Trump frustrated with Iran — says force remains an option
Dubai: US President Donald Trump said on Friday he is “not happy” with the direction of nuclear talks with Iran, warning that while diplomacy remains ongoing, military force remains an option if Tehran refuses to abandon its nuclear ambitions. “We’re not exactly happy with the way they’re negotiati»»»
What happens if you deliberately break your fast in Ramadan?
Dubai: The UAE Council for Fatwa has reaffirmed that deliberately breaking the fast during the daytime in Ramadan is prohibited under Islamic law, stressing that the act is considered a grave sin that requires repentance, compensation and expiation. In a series of its Ramadan fatwas, the council sa»»»
Regulator Gets Complaints about Bad Smells after Factory Relaunches Production Line
A day after the start of operations at Kronospan's medium-density fibreboard (MDF) panels in Veliko Tarnovo, the Veliko Tarnovo Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) received 27 complaints about smells of sawdust and glue and about a bluish haze over several neighbourhoods of the ci»»»
Pakistan and Afghanistan are at war. Here’s the full story behind the clash
On February 27, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared that his country had entered a state of “open war” with Afghanistan. Pakistani Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar reported strikes on Kabul and Kandahar, which Afghan authorities have confirmed. Asif claimed that the Taliban has »»»
Anxious days inside Iran as speculation grows of US strikes
Across Iranian cities, many are living through sleepless nights and anxious days amid the continued speculation that the United States could be about to carry out military strikes. Some young people in particular are obsessively checking plane- and ship-tracking platforms - some fearful of external»»»
Why Trump means the Cuban Revolution faces its biggest threat yet
A sizeable exhibit in the Museum of the Revolution in Havana is dedicated to conditions in Cuba before the revolution took power in 1959. Inside the ornate former presidential palace, photographs and oral testimony detail the grinding poverty and ingrained corruption of the dictatorship of Cuba's t»»»
Anthropic faces deadline on deal for Pentagon to use AI model - UPI.com
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic faces a 5 p.m. EST deadline to comply with the Pentagon or lose a $200 million contract and face blackilisting. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Anthropic faces a 5 p.m. EST deadline to comply with the Pentagon and allow it to »»»
Russia Demands That UK Abandon Plans to Transfer Nuclear Weapons to Ukraine - Ambassador
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is demanding that the United Kingdom abandon its plans to transfer nuclear weapons to Ukraine, if such plans exist, because this constitutes a confrontation at the nuclear level, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said on Friday. "We demand that the British abandon »»»
Brnabic: Serbia on European path, EU should have equal standards for all candidates
BUDAPEST - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Friday Serbia was on the European path and that EU membership was its strategic priority, as well as that the country was committed to reforms, especially in rule of law, and noted that the EU should have equal standards for all membership c»»»
UK withdraws Tehran embassy staff as concern grows over threat of US strikes
The UK has temporarily withdrawn staff from its embassy in Tehran, as the threat of US strikes against Iran prompts warnings from a number of countries to their citizens in the Middle East. The UK Foreign Office said it was a "precautionary measure" and that its embassy in Iran's capital continued »»»
Rubio Plans to Visit Israel Next Week as US-Iran Tensions Remain High After Latest Talks
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said, as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after their latest nuclear talks and American forces gather in the region. The US Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want»»»
Macron to Set Out How France’s Nuclear Arms Could Protect Europe
French President Emmanual Macron is Monday to reveal his vision for how France's nuclear arsenal could bolster defense in Europe, with the continent scrambling to re-arm against an aggressive Russia and as Washington turns away. The speech by Macron, at France's Ile Longue nuclear submarine base, w»»»
US Senator Reed Warns Iran Conflict Would Strain US Ammo Stocks, Affect Response Ability
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Senate Armed Services Committee's leading Democrat Jack Reed on Friday warned that US involvement in a military conflict with Iran would have a "significant and deleterious" impact on ammunition stockpiles and Washington's ability to respond elsewhere. "I was very impr»»»
Ukrainian Forces Used Mental Hospital as Headquarters in Gulyaipole - Refugee
DONETSK (Sputnik) - Ukrainian armed forces units were stationed in a mental hospital building, which was equipped as a headquarters in the city of Gulyaipole in the Zaporozhye Region, a refugee from the city told Sputnik. "The psychiatric hospital - that's where they had their headquarters," the re»»»
NASA Overhauls its Artemis Program to Return Astronauts to the Moon
NASA said Friday it’s adding an extra moon mission by Artemis astronauts before attempting a high-risk lunar landing with a crew. The shakeup in the flight lineup came just two days after NASA’s new moon rocket returned to its hangar for more repairs and a safety panel warned the space agency to sc»»»
Swedish Defense Minister Does Not Rule Out Deployment of Nuclear Weapons During Wartime
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson has not ruled out the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in Sweden during wartime. "If war breaks out, we will, of course, be prepared for anything that can ensure Sweden's survival and the security of Swedes," Johnson told Sveriges Radi»»»
IAEA Says Unable to Verify Whether Iran Has Suspended All Uranium Enrichment
Iran has not allowed the United Nations nuclear agency access to its nuclear facilities bombed by Iran and the United States during a 12-day war in June, according to a confidential report by the watchdog circulated to member states and seen Friday by The Associated Press. The report from the Inter»»»
US Envoy Barrack Meets Iraq's Ex-prime Minister Maliki
US Envoy Tom Barrack met former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Maliki has been nominated by a powerful Shiite bloc to return to the post, but the United States has said it will reconsider its support for Iraq if he is chosen again.»»»
Israel Follows Iran Negotiations amid its Broadest Escalation in Eastern Lebanon
The intense Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Bekaa in eastern Lebanon on Thursday evening marked the broadest aerial escalation against the Bekaa since the ceasefire agreement entered into force. This came a week after the killing of eight members of Hezbollah, including a commander, whom Israe»»»
Vance Says 'No Chance' US Will Get Involved in Years-Long War in Middle East Over Iran
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Vice President JD Vance has ruled out that the United States will become entangled in a years-long armed conflict in the Middle East if President Donald Trump opts for strikes on Iran. "The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — t»»»
Afghan Returnees, Residents Fear Violence at Key Pakistan Crossing
Afghans who recently returned from Pakistan and residents near a key crossing expressed their fears of deadly border clashes on Friday, as smoke billowed from the mountains. AFP journalists heard shellfire and gunfire in Torkham, with Afghan soldiers heading towards the frontier after overnight bom»»»
U.S. pulls staff from Israel as negotiations continue with Iran - UPI.com
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in an email to embassy workers that the decision to authorize some staff to leave followed a series of overnight calls and meetings. File Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The United States is pulling some non-emergency staff an»»»
Netflix ends bid for Warner Bros. after Paramount offered $111B - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Netflix decided to drop its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised its offer to $31 per share. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Netflix has decided to let go of its attempt to buy Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount Skydance raised»»»
Iraq PM candidate Maliki meets senior US diplomat
The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, met with U.S. diplomat Tom Barrack on Friday after refusing to withdraw his nomination despite the U.S. threatening to stop supporting the country if he returns to the post. Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria and ambassador »»»
Will Vijay's political career be able to survive a big scandal like divorce and infidelity?
Dubai: South Indian state Tamil Nadu is no stranger to actors becoming big ticket politicians. From icons like M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa to more recent ventures by stars like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, the state has repeatedly seen film icons channel their on-screen popularity into poli»»»
Trump’s Iran Missile Warning Contradicted by US Intelligence
Three sources familiar with US intelligence reports have revealed that available data does not support President Donald Trump’s claims that Iran is close to developing a missile capable of striking US territory. The sources consider the assertion exaggerated, raising questions about one of the pote»»»
Week of conversations and quiet moments
'Exclusive' is a word that can be overused in journalism. It is part of 'journo speak' that we sometimes forget isn't used in day-to-day life (add breaking, revealed, inside, etc). I've never witnessed my sons or wife run into the house to tell me about their 'exclusive news' from their day. To be »»»
How long will Ramadan last this year? Likely Eid Al Fitr date revealed
Dubai: Ramadan is expected to last the full 30 days this year, with Eid Al Fitr likely to fall on Friday, March 20, according to astronomical calculations in the UAE. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the board of directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society, said the moon will not be visible in the»»»
US allows non-emergency embassy staff to leave Israel, cites safety risks
Jerusalem: The US embassy in Jerusalem announced on Friday it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel “due to safety risks,” adding that people who wished to leave should do so while flights were still available. The announcement follows repeated threats f»»»
Nukes for Ukraine would be ‘playing with fire’ – ex-US judge (VIDEO)
Britain and France would be “playing with fire” if they supply Ukraine with nuclear components or weapons, risking a major escalation, former US judge Andrew Napolitano has said. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported this week that London and Paris are plotting to secretly arm Kiev with a »»»
Media Review: February 27
POLITICS The April 19 parliamentary elections and the appointments of caretaker ministers and regional governors are given prominence in the news media on Friday. On bTV, sociologists Boryana Dimitrova from Alpha Research and Parvan Simeonov from the Myara polling agency noted that the election cam»»»
Drone jammed near French aircraft carrier was probably Russian, says Sweden
A drone jammed by the Swedish military after it was spotted near a French aircraft carrier docked in Malmo was "probably" Russian, Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson has said. The French military said the drone was spotted seven nautical miles (13km) from the Charles de Gaulle carrier, which has n»»»
Mamdani meets Trump to ask for $21 bn funding for NYC homes
Washington, United States: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani met President Donald Trump on Thursday to urge him to release $21 billion in federal grants to build 12,000 affordable housing units and infrastructure. Mamdani posted an image of himself at the White House presenting Trump with a mock newspa»»»
PM says 'Gaza adventure' did not support Gaza, Lebanon 'can do without' Iran support
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who had visited earlier this month several war-hit southern cities and towns, said that the state has returned to south Lebanon "to stay". He vowed, in a televised interview Thursday, to visit the south again and to secure all means of subsistence for its residents. Sala»»»
Esencja and jaskółcza – prime investment apartments in the heart of Gdańsk
In Dolne Miasto, one of Gdańsk’s most desirable historic districts, Esencja and Jaskółcza introduce premium investment apartments that combine modern design, strong investment potential, and proximity to the Old Town. Both projects offer exclusive investment apartments designed for discerning buyer»»»
London, Paris Completed Preparations for Possible Deployment to Ukraine - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - British and French paratroopers have completed preparations for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, The Telegraph newspaper reported. During exercises in France’s Brittany, more than 600 soldiers from the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade conducted a simulated airborne raid alo»»»
Find out why Bollywood movie fans flew down to India to watch Dhurandhar: R Madhavan spills the tea
Dubai: Dhurandhar skipped UAE cinemas and landed directly on Netflix, but UAE-based actor R. Madhavan believes a film’s true success lies in the lengths fans go to see it on the big screen. In a recent conversation on Sonia Shenoy’s YouTube channel, Madhavan revealed that when the film's theatrical»»»
Far-right prejudice now ‘normalised’ across Europe, warns EU anti-racism chief
Racism across Europe is not only about speeches by extremists or headline-grabbing scandals — but also what is repeated and normalised in political discourse and down into everyday life, warns Michaela Moua, the European Commission’s anti-racism coordinator. For nearly five years, Moua, a Finnish f»»»
Simple blood tests can predict Alzheimer's onset, researchers say - UPI.com
Alzheimer's disease researchers say they have developed a way to predict when a unimpaired person may develop dementia symptoms within three to four years through a single blood test. File Photo by EPA ST. PAUL, Minin., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A team of U.S.-based scientists say they have developed a mode»»»
Why has Meta rolled out a powerful new suicide search alert
Dubai: Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has launched new alerts that will notify parents if their teenager repeatedly searches for suicide or self-harm content on Instagram. Why is this happening, and why now, even though Meta has faced accusations of programming their »»»
'They seized everything': Yemen's Houthi rebels drive aid groups to the brink
Amina has been fighting to keep alive what's left of her humanitarian lifeline in Yemen. She feels heartbroken to see the aid group she founded years ago falling apart. "I remember how 1,600 poor families were deprived of cash because the Houthis insisted on getting a share of the money," she says.»»»
India Moves Closer to Dengue Vaccine as Final Trials Underway
As dengue surges globally, an Indian vaccine candidate has entered the final stage of testing, raising hopes for one of the world's first single-dose shots against the deadly mosquito-borne disease. Dengue, which causes severe flu-like symptoms and debilitating body aches, has exploded globally, fu»»»
DOJ sues to obtain voter rolls from another 5 states - UPI.com
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday sued five additional states to force their turnover of their unredacted voter registration lists. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The Justice Department has sued another five states, including three led by Republicans, for their unred»»»
Weather alert: Is a cold wave hitting UAE this week? Here's what forecasters say
Dubai: Residents across the UAE are in for a significant shift in weather conditions as a powerful cold spell sweeps through the Emirates. According to the latest NCM (National Centre of Meteorology) update, a surface low-pressure system backed by an upper-level trough and a deep cold air mass is s»»»
US and Iran wrap up latest nuclear talks without deal as risk of war looms
Iran and the United States held hours of indirect negotiations Thursday over Tehran's nuclear program but walked away without a deal, leaving the danger of another Mideast war on the table as the U.S. has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the region. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr »»»
Young monk seal safely returned to sea after surprise appearance on roadside
Residents of Arkitsa were surprised Thursday to find a young seal stranded on a road in the coastal town in central Greece, prompting a swift response to guide the marine mammal back to the sea. With guidance from MOm – the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal – and the im»»»
Suspects in 12-million-soms fraud arrested in Bishkek - | 24.KG
On February 20, citizen L.K., 71, filed a complaint with the Department of Internal Affairs of Sverdlovsky district in Bishkek. He claimed that unknown individuals, posing as employees of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic, stole 12 million soms from him through fraud »»»
Philippines back-to-back eruptions: Mayon unleashes fast-moving avalanche of hot rocks; Kanlaon shoots ash plumes
Manila: Two volcanoes are making back-to-back eruptions in Philippines in the last two days. The restive Mayon Volcano in eastern Philippines sent a fast-moving avalanche of hot gas, ash, and fragmented volcanic rock cascading down its slopes on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volc»»»
BTS event leads to new government rules on hotel price gouging
Dubai: The South Korean government is taking strong action to stop hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants from overcharging visitors during major events like concerts. Any business that cancels confirmed bookings without a good reason or charges more than the listed price can now face immediate suspe»»»
Qatar secures top-tier spot in global AI Adoption Index
Doha: Qatar continues to strengthen its footprint in artificial intelligence as consumer and organisational uptake accelerates across the Gulf, according to the latest AI Adoption Index released by Cybernews. The comprehensive study, which tracks downloads of the 100 most popular AI applications ac»»»