Doctors called it a ‘life sentence’ - now this 63-year-old Filipino expat is running marathons in the UAE on dialysis
Dubai: When Carlo Bacalla laced up his running shoes at the start line of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon in December, it marked far more than another race finish. For the 63-year-old Filipino retiree living in the UAE, it was his first full marathon since beginning hemodialysis treatment and a powerf»»»
Trump says progress made in Ukraine talks but 'thorny issues' remain
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky said progress had been made to end the Ukraine war during Florida talks but the US president admitted the problem of territory remained "unresolved". While both the US and Ukrainian presidents described the talks as "great", Trump said "one or two very thorny iss»»»
Living in fear of Lakurawa - the militant group Trump targeted in Nigeria strikes
Deep fear has long pervaded the arid savannah plains and highlands of north-western Nigeria - even before the US air strikes on the Islamist militants who have made this area their base on Christmas night. The heavily armed jihadists, who dress in camouflage and wear vibrant turbans, have lived in »»»
Trump and Zelensky appear more upbeat - but show little evidence that peace is near
The much-anticipated talks lasted two-and-a-half hours, and that's an achievement in itself. Presidents Trump and Zelensky had never before spent this long in one room, negotiating. Afterwards, optimism was much on display at Mar-a-Lago. It was a "terrific meeting", according to Donald Trump. Volod»»»
9 travel trends UAE fliers will follow when holidaying in 2026
Dubai: Travel patterns are shifting again as UAE residents plan holidays for 2026, guided in part by insights gathered through Bloomberg Pursuits’ Two-Night Minimum city-guide series. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Industry data shows travellers are prioritising immer»»»
Kosovo's ruling party wins election after months of political deadlock
The Albanian nationalist Vetevendosje party has won a landslide victory in Kosovo's parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results. With 90% of the votes counted, the party, whose name means "self determination", was on 50.8%, meaning a third term in power for its leader, Albin Kurti. Th»»»
Why are young people leaving to work abroad?
With rising rents, a tough job market and pay cheques stretched to the limit, some young Britons are choosing to build their futures overseas. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 195,000 people under the age of 35 moved abroad in the year to June. So where are they going, what ar»»»
Toxic air, broken roads and unpicked rubbish - why India's big cities are becoming unliveable
"Want the royal charm of Jaipur? Don't come here, just buy a postcard," a local taxi driver quipped during my recent visit to the north-western Indian city. I had asked him why Rajasthan's amber-hued capital - thriving with tourists drawn to its opulent palaces and majestic forts - looked so ramsha»»»
'Superiority' concerns over 1996 royal yacht visit to Ireland
Concern was expressed about the image of "superiority" that would be conveyed by the royal yacht arriving into Irish harbours as part of a mooted visit in the summer of 1996. A possible three-day trip to Ireland by the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, was discussed by British and Irish o»»»
Trump urges release of Epstein files to ‘embarrass’ Democrats
US President Donald Trump has urged the Justice Department (DOJ) to make documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein public, calling for the disclosure of the names of Democrats he claims were connected to the late financier. Last week, the department uploaded thousands of documents under the Epstein Files»»»
On the trail of poachers illegally trapping China's rare songbirds
Silva Gu's eyes dart back and forth across miles of tall grassland, scouring it for signs of life in the darkness. He speaks in less than a whisper as we try to find a spot to hide in the fields. Behind us, the vast metropolis of Beijing has yet to wake. As we wait, we hear only our own breath. And»»»
Al Khulaifi, Saudi Arabian official discuss bilateral ties, situation in Lebanon
QNA Doha Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met with Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister on Lebanese Affairs Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Farhan in Doha on Sunday. Talks during the meeting focused on strengthening bila»»»
Chief of Staff of US Air Force visits Qatar Amiri Air Force
Tribune News Network DOHA Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach and his accompanying delegation paid an official visit to Qatar Amiri Air Force. During the visit, he met with Commander of Qatar Amiri Air Force Major-General (Pilot) Faisal Khalid Al Ghanim. The two s»»»
Elderly couple evacuated from blazing apartment
Emergency crews successfully evacuated an elderly Thessaloniki couple after a fire broke out in their second-floor apartment Sunday. The woman was taken to hospital with respiratory problems, authorities said. Firefighters also rescued a woman and her three children living on the floor above. The f»»»
Carlsen, Goryachkina clinch Qatar 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship titles
Tribune News Network Doha On a dramatic day of twists and turns, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen captured his sixth world rapid championship title on Sunday winning the Qatar 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship a full point ahead of the field with 10.5/13 . It’s the Norwegian’s 19th world champions»»»
China’s core AI industry size hits $142 bn in 2025
QNA Beijing China’s core artificial intelligence (AI) industry exceeded one trillion yuan ($142 billion) in 2025, reflecting the country’s rapid advancements in emerging technologies and its growing global influence in AI development, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) annou»»»
Interior minister crowns winners of final races of Founder Festival for Purebred Arabian Camels
QNA Doha Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of the final races of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Festival for Purebred Arabian Camels for the 2025-2026 season, held at th»»»
Ooredoo, GORD sign MoU to advance sustainabilityresearch and performance
Tribune News Network Doha Ooredoo, Qatar’s leading ICT provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) to collaborate on research and assessments aimed at enhancing Ooredoo’s sustainability performance and identifying actionable »»»
QRCS provides medical services for 77,000 refugees, locals in Yemen
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) representation office in Yemen has announced that more than 77,000 refugees and local residents in Sanaa have received a wide range of comprehensive healthcare services under a healthcare project for refugees, funded by a grant of $904»»»
Gambian president lauds QC’s support for empowerment of vulnerable groups
Tribune News Network Doha President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has praised Qatar Charity’s (QC) significant role in economically empowering vulnerable communities through income-generating projects. He emphasised that the initiative would create new opportunities for youth employm»»»
MoL, MoEHE and QCDC launch ‘My Career – My Future’
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour (MoL), and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), launched the Winter Edition of its job-shadowing programme ‘My Career – My Future,’ at »»»
Qatar Armed Forces’ Language Institute, French Institute extend partnership pact
Tribune News Network Doha The Language Institute of Qatar Armed Forces, represented by Brigadier Khalid Hamad Al-Kaabi, acting commander of the Language Institute, signed an agreement to extend the partnership and cooperation with the French Institute in Doha, represented by Margaux Girard, deputy »»»
UDST awarded CIPS accreditation for IT and IS diploma programmes
Tribune News Network Doha The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has received full accreditation from the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) for its Diploma in Information Technology (Dip. IT) and Diploma in Information Systems (Dip. IS), offered through the College of»»»
Zelensky meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago - UPI.com
Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday ahead of meeting with the Ukrainian president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, pictured during a meeting at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump in August, arrived at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday morning to work on a proposed 2»»»
One dead after mid-air helicopter collision in New Jersey
One person has died and another suffered critical injuries after two helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday above a city in New Jersey, local police said. The Hammonton Police Department reported that one of the helicopters was engulfed in flames by the time it crash landed on the ground, and emerg»»»
Israeli Occupation Forces intrude into Syrian territory, detaining 6 people
Damascus: The Israeli occupation forces renewed their incursion into Syrian territory on Sunday, detaining six people. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that the Israeli forces detained five young men from the Daraa governorate as they were searching for wild mushrooms in farmlands near the t»»»
Oman road accident: 4 dead, 3 critically injured in Al Rustaq crash
Muscat, Oman: A tragic road accident in Al Rustaq left four people dead and three others critically injured, authorities reported. The injured were rushed to Al Rustaq Hospital, where the emergency department provided immediate medical care to stabilise them. Also Read: Dubai reveals new plan to re»»»
Nine people, including five children, stabbed to death in Suriname
Nine people including five children have been stabbed to death on the outskirts of Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, police have said. Another adult and child were taken to hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack, city police said in a statement. Officers were called to an address on»»»
Trump says Zelensky and Putin 'serious' in war talks sprint
US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed the leaders of Ukraine and Russia were serious about peace as he spoke with them both in what he called the final stages of his efforts to end the war. Trump, who had promised to finish the war on day one of his presidency, said he had no deadline b»»»
SMARTMED to empower Tunisia, Greece and Jordan to establish local innovation hubs
Tunis, Dec 28 (TAP)-A transnational cooperation project "SMARTMED" aimed to supporting Mediterranean cities in their transition towards smart, sustainable, inclusive and people-centred urban environments, targets notably Tunisia, Greece and...»»»
MOI issues safety advisory on child seats in vehicles
Doha: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) Qatar shared a safety advisory on social media on child seats in vehicles, emphasising the importance of not allowing children below the age of 10 to sit in the front seat of vehicles. In a post on X, the ministry noted that ensuring children under 10 do not occ»»»
Tourism surge in Tabarka and Aïn Draham: over 15,000 tourists expected for New Year’s Eve
Tunis, Dec 28 (TAP) - The governorate of Jendouba, notably the towns of Aïn Draham and Tabarka, is preparing to welcome over 15,000 tourists on December 21-31, 2025, a period characterised by heightened demand around the New Year’s Eve...»»»
New York City to phase out MetroCard for public transit after 30 years - UPI.com
Starting January 1, New Yorkers will no longer be able to buy or reload MetroCards to pay fare on the city's subways and buses as the MTA moves fully to a tap-and-pay system called OMNY over the next six months. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 28 (UPI) -- More than 30 years af»»»
Israeli Air Force Deploys First Laser Interception System
Israel's defense ministry said on Sunday it had deployed a new "Iron Beam" laser system for the air force to intercept aerial threats. The laser system's main developers, the ministry's research and development department and defense contractor Rafael, delivered it to the air force at a ceremony in»»»
Knife attack near Suriname capital kills at least nine, including children
Suriname: A knife attack outside Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo, killed at least nine people, including five children, police said Sunday. Officials confirmed that the victims included four of the attacker’s children and neighbours who came to their aid. A neighbour’s child was also among those kil»»»
Trump meets Zelensky in Miami as Moscow reveals details of US president’s call with Putin: LIVE UPDATES
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, for over an hour by phone, shortly before Trump's scheduled meeting on Sunday with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in Miami. Zelensky, who faces another corruption scandal implicating lawmakers that erupted over the weekend, »»»
Saudi Arabia denies claims of new MERS threat after misread WHO report
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has denied claims suggesting a renewed threat from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, saying that recent online interpretations of an international health report were misleading and not supported by scientific evidence. Dr. Abdullah Asiri, the deputy minister of healt»»»
Syria, Qatar Ministers of Defense discuss regional and international developments
Damascus, Dec. 28 (SANA) Syrian Defense Minister Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra held a phone call Sunday with Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense of Qatar. The two officials discussed matters of mutual interest, as well as recent developmen»»»
EU gas usage hit all-time record on Christmas Day – Gazprom
The EU withdrew a record quantity of gas from underground storage facilities on Christmas Day, Gazprom has reported, warning that low reserves mean supplies could prematurely run out. As of December 25, Europe had 66.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage, down 9.9 bcm year-on-year, the com»»»
Arab League Council condemns Israel's recognition of Somaliland, affirms rejection to any measures to displace Palestinians
Cairo: The Arab League Council, at the level of permanent representatives, strongly condemned Israel's recognition, on Dec. 26, of the secession of the northwestern region of Somalia, known as "Somaliland," considering it a move driven by ulterior political, security, and economic agendas that are »»»
Jawad Developments appoints Eltizam Egypt to manage Val Plaza Mall in west Cairo
Jawad Developments has announced a partnership with Eltizam Egypt, a provider of integrated asset and facilities management services, to manage and operate the Val Plaza project in 6th of October City, west Cairo, ahead of the mall’s opening in the first half of next year. Commenting on the agreeme»»»
Strong Winds Cause Damage in 26 Regions Nationwide, No Injuries Reported
Strong winds caused damage in 26 out of 28 regions across Bulgaria, with no injuries reported, the Interior Ministry's Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate said on Sunday. Until 5:45 pm on Sunday, fire service teams responded to 159 weather-related incidents. No roads were closed and no res»»»
Rain reported in northern, central parts of Qatar: QMD
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Meteorology Department reported that rain was observed over some northern and central parts of Qatar on Sunday, with thundery conditions possible at times. In a Post on X, the department said there are fresh to strong winds affecting several areas of the country, with weather»»»
Myanmar hold first election since 2021 military coup - UPI.com
The three-part elections in Myanmar, which roughly half the country is expected to participate in, have been seen as an effort by Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to legitimize the military junta that has been running the country since its 2021 coup. Poo»»»
‘It’s snowing!’ How a massive cold front just redrew the global map
From New York to Russia, Europe to Srinagar, and even the mountains of Saudi Arabia, recent snowfall has turned landscapes into breathtaking winter wonderlands. Experience the magic of snow-covered cities, forests, and mountains across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Countries including Saudi Arabi»»»
ACUD launches smart licensing system to streamline urban development in New Capital
The Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) has announced the completion of the first phase of its smart licensing and ministerial approvals system, marking a major transformation in the review of urban designs and the issuance of construction permits in Egypt’s New Administrative Capit»»»
Egypt explores localisation of electrical equipment manufacturing with Chinese firms
Mahmoud Essmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, concluded his meetings and field visits during his current trip to China with a series of discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation and advancing the localisation of electrical equipment manufacturing in Egypt. The meetings brought »»»
Row Deepens Over Vanished River Wave in Munich
A row over the disappearance of a famous river surfing wave in Munich escalated on Sunday as authorities removed a beam inserted over Christmas to recreate the attraction. The Eisbach wave on a side branch of the Isar River had been a landmark in the Bavarian city since the 1980s but it vanished in»»»
Trump Says He Had Good Phone Call With Putin Before Meeting With Zelensky
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said that he had held a good and productive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday. "I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. [18:00 GMT] today, with Pre»»»
Putin–Trump Call Ahead of Zelensky Meeting Lasted 1 Hour 15 Minutes
The phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump was held at the initiative of the US side and took place ahead of Trump’s planned in-person meeting with Vladimir Zelensky, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said. It lasted 1 hour 15 minutes.Key take»»»