Weekly quiz: Which countries said they would boycott Eurovision?
This week, Australia's ban on social media for under-16s came into force, tributes were paid to author Sophie Kinsella who died aged 55, and Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau went Insta official. But how much attention did you pay to what else happened in the world over the past seven days? Quiz collat»»»
Tunisian and Algerian PMs co-chair opening of Tunisia-Algeria Economic Forum in Tunis [Update 1]
Tunis, Dec. 11 (TAP) – Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri and Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb inaugurated the Tunisian-Algerian Economic Forum, held on the occasion of the 23rd session of the Tunisian-Algerian High Joint Commission, in the...»»»
Talks Fail on Transfer Mechanism for Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon
A Lebanese judicial delegation has returned from Damascus empty-handed, failing to secure the breakthrough it sought on a new treaty governing the transfer of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon. The talks instead laid bare deep rifts between the two sides, with Syria rejecting most of the proposed te»»»
Minister stresses opportunities to bolster Jordan-Qatar economic cooperation
AMMAN — Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah met with a Qatari delegation on Thursday to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between Jordan and Qatar.The discussions also focused on opportunities in industry, food security, infrastructure, energy, services and reconstruction e»»»
Jordan's inflation rises by 1.81% for first eleven months of 2025
AMMAN — The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, reached 112.62 points during the first eleven of 2025, compared with 110.62 points for the same period in 2024, marking an increase of 1.81 per cent, the Department of Statistics (DoS) said on Thursday.The latest DoS report showed »»»
Middle East tops global aviation profitability in 2026 — IATA
AMMAN — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its outlook for the Middle East as part of its 2026 global industry forecast, confirming the region will lead the world in airline profitability next year.In a press statement on Thursday, the IATA said the Middle East carriers are»»»
Sinaloa cartel activity puts Guatemala on alert - UPI.com
Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman is arrested by Mexican marines in February 2014. He is the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel. Photo courtesy of PGR/Mexican Federal Government Dec. 11 (UPI) -- After a series of incidents along the Guatemala-Mexico border in which suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel »»»
Sharjah Civil Defence honours firefighters for rapid response
Sharjah: Brigadier Saeed Obaid Rashid Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director General of Sharjah Civil Defence, honoured members of the rapid response team for their outstanding efforts in tackling a building fire in the Al Shuwaiheen area. The incident involved a first-floor apartment that caught fire, prompt»»»
Tennessee executes Harold Wayne Nichols
Tennessee executed Harold Wayne Nichols by lethal injection Thursday in Nashville for the 1988 rape and murder of Karen Pulley, a 20-year-old student at Chattanooga State University. Nichols, 64, had confessed to killing Pulley as well as raping several other women in the Chattanooga area. Although»»»
Barbary Stag: Resurgence of mythical king of Tunisia’s oak forests (Report)
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP/Meriem Khadhraoui)-At the edge of the dense Quercus zen and cork oak (Quercus suber) forest of El Feija, near Ghardimaou in north-western Tunisia, a herd of Barbary stags emerge into a purpose-built clearing captivating...»»»
Israel Insists on Hamas Disarmament, Rejects Freeze Proposal
Israel has held firm to demands that Hamas be disarmed as part of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza, whose first phase began in October. An Israeli official said Tel Aviv has rejected a proposal from the group’s leadership to freeze the use of weapons under a long term truce. Speakin»»»
Scott Ritter: With Seversk Lost, Ukraine's Position in Donbass is Beyond Hopeless - It's Desperate
Russian forces have liberated the city of Seversk in northeastern Donetsk, one of the final Ukrainian-occupied fortress strongholds in the region. Sputnik asked Scott Ritter to comment on the development's big picture significance. “Ukraine is facing a manpower shortage. Every one of these battles »»»
University of Michigan head football coach fired 'with cause', school says
The University of Michigan fired its head football coach "with cause", effective immediately, the school announced in a statement on Wednesday. The university said an investigation found "credible evidence" coach Sherrone Moore had "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member". The»»»
Time magazine names 'Architects of AI' as 2025 'Person of the Year'
Time magazine chose "Architects of AI" as its annual "person of the year" for 2025. One of the two covers released on Thursday plays on the famed 1932 "Lunch atop a Scryscaper" photograph, this time portraying US tech titans Elon Musk, Open AI's Sam Altman and other prominent figures on a beam»»»
Reintroduction of Wildlife Species at Saudi Arabia’s Hegra Reserve to Enhance Ecological Balance
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife, has reintroduced 37 wildlife species at the Hegra Nature Reserve in AlUla as part of its efforts to enhance ecological balance and preserve the region's natural biodiversity. The initiative forms part of RCU»»»
President Radev Confers with Republic of Korea's Minister of Interior and Safety
Bulgaria is interested in using the experience of the Republic of Korea to improve the efficiency of public administration and in the field of e-government, President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with Yun Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea, here on Thursday. The M»»»
With Seversk Secured, Liberation of Donbass Gains Critical Momentum – Military Expert
The fall of Seversk levels the front and frees up Russian forces for a decisive push toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, military analyst Alexei Leonkov tells Sputnik. Why is Seversk important? "Seversk has often been referred to as the eastern gate of the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk group," says Leonkov, an»»»
Huge undersea wall dating from 5000 BC found in France
French marine archaeologists have discovered a massive undersea wall off the coast of Brittany, dating from around 5,000 BC. They think it could be from a stone age society whose disappearance under rising seas was the origin of a local sunken city myth. The 120-metre (394ft) wall – the biggest und»»»
Ethiopia arrests 'indecently' dressed TikTok stars after awards ceremony
Ethiopian police have arrested a sixth popular TikTok creator days after five other influencers were detained over allegations of wearing "indecent attire" at a public event in the culturally conservative country. Adonay Berhane, 25, is a lifestyle and motivational creator with close to four millio»»»
Ukraine, EU leaders agree on plan for bloc membership - UPI.com
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos is working with Ukrainian officials to help them implement reforms so they can eventually join the European Union. File Photo by Malton Dibra/EPA Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Ukraine is taking technical steps toward membership in the European Union after facing vetoes by H»»»
Judge orders ICE to free Kilmar Abrego Garcia now - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Kilmar Abrego Garcia pictured in August before his check in at the ICE Field Office in Baltimore M.d. Immigration Customs Enforcement officials sought to deport Abrego Garcia to Africa where he has no connection, despite his ongoing protection from removal to El Salvador. File Photo by Sha»»»
Sheikh Joaan meets with FIBA Secretary General
Mies, Switzerland: H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, met today with Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), at the federation»»»
Three financing agreements signed for investment projects in Tunisia, creating 1,729 jobs
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP)—Three new financing agreements for investment projects in Tunisia, collectively expected to generate 1,729 jobs, were signed, the Facility Investment for Employment (IFE) announced on Thursday.The IFE and representatives of the...»»»
Gold Climbs to Over One-month High after Fed Rate Cut; Silver Hits Fresh Record
Gold rose on Thursday to hit its highest level in more than a month after the US Federal Reserve's quarter-point rate cut pushed the dollar lower, while silver surged to a fresh record high. Spot gold was up 1.2% at $4,275.39 per ounce, as of 11:49 a.m. ET (16:49 GMT), reaching its highest level si»»»
Mojsilovic meets with KFOR commander
BELGRADE - Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic met with KFOR Commander Maj Gen Ozkan Ulutas in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss the security situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija, and noted that unilateral moves by the provisional self-government ins»»»
US Congratulates Outgoing SPAK Chief Altin Dumani, Welcomes New Prosecutor General Klodian Braho The United States has congratulated outgoing head of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (SPAK), Altin Dumani, praising his “exceptional ser
The United States has congratulated outgoing head of Albania’s Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK), Altin Dumani, praising his “exceptional service” only hours after Klodian Braho was elected as his successor. In a statement, the US Embassy to Tirana commended Dumani for his integrity and»»»
Sharjah announces the New Year's holiday
The emirate of Sharjah has announced New Year's holiday for 2026.Sharjah Resources announced that the New Year's holiday for 2026 will be on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for employees of government entities, bodies and institutions. They will all resume official working hours on Monday, January 5, 20»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from UN Secretary-General
Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a telephone call today from HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres. The call dealt with discussing bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Unite»»»
QOC President attends Olympic Summit
Lausanne: HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Senior Vice President of ANOC, participated in the 14th Olympic Summit, held today at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, alongside leaders of the Olympic Movement. Chaired by IOC President Kirsty Cov»»»
Traffic closure near Khalifa International Stadium announced
Doha, Qatar: A traffic closure will take place near Khalifa International Stadium on Al Waab Street, from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, 11 December 2025, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced. The traffic closure is set to take place in the following areas: From Al Manaseer Intersection towards Mehair»»»
Truth or Fake - Is the Louvre cursed? Water leak triggers new wave of disinformation
The Louvre Museum is making headlines once again – not because of stolen jewellery, but because of a water leak. Late last month, a pipe malfunctioned, causing water to rain over rare books and triggering a wave of AI-generated disinformation. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or »»»
Vucic meets with Palfinger representatives
BELGRADE - Serbia remains a dependable partner and a home to all those who want to work, create and make progress together with us, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at a meeting with the management of the Palfinger proizvodnja company in Nis on Thursday. "Palfinger is a world-renowned Austri»»»
Disney invests $1B in OpenAI, allows Sora character videos - UPI.com
Mickey Mouse dolls pictured Feb. 2018 at the 115th American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, N.Y. Under the agreement, Sora users can create content featuring icons like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Cinderella, Iron Man and Darth Vader. File Photo by John An»»»
Argentina aims to mine more than 1 million tons of copper in 10 years - UPI.com
Although Argentina’s copper production is currently almost nonexistent, six large-scale mining projects are in different stages of development. Photo by Neta623/Pixabay BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Although Argentina's copper production is currently almost nonexistent, six large-scale mining proj»»»
Architects of artificial intelligence named Time Person of the Year - UPI.com
An illustration picture shows the introduction page of ChatGPT, an interactive AI chatbot model trained and developed by OpenAI. Time magazine named the creators of artificial intelligence as the Time Person of the Year. File Photo by Wu Hao/EPA-EFE Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Time magazine on Thursday named »»»
From Iran to China to Venezuela - how tanker seized by US hid true location
The oil tanker seized by US forces on Wednesday had a track record of faking or concealing its location information, apparently to hide its activities, ship tracking data shows. On Wednesday evening, the US confirmed that its forces seized a vessel during a helicopter-launched raid near the coast o»»»
Live Updates: Palestine vs Saudi Arabia - FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025
Doha, Qatar: As the Arab Cup heads into the quarterfinals, Palestine, the tournament’s dark horse, is set to face powerhouse Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium. Palestine delivered one of the most impressive group-stage performances, topping their group after defeating Asian champions Qatar and securin»»»
Fog expected Thursday night and Friday morning
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP) – Weather on Thursday night and Friday morning will be foggy in most regions, locally dense, particularly near coasts, low-lying areas, and in areas near dams, valleys, and forests, which may reduce horizontal visibility to less...»»»
Tunindex edges up 0.07% in thin trading
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP)—The stock market registered modest gains during Thursday’s session. The benchmark TUNINDEX was up 0.07% to 13,209.6 points, on turnover of TND 4.8 million, according to broker Tunisie Valeurs.Wifack International Bank emerged as...»»»
Focus - Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki, 21, conquers fans in Japan
A few days ago, Aonishiki became the first Ukrainian wrestler to win a professional sumo tournament in Japan. At just 21 years old, he has risen up the ranks at record speed since he arrived in Japan in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our Japan correspondents report.»»»
Zelensky Says Possible to Hold 'All-Ukrainian Referendum' on Territorial Issue - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky considers possible to hold an all-Ukrainian referendum on territorial issues, Ukrainian broadcaster reported on Thursday. It is still unknown how it will take place, the broadcaster reported, citing Zelensky.Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey L»»»
Director of the Szőlő Street juvenile detention centre under arrest
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40,000 gather in Abu Dhabi for BRIDGE Summit
Abu Dhabi’s inaugural BRIDGE Summit signals a pivotal shift in global media alliances and innovation, drawing tens of thousands and setting the stage for collaborative ventures that will influence the content sector. The first BRIDGE Summit 2025 wrapped up in Abu Dhabi after three days packed with »»»
Trump Reportedly Planning to Appoint US General to Command ISF in Gaza
President Donald Trump is planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to two US officials and two Israeli officials. Despite the claims, Axios said a White House official said there have been discussions around the compo»»»
Petkovic, Bunford discuss political and security situation in Kosovo-Metohija
BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with Hungary's special Western Balkans envoy Zsolt Bunford in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss the political and security situation ahead of upcoming early elections in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as normalisati»»»
Biden, Neocons Didn’t Stop Easily Preventable Ukraine Crisis Because They See War as a ‘Table Game’
Former Biden European security policy architect Amanda Sloat’s bombshell admission that the conflict in Ukraine could have been prevented if the US pushed Kiev to drop its aspirations to join NATO reveals a deep rot in Washington, Karen Kwiatkowski has told Sputnik. “The diplomatic corps increasing»»»
Historic UAE-EU agreement aims to deepen bilateral cooperation
Senior officials from the United Arab Emirates and the European Union formally launched negotiations on a Strategic Partnership Agreement today, marking what both sides described as a major step forward in bilateral cooperation. Opening the event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Afr»»»
Tunisia and Algeria hold Preparatory Follow-up Committee ahead of Tunisia-Algeria High Joint Commission
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP) – The meeting of the Preparatory Follow-up Committee of the Tunisia-Algeria High Joint Commission was held on Thursday in Tunis, as part of preparations for the 23rd session of the Tunisia-Algeria High Joint Commission.The...»»»
Pilot initiative launched in Bizerte to ensure traceability of fishery products (GIPP)
Tunis, Dec 11 (TAP)—A pilot initiative to deploy a blockchain-based technological platform for ensuring traceability across the fisheries supply chain is currently undergoing testing with fishermen in Bizerte and is expected to be formally validated...»»»
Woman fired for getting to work 40 mins early each day
A woman in Spain earned herself pink slip by going to work early over a period of two years. Surprised and annoyed at the development, she dragged the company to court, challenging her termination. However, the court ruled against her. So here’s what went down. The 22-year-old would apparently get »»»