Romania’s central bank tweaks inflation outlook
Romania’s central bank slightly revised its inflation forecast (chart) in the Inflation Outlook published on February 18, maintaining the overall projected trajectory while raising the year-end inflation estimate to 3.9%, from 3.7% previously. »»»
China boosts marine protection in bid to lead global ocean governance - UPI.com
A Chinese fisherman prepares to move his fishing nets onto his boat and go to sea in the East China Sea in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, southeast China. File Photo by Wu hong/EPA Feb. 19 (UPI) -- For decades, China's maritime identity has been defined by scale: It produces and consumes the most sea»»»
US official confident China shook Kazakhstan with underground nuclear weapons test
China almost certainly shook neighbouring Kazakhstan with an underground nuclear weapons test, according to a senior American official. Seismic activity detected in Kazakhstan on June 22, 2020 appeared to stem from such a »»»
US official confident China shook Kazakhstan with underground nuclear weapons test
China almost certainly shook neighbouring Kazakhstan with an underground nuclear weapons test, according to a senior American official. Seismic activity detected in Kazakhstan on June 22, 2020 appeared to stem from such a »»»
From Thailand to Qatar: Mrabbosi’s cross-continental bicycle adventure
Doha, Qatar: Social media funnyman and traveller Abbas Alnabawi was not aware how much a trip from Thailand to Qatar by bicycle would demand from him, both physically and mentally. Alnabawi –better known online as Mrabbosi— is in the business of laughter, where he excels in making a static, pixilat»»»
Former South Korean President Yoon Receives Life Sentence for Imposing Martial Law
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law in a dramatic culmination to the country’s biggest political crisis in decades. Yoon was ousted from office after a baffling attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled legislature b»»»
RNC sues to block Democratic-backed Virginia redistricting referendum - UPI.com
Virginians cast their ballots at Robious Elementary School in Midlothian, VA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The Republican National Committee on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to block a referendum on an amendment that if approved by the state's voters would allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia's congressi»»»
Former South Korean President Yoon sentenced to life for insurrection - UPI.com
1 of 7 | Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment on insurrection charges Thursday. In this September 26 photo, Yoon attends the first hearing of his second trial on martial law-related charges. File Pool Photo by Yonhap/EPA SEOUL, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A South Korean court on T»»»
Oath Taken: New Caretaker Cabinet Takes Over in Bulgaria, Focus on Elections, Budget Stability and Rule of Law
The caretaker government headed by Andrey Gyurov officially entered office after taking the oath before the National Assembly in the presence of President Iliana Yotova. Gyurov and the ministers pledged to observe the Constitution and the law, declaring that all their actions would be guided by the»»»
N. Korea Flexes Nuclear-capable Rocket Launcher Ahead of Key Congress
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a battery of huge nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a key congress of the nation's ruling party, state media said Thursday. Kim is expected to detail the next phase in North Korea's nuclear weapons program when he opens a rare congress of the rul»»»
UN Probe: RSF Actions in Sudan's el-Fasher Point to Genocide
Mass killings of non-Arab communities when the Rapid Support Forces captured the Sudanese city of el-Fasher bears hallmarks that point to genocide, an independent UN probe said in a new report on Thursday. At the end of October last year, the RSF took over the city - which had been the last remaini»»»
'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits
As the toy industry gathered in New York City recently for its marquee annual convention, the head of one small company stood out from the crowd, greeted by fellow business owners like a minor celebrity. Rick Woldenberg, the chief executive of Learning Resources, helped make headlines last year, wh»»»
Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal
"Do not give away Diego Garcia," US President Donald Trump has said as he criticised the UK's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base. Trump said "this land should not be taken away from the UK" and if it did it would be "a blight on our Great All»»»
Oil Prices Extend Gains on Concerns of Potential US-Iran Conflict
Oil prices rose on Thursday as the US and Iran attempted to ease a standoff in talks over Tehran's nuclear program while both sides heightened military activity in the key oil-producing region. Brent futures climbed 23 cents, or 0.3% to $70.58 a barrel by 0735 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate »»»
Destroyed cookie factory owner jailed pending trial over deadly blast
The owner of the Violanta cookie factory, where five workers died in a massive gas explosion last month, has been jailed pending trial on charges including homicide with possible intent. Authorities have blamed the January 26 blast on a long-term leak of propane, used to fuel the factory’s ovens, f»»»
2026 to mark shift from AI assistants to operational, multimodal AI agents in enterprise – SoftServe
AI agents are gaining traction in the enterprise sector, with 2026 marking a shift towards systems capable of executing complex workflows and supporting operational decision-making. According to global IT consulting and digital services provider SoftServe, adoption is advancing, but large-scale suc»»»
Daniyar Amangeldiev: Kyrgyzstan's GDP approaches 2 trillion soms - | 24.KG
First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev spoke at a roundtable discussion on regional development and digitalization of public administration. According to him, Kyrgyzstan’s GDP approached 2 trillion soms by the end of 2025, almost double the 2022 figures.»»»
An Arab vision for regional security
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»»»
US Military Poised for Iran Strike, Awaiting Trump's Final Call – Report
Top national security officials have told Donald Trump the US military could be ready to launch strikes on Iran as early as Saturday, reports CBS News. However, the timeline could potentially stretch beyond the weekend. Trump hasn’t signed off on anything yet, the outlet cites unnamed officials as »»»
Hungary cuts fuel supply to Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of political blackmail by delaying resumption of crude deliveries
Hungary will halt fuel supplies to Ukraine and will only resume delivery once Ukraine restarts oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of service since the end of January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced after a cabinet meeting on February 18. »»»
Hungary cuts fuel supply to Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of political blackmail by delaying resumption of crude deliveries
Hungary will halt fuel supplies to Ukraine and will only resume delivery once Ukraine restarts oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of service since the end of January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced after a cabinet meeting on February 18. »»»
Hungary cuts fuel supply to Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of political blackmail by delaying resumption of crude deliveries
Hungary will halt fuel supplies to Ukraine and will only resume delivery once Ukraine restarts oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of service since the end of January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced after a cabinet meeting on February 18. »»»
Hungary cuts fuel supply to Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of political blackmail by delaying resumption of crude deliveries
Hungary will halt fuel supplies to Ukraine and will only resume delivery once Ukraine restarts oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of service since the end of January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced after a cabinet meeting on February 18. »»»
Hungary cuts fuel supply to Ukraine, accuses Kyiv of political blackmail by delaying resumption of crude deliveries
Hungary will halt fuel supplies to Ukraine and will only resume delivery once Ukraine restarts oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been out of service since the end of January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced after a cabinet meeting on February 18. »»»
Sudan's Historic Acacia Forest Devastated as War Fuels Logging
Vast stretches of a once-verdant acacia forest south of Sudan's capital Khartoum have been reduced to little more than fields of stumps as nearly three years of conflict have fueled deforestation. What was once a 1,500-hectare natural reserve has been "completely wiped out", Boushra Hamed, head of »»»
BNR Isarescu: Discussions about joining the eurozone in five years, if deficit reduction programme works
Discussions on a deadline for Romania's joining the eurozone could start in five years' time if the below 3% deficit reduction programme works, governor of the National Bank of Romania (BNR) Mugur Isarescu, said on Wednesday."When we manage to bring the government deficit to 3% and you see that it »»»
FinMin Nazare: Exceeding 60% in public debt is not the result of recent decisions
Public debt does not rise overnight and is not the result of a single decision, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.Exceeding the 60% threshold is the effect of past accumulations rather than a consequence of any specific decision in recent months, he added.'Roman»»»
Lack of Anti-Inflation Policy Is a Growing Concern for Bulgaria
Lyubomir Datsov, a member of Bulgaria’s Fiscal Council, has warned that the country faces a growing problem due to the lack of an anti-inflationary policy, despite the current inflation not being overly high. He made the remarks on NOVA NEWS, noting that while some inflation is normal as the econom»»»
Trump to Preside over First Meeting of Board of Peace with Many Gaza Questions Unresolved
US President Donald Trump will preside over the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday with unresolved questions on the future of Gaza hanging over an event expected to include representatives from more than 45 nations. The disarmament of Hamas militants, the size of the reconstruction fun»»»
North Korea's Kim Jon-Un unveils nuclear-capable rocket system
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a large array of nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, signalling the next stage of the country’s nuclear weapons programme. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a battery of large nuclear-capable»»»
No progress in Libya’s latest political Roadmap: UNSMIL head Tetteh
In her remarks on the situation in Libya to the UN Security Council yesterday, UNSMIL head and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh said ‘‘Regrettably, there has been no meaningful progress between the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High Council of State (»»»
Tetteh: Despite UN Engagement, No Progress in Libya Roadmap
The UN’s top envoy for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, has informed the Security Council that despite active United Nations engagement, the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State have failed to make progress on the first steps of the agreed political roadmap, including establishing a me»»»
US Military Tells Trump It's ‘Ready’ to Strike Iran as Soon as Saturday
Top national security officials have told President Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday, but the timeline for any action is likely to extend beyond this weekend, sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News. Trump has not yet made a final decision ab»»»
US strike on Iran is all but inevitable with Trump backed into a corner
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press conference on February 18 in which she indicated that a US strike on Iran is an increasing possibility. With the Iranians threatening to put a chokehold on cr»»»
From chats to explosives: Teenagers plotting terrorist attack in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
In recent months, cases of teenagers being drawn into extremist and terrorist ideas through social media and messaging apps have been identified in Kyrgyzstan. The press center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) reported. According to the SCNS, remote radicalization i»»»
From Dubai's Mall Of The Emirates Ductac theatre to New York stage: How Anuka Sethi cecame an Off-Broadway star
Dubai: From watching school productions at Dubai’s now-closed DUCTAC theatre in Mall of the Emirates to performing on one of New York’s most politically charged Off-Broadway stages, UAE kid Anuka Sethi has travelled a long, quietly radical road. “I was a very shy kid who used to watch the plays tha»»»
Aldabaiba speaks on the economic crisis, cabinet reshuffle, elections and Qaddafi supporters in his 15th anniversary of 17 Feb 2011 Revolution speech
During his pre-recorded video speech aired last night to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 17th of February Revolution, that ended the 42-year Qaddafi regime, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, stated: The country enters the month of Ramadan amidst an economic crisis,»»»
Poland enters turbo growth
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland is entering a “year of turbo-acceleration,” following what he called a 2025 economic breakthrough. Speaking at the Warsaw Stock Exchange, he described Poland as an “oasis of stability and growth” despite geopolitical tensions, highlighting GDP growth of 3.6% l»»»
Syria Interested in Russia's Military Presence in Region - Lavrov
The Syrian government is interested in Russia maintaining its military presence in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. "As for our military facilities, discussions are ongoing. Let me reiterate: the Syrians are keen for our presence to endure," Lavrov told Al Arabia broadcaster»»»
Trump Slams UK Over Diego Garcia Lease Deal, Says Base Needed in Event of Iran Attack
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized the UK over a lease deal concerning Diego Garcia island, the site of a major US military base, saying it may be needed to counter a "potential attack" by Iran if nuclear talks collapse. "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of th»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»