Leftist lawmaker Jose Maria Balcazar becomes Peru’s interim president - UPI.com
Peru's new interim president, Jose Maria Balcazar, speaks at a press conference in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday. Peru's political crisis led to the ouster of its eighth president in nearly a decade. It took a surprising new turn with the appointment of octogenarian congressman Balcazar as interim presi»»»
Russia, China and Iran hold joint naval drills
Russia, China and Iran will conduct joint naval exercises as part of growing military cooperation aimed at reshaping the global balance of power at sea, Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev has said. Warships from the three countries have been dispatched for maneuvers in the waters off Iran,»»»
Thrifting in Dubai: Your guide to hidden vintage gems
Dubai: I started thrifting five years ago and I haven’t looked back. It's not just cheap, but makes me feel like I am saving the planet, one Jean Paul Gautier top (yes, I got one in a bin) at a time. Let's also not forget that the fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters, from texti»»»
China boosts marine protection in bid to lead global ocean governance - UPI.com
A Chinese fisherman prepares to move his fishing nets onto his boat and go to sea in the East China Sea in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, southeast China. File Photo by Wu hong/EPA Feb. 19 (UPI) -- For decades, China's maritime identity has been defined by scale: It produces and consumes the most sea»»»
US official confident China shook Kazakhstan with underground nuclear weapons test
China almost certainly shook neighbouring Kazakhstan with an underground nuclear weapons test, according to a senior American official. Seismic activity detected in Kazakhstan on June 22, 2020 appeared to stem from such a »»»
US official confident China shook Kazakhstan with underground nuclear weapons test
China almost certainly shook neighbouring Kazakhstan with an underground nuclear weapons test, according to a senior American official. Seismic activity detected in Kazakhstan on June 22, 2020 appeared to stem from such a »»»
From Thailand to Qatar: Mrabbosi’s cross-continental bicycle adventure
Doha, Qatar: Social media funnyman and traveller Abbas Alnabawi was not aware how much a trip from Thailand to Qatar by bicycle would demand from him, both physically and mentally. Alnabawi –better known online as Mrabbosi— is in the business of laughter, where he excels in making a static, pixilat»»»
Iran, US lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance
Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday as nuclear talks between the nations hung in the balance, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast. The Iranian drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford a»»»
'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits
As the toy industry gathered in New York City recently for its marquee annual convention, the head of one small company stood out from the crowd, greeted by fellow business owners like a minor celebrity. Rick Woldenberg, the chief executive of Learning Resources, helped make headlines last year, wh»»»
An Arab vision for regional security
The Middle East is used to conflict, but the current moment is fundamentally different. Wars overlap, alliances are in flux, and long-standing assumptions about external protection and the regional order are eroding. For the Arab world, this is not simply another phase of instability; it is a strat»»»
Trump to Preside over First Meeting of Board of Peace with Many Gaza Questions Unresolved
US President Donald Trump will preside over the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday with unresolved questions on the future of Gaza hanging over an event expected to include representatives from more than 45 nations. The disarmament of Hamas militants, the size of the reconstruction fun»»»
Gold rises above Dh600, UAE shoppers face fresh pressure
Dubai: Dubai gold prices moved back above the Dh600 mark on Thursday morning, keeping the local market on edge after weeks of sharp swings that have tested buyer sentiment across jewellery stores. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, an»»»
Five children among victims of fireworks shop explosion
Beijing: Five children were among the 12 people killed in an explosion at a general store selling fireworks in China during the Lunar New Year holiday, state media said Thursday. Setting off fireworks and crackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year. The»»»
Rumors of Kim China trip swirl in quiet border town - UPI.com
North Korea’s Namyang in Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, is seen across the Tumen River from Tumen in China’s Jilin province. Photo by Asia Today Feb. 18 (Asia Today) -- Residents along the China-North Korea border in Tumen say talk is spreading that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could vi»»»
Jeenbek Kulubaev outlines Kyrgyzstan’s position on EU secondary sanctions - | 24.KG
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev met with a delegation of the European Parliament, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. According to the ministry, the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, interparliamentary dialogue, and the regional agenda. »»»
First freight train launched on China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Tajikistan route - | 24.KG
The first container train running along China—Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan—Tajikistan route has departed from Lanzhou Station in China heading toward Dushanbe-2 Station in Tajikistan, Podrobno.uz reports. The train will travel more than 3,500 kilometers in 18–20 days, becoming a new link in the regional t»»»
Palestine and the cost of Arab division
The Middle East is used to conflict, but the current moment is fundamentally different. Wars overlap, alliances are in flux, and long-standing assumptions about external protection and the regional order are eroding. For the Arab world, this is not simply another phase of instability; it is a strat»»»
Russian, Chinese, Iran warships conduct 'surprise' Hormuz Strait exercises, amid massive US military Mideast buildup
Russia, China and Iran have deployed naval vessels for joint exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz region under the “Maritime Security Belt 2026” framework, Russian and Iranian state media reported. Global Surveillance, a geopolitics think-tank, described the move as a “surprise”. The Moscow »»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Peru ousts interim president Jeri amid corruption probe weeks before elections
Peru’s Congress on Tuesday voted to remove the interim President Jose Jeri over corruption allegations, deepening political uncertainty just weeks before the nation’s April presidential and congressional elections. Jeri is under preliminary investigation for alleged influence peddling tied to a ser»»»
'A very MAGA agenda': Is Trump’s Board of Peace meant to replace the United Nations?
On the eve of the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" initiative in Washington, FRANCE 24 spoke to historian and UN expert Alanna O’Malley about how the body reflects the MAGA movement's agenda seeking to further institutionalise US power at a global scale. Dozens of w»»»
India AI summit aims to shift focus from model races to scaled reality
Agencies New Delhi One of the world’s most high-profile gatherings on artificial intelligence (AI) has opened in India, with analysts saying it could shift the focus from the race to build ever more powerful models to the challenge of deploying them at scale. As policymakers and tech executives con»»»
Kevin Hassett on New York Federal Reserve research: 'The worst paper I've ever seen' - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, speaks outside the White House in December. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Feb. 18 (UPI) -- White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Wednesday said that employees at the New York Federal Reserve should face punis»»»
US ramps up nuclear claims against China
China carried out an underground “nuclear explosive test” in June 2020, a senior US State Department official has claimed, citing “fresh intelligence” on the matter. Beijing has repeatedly dismissed such allegations as “entirely unfounded,” while independent observers say the evidence is inconclusi»»»
AI overlords of the world hacked: Fallout from the massive Palantir breach
Palantir Technologies has been hacked, according to well-known blogger Kim Dotcom. The company develops software for intelligence and big data analysis. Palantir (named after the magical ‘seeing stones’ from ‘The Lord of the Rings’) doesn’t engage in surveillance in the conventional sense using spi»»»
Chile’s cherry industry faces challenging outlook - UPI.com
Some fruit industry analysts say the boom in Chilean cherries may have peaked and that weaker demand in China, the main export market for the fruit, could force producers to rethink supply levels. File Photo by Benjamin Hernandez/EPA SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Chile's cherry industry faces a»»»
Iran ‘Drafting Framework to Advance’ Future US Talks, Says FM
Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was "drafting" a framework for future talks with the United States, as the US energy secretary said Washington would stop Iran's nuclear ambitions "one way or another". Diplomatic efforts are underway to avert the possibility of US mi»»»
India AI summit: Brazil's Lula lands, US giants tout plans
TechnologyIndiaIndia AI summit: Brazil's Lula lands, US giants tout plansMark Hallam with AFP, AP, ReutersBrazil's President Lula da Silva has arrived in New Delhi, joining Emmanuel Macron, Pedro Sanchez and other leaders. Meanwhile, Google and Nvidia touted their Indian expansion plans at the AI I»»»
What to know about Hormuz Strait, which Iran temporarily closed for military drill
Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The move came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil passes. The move is a rare, perhaps unprecedented shutdow»»»
Japan's exports surge 17% in January, on strong shipments to China, Asian markets
Japan's exports surged nearly 17% in January from a year earlier, lifted by seasonal factors and strong demand in China and other Asian markets. Imports slipped 2.5% from the same month a year earlier to 10.3 trillion yen ($67 billion), while exports climbed 16.8% to 9.19 trillion yen ($59.8 billio»»»
Indonesia tightens control on nickel as US and China scramble for critical minerals
Indonesia is tightening state control over the world's largest nickel supply after years of betting the metal would anchor a homegrown electric-vehicle industry, and just as global demand begins shifting away from heavy reliance on nickel. The move could still ripple through global EV supply chains»»»
Fireworks Shop Explosion Kills 12 in China
An explosion at a fireworks shop in central China killed 12 people on Wednesday, the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year, which fell on »»»
dozens of UN member states condemn Israeli west bank measures
The U.N. missions for 85 member states issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning Israel's encroaching control of the West Bank, which critics say amounts to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. "We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's»»»
Neither Russia, Nor China Conducted Alleged Nuclear Tests in 2020 - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Neither Russia, nor China allegedly conducted any nuclear tests in 2020, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Last week, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said that Washington has evidence that China allegedly con»»»
85 UN Member States Condemn Israeli Expansion in West Bank
Eighty-five countries have signed on to a Palestinian-led joint statement condemning the recent Israeli security cabinet decisions aimed at tightening the occupation’s control of the West Bank. “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful prese»»»
Poland Bars Chinese-Made Cars from Military Sites Over Data Security Fears
Poland has barred Chinese-made vehicles from entering military facilities due to concerns their onboard sensors could be used to collect sensitive data, the Polish Army said on Tuesday evening. The army said in a statement that such vehicles may still be allowed onto secured sites if specified»»»
Kyrgyzstan to spend $60 million to improve air quality - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan announced measures to improve air quality, develop climate policy, and implement waste management systems. According to the ministry, as part of efforts to improve air quality, Cabinet of Ministers’ Decree No. 221 a»»»
China shock: Will Merz take on Germany's top rival?
TradeGermanyChina shock: Will Merz take on Germany's top rival?Nik MartinChancellor Friedrich Merz is scrambling to defend German industry from the economic upheaval caused by intense rivalry from China. Momentum is building for fresh trade barriers to stop unfair trade practices. https://p.dw.com/»»»