China’s South-to-North Water Transfer Project has delivered 64.73bn cubic metres of water to the country’s arid north over the past year, bringing cumulative transfers to more than 83bn cubic metres since operations began, according to official data released in November 2025. Nearly 118mn people no»»»

China’s South-to-North Water Transfer Project has delivered 64.73bn cubic metres of water to the country’s arid north over the past year, bringing cumulative transfers to more than 83bn cubic metres since operations began, according to official data released in November 2025. Nearly 118mn people no»»»

India’s expanded military budget shows how strategic competition with rivals China and Pakistan is heating up. Over $86.7bn was set aside for defence in the national budget for 2026-27, representing a 15% increase from the previous financial year and a 25% increase from 2024-25. This increased spen»»»

The Japanese government has pushed back against the latest bout of Chinese criticism over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning a potential contingency involving neighbouring Taiwan, Kyodo News has reported. »»»

The Japanese government has pushed back against the latest bout of Chinese criticism over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning a potential contingency involving neighbouring Taiwan, Kyodo News has reported. »»»

The Japanese government has pushed back against the latest bout of Chinese criticism over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning a potential contingency involving neighbouring Taiwan, Kyodo News has reported. »»»

After a more-than-two-week absence from public view that raised concerns about whether he was alive or dead, Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon has reappeared.  The Tajik service of RFE/RL reported that Rahmon»»»

The Japanese government has pushed back against the latest bout of Chinese criticism over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning a potential contingency involving neighbouring Taiwan, Kyodo News has reported. »»»

After a more-than-two-week absence from public view that raised concerns about whether he was alive or dead, Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon has reappeared.  The Tajik service of RFE/RL reported that Rahmon»»»

Jeffrey Epstein counselled senior Saudi officials to abandon the initial public offering (IPO) of state oil giant Saudi Aramco, warning that a listing would expose the Kingdom to sovereign liability and intrusive audits. A»»»

Turkey's Akbank (AKBNK) has sold $600mn of subordinated Additional Tier 1 (AT1) eurobonds (XS3298828966 - US00971YAN04) at a coupon rate and yield-to-investor of 7.95% (priced at 100.00), the lender said on February 13. »»»

Turkey's Akbank (AKBNK) has sold $600mn of subordinated Additional Tier 1 (AT1) eurobonds (XS3298828966 - US00971YAN04) at a coupon rate and yield-to-investor of 7.95% (priced at 100.00), the lender said on February 13. »»»

After a more-than-two-week absence from public view that raised concerns about whether he was alive or dead, Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon has reappeared.  The Tajik service of RFE/RL reported that Rahmon»»»

The fourth annual artificial intelligence (AI) summit kicked off in New Delhi Monday with world leaders and top corporate executives gathering for the first such global event to be held in a developing country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the theme of the summit was “welfare for al»»»

2026 marks the Year of the Horse in China and across East Asia, as people prepare to celebrate the region’s most important holiday. Also known as the Spring Festival, it is a time for family reunions, with officials expecting around 9 billion trips nationwide as people travel home to celebrate.»»»

People in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries across the world welcomed the Year of the Horse on Monday evening. Millions traveled home to celebrate with their families, as the holiday is considered a time of reunion. To mark the occasion, grand parades, light shows, and performan»»»

Humanoid robotics is transforming from science fiction to reality at an unprecedented speed, with China leading the charge. More importantly, these dancing robots, demonstrated in Davos, show something fundamental: the mainland is outpacing the West in humanoid robot deployment while exporting "rob»»»

The world is now burdened by major and complex conflicts across multiple crises and regions. The fundamental question is no longer when a “Third World War” might occur, but rather which of the ongoing international crises could ignite it. Amid all this, the threat of nuclear weapons periodically re»»»

Dubai: Afghanistan’s passport remains the weakest in the world, according to the February 2026 Henley Passport Index, underscoring the severe travel restrictions faced by Afghan citizens. Ranked 101st, Afghanistan continues to sit at the bottom of the global mobility table, with passport holders ab»»»

Australian resources giant BHP reported Tuesday a jump in half-year net profit boosted by demand for copper to meet the world's need for electrical power. BHP says it is the world's largest copper producer after raising output by about 30 percent in the past four years, including from its vast Esco»»»

In a striking display of military might, approximately one-third of the US Navy's actively deployed fleet is now assembled in the Middle East, primed for potential operations against Iran, as per defence analysts. The flotilla includes two aircraft carrier strike groups, 15 destroyers, and an unkno»»»

US military forces intercepted and boarded a tanker that was sanctioned for carrying Venezuelan oil in the Indian Ocean overnight on Sunday, the Pentagon has announced. The US launched a military operation to kidnap Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January, and claims to have seized con»»»

1 of 2 | California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new clean energy agreement with Britain on Monday that will bring $1 billion in investments into his state. File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI | License Photo Feb. 16 (UPI) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an agreement with Britain on Monday»»»

Beijing: Chinese Alibaba Group unveiled Monday its new artificial intelligence model, Qwen 3.5, designed to perform complex tasks autonomously with significant improvements in performance and cost. In a statement, the company said that Qwen 3.5 was designed "for the era of autonomous AI to help dev»»»

Poland’s exports exceeded PLN 1.55 trillion in 2025, but the trade balance remained negative at PLN 26.3 billion, according to the Central Statistical Office. Exports rose 2% year on year, while imports increased 3.9%, meaning Poland bought more goods than it sold abroad. Developed countries accoun»»»

Members of Britain’s royal family are not above the law, the country’s top prosecutor said on Sunday, as police investigate former Prince Andrew over allegations he leaked information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police said last week it was in discussions with the Crown»»»

1 of 2 | British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is greeted by a guard of honor after he arrived for a state visit to China in Beijing, China, on Jan. 28. Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 29, in Beijing. It was the first trip to China by a British prime minister since 2018. Photo b»»»

A material prepared by Alexandru Petrescu, the President of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), together with ASF specialists Marius Acatrinei and Silviu Nistor. Financial supervisory authorities increasingly recognise geopolitical instability as a structural driver of systemic risk. Yet exi»»»

Poland needs to develop its own nuclear weapons program, President Karol Nawrocki has suggested, citing a perceived ‘Russian threat’. NATO’s European members have long cited what they claim to be the specter of Russian aggression to justify their massive military buildup. Moscow has dismissed such »»»

Toamasina, Madagascar: Flooding and fierce winds have pushed Madagascar's death toll from Cyclone Gezani to 59, with more than a dozen people still unaccounted for, the country's disaster agency said on Monday. It is the latest in a string of tropical storms to batter the southern African island in»»»

Dubai: Nasdaq Dubai recorded a milestone year in 2025, with the total value of outstanding Sukuk listings on the exchange surpassing $100 billion, driven by strong issuance activity and sustained global demand for Sharia-compliant debt instruments. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques»»»

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»»»

Flooding and fierce winds have pushed Madagascar's death toll from Cyclone Gezani to 59, with more than a dozen people still unaccounted for, the country's disaster agency said on Monday. It is the latest in a string of tropical storms to batter the southern African island in recent months, undersc»»»

Online sales of South Korean products in overseas markets rose to a record high in 2025, government data showed Monday. In this December photo, foreign tourists shop at an Olive Young outlet in Incheon International Airport. File Photo by Yonhap Online sales of South Korean products in overseas mar»»»

An earthquake measuring approximately 4.5 on the 12-point MSK-64 scale at its epicenter was recorded today at about 1.14 p.m. The Institute of Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan reported. According to preliminary data, the earthquake’s epicenter was located in China: 34 ki»»»

Japan's economy grew slightly during the fourth quarter of 2025. File Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Japan's economy grew ever so slightly during the fourth quarter of 2025, government data showed Monday, narrowly avoiding a second straight quarter of contraction that would have met »»»

Downtown Munich is best-known for chic shops and flashy fast cars but right now its streets are bedecked with posters advertising next generation drones. "Europe's security under construction" boasts the slogan on an eye-catching set of sleek black-and-white photographs, festooned across a scaffold»»»

Russia has repeatedly said that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the resolution of the military conflict and make NATO countries a party to the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for the Russian »»»

Gold prices dropped on Monday, pressured by thin trading volumes as US and China markets remained shut due to local public holidays, while some traders booked profits after last session's 2.5% jump. Spot gold fell 1.1% to $4,986.32 per ounce by 0550 GMT. US gold futures for April delivery lost 0.8%»»»

Oil traded little changed on Monday, with investors weighing the market implications of upcoming US-Iran talks aimed at de-escalating tensions against a backdrop of expected OPEC+ supply increases. Brent crude futures edged up 3 cents to $67.78 a barrel by 0358 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices fell sharply on Monday morning, slipping below the key Dh600 level after holding above it through much of the past week, reflecting global profit-taking and calmer trading conditions in bullion markets. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, O»»»

An explosion and fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China has killed eight people and left two others with minor burns ahead of the Lunar New Year, authorities said. The "improper discharge" of fireworks by one or more villagers caused an explosion at a nearby store in Jiangsu province's Donghai c»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»

The world of K-pop, often celebrated for its ability to bridge disparate cultures through catchy melodies and synchronised choreography, has become the unlikely stage of a fierce digital confrontation. What began as a loc»»»