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»»»
Epstein estate to pay $35 million to settle sex abuse claims
The estate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to pay up to $35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit, according to a court filing from Thursday. The suit accused two of the financier’s advisers of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking of young women and teenage girls. The laws»»»
Poll: 62% oppose ICE's tactics in immigration efforts - UPI.com
Tens of thousands of people march through downtown Minneapolis as they protest the federal government's immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis on Jan. 30. A new poll shows that most Americans believe President Donald Trump has gone too far in his immigration efforts. Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI»»»
Austrian court fines man $11K in climber girlfriend's 2025 death - UPI.com
An Austrian court on Thursday fined a man and suspended his five-month sentence after finding him guilty of negligence in his climber girlfriend's death amid wintry conditions while climbing Grossglockner Mountain in January 2025. Photo by Helmut Fohringer/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- An Austrian man recei»»»
Teen arrested in Thessaloniki over alleged assault and revenge porn
A 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday in Thessaloniki following allegations that he pushed a 17-year-old pregnant girl, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. He was also charged with revenge pornography after a 16-year-old girl accused him of posting a private video of them on social media a »»»
In photos: Historic February moments through the years - All Photos - UPI.com
By Wade SheridanFebruary is a month marked by milestones -- moments of courage, change, celebration and loss. From Nelson Mandela being released from prison in Africa to the World Trade Center bombing, here's a look at historic moments from February that continue to shape the world we know today. F»»»
Peru's interim president continues on trial one day after taking office - UPI.com
Newspaper front pages feature Peru's new interim president Jose Maria Balcazar in Lima on Thursday. Congress elected Balcazar as the new interim president during an extraordinary session. But he is also on trial for financial irregularities. Photo by Paolo Aguilar/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Peru's interi»»»
Syria Export Body hails Canada sanctions relief as recovery boost
Damascus Feb. 20 (SANA) — Canada’s decision to lift major economic sanctions on Syria—announced Wednesday by Foreign Minister Anita Anand, ending a blanket ban imposed since 2011—marks a positive shift that will empower legitimate trade and fuel rebuilding efforts, the Syrian Export and Local Produ»»»
Inmate and prison guard held in pretrial detention over Domokos prison killing
A 38-year-old inmate accused of fatally shooting fellow prisoner Antonis Papadatos at Domokos Prison last Sunday and the prison’s chief guard, charged with complicity, were both ordered held in pretrial detention by a Lamia magistrate and prosecutor. The joint hearings lasted more than 10 hours, wi»»»
Husband kills wife battling cancer after she asked him to find a job and provide for their children
Dubai: An Egyptian man has been arrested for allegedly beating his wife, who was battling cancer, to death after repeated arguments in which she urged him to stop taking drugs and find work to support their five children, authorities said. The incident came to light after police in Alexandria recei»»»
Artemis II completes countdown test, prepares for launch - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Artemis II moon rocket sits on Launch Complex 39B at sunset at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on February 6. On Thursday, the mission had a successful dress rehearsal and is planning to launch as soon as March 6. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The NASA Artemis II seco»»»
Dominican Republic begins 2026 with 1.2M visitors, projects record year - UPI.com
People walk past sargassum clumps on the sand in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in July. File Photo by Orlando Barria/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Dominican Republic opened the year with 1.22 million tourists in January, a 5.5% increase compared with the same month last year. The increase was driven b»»»
Inmate claims self-defense in fatal shooting at Domokos prison
A 38-year-old inmate told a Lamia investigating magistrate Friday that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot fellow prisoner Antonis Papadatos at Domokos Prison, as authorities investigate the killing as a possible contract hit. The suspect spent three hours defending himself against charge»»»
Jeffrey Epstein's estate to settle suit with victims for at least $25 million - UPI.com
1 of 4 | Chair of the House Democratic Women's Caucus Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks during a press conference with advocates and survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including the family of Virginia Giuffre, at the U.S. Capitol on February 10. Two executors of Epstein'»»»
Central Election Commission Allocates Seats to Multi-Member Constituencies for April 19 Parliamentary Elections
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has allocated the seats to the multi-member constituencies for the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026, the Commission said on Friday. The CEC determines the number of seats for each multi-member constituency according to a uniform national rep»»»
French minister pledges tight security at rally for killed activist
French police will be out in force at a weekend rally for a slain far-right activist, the interior minister said Friday, as the country seeks to contain anger over the fatal beating blamed on the hard left.»»»
Argentina sees 22,000 companies close over two years - UPI.com
More than 22,000 companies have closed and more than 300,000 formal jobs have been lost in Argentina over the past two years as a result of a trade liberalization policy that reduced tariffs with the promise of lowering consumer prices, a trade association says. File Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni»»»
Trump says he's considering limited strikes on Iran amid nuclear talks - UPI.com
President Donald Trump speaks during a Governors Working Breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. He told a reporter he's considering limited military strikes on Iran. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said »»»
French interior minister pledges tight security at rally for slain far-right activist
French police will be out in force at a weekend rally for slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque, the interior minister said Friday, as the country seeks to contain anger over the fatal beating blamed on the hard left. His death has fomented tensions ahead of municipal elections next month »»»
Andrew released: probe continues into sharing confidential documents
Bénédicte Paviot, our correspondant in London, has more.»»»
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»»»
New York nurses reach deal with hospital to end strike - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Picketers hold signs outside at the entrance to Mount Sinai Hospital on Jan. 20 in New York City. On Friday, the final group of nurses on strike reached a tentative deal with New York-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital to end the strike. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI»»»
Supreme Court limits Trump’s tariff authority in 6-3 decision - UPI.com
1 of 2 | The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to impose tariffs. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to»»»
Government shutdown slowed quarter 4 gross domestic product growth - UPI.com
The 43-day government shutdown in the fall stymied U.S. gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The 43-day government shutdown in the fall stymied U.S. gross domestic product»»»
Russian planes escorted out of air space near Alaska - UPI.com
NORAD detected and escorted five Russian military planes from airspace near Alaska Thursday. Two of the planes were Russian Su-35s, similar to the one pictured here from September 2024. File Photo via NORAD/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Five Russian planes flew into the Alaskan Air Defense I»»»
Qatar Meteorology warns of hazy to misty and cold weather tonight
Doha, Qatar: Weather inshore, until 6am on Saturday, will be hazy to misty at places later and cold, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report. Offshore, it will be hazy at times, the report added. Wind inshore will be northeasterly to northwesterly at a speed of 5 to 15 knots.»»»
World leaders to present joint approach to AI at India summit close
Dozens of world leaders and ministers are expected Friday to present a joint approach to artificial intelligence, concluding a five-day summit in New Delhi where industry figures urged faster oversight. OpenAI chief Sam Altman warned regulation is “urgent” as booming generative AI fuels profits and»»»
Premium residential development 56 Nordului Herăstrău Park enters North Bucharest Investments’ portfolio
In a market where returns are directly linked to location and product quality, 56 Nordului Herăstrău Park joins the North Bucharest Investments portfolio as a premium residential development built on clear fundamentals: a landmark address, complete infrastructure, and genuine appreciation potential»»»
RFK Jr.'s public health shakeups turning vaccine makers away - UPI.com
Shakeups in the United States’ top health agencies, led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, are making the process of developing vaccines more difficult to navigate as some developers are reevaluating investing in late-stage trials. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Pho»»»
3 indicted for stealing Google, tech companies' trade secrets for Iran - UPI.com
Three people allegedly stole trade secrets from Google and two other companies and sent them to Iran. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Three Silicon Valley engineers have been indicted on federal charges of stealing trade secrets from Google and two other companies »»»
French soldier dies after being shot in head during 'game' with other soldiers
A French soldier has died after he was shot in the head while taking part in a game with other soldiers during a party, according to local media. Brigadier Alexandre Lanckbeen was critically injured during the incident last Saturday while attending a party involving alcohol at the Percy Military Te»»»
Founder of ASOS online retail empire killed in fall from Thai hotel - UPI.com
Thai police said Friday that Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of British online retail giant ASOS, was killed in a fall from a luxury hotel where he a long-term resident. Police in the city of Pattaya have ruled out foul play. File photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Police in Thailand said »»»
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»»»
US C-130 Hercules Lands in Bulgaria as American Military Aircraft Gather at Sofia Airport
A U.S. C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft arrived in Sofia from the NATO air base in Ramstein, according to information published by “BulFoto.” The C-130 is a four-engine turboprop aircraft widely used in NATO transport and tactical operations around the world. Produced by Lockheed Martin, »»»
Digital Euro Seen as Complementary Form of Money, Not a Replacement
The digital euro should be understood as an additional form of money rather than a replacement for existing payment methods, according to Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Atanas Kamelarov from the University of Economics in Varna. He noted that even if the digital euro is introduced, most people are »»»
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 »»»
UAE traffic: Friday evening gridlock builds across Dubai and Sharjah ahead of iftar
Friday evening traffic is intensifying across the UAE, with major roads in Dubai and Sharjah reporting slow-moving queues as motorists head home before Iftar at around 6:19pm. Also Read: Dubai's RTA issues Ramadan driving alert for taxi and delivery driversThe hour leading up to sunset is typically»»»
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»»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
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»»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Central Europe's new convergence challenge
Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»
Russian IPOs could tip over $1bn in 2026
Up to 20 Russian companies may carry out IPOs in 2026 with total proceeds of RUB50bn-100bn ($550mn-1.1bn), a five-fold increase in deal count as compared to 2025, according to RBC business portal citing a forecast by Expert RA agency. »»»
Nationalisation hits 10% of Russian billionaires
Thirty of 311 Russian billionaires on the Forbes list, or 9%, faced nationalisation, attempted nationalisation or forced asset sales on non-market terms between 2014 and 2025, according to The Bell, citing research by the Cedar analytical centre. »»»