Philippine embassy, consulate announce Ramadan 2026 timings
Dubai: The Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine consulate general in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have released their adjusted business hours in observance of Ramadan 2026. In an advisory, the agencies stated that from Monday to Thursday, operations will be from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm,»»»
Indian man admits plot to kill US-based Sikh separatist leader
An Indian man accused of plotting to kill a Sikh separatist leader in New York City has pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in a federal court. Nikhil Gupta, 54, admitted to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to 40 year»»»
UAE weekend alert: Humid, fair before wind and cooler temperatures
Dubai: The UAE will see generally fair conditions on Saturday, with partly cloudy skies at times and increasing humidity overnight, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Light to moderate south-easterly to north-easterly winds are expected, blowing at speeds of 10 to 20 km/h and reaching»»»
What my mother gave the economy for free
Before I knew about the financial markets, before I knew analytics, I knew my mother’s hands. Long before the sun painted the sky, they moved through the first dim glow with a quiet assurance. These hands signed permission papers, cleaned pots, painstakingly folded clothes, wiped counters, and stab»»»
Officials investigating DNA found in Nancy Guthrie's home
Investigators have found DNA at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of US news anchor Savannah Guthrie, which does not belong to her or those in close contact to her, local officials said. The Pima County Sheriff's Department said they are working to identify who the DNA belongs to, but w»»»
Plane crash kills 4 near Steamboat Springs, Colo. - UPI.com
Four unidentified people died when the single-engine aircraft in which they were flying crashed early Friday morning while approaching an airport in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Image courtesy of UPI Feb. 13 (UPI) -- All four people aboard a single-engine aircraft died when it crashed shortly after»»»
Scorpion Season brings weather changes to UAE: What to expect this winter
Dubai: Residents across the UAE can expect a gradual shift away from winter's cooler temperatures as the region enters what traditional Arabian meteorology calls the 'Scorpion season' – a six-week period running through mid-March that bridges the gap between winter and spring. Also Read: Winter chi»»»
Valentine's Day in Dubai: Roses are red, violets are blue, there’s a Rolls-Royce outside - and a diamond ring too
Dubai: Valentine’s Day in Dubai is never just dinner and a card. Every year, the UAE rolls out a fresh round of over-the-top romantic offers that make you do a double-take — and then quietly check your bank balance. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.This year is no diffe»»»
NATO boss snipes at Russian armed forces
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sniped at the Russian army, comparing its battlefield progress in Ukraine to the pace of a “garden snail.” His comments come as Russian troops continue to liberate important settlements across the frontline while Ukraine is consistently forced to pull back its forc»»»
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo feel pressure as shoppers cut back on spending
Dubai: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are feeling growing pressure as shoppers, strained by years of higher prices, rethink how much they spend on food, drinks, and meals outside the home. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Grocery bills remain elevated, leaving many households wi»»»
Toddler visiting Indian expat father in UAE dies in Sharjah car accident
Sharjah: A joyful family reunion ended in tragedy for an Indian expat in the UAE after his 22-month-old son, visiting with his wife, died following a car accident. Alan Rumi, the son of Sherafudheen and Safna from the south Indian state of Kerala, died in the tragic accident in Sharjah, a family me»»»
The World This Week - Munich, Epstein, Confessions of Love Cheat
This Friday in The World This Week, we talk about the unravelling of the Epstein Files, the end of the Old World Order and the Olympic Helmet Dilemma. In a week where the names of those listed in the Epstein Files have continued to feel the consequences, at least on this side of the chann»»»
Man indicted for the alleged murders of 2 officers in Flagstaff, Ariz. - UPI.com
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A grand jury on Friday indicted Terrell Storey for murder and on 58 other charges after allegedly causing the deaths of two troopers when their police helicopter crashed in Flagstaff, Ariz. Storey, 50, faces two counts of first-degree felony murder and 58 other felony charges in th»»»
A massive shopping rush is expected across the UAE this weekend
Dubai: Retailers across the UAE are preparing for one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, as households complete their final stock-ups before Ramadan begins. The surge is a recurring seasonal pattern, though the way people are shopping is evolving, thanks to stronger price monitoring and »»»
Africa-Italy Summit underlines fresh model of coop.
ALGIERS, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- The heads of state and government partaking in the second Africa-Italy Summit stressed Friday the need to establish a new model of cooperation between the two sides based on respect for national sovereignty and mutual benefits.During their summit in the Ethiopian capital A»»»
45 Kuwaiti, Egyptian artists portrait mural themed "together for the love of Kuwait"
By Shahad Kamal KUWAIT, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Some 45 Kuwaiti and Egyptian artists have made a shared mural titled "together for the love of Kuwait", drawing an act which embodies the spirit of love, brotherhood and deep-rooted humanitarian and historic bonds.The mural was offered on Friday at the Kuwai»»»
3 British men sentenced for planning terror attack on Jewish community - UPI.com
A British court sentenced Walid Saadaoui (L), Amar Hussain (top-R) and Bilel Saadaoui on Friday for a terror plot targeting Jewish people. Photo courtesy Greater Manchester Police Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Three British men will serve a combined 69 years in prison for planning a terrorist attack on the Jewi»»»
ISTANBUL BLOG: Handshakes and fisticuffs
So Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan once more put the country through a bout of the bummers with the appointment of two ministers on February 11. One is indeed the prosecutor who has led the dear leader’s vicious assault on the opposition. A bit of scuffle and squabble can be excused. A»»»
Canada Supreme Court overturns one-vote election win in Quebec
Canada's top court has nullified a one-vote electoral win in Quebec, leaving the seat vacant until a byelection is called. The closely-contested federal election last April in the electoral district, or riding, of Terrebonne, was initially declared for the Bloc Québécois, but a later recount found »»»
France probes baby formula producers over contamination recalls
Prosecutors in Paris have opened investigations into five baby formula manufacturers after several issued mass recalls over concerns their product contained a toxin. Nestle, Lactalis, Danone, Babybio and La Marque en moins will be probed over whether there was any criminal wrongdoing in distributin»»»
'We are not protected' says Hebron mayor as Israel expands West Bank control
A Palestinian official in the occupied West Bank has described Israel's latest expansion of control there as "the end of the road" for negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Asma al-Sharabati, acting mayor of Hebron, said new legal changes recently announced by Israeli cabinet ministers wo»»»
Trump sends USS Gerald R. Ford to Middle East amid Iran nuclear talks - UPI.com
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier (L) and its support vessels have been deployed to the Middle East. File Photo by PO3 Tajh Payne/U.S. Navy | License Photo Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. military is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the Middle East as tension»»»
China vows to take 'measures' against spying after CIA recruitment video
The CIA released a Chinese-language recruitment video targeting disaffected Chinese military officers, showing a fictional officer deciding to contact the agency to expose leadership lies. The clip encourages leaks on China’s leaders and military. Beijing reacted angrily, warning it will take all n»»»
Trump says second aircraft carrier ‘leaving very shortly’ for Middle East
US President Donald Trump on Friday upped the stakes in Washington’s already tense relationship with Iran, saying that a second American aircraft will be “leaving very shortly” for the Middle East. Trump is hoping to strike a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear programme, but has warned of severe co»»»
DHS shuts down indefinitely amid budget battle starting this weekend - UPI.com
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York holds a press conference at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Department of Homeland Security will»»»
State Enterprise Radioactive Waste Receives First Electronic Decommissioning License in Bulgaria
The State Enterprise Radioactive Waste has received the first electronic license for decommissioning in Bulgaria, the company announced on Friday. The document, issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, has been in force since January 1, 2026, for a period of five years and defines the safety requir»»»
Cash-strapped French hospitals appeal to public to help fund medicines, devices
A growing number of French hospitals struggling with their finances are appealing to the public to help fund urgent needs like medicines and medical devices, and in one case even beds. While some have opted to offer so-called "citizen loans", others have turned to donations and company sponsorships»»»
Mexican humanitarian cargo reaches Cuba amid energy crunch
Mexican ships carrying humanitarian aid have docked in Havana, challenging a US blockade that has sparked a severe energy crisis in Cuba. Rolling blackouts and enforced fuel rationing have severely disrupted key services, including hospitals. The Mexican deliveries arrived on Thursday, two weeks af»»»
ICE reveals rate of criminals among deportees from US
There are 1.6 million illegal immigrants with final deportation orders in the US, about half of whom have criminal convictions, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons has said. Lyons announced the figures during a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governm»»»
One in three Germans in favor of AI-controlled killer bots – survey
One in three Germans favor the use of autonomous AI-powered weapons systems in war instead of human decision makers, a new poll commissioned by Politico has suggested. Less than half of the respondents believe humans should make life-and-death decisions on the battlefield. The results, which were p»»»
Ex-Obama counsel quits Goldman Sachs over ‘Uncle Jeffrey’
Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under Barack Obama, has announced her resignation from the bank, after newly unsealed files revealed her close personal relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Following the revelations of her affinity for ‘Uncle»»»
Britain’s Balkan ruse: How the UK turned ‘press freedom’ into a weapon
Imagine this: you are a journalist in your country. You are invited to a workshop on ethics, resilience, and methods for countering “disinformation.” You find yourself in a room with peers from across the region, discussing story ideas, newsroom strategies, and how to navigate the challenges of rep»»»
GCC news agency heads' panel convenes virtually
KUWAIT, Feb 12 (KUNA) -- The Committee of Heads of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) News Agencies held its 25th meeting via videoconference on Thursday, organized by the GCC General Secretariat, in cooperation with Bahrain News Agency (BNA).The meeting was presided over by BNA Director-General Abdull»»»
Briefing of KUNA main news for Thursday until 00:00 GMT
KUWAIT - Kuwait Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Affairs and Acting Minister of Information and Culture Omar Al-Omar says that the farmers' market initiative contributes to backing Kuwaiti farmers and enhancing their products at local markets. WASHINGTON - US President»»»
Don Lemon pleads not guilty in Minnesota church protest case
Former CNN host Don Lemon has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his coverage of a protest last month at a church over federal immigration raids in Minnesota. Lemon, 59, was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms by allegedly obstructing someone's»»»
Talking Europe - Are teenagers too young to scroll? Europe weighs social media bans for minors
Worries that too much time on social media may be hurting children's mental health, and creating addictions as harmful as alcohol or cigarettes, are sparking growing calls across Europe to block minors under the age of 15 or 16 from access to platforms. After Australia became the first country to b»»»
Talking Europe - 'Keep Europe strong from the inside': Kata Tütto, president of the Committee of the Regions
Europe's regions are in danger of being squeezed as the EU considers sweeping changes to the way its 27 member states spend their money, warns the European official tasked with reducing inequalities among the bloc's hundreds of towns and regions. Kata Tütto, a Hungarian socialist, and president of »»»
Tête à tête - 'For Azerbaijan, peace with Armenia is achieved,' President Ilham Aliyev says
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared that "peace is achieved" with Armenia following an August White House summit. "For me, it is done," he said. Aliyev however firmly refused to grant clemency to imprisoned Nagorno-Karabakh separatist leaders, an issue that w»»»
German chancellor's call to repair transatlantic trust at Munich
Friedrich Merz urged the United States and Europe to rebuild trust as global tensions grow, arguing that neither side can face today’s challenges alone. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, alongside Marco Rubio, he called for a renewed transatlantic partnership after a year of strained rela»»»
Investigation launched into whether federal officers lied about shooting of migrant in Minneapolis
Two immigration agents may have made "untruthful statements" under sworn testimony about the shooting of a migrant in Minneapolis last month, says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE acting director Todd Lyons said the two officers, who have not been named, were immediately placed on adm»»»
Kuwait FM meets Saudi counterpart in Munich
MUNICH, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah met with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference on Friday.During the meeting, both ministers tackled historical and fraternal relations betwee»»»
Justice Department sues Harvard for admissions records - UPI.com
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Harvard University Friday alledging the university has failed to turn over admissions records to support an investigation into whether the university discriminates against white applicants. File Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Department»»»
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»»»