Cuban coast guard kills 4 gunmen on US-flagged speedboat
A group of armed men aboard a US-registered speedboat reportedly opened fire on Cuban border guard forces in the island’s territorial waters, escalating already strained relations between Havana and Washington. According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred on Wednesday near the north»»»
High court asked to mandate fair market value on foreclosures for taxes - UPI.com
Associate Justice Elena Kagan expressed concern Wednesday that if the government were forced to pay the fair-market value of a house minus the taxes, counties would no longer foreclose because it would be too costly to make up the difference between that value and whatever they receive via auction»»»
U.N.: Arab economies gradually recover despite conflicts, global risks - UPI.com
Saudi Arabia’s economic outlook remains robust despite declining commodity prices and the gradual end of OPEC+ production cuts, with real gross domestic product expected to grow an average of 3.3% between 2025 and 2027, according to a new U.N. report.File Photo by EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 25 (UPI)»»»
Cuba says four shot dead on US-registered speedboat
Cuba's Interior Ministry has announced that four men on a US-registered speedboat were shot and killed after being intercepted in Cuban waters. In a statement, the ministry said that the speedboat's passengers opened fire on a coast guard vessel that approached them. Six additional passengers were »»»
Watch: Canadian man escapes attacking turkeys by getting into stranger's car - UPI.com
Feb. 25 (UPI) -- An Ontario man who was chased by a pair of aggressive turkeys only escaped by jumping into a stranger's car -- and the incident was caught on camera. Michael Bourgon was walking Thursday near Prince of Wales Drive and Heron Road in Ottawa when he noticed two turkeys following him. »»»
Saudi stock market index closes lower
Riyadh: The main Saudi stock index closed Wednesday down 58.51 points, reaching 10,847.93 points, with trading valued at SAR 3.7 billion. According to the Saudi Press Agency's daily economic bulletin for the Saudi stock market, 167 million shares were traded. Shares of 73 companies rose in value, w»»»
Ethical governance of artificial intelligence an urgent necessity: NHRC
Doha, Qatar: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) affirmed that the ethical governance of artificial intelligence represents an urgent necessity to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable groups from the risks of discrimination and exclusion, noting that social justice is the compass gui»»»
Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia in talks with Hungarian side about price for 5 pct stake in NIS
WASHINGTON - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Wednesday Serbia was in talks with the Hungarian side about securing the best possible conditions for itself when it comes to resolving the issue of its oil company NIS, including the best possible price for pur»»»
IENE Roundtable on Energy Security in SEE to Take Place in the European Parliament, Brussels, on March 19
IENE Roundtable on Energy Security in SEE to Take Place in the European Parliament, Brussels, on March 19 - Institute of Energy for South-East Europe About UsMission and VisionBackgroundAnnual ReportArticles of AssociationBoard of GovernorsOrganizationExecutive CommitteeScientific CommitteesResearc»»»
Yungblud festival goes international, but not everyone's convinced
Rock singer Yungblud is taking his music festival BludFest abroad, but the move has split fans. The third edition of the event is going to take place in the Czech Republic in June, after being held in Milton Keynes for the past two years. Some fans told BBC Newsbeat they are glad festival-goers in »»»
IENE Roundtable on Energy Security in SEE to Take Place in European Parliament, Brussels, on March 19
IENE Roundtable on Energy Security in SEE to Take Place in European Parliament, Brussels, on March 19 - Institute of Energy for South-East Europe About UsMission and VisionBackgroundAnnual ReportArticles of AssociationBoard of GovernorsOrganizationExecutive CommitteeScientific CommitteesResearchInt»»»
Mexico's Sheinbaum: Trump and I discussed 'El Mencho's' capture - UPI.com
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on Wednesday, ruling out potential problems for the FIFA World Cup despite a wave of violence that swept the country after an operation in Jalisco on Sunday that killed Nemesio Oseguera, alias "El»»»
Protest in Central Sofia Calls for Resignation of Acting Prosecutor General Sarafov
A protest is taking place outside the Palace of Justice in Sofia, calling for the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. The event has been organized by the Justice for All initiative. There is a heightened police presence in the area, and traffic has been restricted. The organi»»»
Surviving Strike, Shamkhani Resumes Central Role in Iran’s War Room
Ali Shamkhani, who taunted Israel after being pulled alive from the rubble of his Tehran home following a strike in June 2025, has survived at the center of Iranian policy-making during its most testing military confrontations and diplomatic endeavors. The 70-year-old former Revolutionary Guard com»»»
Pope Leo to make his first papal trip to Africa in April - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Pope Leo XIV delivers on the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica the Urbi et Orbi message on Christmas Day in Vatican City. The pope will visit Africa in April. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV will make a 10-day trip through Africa visiting»»»
Countries Issuing Middle East Travel Advisories as Iran Tensions Rise
Several countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomatic personnel and non-essential staff from some locations in the Middle East, or advising citizens to defer travel to Iran, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. Here are some of the moves: AUSTRALIA: The government has tol»»»
Djuric: Washington has understanding for fact Serbia should not be caught in crossfire
WASHINGTON - Commenting on the issue of Serbia's oil company NIS, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Wednesday Washington had understanding for the fact that Serbia should not be caught in a crossfire between big powers, and added that a search for a solution for NIS would be continued. NIS is under U»»»
Qatar participates in high-level segment of Conference on Disarmament
Geneva: The State of Qatar participated in the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament held in Geneva. Qatar was represented at the event by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva, Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi. A»»»
Djuric:Washington has understanding for fact Serbia should not be caught in crossfire between big powers
WASHINGTON - Commenting on the issue of Serbia's oil company NIS, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Wednesday Washington had understanding for the fact that Serbia should not be caught in a crossfire between big powers, and added that a search for a solution for NIS would be continued. NIS is under U»»»
Bill Gates 'took responsibility' over Epstein ties in staff meeting, foundation says
Bill Gates "took responsibility for his actions" and addressed his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a meeting with staff from his charitable foundation, the organisation said. "Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail," the Gates Foundation said in a stateme»»»
Two Bears Complete Long Journey from Argentina Zoo to Belitsa Sanctuary in Bulgaria
Two bears from an Argentinian zoo successfully completed a long journey to the Belitsa bear sanctuary on Wednesday, to become the first bears ever flown from South America to Bulgaria, according to the Four Paws Foundation, which led the relocation project with support from Bulgarian and internatio»»»
Djuric: Serbia strengthening relations with US
WASHINGTON - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Wednesday in Washington his visit to the US was aimed at strengthening further a positive momentum in Serbia-US relations and at creating a climate for dealing with strategic state and national affairs for Serbs in Serbia and the region but, above all, i»»»
PA Slams, Israel Hails US Offer of Consular Services in West Bank Settlement
Israel welcomed Wednesday a decision by the US embassy to offer consular services in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, while the Palestinian Authority slammed it as a "violation of international law". The US mission in Jerusalem said Tuesday that as part of an initiative to mark the »»»
Environment Day an opportunity to evaluate environmental work progress: Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Doha, Qatar: The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie affirmed that Qatar Environment Day, observed annually on February 26, represents an opportunity to evaluate the progress of environmental work, review its priorities, and highlight the im»»»
Spain declassifies files on 1981 attempted coup in effort to dispel conspiracy theories
Spain's government has released dozens of documents related to an attempted coup that took place 45 years ago - regarded as a key moment in the country's history. On 23 February 1981, a group of officers burst into the main chamber of the national parliament, wielding guns and threatening the polit»»»
Amir hosts Ramadan iftar for diplomats at Lusail Palace
Doha, Qatar: The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani hosted a Ramadan iftar banquet in honor of Their Excellencies the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country, Qatar's ambassadors abroad, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event, which took place on W»»»
Parliament Rejects President’s Veto on Election Code Revisions, Sparkling Intragroup Division
Parliament Wednesday rejected, 126-86 with 11 abstentions, President Iliana Iotova's veto on amendments to the Election Code, which limit to 20 the number of voting sections in Bulgarian elections in non-EU countries. The vote of the MPs from the Socialists' BSP - United Left group was critically i»»»
US slaps fresh sanctions on Iran on eve of Geneva talks, Hezbollah draws red lines
Dubai: The United States on Wednesday announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil trade and weapons networks, intensifying what Washington calls its “maximum pressure” campaign even as Iranian negotiators travelled to Geneva for high-stakes nuclear talks. The US Treasury Department said»»»
18 Egyptians Missing after Deadly Boat Capsize Near Greece
Egypt said Wednesday that 18 of its citizens were still missing after a migrant boat capsized, killing four people, off the Greek island of Crete last week. The wooden boat was carrying 50 people, including four minors, when Greece's coast guard was alerted late Friday. Greek authorities then direc»»»
Menassa downplays US role at Hamat air base
Defense Minister Michel Menassa on Wednesday clarified that the Hamat Air base in north Lebanon is “a Lebanese air base belonging to the Lebanese Army Air Force” and that “no other entity within it has any authority or power above Lebanese laws.” "Recently, news, reports, and writings have increase»»»
Romanians pay among the lowest taxes and associated costs in Europe when buying a home through a mortgage loan
Home buyers in Bucharest pay among the lowest taxes and associated costs in Europe when purchasing a home through a mortgage loan, about EUR 2.500 for an average one-bedroom apartment, while buyers of a similar home in other European capital cities pay total associated costs that reach several tens»»»
Uber: Valentine’s Day led to higher evening mobility
As the celebrations around the season of love conclude with Dragobete, Uber analyzed mobility patterns to understand how people moved across the city on February 14th, comparing similar weekend periods year over year. The data shows a clear increase in ride volumes and a noticeable shift toward eve»»»
Qatar's knowledge economy, transformation strategy, enhancing global competitiveness: report
Doha, Qatar: The economy of the State of Qatar is witnessing a rapid strategic transformation from dependence on natural resources to an economic model based on knowledge, innovation and technology, in clear alignment with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, which places economic diversificati»»»
Germany's Merz secures 120 aircraft Airbus deal in Beijing talks with Xi
China will buy up to 120 aircraft from European aviation giant Airbus, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said following talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday. Merz's visit comes as Berlin and Beijing seek to build on their decades-old economic ties to weather global uncertainty spa»»»
WCC-DB Signals Willingness to Join Forces with Radev to Replace Supreme Judicial Council
In Bulgaria, "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) has signaled its readiness to collaborate with any parliamentary formation, including a yet-to-be-announced group aligned with President Rumen Radev, to secure a parliamentary quota for the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). A qualifie»»»
Report: Israel killed more journalists that any other country in 2025 - UPI.com
Protesters at a World Press Freedom Day event in Kuala Lumpur hold a banner that reads, "Targeting Journalist is A Crime" and a poster of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed while reporting in the West Bank in 2022. Israel accepted she was likely killed by IDF »»»
Why talent will define Abu Dhabi’s next decade of growth
Dubai: The UAE ended 2025 with clear evidence that economic diversification is no longer an ambition - it is a fact, and one that is occurring at an accelerated pace. Non-oil sectors continue to grow faster than the oil sector, and they now account for over 77 percent of GDP. This represents the hi»»»
Automated people movers: Engineering the next era of airport mobility
As global air travel continues to expand and airports grow into complex, multi-terminal environments, the challenge of moving millions of travellers quickly and comfortably has never been more critical. Modern airports now function as interconnected transit ecosystems rather than single buildings, »»»
Hezbollah official says group won't intervene in event of 'limited' US strikes on Iran
A Hezbollah official said Wednesday that the Lebanese militant group would not intervene militarily in the event of "limited" U.S. strikes on its backer Iran, but would consider any attack against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line". Lebanese authorities fear that Hezbollah would bec»»»
Hezbollah Official Says Will Not Intervene in Event of 'Limited' US Strikes on Iran
A Hezbollah official said Wednesday that the Lebanese militant group would not intervene militarily in the event of "limited" US strikes on its backer Iran, but would consider any attack against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line". Lebanese authorities fear that Hezbollah would becom»»»
Iran’s FM Araghchi Leaves for Geneva for Nuclear Talks with US
Iran’s negotiating delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has left Tehran for Geneva to take part in a third round of nuclear talks with Washington. Heading a nuclear negotiating team, comprising Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and the Deputy Foreign »»»
IAAPA and MENALAC to launch IAAPA MENA
IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, has announced plans to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and North Africa with the launch of a new regional office and the creation of IAAPA MENA. The official launch will be celebrated during IAAPA Expo Middle East, with the new »»»
Pope lines up trips to Central Africa, Algeria, Spain, Monaco
Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV will visit four African nations in April, the Vatican said Thursday, including Algeria -- the first time a pope will travel to the North African Muslim nation. The Vatican announced a series of international trips in the months ahead for the US pontiff, who was elected la»»»
New UK rules kick in, complicating travel for British dual nationals in UAE
Dubai: British citizens who also hold another nationality could be stopped from travelling to the UK from Wednesday under new border rules linked to the rollout of the country’s electronic travel authorisation system, complicating travel for British dual nationals in the UAE. Sign up for our daily »»»
Djuric, Tenney discuss topics related to Serbia, region
WASHINGTON - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met on Wednesday in Washington with US Congress member Claudia Tenney, co-chair of the Serbian Caucus in the US Congress, to discuss key topics related to Serbia and the region that are also of interest to Capitol Hill. Djuric gave a comprehensive snapshot of th»»»
Tunindex closes session up 0.55%
Tunis, Feb 25 (TAP) - In a well-supplied market, the Tunindex continued its sustained upward trajectory, rising 0.55% to 15,173.7 points, on very strong volume of TND 79.5 million, according to analysis by stockbroker Tunisie Valeurs.Trading volumes...»»»
Would you take an Uber… in the sky? Dubai air taxis explained
Dubai: Uber has introduced Uber Air, powered by Joby, offering riders a first look at how they will be able to book Joby Aviation’s all-electric aerial taxis directly in the Uber app, in collaboration with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheque»»»
New travel rules for UK visitors kick in - how are you affected?
A new travel system for visitors to the UK comes into force from Wednesday for citizens of dozens of countries like the US and Australia. The government says electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will improve the immigration system. However, it has created problems for dual nationals, who have been»»»
CIA offers tips to potential informants in Iran
The Central Intelligence Agency offered help to potential informants in Iran on Tuesday, providing Farsi-language instructions on ways to safely contact the U.S. spy agency as President Donald Trump mulls possible military strikes. The post is the latest in a series of recruitment pitches in Farsi,»»»
No more UK visa stickers? What Pakistan travellers need to know
Dubai: Pakistani visitors heading to the UK — including those travelling from the UAE — can now use a new digital eVisa system instead of receiving a visa sticker in their passport, the British High Commission in Pakistan has announced. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.»»»