NATO chief pitches monthly billions on weapons for Kiev
NATO countries should spend at least €1 billion ($1.17 billion) a month on weapons for Ukraine next year, the military bloc’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, has claimed. The call comes amid US-mediated peace efforts to settle the Ukraine conflict. Russia has repeatedly criticized Western arms deliv»»»
Netherlands and Spain boycott Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete
Spain and The Netherlands will boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest, after Israel was allowed to compete. They were among a number of countries who had called for Israel to be excluded over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza, and accusations of unfair voting practices. Despite calls fo»»»
Protesters in Sofia Demand Interior Minister's Resignation
A protest in front of the Ministry of Interior here on Thursday demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov. The event was organized by the civic movement BOEC with support from the political party Continue the Change. Georgi Georgiev, member of the BOEC management board, said at the»»»
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan says UK statue is like having 'life-size doll'
Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has unveiled a new statue of him in London's Leicester Square, saying it was like having a "life-size doll". "I think I'm looking very handsome. You're also looking very pretty," he told his co-star Kajol, who is also depicted in the statue. "It's like a second tho»»»
Ireland called to investigate Microsoft over Israeli military data - UPI.com
The Microsoft logo pictured Oct. 2016 on Sixth Avenue in New York City, N.Y. Irish authorities have been asked to investigate Microsoft over allegations the software giant unlawfully processed data for the Israeli Defense Forces to spy on Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. File Photo »»»
US Navy admiral briefs lawmakers over controversial 'double-tap' strike
US Navy Admiral Frank Bradley has begun giving classified briefings to top congressional lawmakers, after a recent controversial American double-strike on a boat that was allegedly transporting drugs in the Caribbean. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and others in the Trump administration have come u»»»
New York Times sues Pentagon over press freedom; demands credentials - UPI.com
The New York Times filed suit against the Department of Defense and Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday for its new rules restricting the constitutional rights of journalists. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The New York Times filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Dep»»»
The Skripal poisonings – have British spies learned the lessons?
When the call came in to the duty officer at MI6 headquarters on the evening of 4 March 2018, it was met with surprise and alarm. One of their agents was lying in a hospital bed, apparently poisoned. The realisation that Sergei Skripal had been targeted within the UK sent shockwaves through the wor»»»
Sofia District Court Keeps Four Protest Detainees in Custody
Sofia District Court ordered four people detained during the Monday protest in the capital to remain in custody on Thursday. The four individuals are Zhulian Zhelyazkov, Kristiyan Yonchev, Lachezar Tuleshkov and Martin Ivanov, who have been charged with hooliganism during the protest. The decision »»»
Putin says Russia disagrees with parts of US plan to end Ukraine war
President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow disagrees with parts of a US plan on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war, after talks with US negotiators in the Kremlin. "At times we said that yes, we can discuss this, but to that we can't agree," Putin told India Today. He did not name the sticking points.»»»
Defence Minister: Bulgaria Must Continue to Develop Cyber-defence Capabilities
Bulgaria has real, functioning capabilities in the field of cyber-defence, but we must consistently continue to invest in technology, people, and the improvement of procedures, said Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov. On December 4 he attended the final phase of NATO’s cyber-defence exercise Cyber C»»»
Israel Strikes South Lebanon Towns
Israel's military said it struck targets in two southern Lebanese towns on Thursday after ordering the evacuation of two buildings it alleged were being used by Hezbollah. About an hour after the initial warning, the army's Arabic spokesperson issued another notice instructing residents of building»»»
EU's former top diplomat Mogherini resigns from post after fraud accusation
Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief until 2019, has resigned from a leading role in Belgium after she was detained for questioning and accused in connection with an anti-corruption investigation. The investigation, ordered by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), related to »»»
US, UAE Central Banks on track for final interest rate cut of 2025 next week
Dubai: The US Federal Reserve is all set to deliver another rate cut next week, with markets placing roughly a 90% probability on a 25-basis-point move at the December 10 meeting. The UAE is positioned to follow. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Because the UAE dirham i»»»
Britain, Norway forge naval alliance to protect North Sea from Russia - UPI.com
British Defense Minister John Healey, right, shook hands with Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik during the signing of a defense treaty at 10 Downing Street in London Thursday. Pool Photo by Andy Rain/EPA Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Britain and Norway have signed a pact to protect the North Sea from Ru»»»
Djuric: Serbia supports OSCE as instrument of peace, expects OSCE support for Serb rights
VIENNA - Serbia supports peace in Europe and the OSCE as an instrument of peace, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday, adding that Belgrade expected the OSCE missions in Serbia and Kosovo-Metohija to support the human rights of all people, especially Kosovo-Metohija Serbs as the population that»»»
Israeli Occupation Warplanes Strike Several Areas in South Lebanon
Israeli occupation forces have escalated their breaches of Lebanese sovereignty, violating the ceasefire agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with a new wave of attacks across the south. The latest aggression came early on Thursday, as Al-Manar correspondent reported that the Israeli o»»»
Suspect arrested in pipe bomb incident on eve of Jan 6, ending years-long manhunt
A man has been arrested in connection to two pipe bombs placed outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees on the eve of the 6 January Capitol riot nearly five years ago. The arrest was confirmed on Thursday by two sources familiar with the case to BBC's US partner»»»
Surge in congenital syphilis cases in Hungary: 21 infant deaths this year
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PANNIER: Who’s killing Chinese workers on the Afghan-Tajik frontier?
Someone in northern Afghanistan near the Tajik border is targeting Chinese workers just across the river inside Tajikistan. On November 26, three Chinese miners were killed in an attack in which assailants used a drone equipped with firearms and grenades, while on November 30, two Chinese roadworke»»»
Mongolia calls public hearings ahead of likely push to renegotiate Rio Tinto terms on giant copper mine
Mongolia is scheduled to launch a series of public hearings next week to examine the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine, a project projected to become one of the world’s top copper producers, as lawmakers question whether the country is receiving its fair share of its profits. The Parliamentary Oversi»»»
Challenger: 2025 layoffs hit 1M highest since pandemic - UPI.com
Thousands of job-seekers swarmed the site of Amazon's facility at a Sept. 2019 "career day" in Crystal City, Virginia. On Thursday, consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas indicated that corporate restructuring acts, artificial intelligence and U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs have larg»»»
Pilot rules spark IndiGo flight cancellations: Passengers refund rights explained
Dubai: IndiGo's network grinds through a third day of turmoil on December 4, with over 175 flights axed, as of Thursday morning (over 300 in total) amid new "pilot fatigue rules, bad weather, and technical snags." Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.India's largest airline»»»
Decades-old palm trees in Rio de Janeiro flower for the first - and only - time
RIO DE JANEIRO Towering talipot palms in a Rio de Janeiro park are flowering for the first and only time in their lives, decades after famed Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx introduced them in the 1960s. Towards the end of its life - which can span between 40 and 80 years - the palm»»»
US-based Tanzanian activist blames government for Instagram ban
Prominent Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi has accused the government of instigating the removal of her social media accounts that she has been using to mobilise Tanzanians against the government. The former fashion model-turned-activist, who is based in the US, is an outspoken critic of President »»»
FBI reportedly arrests suspect in Jan. 6 pipe bomb case - UPI.com
Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The FBI has arrested a suspect in the Jan. 6, 2021, pipe bombing attempts at the Democratic and Republican national committee headquarters, sources have said. But an arrest was made Thursday morning, CNN, CBS News and NBC News reported. No details have been released from the FBI, bu»»»
NBS says will not allow Serbian financial system to be jeopardised
BELGRADE - The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) said on Thursday it had all the necessary instruments to ensure the stability and security of the domestic financial system and that it would not allow it to be jeopardised as a result of the current situation with the Serbian oil company NIS, which is u»»»
Gazans struggle to restore war-damaged heritage sites without resources
With pickaxes and wheelbarrows, dozens of Palestinian workers in hard hats and high-visibility vests are clearing rubble from the ruins of the Gaza Strip's oldest and largest mosque. The broken stump of the distinctive octagonal minaret of the medieval Great Omari Mosque and a few external walls ar»»»
Nightly fireworks to dazzle Dubai this DSF season from Friday
Dubai is gearing up for more than a month of nightly fireworks as the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) returns with a citywide celebration from December 5, 2025 to January 11,2026. Brought to the public by Al Zarooni Group, the displays promise a season of free entertainment for residents and visitors»»»
EU corruption scandal could take down von der Leyen – Politico
A corruption probe into former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has thrown European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s position into jeopardy, with opponents preparing to turn the affair into a fresh push to remove her, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing officials in the bloc»»»
Venezuelan boat strike on survivors ‘textbook example’ of illegal order, experts say - UPI.com
1 of 3 | President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth look on during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A lethal military strike on a Venezuelan boat this fall has raised »»»
2016 set to be a turbulent year as civil unrest risk climbs across CEE and Central Asia
Civil unrest risks across the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (CEECA) have risen sharply over the past year, led by mounting political instability, simmering corruption allegations and inflation-linked discontent in the Balkans and Central Asia, according to a new report from ris»»»
2016 set to be a turbulent year as civil unrest risk climbs across CEE and Central Asia
Civil unrest risks across the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (CEECA) have risen sharply over the past year, led by mounting political instability, simmering corruption allegations and inflation-linked discontent in the Balkans and Central Asia, according to a new report from ris»»»
CIB named Egypt’s Bank of the Year 2025 as factoring portfolio hits EGP 4bn
Commercial International Bank (CIB) has secured The Banker’s Bank of the Year 2025 award for Egypt, cited for the rapid expansion of its factoring subsidiary and the broadening of its sustainable lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The bank’s wholly owned factoring subsidiary, Com»»»
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on how Miss World crown changed her life and why insecurity doesn't drive her life calls
Dubai: “All you beautiful people, Salam Alaikum, Namaste,” Aishwarya Rai Bachchan greeted the audience, waving as fans and photographers swarmed her at the fifth Red Sea International Film Festival. The room erupted in claps and selfie requests, a rare public glimpse of the actress reflecting on he»»»
Prosecutor to issue recommendation in surveyor’s murder trial
A prosecutor will deliver a recommendation on Monday on whether two men should be convicted in the killing of surveyor Panagiotis Stathis, the court announced during Thursday’s hearing in Athens. Stathis, 54, was gunned down in his car in Neo Psychiko on July 2, 2024, in what investigators believe »»»
Meta begins removing teen accounts in Australia - UPI.com
On Thursday, Australian kids under 16 began losing their Facebook and Instagram account to comply with a new law. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Meta began removing Australian teens younger than 16 from its platforms on Thursday to comply with the country's new law.»»»
December's supermoon to be last full moon of 2025 - UPI.com
The moon rises in Washington, D.C., this past month. This month, the last full moon of the year also will be a supermoon, appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual when it rises Thursday night. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo Baby, it will be cold outside when the full mo»»»
US Institute of Peace renamed after Trump
President Donald Trump's name has been added to the US Institute of Peace (USIP) building in Washington, after the Department of State rebranded the organisation on Wednesday. The president's name was added in large block capitals ahead of a peace agreement signing ceremony between Rwanda and the D»»»
Bajatovic: There will be no gas crisis - deal with Russia due soon, there is option B
BELGRADE - Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic said on Thursday he expected a new natural gas arrangement with Russia to be agreed soon and that "Option B" also existed - purchasing gas from traders in the market. Serbia's stocks are also high and there will be no gas crisis whatsoever, Bajatovic told Pr»»»
Why Max Verstappen belongs among Formula 1’s greatest
Dubai: Max Verstappen may or may not clinch his fifth Drivers’ Championship this season, but his place among Formula 1’s greatest is already secure. Like many of my generation, I was drawn into the sport through Netflix’s Drive to Survive. At first, the show’s portrayal shaped my opinions, the char»»»
Iraqi Central Bank Denies Freezing Hezbollah, Houthi Funds in Terrorism Crackdown
BAGHDAD (Sputnik) - Iraq's Central Bank has mistakenly included Yemen's Ansar Allah movement (also known as the Houthis) and Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah in the list of terrorist organizations whose funds are to be frozen, the bank's committee for the freezing of terrorist funds said on Thurs»»»
Peak of bravery: Dubai firefighters set Guinness World Record on Mount Toubkal
Dubai: A team of Dubai Civil Defence firefighters has made history after climbing Mount Toubkal — the highest peak in the Arab world and North Africa — while wearing full firefighting gear, securing a new Guinness World Record during the UAE’s 54th National Day celebrations. The nine-member team co»»»
EU adds Russia to the FATF’s money laundering blacklist
The European Union has finally taken a nuclear option of adding Russia’s name to the official blacklisted as a high-risk country for money laundering and terrorism financing that will add to its financial system headaches. Russia has been on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list for year»»»
Tusk urges Merz to speed up support for remaining Polish survivors of Nazi crimes
Germany should move quickly on compensation for the last surviving Polish victims of Nazi crimes committed during World War 2, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a visit to Berlin this week. Tusk met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as they both chaired a joint meeting of their governments, hel»»»
Iranians seek portable wealth as hedge against falling currency after Israel war
When it comes to financial security for Iran's jittery public after the 12-day war with Israel, all that glitters is gold — and for many, it remains the most trusted hedge against inflation, sanctions and a weakening rial currency. Traders in Tehran's Grand Bazaar say every new headline about Unite»»»
Turkey's energy minister warns of threat to oil and gas supplies after tankers targeted
Turkey's energy minister issued a call for the supply of oil and gas in the Black Sea to be protected after three Russian tankers were targeted off the Turkish coast. Alparslan Bayraktar said Turkey was concerned not just by the threat to shipping but also to two undersea pipelines, Blue Stream and»»»
Trump says tariffs can eventually replace federal income taxes. Experts disagree
President Donald Trump has long praised tariffs as key to increasing wealth in the United States, idealizing Gilded Age policies that preceded the implementation of a modern federal income tax. Among the potential benefits, Trump claims, is the ability to replace revenue from federal income taxes w»»»
Qatar Executive announces full-fleet Starlink installation for unmatched in-flight connectivity
DOHA: Qatar Executive, the private jet charter division of the Qatar Airways Group, is proud to announce a major milestone in private aviation connectivity. By early 2026, every Gulfstream and Bombardier aircraft type in the Qatar Executive fleet will be equipped with Starlink, the world’s leading »»»
Germany receives Israeli missile system
Israel has handed over the first operational Arrow 3 system to the German military at a formal ceremony at an air force base near Berlin. The move comes as Germany takes a primary role in the EU’s militarization drive under the pretext of the ‘Russian threat’ – which Moscow has dismissed, saying it»»»