Elon Musk reacts after Indian-origin man dies following 8-hour hospital wait
Tesla CEO and and tech billionaire Elon Musk criticised Canada’s healthcare system following the death of 44-year-old Prashant Sreekumar, an Indian-origin man who waited over eight hours for medical attention at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton. Sreekumar reportedly suffered severe chest pa»»»
Lebanon on agenda as Netanyahu meets Trump on Monday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, an Israeli official told AFP, in what is seen as a crucial visit for the next steps of the fragile Gaza truce plan. It will be Netanyahu's fifth visit to see key ally Trump in the United State»»»
How frogs went from right-wing meme to anti-ICE protest symbol
The revolution will not be televised, but it might have webbed feet and bulging eyes. It also might have a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers. As protests against the Trump administration continue in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a community costume parade or block party. »»»
Mayor Terziev Confirms: Euro Transition in Sofia Without Extra Costs
Sofia is fully prepared for the introduction of the euro on January 1, 2026, with no hidden price hikes and even lower costs for public transport, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev announced on Facebook. The municipal administration has approved a set of amendments to local regulations related to the euro »»»
Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro treated for hiccups
Brasmlia: Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro underwent a medical procedure Saturday to treat recurrent hiccups he has been dealing with for months, according to his medical team. The 70-year-old ex-president, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup, had been released f»»»
Zelensky looks to close out Ukraine peace deal at Trump meet
Palm Beach: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will sit down Sunday with Donald Trump and seek to secure the US president’s stamp of approval for a new proposal to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia. The 20-point plan, which emerged from weeks of intense US-Ukraine negotiations, lack»»»
Bulgaria Switches to Euro: What Will Cost More, Less, and Stay the Same from January 1, 2026
As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, replacing the leva (BGN) at a fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR, the country faces a complex landscape of price adjustments across various sectors. This comprehensive analysis examines which prices are rising, which are falling, an»»»
Two killed in Sweden as major storm sweeps across Nordic countries
Two people have died in Sweden after a powerful winter storm swept across Nordic countries, causing travel disruption and power outages. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued alerts for strong winds for large parts of the northern half of the country as Storm Johannes hit. On»»»
Global growth recovery reflects major economies’ resilience: QNB
Doha: QNB affirmed that the recovery in global growth forecasts for 2025 does not indicate a lack of risks as much as it reflects the ability of major economies to adapt to shocks in a world characterized by rapid change and rising uncertainty. It highlighted that forecasts were no longer on a fixe»»»
UPDATE – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»
UPDATE – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by a major earthquake, initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a»»»
Fearing deportation, Hondurans in the US send more cash home than ever before
For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant. As an Uber driver in the snarled streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, it hasn't been easy for him to put money aside. On bad days he makes as little as $12 (£9) in »»»
Magnitude 6.6 earthquake near Taiwan disrupts rail services - UPI.com
A 6.6-magnitude earthquake about 20 miles off Taiwan's east coast briefly disrupted rail services and power to 3,000 homes late Saturday night. Photo by Ritchies B. Tongo/EPA Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A 6.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday night, but no injuries »»»
More US immigration proposals complicate life for expats worldwide
Dubai: The future of US immigration rules is again under debate, and this time the concerns are not only political — they are personal for thousands of expats in the UAE and elsewhere who either travel regularly to the US for work or have family members on H-1B visas. Sign up for our daily business»»»
Bessent, Trump urge ending the Senate filibuster; as 2026 budget looms - UPI.com
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster as a fiscal year 2026 budget battle is expected in January and could trigger another government shutdown. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 27 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent »»»
Awqaf ministry opens new branch of adjudicated Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani Waqf Award
QNA Doha The Department of Islamic Research and Studies at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, in collaboration with the Mosques Administration, has launched a new branch of the adjudicated Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani Waqf Award, dedicated to imams, preachers and muezzins o»»»
Three-day Chinese Film Festival concludes with focus on promotion of cultural diplomacy
Ashraf Siddiqui Doha A three-day 2025 Qatar-China Film Festival at the Katara Cinema in Doha concluded recently on a high note promoting cultural diplomacy between the two countries. This significant cultural event, hosted by the China Film Administration, was organised by the China Film Archive in»»»
Patel planning permanent closure of FBI's Hoover headquarters building - UPI.com
The J. Edgar Hoover Building will close permanently after the FBI moves its headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Friday. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The FBI Hoover headquarters in Washington soon will be vacant as the»»»
Global growth recovery reflects major economies' resilience: QNB
Doha: QNB affirmed that the recovery in global growth forecasts for 2025 does not indicate a lack of risks as much as it reflects the ability of major economies to adapt to shocks in a world characterized by rapid change and rising uncertainty. It highlighted that forecasts were no longer on a fixe»»»
BREAKING – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by an earthquake initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a M6.7 quake»»»
BREAKING – Taiwan, southwestern Japan hit by M7.0 earthquake
Taiwan and the southwestern islands of Japan have been hit by an earthquake initially reported as measuring magnitude 7.0 by Taiwanese authorities. Japanese government agencies meanwhile reported the tremor as a M6.7 quake»»»
UK teacher ‘likened to terrorist’ for showing students Trump videos – Telegraph
A teacher at a school in Britain says he was “likened to a terrorist” for showing his students several videos of US President Donald Trump, The Telegraph has reported. According to the paper, the man was forced to resign from Henley College in Oxfordshire, after he was accused of radicalizing stude»»»
EU should never bow to Trump’s demands – European Commission vice-president
The EU should listen to US President Donald Trump but never yield to his demands, Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s vice-president, stated in an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday. Brussels should listen to but not blindly accept demands from Washington to ditch laws on ‘»»»
Somalia’s Al-Shabaab Vows to Fight Any Israeli Use of Somaliland
Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab vowed Saturday to fight any attempt by Israel "to claim or use parts of Somaliland" following its recognition of the breakaway territory. "We will not accept it, and we will fight against it," Al-Shabaab said in a statement. Its spokesman Ali Dhee»»»
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in US on Monday for Talks on Iran, Gaza, Hezbollah, Syria
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, an Israeli official told AFP, in what is seen as a crucial visit for the next steps of the fragile Gaza truce plan. It will be Netanyahu's fifth visit to see key ally Trump in the United States »»»
NATO’s scandal-ridden boss wants war with Russia to be his next train wreck
NATO boss, Mark Rutte, says that Western Europe could be heading toward a war with Russia “like our grandparents experienced.” Which implies that he has a phenomenal memory of World War II, 80 years ago. This is especially impressive coming from a man known in the Netherlands, where he spent fourte»»»
African Union and Somalia denounce Israel's recognition of Somaliland
The African Union and Somalia denounced Israel's announcement on Friday that it viewed Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state". Israel is the first country to recognise Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Somalia and the African Union reacted angrily on Fr»»»
China seeks public feedback on draft rules for anthropomorphic AI services
BEIJING: China's cyberspace regulator has released a draft interim governing anthropomorphic artificial intelligence (AI) interaction services for public consultation. The draft, formulated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, aims to promote the sound development and standardized application»»»
Peak Oil: Why the world can't break its fossil fuel habit – DW – 12/27/2025
TradeGlobal issuesPeak Oil: Why the world can't break its fossil fuel habitNik MartinClimate change shifted the oil production debate from scarcity to demand. But without delivering on ambitious green pledges, one expert predicts production may peak within two years, forcing a chaotic decline. http»»»
China Passes Revised Foreign Trade Law to Bolster Trade War Capabilities
China on Saturday passed revisions to a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Beijing's ability to wage trade war, curb outbound shipments from strategic minerals, and further open its $19 trillion economy. The latest revision to the Foreign Trade Law, approved by China's top legislative »»»
Russia Attacks Kyiv with Missiles and Drones, Wounding 11 ahead of Ukraine-US Meeting
Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones early Saturday morning, wounding at least 11 people a day before talks between Ukraine and the US, local authorities said. Explosions boomed across the capital for hours as ballistic missiles and drones hit the city. The attack began in the»»»
Egypt Warns of Moves to Derail Gaza Deal, Fragment Reconstruction
Efforts by mediators to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement are intensifying, as Egypt issues fresh warnings that the process could be obstructed just days before it is due to take effect in January. Egypt’s position, which rejects fragmenting reconstruction, dividing the Gaza »»»
Egypt, Trump Reaffirm Strategic Alliance in 2025 amid Regional Turmoil
After months of speculation over the trajectory of Egyptian-US relations, fueled by persistent talk of strain and an impending rift, a high-level meeting between President Donald Trump and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh reaffirmed the resilience of the strategic alliance between »»»
Opposition parties advance impeachment of Taiwan’s president, premier - UPI.com
Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te, pictured, and Premier Cho Jung-tai will undergo impeachment proceedings after Taiwan's legislature approved an impeachment motion on Friday. File Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA-EFE Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai »»»
One general, one mathematician: The men competing for power in two African elections
On Sunday, citizens of Guinea and the Central African Republic (CAR) will go to the polls to elect their presidents for terms of office of seven years. Both contests could, in theory, go on to run-off ballots. Yet in both, the incumbents are strong favourites, with observers predicting they will cl»»»
Southern Yemeni separatists accuse Saudi Arabia of air strikes in eastern provinces
Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC) separatists on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out air strikes on their positions in the east of the country, a claim Riyadh has not acknowledged. While vowing they will not be deterred, the STC said it remains open to coordination with the kingdo»»»
China sanctions more US arms producers and executives
China has slapped sanctions on 20 additional US weapons manufacturers and ten executives in retaliation for the latest US arms sale to Taiwan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the measures on Friday, which expand an existing blacklist targeting the US defense sector. Beijing said it was respo»»»
Israel becomes the first nation to recognize the Republic of Somaliland - UPI.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday made Israel the first U.N. member state to formally recognize the independent Republic of Somaliland. File Photo by Ronen Zvulun/UPI | License Photo Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Israel on Friday became the first U.N. member state to formally recognize the Rep»»»
Milei’s government bill cuts state role in Argentina public education - UPI.com
Argentine President Javier Milei's administration is promoting a reform that seeks to redefine the role of the state in public education, curb direct government intervention and give families greater control over their children’s schooling. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo BUENOS AIRES»»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Daamoush: Resistance Won’t Confront the Lebanese Army, Rejects Internal Discord
Head of Hezbollah Executive Council Sheikh Ali Daamoush affirmed that the resistance will not be drawn into confrontation with the Lebanese Army and will not permit internal discord, stressing that attempts to provoke division are doomed to fail. Speaking during Friday prayers at the Sayyeda Zainab»»»
Midnight Hammer in 2025: Trump Ends Half Measures on Iran
With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office in early 2025, it took less than a year for his revamped “maximum pressure” campaign to set the pace for Iran. What began as an argument over reviving the nuclear deal quickly gave way to a far starker reality: war on Iranian soil, for only the second time »»»
Helicopter crash on Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro kills all on board - UPI.com
A medical evacuation helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro on Christmas Eve and killed all five on board. File Photo by Daniel Irungu/EPA Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A medical evacuation helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro on Christmas Eve killing all five people aboard. Tanzanian officials said the Air»»»
Corruption scandal means Zelenskiy would likely lose a presidential election
The expanding Energoatom corruption scandal has hurt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's popularity and if elections were held this weekend he would lose in the second round, according to a Socis poll. A majority of »»»
Putin could step down if a Ukraine peace deal is agreed at Mar-a-Lago meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to meet US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 28 in what he is billing as a possible breakthrough meeting to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as speculation swirls that Russian President Vladimir Putin may step down in favour of a»»»
Putin could step down if a Ukraine peace deal is agreed at Mar-a-Lago meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to meet US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 28 in what he is billing as a possible breakthrough meeting to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as speculation swirls that Russian President Vladimir Putin may step down in favour of a»»»
Corruption scandal means Zelenskiy would likely lose a presidential election
The expanding Energoatom corruption scandal has hurt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's popularity and if elections were held this weekend he would lose in the second round, according to a Socis poll. A majority of »»»
Maduro government announces release of 99 political prisoners - UPI.com
Congressman Tomás Guanipa (C) speaks during a press conference in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Tuesday. Guanipa said Venezuelan prisons are holding people who have not committed crimes and were being detained for expressing dissent. Photo by Henry Chirinos/EPA Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Venezuela's government an»»»
6 dead in mosque explosion in Homs, Syria - UPI.com
Damage pictured Friday after an explosion at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dahab neighborhood of Homs, western Syria. Ambulances rushed victims during Friday prayers as security forces sealed off the area and began an investigation. Photo Provided by Ahmad Fallaha/EPA Dec. 26 (UP»»»
Binge-drinking ferrets and dogs on cocaine in $1.6trn US ‘government waste’ list
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»»»
Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak gets 15 years for money laundering, abuse of power - UPI.com
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»»»