Russia renews solidarity with Venezuela, expresses concern over US naval escalation
MOSCOW, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Russia expressed "full support" for Venezuela on Monday, as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by US forces deployed in the Caribbean.In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the two allied countries blasted the US actions, which have»»»
"Israeli decision to establish settlements in West Bank a blatant violation of int'l law" - Belgium
BRUSSELS, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Monday that the announcement by the Israeli security cabinet to establish and legalize 19 settlements in the West Bank constitutes a "blatant and unacceptable violation of international law." In a statement posted on social m»»»
India's jobs guarantee scheme: A global model under threat?
India is home to one of the world's most ambitious social programmes - a jobs guarantee that gives every rural household the legal right to paid work. Launched in 2005 by a Congress party government, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) gave every rural household a legal right to »»»
Christmas poll: Fewer in U.S. observe religiously; secular events steady - UPI.com
People light candles in the Church of Nativity, believed to be built on the site where Jesus was born, in Bethlehem, West Bank, on Friday. A poll of Americans found that while the percent of people who observe the religious aspects of Christmas has declined over the past several years, the secular »»»
Screams for help and panic as tourists rescued from fatal Laos ferry disaster
It was supposed to be just another Thursday in Laos, where Anthonin Levelu's father was born. Instead, the 30-year-old French citizen found himself among more than 140 people, mostly tourists, on a ferry that capsized in the Mekong River. All but three are thought to have made it to safety. Videos »»»
$1.8 billion Egypt-Saudi grid is set to transform energy security across regional power markets
Electrical wires in Commerce, California, in August. The average price of electricity in America has increased 13% since 2022, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Mike Blake/Reuters The Egyptian government announced that the electricity interconnection project between Egypt and S»»»
Trump denies disaster aid requests for Colorado flooding, wildfires - UPI.com
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (R) talks with President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 13, 2020. On Monday, Polis called on Trump to reverse his recent decision to deny the state disaster relief for recent flooding and fire damage. File Pool Photo by Doug»»»
Healthcare software CEO sentenced to 15 years, ordered to pay $452M - UPI.com
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The former CEO of a healthcare software company in Arizona was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $452 million in restitution for conspiring to defraud Medicare for $1 billion, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday. Gary Cox, 79, of Maricopa County, w»»»
Syria, Japan discuss boosting economic and financial cooperation
Damascus, Dec. 23 (SANA)Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh met with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Yuhini Onishi and his accompanying delegation to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in economic and financial fields. The meeting highlighted Japan’s role in supporting Syria»»»
Thailand, Cambodia agree to talks after Trump peace deal fails - UPI.com
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (L) is pictured with U.S. President Donald Trump in October after the signing the failed cease-fire agreement between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (2ndR) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (R) on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeas»»»
EU leader identifies main Ukraine warmongers
EU politicians, weapons manufacturers, and bankers are the three main groups pushing for the Ukraine conflict to continue, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed. Speaking at an election campaign event in Szeged on Sunday, Orban reiterated his opposition to the EU’s approach to the confl»»»
ICBF honours winners of 11th Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Competition
Tribune News Network Doha The Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) organised the prize distribution ceremony of the 11th Hajikka Memorial Essay Writing Competition, an annual event that celebrates the values of service and compassion championed by the late Hajikka, whose legacy continues to ins»»»
Doha Toastmasters Club organises successful annual speech contest
Tribune News Network Doha Doha Toastmasters Club, Qatar’s first and oldest Toastmasters chapter with a legacy of distinguished leadership and community impact, successfully hosted its Annual Speech Contest 2025 at Centro Capital Hotel in Doha. The event delivered an inspiring evening that celebrate»»»
Qatar Tourism welcomes two maiden calls by Seven Seas Navigator and Celestyal Discovery at Doha Port
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with Mwani Qatar, marked the successful arrival of two maiden calls at Doha Port this week, following welcoming ceremonies held for both vessels, highlighting an important milestone in the 2025/2026 cruise season. Seven Seas Navigator, opera»»»
Canada names CEO Mark Wiseman as ambassador to U.S. - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Mark Wiseman, president and CEO of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, attends the economy summit of China development forum 2015 at Diaoyutai in Beijing, China. Wiseman was selected Monday as Canada's ambassador to the United States. File Photo by Wu Hong/EPA Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Canadian P»»»
US uncertainty, global financial shifts drive gold surge: Experts
QNA Doha Gold and silver prices recorded unprecedented historic skyrocketing in Monday’s trading, with the yellow metal breaking the $4,400 per ounce barrier, driven by US economic data showing weakness in the labor market and a decline in inflation rates, further bolstering market bets on a Federa»»»
AL MURAIKHI MEETS FINANCE MINISTER of MALAWI
AL MURAIKHI MEETS MALAWI FINANCE MINISTER Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met with Member of Parliament, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, and Special Envoy of Malawi to Qatar Joseph Mwanamvekha in Doha on Monday. During the meeting, relati»»»
Awqaf gives a boost to Imams’ Qur’an recitation performance
QNA Doha The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance, launched the third “Asaneed” Programme for 2025-2026. The programme was launched in collaboration with the Mosques Department, with the participation of 50 Imams and Muez»»»
EAA Foundation volunteers visit Egypt to engage with local youth in service-learning programme
Tribune News Network Cairo Volunteers from the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation were in Cairo recently as part of the Egypt 2025 Volunteer Trip, where they engaged directly with youth beneficiaries from the EAA-supported “Green Visions & Thriving Futures: Empowering Youth for Sustainable Impact»»»
Social, economic cost of excluding a single child from school is enormous: EAA COO
Ali Turki Al Subaie, Chief Operating Officer of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, has highlighted the organisation’s evolving journey in youth empowerment, reflecting on its key milestones, challenges, and future ambitions, in an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune’s Khaled Al Hameidi. D»»»
QATAR and MALAWI DISCUSS WAYS TO BOOST BILATERAL relations
Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad held talks with Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development of Malawi Joseph Mwanamvekha in Doha on Monday. The meeting reviewed relations between the two countries and explored ways to enhance co»»»
QC project provides health services to crisis-hit people in eastern Sudan
Tribune News Network Doha Continuing its ongoing support for the health sectorin Sudan, Qatar Charity’s medical teams implemented a new project in Al-Qadarif State to provide health services to those affected by the crisis in the east of the country. The project included mobile clinics offering fre»»»
QCDC places youth with disabilities at centre of QND 2025 celebrations
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation, has concluded the ‘EmpowerAbility’ programme’s 2025 edition, which used Qatar National Day celebrations as a real-life training ground to support the integration of youth with disabilities into the world »»»
MOI UNDERSECRETARY MEETS JORDANIAN OFFICIAL
MOI UNDERSECRETARY MEETS JORDANIAN OFFICIAL Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior HE Abdullah bin Khalaf bin Hattab Al Kaabi met with Director of Public Security of Jordan Major-General Dr. Obaid Abdulrabboh Al Maaytah. During the meeting, they discussed several topics of mutual interest and r»»»
Sofia Authorities See Positive Effects from Measures against Air Pollution
Sofia Municipality Monday reported a notable improvement in air quality following recent measures prompted by spiking air pollution, including the discounted Green Tickets” for public transport, that were launched for the first time in response to forecasts of high air pollution. Also, stricter enf»»»
Justice Department sues DC over block of semi-automatic guns
The Justice Department has sued Washington, DC, over its law banning residents from registering ownership of semi-automatic guns. Under DC law, all gun owners must register their weapons with local police. The nation's capital, though, bars the registration of AR-15 and other fast-loading guns, whi»»»
Mucunski: Not accepting any migrants or asylum seekers from the UK
Skopje, 22 December 2025 (MIA) — UK media speculations about the country accepting rejected asylum seekers from the UK were completely fabricated as there had never been any such discussion between the two governments, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said in a TV appea»»»
Spain's Christmas lottery sees residents of one town win 468 million euros
Spain's Christmas lottery has been welcomed as an "injection of hope" in the northwest of the country, where the jackpot handed out hundreds of millions of euros just months after wildfires had caused devastation. Most of the first-prize-winning tickets in the lottery, known as El Gordo, had been b»»»
Today in Kuwait's history
KUWAIT, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- 1911 -- Al-Mubarakiya School inaugurated and named after Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, Kuwait's seventh ruler. It has been built at a cost of 80,000 rupees, donated by eminent Kuwaiti citizens. Sheikh Yousef Al-Qinaee has taken charge of the school that has hosted the first batc»»»
Uber, Lyft, Baidu join for driverless taxis in London in 2026 - UPI.com
A worker performs maintenance on a self-driving car during a media tour of Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing services at the Apollo Park in Beijing on April 22, 2022. On Monday, the company said it plans to bring its self-driving vehicles to London in a partnership with Uber and Lyft. File Photo by M»»»
Sinkhole engulfs boats in a British canal; no injuries reported - UPI.com
Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A large sinkhole in a British canal swallowed several boats early Monday, causing more than 10 people to be rescued, local authorities said. The sinkhole was in the Shropshire Union Canal in Chemistry, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, near the Welsh border. The hole was about 164 f»»»
Last 130 Nigerian kids returned home after school kidnapping - UPI.com
The last 130 children from St. Mary’s Private Catholic School were returned to their parents Monday. Photo by Afolabi Sotunde/EPA Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The Nigerian government reunited the last group of children kidnapped last month with their families Monday. There were 130 children in the final group »»»
Controllable lifestyle factors help keep the brain young - UPI.com
Researchers say that a range of controllable health factors may help people to keep their brains young. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Think the good thoughts. Manage stress. Get your Zzzzzs. And build a strong social support system. Related Depression, anxiety increase heart disease risk thro»»»
Rail service disruptions on Athens Line 1 after person falls onto tracks at Kato Patissia
Rail services on Athens’ Line 1 (the Green Line) were disrupted on Monday night after a person fell onto the tracks at Kato Patissia station. Public transport operator STASY said that three stations — Kato Patissia, Agios Nikolaos and Agios Eleftherios — were temporarily closed as a result. Train s»»»
Ex-GOP lawyer George Conway files to run for U.S. House as Democrat - UPI.com
Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway Donald Trump's and her husband George Conway arrive for the Candlelight Dinner at Union Station in honor of the president-elect in Washington, D.C., on January 19, 2017. They divorced in 2023, and Conway filed paperwork to run for the U.S. House seat»»»
Millions of DepEd workers to receive year-end incentives
Dubai: The Department of Education (DepEd) has commenced the distribution of year-end incentives to approximately one million employees nationwide following a directive from Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The package, which includes various bonuses for both teaching and non-teaching »»»
Russia escalates attacks on key Ukrainian region of Odesa
Russia has intensified its strikes on the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa, causing widespread power cuts and threatening the region's maritime infrastructure. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Moscow was carrying out "systematic" attacks on the region. Last week, he warned that»»»
Schumer to take action against DOJ for partial Epstein files release - UPI.com
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he will initiate action against the Department of Justice for only releasing a portion of the Jeffrey Epstein files. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he will create legislation to "init»»»
Trump administration triples self-deportation bonus to $3,000 for undocumented immigrants - UPI.com
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing in the Cannon House Office Building near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on December 11, 2025. DHS increased its stipend to $3,000 for undocumented immigrants to self-deport. Photo »»»
GERB Leader Reiterates Call to Party Representatives in Varna Election Commission to Stay out of Attempts to Remove Varna Mayor
In a Facebook post Monday, GERB said the party leader, Boyko Borissov, has reiterated his call to the party representatives in the Varna municipal election commission "to stay out of possible attempts to terminate the term in office" of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev. The post on social media was prom»»»
Husband, five others charged with sex offences against ex-wife
London: A British man was charged on Monday with drugging and raping his ex-wife and five other men were charged with sexual offences against her over a 13-year period, UK police said. Philip Young, 49, will appear on Tuesday at a court in Swindon, west of London, charged with dozens of offences ag»»»
NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to be sworn in by Bernie Sanders, Letitia James - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani pictured Nov. 4 speaking to supporters at an election night watch party after winning the New York City mayoral race at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York City. New York's Attorney General Letitia James will swear in Mamdani at midnight on Jan. 1. Sen. Be»»»
Bulgarian Naval Research Ship Docks at Punta Arenas on Its Way to Antarctica
Bulgaria's naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) docked at the Chilean port of Punta Arenas on December 21 on its way to Livingston Island, which is home to the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna wrote on its website on Monday. Two maritime pilot»»»
US pauses offshore wind projects over security concerns
The US is immediately pausing leases for offshore wind energy projects currently being built near the Atlantic coastline, citing security concerns. In a statement, the Department of the Interior said it was pausing five large-sale projects to look into how windmills could interfere with radar and c»»»
bTV Journalist Maria Tsantsarova Dismissed, Sparking Fresh Protests in Sofia
Bulgarian broadcaster bTV announced on Monday that it has decided to part ways with one of the best-known personalities, journalist Maria Tsantsarova, a host of the channel’s morning show. bTV cited multiple reasons for her dismissal, including alleged on-air political bias, accusations against her»»»
CBS defends pulling 60 Minutes segment about Trump deportations
CBS News is facing scrutiny after pulling a segment from its flagship Sunday broadcast about the Trump administration's deportations of Venezuelan men to a detention centre in El Salvador. The last-minute decision by top editor Bari Weiss sparked widespread criticism, including from the CBS corresp»»»
Jimmy Kimmel to say 'fascism has had a great year' in Channel 4 Christmas message
US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel will say 2025 has been "a really great year for fascism", when he delivers this year's Alternative Christmas Message on Channel 4. The presenter's ABC talk show was briefly taken off air in September after comments he made about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. The host'»»»
Major incident declared over giant hole at canal
A major incident has been declared at a Shropshire canal where a giant hole has emerged, with boats left stricken in the cavity or teetering on the edge of the drop. The incident on a stretch of the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch has been blamed by engineers on an "embankment failure", with its col»»»
Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs meets Malawi's Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Decentralisation
Doha: Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs HE Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed met on Monday with Member of Parliament and Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Decentralisation of the Republic of Malawi HE Joseph Mwanamvekha, who is visiting the country. The meeting discussed trade and»»»
NGOs fear Israel registration rules risk collapse of Gaza aid operations
The UN and other aid agencies fear new Israeli registration rules for dozens of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) risk the collapse of the humanitarian response in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. INGOs not registered by 31 December face closure of their operations in Israe»»»