The media office of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri issued a clarification on Monday addressing reports by Asharq Al-Awsat about postponing parliamentary elections scheduled for May 2026. In a statement, the office said Berri’s remarks were confined to describing a general atmosphere within»»»

Here comes the 1st battalion of desk jockeys to lecture you about your dinner’s carbon footprint. Daily life in France used to be simple, until the government decided to appoint itself Mother Nature’s personal bodyguard, and the average citizen was declared her number one threat. Their latest salvo»»»

CAIRO, Feb 22 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development plays a central role in shaping Egypt’s economic direction, noting that the government has finalized a post-IMF agreement national economic program based on the National Narrative for Compr»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s office market recorded its strongest performance in more than a decade in 2025, with total sales values more than doubling to Dh13.1 billion amid strong demand from investors and businesses seeking limited high-quality space. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balan»»»

Brussels, Belgium: The EU executive has again delayed presenting a fiercely contested plan to favour European companies over foreign rivals in key sectors, pushing it back to March 4 to give more time for talks, officials said Monday. The proposal was expected Thursday but there has been strong pus»»»

New Delhi: India’s foreign ministry urged its citizens Monday to leave Iran, against a backdrop of fears of a possible US strike on Tehran. “In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran... are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including »»»

Russian forces carried out strikes on the transport, energy, fuel infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the armed forces of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr eliminated up to 390 Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defe»»»

During a gathering in Stara Zagora with nearly 1,000 mayors from villages, municipalities, and regional cities, GERB leader Boyko Borissov spoke candidly about the party’s achievements and the upcoming electoral challenges. He questioned how President Rumen Radev could compete with him after ten ye»»»

Norofert, the leading producer of organic agricultural inputs and biotechnology provider for agriculture in Romania, listed on the AeRO market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB symbol: NRF), has announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of a 60% stake in Expert Agribusiness SRL, »»»

President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva enter a state welcome dinner at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Monday. Photo by Yonhap President Lee Jae Myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to elevate bilateral ties during their summit Monday and e»»»

In this photo released Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) and officials applaud during the fourth day of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. According to KCNA, Kim was re-elected Sunday as the general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party. Photo by KCNA/EPA Nor»»»

Sharjah: UAE residents planning Ramadan or early summer travel can now save on flights, with Sharjah-based Air Arabia announcing discounts of up to 40 per cent. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The low-cost carrier has rolled out a Ramadan promotion offering savings acr»»»

What the drama will bringLee Jong-suk's casting marks his return to a full romantic lead in several years, a shift that is welcomes by fans who have long associated him with the genre. In Iseop's Romance viewers can expect to see his trademark charm applied to a character who's handsome witty, conf»»»

Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski has urged all departments, ministries, and municipalities to implement the planned 5 percent salary increase for public sector employees, noting that many have not yet done so despite it being provided for in the budget extension law. He made this call du»»»

Iran said Monday that any US attack, including limited strikes, would be an "act of aggression" that would precipitate a response, after President Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran. "With respect to your first question concerning the limited strike, I think there is no l»»»

Dubai: What began as an act of trust between friends has spiralled into serious legal trouble for an engineering student in Bengaluru, whose bank account was allegedly used to route cyber fraud transactions worth nearly Rs 7 crore (Rs70 million). According to a police complaint, the student, enroll»»»

Dubai: In an Indian film industry often accused of stars who indulge in ego battles and narcissism, it’s rare to witness a veteran actor publicly elevate his younger peers. At the 70th Filmfare Awards South in Kochi, Malayalam matinee idol Mammootty did exactly that, and in doing so, he reminded ev»»»

The utilization of surplus but edible food should be a priority, both to reduce waste and as a social policy measure, Bulgarian Food Bank (BFB) Executive Director Tsanka Milanova told BTA in an interview on Monday. It was conducted in the context of the transposition of the EU Waste Framework Direc»»»

Washington, Feb. 23 (SANA) Oil prices declined Monday amid concerns about slowing global growth and ongoing debate over US tariffs, while gold rose to its highest level in weeks as the US dollar weakened. According to CNBC, Brent crude futures declined 1.05% to $71.02 a barrel, while U.S. West Texa»»»

India's foreign ministry urged its citizens Monday to leave Iran, against a backdrop of fears of a possible US strike on Tehran. "In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran... are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial »»»

Doha, Qatar: Cirque du Soleil will bring one of its most celebrated productions to Qatar in April for eight unforgettable performances. A fan favourite that has captivated audiences worldwide, Corteo will take place at Qatar National Convention Center from April 8-13, 2026. Corteo, which means 'cor»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran’s Larijani heading to Muscat for diplomatic talks, Omani media reports 23-02-2026 11:58 AM Latest News Urgent News ‘Defeat Is Certain »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah S.G. Sheikh Naim Qassem: Last year’s funeral procession of Sayyed Nasrallah, Sayyed Safieddine carries a clear political message »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe ‘Defeat Is Certain for Them’: Iran Army Chief Dismisses Enemy ‘Invincibility’ as US Warships Deploy 23-02-2026 12:14 PM The Iranian Army’s »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health, MoPH, has launched three national preventive guidelines aimed at strengthening safety and public health in the State of Qatar. These include the National Preventive Guidelines for Child Injuries, the National Preventive Guidelines for Injuries among the e»»»

The Zayed Education Foundation has announced the launch of the Ruwwad Zayedprogram, a flagship scholarship and leadership initiative designed to support exceptional young Emiratis and Arab residents of the UAE. Also Read: Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed named chairperson of Zayed Education Foundation»»»

The International Criminal Court began pre-trial hearings on Monday for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing three counts of crimes against humanity for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office. Duterte, 80, was not in The Hague courtroom, having waived his righ»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health has launched three national preventive guidelines aimed at promoting safety and public health in the State of Qatar: the National Preventive Guidelines for Child Injuries, the National Preventive Guidelines for Elderly Injuries, and the National Preventive Guidel»»»

GlobalizationAfricaZambians pay price amid Copperbelt mining boomKathy ShortAs mining companies scour Zambia's Copperbelt for metals used in sustainable energy, locals are dealing with unchecked pollution and contamination. https://p.dw.com/p/58xtxCopper refineries in Zambia have been busy as globa»»»

Dubai: For UAE gamers who grew up on Xbox consoles and late-night multiplayer sessions, here’s big news: Xbox now has an Indian-origin chief at the helm. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a major leadership shake-up, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chairman and CEO, announ»»»

The National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, ne’ma, has announced a major expansion of its flagship “Valuing Our Roots” campaign for Ramadan 2026, marking the most extensive geographic and operational rollout of its food rescue programme to date. For Ramadan Prayer timings, click here. The initiati»»»

Chad's government said on Monday it was closing the border with Sudan until further notice, following several clashes between Chadian soldiers and armed groups involved in the civil war across the frontier. "This decision follows repeated incursions and violations committed by the forces involved i»»»

US forces that led the anti-ISIS coalition in Syria will complete their withdrawal from the country within a month, three sources told AFP on Monday. "Within a month, they will have withdrawn from Syria and there will no longer be any military presence in the bases," a Syrian government official sa»»»

The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday said the PreCheck program was still operational. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program that allows travelers a quicker security experience at airports is still opera»»»

Egypt’s equity market swung sharply over the week of 15–19 February 2026, reversing an early breakout to close firmly in the red as foreign investors accelerated selling into geopolitical uncertainty. The EGX30 ended roughly 3.14% below Sunday’s level, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to exter»»»

Mexico is preparing to expand its trade ties with Saudi Arabia by exporting high-quality rice to the Kingdom, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. They said Mexico has an export offer for three premium rice varieties that meet the highest international standards. Saudi Arabia imports limited quantities of»»»

The United Nations leader warned Monday that "the rule of force" was spreading, as the powerful trample on international law and wield artificial intelligence and other technologies to attack human rights. "Human rights are under a full-scale attack around the world," Antonio Guterres told the open»»»

A Russian attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa region killed two people and injured three overnight, Ukraine's emergency service and a government official said on Monday. The two people died when a Russian drone fell on a truck stop causing a fire, the service said on the Telegram messenger. Infrastr»»»

Dubai: Urban 411 Office Furniture announced the UAE availability of its Gravita Executive Desk, a new workstation designed for executive offices that are increasingly balancing aesthetics, space efficiency, and employee wellbeing. Workplace design shifts in the UAEAcross the UAE, many organisations»»»

In Kyrgyzstan, 100 aiyl okmotu (local government bodies) will each receive a $100,000 grant to improve pasture conditions. Tamchybek Tuleev, head of the Agricultural Projects Implementation Unit under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, announced at a meeting of th»»»

Kyrgyzstan is now self-sufficient in six out of nine key food products. First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, Zhanybek Kerimaliev, stated at a meeting of the Committee on Agrarian Policy, Water Resources, Subsoil Use, Ecology and Environmental Protection of »»»

Dubai: Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho,” was one of the most feared and influential figures in modern Mexican organised crime, a man whose rise mirrored the violent transformation of the country’s drug war. Born in Aguililla, a rural town in the western state of Michoacán, Os»»»

The Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi (ADCMC) advanced the emirate’s preparedness and institutional resilience throughout 2025 by delivering an integrated ecosystem of specialised training programmes and joint exercises, targeting more than 500 participants across govern»»»

Reducing its environmental footprint is one of the biggest and most complex challenges for any modern winery. It is not just about changes in individual production stages, but about a holistic transition that touches the entire chain of production: from vineyard cultivation and water resource manag»»»

The United States began withdrawing on Monday from a major base in Syria still under the control of Kurdish forces, a Kurdish official who requested anonymity told AFP. An AFP team saw a convoy of dozens of trucks, loaded with armored vehicles and prefabricated structures, on a road linking the Qas»»»

US President Donald Trump has told advisers that if diplomacy or any initial targeted US attack does not lead Iran to give in to his demands that it give up its nuclear program, he will consider a much bigger attack in coming months intended to drive that country’s leaders from power, people briefe»»»

The issue of Alexey Shirshov’s participation in a recent meeting between the Kyrgyz delegation and the Russian Ministry of Energy has sparked renewed debate on social media. Discussions intensified after users recalled President Sadyr Japarov’s earlier statement that Shirshov «would not hold any pu»»»

International investor Hagag Development Europe has announced changes in its operations in the energy sector and its local management structure, including the appointment of Răzvan Pârvulescu as Business Development Director of the Natural Gas Division within Hagag Energy. Pârvulescu has been invol»»»

While many observers remain skeptical about the chances of success for President Donald Trump’s comprehensive Middle East peace plan, figures close to the US administration are projecting confidence. Among them are three Israelis selected for key roles in the project, though they do not formally re»»»

Hanoi, Vietnam: Unauthorised drones disrupted more than 50 flights at Vietnam's Danang international airport during the busy Lunar New Year holiday, state media said Monday. Two separate incidents last week saw flights delayed or forced into holding patterns before landing when authorities detected»»»