Bugatti Residences by Binghatti sells for record Dh550 million
The Bugatti Residences in Business Bay has set a new record, with a penthouse selling for Dh550 million — the highest price ever achieved for such a property in both Dubai and the Middle East, signalling significant shifts within the city’s premium real estate sector. Executed under the direction o»»»
House Oversight Democrats release new cache of Epstein photos - UPI.com
1 of 15 | Jeffrey Epstein sits with Steve Bannon. Image courtesy of the House Oversight Committee Democrats. Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Democrats from the House Oversight Committee released new photos Friday from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The photos feature prominent people, inclu»»»
Eritrea quits regional bloc as tensions rise with Ethiopia
Eritrea has withdrawn from East African regional bloc Igad, accusing the organisation of "becoming a tool against" countries like itself. In a statement on Friday, Eritrea's foreign ministry said Igad had strayed from its founding principles and failed to contribute to regional stability. The withd»»»
Police uncover cache of hundreds of stolen passports and IDs in central Athens
Police have arrested a 45-year-old man from Pakistan, accused of being the manager of a warehouse in Omonia, central Athens, where hundreds of stolen identity cards, passports, and residence permits were discovered. A total of 419 documents were found at the location, including several Greek identi»»»
Japan Culture Con 2025: Everything you need to know
Dubai: Meet Hatsune Miku and your favourite anime characters at Japan Culture Con (JCC), which is back for its second edition this weekend. The fest kicked-off on Dec 12 and runs until Dec 14. JCC 2025 expands with a wider programme and deeper dive into Japanese traditions than ever before, with a »»»
EU breaks fundamental vote rule to freeze Russian assets indefinitely: Live Updates
The European Union has voted to keep Russian central bank assets frozen indefinitely despite opposition from member states. The bloc pushed through the controversial agenda by invoking emergency powers legislation to bypass the need for unanimous approval. The European Commission, and its head Ursu»»»
Bulgaria Backs Germany in Calling Out Russia's Alleged Cyberattacks, Disinformation Campaign
In a post published on x.com on Friday night, Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it stands in full support and solidarity of Germany's position, specifically that Russia's hybrid actions, including recent cyberattacks and coordinated disinformation efforts, are unacceptable. The Minis»»»
Will France be next to introduce an Australian-style social media ban for children?
Australia this week implemented a world-first ban on social media for under-16s, and France could soon introduce a similar measure. French lawmakers will in January debate a bill whose aim is to protect children’s mental health. Australia on Wednesday became the first country to introduce a social »»»
Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi arrested in Iran, supporters say
Iranian security forces have "violently arrested" Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, her foundation has said. The Narges Foundation said her brother confirmed Ms Mohammadi was detained in the eastern city of Mashhad, along with other activists. It has called for »»»
Germany summons Russian ambassador on alleged election interference - UPI.com
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks to the media during a news conference in Jerusalem on Sunday. The German Foreign Ministry accused Russia's military intelligence of a disinformation campaign targeting Merz during February's general elections Pool Photo by Ariel Schalit/UPI | License Photo De»»»
'They're no longer hiding': How Russia is shipping liquefied natural gas to China despite sanctions
A cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Portovaya plant was delivered to the Beihai terminal in China on December 8. This marks the first delivery since the facility was placed under US sanctions in January 2025. The development highlights deepening China-Russia energy ties as Moscow s»»»
Iran Arrests Nobel-Prize Winning Activist Narges Mohammadi
Iranian security forces on Friday "violently" arrested the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi along with at least eight other activists at a memorial ceremony for a lawyer who died earlier this month, her supporters said. Mohammadi, who was granted temporary leave from prison in Decembe»»»
NBS gross FX reserves at 29.36 bln euros at end-November
BELGRADE - National Bank of Serbia (NBS) FX reserves hit 29,366.6 mln euros at end-November, their highest end-of-month level on record, after increasing by 2.5 mln euros from a month ago, the central bank announced on Friday. In a statement, it said the reserves had covered "164.2 pct of money sup»»»
Death toll from severe weather in Gaza rises to 13 in less than 24 hours
Gaza: A wave of severe weather and extreme cold that has been hitting the Gaza Strip since yesterday has caused the deaths of 13 Palestinians in less than 24 hours, in addition to a series of widespread collapses in several areas. Civil defense teams are continuing search and rescue operations unde»»»
Bulgaria’s President Launches Consultations on Monday as Search for New Cabinet Begins
President Rumen Radev will start the constitutionally required consultations for forming a new government in Bulgaria on Monday, December 15. The announcement came from the presidency’s press office on Friday afternoon, only hours after lawmakers unanimously accepted the resignation of Rosen Zhelya»»»
In Ceuta, young migrants brave the sea to reach Europe
On the front line of the migration surge, Ceuta – the Spanish exclave in North Africa – continues to see thousands of people arrive each year. With the land border so heavily guarded to be virtually sealed, many of the youngest attempt the crossing by sea, venturing into the dangerous cur»»»
Germany summons Russian ambassador over cyberattacks on air traffic control, general election
Germany said Friday it had summoned Moscow’s ambassador after it accused Russian-linked groups of hacking its air traffic control system and attempting to influence the 2024 general election. Dubbing such operations, including drone flights near European airports, as “hybrid attacks”»»»
Parliament Elects Endri Shabani as Albania’s New Ombudsman After Marathon Debate
After months of political tension and procedural deadlock, Albania finally has a new Ombudsman. In a session that stretched late into Thursday night, Parliament elected Endri Shabani as the People’s Advocate with a decisive 85 votes in favor and 3 against, closing one of the most debated institutio»»»
Two youths remanded over stabbing of 14-year-old
Two youths accused of stabbing a 14-year-old boy in the Athens suburb of Holargos have been remanded in custody following their testimony before an investigating magistrate. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly lured the teenager through social media, using an online conversation w»»»
CC Reinstates Belinda Balluku as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure
The Constitutional Court has reinstated Belinda Balluku to her duties as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, overturning the suspension previously imposed by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO). The decision follows the Court’s acceptance fo»»»
Lululemon shares surge on CEO exit news - UPI.com
A Lululemon store pictured Dec. 2019 in Lynnfield, Mass. On Friday, the Canada-based company's sock value spiked more than 9% in premarket trading following its announcement CEO Calvin McDonald will step down next month. Photo Provided by CJ Gunther/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Shares of Lululemon stock su»»»
West Bank | 73 Acts of Palestinian Resistance Against Israeli Forces Recorded in One Week
The Palestinian Information Center “Ma‘ta” has documented 73 acts of resistance—both armed and popular—in the West Bank and Jerusalem over the past week, underscoring the continued grassroots pushback against intensified Israeli military aggression. According to Ma‘ta, the period between 5 and 11 D»»»
Zelensky's Impossible Demands a Roadblock to Peace
Volodymyr Zelensky is deliberately setting conditions Russia can't accept to portray it as blocking peace talks, Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council for Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation, tells Sputnik. The head of the Kiev regime is also seeking a much-needed»»»
Dubai Fitness Challenge closes with record-breaking participation
During November, Dubai’s approach to public fitness witnessed substantial momentum, as the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) counted more than 3 million residents and tourists among its participants. Conceived by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Depu»»»
EU ‘prolonging the war’ with plan to steal Russian assets – Fico
Slovakia will vote against any measures allowing the EU to use frozen Russian assets to cover Ukraine’s “military expenses,” Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. Kiev’s Western backers froze about $300 billion in Russian central bank assets after the conflict escalated in 2022, most of it held at B»»»
EU officials ‘raping the law’ – Orban
EU officials are “systematically raping the law” by planning to strip member states of veto powers over frozen Russian assets, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. The European Commission is due to vote later on Friday on a plan to invoke Article 122 of the EU treaties, an emergency clau»»»
Thai PM dissolves parliament, fresh elections scheduled for early 2026 - UPI.com
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addresses journalists outside Government House in Bangkok on Friday after dissolving the House of Representatives, the country's parliament. Photo courtesy Royal Thai Government/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament»»»
Experts : Microbes in the air on planes and in hospitals are harmless - UPI.com
The ambient air on planes and in hospitals mostly contains harmless microbes typically associated with human skin, researchers reported. File Photo by Luong Thai Linh/EPA Germophobes can breathe a little easier when visiting a hospital or taking an airplane trip, a new study says. The ambient air o»»»
Hezbollah MPs meet Salam to discuss reconstruction and Israeli attacks
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held a meeting Friday at the Grand Serail with MPs Amin Sherri and Hassan Fadlallah of Hezbollah. Following the meeting, Fadlallah stated: "My colleague and I met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss a range of issues of concern to all Lebanese, especially as we con»»»
Reddit sues to block Australia's teen social media ban - UPI.com
Reddit filed a lawsuit in Australia's high court to block a social media ban for teens. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Reddit filed a lawsuit in Australia's High Court against the ban on young teens using social media, arguing that it infringes on students' rights»»»
Zelensky-Trump Conflict Part of US-EU Rift - Chairman of Other Ukraine Movement
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The conflict between Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump is just a small part of the larger conflict between the United States and Europe, the chairman of the Other Ukraine movement, Viktor Medvedchuk, said on Friday. "The conflict between Zelensky and Trump is only »»»
Hungary's Szijjarto Accuses NATO Chief of Undermining Ukraine Peace Talks
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is inflaming tensions and undermining peace talks on Ukraine, and Hungary, as a NATO member, rejects his statements about the need to prepare for a war with Russia, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. On Thursday, Rutte at »»»
Judge: Kilmar Abrego Garcia can't be rearrested during ICE check-in - UPI.com
Kilmar Abrego Garcia delivers remarks during a rally before his check-in at the ICE Baltimore Field Office on August 25. A federal judge said Friday that he can't be re-arrested at a similar check-in Friday. File Photo by Shawn Thew/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Maryland ruled Friday that»»»
Report: Trump still convinced of Aoun and Salam's conduct, believes peace deal more important than disarmament
U.S. President Donald Trump is still convinced of the actions being taken by President Joseph Aoun and of what the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has achieved and intends to achieve, according to “exclusive information” obtained by the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. Trump has informed U.S. env»»»
ICC With Dutch Support Preparing Measures in Case of New US Sanctions
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The International Criminal Court (ICC), with the support of the Dutch government, is developing measures in case of new US sanctions, Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said on Friday. On Wednesday, media reported that the US administration, threatening sanctions, was demandin»»»
RSF commander linked by BBC Verify to Sudan massacre sanctioned in UK
A Sudanese paramilitary commander, whose role in the el-Fasher massacre was revealed by BBC Verify, has been sanctioned by the UK government. Brig Gen Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as Abu Lulu, was filmed shooting dead at least 10 unarmed captives after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized t»»»
Foreign investments increased by USD 10 billion after floating the Egyptian pound
The economic affairs committee at Egypt’s House of Representatives has released recently a statement following a closed meeting, attended by the governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Tarek Amer to discuss the monetary policies and the evolution of the foreign reserves from 2010 to 2016. Tarek»»»
The EU rolls up in its clown car to rob a bank ‘for Ukraine’
Memo to the unelected Eurobozos of the European Union’s executive branch 'responsible' for setting policy: just because you keep calling a pile of cash you’re hell-bent on handing over to Ukraine a “loan” doesn’t mean it actually is. No one in their right mind would lend you money right now. Which »»»
Nowhere to pray as logs choke flood-hit Indonesian mosque
Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia: Almost two weeks on from devastating floods, Muslim worshippers in Indonesia's Sumatra who gathered at their local mosque on Friday for prayers were blocked from entering by a huge pile of thousands of uprooted trees. The deadly torrential rains had inundated vast tracts of»»»
Kerala actress assault case verdict: Bhavana didn't just survive, she broke the pattern of remaining silent and shamed
Dubai: After eight long years, the verdict in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case has finally arrived. Six men have been sentenced to 20 years. But before we discuss the courts, the lawyers, or the loopholes, we must acknowledge the woman who made this moment possible. Bhavana. It is her courage —»»»
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 »»»
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»»»
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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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»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
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»»»