Canada looks to trade talks after US Supreme Court tosses Trump's tariffs
Celebrations in Canada over the decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down President Donald Trump's global tariffs were both brief and muted. The high court's decision, which included the "fentanyl" tariffs Trump imposed on Canada, China and Mexico, reinforced Canada's position that the levies»»»
Deadline diplomacy: Is US hinting at wider Iran operation amid unresolved talks?
Dubai: The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean Sea has sharpened focus on Washington’s Iran strategy, as military preparations intensify even while diplomatic contacts continue. Trump has said prospects for a deal with Iran would become clear within roughly 10 days, warning that »»»
Killing of nationalist student leaves French far left in deep trouble as elections loom
Is the far left about to replace the far right as the pariah of French politics? The question is inescapable following the killing in Lyon of nationalist student Quentin Deranque by suspected far-left militants. Deranque was killed on 12 February after a small university protest by far-right femini»»»
Which Trump tariffs did the Supreme Court strike down? Here's what to know
NEW YORK: The highest US court struck down some of President Donald Trump's most sweeping tariffs on Friday, in a 6-3 decision that he overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify new taxes on goods from nearly every country in the world. Trump has launched a barrage of n»»»
US State Sec. highlights Vietnam, Indonesia Indo-Pacific security partnerships
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of strategic partnerships with Vietnam and Indonesia in supporting security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific, a region Washington prioritizes amid intensifying geopolitical competition with China.Rubio made»»»
Indonesia, US sign bilateral trade deal, announce new strategic partnership
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Indonesia officially signed a bilateral trade agreement with the United States on Friday, titled "Implementing the Agreement Towards a New Golden Era of the US-Indonesia Alliance," during a meeting between Presidents Prabowo Subianto and Donald Trump in Washington.Ind»»»
Kuwait Towers .. nat'l landmark, icon of contemporary Arab heritage
KUWAIT, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Towers, inaugurated in 1979 overlooking the Arabian Gulf, were initially constructed as a water storage project. Over time, they have become a prominent national landmark and an icon of contemporary Arab heritage.The concept was the idea of late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-»»»
UK, European allies to develop low-cost air defense for NATO
LONDON, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Britain and European allies are planning to develop a low-cost air defense weapons to protect NATO members form threats, announced the Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, on Friday.This announcement came at the European Group of Five (E5) meeting held»»»
Trump: I'm considering a limited strike against Iran
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is considering a limited strike against Iran if it does not forge a deal with the US to constrain its nuclear program."I guess I can say I am considering that," the president said when asked whether he was considering a l»»»
Trump says he is considering limited military strike on Iran
US President Donald Trump has said he is considering a limited military strike on Iran in order to pressure its leaders to agree a deal to curb the nuclear programme. The president made the remark in response to a question from a journalist hours after officials had suggested the possibility of a s»»»
Trump considers strike on Iran as Tehran says draft nuclear deal coming soon
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering a limited strike on Iran as he sent a major naval buildup to the region with the goal of pressurising Tehran to cut a deal that would curb its nuclear programme. Iran's foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreement with Washingto»»»
UK agrees drone defence plan with four EU allies
Britain is to develop new air defence weapons alongside the EU's four biggest military powers, deepening ties with the European defence sector. The project will invite manufacturers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Poland to submit plans to build low-cost missiles and autonomous drones. The al»»»
The Windsor taboo breaks: What the UK royal arrest means
February 19, 2026, will undoubtedly enter British history. Whether it will also come to be seen as a marker of the British Empire’s final unraveling remains an open question. That discussion can wait. For now, the facts themselves are striking enough. At eight o’clock on Thursday morning, Andrew Mo»»»
Epstein estate to pay $35 million to settle sex abuse claims
The estate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to pay up to $35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit, according to a court filing from Thursday. The suit accused two of the financier’s advisers of aiding and abetting his sex trafficking of young women and teenage girls. The laws»»»
US wants India to buy Venezuelan oil – envoy
The US is in “active negotiations” with India, which it hopes to persuade to import oil from Venezuela instead of Russia, the American ambassador in New Delhi has said. The US issued licenses to two trading houses to distribute oil produced in Venezuela after kidnapping the Latin American nation’s »»»
Salam once again defends controversial tax hike
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Friday that telling people the truth is not a choice but a must, as he defended new taxes approved earlier this week by his government. "The financial situation we inherited is very difficult and the trust between the state and the people was damaged in the past," he»»»
Civil Flights Suspended in Bulgaria as American Military Aircraft Flood Sofia Airport
Sofia International Airport will suspend all civil flights during two short nighttime windows on February 23 and 24, allowing only military aircraft to operate, according to data published on Flightradar24 and an official notice to airmen (NOTAM). The restrictions will apply from 01:15 to 02:50 on »»»
Interior Minister Urges Opposition to Stop Violence, Protect Minors Amid Protests
Albania’s Interior Minister Albana Koçiu issued an urgent call to opposition leaders to immediately halt acts of violence and remove minors from the protests, warning that their safety is at risk. Molotov cocktails caught police officers stationed outside the prime minister’s office, media personne»»»
France repatriates stolen colonial-era 'talking drum' to Ivory Coast
In the latest repatriation of stolen artefacts, France on Friday handed over the Djidji Ayokwe or "talking" drum back to Ivory Coast after it was looted by colonial troops in 1916. The drum, which was used by the Ebrie tribe to transmit messages, is one of hundreds of objects France is prepari»»»
Trade Minister inspects Tunis Central Market, urges respecting set prices
Tunis, Feb. 20 (TAP) – Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Abid paid a visit on Friday to the Tunis Central Market, accompanied by the Governor of Tunis, senior officials from the ministry, economic control teams and security officers.He...»»»
Peru's interim president continues on trial one day after taking office - UPI.com
Newspaper front pages feature Peru's new interim president Jose Maria Balcazar in Lima on Thursday. Congress elected Balcazar as the new interim president during an extraordinary session. But he is also on trial for financial irregularities. Photo by Paolo Aguilar/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Peru's interi»»»
Syria Export Body hails Canada sanctions relief as recovery boost
Damascus Feb. 20 (SANA) — Canada’s decision to lift major economic sanctions on Syria—announced Wednesday by Foreign Minister Anita Anand, ending a blanket ban imposed since 2011—marks a positive shift that will empower legitimate trade and fuel rebuilding efforts, the Syrian Export and Local Produ»»»
Dominican Republic begins 2026 with 1.2M visitors, projects record year - UPI.com
People walk past sargassum clumps on the sand in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in July. File Photo by Orlando Barria/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Dominican Republic opened the year with 1.22 million tourists in January, a 5.5% increase compared with the same month last year. The increase was driven b»»»
Djedovic Handanovic: Operating licence for NIS extended until March 20
BELGRADE - The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury has extended an operating licence issued to the Serbian oil company NIS for 30 more days, until March 20. NIS is under US sanctions due to its Russian-majority ownership. "Good news for Serbian citizens - th»»»
French minister pledges tight security at rally for killed activist
French police will be out in force at a weekend rally for a slain far-right activist, the interior minister said Friday, as the country seeks to contain anger over the fatal beating blamed on the hard left.»»»
French interior minister pledges tight security at rally for slain far-right activist
French police will be out in force at a weekend rally for slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque, the interior minister said Friday, as the country seeks to contain anger over the fatal beating blamed on the hard left. His death has fomented tensions ahead of municipal elections next month »»»
UK police search property of ex-prince Andrew as royals reel from arrest
UK police on Friday searched properties belonging to the British royals for a second day after the sensational arrest of disgraced ex-prince Andrew tipped the British monarchy into crisis. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested and later released as police probe misconduct claims over»»»
The 51% - Epstein fallout reaches France as former UK Prince is arrested
As former British prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested over ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the scandal spreads to France, where Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into a former government minister and his daughter. Also as we mark four years since Rus»»»
Iran’s Khamenei Faces Gravest Crisis of His Rule as US Strike Force Gathers
Ali Khamenei has crushed unrest and survived foreign pressure before but, with his envoys racing to avert threatened American airstrikes through ongoing talks, Iran's Supreme Leader faces the gravest crisis of his 36-year rule. An embittered population toils under a sanctions-hit economy. Huge prot»»»
Why the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s sweeping tariffs illegal: Key points explained
The US Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing a broad set of tariffs that disrupted global trade. The six-three conservative-majority decision blocked a key economic tool Trump used to pursue his agenda. The court found that the International Emerg»»»
Central Election Commission Chair: Active Preparations Underway for April 19 Elections
Central Election Commission Chair Kamelia Neykova told a briefing on Friday that CEC is actively preparing for the April 19 parliamentary elections, with an information campaign set to launch in the coming days. Neykova discussed the preparations with caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, who also»»»
US Strikes on Iran Could Target Individual Leaders, Officials Say
US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by President Donald Trump, two US officials told Reuters. The military options are the latest signs that the United Stat»»»
Trump Says Weighing Strike on Iran as Tehran Says Draft Deal Coming Soon
US President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran after ordering a major naval buildup in the Middle East aimed at heaping pressure on Tehran to cut a deal to curb its nuclear program. The latest threat came after Iran's foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreeme»»»
US advised Ukrainian anti-corruption agents on busting Zelensky ‘allies’
Washington provided direct input to a Ukrainian anti-graft investigation that rocked Kiev last November, according to a report to the US Congress. Charges against businessman Timur Mindich over an alleged kickback scheme at the state nuclear firm Energoatom triggered a political uproar, forcing a c»»»
Allegations Prompt Resignation of Caretaker Deputy PM in Charge of Fair Elections
Bulgaria's President Iliana Iotova Friday signed a decree relieving Stoil Tzitzelkov of his duties as caretaker Deputy Prime Minister in charge of fair elections. The decree came shortly after Tzitzelkov himself announced at a news conference that he would resign and the Cabinet press office said t»»»
Saudi Arabia may have uranium enrichment under proposed deal with US
Saudi Arabia could have some form of uranium enrichment within the kingdom under a proposed nuclear deal with the United States, congressional documents and an arms control group suggest, raising proliferation concerns as an atomic standoff between Iran and America continues. U.S. Presidents Donald»»»
Serbia's Operating Team for EU accession meets with EC officials
BELGRADE - Serbia's Operating Team for EU accession met with European Commission officials in Belgrade on Friday to discuss a snapshot of the accession talks and timelines for completing obligations related to preparations for opening the remaining clusters in the negotiations. The meeting in the S»»»
Trump says he is ‘considering’ limited strike on Iran
Washington: US President Donald Trump said Friday he is contemplating a limited military strike on Iran if a deal on its nuclear programme is not reached. Asked by a reporter whether he is “considering a limited military strike if Iran doesn’t make a deal,” Trump replied: “The most I can say – I am»»»
UAE President receives Hungarian Prime Minister’s Chief National Security Adviser
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received Marcell Bíró, Chief National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Hungary. During the meeting at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, Bíró conveyed to His Highness the greetings of His Excellency Viktor Orbán, Prime»»»
World leaders to present joint approach to AI at India summit close
Dozens of world leaders and ministers are expected Friday to present a joint approach to artificial intelligence, concluding a five-day summit in New Delhi where industry figures urged faster oversight. OpenAI chief Sam Altman warned regulation is “urgent” as booming generative AI fuels profits and»»»
Quint mulling election postponement as power shift unlikely
The ambassadors of the five-nation group -- consisting of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, are seriously considering the possibility of postponing the Lebanese parliamentary elections, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Friday. The daily said it has learned from a senior off»»»
Turkiye ready to send troops to Gaza's ISF: Turkish FM
Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan said Turkiye is ready to send troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). Speaking after attending the Peace Council meeting on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Fidan highlighted discussions on Gaza's reconstruction, »»»
Reform Ministry, UNESCO, and AUB launch youth policymaking initiative
The Ministry of State for Administrative Reform; the American University of Beirut (AUB), through its Business Practice and Policy Initiative at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business; and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office in Beirut; an»»»
Varna Mayor Requests Financial Assistance from Health Ministry for St. Anna Hospital
Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev Friday sent a letter to caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski requesting financial assistance for St. Anna Hospital in the seaside city, the Municipality's press centre said. The mayor's request is for St. Anna Hospital to be allocated EUR 300,000 to pay off its mo»»»
UK's Disgraced Ex-Ambassador Helped Former Prince Andrew Secure Gov't Role - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former UK Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson helped the brother of UK King Charles III, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, secure a position as a government trade envoy in 2001 against the King's wishes, The Telegraph reported on Friday, adding that they both face scrutiny over their »»»
US Expects Iran to Present Detailed Nuclear Deal Proposal in Coming Days - Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Iran is expected to present a detailed and written version of its proposal on the nuclear deal to the United States in the coming days, CBS News reported on Friday, citing sources. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Iran had 15 days maximum to make a deal with t»»»
Netanyahu says Israel won't withdraw from 'buffer zones' in Lebanon, Syria
The Israeli military will not withdraw from the so-called “buffer zones” in Lebanon and Syria, amid a shift in "Israel’s" security doctrine, which stipulates the expansion of these "buffer" areas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for»»»
Araghchi: Iran Intends to Draft Nuclear Agreement with US within 2 or 3 Days - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Araghchi: Iran Intends to Draft Nuclear Agreement with US within 2 or 3 Days 20-02-2026 16:11 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphas»»»
President Iotova Signs Decree Relieving Caretaker Deputy PM Tzitzelkov
Bulgaria's President Iliana Iotova Friday signed a decree relieving Stoil Tzitzelkov of his duties as caretaker deputy prime minister under Article 99(5) of the Constitution, the head of state’s Press Secretariat said. MORE /MR/»»»
In First Interview as Head of State, Iliana Iotova Speaks on Plans to Run for Full Term as President, New Cabinet, Election Code Revisions Veto, Global Issues
On Friday morning, President Iliana Iotova sat down for what was her first interview as head of State on the morning programme of bTV. It was a wide-ranging interview in which she took questions about her plans to run for a full term as President, her expectations about the newly formed caretaker C»»»