Europe faces mounting pressure from US tariffs, rising Chinese imports
Capitals, Feb. 13 (SANA) The eurozone is facing with growing economic strains as U.S. tariffs cut exports to America and surging Chinese imports intensify competition for local producers. Eurostat figures released Friday showed EU exports to the United States dropped 12.6% year-on-year, shrinking t»»»
Hans Zimmer to perform live in Doha
Doha, Qatar: Hans Zimmer, the musical mastermind behind so many critically acclaimed movie soundtracks, will perform live in Doha for one night only. Scheduled for April 10, the two time Academy Award recipient will perform at Doha’s 974 Stadium Precinct. Zimmer is widely-known for being the conduc»»»
Progress in public administration digitisation projects at heart of Cabinet meeting
Tunis, Feb. 13 (TAP) - A Cabinet meeting was held on Friday, chaired by Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, to review progress in the implementation of projects related to the digital transformation of public administration.The Prime Minister...»»»
Rama Calls for Overhaul of Inspectorate as Former Opposition Lawmaker Dashnor Sula Pledges Integrity
PM, Edi Rama on Friday outlined sweeping concerns over the performance of Albania’s Office of the General Inspector, calling for a more efficient, merit-based and fully digitalized system, as newly appointed Chief Inspector Dashnor Sula pledged to carry out his duties “with integrity.” Speaking at »»»
Russia–China trade dips to $228bn in 2025 after years of growth
Trade between Russia and China dipped in 2025 after years of rapid growth, falling to $228bn, according to official data. The total remained above the target of $200bn, set by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese P»»»
Brazil gives X five days to stop Grok from producing sexual content - UPI.com
Brazilian authorities have ordered that Elon Musk's platform, X, must implement measures to prevent its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, from generating sexualized content involving minors and involving adults without consent. File Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Brazilian authorities»»»
Trump administration sues Harvard over data on race in admissions
The Trump administration is suing Harvard University for alleged failures to comply with a US Department of Justice civil rights investigation. The lawsuit accuses Harvard of not disclosing data needed to determine whether it had illegally considered race in its admissions process. "Providing reque»»»
Prime Minister’s Office Secretary General Engjëll Agaçi Leaves Post, Successor Named
Engjëll Agaçi, the Secretary General of Albania’s Prime Minister’s Office, has left his position, according to sources cited by the local media in Albania. The development was communicated during an informal government meeting held on Friday. It remains unclear whether Agaçi was dismissed or resign»»»
Russia claims arms exports rebound to $15bn in 2025
Russia arms exports rebounded to pre-war levels of more than $15bn in 2025, supplying military equipment to over 30 countries despite sweeping Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin said. Speaking at a meeting of the »»»
Hamas Bid to Join Gaza Administration Faces Rejection
Hamas has repeatedly declared its readiness to hand over authority to the Gaza Administration Committee immediately. However, the transfer has yet to materialize, with Israel still barring the body from entering the enclave. A Palestinian source close to the committee told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hama»»»
From Montevideo to the World: World Cup Legacy
KUWAIT, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Since its inaugural edition on the shores of Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930, the FIFA World Cup has evolved from a football tourname into a global phenomenon embodying nations' ambitions, legendary moments and even political intersections. The roots of the competition date ba»»»
Intense fog sweeps across UAE, slashing visibility on major highways
Dubai: Fog began forming across parts of the UAE late night on Friday, reducing horizontal visibility on several roads, including stretches of the Abu Dhabi–Dubai highway, as motorists were urged to exercise caution. The National Center of Meteorology warned of continued chances of fog and mist in »»»
Leaders of France, Brazil to attend India-AI Impact Summit next week
NEW DELHI, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among global leaders sheduled to attend India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from 16-20 February.A statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that »»»
Boy, 13, arrested with adult over string of robberies in Patra
A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in the southern city of Patra on suspicion of helping an adult man mount a series of robberies on pedestrians, police said Friday. A police announcement said both suspects face charges on multiple counts of robbery, attempted robbery, grievous bodily harm and the»»»
Dubai Civil Defence contains Ras Al Khor warehouse fire within one hour
Dubai: Dubai Civil Defence teams contained a warehouse fire in the Ras Al Khor industrial area within an hour on Friday, authorities told Gulf News. Firefighters, supported by robotic firefighting equipment, arrived at the scene within minutes after receiving the alert and swiftly brought the blaze»»»
UAE enforces stricter school attendance rules to curb pre-holiday absences
Abu Dhabi: On Fridays and in the final days before school breaks, classrooms across the country have often grown noticeably quieter. The Ministry of Education now wants to change that. Minister of Education Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri confirmed that nine measures are being enforced to tackle student»»»
Electro-Alfa International attracts EBRD and NN Pensii as shareholders
Launched on February 2, the offering was closed early on February 6 due to high demand from investors, both in the retail tranche, where oversubscription was over 5800%, and in the institutional investor tranche. Following the IPO, renowned investors such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and»»»
President Iotova Reaffirms Bulgaria’s Stance on North Macedonia’s EU Accession at Meeting with EC President Costa
Meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said that there would be no progress in European Union accession talks with North Macedonia until Bulgarians are included in the country’s constituti»»»
Partial US government shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say
Major travel groups and airlines are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal on government funding ahead of a partial shutdown, arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break. In a joint statement, several groups, including Airlines for America, said no deal increases the risk of unschedule»»»
Lebanon Moves to Curb Illegal Weapons Sources
Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) said on Friday they carried out a raid as part of efforts to combat the illicit trade in military-grade weapons, targeting the Chiyah area in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The operation led to the arrest of several individuals and the seizure of a quantity of w»»»
Trump Says Zelensky Has to Get Moving, Russia Wants to Make a Deal
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Volodymyr Zelensky should hurry up because Russia is willing to make a deal, otherwise, an opportunity will be missed. "Zelensky is going to have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal. And so let's get moving. Otherwise, he's»»»
Nordic nations to dispatch warplanes for Greenland drills
Sweden and Denmark will send a group of warplanes to take part in a NATO exercise centering on Greenland and the Arctic, officials in both countries have announced. The move comes as US President Donald Trump presses the EU on handing over control of the island to Washington, citing national securi»»»
UK Palestine Action ban unlawful – court
The UK High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to ban the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful. The ruling, delivered on Friday, found the proscription of the group “disproportionate” and in breach of rights to freedom of expression and assembly, and »»»
World's rules-based order 'no longer exists', Germany's Merz warns
The rules-based world order "no longer exists", the German Chancellor has warned at a major security summit. Opening the annual Munich Security Conference, Friedrich Merz told other world leaders that "our freedom is not guaranteed" in an era of big power politics, and that Europeans must be ready »»»
Ring ends partnership with Flock Safety amid surveillance concerns - UPI.com
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Amazon-owned Ring announced it is ending its partnership with Flock Safety, a company whose artificial intelligence-powered technology came into question after a Ring Super Bowl ad touting new surveillance features. In a blog post published Thursday, Ring said the two companies "ma»»»
UAE’s Lulu Retail hits record $7.9b revenue in 2025, to open 50 GCC stores
Lulu Retail Holdings, the largest pan-GCC full-line retailer, posted record revenue of $7.9 billion (Dh29 billion) for 2025, up 4.1 per cent year-on-year, driven by store expansion and strong e-commerce growth. Net profit reached $205 million (Dh753 million), slightly exceeding guidance from last y»»»
Vucic: Still no answer to question about Pristina-Tirana-Zagreb military alliance
MUNICH - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he was very satisfied with meetings he had had on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier in the day, but noted that he was still waiting for an answer to his question about the purpose of a military alliance of Pristina, Ti»»»
Who is on helmet that led to Ukrainian athlete's ban from Winter Olympics?
Ukrainian slider Vladislav Heraskevych's disqualification from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed since Russia's full-scale invasion is the Games' biggest controversy so far. Heraskevych was barred from the men's skeleton in Milan-Cortina earlier this week after he»»»
Chilean table grape supply to U.S. expected to drop - UPI.com
Chile’s table grape industry expects a lower supply to the United States during the peak export month, projecting a 10% decline compared with 2025 as producers continue a shift toward newer varieties and adjust shipments amid market oversupply.File Photo by Sebastian Silva/EPA SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb.»»»
US consumer price index inflation increased in Jan. -- report
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- The US Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.Over the last 12 months, all the items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.T»»»
Lebanon Detains 41 Since War on Suspicion of Collaborating with Israel
Lebanon’s State Security agency has arrested a Syrian national suspected of communicating with Israelis for commercial purposes, just two days after entering the country and traveling between the southern cities of Sidon and Bint Jbeil. The arrest raises the number of people detained in Lebanon on »»»
‘Felt like a festival’: Bangladesh elects the new government in high-stakes polling
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies secured a commanding majority in the landmark national elections in the South Asian nation, 18 months after the former leader Sheikh Hasina was forced out of office. BNP, a staunch rival of Hasina’s Awami League party which was barred from the F»»»
Two Britons among three dead in French Alps avalanche
Two British people and one French person have died in an avalanche in the French Alps on Friday. The Britons were part of a group of five people accompanied by an instructor, off-piste skiing in Val d'Isère, a spokesperson for the resort told the BBC. The French national was skiing alone, according»»»
UN report: RSF violations during capture of El Fasher amount to war crimes
GENEVA, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have committed widespread atrocities that amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during its final offensive to capture the besieged city of El Fasher in Sudan last October, said a recent UN Human Rights Office report rel»»»
Kuwaiti, Omani FMs discuss developing ties
MUNICH, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah met with Omani peer Badr Al Busaidi on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference on Friday.The meeting reviewed historic and fraternal relations between the two countries and their nations»»»
Syrian delegation reviews advanced industrial and agricultural complexes in Uzbekistan
Tashkent, Feb. 13 (SANA) – A Syrian economic delegation, headed by Chairman of the Syrian Chambers of Commerce Alaa al-Ali and Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad Yassin Houria, visited Bukhara, Uzbekistan, on Friday to review the operations of the “Mirgantex” cotton and textile comple»»»
Egypt Rallies Support on Gaza Before ‘Board of Peace’ Meeting
Egypt intensified contacts with Arab and Islamic countries to align positions on Gaza ahead of a planned Board of Peace meeting, pressing for the “full and non-selective implementation” of US President Donald Trump’s plan. In a phone call on Friday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jord»»»
Eurovision Song Contest live tour 2026 postponed
The inaugural Eurovision Song Contest live tour has been "postponed", European Broadcasting Union (EBU) officials have confirmed. Announced last month, it had been due to visit 10 countries across Europe this summer, kicking off at London's O2 Arena on 15 June. Martin Green, director of the famous »»»
Former PM Saad Hariri is in Lebanon to mark 21st anniversary of his father’s assassination – Ya Libnan
Share: Former PM Saad Hariri arrived in Beirut to mark the 21th anniversary of the assassination of his father, former PM Rafic Hariri Hariri arrived Thursday in Lebanon and will on Saturday deliver a speech marking the 21st anniversary of the assassination of his father on Valentine’s Day On Janua»»»
Argentina's easing restrictions drives surge in imports - UPI.com
The increase in foreign product purchases in Argentina coincided with the expansion of global online retail platforms, including Amazon, Shein and Temu among Argentine consumers. File Photo by Friedemann Vogel/EPA BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Argentina's easing of import restrictions led to a rec»»»
Pride flag raised at Stonewall in defiance of federal removal - UPI.com
1 of 6 | Supporters watch as local politicians and others raise a Pride flag on Thursday at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had the National Park Service remove it earlier in the week. The monument recognizes The Stonewall Inn as a legendary Manhattan gay bar that was»»»
Over 1.19 million benefit from Dubai RTA’s 50 community initiatives
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said more than 1.19 million people benefited from 50 community initiatives carried out in 2025, underlining its ongoing efforts to support different segments of society. The programmes included 19 joint government campaigns, along with targeted initiative»»»
'I'll rip your head off': Gang's grip over gold mines sows terror in Peru's La Pampa
Peru's Guardianes de la Trocha gang has taken over La Pampa, a gold-rich area running alongside the Tambopata National Reserve, one of the most biodiverse regions on the continent. Forbidden Stories and its partner Mongabay Latam reveal how this criminal organisation spreads terror, silencing any o»»»
US Military Completes Transfer of 5,700 ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq
The US military has completed the transfer of thousands of ISIS group detainees from Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to stand trial in the future, the US Central Command said Friday. CENTCOM said that the transfer that began on Jan. 21 saw US forces transporting more than 5,700 adult male IS»»»
UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Says Iran Inspection Accord ‘Terribly Difficult’
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi said Friday that reaching an accord with Iran on inspections of its processing facilities was possible but "terribly difficult". The International Atomic Energy Agency director general told the Munich Security Conference that inspectors had returned»»»
EU, Australia announce progress in FTA negotiations
BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Trade negotiators from the European Union and Australia announced on Friday that "good progress" has been made in the ongoing talks in Brussels, as part of efforts to conclude a long-awaited free trade agreement between the two sides.This came in a joint statement followi»»»
Observatory alert: Experts warn against Ramadan crescent sighting on February 17
Dubai: The International Astronomical Center has issued a detailed statement ahead of the expected sighting of the Ramadan crescent for 1447 AH, stating that on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, the moon will not meet the conditions required for visibility across the Arabian Peninsula. The centre warned o»»»
Continue the Change Hosts Expert Discussion on Bulgarian Judicial System
There is a collapse across the judicial system, Continue the Change Chair Assen Vassilev said here on Friday at the opening of the a public discussion on "A Just Bulgaria". The event was part of a series of debates mottoed "A Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe," initiated by the opposition politica»»»
Court Temporarily Suspends Part of Changes in Sofia's Parking Rules
The Sofia City Administrative Court on Friday suspended parts of Sofia’s parking rules, according to a ruling posted on the court's website. The court acted on an appeal filed by lawyer Maya Manolova, who leads the Rise Up Bulgaria party. The ruling is appealable within seven days to the Supreme Ad»»»