Dubai’s Parkonic rolls out paid parking at three Lulu Hypermarkets
Dubai: Parkonic has introduced paid parking at three Lulu Hypermarket locations in the city, aiming to enhance convenience for shoppers. The service is now live at: Rashidiya Dubai Investment Park 1 Al Warqa The move allows visitors to use Parkonic’s app-based system for seamless, cashless parking,»»»
New Zealand’s ex-prime minister Jacinta Ardern now based in Australia
Wellington: Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has moved to Australia after a stint in the United States, national broadcaster RNZ said, joining record numbers of her compatriots moving across the Tasman. Ardern won international acclaim for her handling of the pandemic, although her »»»
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»»»
ISIS Intensifies Lone Wolf Attacks in Syria
The ISIS extremist group has intensified its lone wolf attacks against security forces and the army in Syria, especially in its eastern provinces, such as Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Al-Ikhbariah Syria reported that the attacks intensified after the state’s security and political achievements across the »»»
S. Korea conditionally approves Google's overseas transfer of high-precision map data - UPI.com
South Korea on Friday decided to allow Google to transfer government-supplied high-precision map data to its overseas facilities. This 2016 file photo shows Google's logo at its corporate headquarters in Seoul. File Photo by Yonhap The government on Friday decided to allow global tech giant Google »»»
NMoQ achieves Platinum rating in GSAS operations
Doha: The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has received the Platinum rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) Operations’ sustainable green building certification system, further underscoring Qatar Museums’ position as a global pioneer in sustainable cultural institutions. The»»»
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»»»
Pakistan Bombs Targets in Afghan Cities, Minister Calls it 'Open War'
Pakistan bombed Taliban government targets in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, officials from both countries said on Friday, with Pakistan's defense minister calling the conflict "open war.” Security sources in Pakistan said the strikes involved air-to-ground missile attacks on Taliban militar»»»
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»»»
Global Debt Climbs to Record $348 Trillion At End of 2025
Global debt climbed to a record $348 trillion at the end of 2025, after nearly $29 trillion was added over the year in the fastest yearly build-up since the pandemic surge, the Institute of International Finance said in its latest Global Debt Monitor. The jump in 2025 is no longer linked to the pos»»»
Gunfire, shelling near key Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing
Torkham: Gunfire and shelling was heard on Friday on the key Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as the neighbours engaged in deadly fighting. Incoming shelling was heard from the Afghan side of the border from around 9:30am, before cross-border clashes resumed, while gunfire »»»
US military ready to use Iran’s own Shahed drone tech against it — a sign of what’s coming next
It is dubbed as a low-cost weapon for a new era of warfare. America has turned the one-way Shahed drones, an Iran-developed "swarm" weapon system, on its head, cloned it, upgraded it, now potentially deploying it back at its creator. The Pentagon has announced that its "kamikaze" drone unit is “rea»»»
Poland Reportedly Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
Poland plans to introduce new legislation to ban social media for children under 15 years of age and will hold platforms responsible for age verification, Education Minister Barbara Nowacka told Bloomberg News in an interview published on Friday. The ruling Civic Coalition will present the draft »»»
Gaza Civil Defense Says Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 5
Gaza's civil defense ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Friday. Violence has continued in the Palestinian territory despite a US-brokered truce that entered its second phase last month, with Israel and Hamas trading accusations of violating the agreement. The civil defense»»»
Sudan's War Puts Charity Kitchen Workers Feeding Displaced Families at Risk
Enas Arbab fled Sudan's western region of Darfur after her hometown fell to Sudanese paramilitary forces, taking only her year-old son with her and the memory of her father, who was killed, she said, simply for working at a charity kitchen serving people displaced by the fighting. The Rapid Support»»»
US-Iran Talks End with No Deal but Potential Signs of Progress
The United States and Iran made progress in talks over Tehran's nuclear program on Thursday, mediator Oman said, but hours of negotiation ended with no sign of a breakthrough that could avert potential US strikes amid a massive military buildup. The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after »»»
Trump‑Mamdani talks: Columbia student freed after White House intervention
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said President Donald Trump agreed to release a Columbia University student detained by ICE after he raised her case during White House discussions. Also Read: Nationwide 'ICE Out' protests sweep US against Trump administration's immigration policiesArrest sparks outra»»»
National Assembly to Hold First Regular Question Time with Caretaker Cabinet
The National Assembly will hold its first regular parliamentary question time with the participation of the caretaker Government, according to the legislature's agenda for this week. Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and ministers of Finance Georgi Klisurski, of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynski»»»
Gold surge tightens grip on UAE shoppers as prices climb again
Dubai: Dubai gold prices resumed their upward march on Friday morning, adding fresh pressure on shoppers and investors already navigating one of the strongest bullion rallies in decades. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.At 8.30 am, the price of 24-karat gold rose to Dh6»»»
Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards
Anthropic has said it will not back down in a fight with the US Department of Defense (DoD) over how its artificial intelligence (AI) technology is used. The firm's chief executive Dario Amodei said on Thursday that his company would rather not work with the Pentagon than agree to uses of its tech »»»
Dozens of Falcon City property buyers win legal battle
Dubai: A Dubai judicial committee has ruled in favour of dozens of property purchasers in a long-running Falcon City of Wonders dispute, cancelling attachment and enforcement procedures imposed on multiple residential plots and confirming the buyers’ ownership after finding the properties were acqu»»»
Samsung develops a solid-state silver-carbon battery breakthrough
Samsung’s development of a solid-state battery using silver as a core material could prove a disruptive moment for the electric vehicle industry, with potentially significant implications for global silver demand. The Sout»»»
Cuba vows to defend sovereignty after deadly speedboat clash raises US tensions
Cuba has vowed to counter any further armed incursions after its border guards shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speedboat whose occupants opened fire on a patrol vessel off the country's northern coastline, an episode that threatens to deepen the already stra»»»
Cuba vows to defend sovereignty after deadly speedboat clash raises US tensions
Cuba has vowed to counter any further armed incursions after its border guards shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speedboat whose occupants opened fire on a patrol vessel off the country's northern coastline, an episode that threatens to deepen the already stra»»»
Cuba vows to defend sovereignty after deadly speedboat clash raises US tensions
Cuba has vowed to counter any further armed incursions after its border guards shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speedboat whose occupants opened fire on a patrol vessel off the country's northern coastline, an episode that threatens to deepen the already stra»»»
Samsung develops a solid-state silver-carbon battery breakthrough
Samsung’s development of a solid-state battery using silver as a core material could prove a disruptive moment for the electric vehicle industry, with potentially significant implications for global silver demand. The Sout»»»
Samsung develops a solid-state silver-carbon battery breakthrough
Samsung’s development of a solid-state battery using silver as a core material could prove a disruptive moment for the electric vehicle industry, with potentially significant implications for global silver demand. The Sout»»»
US and Iran hold a third round of indirect talks in Geneva
Iran and the United States were holding another round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday (February 26) to try to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program and potentially avert another war as the United States gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East.»»»
Bringing the IAEA into the conversation 'could be a good step', as Iran talks in Geneva wrap up
Iran and the United States are expected to hold technical-level talks next week in Vienna, home to the International Atomic Energy Agency. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Barbara Slavin, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, who says that "it could be a good step if you bring the Internatio»»»
Son of Indonesia 'gasoline godfather' jailed in $17-billion corruption case
Jakarta: An Indonesian judge sentenced the son of an Interpol-wanted oil tycoon to 15 years in prison on Friday in connection with a corruption scheme estimated to have cost the government $17 billion. Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza is the highest-profile defendant to be convicted in the sprawling sc»»»
Amateur hour: Trump ambassadors raise tensions across Europe
US Ambassador Charles Kushner is at the centre of a diplomatic row raging in Paris, but he is not the only one. US President Donald Trump’s envoys are stirring controversy across Europe – from social media spats to public snubs of foreign leaders – testing alliances an»»»
Maduro Asks US Court to Dismiss Indictment Against Him
WASHINGTON, Sputnik - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is asking a US court to dismiss the indictment against him, according to a document obtained by RIA Novosti. "President Maduro respectfully moves this Court to dismiss the Fourth Superseding Indictment against him," the complaint says. Madur»»»
UAE sets new registration rules set for students of determination
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Education has approved registration procedures for Students of Determination in public schools for the 2026–2027 academic year. The Ministry said evaluation and diagnosis at Inclusive Education Support Centres will be completed within 15 working days. The process will»»»
How UK eVisa rules will make travel different for UAE residents, VFS Global clarifies
Dubai: From 25 February 2026, most people applying for a UK visa will move to a fully digital system, as the British government completes a major shift away from physical visa stickers. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new eVisa programme, introduced by UK Visas and»»»
Zelenskyy: US-Ukraine talks made stride towards trilateral talks
GENEVA, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there is "already greater readiness for the next trilateral format" which is expected to take place in early March.In a post on his (X) account following the US-Ukraine talks on Thursday, Zelenskyy underscored the importance»»»
Sharjah Police warn: Dh500 fine for not yielding to pedestrians
Pedestrian safety is more than a traffic rule as it is a shared humanitarian responsibility. As the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians are at heightened risk in traffic accidents, particularly when crossing areas are ignored or traffic laws are violated. Major Saud Al Shaiba (left) and Captain»»»
Iran FM says 'good progress' after Geneva talks ended
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that the latest round of talks with the United States dealt with the nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions, adding that negotiators made "good progress". "We made very good progress and entered into the elements of an agreement very seri»»»
Remittances in Ramadan increase by 20 to 30% annually
Deputy CEO of an exchange company, Dr Mohammad Amjad Mousa affirmed that Ramadan is an exceptional season for remittances, with transaction volumes increasing annually by 20 to 30 percent compared to other months, peaking in the last 10 days. He indicated that this increase is linked to several soc»»»
Pearl-inspired Ramadan experience unveiled at Mandarin Oriental, Doha
Ashraf Siddiqui On the sidelines of the Second Alumni Award Night, Thomas Kinsperger, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Doha, shared insights into how the luxury property has thoughtfully reimagined its Ramadan experience this year at Baraha Square. Kinsperger explained that this season’s conce»»»
Ex-West Ham striker Antonio set to join Al Sailiya: Reports
Doha: Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio is set to resume his club career after agreeing to join Qatar Stars League side Al Sailiya on a short-term deal, according to a report by BBC. The 35-year-old is expected to sign until the end of the current season, with Al Sailiya, who are ninth»»»
Rama Overhauls Key Ministries in First Major Shake-Up of Fourth-Term Cabinet
Edi Rama reshuffled his government on Thursday following a marathon meeting of the ruling Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, introducing changes in several key ministries just six months after the “Rama 4” cabinet won approval in Parliament. The reshuffle affects the ministries of Foreign Affai»»»
PM Removes Balluku, Promotes Her Close Aide to Defense Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has removed Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku from her post, while promoting one of her closest associates to a key ministerial position, signaling that her governing model will continue within the cabinet. Rama appointed Ermal Nufi as minister of defense, a rol»»»
Could a horseshoe medal solve a 26-year mystery?
A horseshoe shaped medal inscribed with the name MacGinty could be the key to identifying a man who drowned in County Cork 26 years ago, a search and recovery volunteer has said. In July 1999 a man's body was recovered from the River Lee just outside Cork city. The man, believed to be aged in his 4»»»
What’s at stake in the third round of US-Iran talks?
American and Iranian delegations met in Geneva on Thursday for a new round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and the possible easing of sanctions, as Washington simultaneously amasses military assets in the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran. The talks are widely seen as a last op»»»
Watch: N.Y. governor steps in to save resident's 'PB4WEGO' license plate - UPI.com
Feb. 26 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stepped in to help a Long Island grandfather win his battle over a customized license plate reading "PB4WEGO." Seth Bykofsky shared a photo of a letter he received from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in January telling him his "PB4WEGO" p»»»
Conflict for Profit: Zelensky and EU Turn Ukraine Into Disposable Asset
Volodymyr Zelensky’s chaotic rhetoric is a survival tactic shaped by his current predicament, veteran Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik. "He is forced to twist and turn, trying on the one hand not to offend his chief patron — the president of the US — and on the other to stay i»»»
Iran-Backed Gaza Factions Face Financial Strain, Fear Collapse
Field commanders and activists from Iranian-backed Palestinian factions in Gaza warn of a potential “complete collapse” as a worsening financial crisis comes amid signs of a possible US strike on Tehran. Nearly two years of Israeli war in Gaza, along with strikes extending to Lebanon, Iran and part»»»
India thrash Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup, S.Africa into semi-finals
Chennai: Defending champions India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in their Super Eights T20 World Cup match on Thursday, a result that guaranteed South Africa a place in the semi-finals. India posted a mammoth 256-4 and then restricted Zimbabwe to 184-6 in Chennai to make their clash with West Indies»»»
Poland pushes back on China
Poland plans to press China to open its market to Polish goods as trade imbalances deepen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said during a parliamentary speech outlining foreign policy priorities. He said relations with China should benefit both sides, but warned that War»»»
PureHealth signs 25-year solar deal to power UAE hospitals
PureHealth has signed a 25-year master lease agreement with Yellow Door Energy to supply clean electricity to its network of hospitals and clinics across the UAE. The signing ceremony took place at PureHealth’s office in Abu Dhabi and was attended by senior executives from PureHealth, SEHA and Yell»»»