UNICEF warns of rising malnutrition among Gaza premature infants, pregnant women
GENEVA, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Childrenآ’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday warned about the continuing rise in malnutrition rates among children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire.UNICEF Communications Director Tess Ingram speaking online from G»»»
MFA of Kyrgyzstan initiates telephone conversation with Belarusian MFA - | 24.KG
At the initiative of the Kyrgyz side, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev, BELTA reported. The parties discussed the development of Belarus-Kyrgyzstan cooperation, emphasizing their mutual interest in furt»»»
Customs detects concealment of goods in cement trucks arriving from China - | 24.KG
The Main Directorate for Combating Smuggling of the Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan has uncovered concealed goods in six cement trucks arriving from China, the agency reported. According to the Customs Service, unidentified foreign nationals were unloading undeclared bags of goods on the territory of»»»
Deputy PM Zafirov Hopes for Normal Budget Procedure, Bulgaria Not to Meet New Year with Old Budget
Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov Tuesday expressed hope that Bulgaria will have a normal budget procedure for the first time in the last four years, so that the country does not have to enter 2026 with an old budget. He participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Faculty of Veterinary Me»»»
UAE changes Friday prayer and sermon time starting 2026
Abu Dhabi: The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat has announced a change to the timing of the Friday sermon and prayer across the UAE, effective from Friday, January 2, 2026. Under the new schedule, the Friday sermon and prayer will be held at 12:45 pm. The authority called »»»
How top creators are shaping a new era of influence at BRIDGE Summit 2025
The opening day of BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi highlighted a new era for creators: no longer just entertainers, they are now movement builders, cultural diplomats, industry disruptors, and economic educators. The world’s largest debut media event brought together global creators to explore how »»»
South Korea scrambles jets after Russian, Chinese planes approach
Seoul: South Korea said it had sent up fighter jets on Tuesday after seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft entered its air defence zone. The Russian and Chinese aircraft entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) around 10 am local time (0100 GMT), Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of S»»»
Australian PM makes last pitch on eve of teen social media ban
Sydney: Australia’s young teenagers will soon be spared from “endless” scrolling online, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday on the eve of the country’s world-first social media ban. Social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok will from midnight face heavy penalties if they fail to »»»
‘Shockingly High’ Number of Gaza Children Still Acutely Malnourished After Truce, UN Says
Thousands of children have been admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in Gaza since an October ceasefire that was supposed to enable a major increase in humanitarian aid, the UN children's agency said on Tuesday. UNICEF, the biggest provider of malnutrition treatment in Gaza, said that 9,30»»»
Sudan militia chief sentenced to 20 years for war crimes during Darfur conflict
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced a Sudanese militia leader to 20 years in prison for atrocities committed during a civil war more than two decades ago. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman had been convicted in October on 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darf»»»
Three decades of memories: City Centre Deira celebrates its 30th anniversary
Dubai: City Centre Deira, one of Dubai’s oldest and most iconic shopping destinations, has marked its 30th anniversary. Majid Al Futtaim plans of celebrating three decades of City Centre Deira with several upgrades and nostalgia-themed events, the retail conglomerate has revealed. The mall, which o»»»
Media Review: December 9
OVERVIEW The 2026 State Budget, protests and the Financial Times report that a Bulgarian diplomat might head the post-war governance of Gaza are among the predominant topics as no single issue dominates Tuesday’s media. FOREIGN POLICY: MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS Quoting a publication in the Financia»»»
Djuric: Additional push for EU enlargement in 2026 must be geopolitical decision
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday an additional push for EU enlargement for Serbia and the entire region should be made in 2026 and noted that this was a matter of a geopolitical decision. "And I believe it must be a geopolitical decision, similarly to the way it was for some other»»»
China's 'Near-Peer' Status in US Strategy Hides Looming Hot War Threat - Analyst
The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) may look softer on paper, recasting China from a “threat” into a “near-peer competitor” with seeming potential to “reshape” US-China relations, Dr. John Gong, economics professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, tells Sp»»»
Albania’s Progress, a Shared Opportunity
The Tirana Economic Forum is taking place in the Albanian capital in December 10-12, with the participation of Albanian and Greek businesses, business organizations, experts and high representatives of both governments, including Prime Minister Edi Rama. The title of this event is “Albania’s Steady»»»
Does Japan's megaquake warning mean the 'big one' is coming?
After a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan on Monday, authorities warned of a megaquake, saying the next few days would be "critical". For the second time in less than two years, thoughts are turning to the "big one" - a once-in-a-century quake. In September, Japan's earthquake inv»»»
ICP launches unified ‘Resident Family’ service to simplify all residency applications
Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has announced the implementation of the “Resident Family” project as part of the second phase of the Zero Bureaucracy programme. This proactive service enables the processing of all transactions for resident»»»
Romanian economy back on track after turbulent year, but structural risks persist – Erste analysis
Erste’s latest Romania outlook points to modest growth, weak domestic demand, and elevated inflation at the end of 2025, although political stabilisation and renewed fiscal tightening have reduced immediate macro risks. Investment is expected to take a more prominent role in 2026, while monetary po»»»
Trump calls on Zelensky to start ‘playing ball’
US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to start accepting peace proposals, noting that Russia has a much stronger negotiating position and will likely overwhelm Kiev’s forces in the long run. In an interview with Politico on Monday, Trump pointed out that Russia is “a m»»»
Abu Dhabi’s L’imad among backers of Paramount’s hostile Warner Bros. bid in US
Dubai: Abu Dhabi’s L’imad Holding Co., a firm wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, is part of the group of Middle Eastern investors providing financing for Paramount Skydance Corp.’s offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., a US SEC regulatory filing showed. Sign up for our daily busin»»»
EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results
The EU has opened an investigation into Google over its artificial intelligence (AI) summaries which appear above search results. The European Commission said it would examine whether the firm used data from websites to provide this service - and if it failed to offer "appropriate compensation" to »»»
Bulgarian President, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Europe Deepen Talks on Strategic Partnership, Energy, and Security
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Christopher Smith, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Europe and Policy and Regional Affairs, discussed the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States on Tuesday. In a post on X, President Radev described the talks as productive,»»»
Nearly 27% of Bulgarian Pupils Use Tobacco Products, Experts Report in Sofia
A total of 26.6% of pupils in Bulgaria currently use tobacco products, including heated tobacco devices, experts have reported during a round-table discussion on urgent measures to address this country’s nicotine crisis. Organized by the Smoke Free Life Coalition in partnership with the World Healt»»»
Trump Says Zelensky Should Read Settlement Proposals
MOSCOW, December 9 (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky should read the settlement proposals put forward by Washington, US President Donald Trump said. "Well, he’s gotta read the proposal ... he hasn’t read it yet," Trump told Western media. It is time for Zelensky to pull himself together and start agre»»»
Albania’s National Judges Association Condemns PM Rama’s Remarks on Balluku Case
Albania’s National Judges Association has issued a statement in response to recent comments made by Prime Minister Edi Rama regarding the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, in connection with an ongoing case at the Special Court Against C»»»
Clashes and counter-demos in Lebanon as Sharaa supporters celebrate Assad’s fall
Supporters of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa staged motorbike and car rallies across Lebanon overnight to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of Bashar al-Assad at the hands of an Islamist-led uprising. The rallies sparked tensions and led to clashes in some areas, prompting an intervention »»»
Israeli forces enter southern towns of Khiam, Odaisseh, and Aita al-Shaab
Israeli forces entered overnight into Tuesday the southern border towns of al-Khiam, Odaisseh, and Aita al-Shaab. Local media reports said the soldiers detonated several buildings in Wadi al-Asafir in al-Khiam and a house in Odaisseh. They also fired machine guns from the Hamamess Hill towards the »»»
Dubai Police unveil three new traffic strategies to boost road safety
Dubai Police have rolled out specialised strategies aimed at enhancing road safety and cutting traffic accidents across the emirate. The initiatives include a joint road safety strategy with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and two dedicated plans focused on reducing accidents and creating a»»»
S. Korea, UAE DMs discuss arms, defense coop.
TOKYO, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Mohammad Al-Mazrouei on Tuesday discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and seek joint development in the arms industry, Yonhap News Agency reported.The defense chiefs»»»
Sri Lankan envoy hails KRCS's humanitarian support
KUWAIT, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- Sri Lankan Ambassador Lakshitha Ratnayake expressed his country's appreciation for Kuwait's role, through Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRSC), in providing humanitarian and relief support to those affected by severe floods and cyclone-related destruction impacting over 600,00»»»
CEC certifies election results in 29 constituencies, orders re-elections in one - | 24.KG
The Central Commission for Elections and Referendums of Kyrgyzstan (CEC) approved the voting results in 29 out of 30 constituencies in the early parliamentary elections, the commission reported. The results were annulled only in constituency No. 13. According to the CEC, supporters of one of the ca»»»
Botevgrad Mayor Bans Rally by MRF – New Beginning
Botevgrad Mayor Ivan Gavalyugov has issued an order banning the holding of a rally organized by MRF – New Beginning, shows a document was published on the official website of the Botevgrad Municipality on Tuesday. The rally was to take place on Tuesday evening in the city park as part of several ra»»»
EU Actions Hinder Russia-Hungary Cooperation, But Trade Growing - Lavrov
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Actions of the European Union hinder cooperation between Russia and Hungary, but despite these difficulties, trade between the two countries continues to grow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. "Of course, the illegal sanctions imposed by our Western colleag»»»
Gift cards emerging as key recognition tool for employees for 2026 – Edenred study
The biannual Edenred Benefit study, updated every six months, shows that employee preference for the gifts category has increased by 27%, the highest rise recorded in 2024–2025. The same analysis shows that only 40% of employees in Romania feel consistently appreciated, while 60% say they receive a»»»
UAE Media Council makes advertiser permits easier for visiting content creators
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Media Council has signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent national companies, granting them the authority to apply for Advertiser Permits on behalf of visiting content creators who want to produce advertising content in the UAE. The agreements aim to make the»»»
Zelensky meets pope, prepares revised plan on Russia war
Castel Gandolfo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV in Italy on Tuesday as he prepared to send the United States revised proposals to end Russia’s attack. Zelensky on Monday held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels as US President Donald Trump keeps up press»»»
Sources Close to Speaker Berri: “No Room for Any Form of Normalization with Israeli Enemy”
Sources close to Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri affirmed on Tuesday that the position of the Speaker of Parliament is firm regarding refusal to expand the framework of direct negotiations with the Israeli enemy, or to task any committee other than the existing “Mechanism”. In remarks to Al-Binaa Leba»»»
Questions over Machado's Whereabouts as Nobel Event Postponed
Nobel officials delayed a press conference with Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Oslo Tuesday, but said they remained confident Venezuela's elusive opposition leader would collect her award in person. It was not known whether Machado, who has been in hiding since August 2024, was in the»»»
Putin Does Not Want to Restore the USSR or Attack NATO, the Kremlin Says
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that European claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union were wrong and that claims Putin plans to invade a NATO member were complete stupidity. Putin, who was born in the Soviet Union, in 2005 cast the collapse of the Soviet Union as»»»
No Russian Pension Payments Received in Bulgaria This Year - National Social Security Institute
Pensions have not been paid to Russian citizens residing in Bulgaria since the beginning of 2025 due to the absence of payments from the Pension and Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, Bulgaria's National Social Security Institute (NSSI) reported here on Tuesday. The last date on which»»»
BRIDGE 2025 Summit: The future of AI speaking to the world, in every language
There’s something profoundly striking about watching a keynote speaker address thousands at an international summit in seven different languages—simultaneously, flawlessly, and with cultural nuance intact. At the recent BRIDGE Summit, artificial intelligence made this possible, offering a compellin»»»
Inside the world’s largest Transport Command Centre in Dubai
Dubai: Dubai’s Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC³), one of the world’s largest and most advanced transport command facilities, is at the heart of Dubai’s smart mobility transformation. The centre integrates all current and future transport modes, monitors over 28,000 vehicles, manages 10,00»»»
Qatar announces readiness to host the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025
Top global clubs set to compete in Doha during the rest days of ongoing FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Doha, Qatar: The FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2025 Local Organising Committee (LOC) today announced its full readiness to host the final three matches of the prestigious club competition during a pre»»»
Israel launches new waves of air attacks on Lebanon, straining fragile truce – Ya Libnan
Share: Israel’s military has carried out waves of air attacks in southern Lebanon, causing damage to several homes, according to Lebanese state media, as anger mounts over repeated Israeli violations of a ceasefire with Hezbollah agreed upon last year. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported late o»»»
Burkina Faso accuses Nigerian Air Force of violating its airspace
Eleven Nigerian military officers were detained in Burkina Faso after their aircraft made an emergency landing in the country, Burkinabè security sources told the BBC. The Air Force C-130 aircraft entered Burkina Faso's airspace on Monday without authorisation, according to the country's Territoria»»»
How VFS Global joined the top 1% in global sustainability ratings
Dubai: VFS Global, a global leader in trusted technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions, has been awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal, placing it among the top one per cent of companies assessed globally for business sustainability. The company secured an 88-point score f»»»
EU opens antitrust investigation into Googleآ’s use of AI
BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it has opened a formal investigation into suspected anticompetitive practices by the US company Google, related to its use of online publishersآ’ content as well as materials uploaded by users on the YouTube platform for th»»»
Former convict arrested after weapons are found in his car
Police in Athens say they have arrested a man they believe may have been planning a murder, after they found numerous weapons in a car he had stolen. The arrest came after a special police squad tasked with cracking down on organized crime received a tip that the suspect was selling drugs in the se»»»
Criminal group members involved in contract killings arrested
Six individuals accused of being members of a criminal organisation carrying out contract killings were arrested on Tuesday, following a police operation in Attica. The suspects are believed to be behind the attempted murder of an underworld figure, who was killed at a later date in the ski resort »»»
NKUA joins list of top 200 universities in the world
In a significant distinction for Greek higher education, the internationally recognised university ranking publication Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities has ranked the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) 191st worldwide. NKUA is thus the first Greek u»»»