Dubai: Financial inclusion in the UAE is entering a new phase, with the focus shifting from access to actual usage. While the Wage Protection System has ensured near-universal digital salary payments, a large share of low-income workers still operate largely in cash. Sign up for our daily business »»»

1 of 4 | Workers make final adjustments after President Donald Trump's name is added to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's name was affixed Friday to The Kennedy Center »»»

Reporters ask world leaders questions all the time. No big deal. Right? But what's it like putting a question to Vladimir Putin - the president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leader whose country was accused this week by the head of MI6 of "the export of chaos"? And imagine ask»»»

GENEVA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that hunger, malnutrition, disease and the scale of agricultural destruction remained alarmingly high despite the declaration of the end of fa»»»

DOHA, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) concluded in Doha on Friday with call to maximize the potential of AI systems to address corruption and economic crime.The world's largest anti-co»»»

Germany is on track to post its largest budget deficit since reunification, the country’s central bank has warned, as Berlin ramps up military spending and financial aid to Ukraine. In its December forecast, published on Friday, the Bundesbank said the government shortfall will rise steadily and re»»»

The Justice Department released hundreds of thousands of files from the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking case on Friday in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and said more are coming. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Justice Department on Friday rele»»»

This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse and violence which some readers may find distressing. Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention. The Un»»»

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. On Friday he gave a year-end news conference and spoke about deals to end the war in Ukraine and Russia. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that U.S. negotia»»»

Home sales rose only slightly in November, as supply dips. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Sales of previously owned homes rose 0.5% in November from October, reflecting a slowdown, due to high mortgage rates, high prices and less supply. Home sales were 1% lower »»»

An Iraqi official said security cooperation with the United States is intensifying in the fight against terrorism, following a rare joint helicopter raid by Iraqi special forces inside Syrian territory. An Iraqi intelligence unit, coordinating with Syrian security forces and the US-led internationa»»»

It’s not clear if the Trump administration wants to genuinely resolve the proxy war with Russia, or if it is merely trying to extricate itself from the mess Washington helped instigate. But one thing is clear: the major Western European capitals are desperate to keep the war going. Various pretexts»»»

Mediators are convening for fresh talks in Miami, Florida, as efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement remain stalled, months after the truce came into effect on Oct. 10. The meeting, which mediators say will focus on outlining a framework for the next phase, comes amid a»»»

The ousted chair of Ben & Jerry's has accused the company which owns the brand of threatening to launch a public smear campaign against her. Anuradha Mittal, who chaired Ben & Jerry's independent board for seven years, told the BBC that Magnum had threatened to publish "defamatory statements" about»»»

Aero,exico remain Mexico's flagship carrier, but faces competition from low-cost carriers. File Photo by Jose Mendez/EPA Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Mexican low-cost airlines Volaris and Viva Aerobus announced an agreement to create a new holding company through a merger of equals -- a deal aimed at expanding»»»

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, also known as (UNIFIL), handed over on Friday to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a cleared minefield during a ceremony held near the Blue Line in Blida, southeastern Lebanon.This marks the first handover of a cleared minefield since »»»

Albania's President Bajram Begaj has issued a decree relieving Ilir Gjoni from his post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nato. The decree, which takes effect immediately, follows a proposal from Prime Minister Edi Rama, in line with constitutional and legal procedures for the fore»»»

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Pakistan summoned the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission on Friday and issued strong demarche to the Taliban regime on terrorist attacks against Pakistan, perpetrated from Afghan soil targeting a security forces camp in tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhw»»»

Two Wisconsin Republican lawmakers on Friday told Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan to resign or be impeached after being convicted of felony obstruction in federal court on Thursday. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Wisconsin's Republican leaders will begin»»»

Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP) - Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub, on Friday, presided over the closing of a training programme for a group of journalists from various print, electronic, and audiovisual media at the headquarters of...»»»

Palestinians crowd to receive hot meals in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, Gaza, in June. A hunger watch group said Friday that Gaza is no longer in famine, but there is still critical food insecurity. File Photo by Anas Deeb/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An international hunger watchdog g»»»

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The proprietor of a sandwich shop in England attempted a Guinness World Record by spending 42 consecutive hours singing Christmas songs. Dave Purchase, aka "Mr. Toasty" of the On Toast sandwich shop, closed the store inside Gloucester's Warehouse 4 so he could attempt the record fo»»»

Taipei: Three people were killed and five others injured in a stabbing and smoke bomb attack targeting commuters at two metro stations in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Friday. Taiwanese Premier Chu Jung-tae stated after the incidents that the attack was carried out by a man armed with a knife i»»»

Police trying to capture a wild boar near a school in Evosmos, Thessaloniki, recently drew online attention and renewed debate over the growing presence of wildlife in Greek cities. Wild boars, wolves and foxes are increasingly appearing in urban areas, troubling residents and farmers. According to»»»

Farmers in the EU have protested on many occasions over unfair foreign competition and the viability of their businesses. They gathered again in Brussels on December 18, while an EU summit was going on, this time focusing their ire on the Mercosur free trade agreement between the EU and Latin Ameri»»»

Doha: The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) announced today that it will stage the Qatar Oaks race on Sunday, at Al Rayyan Racecourse. In a statement, the club said that the Qatar International Derby will be held as scheduled tomorrow, Saturday, while the Qatar Oaks has been confirmed for Sun»»»

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Kshamenk, the last killer whale held in captivity in Latin America, died of cardiorespiratory arrest in Argentina at age 35, Mundo Marino said. The mammal spent 33 years in a marine park, exceeding the typical life expectancy of male killer whales in captivity and becoming an emble»»»

The Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) held more than 50 initiatives before it formally ended with a meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on December 19, 2025, the Foreign Ministry said. The online meeting was cha»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has issued a resolution regulating veterinary medical practices in Abu Dhabi, in line with its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of veterinary services and strengthen the biosecurity system. The resolution aims to ensure anima»»»

DOHA: The Joint Rain Emergency Committee, comprising relevant municipal authorities, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and security agencies from the Ministry of Interior, have undertaken intensive efforts to remove rainwater accumulations that recently affected the country. The total amount of»»»

There is no longer famine in Gaza thanks to improved aid access, but the war-ravaged territory still faces emergency conditions, a UN-backed global hunger monitor said on Friday, with around 1.6 million people forecast to face "crisis" levels of food insecurity over the coming months. A famine decl»»»

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- At least four militants were killed and as many soldiers embraced martyrdom in an attack on a security forces camp in tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan military said Friday.According to a press releas»»»

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is pushing to secure approval for a draft law aimed at resolving the fate of bank deposits frozen since the country’s financial collapse in 2019, proposing full repayment of deposits below $100,000 over four years and the conversion of larger sums into long term»»»

The Duchess of Sussex has shared a family photo taken with the Duke of Sussex and their two children alongside a Christmas message. In the photo shared on Instagram, Prince Archie is seen hugging his father, while Meghan is bending down and holding hands with Princess Lilibet. They are standing on »»»

Protesters gathered outside the bTV building in solidarity with bTV presenters Maria Tsantsarova and Zlatimir Yochev on Friday. The demonstration was organized by the Association of European Journalists in Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) under the slogan “This is the last straw; we’ve had enough.” The rall»»»

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is pushing to secure approval for a draft law aimed at resolving the fate of bank deposits frozen since the country’s financial collapse in 2019, proposing full repayment of deposits below $100,000 over four years and the conversion of larger sums into long term»»»

Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) called on journalists and the public to join a protest in solidarity with bTV morning show hosts Maria Tsantsarova and Zlatimir Yochev on Friday. The group said the action will be held outside the broadcaster’s newsroom amid reports that»»»

Dubai: The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology has reported significant rainfall across several parts of the country over the past 24 hours. In its daily climate report, the Centre said rainfall measurements were recorded between 8am on Wednesday, 18 December, and 8am on Thursday, 19 December. Saq»»»

1 of 3 | Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche participates in a roundtable at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 23. He said the Justice Department doesn't have all files related to the Epstein case ready to be released by the Friday deadline. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Ph»»»

The UK has announced sanctions against militia leaders and groups it says were involved in violence against civilians in Syria. Three groups and four commanders have had their assets frozen over their involvement in suspected atrocities during clashes in coastal regions which saw about 1,400 killed»»»

Police in Piraeus arrested three foreigners, aged 37, 49, and 51, following a special operation targeting illegal street trading. Authorities confiscated 3,398 counterfeit items, including belts, bags, wallets, mobile phone accessories, and household goods. The suspects now face charges including f»»»

Doha , Dec. 19 (SANA)The Syrian delegation from the Central Authority for Control and Inspection, headed by Amer al-Ali, held bilateral meetings with the Saudi and Omani delegations on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, con»»»

Doha: The Joint Rain Emergency Committee, comprising relevant municipal authorities, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and security agencies from the Ministry of Interior, have undertaken intensive efforts to remove rainwater accumulations that recently affected the country. The total amount of»»»

The Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, has sent several letters, widely leaked today to Arabic-language Libyan media, to the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, the Internal Security Agency, the Ministry of Interior, and the Municipal Guards Authority, instructing them to close unli»»»

‎The Tripoli based Libyan government announced today that Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, and the Acting Minister of Planning, Mohammed Al-Zeidani, held a meeting to discuss the draft import indicative budget for 2026, in the presence of the undersecretaries of the ‎‎ministries and »»»

More than a month after Iraq's parliamentary elections, the country's top leaders remain locked in talks to form a government while facing pressure from Washington to exclude Tehran-backed armed groups. Amid seismic changes in the Middle East, where new alliances are forming and old powers waning, »»»

More than 1,000 patients have died while waiting for urgent medical evacuation from war-ravaged Gaza in the last year and a half, the World Health Organization said Friday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the UN agency and its partners had "evacuated over 10,600 patients from Ga»»»

Sexual assault survivor Bhavana has spoken out again, addressing the renewed scrutiny she is facing following the circulation of nude videos allegedly linked to her. Her latest statement comes shortly after she publicly expressed her disappointment over the verdict in the long-running case related »»»

Washington: Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs HE Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment HE Jacob Helberg co-chaired the economic session of the seventh Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue, held in Washington, DC. The sessio»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US State Secretary Marco Rubio said on Friday that the decision to shut down the Agency for International Development (USAID) was the right move, and all predictions of negative consequences have not occurred. On December 16, Vanity Fair published an interview with White Hous»»»