Is US crime at a historic low?
President Donald Trump has claimed that crime and murder in the US are at the lowest level for 125 years, with the White House attributing this to his "unwavering commitment to restoring law and order". Homicides are projected to reach a 125-year low - according to one study - but the same cannot b»»»
Fleeing an accident scene? Sharjah Police say hit-and-run could mean heavier fines
Police have issued a stern warning against hit-and-run incidents, highlighting that such actions are not only serious traffic violations but also grave breaches of human responsibility. “Leaving the scene of an accident deprives victims of urgent medical care and obstructs emergency response,” said»»»
Drone deliveries expected to ease peak-hour traffic in Dubai communities
Dubai: Drone delivery could start to change how Dubai residents experience traffic in their own neighbourhoods, particularly during peak hours, according to a senior executive at Keeta Drone. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.While the technology will not replace traditi»»»
Duterte’s secret killers exposed: How Death squads terrorised Philippines for decades – can justice finally win?
Manila: In 2016, as he campaigned for the presidency, Rodrigo Duterte made inflammatory remarks about his planned war on drugs, saying that the fish in Manila Bay would grow fat from the bodies of criminals. The statement foreshadowed the violent anti-drug campaign that would define much of his pre»»»
More than 5,000 flights cancelled as US east coast digs out of record snow
A major snow storm hit the US east coast on Monday with record-breaking snow, causing disruptions for millions and thousands of flight cancellations. Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have seen nearly 33in (83cm) of snow fall, with more than19in in New York's Central Park, the National Weathe»»»
Nick Reiner pleads not guilty to double murder charges for Rob Reiner, Michelle Reiner deaths - UPI.com
1 of 6 | Flowers and messages are lain on Rob Reiner's star, near his father Carl Reiner's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on December 15. Fans gathered there to leave flowers and pay tribute following his tragic death alongside his wife Michele, with the Hollywood Chamber of Comm»»»
US partially evacuates Beirut embassy amid rising Iran tensions
The US government has ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut after a security review, a senior State Department official has told the BBC. The decision comes as there are heightened tensions in the region, with US President Donald Trump threatening mi»»»
EU stops parliament vote on tariff deal after Supreme Court ruling, Trump tariff announcement - UPI.com
1 of 5 | President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing on tariffs at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The European Union's parliament postponed a vote Monday on a trade deal with the United States after Trump imposed a blanket 15% tariff Friday afternoon. Photo by Yuri Gripas»»»
Ukraine negotiator tells BBC how it feels to sit across table from Russia
What is it like negotiating with the Russians over the war in Ukraine? It is a question many are interested in knowing the answer to following several recent rounds of peace talks, which have so far appeared to bear little fruit four years after Russia's full-scale invasion. Another round of the US»»»
Ukraine reconstruction needs over 500 billion euros: international reports
Kyiv: An updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) released Monday by Kyiv, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations currently estimates that the total cost of reconstruction in Ukraine is almost USD 588 billion (over 500 billion Euros) over the next decad»»»
Sali Berisha: Deputy PM Risks Up to 36 Years in Prison
Albania’s opposition leader Sali Berisha on Monday accused Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku of committing multiple criminal offenses and claimed she faces up to 36 years in prison if prosecuted and convicted. Speaking at a protest in Tirana, Berisha referenced discussions earlier in the day at»»»
Maliki Rejects Quitting Iraq PM Race upon US Pressures
Former Iraqi PM Nouri Al-Maliki affirmed he had no intention to withdraw from the bid for premiership, vowing to continue with his campaign despite US pressure and threats to cut support for Baghdad if he is elected. “I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its »»»
$273M in Ecuadorian exports at risk in dispute with Colombia - UPI.com
Ecuador's palm oil sector generates 110,000 jobs across 14 provinces, mainly in border areas. It exports between 6,000 and 8,000 metric tons per month to the Colombian market. Photo by Pixabay Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Nearly $273 million in annual Ecuadorian exports are at stake if a reciprocal 30% tariff »»»
Nick Reiner pleads not guilty in the killing of parents Rob and Michele
The son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner has pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents. Nick Reiner, 32, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, after his parents were found dead in their Brentwood home with multiple stab wounds in December. He wore a brown jail jumpsuit during the arraign»»»
US embassy in Lebanon evacuates dozens of its staff due to regional developments – Ya Libnan
Share: LBC reported that the US Embassy in Lebanon evacuated dozens of its staff today via Beirut International Airport as a precautionary measure due to anticipated regional developments. The report added that a statement may be issued by the embassy to clarify the details and implications of this»»»
Federal judge blocks release of Jack Smith's classified documents report - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies at a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on January 22. A federal judge on Monday blocked Smith's report on his investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of classified doc»»»
Air ambulance en route to Delhi crashes
An aircraft flying from Jharkhand capital Ranchi to New Delhi has crashed, reported NDTV. It crashed in Jharkhand's Chatra district on Feb 23. The air ambulance had seven people on board. The Indian news organization reported that plane debris indicates that the vehicle was a turboprop aircraft. PT»»»
Netflix boss defends bid for Warner Bros as Paramount deadline looms
The boss of Netflix has told the BBC its takeover bid for Warner Bros is better than a rival one from Paramount because it would expand the business and the industry. Co-chief executive Ted Sarandos told the Today programme Netflix's bid was focused on "growth", adding: "We're buying a movie studio»»»
Risk of ‘Escalation’ if Iran Attacked, Warns Deputy Foreign Minister
Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned of a wider escalation if his country was attacked, after US President Donald Trump raised the threat of strikes. Trump has sent a major deployment of air and sea power to the Middle East and has threatened to strike Iran if it does not reach a»»»
Netanyahu Says Israel Facing ‘Challenging Days’ with Iran-US Tensions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel was facing "complex and challenging days" as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran following President Donald Trump's threat of strikes should Tehran refuse to accept a new nuclear agreement. "We are in very complex and challe»»»
Abu Dhabi and Baku sign twin city deal on mobility and sustainability
The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and the Baku City Executive Power have signed a Twin City agreement to deepen cooperation across urban planning, mobility, public transport and green infrastructure initiatives. The partnership was signed during an official trip to Baku»»»
Iranian Students Protest for Third Day as US Pressure Mounts
Iranian students defied authorities with protests for a third day on Monday, weeks after security forces crushed mass unrest with thousands killed and as the United States weighs possible air strikes against the country. State media outlets reported students chanting anti-government slogans at Teh»»»
State Department Orders Nonessential US Diplomats to Leave Lebanon as Tensions with Iran Soar
The United States has ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the US Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, a State Department official said Monday, as tensions over Iran rise with the threat of a potentially imminent military strike. The official said a continuous assessment of the»»»
Pre-trial hearings begin in former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte case at the ICC in The Hague - UPI.com
1 of 7 | Dahlia Cuartero, mother of a victim of an alleged extrajudicial killing during the war on drugs campaign of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, holds a picture of her son before watching a broadcast of an International Criminal Court proceeding from Quezon City, Manila, Philippine»»»
Djuric begins working visit to Washington
WASHINGTON - Serbian FM Marko Djuric began on Monday a working visit to Washington during which he will speak with US officials about the most significant topics for Serbia, ranging from regional security and the position of the Serbs - including in Kosovo-Metohija - to economic affairs and energy.»»»
UK Gov't Does Not Rule Out Retaliatory Tariffs Against US – Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom does not rule out the possibility of imposing tariffs against the United States as a retaliation following the new 15% US tariffs, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office was quoted by Sky News as saying on Monday. "Nothing is off the table,"»»»
Switzerland Open to Host Next Trilateral Talks on Ukraine Settlement - Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Switzerland remains at the disposal of United States, Russia and Ukraine if they decide to continue talks, Swiss Foreign Ministry Communications chief Nicolas Bidault told Sputnik on Monday. "Following recent negotiations in Geneva, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in c»»»
Questions arise as to how Poland will pay billions for AI gigafactory
Poland is seeking to host one of the EU’s planned AI gigafactories, a flagship digital project costing an estimated €3 billion (around PLN 8.45 billion). Under the funding model, 35% would come from public sources, with half provided by the European Commission. Poland would need to contribute over »»»
Israeli Minister Says Army will Occupy All Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas may soon be given a deadline to lay down its weapons. "We estimate that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza," Smotrich said in an intervi»»»
Trump threatens countries that would 'play games' with tariffs
Washington: President Donald Trump threatened nations Monday with punishing hikes on import duties if they choose to "play games" after the US Supreme Court struck down his global tariffs last week. "Any Country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those»»»
Jetten sworn in as youngest ever Dutch PM
The Hague: A new Dutch government took power on Monday, with 38-year-old centrist Rob Jetten sworn in as the country's youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay one. "Sworn in. We're going to get started. Let's get to work," Jetten posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a picture of his ca»»»
US Pulling Non-essential Staff from Embassy in Beirut amid Iran Tensions
The State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the US embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said on Monday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran. "We continuously assess the security envi»»»
Rubio Trip to Israel on Iran Tensions 'Subject to Change'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may push back a trip to Israel in which he is expected to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about potential strikes on Iran, a US official said Monday. "Secretary Rubio is still planning to travel to Israel but the schedule remains subject to change," the »»»
MOI advises public on preventing cooking oil fires at home
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has issued a public safety advisory through its official social media platforms, urging residents to take necessary precautions to prevent cooking oil fires at home. The ministry stressed that awareness of preventive measures plays an important role in en»»»
Grok scandal prompts MEP move to ban non-consensual AI porn in new omnibus
A new draft report by Green MEP Sergey Lagodinsky suggests amending the EU’s AI Omnibus proposal to prohibit artificial intelligence apps that can generate nonconsensual sensualised content. The draft was published on Monday (2 February), with the German MEP leading the file for the legal affairs c»»»
EU Parliament set to adopt tougher asylum laws amid far-right pressure
New anti-asylum laws are likely to be rubber-stamped by the European Parliament amid further alarm over the far-right influence on migration. The Strasbourg assembly on Tuesday (10 February) will most likely adopt two new laws that will make it legally easier to deport asylum-seeker hopefuls to cou»»»
TikTok’s addictive design breaches the DSA, EU Commission finds
The European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in violation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) on Friday (6 February), for breaching the EU’s addictive design rules. Under the DSA, online platforms have certain risk assessment and mitigation obligations. Brussels has reason to believe that TikTo»»»
Watchdogs say €650bn EU fund still ripe for fraud
The EU’s €650bn pandemic era fund remains wide open to fraud with weak accountability and oversight, according to financial watchdogs. “This vast sum of money offers huge potential scope for fraudulent activity,” says Katarína Kaszasová of the Luxembourg-based European Court of Auditors (ECA). Spea»»»
59 days to election: Hungary accused of cover-up at toxic Samsung battery plant, as sex-video smear targets opposition leader
In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the key April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover: An in»»»
Greece moves to arrest Nordic aid worker supporting migrants
Greek authorities have issued a European arrest warrant against Norwegian human rights activist Tommy Olsen, who leads an organisation supporting migrants. Olsen runs the Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian non-governmental organisation (NGO) set up in 2018 to monitor and share data on people seeking r»»»
Why is the EU struggling to scale artificial intelligence?
When EU leaders met at a medieval castle this week to discuss how to ramp up Europe’s economic power, they were confronting a stark reality: Europe is lagging behind the innovation race with China and the US. In its 2026 competitiveness report, the European Commission admitted that Europe “risks lo»»»
From combat zone to the EU marketplace: the challenge for Ukraine’s farmers
“At the beginning of the full-scale war, we were most afraid of artillery,” says Vasyl Barninets, a manager at a large grain farm in the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine. “Now, the biggest fear is the drones.” “If we work close to the frontline, the staff have to put on bulletproof vests,” h»»»
Spain seeks probe into AI-generated child sexual abuse on TikTok, X and Meta
The Spanish government asked its public prosecutor on Tuesday (17 February) to investigate TikTok, X, and Meta for potentially spreading AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on their platforms.The move is an escalation in tension after the EU and national regulators stepped up scrutiny o»»»
EU top court new search tool dubbed a ‘disaster’ by lawyers
Hailed as a “new gateway to European justice”, the redesign of the main portal to access EU case law, InfoCuria, has drawn the ire of legal scholars from around Europe. “It’s a disaster,” one law professor wrote to EUobserver. A letter seen by EUobserver, dated 9 February, and signed by law practit»»»
From a digital Wild West to strict age limits: do social-media bans actually protect teens?
Teenagers’ access to social media has emerged as a topic of concern among politicians, not just parents, as more and more countries in Europe (and beyond) consider social media bans. Spain, France, Denmark, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Austria, and others have either initiated or announced plans, or »»»
The Caretaker Republic: How Bulgaria Learned to Govern Without Governing
Bulgaria has a constitution, a parliament, and a president. What it has struggled to maintain, with remarkable consistency over the past decade, is an actual functioning government. Since 2021 alone, the country has cycled through five caretaker cabinets, two of them led by the same man. By the tim»»»
Hungary blocks latest EU sanctions on Russia, $105B loan to Ukraine - UPI.com
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives for a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday. She vowed to find a solution to a threat by Hungary to veto the bloc's latest round of sanctions against Russia. Photo by Olivier Matthys/EPA F»»»
Maliki says won't allow attacks on diplomatic missions in Iraq amid Iran-US tensions
Iraqi prime ministerial candidate Nouri al-Maliki told AFP on Monday that maintaining a good relationship with the U.S. is essential but that Baghdad's ties with Iran are defined by shared interests. "I believe that a relationship with the American side is essential for Iraq's progress," Maliki sai»»»
Absolutely Baseless: Iran Dismisses ‘Interim Deal’ Rumors as Talks with US Loom
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has firmly dismissed speculation regarding an interim agreement between Tehran and Washington, clarifying that such claims have no basis in reality. The senior Iranian diplomat made the remarks during a press conference on Monday morning, addressin»»»
Zelensky's Push for Extended Conflict Tied to ‘Personal Survival’ – Report
Media reports earlier said that Zelensky is poised to continue fighting despite the Ukrainian military’s huge losses and the Russian army’s ongoing advance on all front lines. Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly announced Ukraine’s readiness to fight Russia “for another three years" just as “the repercus»»»