Gulf News 27m

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»»»

gulfnews.com
The Peninsula 1h

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»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
UPI 1h

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»»»

upi.com
24 News Agency 2h

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. »»»

24.kg
24 News Agency 2h

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»»»

24.kg
Al Majalla 2h

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»»»

en.majalla.com
Gulf News 4h

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 »»»

gulfnews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 4h

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»»»

intellinews.com
France24 5h

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»»»

france24.com
France24 5h

'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»»»

france24.com
Qatar Tribune 8h

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
UPI 9h

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»»»

upi.com
RT 10h

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»»»

rt.com
RT 11h

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»»»

rt.com
UPI 12h

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»»»

upi.com
Al Awsat 12h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
DW 16h

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»»»

dw.com
Naharnet 17h

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»»»

Naharnet 17h

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»»»

Naharnet 17h

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»»»

Al Awsat 20h

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 »»»

english.aawsat.com
Naharnet 20h

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»»»

Sputnik 21h

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»»»

sputniknews.com
Al Manar 21h

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»»»

english.almanar.com.lb
Al Awsat 21h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
24 News Agency 21h

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»»»

24.kg
DW 21h

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/»»»

dw.com
BNE 21h

Turkish industry dying on its feet, warns business association head

Turkey could “lose its industry” unless structural problems, high borrowing costs and persistent inflation are tackled. That’s the warning from Burhan Ozdemir, head of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Assoc»»»

intellinews.com
BNE 21h

Turkish industry dying on its feet, warns business association head

Turkey could “lose its industry” unless structural problems, high borrowing costs and persistent inflation are tackled. That’s the warning from Burhan Ozdemir, head of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Assoc»»»

intellinews.com
Gulf News 21h

How Filipinos can thrive amid Marcos-Duterte split

Manila: At a raucous 2022 campaign rally, the two most formidable names in Philippine politics stood side by side, sealing an alliance that seemed unstoppable. Before a sea of roaring supporters, then–vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte turned to her running mate, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and dec»»»

gulfnews.com
RT 23h

EU in worst crisis ever – Fico

The EU is facing the deepest crisis in its history, with economic problems compounded by a lack of leadership and long-term vision in Brussels, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned. Fico made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at a conference on affordable rental housing in country’s cap»»»

rt.com
Sputnik 23h

China-US Desire for Cooperation Unshaken by Circumstances - Xi

BEIJING (Sputnik) - China and the United States' commitment to exchanges and cooperation will endure no matter the shifting circumstances, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message to friends from the US state of Iowa. Earlier in the day, China Central Television reported that Xi sent congratu»»»

sputniknews.com
Al Awsat 23h

Japan PM Takaichi Reappointed Following Election

Japan's lower house formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as prime minister on Wednesday, 10 days after her historic landslide election victory. Takaichi, 64, became Japan's first woman premier in October and won a two-thirds majority for her party in the snap lower house elections on February 8. She»»»

english.aawsat.com
Gulf News 1d

eVTOL aircraft, aka air taxis, face delays in the US: Here's why

Commercial "air taxi" service has been pushed back. Again. Reason: It's not because the technology doesn't work or is unproven. It's because US certification timeline for the next-generation electric vertical-landing-and-takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft — a new mode for human flight — poses complex challen»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 18.02. 01:39

Rubio extends Losar wishes, names envoy​

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday extended greetings to Tibetans worldwide on the occasion of Losar and announced the designation of a senior official as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.​ “I extend my warmest wishes to all those celebrating Losar, the»»»

gulfnews.com
France24 17.02. 21:47

From Lunar New Year prayers to high-tech displays, millions usher in the Year of the Horse

Fireworks lit the skies and incense smoke filled the air as millions rang in the Lunar New Year on Tuesday. From bustling temple fairs in Beijing to a high-tech Spring Festival gala, the Year of the Horse began in a swirl of prayer, pageantry and cutting-edge spectacle. Traditional prayers, firewor»»»

france24.com
DW 17.02. 20:51

Shein faces EU investigation over products, design features

BusinessEuropeShein faces EU investigation over products, design featuresMark Hallam with AP, dpaEU regulators are investigating Shein on suspicion that it has not done enough to limit the sale of illegal products and to protect consumers from allegedly addictive design features on the platform. ht»»»

dw.com
RT 17.02. 20:41

The Munich Security Conference 2026: Much hype, little substance, no hope

What a relief, it’s over. This year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) has ended. In reality, the meeting has never had much to do with increasing anyone’s security. Otherwise, its Western participants would, for instance, not have laughed at the warning Russian President Vladimir Putin issued ther»»»

rt.com