MoPH launches 3rd public health sector football tournament
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health recently organised the opening ceremony of the third public health sector football tournament at Aspire Athletics Track Stadium, with the attendance of a large number of health sector leaders and employees. The tournament comes as part of the Ministry of P»»»
Trump to Remove Vietnam from Restricted Tech List
US President Donald Trump told Vietnam's top leader To Lam he would "instruct the relevant agencies" to remove the country from a list restricted from accessing advanced US technologies, Vietnam's government announced Saturday. The two leaders met in person for the first time at the White House on »»»
Today in Kuwait history
KUWAIT, Feb 21 (KUNA) -- 1972 -- Zaid Al-Harb, a renowned poet who was among the first to demand gender equality, passed away at 85. 1977 -- A ground satellite station in Umm Al-Aish began transmission. The station could transmit 246 stations. 1987 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah patr»»»
Palestinian Authority in dire straits as Israel's hold on West Bank deepens
With Israeli settler violence surging in the occupied West Bank, al-Mughayyir, north-east of Ramallah, has found itself on the frontline. It faces regular incursions by the Israeli army and has seen farmland seized by settlers who have built new outposts. Marzoq Abu Naim from the village council sa»»»
US Calls on Sudan Parties to Immediately Accept Humanitarian Truce
US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos revealed on Friday that the US had called on all Sudanese parties to immediately and unconditionally accept a humanitarian truce backed by the United Nations mechanism. Boulos took part in several diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of a»»»
Australia blows as goalkeeper Micah ruled out of Women's Asian Cup
Sydney, Australia: Australia suffered a setback Saturday in their quest to win the Women's Asian Cup with goalkeeper Teagan Micah ruled out of the tournament with concussion. The Lyon star was shaping as the frontrunner to be Joe Montemurro's first-choice keeper for the tournament hosted by Austral»»»
Board of Peace Pledges on Gaza Face Test of Implementation on the Ground
The first meeting of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump and attended by Arab and Israeli representatives in the absence of the Palestinian Authority, set out ambitious goals but left key issues unresolved. Washington distilled its priorities into two tracks: funding the recons»»»
Donald Trump answers a Supreme Court rebuke with new tariff threats
Rarely does so totemic a presidential policy receive so resounding a smackdown. On 20 February, the Supreme Court ruled, in Learning Resources v Trump, that the bulk of President Donald Trump’s tariffs were illegal. Mr Trump had asserted that a 1970s-era law, the International Emergency Economic Po»»»
Killing of nationalist student leaves French far left in deep trouble as elections loom
Is the far left about to replace the far right as the pariah of French politics? The question is inescapable following the killing in Lyon of nationalist student Quentin Deranque by suspected far-left militants. Deranque was killed on 12 February after a small university protest by far-right femini»»»
Who was Alan Rumi? Expat father in UAE pays tribute to toddler son killed in Sharjah freak accident
Sharjah: Just like Alan Kurdi, the Syrian refugee toddler whose body on a Turkish beach in 2015 broke millions of hearts across the world, Alan Rumi's death has left a trail of grief stretching from a Sharjah neighbourhood all the way back to Kerala in south India. He was 22 months old. He had a si»»»
US State Sec. highlights Vietnam, Indonesia Indo-Pacific security partnerships
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of strategic partnerships with Vietnam and Indonesia in supporting security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific, a region Washington prioritizes amid intensifying geopolitical competition with China.Rubio made»»»
Indonesia, US sign bilateral trade deal, announce new strategic partnership
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Indonesia officially signed a bilateral trade agreement with the United States on Friday, titled "Implementing the Agreement Towards a New Golden Era of the US-Indonesia Alliance," during a meeting between Presidents Prabowo Subianto and Donald Trump in Washington.Ind»»»
Trump considers strike on Iran as Tehran says draft nuclear deal coming soon
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering a limited strike on Iran as he sent a major naval buildup to the region with the goal of pressurising Tehran to cut a deal that would curb its nuclear programme. Iran's foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreement with Washingto»»»
Katara International Ramadan Open Classical Chess Championship kicks off
Doha: The Katara International Ramadan Open Classical Chess Championship, organized by the Qatar Chess Association, kicked off Friday and will continue until March 1. Eighty-six players of various age groups are participating. Deputy General Manager of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation Saif Sa»»»
Trump painted rosy picture of Gaza future but on the ground, there's only despair
At the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, President Donald Trump spoke of billions of dollars pledged to rebuild the Gaza Strip and a "new and harmonious" Middle East rising from the ashes of war. Videos aired at the meeting showed a future of gleaming high-rises and new soccer »»»
President Hosts Iftar Dinner Marking Beginning of Ramadan
President Iliana Iotova hosted a traditional iftar dinner in Sofia on Friday marking the onset of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. Addressing the guests at the fast-breaking evening meal, she said that the aspirations of the human heart are the same - both in joy and in worries, regardless of»»»
Diplomacy Is Still the Only Viable Path to Peace in Ukraine, UN Refugee Chief Barham Salih Says
There are many obstacles to a peace deal in Ukraine, but a diplomatic solution remains the only viable option, the newly appointed head of the UN refugee agency said Friday, warning that humanitarian operations are increasingly overstretched because of multiple global crises. Barham Salih, Iraq’s f»»»
Board-of-Peace : Trump says members have pledged $7bn to Gaza relief
Sinan Ciddi, expert on Turkish domestic politics and foreign policy, is our guest.»»»
Venezuela passes amnesty law but excludes opposition leaders
Venezuela's parliament passed amnesty legislation on February 19 by unanimous vote, potentially freeing hundreds of individuals imprisoned for political opposition to the regime of deposed president Nicolas Maduro. But the measure explicitly excludes those accused of promoting foreign military inte»»»
Iran’s Khamenei Faces Gravest Crisis of His Rule as US Strike Force Gathers
Ali Khamenei has crushed unrest and survived foreign pressure before but, with his envoys racing to avert threatened American airstrikes through ongoing talks, Iran's Supreme Leader faces the gravest crisis of his 36-year rule. An embittered population toils under a sanctions-hit economy. Huge prot»»»
US Strikes on Iran Could Target Individual Leaders, Officials Say
US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by President Donald Trump, two US officials told Reuters. The military options are the latest signs that the United Stat»»»
Trump Says Weighing Strike on Iran as Tehran Says Draft Deal Coming Soon
US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran after ordering a major naval buildup in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran to cut a deal to curb its nuclear program. The latest threat came after Iran's foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreeme»»»
US advised Ukrainian anti-corruption agents on busting Zelensky ‘allies’
Washington provided direct input to a Ukrainian anti-graft investigation that rocked Kiev last November, according to a report to the US Congress. Charges against businessman Timur Mindich over an alleged kickback scheme at the state nuclear firm Energoatom triggered a political uproar, forcing a c»»»
Azam dropped for scoring too slowly: Pakistan coach Hesson
Colombo: Batting great Babar Azam was dropped for Pakistan's final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly, said head coach Mike Hesson on Friday. Azam, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Nam»»»
Turkiye ready to send troops to Gaza's ISF: Turkish FM
Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan said Turkiye is ready to send troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). Speaking after attending the Peace Council meeting on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Fidan highlighted discussions on Gaza's reconstruction, »»»
UAE tipping culture is changing fast: Cash tips go fully digital this Ramadan
Dubai: Tipping in the UAE has always been optional, fluid and driven more by courtesy than obligation. But in 2026, long-held customs are colliding with digital payments — transforming how residents and visitors show appreciation. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Offici»»»
Baby otters rescued from under the hood of car in Scotland - UPI.com
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Residents of a Scottish town came together to rescue and care for a pair of baby otters found seeking warmth in the engine compartment of a car. Skelmorlie resident Karen Watson said residents spotted the otter cubs wandering in various locations on Friday before they wound up in t»»»
Watch: Wandering horse rescued from Ohio resident's backyard pool - UPI.com
Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Firefighters and animal rescuers teamed up in Ohio to rescue a horse that wandered away from its pasture and ended up stranded in a neighbor's backyard swimming pool. Melissa Freeman Starkey said on social media that she was alerted Wednesday morning to the fact that there was a ho»»»
Pro-Berri candidate nominates himself for 'District 16'
In a step reflecting a possible new escalation related to the electoral clash, Speaker Nabih Berri has decided to push Abbas Fawaz, the ex-head of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, to nominate himself for the newly-introduced and controversial 16th electoral district in the upcoming parliamentary »»»
PM Gurov, CEC Chair Discuss Preparation for Upcoming Snap Parliamentary Elections
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said at the beginning of his meeting with the leadership of the Central Election Commission (CEC) that his cabinet is determined to conduct a very good process in the upcoming elections. Chair of the Central Election Commission, Kamelia Neykova also spoke, expr»»»
EU calls emergency meeting after Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel supplies to Ukraine amid Druzhba pipeline dispute
The European Commission has convened an extraordinary meeting of its Oil Coordination Group for February 25, following a halt in diesel deliveries from Hungary and Slovakia to Ukraine and threats that they could cut off electricity and gas supplies if repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are not complet»»»
Trump praises Czech Foreign Minister Macinka for attacks on EU and US liberals
US President Donald Trump praised the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs and the leader of the anti-green and Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves party Petr Macinka following Macinka’s participation at a debate at the Munich Security Conference where he provoked clashes with Hillary Clinton and his»»»
EU calls emergency meeting after Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel supplies to Ukraine amid Druzhba pipeline dispute
The European Commission has convened an extraordinary meeting of its Oil Coordination Group for February 25, following a halt in diesel deliveries from Hungary and Slovakia to Ukraine and threats that they could cut off electricity and gas supplies if repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are not complet»»»
Court Terminates Proceedings for Early Release of Evelin "Brendo" Banev
The Sofia City Court has terminated proceedings for the early release of Evelin "Brendo" Banev. The ruling is appealable. According to the judge, the proceedings were initiated by the director of the Central Sofia Prison, who was later suspended, while an authorized representative of the current di»»»
Trump praises Czech Foreign Minister Macinka for attacks on EU and US liberals
US President Donald Trump praised the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs and the leader of the anti-green and Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves party Petr Macinka following Macinka’s participation at a debate at the Munich Security Conference where he provoked clashes with Hillary Clinton and his»»»
EU calls emergency meeting after Hungary and Slovakia halt diesel supplies to Ukraine amid Druzhba pipeline dispute
The European Commission has convened an extraordinary meeting of its Oil Coordination Group for February 25, following a halt in diesel deliveries from Hungary and Slovakia to Ukraine and threats that they could cut off electricity and gas supplies if repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are not complet»»»
New Zealand freestyle skier Ives in hard Olympic crash
Livigno, Italy: New Zealand freestyle skier Finley Melville Ives was stretchered off on Friday after a hard fall during his second qualifying run for the halfpipe event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ives, 19, the current world number one in the event, was treated by medical personnel after »»»
Trump wants Russia and China on ‘Board of Peace’
US President Donald Trump has said he would “love” to see Russia and China join his ‘Board of Peace’, established to guide the stabilization of Gaza following the Israel-Hamas war. Moscow earlier signaled that it was contemplating the idea, while China has declined, citing commitments to the UN. Sp»»»
European Climate Law Allows Policy Flexibility for Member States while Setting Binding Emissions Targets, Expert Says
The European Climate Law does not prescribe specific policies or measures, which allows flexibility for EU Member States and takes into account the regulatory framework for achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, Plamen Peev, an expert in environmental and climate law and poli»»»
Real household income per capita in Tunisia down by about 8% over 2018–2024 period (IACE)
Tunis, Feb 20 (TAP) - In Tunisia over the 2018–2024 period, the erosion of purchasing power, measured by the evolution of real household income per capita, amounted to about 8°C, generating "increased budgetary pressure on households, growing...»»»
Lagarde Dampens ECB Exit Talk, Expects to Finish her Term
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has attempted to calm speculation about her stepping down early that has called into question the central bank's separation from politics, telling the Wall Street Journal she expects to complete her term. Lagarde's status as leader of Europe's most »»»
Deerfields Mall brings the spirit of Ramadan to life with the Ramadan Nights Festival
Abu Dhabi: Deerfields Mall, the capital’s premier community shopping destination, invites families and friends to come together for its much-anticipated Ramadan Nights Festival, taking place from 19 February to 22 March. In collaboration with Jetour - Elite Group Holding LTD, the mall is celebratin»»»
A former UK MP has joined Ukraine’s neo-Nazi Azov brigade
A former Conservative Party member of the British parliament has announced that he has joined Ukraine’s Azov Brigade. The unit was formed in 2014 by far-right activists and football hooligans and was subsequently incorporated into Ukraine’s National Guard. Azov’s first commander was white supremaci»»»
Media Review: February 20
POLITICS All dailies report on the new caretaker government, headed by caretaker PM Andrey Gurov. *** Trud writes that Bulgaria’s 106th government, the 12th caretaker cabinet, is sworn in on February 19, 2026, and that political scientist Milena Stefanova warns its work risks sliding into the elect»»»
Red Star Belgrade beat Lille 1-0 away in first leg of UEFA Europa League play-offs
LILLE - Serbian football champions Red Star Belgrade defeated French side Lille 1-0 away in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 play-offs on Thursday evening. One minute into first-half injury time, Franklin Tebo Uchenna netted the winner from close range after a Nair Tiknizyan corn»»»
Trump 'Board of Peace' opens with money and troops for Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump promised $10 billion and Muslim-majority nations offered funding and troops for Gaza as he inaugurated his "Board of Peace," a new institution whose ultimate mission has drawn questions. Trump brought together allies from around the world -- many authoritarians, with few»»»
Iran warns US bases, assets 'legitimate targets' if it attacks
Iran has warned that U.S. bases, facilities and assets would be "legitimate targets" if the United States follows through on its military threats and attacks. Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, made the remarks in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres an»»»
Trump issues Iran with ultimatum as US ramps up military presence
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran must make a "meaningful deal" in negotiations with Washington in the next 10 days or else "bad things happen", as he deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the region. "It's proven to be over the years not easy to make a»»»
President Iotova Calls for Better Communication after US Military Aircraft Appear at Sofia Airport
Bulgaria’s presidential institution has received formal notification from the Ministry of Defence that US Air Force aircraft currently stationed at Sofia Airport are present to support a planned military exercise, President Iliana Iotova said on Friday. She was speaking in a wide-ranging interview »»»
Lithuanian-led defence tech startup secures €40mn to scale up
Onodrim Industries, a defence technology startup headquartered in Amsterdam and led by Lithuanian executive Aistis Simaitis, has raised €40mn in fresh investment to accelerate its growth, the company said in a press release. »»»