(With POL-GCC-YEMEN-AGREEMENT) RIYADH, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia has welcomed the agreement signed in the capital of Oman, Muscat, on Tuesday on the exchange of prisoners in Yemen, terming it as a key humanitarian step which contributes to mitigating humanitarian suffering and boosting the chan»»»

Ben Sasse, who represented Nebraska in the US Senate from 2015 to 2023, has announced he has pancreatic cancer, saying in a lengthy social media post that his diagnosis is a "death sentence". Sasse was one of seven Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump shortly after the 6 January »»»

1 of 2 | Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., participates in a Senate Select Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on February 24, 2021. The former senator announced Tuesday he has stage-four pancreatic cancer. File Photo by Tom Williams/UPI | License Photo Dec. 23 (U»»»

BELGRADE - The EU remains Serbia's most significant strategic political and economic partner, the Serbian parliament said in conclusions on the European Commission's report on Serbia for 2025. After a vote on the conclusions, Speaker Ana Brnabic said she was surprised MPs of the pro-EU opposition h»»»

Lebanon's army said Tuesday a soldier was among those killed in an Israeli strike a day earlier and flatly denied the Israeli military's accusation that he was a Hezbollah operative. Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, despit»»»

A woman stops to lay flowers in honor of the victims of a mass shooting in the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building at Brown University in Providence, R.I., on Dec. 15. On Tuesday, the campus police chief was put on leave for a review of campus security. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | Lic»»»

Dubai: A five-storey residential building collapsed on Monday in the Imbaba district of Giza, killing an unknown number of people and trapping others beneath the rubble, according to Egyptian security and emergency officials. Rescue teams pulled six people alive from the debris in the Kit Kat neigh»»»

President Donald Trump has announced that the US will keep or sell oil confiscated from Venezuela – what precedent does it set? "Thus far in 2025, governments are experiencing the Trump-Vance administration announcing, crafting, and implementing decisions perceived by the White House as within the »»»

The Palestinian Authority condemned on Tuesday Israel's recent approval of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing it of tightening its control over Palestinian land. On Sunday, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the authorities had greenlit the settlements, s»»»

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and other senior officials on restoration and relief efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.I»»»

1 of 5 | Activists face off with Los Angeles Police Department officers during the “No Kings” protest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on October 18. Demonstrations took place in cities across the United States opposing policies of the Trump administration. File Photo by Jim»»»

New Delhi: A protest erupted in India’s capital Tuesday in response to the death of a man who was lynched and burned by an angry mob in neighbouring Bangladesh, a new sign of strain in relations between the neighboring countries. The protest in New Delhi, mainly led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, hi»»»

DOHA: Marking a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey, the Ministry of Labour has integrated advanced Artificial Intelligence and dynamic reporting tools into the Labour Market Information System (LMIS). This strategic move reinforces the ministry's leadership in adopting proa»»»

The US needs Greenland for its “national security,” President Donald Trump has said, after naming a special envoy to the Arctic island, which is under Danish sovereignty. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has revived his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark,»»»

Attallah Tarazi recently received Christmas presents that included socks and a scarf to shield him against the Gaza winter, and he joined some fellow Palestinian Christians in a round of hymns. “Christ is born,” the group sang in Arabic. “Hallelujah.” The presents and hymns offered the 76-year-old »»»

Israel's defense minister denied any intention to resettle the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after earlier remarks that suggested Israel would one day want to do so, comments at odds with US President Donald Trump's plan for the Palestinian enclave. Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking at a settlement in»»»

London police on Tuesday arrested Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at a demonstration in support of pro-Palestinian hunger strikers, Palestinian campaign groups said. Thunberg's arrest makes her the highest profile person to be detained by police since the government banned the Palestine Action grou»»»

Finland will raise the upper age limit for rank-and-file military reservists by 15 years, from 50 to 65, starting next year, the Defense Ministry has announced. The Nordic nation, which shares a 1,340-km (830-mile) land border with Russia, abandoned its long-standing policy of military neutrality a»»»

Gaza: Head of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions in the Gaza Strip Sami Al Amssi affirmed that the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the suspension of around 400,000 workers from their jobs and raised the unemployment rate in the Strip t»»»

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAMERON HUNT (@cameronhunt__) Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Pedestrians in Christchurch, New Zealand, were left scratching their heads by a series of seemingly-official signs with messages including: "This area is slightly haunted, but manageable." The signs, posted »»»

Dubai: Heavy seasonal rainfall has transformed the Rawdat Muhanna depression in eastern Qassim into a vast inland lake, drawing thousands of visitors to the desert site over the recent period. The area, located near the town of Al Nabqiyah, has seen a significant influx of residents and photographe»»»

A Ryanair Boeing 737 pictured July 2018 landing at Dublin Airport, Ireland. On Tuesday, Italy's antitrust regulator fined Ryanair more than $301 million for exploiting its market dominance to restrict online travel agencies from selling Ryanair tickets. File Photo by Aidan Crawley/EPA Dec. 23 (UPI)»»»

The Department of Justice released a new cache of Epstein files Monday, including flight logs that show President Donald Trump flew on Epstein's plane many more times than has been reported. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice Tuesday released a »»»

The 23-year-old mother of a three-year-old toddler who died of starvation has been remanded in custody after appearing before a prosecutor in Alexandroupoli, northern Greece. She faces charges of homicide by omission, with possible intent. Last Wednesday, the three-year-old was brought to the hospi»»»

TOKYO, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama on Tuesday warned against excessive movements in the foreign exchange market, saying the government would take action against speculative-driven yen depreciation. Katayama made the remarks at a press conference after a Cabinet meeti»»»

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (KUNA) - (with photo) At least five policemen were killed on Tuesday when a police vehicle came under attack in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan.The district police chief spokesperson, Shaukat Khan in a statement to media confirmed that f»»»

A noticeable and sustained rise in the prices of a number of medicines has been observed over the past several months, according to pharmacists and patients. The data indicates that this is not an isolated adjustment, but a continuing trend. The steepest increases affect medicines reimbursed throug»»»

Dubai: The US will overhaul its H-1B work visa selection system, replacing the long-standing random lottery with a process that gives priority to higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants, the Department of Homeland Security said. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The ru»»»

Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice filed suit against Washington, D.C., Monday to overturn the District's restrictive gun laws. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The federal government is suing Washington, D.C., to ease its gun-ownership laws, whic»»»

Dubai: Churches across the UAE are preparing for one of the most significant occasions on the Christian calendar, with special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services scheduled to accommodate the country's diverse Christian community. The UAE's churches reflect the multicultural tapestry of the na»»»

A post regarding the farmers’ mobilizations was published by the president of the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation Giannis Hatzis, calling for normal traffic to resume on the road network. “We do not know who is responsible for the distressing situation we are experiencing today. The only ones who cer»»»

Doha: The Qur'anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has collaborated with Qatar Foundation's (QF) Herfah Program to develop the first Dye Plants Garden at the historic Al Khater house in Education City. This initiative bridges traditional expertise and modern s»»»

Dubai: Arif Habib Group-led consortium has emerged as the highest bidder in the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines, submitting a bid of Rs135 billion in the final round of televised open bidding. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Lucky Group consortium »»»

Two American mercenaries have been killed while fighting for Ukraine against Russian forces in December, Newsweek has reported. The deaths of the US citizens, identified as Brian Zacherl and Ty Wingate, has been confirmed by their relatives on social media, the outlet said in an article on Monday. »»»

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to introduce a new class of battleships for the US Navy’s ‘Golden Fleet’, claiming they will be the biggest and most powerful ever built. Speaking Monday from Mar-a-Lago during what the White House called a “major announcement,” Trump said he approved t»»»

Norway’s soldiers lack basic winter gear as the NATO nation’s military leaders have prioritized sending aid to Ukraine, according to Forsvarets forum, a media outlet published by the Norwegian Armed Forces’ main trade union. The national army is facing shortages of items essential for operating in »»»

Rabat: Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez is confident his side can make up for poor showings at the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations as the 2019 champions prepare to begin their campaign in Morocco on Wednesday. The Desert Foxes won their second AFCON title the last time it was played in N»»»

More than two dozen career diplomats and other overseas officials have been ordered home by Trump as he pursues his "America First" policy. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The White House sent home as many as 30 career diplomats and other overseas officials as part of»»»

Due to frequent fog, flights departing from Manas International Airport in recent days have often been delayed, diverted to other cities, or canceled. However, the situation is expected to change significantly in early 2026. According to Altynbek Mambetov, Director of Infrastructure and Regional De»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaWhy Trump backs Bayer in Roundup weedkiller cancer battleNik MartinThe Trump administration has diverged from the position of former US President Joe Biden, throwing its weight behind German chemical giant Bayer in its courtroom battle over the pesticide Roundup. htt»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti cabinet reviewed the contract signed two days ago on the engineering, procurement and construction works of Mubarak Al Kabeer Port in Boubiyan Island.The weekly meeting of the cabinet, held at Bayan Palace on Tuesday, was chaired by His Highness the Prime Minist»»»

BusinessGermanyHow Deutsche Bahn aims to fix chronic delays amid neglectAndreas Becker | Nicolas MartinGerman trains used to run like clockwork. Today, delays are the rule, not the exception. As public anger is boiling over, what went wrong with a system once envied worldwide, and why are the Swiss»»»

President Donald Trump has promised a major boost to US naval power - what’s known so far, and is the project feasible? "US ambitions to build a vast high-tech fleet are fantastical - ambitions that far exceed America’s actual reach in terms of military-industrial production," Brian Berletic, veter»»»

Artificial Intelligence has become a defining force shaping the future of the global energy industry, and the discussion has now moved decisively from whether to adopt it to how best to deploy it with purpose, efficiency, and responsibility. AI is no longer a distant innovation but an essential too»»»

After a half-century immersed in the world of trade, customs broker Amy Magnus thought she'd seen it all, navigating mountains of regulations and all sorts of logistical hurdles to import everything from lumber and bananas to circus animals and Egyptian mummies. Then came 2025. Tariffs were imposed»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a major new tool in its effort to ease traffic congestion, launching an AI-powered Transport Data Analysis Laboratory designed to anticipate pressure points on the road network and act before delays build up. The initiative marks a s»»»

Dubai: Sharjah Police have launched a new category of number plates for classic vehicles and motorcycles, including the first category, as part of efforts to enhance the emirate’s visual identity and keep pace with ongoing updates to vehicle plate designs. The move reflects Sharjah’s cultural and h»»»

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Tuesday the extension of the contract for gas supplies from Russia until March 31. "We have an agreement to extend the gas supply for another three months, until March 31, so that people can sleep peacefully. Serbia will have enou»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a coordination meeting Tuesday, in preparation for the 12th session of the Kuwaiti-Bahraini Joint Higher Committee, chaired by Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Najib Al-Bader.Al-Bader told KUNA the meeting reflects Kuwait's integrat»»»