EU member’s government resigns amid anti-corruption protests
Bulgaria’s government has announced its resignation following mass anti-corruption protests across the country. In a statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said he and his cabinet would step down after facing their sixth no confidence vote. The announcement comes just weeks before B»»»
OpenAI makes $1bn deal to bring Disney characters to ChatGPT and Sora
Disney has agreed to invest $1bn (£740m) in OpenAI as part of a deal which will let people use many of its iconic characters in the chatbot ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora. It is the first major studio to license parts of its catalogue to the tech giant, in a move which could have major impl»»»
Court of Appeal Upholds Bail Amount for Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev
The Varna Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling of the Varna District Court that changed Mayor Blagomir Kotsev’s detention measure from “remand in custody” to bail of BGN 200,000. His defence had asked the court to replace the bail with recognizance not to leave - or drop any restrictions. Varna Ma»»»
Tennessee set to execute Harold Wayne Nichols for killing Karen Pulley - UPI.com
Harold Wayne Nichols is set to die by lethal injection Thursday morning. File Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Correction Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Tennessee is set to execute Harold Wayne Nichols on Thursday morning for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old college student in 1988. Nichols, 64,»»»
Ukraine could have avoided conflict with one key step – ex-Biden adviser
Ukraine could have avoided the 2022 escalation with Russia by dropping its NATO aspirations, a former advisor to President Joe Biden has told Russian pranksters. Vovan and Lexus on Thursday released records of calls with two former members of Biden’s National Security Council in which they posed as»»»
Mexico to begin levying up to 50% tariffs on China, others - UPI.com
Mexico'congress pproved up to 50% tariffs on China. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Mexico's congress has approved charging up to 50% tariffs on Chinese imports Wednesday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed the tariffs in September and said they are a way to boos»»»
Senate to vote on competing healthcare bills - UPI.com
The Senate is unlikely to pass either of the two healthcare bills they're voting on Thursday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday on two competing healthcare plans meant to address healthcare costs likely to rise in the new year wi»»»
First of 30 oil lease sales planned for Gulf of Mexico draws $300 mn from companies
Oil companies offered $300 million for drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday in the first of 30 sales planned for the region under Republican efforts to ramp up U.S. fossil fuel production. The sale came after President Donald Trump's administration recently announced plans to allow ne»»»
Austria bans headscarf for under-14s in schools amid criticism
VIENNA Austrian lawmakers on Thursday voted by a large majority in favour of a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under 14, a move rights groups and experts say is discriminatory and could deepen societal division. Austria’s conservative-led government - under pressure with anti-immigrati»»»
Winter Storm Rips through Gaza, Exposing Failure to Deliver Enough Aid to Territory
Rains drenched Gaza’s tent camps and dropping temperatures chilled Palestinians huddling inside them Thursday as storm Byron descended on the war-battered territory, showing how two months of a ceasefire have failed to sufficiently address the spiraling humanitarian crisis there. Children’s sandale»»»
Roborock Qrevo EdgeT launches in Romania, featuring a 7.98 cm profile and a retractable LDS system
Ultra-slim 7.98 cm profile and retractable LDS for hard-to-reach areas As the second-thinnest robot vacuum available in Romania, after the flagship Roborock Saros 10R, the Roborock Qrevo EdgeT uses a liftable LiDAR navigation system that adapts to its surroundings, a feature that is only available »»»
Do you have a Dubai travel ban? Now you can check in seconds
Dubai: Dubai Police has rolled out an enhanced version of its “Circulars and Travel Bans” enquiry service on both its smart app and official website, allowing residents to instantly check their criminal or financial status without the need to visit police stations or judicial departments. The upgra»»»
MPs Adopt on First Reading 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Bill, Opposition Calls Skipping Committee Vote "Absurd"
The National Assembly adopted Thursday at first reading the revised 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Bill with 122 votes in favour, 89 against, and none abstaining. It was supported by GERB-UDF, MRF – New Beginning, BSP – United Left, There Is Such a People (TISP), and three MPs not affiliated w»»»
US House passes $800mn aid package for Ukraine
The US House of Representatives has passed a defense spending bill that would provide $800 million in military aid to Ukraine through 2027. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved 312-122 on Wednesday and will now advance to the Senate, where it is expected to receive bipart»»»
Washington’s Opening Toward Damascus Clashes with Israel’s Ground Strategy
Washington’s recent openness toward Damascus is increasingly colliding with Israel’s assertive on-the-ground approach, highlighting a widening rift between the two traditional allies over the future of Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The United States now appears to be pushing»»»
Court orders government to pay bills after illegal resident dies in private hospital
Dubai: A Saudi court has ruled that a government body must cover the medical costs incurred by a private hospital after an illegal resident, admitted in a critical emergency, later died while receiving treatment. The court found that the hospital fully complied with medical regulations by providing»»»
Grain Sector Shock: Major Bulgarian Producer Collapses Under Massive Debt
Farm Sense AD, a long-standing agribusiness company based in the Dobrudja region, has initiated bankruptcy proceedings in the Sofia City Court. The request was filed on November 20, 2025, marking a difficult moment for a firm with more than three decades in the grain sector. Over the years the comp»»»
Abu Dhabi court orders man to pay Dh70,000 after damaging eye-test machine
Dubai: A man has been ordered to pay Dh70,000 in compensation to a medical centre after he damaged a high-precision eye-examination device during a routine visit. The Abu Dhabi Civil Family and Administrative Court ruled that the man was liable for the cost after entering the eye-testing room witho»»»
Vodafone Business launches enhanced features on MyVodafone Portal
Doha, Qatar: Vodafone Business has announced the launch of enhanced features on its MyVodafone Portal, empowering businesses to manage their digital services with greater simplicity, transparency and control. The enhanced portal reflects Vodafone Business’s ongoing commitment to supporting the digi»»»
Fed Signals Pause on Rate Cuts as Investors Navigate Data Darkness and Leadership Change
After three consecutive interest rate cuts, investors now confront an uncertain US monetary policy outlook for the year ahead, clouded by persistent inflation, data gaps, and an impending leadership change at the Federal Reserve. The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter-percentage poi»»»
Parliamentary Committee on Energy Passes 2026 State Budget Bill at First Reading
The Parliamentary Committee on Energy adopted the 2026 State Budget Bill at first reading on Thursday with 11 votes in favour, four against and one abstention. In view of the euro changeover on January 1, 2026, all budget documentation has been prepared in euro, using the official conversion rate u»»»
Wilson praises U.S. House approval of Caesar Act repeal
Washington, Dec. 11 (SANA) U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson expressed his gratitude to the House of Representatives for approving the full repeal of the Caesar Act as part of the Department of Defense budget for 2026. Wilson said Wednesday in a post on the X platform: “Grateful that the House of Represe»»»
U.S. House of Representatives approves full repeal of the “Caesar Act” sanctions
Washington, Dec. 11 (SANA) The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday by a majority to repeal the sanctions imposed on Syria under the “Caesar Act,” which was enacted in December 2019 to penalize the former regime for war crimes committed against the Syrian people during the years of the upr»»»
Panic in France as children fall victim to lethal violence of Marseille drug gangs
Warning: This article contains disturbing details from the start. A group of children spotted Adel's body on their way to school, just as his parents were heading to the police station to report him missing. A grotesque, charred silhouette, reclining, with one knee raised, as if lounging on one of »»»
Kyrgyzstan taken on permanent commitment not to introduce death penalty — MFA - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan (MFA) issued an official statement regarding the Constitutional Court’s decision on the death penalty. The ministry noted that the recent rise in cases of the murder of children and women under aggravating circumstances has deeply shocked the entire cou»»»
Japanese chess player calls out association's pregnancy bias
A Japanese chess association has apologised to a prominent 'shogi' player who criticised a rule that bars pregnant players from title matches around their expected due dates. Under the current rules of shogi - a game similar to chess - such players are replaced, meaning they forfeit all competition»»»
Google's reclusive genius Larry Page storms to No. 2 on the world's richest list for the first time ever
Larry Page has surged to No. 2 among the world’s richest for the first time. And for the first time, the Google co-founder overtook Oracle’s Larry Ellison to become the world’s second-wealthiest person. Page has an estimated net worth of $262 billion as of December 1 (up $30 billion a month earlier»»»
French far-right lawmaker sparks debate with proposal to reopen brothels
Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a lawmaker from Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN), plans to submit a bill that would allow "maisons closes" to reopen in France for the first time since 1946, albeit run as cooperatives by sex workers themselves. Prostitution is technically legal in France, al»»»
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduces legislation for U.S. to leave NATO - UPI.com
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican serving a House district in Kentucky, announced had introduced a measure to remove the U.S. from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican serving a House district in »»»
Dubai’s new contactless hotel check-in: What changes, who benefits, why it's big
Dubai: Dubai has introduced a citywide contactless hotel check-in system that lets guests complete registration before they arrive. You upload your ID, add a biometric scan, and confirm your details on your phone. Once registered, your information remains valid until your ID expires. Future stays r»»»
First of 30 oil lease sales planned for Gulf of Mexico draws $300 million
WASHINGTON: Oil companies offered $279 million for drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday in the first of 30 sales planned for the region under Republican efforts to ramp up US fossil fuel production. The sale came after President Donald Trump's administration recently announced plans t»»»
Portugal braced for mass disruption in first general strike for 12 years
Portugal is facing severe disruption to transport, flights, hospitals, schools and other public services on Thursday, as the two main union federations stage a general strike over unprecedented labour reforms. The last time the CGTP and the generally less militant UGT joined forces was during the e»»»
The Swiss city that lets you pay for most things with bitcoin
In a McDonald's by a lake surrounded by mountains, in the centre of the Swiss city of Lugano, a customer orders coffee. "Can I pay with bitcoin?" he asks, and the person behind the counter holds out what looks like a credit card payment terminal. It is in fact a machine for paying by crypto currenc»»»
'Downward spiral': French mother says social media drove her teen to commit suicide
A French mother whose 15-year-old son died by suicide has launched a legal fight against some of the world’s biggest social media platforms, alleging their algorithms flooded him with self-harm content that drove him into a “downward spiral”. This comes as France is considering a possible ban on so»»»
Dangerous travel conditions ahead as snow squalls threaten this week - UPI.com
Cars move slowly out of downtown St. Louis in 2013. This week, travelers across wide parts of the nation could experience visibility problems as snow squalls threaten to affect parts of the Midwest, Appalachians and the Atlantic coast. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Snow squalls »»»
Homeland Security signs deal to buy 6 planes for deporations - UPI.com
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took a tour of CECOT in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in March. This week, the Department of Homeland Security signed a contract to buy six planes with which to deport people. File Photo by Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security | License Phot»»»
Sarkozy releases prison diaries about his 20 days behind bars
Rushed out in under three weeks, Nicolas Sarkozy's new book "A Prisoner's Diary" has plenty of colour about what it's like for a former president to find himself in the isolation wing of a French jail. We learn that prisoner number 320535 had a 12 square metre cell, equipped with a bed, desk, fridg»»»
House to debate military funding bill; some GOP members unhappy - UPI.com
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will see his travel budget cut in the new defense spending bill if he doesn't release footage of boat attacks near Venezuela. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on the bipartisan $900 »»»
New law could drastically reduce sentence of Brazil's Bolsonaro - UPI.com
Paulinho da Forca, who led negotiations on the proposed law, is seen after Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies in Sao Paolo passed the bill that seeks to reduce the sentences of former President Jair Bolsonaro and others in the attempted coup, Photo by Andre Borges/EPA Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A legislative shift»»»
Finance Bill 2026: Parliament Speaker stresses need to redouble efforts to generate wealth, growth and equity
Tunis, Dec. 10 (TAP)- Speaker of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP), Brahim Bouderbala, called on state institutions to prepare to address the deterioration of the situation resulting from ineffective policies from previous periods,...»»»
European Leaders 'Willing to Pay for Their Hubris With Ukrainian Lives'
Ukrainians “who are being used as cannon fodder for Europeans pushing a failing narrative” have become the “greatest victims of this conflict,” London-based foreign affairs analyst Adriel Kasonta tells Sputnik while commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statements to the Rus»»»
BTA Develops New System to Organize Information on Road Incidents, Traffic Conditions in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is developing a new system for organizing information on road incidents and traffic conditions in Bulgaria, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev told a meeting of the Board of the National Association of Chairpersons of Municipal Councils in Bulgaria, held in Stara Zag»»»
Judge halts Trump's National Guard move to Los Angeles - UPI.com
1 of 2 | California National Guard troops and ICE immigration raid demonstrators face off in June at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled U.S. President Donald Trump must terminate the federalized deployment of troops in the area. Fil»»»
US lawmaker pushes for withdrawal from NATO
A Republican congressman has introduced a bill to pull the US out of NATO, arguing the bloc is a “Cold War relic” that drains “trillions” of dollars from American taxpayers. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced the legislation on Tuesday, stating that the military bloc was created to counter t»»»
Israeli Druze Leader Seeks US Security Guarantees for Syrian Minority
Israeli Druze leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif urged the United States to guarantee the security of the Druze community in Syria to prevent a recurrence of intense violence earlier this year in Sweida. Washington needed to fulfill its "duty" to safeguard the rights of Syria's minorities in order to enco»»»
Israeli Druze Leader Seeks US Security Guarantees for Syrian Minority
Israeli Druze leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif urged the United States to guarantee the security of the Druze community in Syria to prevent a recurrence of intense violence earlier this year in Sweida. Washington needed to fulfill its "duty" to safeguard the rights of Syria's minorities in order to enco»»»
Consumers make health decisions as Congress mulls tax credit expiration - UPI.com
1 of 3 | The U.S. Capitol and House of Representatives is seen in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7. U.S. Congress has until Dec. 31, to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The deadline is approaching for Congress t»»»
Protesting farmers withdraw from Rio–Antirrio bridge road, move toward Patras
Protesting farmers from Achaia have withdrawn from the Rio–Antirrio bridge area and moved with their tractors toward the Eglykada interchange on Patras’ main ring road. Police forces remain positioned along the routes leading to Patras’ new port in an effort to prevent farmers from entering the por»»»
‘Expendable Pawn & Client State’ Ukraine Now ‘a Liability’- Analyst
Ukraine is losing the West’s proxy war against Russia, and Zelensky has become a “liability for US geostrategic imperatives,” political analyst Dr. Greg Simons tells Sputnik. “Weak and insecure” Zelensky, who initially refused to hold elections, is now begging a foreign power – the US – to secure t»»»
UAE launches smart system for government employees
Dubai: The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has launched the innovative “Injazati” system for managing the performance of federal government employees, as part of its efforts to support the UAE Government’s direction in adopting effective smart solutions that enhance governme»»»