MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The live spot price of platinum surged by more than 10% on Friday, breaching the $2,500 per ounce mark for the first time in history, according to trading data. As of 15:43 GMT, platinum futures for January delivery were up 10.63% from the previous close, reaching $2,486.3 per tr»»»

The introduction of the position of "regional coordinator of health mediators" is proposed in a draft amendment to the Ordinance on the Requirements for the Activities of Health Mediators. The draft has been published for a one-month public discussion on the website of the Health Ministry. The purp»»»

BELGRADE - The approx. 3 pct GDP growth projection for Serbia for 2026 depends on the way several major risks - above all, the issue of the oil company NIS - will be tackled, says Sasa Randjelovic, executive editor of the Kvartalni monitor economic bulletin. NIS is under US sanctions due to its Rus»»»

The US government has spent over $1.6 trillion this year on wasteful programs, such as teaching ferrets how to binge-drink alcohol and dosing dogs with cocaine, according to Senator Rand Paul’s latest annual ‘Festivus Report’. The Kentucky Republican’s 2025 edition notes a total of $1,639,135,969,6»»»

The Russian Foreign Ministry has advised the country’s citizens to refrain from traveling to Germany, warning that they could face persecution on national grounds there. During a briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova drew attention to repeated incidents in which Russian»»»

London: Arne Slot believes Hugo Ekitike's run of five goals in four matches indicates the striker has heeded the Liverpool manager's advice when it comes to improving his fitness. The 23-year-old scored on his first three appearances after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt but that achievement was s»»»

A Syrian refugee family that resettled in the West Midlands shares how they found kinship in the friendship of strangers. Khaled loved his job working at the department of water management in Syria. His wife, Bushra, spent her days teaching primary school children, while evenings were for maqluba a»»»

Traffic restrictions are currently in effect in the Kypseli area of central Athens following the discovery of a suspicious object. According to the police, a local resident spotted an object wrapped in tape with a cable protruding from it on Amorgou Street and alerted the authorities. A bomb dispos»»»

BELGRADE - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS) hosted an end-of-year business conference of Serbian and Chinese businesspeople on Friday. PKS President Marko Cadez noted that the goal of the conference was to make plans for next year and exchange business ideas. The reception was a»»»

The leader of Ansarullah, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badreddine Al-Houthi, warned of what he described as “the Tyrant of the Age,” calling it the most dangerous and unjust force in human history. Speaking on the occasion of the Friday of Rajab, Sayyed A-Houthi said the Tyrant of the Age—embodied by global Z»»»

Beijing: China's central bank on Friday said that it has revised the rules of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) to strengthen management and better support the development of cross-border renminbi (RMB) services. As CIPS business increases and the number of participants expands, the »»»

Across the United States, Democrats and Republicans are demanding that their leaders come clean with the Epstein files and the truth finally be told. What they are getting instead is a massive redaction campaign. Not since 1998 with the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky show trial has the American p»»»

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for money laundering and abuse of power in the 1MDB scandal. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abuse of pow»»»

Damascus, Dec. 26 (SANA) Syria’s Central Bank Governor, Abdelkader Husrieh, announced Thursday that the nationwide exchange of old banknotes for new ones will begin on January 1. The process will be carried out through 66 companies and 1,000 dedicated outlets across the country. Husrieh told the Sy»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set to see generally fair to partly cloudy weather on Saturday, with occasional cloud cover and a chance of light rain in some coastal and northern areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). In its daily forecast, the NCM said conditions will remain humid ov»»»

An explosion has killed at least eight people and injured 18 others during Friday prayers inside a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, the health ministry has said. Pictures from Syria's state-run news agency, Sana, show the inside of the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque with black, scorched walls, sma»»»

Farmers protesting delays in European Union subsidy payments and other grievances have signaled their intention to maintain road blockades as they consider the next steps in their mobilizations. Representatives of farmers at Malgara, west of Thessaloniki, are considering blocking the Athens-bound c»»»

A new video released by Sharjah Police offers a stark reminder of the dangers of distracted driving. The clip opens inside the force’s high-tech Operations Center, where officers vigilantly monitor a network of smart cameras across the emirate around the clock. Also Read: Distracted driving causes »»»

A total of 17 white storks with permanent disabilities have been transferred from the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora (South Cenral Bulgaria) to two rescue centres in Italy, Green Balkans reported. This is the second such transfer of white storks to Italy, after 23 birds were s»»»

Skopje, 26 December 2025 (MIA) — There will be a serious crisis and a serious rise in poverty in 2026, much worse than in 2025, SDSM leader Venko Filipche told a press conference Friday. According to him, the state will need to borrow at least an additional 2 billion euros for expenses and not for »»»

After Cabinet passed a long-awaited banking draft bill that would distribute losses from the 2019 economic crisis amid objections from nine ministers and modest protests, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam appeared a bit agitated as he answered journalists' questions. The law stipulates that each of the st»»»

Skopje, 25 December 2025 (MIA) - The fight for a higher standard of life and lowering the unemployment rate is one of the Government's top priorities. We are in the stage of confirming three foreign investments worth up to EUR 120 million and opening of over 1,500 jobs, said Prime Minister Hristija»»»

Seoul government vows to triple fines for corporate data leaks. Shinhan Card headquarters in Seoul. The company has reported massive data leaks. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Shinhan Card, one of the country's top credit card issuers, reported a massive data leak Tuesday. The Seoul-based »»»

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida at the weekend, as talks continue on ending Russia's full-scale war. Zelensky said he expected the meeting to take place on Sunday and to focus on a US-brokered 20-point peace plan, as well as separate proposals»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija said on Friday Serb Sladjan Trajkovic had been sentenced to ten years in prison by a Pristina court without evidence or witnesses and noted that the ruling was a part of a broader plan aimed at intimidating the Serbs and expelling them fr»»»

Assen Vassilev, leader of Continue the Change (CC) party, said during a meeting with supporters here on Friday that Bulgaria cannot become a normal country while decisions are made through “phone calls” rather than by observing the law. Vassilev emphasized the need to appoint politically neutral le»»»

The US launched airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists in Nigeria on Christmas Day, President Donald Trump has announced, accusing the militants of “viciously killing” Christians. Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group whose name means ‘(Western) books are forbidden,’ pledg»»»

Istanbul, Turkiye: The betting scandal in Turkish football deepened on Friday as 29 people, including 14 footballers, were arrested, the Istanbul public prosecutor's office announced. Their arrests follow the incarceration of six referees and the president of top tier club Eyupspor at the beginning»»»

President Donald Trump (R) escorts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18. Zelensky confirmed he'll have another meeting with Trump in the coming days. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Ukrainian Preside»»»

At least eight people died and 18 wounded in a blast that struck a mosque in an Alawite neighbourhood of the Homs province in Syria on Friday, according to local officials. At least eight people were killed in an explosion ⁠at a mosque of the Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Frid»»»

Abu Dhabi: Al Ain City Municipality has launched a new project to collect and analyse data on road conditions using smart technology. The aim is to improve road quality across the city and nearby areas, boost efficiency, and support long-term sustainability. Engineer Rashid Hamad Al Nuaimi, Directo»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has opened 16 new public parks across the Al Shamkhah district, expanding the capital’s network of neighbourhood green spaces as part of a broader initiative to enhance urban liveability. Spread across residential areas, the parks are »»»

Moscow has made a "proposal" to France concerning the case of researcher Laurent Vinatier, who has been imprisoned in Russia since June 2024, the Kremlin said Thursday. Vinatier was sentenced by a Russian court to three years in prison for allegedly failing to register as a "foreign agent" but»»»

London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen to ensure there is no repeat of Declan Rice's controversial red card against Brighton when his Premier League leaders face Brighton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The Gunners are just two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City and Pep Guardi»»»

Israeli security forces announced on Thursday the arrest of five Israeli settlers over their alleged involvement in an attack on a Palestinian home that injured a baby girl in the occupied West Bank. The eight-month-old infant suffered "moderate injuries to the face and head" in the late Wednesday »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The production of weapons in high demand in Russia during the special military operation has increased exponentially since 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. "Compared to 2022, the production of devices in high demand during the special military operation has »»»

Dubai: Dubai welcomed 17.55 million overnight visitors between January and November 2025, up 5% from the same period last year, according to the Dubai Economic and Tourism Department numbers. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The steady rise comes despite a more cautious»»»

Geneva: The United Nations said the presidential election race in Guinea had been marked by intimidation, and urged authorities to ensure there was no fear or repression in Sunday's voting. "Ahead of Sunday's presidential election in Guinea, the civic and political space has been severely restricte»»»

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu speaks at U.N. Headquarters on September 19, 2023, in New York City. Nigeria's foreign minister said Tinubu gave the go-ahead on U.S. strikes on ISIS targets in his country. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Nigerian President Bola Tinu»»»

A major Gaza hospital has suspended several services because of a critical fuel shortage in the devastated Palestinian territory, which continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, it said. Devastated by more than two years of war, the Al-Awda Hospital in the central Gaza district of Nuseirat ca»»»

Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi said that "all efforts" were being made to prevent the collapse of talks on an agreement with Damascus to integrate his forces into the central government. The remarks came days after Aleppo saw deadly clashes between the two sides before their respective leaders »»»

Dubai’s Event Security Committee (ESC) has confirmed that all security, organisational, and service preparations are in place for New Year’s Eve 2026, ensuring the celebrations uphold Dubai’s reputation for world-class events. The announcement was made at a press conference at Dubai Civil Defence h»»»

Phnom Penh: Thailand's prime minister expressed hope on Friday for a ceasefire with Cambodia, even as Phnom Penh accused the Thai military of intensifying its bombardment of disputed border areas. Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand's National Security Council had agreed to send the country's defence»»»

Twenty-two years have passed since the deadly attack in the Iraqi city of Karbala that claimed the lives of five Bulgarian servicemen. A truck bomb rammed into Camp India, where the Bulgarian contingent was stationed, killing Georgi Kachorin, Ivan Indjov, Svilen Kirov, Nikolay Saryev and officer ca»»»

Dubai is preparing for one of its busiest New Year’s Eve celebrations yet, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiling a comprehensive traffic and mobility plan as more than 2.7 million passengers are expected to use public transport — up from around 2.5 million last year. Speaking to Gu»»»

It's been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade wars with nearly every country in the world. Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrived erratically — with Trump claim»»»

Beijing imposed sanctions on Friday against 20 U.S. defense-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced large-scale arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions entail freezing the companies' assets in China and banning individuals and organizations from dealing with them, accordi»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Unfriendly countries were forced to acknowledge the impossibility of inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia and switched to calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "[Russia's] firm defense of its national interests in relatio»»»

In their upcoming meeting in the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump will the discuss the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, “which is a plan that cannot be separated from the Lebanese file, especially the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, in addition to »»»

Islamabad: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Pakistani Prime Minister His Excellency Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks today on strengthening cooperation between the UAE and Pakistan, particularly in the fields of economy, investment, and development, in a way that »»»