Miami Talks Aim to Bridge Gaps in Gaza Deal’s Second Phase
Mediators are convening for fresh talks in Miami, Florida, as efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement remain stalled, months after the truce came into effect on Oct. 10. The meeting, which mediators say will focus on outlining a framework for the next phase, comes amid a»»»
Removed Ben & Jerry's chair says Magnum aimed to 'smear' her
The ousted chair of Ben & Jerry's has accused the company which owns the brand of threatening to launch a public smear campaign against her. Anuradha Mittal, who chaired Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, told the BBC that Magnum had threatened to publish "defamatory statements" about»»»
Low-cost airline group emerges in Mexico - UPI.com
Aero,exico remain Mexico's flagship carrier, but faces competition from low-cost carriers. File Photo by Jose Mendez/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Mexican low-cost airlines Volaris and Viva Aerobus announced an agreement to create a new holding company through a merger of equals -- a deal aimed at expanding»»»
Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over security camp attack
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Pakistan summoned the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission on Friday and issued strong demarche to the Taliban regime on terrorist attacks against Pakistan, perpetrated from Afghan soil targeting a security forces camp in tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhw»»»
Wisconsin GOP tells Judge Hannah Dugan: Resign or be impeached - UPI.com
Two Wisconsin Republican lawmakers on Friday told Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan to resign or be impeached after being convicted of felony obstruction in federal court on Thursday. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Wisconsin's Republican leaders will begin»»»
Paris court rules against suspension of Shein after doll controversy - UPI.com
A man protests the opening of Shein's first physical store in BHV building in Paris on Nov. 5. On Friday, a Paris court declined a government request to suspend the website's operation in France. File Photo by Teresa Suarez/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A Paris court denied an effort by the French governmen»»»
Bahrain: Lifting the “Caesar Act” supports Syria’s efforts to boost reconstruction
Manama , Dec. 19 (SANA) The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the U.S. administration’s decision to lift sanctions imposed on Syria under the “Caesar Act,” praising the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump in this regard.“The Kingdom of Bahrain congratulates Syria on the issuance of this important deci»»»
Tourists to face €2 fee to get near Rome's Trevi Fountain
Tourists in Italy's capital Rome will soon have to pay a €2 (£1.75; $2.34) entrance fee if they want to see its famed Trevi Fountain up close. The new barrier for visitors to view the Baroque monument will come into force from 1 February 2026. While the coins tossed into the fountain are donated to»»»
Hunger watch group: Gaza is out of famine, but still critical - UPI.com
Palestinians crowd to receive hot meals in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, Gaza, in June. A hunger watch group said Friday that Gaza is no longer in famine, but there is still critical food insecurity. File Photo by Anas Deeb/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An international hunger watchdog g»»»
Overdue library book returned after 36 years of world travel - UPI.com
Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An overdue library book was returned to the Chantilly Regional Library after 36 years and a trip to Greece. The Fairfax County Library system posted about the book's return on Facebook Thursday. Harry the Dirty Dog was initially checked out by Nov. 6, 1989 by diplomats living in D.»»»
Talking Europe - 'We cannot accept an enormous gap in standards between EU and Mercosur': COPA-COGECA's Tsiforou
Farmers in the EU have protested on many occasions over unfair foreign competition and the viability of their businesses. They gathered again in Brussels on December 18, while an EU summit was going on, this time focusing their ire on the Mercosur free trade agreement between the EU and Latin Ameri»»»
QREC announces staging Oaks Qatar Sunday, Qatar International Derby Saturday
Doha: The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) announced today that it will stage the Qatar Oaks race on Sunday, at Al Rayyan Racecourse. In a statement, the club said that the Qatar International Derby will be held as scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, while the Qatar Oaks has been confirmed for Sun»»»
Zelensky calls meetikng with Nawrocki ‘bad news for Russia’ - UPI.com
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the Ukraine War and matters between Ukraine and Poland while at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday. Photo by Pawel Supernak Poland Out/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Ze»»»
New regulations for veterinary practices in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has issued a resolution regulating veterinary medical practices in Abu Dhabi, in line with its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of veterinary services and strengthen the biosecurity system. The resolution aims to ensure anima»»»
State Sec.: US gives top priority to truce in Sudan
WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on Friday that Washington is exerting strenuous efforts to reach a humanitarian truce in Sudan, early January, that allows humanitarian organizations to urgently offer aid to civilians.Speaking to reporters in a news conference»»»
Trump to campaign for Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Former President Donald Trump and Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, greet the crowd at the North Carolina Republican Convention in Greenville, N.C., on June 5, 2021. Now-President Trump will travel to Rocky Mount, N.C. on Friday to campaign for Whatley, who »»»
Richard Moth to lead Roman Catholic church in England, Wales - UPI.com
Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile as he arrives for the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on May 21. He appointed Bishop Richard Moss as the new leader of the Roman Catholic church in England on Friday. Photo by Angelo Carconi/EFE Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV on Fr»»»
Australian PM announces plan to buy guns from public after Bondi attack
The Australian government has announced plans for a national gun buyback following last week’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The scheme is expected to take hundreds of thousands of weapons out of circulation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday. The Bondi Beach shooting left at»»»
Denmark accuses Russia of supporting cyberattacks on water, elections - UPI.com
Danish Defense Intelligence Service, led by Director Thomas Ahrenkiel, said that Russia was behind two recent cyberattacks. File Photo by Emil Helms/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Danish government Friday said that Russia is behind two cyberattacks in 2024 and this year that were "destructive and disrupt»»»
Gaza no longer in famine but UN-backed experts warn 'situation remains critical'
There is no longer famine in Gaza thanks to improved aid access, but the war-ravaged territory still faces emergency conditions, a UN-backed global hunger monitor said on Friday, with around 1.6 million people forecast to face "crisis" levels of food insecurity over the coming months. A famine decl»»»
Asharq Al-Awsat Publishes Outline of Lebanon’s Deposit Repayment Plan
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is pushing to secure approval for a draft law aimed at resolving the fate of bank deposits frozen since the country’s financial collapse in 2019, proposing full repayment of deposits below $100,000 over four years and the conversion of larger sums into long term»»»
Egypt's prime minister links Lebanon’s stability to Arab security - UPI.com
Mostafa Madbouly vows to avert Israeli escalation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) shakes hands with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday. Photo by Lebanese Presidency Press Occie/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- E»»»
Asharq Al-Awsat Publishes Outline of Lebanon’s Bank Deposit Repayment Plan
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is pushing to secure approval for a draft law aimed at resolving the fate of bank deposits frozen since the country’s financial collapse in 2019, proposing full repayment of deposits below $100,000 over four years and the conversion of larger sums into long term»»»
Erika Kirk endorses JD Vance for president at tense conservative event
The widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has said the Turning Point USA organisation he founded will help elect JD Vance for president in 2028, although Vance, the current US vice-president, has yet to announce he is running. Erika Kirk's endorsement on Thursday came on the opening day of Tu»»»
Journalists Stand Up for bTV Hosts as Media Freedom Concerns Rise
Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) called on journalists and the public to join a protest in solidarity with bTV morning show hosts Maria Tsantsarova and Zlatimir Yochev on Friday. The group said the action will be held outside the broadcaster’s newsroom amid reports that»»»
Chile to offer satellite coverage on mobile phones - UPI.com
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 of its Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo SANTIAGE, Chile, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Chile has become the first country in Latin America to offer satellite coverage for mobile phones, enabling co»»»
Deputy AG Todd Blanche: DOJ won't release all Epstein files by Friday deadline - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche participates in a roundtable at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 23. He said the Justice Department doesn't have all files related to the Epstein case ready to be released by the Friday deadline. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Ph»»»
Justice Department to file appeal to block Harvard research funds - UPI.com
The Department of Justice filed a notice today saying it intends to appeal a ruling that said it couldn't withhold research grants. File Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice is appealing a ruling that prevents it from freezing federal research funding to Harvard. U.S. »»»
UK sanctions militia groups over violence against Syrian civilians
The UK has announced sanctions against militia leaders and groups it says were involved in violence against civilians in Syria. Three groups and four commanders have had their assets frozen over their involvement in suspected atrocities during clashes in coastal regions which saw about 1,400 killed»»»
3 killed in stabbing attack on Taiwan metro - UPI.com
On Friday, Taiwanese investigators inspect the premises after several smoke grenades were set off inside the Taipei Main Station in Taipei, Taiwan. Such attacks are uncommon in Taiwan, where violent crime is rare. Taipei last saw a similar incident more than ten years ago in 2014. Photo Provided by»»»
Foreign Minister participates in Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo
Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, will participate in the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held in Cairo, Egypt, on December 19–20, following...»»»
BSP Leader Zafirov: If We Receive Third Cabinet-Forming Mandate, We Will Discuss It and Decide Whether to Return It
Speaking on bTV on Friday, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Atanas Zafirov said that if they receive the third government-forming mandate, they will discuss it and decide whether to return it. Under the Constitution, the third exploratory mandate goes to a p»»»
Rainfall across most regions Friday night
Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP) - The weather will remain mostly cloudy on Friday night, with rain across most regions, occasionally thundery and locally heavy, especially in the eastern areas of the north and centre, according to forecasts from the National...»»»
CBL Governor urges executive authorities to take measures to close unlicensed foreign exchange bureaux, prohibit imports outside the banking system
The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, has sent several letters, widely leaked today to Arabic-language Libyan media, to the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, the Internal Security Agency, the Ministry of Interior, and the Municipal Guards Authority, instructing them to close unli»»»
Ministries of Economy and Planning discuss the draft indicative import budget for 2026
The Tripoli based Libyan government announced today that Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, and the Acting Minister of Planning, Mohammed Al-Zeidani, held a meeting to discuss the draft import indicative budget for 2026, in the presence of the undersecretaries of the ministries and »»»
VP Iotova Predicts That President Radev Will Call Snap Parliamentary Elections for End of March
During a visit to Suhindol on Friday, Vice President Iliana Iotova predicted that President Rumen Radev would respect the parties’ wishes and would likely call snap parliamentary elections for the end of March. In any case, the first mandate will be issued after the parliamentary recess, she added.»»»
Bethlehem Camp's 'Lifeline' Football Field Faces Israeli Demolition
Earlier this month a group of Palestinian boys turned out to train at their local football pitch in the shadow of the wall separating Israel from the West Bank's Aida refugee camp -- and found a note at the gate. The children took the ominous message from Israeli authorities to Muhannad Abu Srour, »»»
Iraq Negotiates New Coalition Under US Pressure
More than a month after Iraq's parliamentary elections, the country's top leaders remain locked in talks to form a government while facing pressure from Washington to exclude Tehran-backed armed groups. Amid seismic changes in the Middle East, where new alliances are forming and old powers waning, »»»
Why Bhavana, sexual assault survivor in Dileep acquittal case, feels unsafe as leaked videos do rounds
Sexual assault survivor Bhavana has spoken out again, addressing the renewed scrutiny she is facing following the circulation of nude videos allegedly linked to her. Her latest statement comes shortly after she publicly expressed her disappointment over the verdict in the long-running case related »»»
Discovery Channel to showcase Hungarian scientific research
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Putin says he's ready to continue war with Ukraine in annual address - UPI.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual live broadcast press conference with Russian federal, regional, and foreign media in Moscow. Photo by Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was determined to continue the war in Ukraine until his condi»»»
Palo Alto Networks, Google Cloud in multibillion-dollar pact - UPI.com
The Google brand logo pictured Jan. 2023 above the entrance to the Google Building in New York City, N.Y. On Friday, Palo Alto Networks announced it will shift major internal operations to Google Cloud under a multibillion-dollar deal. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) »»»
Access Asia - Bondi Beach gunmen's Philippines trip becomes focus of investigation
Police in Australia are investigating a trip made by the suspects of the Bondi Beach anti-Semitic terrorist attack to the southern Philippines island of Mindanao, just weeks before they shot and killed 15 people and wounded dozens more. The region has long grappled with Islamist militancy, but Pres»»»
Russia Concerned Over EU's Discussions on Security Guarantees for Ukraine – Lavrov
CAIRO (Sputnik) - Moscow is concerned over the security guarantees for Ukraine that are being discussed in the European Union, as collective guarantees approved by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are more important, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Frid»»»
Mindich's Associates Continue to Occupy High-Ranking Positions in Ukraine - Lawmaker
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Nearly all individuals associated with Volodymyr Zelensky's close associate, Timur Mindich, continue to occupy high-ranking positions in the Ukrainian government, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Friday. "Today marks exactly one month since the Rada [Ukrainian parli»»»
Syria Welcomes the Permanent Repeal of Sweeping US Sanctions
Syria’s government and its allies on Friday welcomed the final lifting of the most draconian sanctions imposed on the country in recent decades. The US Congress imposed the so-called Caesar Act sanctions on Syria’s government and financial system in 2019 to punish then-President Bashar al-Assad for»»»
Talking Europe - Small packages, big problems: EU cracks down on cheap Chinese parcels swamping its market
A major step away from naivety – that's how EU officials describe moves to crack down on cheap Chinese parcels flooding the European market. The EU is edging closer to abolishing the customs exemption on packages valued at under €150. For now, the EU has agreed to impose a temporary €3 customs fee »»»
TikTok signs joint venture deal to avert US ban over ownership
TikTok said on Thursday it had agreed to a joint venture with investors to keep operating in the United States, averting a potential ban tied to its Chinese ownership, US media reported. CEO Shou Chew said ByteDance approved the deal, with Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX as major invest»»»
US Pres., signs law on lifting sanctions on Syria
WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump signed a law on Friday repealing a final batch of crippling economic sanctions on Syria, under the Caser Act.The legislation includes requiring the lifting of sanctions on Syria, was passed by the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 77 to 20.Durin»»»
Mounting hostile acts in West Bank, Gaza alarming -- Lavrov
CAIRO, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said the mounting hostile activities in the West Bank and Gaza are alarming.Lavrov, speaking at a news conference with the Egyptian Foreign and Immigration Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Aatty, after they held talks, sai»»»