France Loses 55% of Exports to Russia Since Introduction of Sanctions - Eurostat Data
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union's sanctions against Russia have deprived France of more than half of its exports to the Russian market, Sputnik calculated on Friday, using Eurostat data. According to the figures, over the first 10 months of 2025 Paris supplied Moscow with goods and services w»»»
Ukraine Will Not Repay EU Loan - Orban
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The children and grandchildren of those who made the decision about the EU loan to Ukraine will be paying for the loan, it is clear that Ukraine will not repay it, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Orban said the EU abandoned the idea of confiscating Russian assets wh»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Putin Reviews 2025 at Annual Press Conference
President Vladimir Putin is holding his combined year-end press conference and Direct Line from Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor, reviewing the results of 2025 and outlining priorities for 2026. The format, first merged in 2023, brings together questions from reporters and citizens from across the country. Mo»»»
Signing of Trade Agreement Between EU, Mercosur Postponed Until January - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The signing of the trade agreement between the European Union and South American trading bloc Mercosur has been postponed until January, media reported, citing a diplomatic source. The signing of the agreement was planned for Saturday. European Commission President Ursula von der»»»
10 Hollywood movies to watch while it rains and you’re staying cosy at home
Dubai: The weekend is upon us, and while the weather has calmed down a bit, the roads are still flooded and staying home just feels like the right call. What better way to enjoy the cosy vibes than curling up with a great movie? Rainy days have a way of slowing life down. The noise softens, plans d»»»
US-Yemen Engagement Seeks to Bolster Partnership, Contain Divisions
Several meetings held by US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin with the leadership of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) point to American attempts to reinforce the political and security partnership with the Yemeni government while containing internal divisions within the internationally »»»
Two US presidents and their long associations with Jeffrey Epstein
US President Donald Trump and former US President Bill Clinton are among several high profile figures who are known to have associated with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and Clinton were each photographed with Epstein several times over the 1990s and early 2000s and occasionally»»»
Hakimi boost as Morocco seek end to AFCON title drought
Johannesburg: A social media picture of Achraf Hakimi in Rabat this week gladdened every Moroccan football supporter as the kingdom prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Sunday. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star was wearing sun glasses, a red, white and black sweater, »»»
Real estate transactions in November reaches QR2.261bn
Doha: The volume of real estate transactions recorded with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice during November 2025 reached QAR 2,261,414,442. Analytical data issued in the Ministry of Justice’s Real Estate Bulletin revealed the registration of 530 real estate deals d»»»
Nolte FZE closes 2025 with Dh250 million in sales and major gains across key Middle East markets
Nolte FZE, Germany’s leading premium kitchen brand, concludes 2025 marked by strategic growth across the Middle East and key global markets. The company strengthened its position in the UAE, advanced large-scale initiatives in Saudi Arabia, expanded its dealer and project networks, and entered new »»»
Ortiz: Proud of Flamengo’s performance and fighting spirit
Doha: In the end, the final step was one too far. CR Flamengo though came as close as they possibly could, pushing the might of Paris Saint-Germain all the way to penalties in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final. At the end of a remarkable fortnight where the club claimed four major trophies, the g»»»
PSG’s Enrique hails ‘incredible’ 2025 after Intercontinental Cup triumph
DOHA: Luis Enrique hailed an “incredible, unforgettable” year after Paris Saint-Germain completed a six-trophy haul in 2025 by lifting the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Doha. The dramatic penalty shootout victory over Flamengo at a packed Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, where PSG edged the Brazilian side 2-1»»»
Primark to open four new stores in Romania in 2026
Primark, the international fashion retailer, has today announced major plans to expand its presence in Romania, confirming four new store openings for 2026. The announcement comes as the company celebrates its anniversary in the market this week, marking three years since the opening of its first R»»»
President to Hand Cabinet-Forming Mandate after New Year
President Rumen Radev announced that he will hand over the first exploratory mandate to form a government after the New Year. The head of state said that during the consultations, held with parliamentary forces on the possibility of forming a regular cabinet under the current legislature, a shared »»»
Russian Special Envoy Says Law, Common Sense Prevail After EU's Decision on Russian Assets
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Law and common sense have prevailed for now, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, said on Friday, commenting on the European Union's decision not to confiscat»»»
Sharjah Civil Defence issues urgent safety advisory amid heavy rain
The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority (SCDA) has urged residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution as unstable weather and heavy rainfall continue to affect the emirate this week. The advisory follows warnings from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) of a deep low-pressure system expected»»»
Public Sector in Bulgaria on Edge: Trade Union Warns of Strikes as 2026 Budget Fails
The Coordination Council of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) has expressed strong condemnation of the National Assembly’s failure to pass the 2026 state budget, the Public Health Insurance Fund budget, and the National Health Insurance Fund budget. In a statement re»»»
Schoolchildren from Kyrgyzstan take 1st place at GAR 2025 Championship Contest - | 24.KG
On December 7, 2025, teams of schoolchildren from Kyrgyzstan took part in the GAR 2025 World Championship Contest in robotics and artificial intelligence, which was held in Malaysia. Artur Kutlugildin, one of the team leaders, reported. The young engineers successfully represented their country on »»»
Incidence of ARVI and influenza declining in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
The incidence of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and influenza in Kyrgyzstan is declining, and hospital beds are available. The Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance informed 24.kg news agency. According to specialists, online learning in sch»»»
Pakistan Arrests Senior Official from ISIS Offshoot
Pakistan has captured a leader from an offshoot of the ISIS extremist group, a senior intelligence official said Friday, after the arrest was reported by a UN sanctions monitoring group. Sultan Aziz Azam, who also acted as a spokesman for ISIS Khorasan, (ISIS-K) was arrested on May 16, according to»»»
Syrian-American Emergency Task Force welcomes repeal of Caesar Act sanctions
Washington, Dec. 19 (SANA) The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) in Washington welcomed Friday the unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act following its signing by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a post on X, the SETF stated that the repeal is unconditional and does not carry any risk of re-imposin»»»
Cloudy and rainy weather on Friday
Tunis, Dec. 19 (TAP)- The weather on Friday is very cloudy and rainy in most regions. Locally heavy rain is expected in the south and central western regions then in central eastern and northern areas during the afternoon and overnight. The wind is...»»»
West Virginia coal miner dies in underground accident - UPI.com
Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A coal miner in West Virginia has died, the latest mining fatality in the state following the flooding death of a miner last month. The unidentified miner died Thursday morning in what has been classified as a "powered haulage" accident at the underground Lower War Eagle mine, loca»»»
Waterlogged streets? See how Dubai Municipality is keeping traffic flowing
Heavy rains have left several streets across Dubai waterlogged, causing travel disruptions and prompting authorities to urge motorists to drive carefully and avoid flood-prone areas. Emergency teams remain on standby as showers continue across the city. Click here to go to the live weather blog Dub»»»
Kyrgyzstanis can find employment in 29 countries — Bakyt Darmankul uulu - | 24.KG
Citizens of Kyrgyzstan can find employment in 29 countries. Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security, and Migration Bakyt Darmankul uulu announced at a press conference. He stated that this can be done through the Ministry of Labor’s Center for Employment Abroad, which also issues licenses to priv»»»
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Signing Delayed as Italy Demands More Time
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU executive chief Ursula von der Leyen expressed confidence on Friday that the European Union would be able to sign a contentious free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur in January, despite insufficient backing at an EU summit. The European Commi»»»
Russia's Dmitriev Welcomes EU Summit Decision Not to Use Russia's Frozen Assets
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said on Friday that "law and sanity" won, after European Union leaders decided to borrow cash to fund Ukraine rather than use Russia's frozen assets. "Major BLOW to EU warmongers led »»»
ING Bank Romania: Sustainability as a source of resilience and competitive advantage
Raluca Tintoiu, Head of Wholesale Banking and a member of the Executive Committee at ING Bank Romania, talked to Business Review about the bank’s ambition to steer its clients and partners to more sustainable business practices and the way it manages to maintain focus on such goals amid market unce»»»
Altex Romania: An omnichannel approach for seamless retail experiences
In 2025, Altex Romania integrated the Brico Depot network and carried out a comprehensive upgrade of its digital infrastructure, setting the foundation for a broader, more efficient retail ecosystem. Founder and CEO Dan Ostahie reflects on the impact of these developments and on the growing role of»»»
Abu Dhabi court overturns life sentence, reduces drug charge to personal use
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi’s Court of Appeal has overturned a life sentence imposed on a defendant convicted at first instance of possessing narcotics and psychotropic substances with intent to traffic, ruling that the evidence failed to establish trafficking beyond doubt and reclassifying the offence as»»»
UAE hits peak of unstable weather as rain and strong winds continue
Dubai: The UAE is experiencing the peak of its current spell of unstable weather on Friday, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said, as a complex weather system that has affected the country since last Saturday continues to influence conditions. The NCM said the weather is being driven by the»»»
Bulgaria Presents Newly Minted Euro Coins to EU Leaders
Outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov presented sets of Bulgaria’s newly minted euro coins to the heads of the European Commission, European Parliament and European Council, as well as to EU leaders, during his visit to Brussels for a European Council summit. Ahead of the summit, Zhelyazkov stat»»»
UK Government Was Hacked in October, Minister Confirms
British trade minister Chris Bryant said the government had been hacked in October, partly confirming a report in the Sun newspaper, which said a Chinese group had breached systems to access foreign office data. "There certainly has been a hack," Bryant told Times Radio on Friday, according to Re»»»
Farmers clash with police in Brussels amid Ukraine talks (VIDEOS)
Violent clashes erupted in Brussels on Thursday as thousands of farmers descended on the EU quarter, blocking roads with tractors and confronting riot police outside the European Parliament amid mounting anger over trade policy and farming reforms. What began as a mass demonstration against propose»»»
Woman hailed as ‘first black Briton’ likely blue-eyed and fair-haired – study
The Roman-era skeleton known as the “Beachy Head Woman,” once widely cited as evidence of an early black presence in Britain, most likely had genetic ancestry similar to local populations in southern England at the time, researchers have said. The findings were published in the Journal of Archaeolo»»»
Human development at heart of national progress, says Qatar Foundation official
DOHA: Nations are ultimately shaped by how they invest in people, not only by infrastructure but by learning, curiosity, and individual potential, according to Executive Director of Community Engagement and Programming at Qatar Foundation, Kholoud M. Al Ali. In a statement marking Qatar National Da»»»
On This Day, Dec. 19: Rockefeller sworn in as vice president under Ford - UPI.com
On Dec. 19, 1974, Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in as vice president of the United States under President Gerald Ford. 1 of 6 | On December 19, 1974, Nelson Rockefeller (L) was sworn in as Vice President of the United States under President Gerald Ford. File Photo by David Hume Kennerly/UPI | Licens»»»
Ambassador praises growing Italy-Qatar partnership on Qatar National Day
DOHA: Italian Ambassador to Qatar, H E Paolo Toschi, has praised the strong and evolving partnership between Italy and Qatar, highlighting growing cooperation in investment, innovation, and advanced technologies. The ambassador reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties and supportin»»»
Dubai RTA activates emergency command as rain disrupts roads
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has activated its Silver Command Room and Joint Operations Room as part of an expanded emergency response to manage heavy rainfall and water accumulation across the emirate. Click here to go to the live weather blogThe authority’s integrated plan ensures »»»
BOJ raises policy rate to 30-year high of 0.75 pct
TOKYO, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Japan's central bank on Friday raised its policy interest rate to around 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent, the highest level in about 30 years.At a two-day monetary policy meeting, the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) nine-member Policy Board unanimously decided to lift its target for the»»»
Ukraine's Zelenskiy to Meet Poland's Trump-backed President at Key Moment in War
Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet Poland's President Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw on Friday, as the Ukrainian leader tries to shore up relations with a key ally at a crucial moment for Kyiv's war effort. The visit comes just as European Union leaders that United States President Donald Trump recently brand»»»
US suspends green card lottery scheme after Brown shooting
President Donald Trump has suspended the US green card lottery scheme in the wake of a mass shooting at Brown University last week in which two people were killed. The suspect, a Portuguese man who was found dead on Thursday, entered the country through the diversity lottery immigrant visa programm»»»
Darb Al Saai showcases maritime heritage and community spirit
Doha: Visitors to Darb Al Saai in Doha are being offered a window into Qatar’s maritime past through a series of specialised sea-heritage museums displaying traditional tools, boats and pearl-diving equipment. Among the highlights is the Al Qallaf Museum, dedicated to traditional boat-building, fea»»»
Katara concludes FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 events
Doha: The Katara Cultural Village Foundation concluded its events accompanying the Arab Cup, which were part of a comprehensive cultural programme that ran alongside the sporting event and reflected Katara’s vision of being a meeting place for cultures and a leading tourist destination in Qatar. Th»»»
ACTA President underlines role of Arabic language in cultural identity
Doha: President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA), H E Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad (pictured) affirmed that the Arabic language constitutes a fundamental pillar in promoting the values of integrity and transparency and safeguarding cultural identity, adding that ethical»»»
Vodafone Qatar congratulates FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 champions
Doha: Vodafone Qatar has extended its congratulations Morocco following their win at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. As the official Technology Sponsor of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, Vodafone Qatar supported the delivery of the tournament by providing advanced technology infrastructure, including n»»»
El Sett - A tribute to Umm Kulthum
This December marks a major cultural moment with the release of El Sett, the highly anticipated film directed by Marwan Hamed, honoring the legacy of Umm Kulthum, fifty years after her passing. Azza Fahmy Jewellery is proud to play a significant role in bringing her story to life on screen, creatin»»»
UN conference on combatting corruption discusses enhancing integrity in public institutions
Doha: Officials and experts stressed the need to strengthen work ethics in public institutions, support institutional capacities, and ensure the independence of oversight, transparency, and state audit bodies. They pointed to the importance of integrating integrity and transparency frameworks to bu»»»
Rain disrupts UAE: Streets flooded in Dubai, Police on round-the-clock duty
As the UAE experiences heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, lightning, and occasional hail, several streets in Dubai and neighbouring emirates have become waterlogged, prompting travel disruptions. Authorities urge residents to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official instructi»»»
Fun kids activities in Budapest: How to get a full day of play and learning – a 2025 guide
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