WHO confirms elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Libya - particularly notable given years of political instability and humanitarian challenges on health services
The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced last Wednesday (18 February) that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, which it considered a landmark victory for public health in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. This hard-won achievement protects future generations from »»»
Aldabaiba refutes Italian media reports of another health setback – says he was having a routine checkup coinciding with a Milan visit
Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, refuted Italian media reports that he had suffered a new health setback and had flown to a Milano hospital for treatment. Refuting the allegation, Aldabaiba admitted on his social media account that he ‘‘underwent some additional medical t»»»
'Proud' Alcaraz digs deep to topple Rublev and reach Qatar final
Doha, Qatar: World no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz needed six match points before finally toppling defending champion Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Friday to reach the final of the Qatar Open. Playing his first tournament since completing his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier in February, Alc»»»
Brazil, India ink critical minerals deal as leaders meet
India and Brazil agreed to boost cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks in New Delhi with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "The agreement on critical minerals and rare earths in a major step towards building resilien»»»
Iran to present nuclear deal draft to US in days – FM
A draft for a potential new nuclear agreement could be presented to the US by Tehran within days, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said. Araghchi made the remarks in an interview with US broadcaster MSNBC on Friday, following a second round of Oman-mediated indirect negotiations between »»»
The latest Nord Stream ‘revelation’ is part of a sinister info-control strategy
Only a few will be tempted to celebrate: German magazine Spiegel – once, a very long time ago, a proud flagship of critical investigate journalism but now an often cringe-inducing, radical-Centrist government and establishment mouthpiece – has noticed the obvious fact that Germany’s American overlo»»»
Serbia, Sweden Urge Citizens to Quit Iran as Trump Mulls Strike
Serbia and Sweden have urged their citizens in Iran to leave the country after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the country's nuclear program. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January to leave Iran and not to travel there, as the country's cler»»»
US–Iran tension: Serbia urges citizens to leave now
Dubai: Serbia has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country “as soon as possible”, citing a deteriorating security situation as tensions escalate between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme. In a statement published overnight, Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised again»»»
Caretaker Agriculture Minister Hristanov Says His Priority Will Be Restoring Trust in Ministry
In an interview with Darik Radio on Saturday, caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov said he would work to restore public trust in the Ministry of Agriculture. He stressed that his main focus would be on combating corruption and increasing transparency in the work of the ministry an»»»
Hezbollah MP: Lebanese Blood Not Cheap, Condemnations Fall Short as Israeli Attacks Continue
Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Rami Abu Hamdan said on Saturday condemnations are no longer effective regarding the Israeli attacks, stressing that the Lebanese blood “is not to be treated as cheap.” In remarks commenting on the Israeli massacre that killed at lea»»»
Libya PM Undergoes 'Successful' Treatment at Heart Hospital
Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has undergone "successful" treatment at a heart hospital, his office said Saturday, but his specific ailment was not disclosed. "I assure you that I am fine, by God's grace," said a statement posted on social media overnight. The treatment was carried out a»»»
Multiple factors behind the rise in Japanese bond yields: QNB
Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Bank (QNB) attributed the rise in long-term Japanese government bond yields to several factors, most notably a structural shift in nominal growth driven by changes in political leadership, in addition to declining institutional demand amid regulatory changes. In its week»»»
Macron Urges 'Calm' ahead of Tense Rally for Slain Far-right Activist
French President Emmanuel Macron appealed on Saturday for cooler heads to prevail ahead of a rally for a far-right activist whose killing, blamed on the hard left, has put the country on edge. Macron also said his government would hold a meeting next week to discuss "violent action groups" in the w»»»
Italian toddler dies after transplant with heart 'burned by frostbite'
A toddler in Italy who received a damaged donor heart has died, the family's lawyer has said. Two-year-old Domenico died shortly before 09:30 local time (08:30 GMT) on Saturday, Francesco Petruzzi told reporters. Monaldi Hospital, where he was being treated, said he had suffered a "sudden and irrev»»»
Eight Hezbollah Members Killed in Israel’s Friday Strikes on Lebanon
Attacks carried out by Israel on Friday in eastern Lebanon killed eight members of Hezbollah, an official from the group told AFP on Saturday. Lebanon's health ministry said Friday that a total of 10 people were killed in strikes that hit the eastern Bekaa region. The Israeli military said it targe»»»
At least 10 killed, 30 wounded by Israeli strikes on Bekaa Valley
Israeli strikes on the country's east and south killed at least twelve people on Friday, with Israel's army saying it targeted militant group Hezbollah and its Palestinian ally Hamas. A Hezbollah source told AFP that a military leader from the Iran-backed group was among the dead in the strikes in »»»
Aoun strongly condemns Israeli strikes on Bekaa and Sidon, urges int'l action
President Joseph Aoun on Saturday strongly condemned deadly Israeli attacks on the Bekaa and the Ain al-Helweh camp carried out a day prior, the latest despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah. In a statement, Aoun called the attacks "a blatant act of aggression aimed at thwarting diplomatic efforts" by »»»
Serbia urges citizens to quit Iran 'as soon as possible'
Serbia has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country "as soon as possible", after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the Islamic republic's nuclear program. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January to leave Iran and not to travel there, as »»»
‘It’s a living classroom’: How this Emirati guide turns zoo visits into lessons about wildlife
As the gates of Al Ain Zoo open each morning, Khaled Salem Alaryani is already reviewing the day’s schedule. Before the first visitors arrive, he checks in with the animal care team for updates – perhaps a special feeding session, a behavioural milestone or a moment worth highlighting during a tour»»»
Avalanches kill five in Austrian Alps, officials say
Five people were killed in a series of avalanches in the Austrian Alps as heavy snowfall hit the region on Friday. A 42-year-old German man, caught in an avalanche with his 16-year-old son, was among the victims, police said. The teenager was airlifted to hospital from the slope in Nauders near the»»»
Asian Economies Weigh Impact of Fresh Trump Tariff Moves, Confusion
US trading partners in Asia started weighing fresh uncertainties on Saturday after President Donald Trump vowed to impose a new tariff on imports, hours after the Supreme Court struck down many of the sweeping levies he used to launch a global trade war. The court's ruling invalidated a number of t»»»
Serbia Urges Citizens to Quit Iran ‘As Soon as Possible’
Serbia has urged its citizens in Iran to leave the country "as soon as possible", after US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the country's nuclear program. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January to leave Iran and not to travel there, as the count»»»
Lebanon Says 12 Dead in Israeli Strikes on East, South
Lebanon said Israeli strikes on the country's east and south killed 12 people on Friday, with Israel's army saying it targeted Hezbollah and its Palestinian ally Hamas. A statement from Hezbollah in the eastern Bekaa Valley said a "commander" from the Iran-backed group had been killed in the raids »»»
Residents in Australia’s Victoria State Urged to Evacuate as Bushfire Rages
An out-of-control bushfire in Australia's Victoria state prompted an evacuation alert for residents near a remote mining settlement, authorities said on Saturday. The alert, at the highest emergency rating, was for the area surrounding the A1 Mine Settlement in the Gaffney's Creek region, about 50»»»
Trump to Remove Vietnam from Restricted Tech List
US President Donald Trump told Vietnam's top leader To Lam he would "instruct the relevant agencies" to remove the country from a list restricted from accessing advanced US technologies, Vietnam's government announced Saturday. The two leaders met in person for the first time at the White House on »»»
On This Day, Feb. 21: New Yorker magazine published for 1st time - UPI.com
On Feb. 21, 1925, the first issue of The New Yorker was published. 1 of 6 | On February 21, 1925, the first issue of The New Yorker was published. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo Feb. 21 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1848, The Communist Manifesto was published by Karl Marx an»»»
Ramadan’s First Friday Prayers Are Held at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque
Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered under heavy Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including some who were allowed to enter from the occupied West Bank. The Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa took place for th»»»
Tumbler Ridge suspect's ChatGPT account banned before shooting
OpenAI banned a ChatGPT account owned by the suspect of a mass shooting in British Columbia more than half a year before the attack took place. The AI company said they had identified an account owned by Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025 under abuse and enforcement detection, which includes identif»»»
Orange Code Alert Issued for Rain, Snow in Nine Regions
An orange weather code alerts for heavy rain and snowfall has been issued for Saturday for nine regions in Bulgaria, according to the website of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. The warning applies to the regions of Kardzhali, Haskovo, Stara Zagora and Gabrovo, as well as to par»»»
Parliamentary Elections Preparations Kick off in Lebanon Despite Doubts They Will Be Held
Political forces in Lebanon have kicked off their preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in May despite doubts that they may not be held. No more than ten candidates have so far submitted their nominations as the political powers work on postponing the elections while still preparing»»»
Today in Kuwait history
KUWAIT, Feb 21 (KUNA) -- 1972 -- Zaid Al-Harb, a renowned poet who was among the first to demand gender equality, passed away at 85. 1977 -- A ground satellite station in Umm Al-Aish began transmission. The station could transmit 246 stations. 1987 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah patr»»»
PSG decide not to appeal 60 million euros Mbappe payment
Paris, France: Paris Saint-Germain have decided against appealing a French labour court ruling that forced them to pay their former forward Kylian Mbappe up to 61 million euros ($71.8 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses, the club told AFP on Friday. PSG, who had been ordered in December to pay the»»»
Palestinian Authority in dire straits as Israel's hold on West Bank deepens
With Israeli settler violence surging in the occupied West Bank, al-Mughayyir, north-east of Ramallah, has found itself on the frontline. It faces regular incursions by the Israeli army and has seen farmland seized by settlers who have built new outposts. Marzoq Abu Naim from the village council sa»»»
ONS: UK higher tax receipts lead to record January surplus
LONDON, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- The UK government's finances witnessed a GBP 30.4 billion surplus in January due to higher tax receipts than spending, said data by the National Office for Statistics on Friday.According to the ONS, this is the highest surplus in any month since records began in 1993, witho»»»
Somalia Moves to Contain Public Criticism Over Türkiye Ties
Growing cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara has drawn domestic criticism in Somalia over what some describe as a “one-sided benefit” for Türkiye, prompting Somali authorities to stress that the country’s sovereignty and the rights of its people remain unaffected. The official denial issued on »»»
US Calls on Sudan Parties to Immediately Accept Humanitarian Truce
US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos revealed on Friday that the US had called on all Sudanese parties to immediately and unconditionally accept a humanitarian truce backed by the United Nations mechanism. Boulos took part in several diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of a»»»
Aldabaiba calls on CBL Governor to halt all 2026 project spending across Libya - until the newly US-brokered unified spending agreement is adhered to
Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, sent an official letter (dated 19 February) to the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, calling for a halt to all spending under Chapter Three of the budget. Specifically, the letter called for the stop of all project financin»»»
Yemen Presidential Leadership Council Vows to Confront Saboteurs
After elements loyal to what was known as the Southern Transitional Council attempted to storm the presidential palace in Aden, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council said it would not tolerate chaos in the city or across the southern provinces, accusing regional forces of involvement in suspiciou»»»
Board of Peace Pledges on Gaza Face Test of Implementation on the Ground
The first meeting of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump and attended by Arab and Israeli representatives in the absence of the Palestinian Authority, set out ambitious goals but left key issues unresolved. Washington distilled its priorities into two tracks: funding the recons»»»
Xbox boss Phil Spencer retires as Microsoft shakes up gaming unit
San Francisco, United States: Microsoft on Friday put out word that Xbox stalwart Phil Spencer is retiring, in a shakeup of leadership at the tech titan's video game unit. Former Instacart chief operating officer Asha Sharma will take over as head of Microsoft Gaming, with Matt Booty becoming execu»»»
Donald Trump answers a Supreme Court rebuke with new tariff threats
Rarely does so totemic a presidential policy receive so resounding a smackdown. On 20 February, the Supreme Court ruled, in Learning Resources v Trump, that the bulk of President Donald Trump’s tariffs were illegal. Mr Trump had asserted that a 1970s-era law, the International Emergency Economic Po»»»
Organization of Turkic States moves to new level of economic cooperation - | 24.KG
The 14th meeting of the Ministers of Economy and Trade of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Turkestan. According to the organization’s press service, ministerial-level delegations from member states took part in the meeting to advance economic cooperation, deepen trade ties, and p»»»
Couple gets death for sexually assaulting 33 children
A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district has sentenced two people — Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati — to death for the sexual abuse and exploitation of dozens of children. The verdict was delivered on Friday after the court»»»
Hungary Blocks €90B EU Loan for Ukraine in Response to Energy Blockade – FM
Hungary is blocking an EU loan to Ukraine in the amount of 90 billion euros ($106 billion) while it is blocking Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. "As long as Ukraine blocks the Druzhba pipeline and until Ukraine resumes oil supp»»»
How will Trump's new 10% global tariffs work and what's next?
The US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his powers when he imposed sweeping global tariffs last year. In its 6-3 decision, the court ruled that Trump could not use a 1977 law - the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) - to levy taxes on imports from nea»»»
12 killed including a Hezbollah commander in Israeli strikes on eastern and southern Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: Israel also hits underground depots and a bunker on the border with Syria BEIRUT, February 20. /TASS/. 12 Hezbollah militants were killed and dozens more were wounded after Israeli raids on Hezbollah targets in eastern Lebanon, Lebanese media reported, citing medical sources. The strikes wer»»»
Pakistan: a fragile economic calm after crisis
Pakistan has stepped back from the brink of economic collapse a note from Capital Economics suggests. Foreign exchange reserves have been rebuilt, inflation has eased, the current account is broadly balanced and the fiscal position has strengthened markedly. Yet weak growth and fractious domestic p»»»
Indonesia’s GDP puzzle raises fresh data integrity questions
The acceleration in Indonesia’s GDP growth in Q4 sits uneasily with other activity indicators, which suggest the economy lost momentum towards the end of last year, a note from Capital Economics says. With the government intent on lifting growth to 8% and signs that the national accounts may have b»»»
Turkmen leader’s visit to United States remains shrouded in mystery
Turkmenistan’s paramount leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was back in Ashgabat on February 20 following a below-the-radar visit to the United States that may have included a visit to Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump’s compound-cum-private club in Palm Beach, Florida. »»»
Turkmen leader’s visit to United States remains shrouded in mystery
Turkmenistan’s paramount leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was back in Ashgabat on February 20 following a below-the-radar visit to the United States that may have included a visit to Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump’s compound-cum-private club in Palm Beach, Florida. »»»