Admiral Alvin Holsey relinquished his leadership of U.S. Southern Command on Friday ahead of his pending retirement after serving 37 years in the Navy. Photo by Mariano Macz/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Southern Command leader Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished his command on Friday amid his pending retir»»»

El Salvador President Nayib Armando Bukele's government announced it has reached an agreement with Elon Musk's xAI company to introduce Grok-based tutoring in more than 5,000 public schools. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 12 (UPI) -- El Salvador has reached an agreement with »»»

For more than a century, the United States has attempted to shape political outcomes across Latin America, whether that be backing coups, toppling governments, or supporting authoritarian figures aligned with its strategic interests. Few of these efforts produced the stability sought in Washington.»»»

For more than a century, the United States has attempted to shape political outcomes across Latin America, whether that be backing coups, toppling governments, or supporting authoritarian figures aligned with its strategic interests. Few of these efforts produced the stability sought in Washington.»»»

When China’s President Xi Jinping inaugurated Peru’s Chancay megaport in November 2024, he was doing far more than opening a Chinese offshore project; he was executing a vision that has reshaped global power three times before and is poised to do so again. The $1.3bn deep-water facility, capable of»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Police General Command unveiled the sixth edition of the “Police Desert Park” on Saturday 13, between 4 pm and 10 pm. Located in Al Kaheef area of Al Bataah in Sharjah, the event, themed “Together... Time is More Beautiful,” is a significant annual initiative aimed at improving»»»

Four Turkish F-16s violated Greek airspace on Friday afternoon. According to reports, the Turkish fighter jets, two of them armed, entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) in pairs without submitting a flight plan, flying over the central Aegean. In response, Greek fighter jets intercepte»»»

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to halt fighting along their disputed border, which has killed at least 20 people this week. The latest fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours, which stems from a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demar»»»

Angry French farmers are calling for more protests over the government-backed slaughter of cattle herds affected by so-called Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). On Thursday there were clashes between riot police and demonstrators in the southern Ariège department, after vets were called in to destroy potent»»»

Citizens rallied in front of the European Commission Representation in Sofia on Friday in support of Palestinians’ rights. The protest, organised by the unregistered student initiative Students for Palestine, Bulgaria under the slogan “NO to funding the genocide in Gaza!”, took place outside the Ho»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Palestinian sources dismissed Israeli claims circulating over the past two days that the Islamic Jihad movement is refusing to cooperate with Hamas by handing over what Israel says is the last body of an Israeli hostage in Gaza, a step Israel has linked to moving into the second phase of the ceasef»»»

Taylor Swift broke down in tears after meeting survivors and families of the victims of the Southport stabbing attack, backstage footage from her Eras tour reveals. The star met privately with some of those affected by the attack in July 2024, which took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance worksho»»»

Tunis, Dec 12 (TAP) — Tunisia’s trade balance widened to TND 20,168.5 million during the first eleven months of 2025, compared with TND 16,758.5 million over the same period in 2024. The coverage rate declined to 74.2%, down from 77.3% in 2024,...»»»

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 »»»

Iranian security forces have "violently arrested" Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi, her foundation has said. The Narges Foundation said her brother confirmed Ms Mohammadi was detained in the eastern city of Mashhad, along with other activists. It has called for »»»

A nonprofit organisation tasked by the US Congress with helping preserve historic sites has sued the White House to stop construction on President Donald Trump's new ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the suit on Friday, arguing that the White House failed to seek necessar»»»

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»»»

Iran will raise the price of its heavily subsidized gasoline for heavy users on Saturday, state media reported, as the OPEC member seeks to control rising fuel demand without triggering public anger. Proposals to increase Iran's fuel prices, some of the lowest in the world, have long been postponed»»»

The Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction signed two Memoranda of Understanding yesterday with two leading international companies in the water and infrastructure sector, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen vital infrastructure in Libya. The signing ceremony was presided over by the Mi»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have issued a strong warning to motorists after releasing surveillance footage showing a dangerous red-light violation that nearly resulted in a major crash. The video, captured by the force’s operations centre, highlights the serious risks posed by ignoring traffic signals »»»

In tonight's edition: Regional officials say over 400 civilians have been killed since December 1 in the area of Uvira in DR Congo; we speak to the Congolese Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya. Also, Kenya has pulled the brakes on a landmark health pact with the United States over data p»»»

In a special edition, we focus on childbirth and how much control women really do have over the process. In France, doulas have become increasingly popular in recent years. They provide emotional and practical support during pregnancy and birth, but not medical assistance. So where do doulas fit in»»»

On the front line of the migration surge, Ceuta – the Spanish exclave in North Africa – continues to see thousands of people arrive each year. With the land border so heavily guarded to be virtually sealed, many of the youngest attempt the crossing by sea, venturing into the dangerous cur»»»

Germany said Friday it had summoned Moscow’s ambassador after it accused Russian-linked groups of hacking its air traffic control system and attempting to influence the 2024 general election. Dubbing such operations, including drone flights near European airports, as “hybrid attacks”»»»

Israel's cabinet has decided to give legal status to 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, including two that were vacated 20 years ago under a pullout aimed at boosting the country's security and the economy, Israeli media reported. The Palestinian Authority on Friday condemned the move, annou»»»

Certain Covid-19 vaccines can trigger immune responses that may inflame heart tissue and lead to potentially fatal complications in rare cases, with young men being especially susceptible, according to a new study. The paper, authored by Stanford University researchers and published in the Science »»»

Two youths accused of stabbing a 14-year-old boy in the Athens suburb of Holargos have been remanded in custody following their testimony before an investigating magistrate. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly lured the teenager through social media, using an online conversation w»»»

The Constitutional Court has reinstated Belinda Balluku to her duties as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, overturning the suspension previously imposed by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO). The decision follows the Court’s acceptance fo»»»

A Lululemon store pictured Dec. 2019 in Lynnfield, Mass. On Friday, the Canada-based company's sock value spiked more than 9% in premarket trading following its announcement CEO Calvin McDonald will step down next month. Photo Provided by CJ Gunther/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Shares of Lululemon stock su»»»

The Palestinian Information Center “Ma‘ta” has documented 73 acts of resistance—both armed and popular—in the West Bank and Jerusalem over the past week, underscoring the continued grassroots pushback against intensified Israeli military aggression. According to Ma‘ta, the period between 5 and 11 D»»»

EIPICO announced a significant dual achievement regarding Obtains (EDA License for EIPICO 3 Factory) and the launch of its new biosimilar product (ADALIMAB), The event was chaired by both of Prof. Dr. Samir El-Badawi, Professor of Rheumatology at Cairo University and President of the Egyptian Socie»»»

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»»»

EU officials are “systematically raping the law” by planning to strip member states of veto powers over frozen Russian assets, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. The European Commission is due to vote later on Friday on a plan to invoke Article 122 of the EU treaties, an emergency clau»»»

Israel and Costa Rica have signed a free trade agreement, but it must be ratified by Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly in the face of opposition by pro-Palestinian groups. File Photo by Abir Sultan/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Costa Rica and Israel finalized a free trade agreement this week that eliminates»»»

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addresses journalists outside Government House in Bangkok on Friday after dissolving the House of Representatives, the country's parliament. Photo courtesy Royal Thai Government/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament»»»

The ambient air on planes and in hospitals mostly contains harmless microbes typically associated with human skin, researchers reported. File Photo by Luong Thai Linh/EPA Germophobes can breathe a little easier when visiting a hospital or taking an airplane trip, a new study says. The ambient air o»»»

A Conservative member of parliament said he will be crossing the floor to join Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals, putting his government just one seat shy of a majority and delivering another blow to the opposition party. Michael Ma, an MP from Ontario, announced his decision to join the Libera»»»

Kilmar Abrego Garcia delivers remarks during a rally before his check-in at the ICE Baltimore Field Office on August 25. A federal judge said Friday that he can't be re-arrested at a similar check-in Friday. File Photo by Shawn Thew/EPA Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Maryland ruled Friday that»»»

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 »»»

PoliticsAfricaTrump's new security strategy: A chance for Africa?Martina SchwikowskiUS President Donald Trump's new foreign policy focuses less on aid and more on trade with African countries, specifically on raw materials. Could this be a wake-up call for Africa to become more economically indepen»»»

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 »»»

Manila: A devastating fire erupted in a densely-packed residential neighbourhood in Barangay Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong City, on Friday (December 12, 2025). Local media showed towering flames and thick black smoke engulfing rows of closely spaced homes, illuminating the evening night sky with an o»»»

In 2025, Bulgaria is set to record another increase in the number of households connected to the internet. Fresh figures from the National Statistical Institute show that 92.8% of households have home access, with connectivity almost universal in urban areas at 94.9%. In rural settlements, the shar»»»

MPs spent nearly two hours debating the draft resolution to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his Cabinet on Friday. The resignation was accepted unanimously, with all 227 MPs voting in favor. The debate centered on who should bear responsibility for next year’s budget. »»»

Geneva: Former Iraqi president Barham Salih will become the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from January, a UN source told AFP on Friday. Salih was president of Iraq from 2018 to 2022. He takes over as the UN refugees chief from Filippo Grandi, who is leaving at the end of Decemb»»»

This holiday season isn't quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut under President Donald Trump, a new AP-NORC poll finds. The vast majority of U.S. adults say they've noticed higher t»»»

Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways carried 2.1 million passengers in November 2025, marking a 28 per cent increase compared with the same month last year and setting a new monthly record for the airline this year. The national carrier sustained strong operational performance, with a passenger load factor of»»»