In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower, in 2021, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. The Ursid meteor shower, the final celestial event of the year, will take place overnight Sunday into Monday. NASA Photo by Bill Ingalls/UPI | License Photo D»»»

Far from rotting our brains, video games may improve our cognition. But how we play them matters when it comes to the benefits they provide. By playing video games, "people are practicing complex skills in simulated environments,” said Aaron Seitz, a professor of psychology and the director of the »»»

Abuja: Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 130 kidnapped schoolchildren taken by gunmen from a Catholic school in November, a presidential spokesman said Sunday, after 100 were freed earlier this month. "Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity," Sunday »»»

Los Angeles, United States: "Avatar: Fire and Ash," the third installment in James Cameron's blockbuster sci-fi fantasy series, debuted atop the North American box office with $88 million in ticket sales in the weekend before Christmas, industry estimates showed Sunday. "Fire and Ash" grossed $345 »»»

France ​will ⁠build a new aircraft carrier to boost ​its ‍capacities ​as a maritime ​power, President Emmanuel Macron told French troops gathered at a military ‍base in ​Abu Dhabi. Macron arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to celebrate Christmas with troops and to discuss bilateral ties »»»

European aerospace corporation Airbus has decided to move critical digital systems away from Google’s cloud services. Company executives say the decision is driven by security and data sovereignty concerns linked to US jurisdiction over sensitive industrial information. The decision comes as Google»»»

Vila-real, Spain: Barcelona wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal guided the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal on Sunday. Brazil international Raphinha won and converted an early penalty before Villarreal's Renato Veiga was sent off before half-t»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah City Municipality’s call centre was placed on maximum alert during the recent low-pressure weather system and rainfall that affected the emirate and the UAE as a whole, officials said. Operating round the clock via the emergency number 993, the centre received 522 report relate»»»

A handout photo made available by South African Police Services shows the overnight shooting crime scene in Bekkersdal, South Africa, on Sunday. Photo by South African Police Service/EPA Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Nearly a dozen armed gunmen stormed a tavern in South Africa early Sunday and opened fire at ra»»»

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said he is confident in the actions of the United States authorities following the death of a Bulgarian citizen in an immigration detention facility in Michigan. Speaking to Bulgarian National Television, Georgiev noted that an official investigation is underway and »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia will adhere to the positions discussed in Alaska and at other meetings with US representatives, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday. "We will adhere to what we agreed on in Anchorage and at other meetings with US representatives," Ushakov told Russian journalist Pavel»»»

US Senator Lindsey Graham accused Hamas and Hezbollah of rearming during a visit to Israel on Sunday, and charged that the Palestinian group was also consolidating power in Gaza. After two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory, a fragile ceasefire has held since October»»»

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev, during his talks in Miami should obtain information on Washington's contacts with Ukrainians and Europeans, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "Dmitriev shoul»»»

Damascus, Dec. 21 (SANA) Syrian Investment Authority Director General Talal al-Hilali said on Sunday that the repeal of the Caesar Act represents “a positive step that contributes to removing the constraints that have affected the national economy, and opens new horizons for a phase of economic rec»»»

MIAMI (Sputnik) - Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev, returned for a second day of Ukraine peace talks with US negotiators in Miami on Sunday, a Sputnik correspondent reported. Dmitriev arrived in Miami on Saturday and immediately hea»»»

Israel's security cabinet has approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank as the government continues its settlement expansion push. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler who proposed the move alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, said the decision wa»»»

DOHA: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has announced the rollout of enhanced tanker-tracking devices powered by 4G and 5G SIM technology, aimed at improving fleet management efficiency, security, and real-time visibility. In a statement, Ashghal said the new system will provide round-the-clock »»»

DANA Gas, the Middle East’s leading regional private sector natural gas company, has commenced drilling the Balsam-2 development well in the Balsam Development lease onshore Nile delta. The Balsam-2 well is being drilled with the 2000 HP Egyptian Drilling Company’s Rig #48 and targets the Qawasim f»»»

The EU’s failure to grab frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine will reinforce Washington’s view of the bloc as an irrelevant and “impotent force,” British outlet The Economist reported on Friday. EU leaders had long debated providing cash-strapped Kiev a so-called ‘reparations loan’ backed by Ru»»»

Agadir: Mohamed Salah has shown no signs of being distracted by the uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool as he prepares to lead Egypt into the Africa Cup of Nations, Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan said on Sunday. "Salah's morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out wit»»»

San Francisco: A huge electricity outage hit San Francisco on Saturday, leaving 130,000 residents without power for several hours at its peak, with the city’s main provider saying all services would return overnight. Pacific Gas & Electric Company said in a statement on X that power had been restor»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE continues to make strong gains in the tourism sector, strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations while attracting steady investment backed by high returns and a competitive business environment. These achievements are part of a long-term national»»»

Israel's security cabinet approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move the country's far-right finance minister said on Sunday was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. The decision brings the total number of settlements approved over th»»»

A 53-year-old man has been arrested in Chania, Crete, after police discovered police and navy uniforms, along with ammunition, at his home. During a search of the residence, officers found and seized 531 cartridges of various calibers, a metal rod, a pistol magazine, a magazine loading device, and »»»

US President Donald Trump is preparing for a more aggressive immigration crackdown in 2026 with billions in new funding, including by raiding more workplaces — even as backlash builds ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Trump has already surged immigration agents into major US cities, where the»»»

Madrid: Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo's club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga. French superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo's tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Bellingham s»»»

Dubai: More than 9,200 workers across five areas in Dubai benefited from a joint awareness campaign by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and Dubai Police, aimed at strengthening legal, digital and security awareness among the workforce. Launched in October, the initiative fo»»»

Dubai: Looking for a government job in 2026? Expat professionals have a growing range of opportunities in Dubai and across the UAE as the government expands roles in healthcare, technology, infrastructure, and education. Check out the latest jobs in the UAEWith federal vacancies set to rise and sev»»»

A Kremlin envoy reported that peace talks in Florida on a US-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine are progressing "constructively" as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts. The talks, involving both Ukrainian and European officials, come amid sharply dive»»»

At least 16 Jeffrey Epstein–related files abruptly disappeared from the Justice Department’s public website within a day of their release. The unexplained missing files, including an image with a photo of President Donald Trump, fuelled speculation online about what was taken down and why the publi»»»

At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public. The missing file»»»

Donald Trump has claimed that he could pay himself $1 billion in US government money as damages for a raid carried out at his Mar-a-Lago estate by the FBI. Federal agents searched Trump’s property in Palm Beach, Florida in August 2022 as part of an investigation into his alleged mishandling of clas»»»

DOHA: Msheireb Properties announced the launch of the third edition of Baraha Cinema, which will run from December25-January 3, which will include an outdoor cinema experience featuring family films, seasonal activities, and a movie-themed culinary programme. Baraha Cinema is part of Msheireb Downt»»»

Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan police on Sunday ruled out "terrorism" in a metro stabbing in the capital Taipei, where an attacker killed three and wounded 11. A 27-year-old man, identified by police by his family name Chang, set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station metro on Friday afternoon before launc»»»

Dubai: A special court has sentenced former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which revolves around allegations that the couple retained a Saudi gift at a fraction of its value. The case concerns a Bulgari jewellery set give»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's schedule does not yet include a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "It is not yet scheduled, but it can be arranged quickly if necessary," Peskov told reporters.When asked whether Putin planned to wi»»»

Ahmedabad on Saturday received its first indigenously built metro train, marking a major milestone for Gujarat’s urban transport system and India’s push for domestic manufacturing. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the new metro coaches during his visit to the Titagarh Rail Systems ma»»»

Washington, United States: The United States "apprehended" an oil tanker off Venezuela on Saturday, a move Caracas deemed a "theft and kidnapping," in the latest salvo of a pressure campaign by Washington, the US government said. It was the second time in two weeks that US forces have interdicted a»»»

This recipe reminds me of those vintage Looney Toons cartoons where the aroma of something cooking lifts Bugs Bunny off his feet and into midair. He blissfully floats along, surrendering to the fragrant current, until he reaches its source and devours the dish. Similarly, the wafting scent of cinna»»»

Next week in Bulgaria, cloudy skies will dominate much of the country, with fog persisting in several regions. Rain showers are expected in the eastern half, while Southwestern Bulgaria will see mostly sunny weather, though valleys and lowlands may experience localized fog. Winds will be generally »»»

Sydney: Australians fell silent in flickering candlelight Sunday to honour the Bondi Beach shooting victims, marking one week since gunmen fired into crowds at a Jewish festival. A father and son are accused of targeting the beachside Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people including children and H»»»

The Saudi capital underwent an unprecedented structural shift in its real estate market in 2025, driven by a forward-looking agenda led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Far from incremental regulation, the year’s measures amounted to a deep corrective overhaul aimed a»»»

US forces on Saturday stopped an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade on sanctioned vessels. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the operation, carried out with the Defense Department»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said Washington's immediate goal on Sudan is a cessation of hostilities going into the new year that allows humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance. Rubio, speaking to reporters at a news conference, said that Washington was engaging with the par»»»

Traffic police have implemented temporary road restrictions in central Athens for Sunday morning’s Athens Santa Run 2025, a charitable fundraising event. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the City of Athens Reception and Solidarity Center (KYADA), supporting vulnerable social groups affected »»»

Doha, Qatar: Aeon’s Aegis confirmed his class with a second consecutive victory in QA Gr1 Qatar Derby for 3YO Thoroughbreds, following up his Derby Trial success with a dominant performance in the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC staged Qatar International Derby Day at the Al Rayyan Racecourse »»»

Doha, Qatar: The competitions of the second round of Qatar Freestyle Championship (QFC) in its new 2025/2026 season concluded on Friday evening at Qatar Racing Club (QRC). The round was held under the generous patronage of QRC Chairman H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, and witnessed a large cro»»»

Doha, Qatar: Oil prices edged up on Friday on possible disruptions from a US blockade of Venezuelan tankers as the market waits for news about a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Brent crude futures settled at $60.47, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $56.66. For the week, »»»

US intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with US intelligence said, even as negotiators seek an end to the war »»»

The United States "apprehended" an oil tanker off Venezuela on Saturday, a move Caracas deemed a "theft and kidnapping," in the latest salvo of a pressure campaign by Washington, the US government said. It was the second time in two weeks that US forces have interdicted a tanker in the region, and »»»