Gains
Preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) show that Bulgaria employed 3,726,500 people in the third quarter of 2025. Total hours worked reached 1,467.5 million, while GDP per employee rose by 0.7% in real terms compared with the same period in 2024, indicating a modest increase»»»
Over 92% of Bulgarian Households Now Connected to the Internet
In 2025, Bulgaria is set to record another increase in the number of households connected to the internet. Fresh figures from the National Statistical Institute show that 92.8% of households have home access, with connectivity almost universal in urban areas at 94.9%. In rural settlements, the shar»»»
Parliament Holds Nearly Two-Hour Debate on Zhelyazkov Cabinet's Resignation
MPs spent nearly two hours debating the draft resolution to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his Cabinet on Friday. The resignation was accepted unanimously, with all 227 MPs voting in favor. The debate centered on who should bear responsibility for next year’s budget. »»»
Syrian-American Jews register first Jewish NGO in Syria to restore heritage
A group of Syrian-American Jews have registered a nongovernmental organization in Syria in a bid to restore Jewish heritage in a country where the once-sizable religious minority has shrunk to almost nothing. "Jewish Syrians are an integral part of the Syrian fabric," Syrian Minister of Social Affa»»»
Trump says some countries 'volunteering' to 'take care of Hezbollah'
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that there are “countries that wanna come in and take care of Hezbollah in Lebanon.” “And I say that right now you don’t have to do that -- you may have to do that. We have countries that are volunteering to literally come in and take care of the whole thing. We»»»
Report: Israel to wage large-scale offensive if Hezbollah not disarmed
The state-run Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported late Thursday that the Israeli army finalized a plan in recent weeks to launch a large-scale offensive against Hezbollah positions should the Lebanese government and army fail to dismantle the party's weapons before the end of 2025. It »»»
Former Iraqi president Salih appointed new UN refugee agency chief: UN source
Geneva: Former Iraqi president Barham Salih will become the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from January, a UN source told AFP on Friday. Salih was president of Iraq from 2018 to 2022. He takes over as the UN refugees chief from Filippo Grandi, who is leaving at the end of Decemb»»»
UK's King Charles to give personal TV message about cancer 'journey'
London: Britain's King Charles III, who has broken royal taboos to speak openly about battling cancer, will appear Friday in a "personal message" filmed for a TV campaign raising funds for research into the devastating disease. Charles, 77, announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with»»»
Match for Hope 2026 final showdown tickets now on sale
Doha, Qatar: Q Life platform announced that tickets for the eagerly anticipated third edition of the Match for Hope charity football match are now on sale at www.match4hope.com. Scheduled to take place on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the iconic Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Match for Hope 2026 is »»»
This holiday season isn't very merry for US consumers
This holiday season isn't quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut under President Donald Trump, a new AP-NORC poll finds. The vast majority of U.S. adults say they've noticed higher t»»»
Etihad Airways carries 2.1 million passengers in November
Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways carried 2.1 million passengers in November 2025, marking a 28 per cent increase compared with the same month last year and setting a new monthly record for the airline this year. The national carrier sustained strong operational performance, with a passenger load factor of»»»
President Radev to Launch Government Formation Consultations on Dec. 15
President Rumen Radev will begin consultations with the parliamentary groups in the National Assembly on Monday, December 15, as part of the process of forming a new regular government, the head of State’s press secretariat said on Friday. The consultations will start at 10 a.m. on Monday with repr»»»
Zelensky says White House has proposed economic buffer zone in Donetsk - UPI.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) said he and his foreign policy team held a "a constructive and in-depth discussion" on security guarantees with senior U.S. officials on Thursday, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff»»»
Former Terraform CEO Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for crypto scheme - UPI.com
Police officers escort South Korean crypto mogul Do Kwon (C) to a holding facility pending his extradition in Podgorica, Montenegro, on March 23, 2024. A U.S. judge sentenced Kwon to 15 years in prison Thursday for a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. File Photo by Boris Pejovic/EPA-EFE Dec. 12 (UPI»»»
Trump says he will pardon jailed elections clerk, but state officials say he cannot
US President Donald Trump said he has pardoned former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence for allowing unauthorised access to voting machines during the 2020 presidential election. Peters was convicted last year on seven state charges, including three counts of»»»
Unlocking extra muros land investments: The legal limits of payment in lieu of price and why compliance matters | Ijdelea & Associates analysis
Investors and project developers increasingly look to Romania to secure large land plots for renewable energy projects, storage facilities, logistics parks and manufacturing/production facilities. Yet, land acquisition in extra muros areas, particularly agricultural land, is governed by a unique le»»»
BR Shetty case: New ruling from Abu Dhabi court opens door to bank dealings
Abu Dhabi: NMC Healthcare and its administrators have won a major court ruling in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) that will let them see Bank of Baroda’s internal reports on suspected suspicious transactions in their case against NMC founder B.R. Shetty, Gulf News can reveal. Sign up for our daily b»»»
Eurovision winner hands back trophy over Israel participation
Swiss singer Nemo announced on Thursday that he is returning his 2024 Eurovision Song Contest trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in the competition. Nemo, who won last year’s contest with the song ‘The Code’, said on Thursday that the trophy “no longer belongs on my shelf.” “Eu»»»
British banks oppose push to steal frozen Russian assets – FT
British bankers have pushed back against plans to use the frozen Russian assets they hold to fund a loan for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Kiev’s Western backers froze about $300 billion in Russian central bank assets after the conflict escalated in 2022. UK banks hold around £»»»
Aldabaiba defends subsidies, grants, overspending, over-employment – will support housing but not corruption
Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba participated yesterday, in the Government Communication Forum as part of the Tripoli Media Days events, in a move, the Tripoli government says, aims at further strengthening communication between the government and citizens and developing c»»»
Report on Bulgaria's Bird Species: 28% Growing in Number, 27% Shrinking, 22% Stable in 2005-2025
A report on the changes in the populations of 82 bird species in Bulgaria in the 2005-2025 period shows that 27% of the species are declining, 22% are stable, 28% are increasing, and 23% are undetermined. The overall bird index in the country declined by 12% for the entire period. The data, collect»»»
Former Iraqi president Salih appointed new UNHCR chief
Geneva: Former Iraqi president Barham Salih will become the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a UN source told AFP on Friday, taking over an agency tackling swingeing budget cuts. Salih was president of Iraq from 2018 to 2022. He will take over as UN refugees chief next month from»»»
Businessman Shakib Uddin receives honourable UAE golden visa
Bangladeshi youth entrepreneur Md. Shakib Uddin has been awarded an honorary ‘Golden Visa’ by the UAE government in recognition of his business achievements and contributions. For a long time, he has been running a global trade and real estate business in Dubai. The Dubai government granted him thi»»»
Disguises, freezing waves, and a plane: Inside the operation to sneak Nobel winner Machado out of Venezuela
The rescue operation to get Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado out of Venezuela involved disguises, two boats through choppy seas and a flight, the man who says he led it told the BBC. Dubbed Operation Golden Dynamite, the dangerous journey was cold, wet and long -»»»
Vucic: Serbian Armed Forces not same as they were ten years ago
NIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday in Nis the Serbian Armed Forces were not the same as they were ten years ago, especially when it comes to arms and equipment. "Only the emblems are the same, and the rest is not comparable, either when it comes to personnel or equipment. At th»»»
One of Hungary's most beautiful Christmas charity stages vandalised: police searching for these young perpetrators
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Sri Lanka: Cyclone aftermath disrupts economic recovery – DW – 12/12/2025
BusinessSri LankaSri Lanka: Cyclone aftermath disrupts economic recovery Murali KrishnanCyclone Ditwah has devastated critical infrastructure and disrupted key sectors, threatening Sri Lanka's already fragile economic recovery program. https://p.dw.com/p/55EnnThe UN estimates over 16,000 kilometers»»»
Iraqi ex-president on track to lead UN refugee agency
Former Iraqi President Barham Salih is on track to become the next head of the U.N. refugee agency, according to a letter from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres shared with The Associated Press on Friday. Salih, 65, is set to succeed longtime UNHCR veteran Filippo Grandi as the U.N. High Comm»»»
Russia's Central Bank sues Euroclear as EU mulls using Moscow's frozen assets
Russia's Central Bank has filed a lawsuit against Belgian financial institution Euroclear, the Brussels-based clearing house that holds most of Moscow's frozen assets in Europe, the bank said Friday. It wasn't immediately clear what the lawsuit could achieve since it was filed in Moscow. The Europe»»»
Israel bans mobile phones in primary schools
Jerusalem: Israel will ban children from using mobile phones in primary schools from February, the education ministry’s website said Friday, emphasising the devices’ “negative effects” on students. In implementing the ban, Israel will join a growing number of countries moving to prevent children fr»»»
Trump signs AI de-regulation order
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to curb individual state-level regulation of artificial intelligence, until a nationwide policy is adopted. A fragmented legal landscape threatens America’s AI competitiveness compared to China, the US federal government has said. The »»»
Everyone in Ukraine except Zelensky ‘loved’ my plan – Trump
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Ukrainian people supported his peace proposal, which was rejected by Vladimir Zelensky. Trump previously said the Ukrainian leader was “losing” ground to Russia and urged him to hold elections, since his five-year presidential term expired in May 2024.»»»
Farmers clash with police as dozens of cows culled in France due to skin disease
Police used tear gas to disperse protesting farmers on Friday as veterinarians moved in to cull over 200 cows infected with nodular dermatitis, or lumpy skin disease, at a farm in southern France. The deadly outbreak, which cannot be passed to humans, has sparked fears among locals and highlighted »»»
EC: Decisions on Bulgaria's Eurozone Accession Have Already Been Adopted, It Will Introduce Euro on January 1
The decisions regarding Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone have already been adopted and will remain in force, a spokesperson for the European Commission said Friday at a press conference in response to a question about whether a change could occur before January 1 next year due to the political »»»
Lululemon boss to step down early next year
The boss of Lululemon Athletica, the brand known for its expensive yoga leggings and other sports clothing, is to leave the company early next year. Calvin McDonald, the firm's chief executive, will depart at the end of January after more than seven years at the helm. The decision comes amid a run »»»
CBS Governor: Repeal of Caesar Act a key for Syria’s monetary and economic stability
Damascus, Dec. 12 (SANA) The governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Husariya , said the U.S. repeal of the “Caesar Act” constitutes a pivotal moment that is expected to positively influence Syria’s monetary and economic stability. “If the repeal of the Caesar Act may appear miraculous, »»»
Holidays, fees, online classes: Parents split as UAE schools prepare for early Friday closures
Parents are divided over how schools should adapt to the nationwide shift of Friday prayer time to 12:45 pm starting January 2026 – a change that could push school pick-ups even earlier than the current 12 pm dismissal. As education regulators gather feedback before issuing final guidelines, scores»»»
Qatar adopts new generation vehicle licence plate, replacement to happen in phases
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior announced the launch of a project to replace existing vehicle number plates with newly developed plates featuring an enhanced design that aligns with the best international standards and supports modern technologies used in smart traffic systems. This national »»»
Business Days: Tunisia committed to moving ahead with reforms to improve business environment [ update1]
Tunis, Dec. 12 (TAP)- Tunisia is committed to moving ahead with reforms to improve the business environment and address obstacles encountered by local and foreign investors as enterprises are the driver of growth and national wealth, said Minister...»»»
Germany accuses Russia of 2024 cyber-attack and disinformation
Germany has accused Russia of a cyber-attack on air traffic control and attempted electoral interference, and summoned the Russian ambassador. A foreign ministry spokesman said Russian military intelligence was behind a "cyber-attack against German air traffic control in August 2024". The spokesman»»»