DOHA: The State of Qatar highlighted the National Strategy to Promote Integrity, Transparency and Corruption Prevention 2025–2030, at a side event held as part of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP11). The session was chaired by Pu»»»

Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday adopted a 2025-to-2026 Budget Extension Bill on second reading. It was approved on first reading earlier in the day. The adopted bill regulates expenditure and revenue collection in the coming year until the adoption of a State Budget Act and the budgets of the Na»»»

Protests against the planned euro changeover in Bulgaria were held in several cities across the country on Wednesday. In Sofia, demonstrators gathered outside the Bulgarian National Bank building. The protest was organized by the Doyran 2025 Association and was registered with the Sofia Municipalit»»»

Dubai: Oil prices climbed sharply on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of oil tankers heading to and departing from Venezuela that are deemed to be in breach of US sanctions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Both Brent crude and West Texas Int»»»

Speaking from Brussels, Prime Minister Orbán announced the results of one of the most successful national consultations in Hungary’s history, stressing that the clearly expressed will of Hungarian voters must serve as the guiding point for both domestic policy and Hungary’s stance in European decis»»»

Dubai: Joby Aviation said it plans to double its manufacturing capacity in the US as it prepares to scale production of its electric air taxi aircraft, targeting output of up to four aircraft per month by 2027. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The California-based compa»»»

Parliament on Wednesday passed on second reading the 2025-to-2026 Revenue Collection and Expenditures Bill, the so-called 2026 Budget Extension Bill. Earlier in the day, the bill was approved on first reading. Lawmakers adopted a proposal by Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Assen V»»»

Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday adopted a 2025-to-2026 Budget Extension Bill on second reading. It was approved on first reading earlier in the day. The adopted bill regulates expenditure and revenue collection in the coming year until the adoption of a State Budget Act and the budgets of the Na»»»

Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday adopted a 2026 Budget Extension Bill on second reading. It was approved on first reading earlier in the day. The adopted bill regulates expenditure and revenue collection in the coming year until the adoption of a State Budget Act and the budgets of the National H»»»

A woman shows coca leaves during an event for the National Day of Acullico (chewing of the plant) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in January. Then-Bolivian President Luis Arce said his countrymen have shown the world that the coca leaf 'is not cocaine, File Photo by Juan Carlos Torrejon/EPA Dec. 17 (UPI) -»»»

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces destroyed and concealed evidence of mass killings they committed after overrunning the Darfur city of el-Fasher, a new report has found. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which has used satellite imagery to monitor atrocities since the RSF'»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have urged motorists to adhere to safe driving practices as rainfall and unstable weather conditions are expected over the coming days, warning that hazardous road conditions could pose risks on both internal and external roads. In a statement, the police called on drive»»»

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., speaks during a press conference after a weekly House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in March. He announced Wednesday that he won't seek re-election. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., announced Wedne»»»

Dubai: Dubai is set to experience unstable weather conditions from Wednesday to Friday, with authorities warning of intermittent rainfall, strong winds and reduced visibility, according to the Dubai Government Media Office. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the office said the emirate is likely t»»»

Lebanese judge Tarek Bitar headed to Bulgaria on Wednesday to question a shipowner wanted in connection with a catastrophic 2020 Beirut port blast, a judicial official told AFP. The long-awaited questioning comes after a court this month refused Lebanon's request to extradite Igor Grechushkin, a 48»»»

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, took to Instagram to caution people just as the Emirates prepares for a few rainy days. In Insta reels on Wednesday, he zoomed in on r»»»

‎The annual conference of the Faculty of Economics at Al-Margeb University was held yesterday at the headquarters of the National Council for Economic and Social Development under the title: From Rents to Economic Diversification: Reality – ‎‎Challenges – and Transformation Policies. The conference»»»

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend a ceremony on Wednesday to honor US personnel killed in Syria over the weekend by a suspected ISIS attacker. Trump and his wife will travel to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be present for what the Air Force calls the "dignifie»»»

Tunis, Dec. 16 (TAP) - Tunisian judge and expert in international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Monia Ammar, along with Irish university professor and Irish international legal scholar and human rights advocate Fionnuala Ní...»»»

Parliament on Wednesday passed on second reading the 2026 Revenue Collection and Expenditures Bill, the so-called 2026 Budget Extension Bill. Earlier in the day, the bill was approved on first reading. Lawmakers adopted a proposal by Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Assen Vasilev p»»»

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Srpska lista leader Zlatan Elek said on Wednesday the December 28 early elections for the Kosovo-Metohija provincial assembly were extremely important and historic, and called on Serbs in the province to turn out and vote for Srpska lista. Addressing a Kosovska Mitrovica rally »»»

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A well-known South African radio and club DJ was fatally shot sparking nationwide outrage in a country already struggling with high crime rates. Warrick Stock, who performed as DJ Warras, was fatally shot in downtown Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon, the BBC reported. "He spoke hi»»»

President Donald Trump meets with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in the the White House in May. On Wednesday, South Africa arrested seven undocumented Kenyans working illegally in the country processing refugee visas for the U.S. government. File Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo»»»

The Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) returns to Tripoli for its fourth edition, taking place from 24–26 January 2026 under the official endorsement of the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Oil & Gas, National Oil Corporation (NOC), and the Renewable Energy Authority of Libya (REAOL). T»»»

Nato countries' pledge to spend 5% of their economic output on defence is Donald Trump's "biggest foreign policy success," the alliance's chief has said. In an interview with the BBC, Mark Rutte said it was thanks to Donald Trump that Nato was "stronger than it ever was", adding that Trump "is good»»»

In tonight's edition: Rwandan-backed M23 rebels say they've agreed to conditionally withdraw from the strategic Congolese town of Uvira. Also, the rebels' offensive in eastern DR Congo has forced tens of thousands of people to flee into neighbouring Burundi. Plus a new report by the World Meteorolo»»»

Dubai: A minor earthquake was recorded in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the Saudi Geological Survey, with authorities confirming that the tremor caused no damage or injuries. The survey’s official spokesperson, Tareq Aba Al Khail, said seismic monitor»»»

France and Italy said Wednesday they remain opposed to a trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur, dashing hopes of the contentious pact being signed this week. Paris demanded "mirror clauses" requiring Mercosur products to comply wit»»»

Senior British police officials said Wednesday that in the light of recent deadly antisemitic attacks they would now arrest protesters using language or signs that intimidate Jews. File photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Demonstrators on the streets of Britain's two largest cities, chant»»»

On Wednesday, the Varna Regional Court ordered bail as a preventive measure for municipal councillors Yordan Kateliev and Nikolay Stefanov. The two are defendants in a case involving an alleged criminal conspiracy to obtain unlawful benefits together with Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev. Until now, bot»»»

A three-year-old child was pronounced dead on arrival at Alexandroupoli University Hospital in northeastern Greece after being brought in by its mother in a severely malnourished condition. Local media reported that doctors observed signs consistent with prolonged and extreme malnutrition. The chil»»»

Doha In a world rife with crises and conflicts and facing several challenges, the name of the State of Qatar stands out as a shining beacon of dialogue, mediation, and the promotion of peace, security, and stability around the world, thanks to the wise guidance and sound vision of His Highness the »»»

The Attorney General’s Office reported today that the Investigators into the falsification of civil status data found evidence of negligence in the management of the data system at the Sirte Central Civil Registry Office. They discovered irregularities involving the falsification of family records,»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) launched the Maritime Bundle, the first of its kind worldwide, to unify maritime transport services under a comprehensive digital umbrella, offered to both national and foreign vessels calling at UAE ports. The launch ceremony drew the par»»»

Italy and France on Wednesday said they were not ready to back a trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur, dealing a blow to hopes of finalizing the deal in the coming days. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had been expected to fly to B»»»

The Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce reported last Monday (15 December) that the Second Session of the Libyan Indonesian Joint Committee convened in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday, to strengthen the existing friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. The Libyan side wa»»»

Dubai: Police have arrested a 52-year-old male teacher in Tondo, Manila, for allegedly maltreating a student whom he reportedly forced to consume a cockroach to ensure his silence regarding a separate molestation incident. The suspect, identified by authorities only as 'Nel,' was apprehended by Man»»»

Damascus, Dec. 17 (SANA) Syria’s Transport Minister Yarub Badr held talks on Wednesday with a Saudi logistics official on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in transport and logistics, at the ministry’s building in Damascus. Badr met with Mohammed Dhiyab Al-Okaili, a logistics official at the»»»

Venezuela has denounced US President Donald Trump’s oil blockade on the country, saying his “interventionist and colonialist” rhetoric proves Washington’s long-standing plan to seize Venezuelan natural resources. Trump had announced the move in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, describing it as “a to»»»

Hungary no longer feels a “loyal” obligation to cooperate with the EU after Brussels deprived Budapest of its veto rights on the issue of frozen Russian assets, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. Last week, the EU temporarily immobilized roughly $230 billion in Russian central bank assets by inv»»»

Ukraine attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure extended into a fifth day overnight with a drone strike on an oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai. The strikes are part of a campaign targeting Russia's war-fighting ability by attacking the infrasructure it depends on for fuel, munitions and other criti»»»

The National Assembly has adopted at first reading the so called “extended” state budget, following what several parties described earlier in the day as a "political test" by GERB and TISP. Further reading: Bulgaria: Ruling Coalition Tried Again to Pass Controversial 2026 Budget, Opposition Calls f»»»

Speaker of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Al-Yamahi has welcomed the United Nations General Assembly's overwhelming vote in favor of a resolution affirming the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination. The resolution passed with a significant majority of 164 countries voting in fav»»»

Dubai: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has rejected a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, siding instead with a previously agreed deal with streaming giant Netflix and escalating one of the most closely watched media consolidation battles in years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, »»»

Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar headed to Bulgaria on Wednesday to question a shipowner wanted in connection with the catastrophic 2020 Beirut port blast, a judicial official told AFP. The long-awaited questioning comes after a court this month refused Lebanon's request to extradit»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) announced the listing of Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) Sukuk on the Sukuk and Debt Instruments Market, marking a landmark milestone as the first Islamic Sukuk to be listed in the Exchange’s history. This achievement reflects the continued developmen»»»

A newspaper announced the results of the presidential elections in Santiago, Chile, on Monday. The far-right Jose Antonio Kast won the second round of the presidential elections a day earlier. Photo by Adrianna Thomasa/EPA Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Latin America's political shift toward conservative governm»»»

A 9-year-old student was hospitalized in Agrinio, western Greece, on Monday after participating in a dangerous challenge involving antipsychotic medication, according to reports on Wednesday. Authorities said the child ingested aripiprazole, which a classmate had given him as part of the challenge.»»»

The Anti-Security Threats Agency reported yesterday that it was subjected to drone attacks last Monday (15 December) in the city of Sabrata by an unidentified party. The attack targeted seized boat exhibits of the Illegal Migration Prosecution housed within its Sabratha Camp. The Anti-Security Thre»»»

Representatives of the STOP student initiative called for higher academic scholarships, fair elections with machine voting, and amendments to the Election Code at a press conference in Sofia on Wednesday. The topic of the public discussion was Stop and Restart of the State and Higher Education. The»»»