In the absence of a budget, a new National Framework Agreement cannot be signed and the previous one will remain in force, said Dr. Nikolay Branzalov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA). He was speaking to journalists ahead of the start of the 79th extraordi»»»

Doha, Qatar: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Fan Zones have welcomed tens of thousands of Arab fans throughout match days, bringing the community together in a spectacular celebration of unity and culture, ahead of every match. Located across the six tournament venues, the Fan Zones feature a number o»»»

European legislation helps Bulgaria achieve a clean environment, protect natural resources and preserve biodiversity, Irina Mateeva, European policy officer at the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), told BTA, commenting on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. T»»»

On Dec. 13, 2003, a bearded and apparently disoriented Saddam Hussein, the deposed Iraqi president, was captured by U.S. troops in a small underground hideout southeast of his hometown of Tikrit, ending an eight-month manhunt. 1 of 2 | On December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein, the deposed Iraqi preside»»»

Scope Ratings has completed its latest review of Bulgaria and confirmed the country’s long-term credit rating at A- with a stable outlook, alongside short-term ratings of S-1/Stable. The agency highlights several factors that continue to support Bulgaria’s position, most notably the forthcoming ent»»»

Goalkeeper blocks two shots to secure 7-6 win in shootout after 1-1 draw to set up semi-final with Morocco Doha, Qatar: Ahead of the United Arab Emirates’ FIFA Arab Cup quarter-final clash against defending champions Algeria, coach Cosmin Olaroiu insisted his team feared no ‘big’ opponent despite e»»»

Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee on Friday released a selection of 19 photos from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including some of Donald Trump before he became president and other prominent figures like former president Bill Clinton, then prince Andrew M»»»

Washington DC: The Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee on Friday (local time) released 19 previously unseen photographs from the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's estate. The photos depict prominent individuals including current US President Donald Trump, former US Pr»»»

The US ambassador to the UN has accused Rwanda of leading Africa's Great Lakes region toward war, just over a week after a peace deal was signed in Washington to end the decades-long conflict. US President Donald Trump Trump hailed the deal between DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's»»»

This week brought a mix of glamour, drama and major policy shifts. Women led the conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival, while Palash Muchhal hit back at rumours after his wedding to Smriti Mandhana was cancelled. The UAE rolled out faster passport and Emirates ID renewals, changed Friday prayer»»»

Washington DC: The Democratic members of the US House Oversight Committee on Friday (local time) released 19 previously unseen photographs from the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's estate. The photos depict prominent individuals including current US President Donald Trump, former US Pr»»»

Dubai: US President Donald Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia to sell its H200 artificial-intelligence chips to “approved customers” in China is rippling across global tech and geopolitical circles. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.On the surface, the move appears to reop»»»

Ukrainians hold signs during a protest demanding the use of frozen Russian assets on the sidelines of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Friday. Belgium has been blocking an EU plan to approve a large "reparations loan" for Ukraine backed by frozen Russian state asset»»»

The demolition of the East Wing of the White House is seen during construction in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 17. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit to stop construction of the ballroom. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The National Trust for His»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: The Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority on Friday launched a new classic taxi service designed to give tourists a nostalgic travel experience that reflects the transportation methods of previous generations. The service aims to allow visitors to glimpse the past and immerse themselve»»»

President Donald Trump might sign an executive order as soon as Monday to compel the federal government to reclassify cannabis and make it legal for medicinal but not recreational use. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Dec. 12 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has voiced support for r»»»

More images from the estate of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The Democrats said the 19 images came from a tranche of 95,000 photos the committee received from Epstein's estate as part of its ongoing investigation. US President»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - EU countries have agreed to freeze the Russian Central Bank's assets held in Europe for an indefinite period, Reuters reported on Friday. The frozen assets are worth 210 billion euros ($246 billion), according to the report. An indefinite freeze in lieu of a vote every six months»»»

At the turn of the year, Bulgaria is preparing to enter 2026 without an approved state budget. The government is expected to pull back the second draft of Budget 2026 from parliament, allowing the Council of Ministers to move toward adopting an extension law either in the final days of December or »»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

The UAE government on Friday announced a new federal decree-law that tightens penalties for sexual offenders involving minors, and prostitution. The amendments also enhance the judiciary’s ability to assess the criminal risk of offenders convicted in certain serious crimes, allowing authorities to »»»

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 »»»

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»»»

US President Donald Trump said he has pardoned former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence for allowing unauthorised access to voting machines during the 2020 presidential election. Peters was convicted last year on seven state charges, including three counts of»»»

Investors and project developers increasingly look to Romania to secure large land plots for renewable energy projects, storage facilities, logistics parks and manufacturing/production facilities. Yet, land acquisition in extra muros areas, particularly agricultural land, is governed by a unique le»»»

Abu Dhabi: NMC Healthcare and its administrators have won a major court ruling in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) that will let them see Bank of Baroda’s internal reports on suspected suspicious transactions in their case against NMC founder B.R. Shetty, Gulf News can reveal. Sign up for our daily b»»»

Canada has introduced an expedited 14-day work permit processing time for certain doctors. The "Express Entry" measure, announced on December 8, forms part of a new set of immigration pathways designed to address critical healthcare shortages and help foreign-trained physicians gain permanent resid»»»

Scientists in Britain say ancient humans may have learned to make fire far earlier than previously believed, after uncovering evidence that deliberate fire-setting took place in what is now eastern England around 400,000 years ago. The findings, described in the journal Nature, push back the earlie»»»

Ali Chauffeur Services Dubai has announced a major expansion of its monthly driver and school transport services, bringing safer, more reliable, and convenient travel solutions to residents across Dubai. The company, known for its RTA-approved and highly trained drivers, aims to provide families an»»»

Rains drenched Gaza’s tent camps and dropping temperatures chilled Palestinians huddling inside them Thursday as winter 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. Families fo»»»

A strategic Memorandum of Understanding has been announced to enable AE Coin digital payments across ADNOC Distribution’s extensive retail network in the UAE. By adopting the country’s first-of-its-kind stablecoin, ADNOC Distribution becomes the first fuel and convenience retailer in the UAE to off»»»

The State Department on Thursday announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of 29-year-old Francisco Manuel Bermudez Cagua, also known as Churron. Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of State/Website Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The State Department is offering a $5 mil»»»

On Dec. 12, 1988, three trains collided in London, killing 35 people, Britain's worst railway accident in 21 years. 1 of 7 | The rail tracks at Clapham Junction can be seen in 2018 in London. On December 12, 1988, three trains collided at the junction, killing 40 people, Britain's worst railway acc»»»

A wave of airline strikes in 2025, including this December, is throwing travel across Europe and the UK into turmoil just as the holiday rush begins. With many people flying home to see family or heading out on winter trips, travelers in Spain, the UK, Portugal, and Italy are being warned to expect»»»

Dubai: The Walt Disney Company has struck a deal with OpenAI to license its vast stable of characters and imagery for use on Sora, the generative AI video platform. The three-year partnership marks the first major content deal of its kind, allowing AI-generated short videos based on Disney, Marvel,»»»

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- European Union member states have approved nearly $2.7 billion in funding for Ukraine as part of a plan to bolster the war-besieged nation's recovery, reconstruction and modernization. The disbursement of the funds was approved Thursday by the European Council, the 27-member block'»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has amended the procedure for inspections of business entities. The corresponding resolution supplements the existing regulations with provisions allowing the suspension of business activities in cases of serious violations. According to the document, if an in»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ashgabat to take part in the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's declaration of neutrality. WorldIslamic Countries May Create Single Energy Belt in Eurasia17 May, 10:13 GMTTurkmenistan's path of neutrality has justified itself, allowin»»»

Walt Disney and OpenAI agreed a three-year licensing deal on Thursday allowing users to generate short videos featuring Disney characters with artificial intelligence. It is the first time a major studio has permitted such broad generative-AI use of its protected characters, from Mickey Mouse to Ma»»»

China just sent shockwaves through the global defence world. Its colossal Jiu Tian aerial “drone carrier” — essentially a flying mothership for swarms of drones — has completed its first flight, a moment state media is calling a “breakthrough in China’s large drone technology.” The unmanned behemot»»»

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. "We want to have one central source of approval," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. It will give the Trump administration tools to p»»»

Democratic lawmakers called for US Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem's resignation Thursday as she defended the Trump administration's mass deportation program at a fiery congressional hearing. "You promised America that you would go after the worst of the worst," Democratic Representative Seth M»»»

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Rains drenched Gaza’s tent camps and dropping temperatures chilled Palestinians huddling inside them Thursday as winter storm Byron descended on the war-battered territory, showing how two months of a ceasefire have failed to sufficiently address the spiraling humanitaria»»»

Sen. Mike Braun, R-IN, adjusts his glasses during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, DC, in 2022. Braun, now governor of Indiana, criticized fellow Republicans for joining with Democrats Thursday to reject a measure to redraw the state's congressional lines to favor the GOP»»»

Manila: Filipinos confront a stark political paradox today: rampant corruption intertwined with entrenched political dynasties, forming a multi-headed monster that’s nearly impossible to slay. Leaders trapped in their own webThe irony stings — the very leaders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. do»»»

Manila: A senior Philippine politician said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr could be "playing with fire" if the creation of an Independent Probe Commission (IPC) to investigate alleged large-scale corruption in government is not pushed. Former Justice Secretary and and ex-Senate president Franklin Dr»»»