The proposed 2026 State Budget Bill is the result of a consensus reached between employers and trade unions, Chair of the Parliamentary Health Committee Kostadin Angelov (GERB–UDF) told journalists on Tuesday. Angelov commented on the revised draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF»»»

Healthcare professionals will begin protest actions from December 10 in connection with the new 2026 State Budget Bill and the 2026 National Health Insurance Fund Budget Bill, the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals without Doctor’s Degrees (BAHP) announced on Tuesday. “We want to wor»»»

US lawmakers are trying to pressure the Trump administration to release video of a controversial "double-tap" military strike by limiting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget. The incident on 2 September, in which the US carried out a second deadly strike on a boat in the Caribbean, has r»»»

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faces a crucial test on Tuesday as the country's divided parliament prepares to vote on a 2026 budget bill. If Lecornu fails to win a majority in the National Assembly for his social security budget, it bodes ill for the main budget bill which follows and whi»»»

BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it has opened a formal investigation into suspected anticompetitive practices by the US company Google, related to its use of online publishersآ’ content as well as materials uploaded by users on the YouTube platform for th»»»

Conservative lawmakers have put forward a number of proposals targeting France’s Muslims, including a ban on under-18s wearing hijabs in public, citing the threat from radical Islamists. Critics say the measures violate the very secular rules they profess to defend, and highlight the grow»»»

France’s social security budget heads into a knife-edge vote on Tuesday that could plunge Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government into a new political crisis and open a €30-billion gap in funding for welfare, pensions and healthcare.  France's social security budget faces a knife-ed»»»

A federal judge on Monday ordered two senior Justice Department lawyers, including one who was fired, to testify in a case concerning a deportation flight to El Salvador. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said in sworn statement that she was the one who decided for the plane to complete i»»»

Hamas sources say negotiations over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement have entered a “more serious” stage, amid intensified efforts by mediators and growing US pressure on Israel to advance the process. The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas is awaiting confirmation from mediato»»»

With the remains of one hostage still in Gaza, the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas is nearly complete, after a two-month process plagued by delays and finger-pointing. Now, the key players — including Israel, the Palestinian militant Hamas group, the U»»»

The Senate approved on Monday the withdrawal from the legislative circuit of the bill submitted by a group of PNL parliamentarians regarding a "Golden Visa Romania" Residency by Investment Program, which would have offered citizens from states outside the EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation a temporary resi»»»

The plenary of the Senate adopted on Monday the draft law regarding measures for the prevention and combating of anti-Semitism, Xenophobia, radicalisation and hate-speech in initial form, rejecting the objections formulated by president Nicusor Dan in his request for re-examination of the document,»»»

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Florida has designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Rel»»»

Washington, Dec. 9 (SANA) U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch and committee member Jeanne Shaheen said Monday, that the first anniversary of Syria’s liberation, is an extraordinary achievement that recalls the victory of freedom over tyranny and offers hope for greater peace »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) announced the signing of 18 development and humanitarian agreements, with a total contribution exceeding QR2.016 billion, targeting more than 4.7 million beneficiaries worldwide, on the sidelines of the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum 2025. These agreem»»»

The European Union is studying options for strengthening Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) to help free up the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the armed group Hezbollah, according to a document seen by Reuters on Monday. A 2024 truce between Lebanon and Israel remains fragile, with Israe»»»

Honduras on Monday issued an arrested warrant for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was released from U.S. prison earlier this month after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump. File photo by Gustavo Amador/EPA Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Honduras' attorney general on Monday night »»»

A set of tough US sanctions imposed on Syria under its former leader Bashar al-Assad could be lifted within weeks, after their repeal was included in a sweeping defense policy bill unveiled during the weekend and due for votes in Congress within days. The Senate and House of Representatives include»»»

The National Assembly Committee on Budget and Finance is expected today, December 9, to discuss revised versions of the 2026 State Budget Bill, the Public Social Insurance Budget Bill and the National Health Insurance Fund Budget Bill at first reading, according to information published on the legi»»»

An Indiana Senate panel has approved a bill to redraw the state's congressional districts. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo Dec. 8 (UPI) -- An Indiana Senate panel on Monday approved legislation to redraw congressional district maps that are expected to give Republicans two additional»»»

Dubai: Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility) has announced a partial closure on Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street, which commenced on Tuesday, 9 December, and is scheduled to remain in place until Monday, 22 December, as crews carry out essential road maintenance works. The authority advised the public on »»»

New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani will live in the Manhattan mansion that his predecessors have called home, leaving behind a rent-stabilised apartment that became the subject of heated debate during his campaign. Gracie Mansion, which dates to 1799, has served at the residence for most New »»»

Manila: State auditors have uncovered a tissue paper tsunami at the state-controlled Social Security System (SSS), local media reported on Monday (December 8). The Commission on Audit (COA) exposed shocking mismanagement at the SSS in 2024, where a staggering ₱13.195 million (about $225,000) was sq»»»

In a major development, Malayalam actor Dileep has been acquitted in the 2017 case involving the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent actress in Kochi. Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese cleared Dileep of all charges while convicting six others, including prime »»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna questioned the inclusion of hundreds of millions in military aid for Ukraine in the House's draft of the 2026 national defense budget on Monday. “Why is there more funding in NDAA for Ukraine?” Luna wrote in an X post. She stressed that the »»»

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whose department has faced backlash over video of a second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, looks on during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on November 7. Congress will vote this month on the annual Defense Dep»»»

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday justified the U.S. military's decision to fire a second missile in a heavily scrutinised attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea by claiming that two suspected drug smugglers were trying to right the vessel after it had capsized in the initial strike. Trum»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Doha Forum 2025 concluded with a dedicated day of partner-led sessions, collaborative engagements, and hands-on negotiation training, reflecting the commitments, insights, and shared priorities that emerged across the global gathering. The discussions reinforced Doha Forum»»»

Attorney General Pam Bondi swears in Alina Habba as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in the Oval Office of the White House on March 28. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Alina Habba announced Monday she is leaving as the top prosecutor in New Jersey after federal courts rule»»»

Doha: For the first time in Qatar’s history, the thunder of hooves and the crack of mallets will echo through the heart of the capital when Polo Al Marsa takes centre stage at Old Doha Port on December 11–13. The groundbreaking 3-on-3 exhibition tournament, organised by the newly established Qatar »»»

Speaking at a news briefing after a meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation on Monday, Labor and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said that the Public Social Insurance Budget Bill had been unanimously approved, which speaks to its social focus. "We have shown that 'dialog»»»

President Donald Trump signs the Take It Down Act in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 19 which will enact stricter penalties for the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deep fakes and "revenge pornography." On Monday, Trump said he plans to issue an exec»»»

DOHA: Karim El Berkaoui’s early strike proved decisive as Morocco edged already-qualified Saudi Arabia 1-0 in a thrilling FIFA Arab Cup clash at Lusail Stadium yesterday to secure a place in the quarter-finals. El Berkaoui’s goal came in the 11th minute, and Saudi Arabia’s substitute Abdullah Alham»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has launched Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development, a platform designed to bring AI solutions to climate-exposed agricultural regions and support the communities most affected by shifting weather patterns. The launch builds on the $200 million UAE–Gates Fou»»»

A customer carries their new Christmas tree to the car in St. Louis in 2023. A freshly cut tree can absorb about a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter every day during the first week, so trees may need to be watered multiple times a day, experts say. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | Licens»»»

1 of 3 | Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna said Russia seeks to erase the Ukrainian identities of abducted children while addressing Wednesday's Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing at the Capitol in Washington. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 3 (UPI) -»»»

The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC), which brings together the government, employers and trade unions, Monday approved the revised 2026 budget proposals for the State, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the public social insurance system. The Public Social Insurance Bu»»»

The Bulgarian government has approved the draft State Budget Act for 2026 together with the Updated Medium-Term Budget Forecast for 2026–2028, which outlines the fiscal policies, macroeconomic assumptions and investment priorities for the next three years. The documents form the foundation of next »»»

A CDC panel voted on Friday to end a universal recommendation for newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, instead recommending shared decision-making to determine when or if a baby will start the three-shot series. File Photo by BIll Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Dec.»»»

Nominees for the 2026 Golden Globe Awards have been announced and “One Battle After Another” is this year's leading nominee. Here's the list of who's nominated for this year's awards, which will be held Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton. Nikki Glaser will host the ceremony, according to Reuters. MOVIES»»»

A draft annual US military budget unveiled by lawmakers on Sunday includes $400 million in assistance for Ukraine, despite President Donald Trump’s insistance that Washington no longer finance Kiev’s war effort. The proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, which brin»»»

The 2026 budget bill and the draft budgets of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Public Social Insurance for 2026 have been submitted to the National Assembly, according to a check by BTA on the Parliament’s website on Monday. Earlier in the day, the three bills were approved by the »»»

Doha: The annual Geminid meteor shower is approaching its peak, and skywatchers in Qatar will have an excellent opportunity to witness it on the night of December 13 at Al Kharrara in Al Wakrah. Known as one of the most reliable and visually impressive meteor showers of the year, the Geminids are a»»»

Voters come and go at a polling station in Tai Po in the New Territories on Sunday as the community mourns those killed in an inferno at the nearby Wang Fuk housing complex amid public calls for accountability and questions about how such a disaster could have occurred. Photo by May James/EPA Dec. »»»

The government has approved the 2026 Budget Bill and the Updated Medium-Term Budget Forecast 2026–2028, the government information service said on Monday. The 2026 budget has been aligned with Bulgaria’s first National Medium-Term Fiscal and Structural Plan for the period 2025–2028, which sets out »»»

Bulgaria’s government will propose a revised 2026 draft budget on December 8 after reaching a compromise with trade unions and employer groups on key fiscal measures, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said on December 5. The move follows mass protests that forced the ruling GERB party to withdraw»»»

The influential Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour described the proposed new version of the state budget for 2026 as "acceptable", given the concessions made by the social partners. CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov and Podkrepa Chi»»»

As a result of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation’s joint work, the government is able to propose a budget that will allow Bulgaria to enter the eurozone smoothly and with dignity, Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said following the Council meeting on Monday. The Council, bringing t»»»

1 of 3 | Former Federal Trade Commission Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter (L) and Alvaro Bedoya listen as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khan testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Capitol Hill in Washingto»»»

Speaker Nabih Berri has relayed to the Iranians three demands reflecting his growing concern over Lebanon’s continued involvement in the “game of axes,” a highly informed diplomatic source said. “The first demand calls for keep Lebanon fully neutral in any future confrontation between Iran and Isra»»»