Euro Coin Starter Kits in High Demand: Bulgaria's National Bank Opens Overtime on December 27
Ahead of Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone on January 1, 2026, and due to heightened demand for euro coin starter kits featuring the national side, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will extend its working hours for customer service on Saturday, December 27, 2025. At the BNB central building, loca»»»
Israel extends order allowing closure of foreign broadcasters
Israel's parliament has extended an order allowing the government to shut down foreign broadcasters operating in the country. The legislation, passed by 22 votes to 10, expands temporary powers introduced during the Gaza war to shutter outlets seen as a threat to national security. It allows the go»»»
Ministers convene for second day to discuss banks draft bill
Ministers convened Tuesday for, a second day in a row, to discuss a long-awaited banking draft bill that would distribute losses from the 2019 economic crisis. The law stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors will share the losses accrued as a result of t»»»
Media Review: December 23
POLITICS In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, political scientist and journalist Emiliya Milcheva on the political situation in the country. She said that the protests which brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets not only in Sofia but also in other cities, as well as»»»
A Shaky Start for Lebanon’s Financial Gap Bill
A widening wave of objections in Lebanon to the draft “financial gap” bill has exposed the hurdles facing its passage in parliament. Prepared by a ministerial and legal committee chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the bill has drawn resistance from influential political and sectoral actors, bol»»»
Orban warns against cash for Ukrainian oligarchs’ ‘gold toilets’
Hungary would be better served spending its money domestically than financing golden toilets for Ukrainian oligarchs, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. Speaking at the opening of a new motorway section linking parts of central Hungary on Monday, Orban emphasized the advantages of spending Hunga»»»
Over 4 million 5G connections were registered in the middle of this year
Over 4 million mobile internet connections used 5G networks by mid-2025, representing one in five active connections and generating approximately 7% of total mobile internet traffic, according to a report on the telecom market for the first half of this year, published by the National Authority for»»»
Scholars laud Qatar for generously supporting Arabic language
Doha, Qatar: Scholars, researchers, and editors who contributed to the completion of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language have expressed deep appreciation to the State of Qatar for its generous and sustained support of the Arabic language, describing the project as a historic cultu»»»
'I don't want our kids spending another Christmas in a crumbling home'
A number of families in the Republic of Ireland living in houses made with defective concrete blocks have said they are facing another Christmas in homes that are "unsafe and crumbling around them". Thousands of homes, mostly in counties Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo are affected by the »»»
Lebanon: Salam Urges Swift Approval of Law Aimed at Paying Back Depositors amid Objections
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged cabinet to swiftly approve a draft law allowing depositors to gradually recover funds frozen in the banking system since a financial collapse in 2019, a move critical to reviving the economy. The collapse - the result of decades of unsustainable financial p»»»
Today in Kuwait's history
KUWAIT, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- 1934 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signed an accord with Kuwait Oil Company (Limited). The company, registered in Britain, has been granted exclusive exploration concessions for natural gas, asphalt, ozokerite, crude oil and other types of underground fuels »»»
Booyoung chair calls for state-business alliance on population crisis - UPI.com
Chairman of South Korean builder Booyoung Group, Lee Joong-keun (L), joins a photo session with group employees who gave birth in 2024 after providing them with 100 million won (US$75,000) per birth, during a ceremony to mark the start of business for the new year at the company's headquarters in S»»»
PM inaugurates new M4 motorway section, highlights Alföld development program
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inaugurated a new 34-kilometre section of the M4 motorway between Törökszentmiklós and Kisújszállás, calling the project a major milestone in national development and proof that the government has a clear development strategy for the Great Hungarian Plain. Speaking at th»»»
US Justice Department denies Epstein cover-up, restores photo of Trump to public files
The US Justice Department said on Sunday it had restored an image of President Donald Trump that it had removed a day earlier from the public release of Epstein-related files. The photograph was reposted as lawmakers accused officials of withholding key information in files related to the late sex »»»
Bipartisan anger grows over slow release of Epstein documents
Lawmakers from both parties escalated pressure on the US Department of Justice on Monday over its handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein documents, threatening contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi as demands for full disclosure intensified. Bipartisan anger over the US Depart»»»
US war hawk senator calls for seizure of Russian oil tankers
US Senator Lindsey Graham has urged Washington to ramp up restrictions against Russia, including sanctioning China over its energy imports from Moscow and seizing tankers carrying Russian oil. Last month, US President Donald Trump proposed a roadmap to resolve the Ukraine conflict, which Kiev and i»»»
The age of manufactured truth: How digital deception threatens nations and diplomacy
When the X platform unveiled its new transparency feature in November 2025, few anticipated the scale of disruption it would unleash. What initially appeared as a routine technical update quickly revealed itself to be a rare glimpse into the hidden architecture of global digital manipulation. This »»»
FCC bans new Chinese-made drones, citing security risks
WASHINGTON: The Federal Communications Commission on Monday said it would ban new foreign-made drones, a move that will keep new Chinese-made drones such as those from DJI and Autel out of the U.S. market. The announcement came a year after Congress passed a defense bill that raised national securi»»»
What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump and Maga
Attorney General Pam Bondi took to X over the weekend with a bold statement: "President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in American history." Her post was about efforts to release documents concerning the attempted assassination of Trump last July. But the folks commenting in t»»»
North Korea warns Japan not to seek nukes
North Korea has lashed out at Japan after a senior official reportedly suggested that the country needs nuclear weapons. In a statement published by state media on Sunday, Pyongyang warned that allowing Japan to acquire nuclear weapons would result in “a great disaster.” The remarks come after cont»»»
Ex-GOP lawyer George Conway files to run for U.S. House as Democrat - UPI.com
Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway Donald Trump's and her husband George Conway arrive for the Candlelight Dinner at Union Station in honor of the president-elect in Washington, D.C., on January 19, 2017. They divorced in 2023, and Conway filed paperwork to run for the U.S. House seat»»»
Japan clears restart of world’s largest nuclear plant 15 years after Fukushima
Tokyo: Japan has removed the final obstacle to restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, after the Niigata prefectural assembly approved the move on Monday, marking a major shift in Japan’s energy policy 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa»»»
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to be sworn in by Bernie Sanders, Letitia James - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani pictured Nov. 4 speaking to supporters at an election night watch party after winning the New York City mayoral race at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City. New York's Attorney General Letitia James will swear in Mamdani at midnight on Jan. 1. Sen. Be»»»
Ricky Martin feels right at home in Budapest: here's what we know about his secret concert - video
Follow our Facebook page to get the latest news about Hungary! Follow our X (Twitter) page to get the latest news about Hungary! Subscribe to our Telegram channel to get the latest news about Hungary! whatsapp Subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news about Hungary! EXPLORE /JOIN SER»»»
Egypt’s SCZONE signs $8m food production deal for Sokhna industrial zone
Pitcairn Food Industries has signed a contract to establish an $8 million (approximately EGP 400m) production facility in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) said in a statement on Monday. The project, which will be located on 10,000 square metres within the Main Devel»»»
Central Bank of Oman issues treasury bills worth OR83 million
Muscat: The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has announced that the total value of treasury bills allocated for issuance this week reached OR 83 million, maturing in 28 days. In a statement Monday, the CBO explained that the average accepted price was OR 99.705 per OR 100, while the average discount rate»»»
Last meteor shower of the year lights up Arab skies as winter begins
Dubai: The night skies over much of the Arab world are set to offer a quiet celestial finale to the year, as the Ursid meteor shower peaks late Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday, December 23, coinciding with the astronomical start of winter. The Ursids, the final major meteor shower of t»»»
Denmark summons U.S. ambassador after Trump names Greenland envoy - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (L) speaks as President Donald Trump listens in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 24. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen summoned the U.S. ambassador on Mo»»»
Baby Siwar back in hospital in Gaza after returning from treatment in Jordan
A one-year-old Palestinian girl evacuated from Gaza with severe nutritional problems is back in hospital in the territory after being returned there from Jordan. Siwar Ashour, whose story the BBC has followed for several months, was repatriated to Gaza on 3 December after completing her medical tre»»»
India's nuclear expansion draws global interest – DW – 12/22/2025
PoliticsIndiaIndia's nuclear expansion draws global interestMurali Krishnan in New DelhiLandmark nuclear reform opens India's nuclear sector to foreign firms, aiming for massive growth, but critics highlight safety, oversight and supply chain gaps. https://p.dw.com/p/55oXLIndia is on track to meet »»»
Depositors protest ahead of Baabda cabinet session
Depositors gathered Monday on the presidential palace road, ahead of a ministerial session in Baabda that will discuss a long-awaited banking draft bill, which distributes losses from the 2019 economic crisis. The law stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and deposit»»»
Greeks Return to Bulgarian Markets for Holiday Shopping
As the holiday season approaches, Greek shoppers are once again flocking to Bulgaria, taking advantage of lower prices on fuel, food, and clothing. Farmers in Greece, while continuing their protests, are not blocking the passage of cars this time. Instead, they have adopted a new form of demonstrat»»»
Depositors protest ahead of financial gap cabinet session in Baabda
Depositors gathered Monday on the presidential palace road, ahead of a ministerial session in Baabda that will discuss a long-awaited banking draft bill, which distributes losses from the 2019 economic crisis. The law stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and deposit»»»
Japan vote moves world's biggest nuclear plant closer to restart
Tokyo: A Japanese regional assembly backed a plan on Monday to restart the world's biggest nuclear plant for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, taking it a step closer to resumption. The move came after Niigata prefecture governor Hideyo Hanazumi approved the restart of the Kashiwaza»»»
Banks Association strongly objects to long-awaited banking law draft
The Association of Banks in Lebanon has issued a statement expressing its "fundamental reservations and strong objection to the draft law presented to Cabinet concerning financial regulation and the handling of deposits, due to its provisions and procedures." ABL said the draft law’s provisions “co»»»
KGST on Binance: Trading with USDT and bot services launch on December 24 - | 24.KG
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced plans to expand the list of trading instruments available on its spot platform. Trading in the new KGST/USDT pair will begin on December 24, 2025, at 08:00 (UTC). An official statement from the company says. At the same time, trading»»»
Egypt launches construction of vaccine manufacturing hub in SCZone
Egypt has begun building a major vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing complex in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), in a move that underscores the state’s push to link health security with export-led industrial growth. The project, developed by Genfex Egypt Pharmaceutical Industries (also r»»»
UAE clarifies new school admission rule: Age cut-off alone won’t guarantee admission
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education has clarified that meeting the new age cut-off requirement alone will not guarantee school admission for students from the 2026-2027 academic year onwards. The ministry made this crucial clarification while presenting answers to frequently asked questions regard»»»
Why Trump is backing Bayer in weedkiller cancer battle – DW – 12/22/2025
BusinessUnited States of AmericaWhy Trump is backing Bayer in weedkiller cancer battleNik MartinThe Trump administration has diverged from the position of former US President Biden, throwing its weight behind the German chemical giant in its courtroom battle over the pesticide Roundup. https://p.dw»»»
Media Review: December 22
POLITICS Trud covers the creation in Nessebar of the Treti Mart [March 3, Bulgaria's Liberation Day] Movement, whose founders describe President Rumen Radev as an informal leader, while Radev distances himself in advance from similar formations. Political scientist Pervan Simeonov says on bTV the n»»»
MPs Propose National Register of Electric Scooters
The creation of a national register of personal electric vehicles and their owners is proposed in a bill to amend the Road Traffic Act, according to a statement by BSP–United Left. The proposal was submitted by the chair of the parliamentary transport and communications, Kiril Dobrev (BSP–United Le»»»
New Zealand says agreed free trade deal with India
Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand said Monday it had agreed a wide-ranging free-trade deal with India that eliminates tariffs on 95 percent of the Pacific country's exports. Trade and investment minister Todd McClay said the deal, which comes into effect in the first half of next year, gave unpr»»»
On This Day, Dec. 22: U.S. military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy repealed - UPI.com
2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military. 1 of 5 | Active and non-active U.S. military personnel participate for the first time in San Diego's Gay Pride Parade on July 16, 2011. The group is reported to be the f»»»
Not India, not Pakistan: Where Dhurandhar’s Lyari scenes starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna were filmed
Dubai: Dhurandhar is soaking up praise from critics and cash from the box office in equal measure. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film unfolds in Pakistan — but here’s the plot twist no one saw coming: not a single frame was shot there. Or in India, for that matter. Instead, the makers went all out t»»»
Jeffries vows to 'pressure' Senate on health care insurance subsidies - UPI.com
1 of 3 | House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, said Sunday that he expects the House to pass a three-year extension of tax credits for people buy health insurance through Affordable Care Act exchanges. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 21 (UPI) -- House Minority Leader Rep. Hakee»»»
Bint Mohaather seals Qatar Oaks honours
Doha, Qatar: Al Jeryan Stud’s Bint Mohaather won the QA Listed Qatar Oaks for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at the QREC’s Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. The day’s feature saw the bay filly double her tally, rewarding a string of recent placed efforts with a decisive success. Settled off the pace fo»»»
S Korea’s critical minerals push faces workforce gap deepen - UPI.com
The Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mining Industry Corporation and universities shared information showing the industry struggles to secure human resources domestically and internationally. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI. Dec. 21 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's drive to strengthen critica»»»
Bulgaria Faces Rising Food Prices Amid Weak Consumer Price Oversight
Bulgaria is facing a steady rise in basic food prices, a trend confirmed through observations, National Revenue Agency inspections, weekly commodity reports, and the consumer price index for 2025. Analysis over recent months highlights structural issues in the enforcement of the Consumer Price Act,»»»
QNBFS launches first of its kind access to listed bonds on QSE
Doha, Qatar: QNB Financial Services (QNBFS), a subsidiary of QNB Group yesterday announced the launch of retail trading in fixed-income securities on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE), where QNBFS executed its first transaction in fixed-income securities for individuals. This pioneer step makes QNBFS »»»
Mandarin Oriental, Doha celebrates Qatar National Day
Doha, Qatar: In honour of Qatar National Day, Mandarin Oriental, Doha celebrates the nation’s heritage and cultural spirit through a meaningful collaboration with Qatar Academy Msheireb continuing a long-standing commitment to creativity, education, and community engagement. Inspired by this year’s»»»