Defendant Lawrence Lau Wai-chung (C) arrives to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, February 23, 2026. The court rules today on the appeals of 12 activists and politicians convicted under the national security law for participating in a 2020 primary election. Also, L»»»

The UAE federal government has announced that all public sector entities will observe a holiday for Eid Al Fitr from Wednesday, March19, to Saturday, March 22. For private sector employees, the Eid Al Fitr holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21 2026. Authorities added that »»»

Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria recorded steady growth in 2025, increasing by 14.2 percent compared with the previous year and reaching a total of 3.261 billion euros, according to preliminary data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). This represents an increase of 405 million euros over 2»»»

The US Customs and Border Protection agency said it will halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday, more than three days after the Supreme Court declared the duties illegal. The agency said in a message to shipp»»»

Ahmedabad, India: Defending T20 World Cup champions India need "two big performances" to reach the semi-finals after Sunday's huge defeat to South Africa, said their assistant coach. India came into the T20 World Cup as hot favourites on home soil but were thrashed by 76 runs in the Super Eights as»»»

Five formations are certain to enter the next National Assembly, while two others retain a realistic chance of representation, according to a survey, presented by Trend poll agency. The agency estimates that 3.1 million voters will go to the polls on April 19. The survey, commissioned by 24 Chasa, »»»

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a comprehensive digital guide translated into 16 languages to assist international pilgrims and visitors performing Umrah. The initiative aims to streamline the pilgrimage process by providing worshippers with essential procedural and religious i»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has warned that collecting donations for unlicensed entities could result in imprisonment and fines of up to Dh500,000, as authorities stepped up efforts to combat fraudulent fundraising campaigns. In awareness guidance issued to the public, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department stre»»»

Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone marks a defining moment for the country’s real estate sector. The adoption of the euro is no longer an expectation but a reality, and its impact is already visible across residential and investment markets. Greater transparency, improved confidence, and deeper int»»»

Gold climbed to a three-week high on Monday as uncertainty stoked by the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down a vast swathe of President Donald Trump's tariffs pressured the dollar and pushed investors to the safety of bullion. Spot gold climbed 1.1% to $5,158.29 per ounce by 0558 GMT, having»»»

Doha, Qatar: Lusail International Circuit (LIC) hosted the final round of the 2026 F4 Middle East and Formula Regional Middle East championships earlier this month. The 5.419 km circuit welcomed an international field as both titles were decided at the conclusion of the winter season. The F4 Middle»»»

Doha, Qatar: A panel of experts discussed the legal and ethical implications arising from harm caused to patients by the use of AI in healthcare in the latest installment of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Intersection of Law & Medicine series. Expert speakers at the day-long symposium explo»»»

Doha, Qatar: As part of strategic roadmap to expand international footprint and solidify Qatar’s status as a global hub for the Halal industry, Dar Al Sharq Group, represented by Al Sharq Media Management, recently participated in the Makkah Halal Forum. This engagement serves as a key milestone in»»»

Doha, Qatar: A lecture delivered by Omar Suleiman and organised by the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Cultural Center, was attended by 1,950 English-speaking participants from various nationalities. Titled “How to Elevate Your Worship in Ramadan?,”the lecture was part of the center’s preparatio»»»

Syria’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday that a Syrian army soldier and a ‌civilian were killed a day earlier by “unknown assailants” in the northern city of Raqqa. ISIS claimed ‌responsibility for two attacks targeting Syrian army personnel in northern and eastern Syria. The militant group said on »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation’s Ability Friendly Programme began in 2018 with just 21 swimmers and nine footballers, offering a safe, supportive environment where children and adults with special needs could build skills and confidence. Today, it welcomes over 300 participants each week across swim»»»

Doha, Qatar: Saida, owned by Time Form Syndicate and trained by Hamad Al Jehani, delivered a dramatic late surge in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap 50-70 over 1400m for horses aged three and above, to clinch the Al Waab Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse on the turf on Saturday night. The five-year-old ma»»»

On February 26, drinking water supply of residential buildings, schools, preschools, healthcare, and other social and industrial facilities in the capital’s residential areas will be stopped from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to the Bishkek City Hall’s press service, the outage will affect Ak-Zhar, Ak»»»

Doha, Qatar: When Waad Al-Maadeed graduated from university last year, she wasn’t just top of her class at Georgetown University in Qatar, her academic career earned her the top honour for all of Qatar. At last week’s Qatar Educational Excellence Award ceremony, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al T»»»

Doha, Qatar: The excitement continued in the third edition of the Al Thumama Ramadan Tournament, held at Al Furjan Stadium in the Al Thumama area in cooperation with the Qatar Sports for All Federation for the 10–14 age group (born between 2012 and 2016). Al Sha'ab secured a 3-1 victory over Medica»»»

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian movement was in the final phase of selecting a new leader, with two prominent figures competing for the position. Hamas recently completed the formation of a new Shura Council of more than 80 members, a consultative body largely compos»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar and Azerbaijan are investing in innovation to build resilient and future-ready digital economies. Both countries are redefining their economies through focused investment in technology, talent, and innovation. Talking to The Peninsula in an interview Tugra Musayeva , Chief Innova»»»

Doha: Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) announced that the results of FTSE Russell Global Equity Index Series Semi Annual review will become effective at the open on March 23, 2026 for the Qatari market. The details of the review for Qatari stocks included the addition of Zad Holding Company to Micro Cap »»»

When it comes to football on the island of Ireland, there isn't much 102-year-old Charlie O'Leary has not seen or done. From serving as the Republic of Ireland's kitman at two World Cups and a European Championship, to refereeing behind the Iron Curtain, the Dubliner has an almost legendary status.»»»

Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) signed a contract yesterday with Hassad Food for the management, operation and provision of services in central markets. This step aims to continue cooperation with the company in organising central markets and raising the efficiency of services pr»»»

Doha, Qatar: Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli topped a competitive field to win the CSI5* CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix presented by Longines, bringing four days of thrilling action at Al Shaqab to a close on Saturday night. At the Longines Outdoor Arena, Zanotelli and his 10-year-old mare Charly Heart »»»

Berlin: The Arab Cultural House “Al Diwan” of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany held a panel discussion on tales from a tumultuous world on the sidelines of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Moderated by director Samir Nasr, coordinator of the film programme at “Al Diwan”, the»»»

Doha, Qatar: Following the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s (MOCI) announcement of a price-reduction initiative covering over 1,000 consumer goods in Ramadan, Qatar’s diverse expatriate community has welcomed the move with widespread relief. Speaking to The Peninsula, expats and residents note t»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd extended their lead in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) with a 3-1 victory over Al Wakrah at Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium, marking their ninth consecutive win in the top flight. The triumph took Al Sadd to 35 points, four clear of Al Gharafa and Al Shamal, who drew level on points»»»

In 2025, 456 bodies of citizens who died in various countries were brought home to Kyrgyzstan. Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, Bakyt Darmankul uulu, announced at a meeting of the Committee on Science, Education, Innovative Development, Information Technology, Culture, Spor»»»

On 22 February of each year, Saudi Arabia celebrates Founding Day, commemorating the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1727 in Diriyah, northwest of present-day Riyadh. The date marks the emergence of a centralised political authority in a region long characterised by fragmentation. Today, »»»

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulations on Monday on his re-election as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Earlier on the day, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Kim's re-election to th»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan is ready to allocate 200,000 hectares of unused land to migrant workers for agricultural use. First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Zhanybek Kerimaliev stated at a meeting of the Committee on Agrarian Policy, Water Resou»»»

Doha, Qatar: The third edition of the Throwback Food Festival is drawing steady crowds to Old Doha Port, where nostalgia, cuisine and community spirit have converged to create one of the season’s most distinctive Ramadan attractions. Designed as a celebration of Qatar’s culinary heritage, the festi»»»

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said talks between the United States and Iran would resume on Thursday in Geneva "with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing” a deal on Tehran's nuclear program. Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said deta»»»

Doha, Qatar: The four-year Unesco Chair in Digital Technologies and Human Behavior at Hamad Bin Khalifa University brings together research, education, international collaboration, and public engagement to examine how digital technologies are shaping human behaviour in the age of Artificial Intelli»»»

Doha, Qatar: With the holy month of Ramadan unfolding amid Qatar’s cooler winter weather this year, citizens and residents have expressed widespread appreciation for the distinctive atmosphere, describing the experience as both spiritually uplifting and socially vibrant. Across Doha and other parts»»»

Dubai: Airlines halted operations and issued travel waivers after violent clashes erupted in western Mexico following a military operation that killed one of the country’s most powerful cartel leaders, triggering widespread disruption and security alerts for civilians and travellers. Sign up for ou»»»

The Ala-Too Resort project has attracted the interest of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates. Representatives of his office and the management of Ala-Too Resort OJSC held online negotiations, the company said. The parties discussed investmen»»»

Beijing: China urged the United States on Monday to cancel unilateral tariffs announced by President Donald Trump after the US Supreme Court struck down many of his measures. The court ruled six to three on Friday that Trump does not have the authority to impose tariffs under a 1977 law he has reli»»»

On February 23-24, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Jeenbek Kulubaev, will pay a working visit to the Swiss Confederation to participate in the High-Level Segments of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament. Participation in key»»»

Dubai: The father of Malayalam and Tamil actress Vishnupriya, Suryanarayanan, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at his bungalow in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. According to a report published on The New Indian Express, Suryanarayanan’s body was discovered bound to a chair with his face taped»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai surged sharply on Monday, delivering one of the biggest single-day increases this month and pushing retail rates closer to recent record territory. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for»»»

Sharjah: For the second consecutive year, Sharjah Charity International has launched its Ramadan initiative, “Bouquet of Goodness,” inviting the community to donate Dh100 to support a wide range of humanitarian and charitable projects across the UAE and abroad. (Click here for UAE Ramadan Prayer Ti»»»

Full-time employees’ average gross earnings were HUF 789,200 and average net earnings reached HUF 548,900 in December 2025. Average gross earnings grew by 8.5%, net average earnings increased by 9.8% and real earnings were 6.3% higher than a year earlier. The increase in net average earnings exceed»»»

In 2025, 12,062 new dwellings were built, 9.3% fewer than a year earlier. The number of dwellings to be built based on issued construction permits and simple declarations was 28,081, 37% more than in 2024. In 2025, 12,062 dwellings were put into use, representing a 9.3% decrease compared to the pre»»»

Grain exports from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.7 times. Data from the National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC say. From September 2025 to February 19, 2026, at least 6.4 million tons of new-harvest grain were exported to foreign markets. This represents a 19.7 percent increase compared»»»

Kunduzbek Sulaimanov voluntarily resigned as a member of the Zhogorku Kenesh. He submitted a corresponding letter to the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan (CEC). The CEC confirmed this information. The matter will be considered at its meeting today. Earlier, Kunduzbek Sulaimanov also volunt»»»

Russia will increase the pace of developing advanced systems for its army, and this equipment will always be in good hands, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. In a video address, the head of state congratulated Russians on Defender of the Fatherland Day. The president emphasized that Russia wou»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party at a rare congress, state media said Monday, calling the decision unanimous among delegates. KCNA said the country’s nuclear-based “war deterrence” had been “radically improved” under Kim’s leadership»»»