State-appointed defense counsel Ben Archbold, who is representing Naveed Akram, speaks to the media outside Downing Center Local Court in Sydney on Monday after his client made a brief appearance by video-link from prison. Photo by Bianca de Marchi/EPA Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The lone surviving suspect in»»»

The Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan approved the candidacy of Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov for the post of Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS). President Sadyr Japarov appointed Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov as A»»»

Doha, Qatar: Community College of Qatar (CCQ) launched on Monday its first employers forum for employees and college graduates under the theme of aligning CCQ programs with the requirements of the labour market in Qatar. The forum kicked off with the participation of 45 entities and institutions fr»»»

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) announced that it implemented 108 development initiatives during 2025 as part of the Government Bureaucracy Elimination Project and Procedures Re-engineering programme. The initiative aims to simplify processes through an institutional methodology while moti»»»

Geneva: A regional train derailed early on Monday in southern Switzerland, police said, adding that people were likely to be injured as a result. “Derailment of train, probably with injuries,” regional police said in a post on the social media platform X, adding that the derailment occurred at 7am »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Public Woks Authority, Ashghal, announced partial road closure on Mesaieed Road at Umm Al Houl Interchange. The closure will affect the third and fourth lanes on the left towards Al Wakrah, while the first and second lanes from the right will remain open to traffic. The closure is »»»

After the in-store activations during the summer season, Pernod Ricard Romania and the trade marketing and innovation agency Mediascope continued to develop an extensive program of off-trade campaigns dedicated to the autumn and end-of-year season – one of the most relevant commercial periods for t»»»

The leader of Albania’s Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, on Monday ruled out any possibility that opposition lawmakers would support proposed legal amendments aimed at preventing the suspension from duty of senior state officials. Speaking to reporters after leaving SPAK, Berisha said the opposition»»»

President Joseph Aoun stressed Monday that Lebanon is “no longer able to bear anyone's conflicts, nor anyone's burdens.” “We desire nothing but the well-being of our people, the prosperity of our nation and the lives of our children,” Aoun said during a joint press conference with his German counte»»»

First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daniyar Amangeldiev, took part in the 62nd Munich Security Conference during a working visit to Germany. As part of the event, Daniyar Amangeldiev held a series of bilateral meetings and negotiations with: — Antonio Tajani, D»»»

Salmoor Dzhumabekov, who was appointed head of the Department of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (SCNS) for Osh and Osh region in December 2025, has been dismissed from his post. Sources in the security forces informed. Salmoor Dzhumabekov is the son of renowned sur»»»

Nairobi, Kenya: A worker's strike disrupted flights and air traffic control operations at Kenya's main airport on Monday, the national carrier said. Kenya Airways (KQ) warned passengers of "possible schedule adjustments, including delays" and advised them not to proceed to the airport without first»»»

Romanians express above-average trust in the European Union’s role in security and defence, while signalling concerns about national investment levels and placing strong emphasis on mobility and defence in the EU’s space agenda, according to a Flash Eurobarometer on “The European Union in defence a»»»

Dubai: The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has introduced a new digital system for registering Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in off-plan property projects through its Madhmoun platform. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.An Expression of Interest is an early payment»»»

Dubai: Attention all Filipino fans! A star-studded event is headed your way as 16 artists are lined up to rock the UAE stage. Bringing together icons and contemporary hitmakers, the “Cornerstone All-Star” concert is expected to draw strong support from the country’s large Filipino community. Big na»»»

Prime Minister Edi Rama said Monday that the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has hindered the functioning of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, calling the move unprecedented and institutionally damaging. Rama convened the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group at the Pre»»»

Albania’s Council on Mandates is set to convene on February 23 at 10:00 a.m. to review the request concerning the parliamentary immunity of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, according to sources from the Presidency of the Assembly. The meeting comes am»»»

The response from the Ministry of Justice's Legislation and Consultations Authority to Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar's question regarding the right of expats residing abroad to vote from their place of residence for the 128 parliamentary seats has drawn categorical rejection from Speaker Nabih Ber»»»

The Kremlin said Monday that it "strongly rejected" an assessment by five European countries that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from poisoning two years ago, as his supporters marked the anniversary of his death in prison. Navalny, a charismatic anti-corruption campaigner who rallie»»»

At the start of the year, Bulgaria’s fruit market has seen notable price swings, particularly for citrus fruits. Data from the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Markets (DCBMT) show that in January, tangerine prices surged by over 14 percent, reaching 1.33 euros per kilogram, while orang»»»

Data has long been recognised as an organisation’s most valuable asset, arguably more important than physical infrastructure or even brand. This is reflected by intangible corporate assets, primarily data including R&D and intellectual property, exceeding $60 trillion in value in 2024. When used ef»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced the awarding and tendering of 20 new projects with a total value estimated at about 11.5 billion riyals, within the framework of the state's plan to complete infrastructure, building, drainage and service facilities projects, in line with »»»

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has welcomed more than four million visitors in just two years, emerging as a “powerful symbol” of India-UAE friendship. Marking the temple’s second anniversary, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, noted how the landmark has»»»

At the Petromidia refinery, the intervention fleet has been renewed with two fire trucks and two foam‑transport tankers, specially acquired to complement the semi‑fixed extinguishing system on petroleum product tanks. “Through this project, we have succeeded in integrating state‑of‑the‑art technica»»»

Ukraine’s self-declared above-election leader Vladimir Zelensky has found time to publicly share his fantasies with the only audience he cares about: the West, in particular the US, and specifically its president Donald Trump. Since it must be hard for Zelensky to get anyone’s ear in Washington now»»»

Did you know there’s a new market quietly emerging at the intersection of technology and real estate, and it is anticipated to redefine digital infrastructure as we know it?JLL’s ‘Future of Quantum Real Estate’ report lays down a clear roadmap for quantum computing, and says it is accelerating towa»»»

Twenty high-clearance vehicles will strengthen the work of the state authorities responsible for protecting the Bulgarian areas within the EU's Natura 2000 ecological network. Manol Genov, Minister of Environment and Water in the outgoing government, received a symbolic key for the vehicles after t»»»

Transport systems are being redefined. Across the world, the emphasis is shifting from vehicle ownership to access on demand. This change is not simply technological; it reflects broader trends in how people live and work, the growing focus on sustainability, and the increasing expectation for conv»»»

Former US President Barack Obama has clarified that the chances Earth has been visited by aliens is "low" after comments he made about extra-terrestrial species caught attention online. "They're real but I haven't seen them," he told American podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen during an interview publi»»»

The newly delivered building was developed in line with CTP’s standard technical specifications and forms part of the wider CTPark Bucharest South development. With this addition, the park now totals approximately 140,000 sqm of completed space, further consolidating its position as a growing logis»»»

Dubai: At least two people, including a child, were killed and 17 others injured in a motorcycle bomb explosion near a police station in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, officials said. The blast occurred near Miryan Police Station in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a region that has»»»

In banking and fintech, the speed of change has outpaced the speed of most boardrooms. A KPMG analysis of U.S. listed banks found the average age of bank directors was 63.3 years in 2022, underlining how far governance has lagged the digital transition. Fast‑charging technology, real‑time payments,»»»

Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the way success in major projects is judged is evolving. For many years, projects were considered successful if they were large, fast to build, and technically impressive. Today, success is defined more broadly. Global studies suggest that nearly 80 per ce»»»

Nuuk: Greenland's capital Nuuk registered its warmest ever January -- beating a record that stood for 109 years -- as temperatures soared across the Arctic island's west coast, the Danish Meteorological Institute said Monday. While Europe and North America experienced a cold snap in January, Nuuk r»»»

The Israeli producer of hit spy thriller “Tehran” was found dead on Sunday at a hotel room in Athens, Greek police officials said while a probe into the incident is underway. The body of the ⁠52-year-old woman, identified ⁠as Dana Eden, was found after a relative made several failed ​attempts to re»»»

As part of its preparations for Ramadan, Sharjah Charity International organised a seminar for the employees of its fundraising and resource development department to enhance performance and strengthen the outcomes of its upcoming Ramadan campaign. The seminar, held at Al Nawras hospitality hall, w»»»

A scientific symposium entitled “Transition to Clean Energy in Fezzan,” organized and supervised by the University of Fezzan and supported by the National Oil Corporation (NOC), commenced last Thursday, (12 February) at ​Ubari municipality. The symposium witnessed a high-level attendance, including»»»

According to preliminary estimates, the gross domestic product (GDP) in January 2026 amounted to 125,718.1 billion soms. Compared to the same period in 2025, it increased by 9 percent, the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan reported. GDP growth at year-end 2025 was 11.1 percent. According»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: The Qatar-Nepal Business Council held its inaugural meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, as part of a three-day visit by a Qatari business delegation. The session was co-chaired by Qatar Chamber Board Member and Chairman of the Qatari side of the Council, HE Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, »»»

Dubai: Bollywood stars couldn’t help rooting for Team India and showering the jubilant players with praise after their emphatic victory over Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15th in Colombo. From heartfelt messages to celebratory one-liners, the film industry lit up social m»»»

In January, Bulgaria recorded a monthly inflation rate of 0.6%, marking the first month after the country’s adoption of the euro, according to preliminary figures from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The annual inflation rate reached 3.5%, slightly below the NSI’s earlier express estimate»»»

Dubai: Ajman has unveiled the Masfout Gate project in the mountainous Masfout region, marking a significant step in efforts to transform rural areas into tourism and cultural destinations. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The gateway, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh »»»

Taxi drivers are escalating their protests as the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union (SATA) announced a three-day strike from Tuesday through Thursday across the greater Athens region. Drivers from other parts of Greece are expected to join the strike on Wednesday and Thursday. SATA opposes what it calls a»»»

An armed man robbed a supermarket in Piraeus shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, threatening a cashier with a gun and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said. The suspect, who had covered his face, escaped on foot in an unknown direction. Authorities are investigating whether the in»»»

Abu Dhabi is set to host IAAPA Expo Middle East 2026 for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the UAE’s fast-expanding entertainment and attractions sector. The decision underscores the emirate’s long-term tourism strategy and its growing role as both a regional and global hub for le»»»

Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are reminded to ensure that their employment documents are in order to ensure that their rights and welfare are well covered while working abroad. One key requirement for OFWs in the UAE is contract verification. According to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony in Pyongyang over the weekend to inaugurate Saeppyol Street, which honors North Korean soldiers who helped liberate the Russian region of Kursk, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday. "The meaningful»»»

The EU has to engage in direct negotiations with Russia to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has said. The EU and UK cut diplomatic communication with Moscow following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. However, several EU leaders have recently called »»»

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has launched another public attack against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, just hours after disparaging him during an address at the Munich Security Conference. The Munich gathering honored Zelensky with its annual award for ‘outstanding’ contributions to p»»»