They were almost American - then Trump cancelled their citizenship ceremonies
Sanam, an Iranian immigrant who came to the US over a decade ago, was finally about to become a US citizen. Years of navigating paperwork, approvals, tests, and security vetting, had brought her to the last step: a naturalization ceremony. But then, just two days before she was to take her oath on »»»
Jeddah Tower hits 80 floors: Burj Khalifa dethroned soon?
Jeddah Tower is surging ahead in a rapid construction push, blasting through construction like a rocket, nearing 80 in a blistering push aligned with Vision 2030. This 1-km megatower, paused for years, restarted in January 2025 and now adds a floor every 3-4 days, eyeing a 2028 finish to claim the »»»
AI set to transform Dubai real estate with smarter valuations and predictions
Dubai: The global AI in real estate market reached $222.65 billion in 2024 and will surge to $975.24 billion by 2029, at a 34.1% compound annual growth rate, according to the AI in Real Estate Global Market Report 2025 by The Business Research Company. Dubai sits at the forefront of this shift as d»»»
Elon Musk’s SpaceX will be the world’s biggest ever IPO in 2026 - if it happens
Dubai: SpaceX, the private rocket company founded by Elon Musk, is quietly moving toward a step that could reshape global financial markets: a stock market listing that may be the largest ever attempted. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a company message seen by Bloo»»»
Winnerless streak continues; Powerball jackpot reaches $1.1 billion - UPI.com
Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $1.1 billion after there was no winner in Saturday's drawing, among the largest prizes in the game's history. The next drawing is scheduled for Monday night. The new prize is the sixth-largest jackpot ever, Powerball said on its websi»»»
Girls and women fleeing Mali describe sexual violence by Russian military
A 14-year-old girl arrived at a refugee clinic near death with an untreated infection from an alleged rape her family says was carried out by Russian fighters in Mali – a case that aid workers say exposes how sexual violence in the country’s war has remained largely hidden by fear and shame. T»»»
Balloons from Belarus are causing chaos in Lithuania. Is it smugglers or a hybrid attack?
Whenever the wind blows northwest from Belarus, Lithuania braces for problems. That's when giant white balloons are launched across the border, crates of cheap cigarettes dangling beneath. Over the past 10 weeks, the illicit balloon traffic has already forced Lithuania's main airport into shutdown »»»
Chile elects far-right José Antonio Kast as next president
Chile has elected the far-right wing José Antonio Kast to be its next president, after an election campaign that was dominated by themes of security, immigration and crime. Kast won decisively with more than 58% of the vote in his third attempt at running for president. It marks the biggest shift t»»»
Far-right candidate Kast wins Chile presidential election
Chilean voters elected the most right-wing president in 35 years of democracy on Sunday, with official results showing arch-conservative Jose Antonio Kast with a thumping victory and his rival quickly conceding defeat. With about 80 percent of the votes counted, Kast had 58 percent of the vote, an »»»
Zelensky and US envoys to push on with Ukraine talks in Berlin on Monday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday voiced readiness to drop his country’s bid to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees as he held talks in Berlin with US envoys that were set to continue on Monday. The Ukrainian leader rejected the US push for ceding territory to »»»
Hong Kong court to deliver verdict in Jimmy Lai national security case - UPI.com
Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, is escorted by police after he was arrested at his home in Hong Kong in August 2020. File Photo by Vernon Yuen/EPA-EFE Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Hong Kong court is scheduled to deliver its verdict Monday in the national security case against media founder and former publ»»»
Stage set for FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 semi-finals
Tribune News Network Doha The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 semi-finals are set to be thrilling affairs with three Asian sides looking to lift the coveted trophy. Standing in their way are Morocco, who are aiming to keep the trophy in Africa following the elimination of defending champions Algeria in the quar»»»
Msheireb Properties: The Greenprint for Cities
Throughout 2025, Msheireb Properties continued to advance its prominence in sustainable urban development, earning international recognition, record visitor engagement, and purposeful partnerships that elevated standards for the industry across the region. The numerous distinguished awards received»»»
Qatar Foundation at 30: The Generation Built by Vision
Hanane Djoua Doha Thirty years ago, Qatar Foundation (QF) began with a belief that was audacious in its simplicity: transform one life deeply enough, and entire systems can change. Three decades on, that belief has taken a tangible form. It lives in a generation shaped not only by world-class educa»»»
‘Qatar places great importance on developing urban environment’
QNA Doha Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar launched the 6th Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development 2025 on Sunday. Minister of Social Development and Family HE Buthaina bin»»»
'Everyone says it'll never be me' - Brown University student on surviving two mass shootings
With the holiday break just around the corner, 21-year-old Mia Tretta was in her dorm with a friend studying for their final exams. Just like other students at Brown University, she was distraught after receiving an active shooter alert from the university's department of public safety. But the dif»»»
Today in Kuwait's history
KUWAIT, Dec 14 (KUNA) -- 1914 -- Kuwait's seventh Ruler Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, known as Mubarak Al-Kabeer, ordered the hoisting of a red flag bearing the word "Kuwait" in white. The flag was used until November 1961. 1933 -- Kuwait's first electricity company, Kuwait Electricity Company, was foun»»»
Commercial Bank launches Qatar’s first-ever Metaverse auto marketplace on CBQ Mobile App
Doha, Qatar: Commercial Bank has launched Qatar’s first Metaverse-enabled Auto Marketplace on the CBQ Mobile App. Through this innovation, customers can now explore a fully interactive, virtual showroom directly from their smartphones. Using Meta Quest (Oculus) virtual reality (VR) headsets, they c»»»
Sen. Bill Cassidy believes deal on Affordable Care Act subsidies could be made - UPI.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA, pictured speaking to the press last week, said he thinks legislators can reach a deal on subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said Sunday that he believes a d»»»
Darb Al Saai showcases equestrian activities, photography competition, singing on a ship, and many more
DOHA:The National Day 2025 celebrations continued on Sunday at Darb Al Saai in the Umm Salal area, under the slogan 'With you it rises and from you it awaits', organized by the Ministry of Culture, from December 10 to 20. Darb Al Saai paints a national heritage picture amidst a distinctive festive »»»
'Genuine hero': Bystander tackles alleged gunman during Bondi Beach mass shooting
Footage captured by an eyewitness shows a man grappling with an alleged gunman during the Bondi Beach mass shooting in which at least 12 people were killed, before wrestling the weapon off him. A bystander captured on video tackling and disarming an armed man during Sunday's deadly a»»»
Bondi Beach shooting: 16 killed, including child, in Sydney Hanukkah attack
Sydney: The death toll from the shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach has risen to 16, including one child, New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed to ABC. The attack, carried out by two gunmen, has drawn widespread international condemnation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese»»»
Weather alert: Riyadh schools shift to remote learning amid storms
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s capital has announced the suspension of in-person classes on Monday, with all schools shifting to remote learning due to forecasts of severe weather conditions. The move, authorities said, is aimed at protecting students and school staff as the Kingdom braces for storms. Based»»»
Applying for US immigration? Photo rules just changed
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has immediately imposed new, stricter rules limiting the acceptable age of photographs used for immigration documents to three years, a measure officials state is intended to bolster national security and prevent identity fraud. The updated guidan»»»
RocketLab sends Japanese communications satellite into orbit - UPI.com
RocketLab on Sunday launched the "RAISE and Shine" mission for Japan's space agency aboard its Electron rocket. Photo by RocketLab/X Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Rocket Lab has successfully launched an Electron technology demonstration satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The Saturday mission »»»
Qatar places great importance on developing urban environment: Al Nuaimi
DOHA: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar launched the 6th Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development 2025, on Sunday. Minister of Social Development and Family HE Buthaina bint »»»
US Police: Person of Interest Detained in Deadly Brown University Shooting
A person of interest was in custody Sunday after a shooting during final exams at Brown University that killed two students and wounded nine others, though key questions remained unanswered more than 12 hours after the attack. The attack on Saturday afternoon set off hours of chaos across the Ivy L»»»
How the world's first global trader, Jakob Fugger, got rich – DW – 12/14/2025
BusinessGlobal issuesHow the world's first global trader, Jakob Fugger, got richThomas KohlmannSome 500 years ago, Jakob Fugger was the richest man alive. The German financed emperors and popes, and reshaped global trade and banking to set the economic course for the modern world. https://p.dw.com/»»»
PM Urges Institutional Review after BKH Security Incident
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has called for a serious institutional review after what he described as a security incident involving agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH). Speaking on his weekly podcast 'Flasim', Rama said BKH agents had entered the Prime Minister’s Office without»»»
Person of interest detained in Brown University shooting - UPI.com
A person of interest has been detained after a mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, R.I., late Saturday afternoon. File Photo by Justine Lane/EPA-EFE Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A person of interest has been detained after a shooter opened fire on Brown University's campus Saturday, killing two pe»»»
Egypt Reveals Restored Colossal Statues of Pharaoh in Luxor
Egypt on Sunday revealed the revamp of two colossal statues of a prominent pharaoh in the southern city of Luxor, the latest in the government’s archaeological events that aim at drawing more tourists to the country. The giant alabaster statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, were reassembled in a»»»
Minute of Silence Observed for Bondi Beach Shooting Victims at Sofia Synagogue
The victims of the shooting in Sydney were commemorated at the Central Sofia Synagogue with a minute of silence and a prayer, where on Sunday the ceremony for lighting the candles for the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, took place. At least 12 people were killed and 30 were injured in the shooting at»»»
At least ten killed in shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach - UPI.com
Police officers work near the scene following a shooting incident at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday. NSW Police confirmed at least ten deaths, including one alleged shooter, following the incident. Photo by Mick Tsikas/EPA Dec. 14 (UPI) -- At least ten people were killed after two gun»»»
Tokyo-bound United Airlines flight returns to Dulles airport after engine failure
A United Airlines flight bound for Tokyo was forced to return to Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday after experiencing an engine failure shortly after takeoff, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed. United Flight 803, a Boeing 777-200 carrying 275 passengers and a tot»»»
The Price of Sanctions: Volkswagen Shuts Down Dresden Plant as German Industry Reels
Volkswagen plans to halt production of vehicles at its Dresden plant on Tuesday, marking the first time in the company’s history that a Germany-based factory has been shuttered. With an installed capacity to build up to 37,500 cars a year, and the flagship of VW’s EV lineup, the Dresden plant’s clo»»»
Chile votes in presidential race expected to steer country to the right
Chileans vote Sunday in a runoff presidential election that is likely mark the sharpest rightward shift of the South American country since the end of the military dictatorship in 1990. Even detractors of ultra-conservative former lawmaker José Antonio Kast say the candidate whose radical views los»»»
US police detain 'person of interest' in deadly shooting at Brown University
Police in Providence said early Sunday that they had a person of interest in custody after a shooting that rocked the Brown University campus during final exams, leaving two people dead and nine others wounded at the Rhode Island Ivy League school. Police in the United States on Sunday detained a "»»»
Minute of Silence Observed for Bondi Shooting Victims at Sofia Synagogue
The victims of the shooting in Sydney were commemorated at the Central Sofia Synagogue with a minute of silence and a prayer, where on Sunday the ceremony for lighting the candles for the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, is taking place. At least 12 people were killed and 30 were injured in the shooti»»»
Iraq's Election Result Ratified by Supreme Federal Court as Premiership Remains up for Grabs
The result of last month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq was ratified by the Supreme Federal Court on Sunday, confirming that the party of caretaker prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani won the largest number of seats — but not enough to assure him a second term. The court confirmed that the vo»»»
Zelenskyy Offers to Drop NATO Bid for Security Guarantees but Rejects US Push to Cede Territory
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday voiced readiness to drop his country’s bid to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, but rejected the US push for ceding territory to Russia as he held talks with US envoys on ending the war. Zelenskyy sat down with US President Dona»»»
Hamas Confirms the Death of a Top Commander in Gaza after Israeli Strike
Hamas on Sunday confirmed the death of a top commander in Gaza, a day after Israel said it had killed Raed Saad in a strike outside Gaza City. The Hamas statement described Saad as the commander of its military manufacturing unit. Israel had described him as an architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack»»»
Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack on First Day of Hanukkah Holiday in Sydney
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the terrorist attack against people celebrating the first day of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah in Sydney, the Ministry said in a position published on its website. "This brutal crime, motivated by hatred, took the lives of 12 people and»»»
Qatar participates in 115th OAPEC Council of Ministers meeting
Kuwait: The State of Qatar participated in the 115th Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), which was held in the State of Kuwait. The Qatari delegation was headed by Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi. The »»»
National Wildlife Center Launches 2nd Phase to Regulate Unlicensed Species in Saudi Arabia
The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has launched the second phase of its initiative to regulate the status of unlicensed wildlife species in the Kingdom, representing one of the most prominent national efforts to control wildlife possession, document ownership, and ensure that all practices rela»»»
Over Half of Germans Feel Unable to Speak Freely – Poll
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than half of Germans believe they cannot freely express their opinion, a poll conducted by Swiss company Tenor and published by a German newspaper on Sunday revealed. Fifty-seven percent of Germans feel it is currently better to "be careful" when voicing their views, the sur»»»
Ukraine Ready to Swap NATO Ambition for Security Guarantees
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine was ready to abandon the goal of joining NATO if it received security guarantees from individual partner countries, including security assurances from the United States modeled on Article 5 of the NATO charter. "Ukraine's conditions »»»
Dubai Metro expansion: Blue Line route map unveiled by RTA
Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) released the route map of the upcoming Dubai Metro Blue Line on Dec 14. In a video tweet, it explained the finer points of the addition; for one thing, it’ll extend 14.5km above ground and 15.5km under ground, resulting in easier connectivity. The new line»»»
Israel Army Says Struck Hezbollah Members in Southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said it targeted three members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in strikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday. The Lebanese health ministry said on Sunday that two people had been killed in separate Israeli strikes in the south of the country, which came despite a ceasefire betwee»»»
What we know about the Bondi Beach attack
Sydney: An attack by two gunmen on Sydney's Bondi Beach targeted a Hanukkah celebration, killing 11 people and drawing international condemnation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting -- which ended with one gunmen killed and another wounded and in custody -- an act of terror, a "tar»»»
Skopje hosts Slow Food Salon 2025
Skopje, 13 December 2025 (MIA) - Skopje is hosting Saturday the fourth edition of the Slow Food Salon 2025, held under the motto “Together With Nature.” As announced by the organizers, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy, explore, and taste at the Food Products Fair, getting to know local a»»»