State of the Union Offers Trump a Chance to Make the Case for His Foreign Policy Approach
President Donald Trump's State of the Union address is expected to tilt heavily on domestic issues, but it's also a chance for the Republican to make the case for his foreign policy efforts to Americans who are increasingly demonstrating uneasiness about his priorities. The president counts brokeri»»»
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Defended Its Independence on Fourth Anniversary of War
Ukraine has defended its independence since Russia's invasion and will not betray the sacrifices made by its people as it seeks peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an address marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the war. "Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken the Uk»»»
Struggling to stay awake? UAE doctors share ‘Week 2’ fix for Ramadan fatigue
As the second week of Ramadan unfolds across the UAE, doctors are seeing a noticeable rise in residents struggling with disrupted sleep. Long fasting hours, late-night prayers, early morning meals and busy work schedules are leaving many fatigued, affecting daily functioning. Also Read: Ramadan in »»»
UAE announces 2026-2029 academic calendar for higher education institutions
Dubai: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has approved the academic calendar for higher education institutions (HEIs) for the next three years: 2026-2027, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029. The decision was issued in line with the directives of the Education, Human Development »»»
UAE school calendar 2026–2029: Holidays, key exceptions explained
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education’s three-year academic calendar for 2026–2029 announced on Monday not only establishes a stable rhythm of school holidays but also introduces flexibility and exemptions that will affect how families plan travel and downtime. The calendar, which applies to all pub»»»
Etihad is hiring up to 3,000 people a year — here’s why
Abu Dhabi: UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways plans to continue large-scale recruitment as it expands its fleet, with the airline expecting to hire between 2,500 and 3,000 people per year over the next five years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The guidance follows»»»
Survey: Romanians favour seaside holidays, most often in August
Romanians enjoy spending their holiday at the seaside and at the beach (39%), and more than a quarter of them (27%) plan their main vacation in August, followed by July (20%), according to a survey published by the global fintech company Revolut and conducted by Dynata.The survey shows a clear pref»»»
Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte's 'war on drugs' under global scrutiny at ICC: Key facts
Dubai: Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have opened a high-stakes confirmation of the charges for the hearing of former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a move that could pave the way for an international trial over the killings linked to his controversial "war on drugs". T»»»
Kim Yo Jong promoted as North Korea ends Workers’ Party Congress - UPI.com
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was promoted to department director at the tuling Workers’ Party’s Ninth Congress, state media reported Tuesday. In this 2019 photo, Kim is seen at a wreath-laying ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam. File Pool Photo by Jorge Silva/EPA-EFE SEOUL, Feb. »»»
Etihad’s biggest profit ever — and it’s planning even bigger growth
Abu Dhabi: UAE's national airline Etihad Airways has reported its strongest financial performance in history, posting a record Dh2.6 billion profit for 2025 as margins more than doubled the global airline average. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Airline CEO Antonoaldo »»»
DAMAC triumphs at HR Tech Summit 2026 with three awards for innovation
DAMAC Group, the UAE-based global conglomerate, has won three awards at the HR Tech Summit & Awards 2026 in Dubai, underscoring its leadership in digital human resources (HR) transformation and technology-enhanced people practices. The group won the Best Digital Rewards and Recognition Platform for»»»
Bowen: Why Ukraine remains defiant and does not feel close to defeat
On a dark and cold night in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the netting protecting the road from attacks by explosive drones shimmered and rippled in the headlights of our armoured Toyota Land Cruiser, as we drove down strange and surreal tunnels to get in and out of the most intensive area of fighting»»»
Filipino brothers clinch top titles at UAE spelling bee championship
Dubai: Young Filipino talents have once again made their mark in the global academic scene after brothers Seth Warren Bacongallo and Rei Martus Bacongallo swept the top two spots at the second edition of the Spelling Bee Championship in the UAE. Seth, 12, has emerged as the champion, while his 10-y»»»
Interim FM: Bulgaria Rejects Russia’s Peace Terms, Backs Stronger EU and NATO Support for Ukraine
Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said Bulgaria cannot agree to peace arrangements in Europe dictated by Moscow, commenting on calls for negotiations with Russia. Speaking to Bulgarian journalists in Brussels during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, she stressed that Ukraine’s cau»»»
Minister Pislaru: Romania must absorb nearly EUR 11 billion under PNRR
Romania must absorb almost EUR 11 billion under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) over the next six months, with investment projects completed and signed off and reforms delivered on time in line with the calendar agreed with the European Commission, ahead of the 31 August 2026 deadl»»»
Four years of war leave Russia stagnating and Ukraine exhausted
The war in Ukraine started exactly four years ago today. The Kremlin was hoping for a blitzkrieg victory but the heroic resistance by the local forces caught the Russian forces and Ukraine’s Western allies unawares. Four years on and Ukraine remains locked in a grinding war of attrition, but shows »»»
Four years of war leave Russia stagnating and Ukraine exhausted
The war in Ukraine started exactly four years ago today. The Kremlin was hoping for a blitzkrieg victory but the heroic resistance by the local forces caught the Russian forces and Ukraine’s Western allies unawares. Four years on and Ukraine remains locked in a grinding war of attrition, but shows »»»
India’s Tata Group, OpenAI team up for AI hub and ChatGPT rollout
Dubai: In a major boost for India’s artificial intelligence plans, the Tata Group has partnered with OpenAI to build a large AI facility in India and expand the use of AI tools across businesses. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The announcement was made in Dubai on Feb»»»
Fasting for students has health and educational benefits
Doha, Qatar: Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and an act of worship that Allah Almighty and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), commanded us to observe. It is an obligation upon every Muslim man and woman. Training students to fast is considered an important educational pract»»»
1,500 fasting individuals served daily at Al Wakrah Ramadan tent organised by Ministry of Awqaf
Doha, Qatar: The “Iftar Saem” tent in Al Wakrah is witnessing a daily turnout of nearly 1,500 fasting individuals as part of the “For the Reward of the Doers of Good” initiative, organised and supervised by the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. The»»»
Ukraine Marks Four Years Since Russian Invasion
Ukraine marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on Tuesday with a show of solidarity from its staunchest allies, but with no end in sight to Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost since the Kremlin ordered troops into Ukraine »»»
QNB Group announces launch of Annual Report
Doha, Qatar: QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, announced the launch of its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025, highlighting another year of strong performance, strategic progress and continued commitment to sustainable value creation. Despite a»»»
Global Islamic fintech market projected to grow to $341bn by 2029
Doha, Qatar: DinarStandard, a US-based research and advisory firm, and Elipses, a leading ethical digital finance advisory and investment firm, jointly released the Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) Report 2025/26. The report was produced in partnership with SalaamGateway.com, the largest Islamic econo»»»
Win up to Dh100,000 by decorating your home for Ramadan 2026 in Dubai
Dubai residents have a golden opportunity this Ramadan, quite literally. A citywide home decoration competition is now open for entries, with a top cash prize of Dh100,000 up for grabs and a total of 15 winners set to be rewarded for bringing the spirit of the Holy Month to life on their doorsteps.»»»
Maliki Says Has ‘Absolutely No Intention’ to Withdraw PM Candidacy as Barrack Visits Iraq
The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his nomination after pressure from the US, while also seeking to allay Washington's concerns. Since the US-led invasion that overthrew former ruler Saddam Hussein»»»
MoCI launches 36 e-services to accelerate digital transformation
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) launched 36 new electronic services through its official website, as part of its ongoing efforts to advance digital transformation and enhance service efficiency, in line with the Ministry’s Strategy (2024–2030). In a post on its X platform,»»»
Trump Organization launches 91-storey luxury hotel and apartments in Australia
Dubai: The Trump Organization has unveiled plans to develop a landmark luxury hotel and residential tower on Australia’s Gold Coast, marking its first official project in the country. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The proposed Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold »»»
Ukraine's Violation of Friendship Treaty With Russia Led to Start of Special Operation - MFA
Ukraine's violation of the treaty of friendship, cooperation and partnership with Russia led to Moscow's decision to launch the special military operation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik. "For a number of years, the Ukrainian leadership has pursued a policy of gro»»»
EU Diplomats Meet Board of Peace Director over Gaza's Future
The European Union's top diplomats met Monday in Brussels with the director of the Board of Peace after a shaky and controversial embrace of US President Donald Trump's efforts to secure and rebuild the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. Nikolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and UN diplomat chosen b»»»
Muscat to Tashkent: Your new direct gateway to Central Asia starts soon
Dubai: Oman Air has announced the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Tashkent, marking its entry into the Central Asian market as part of its ongoing international expansion. The new service will begin on 1 June 2026 and operate twice weekly, linking the capitals of Oman and Uzbekistan. Th»»»
Archaeologists just found a lost 18th-century city hidden beneath the Egyptian sand
Dubai: The remains of an 18th-century mudbrick residential city, and a Coptic necropolis dating to the Byzantine period, have been uncovered by a joint Egyptian–French archaeological mission, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said. The discovery was made at the Sheikh Al Arab Hammam site »»»
Why this new Abu Dhabi guide could be a game-changer for mangrove conservation across the Arabian Gulf region
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, has launched a monitoring guide for mangrove ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf region—marking the first initiative of its kind in the region to advance scientific knowledge and conservation practices for mang»»»
Paris court to review Nicolas Sarkozy's request to merge sentences in graft case
A Paris criminal court will on Monday review former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s request to combine sentences handed down in separate convictions for corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who served from 2007 to 2012, has faced multiple legal cases since leaving office. His lawyer said»»»
Hungary blocks EU Ukraine loan, Russia sanctions on eve of war anniversary
Hungary maintained its veto on Monday against a new EU package of sanctions against Russia and a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, while a Ukrainian strike against a Russian pumping station serving the Druzhba oil pipeline threatened to further worsen relations between Kyiv and Budapest. Hungary maintai»»»
Dubai Court orders developer to refund Dh185,000 to investor over construction delays
Dubai: A Dubai real estate court has ordered a property developer to refund Dh185,000 to an investor after ruling that lengthy construction delays justified reducing the amount the company was allowed to retain following contract termination. Also Read: Dh4.9m ruling upheld in Fujairah licence tran»»»
Dubai gold eases from peak. Buyers spot brief price break
Dubai: Dubai gold prices edged lower early Tuesday following a sharp run-up a day earlier, giving buyers a brief window after several sessions of steady gains driven by global uncertainty. At 8.30 am, the 24-carat rate stood at Dh623 per gram, down from Dh626.75 on Monday morning, while the 22-cara»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
A Russian tanker is heading to Cuba. Will Trump let it through?
A tanker widely believed to be carrying Russian fuel is heading towards Cuba, potentially setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between Moscow and Washington as the island struggles under a de facto US fuel embargo that has crippled power generation, transport and basic services. »»»
A Russian tanker is heading to Cuba. Will Trump let it through?
A tanker widely believed to be carrying Russian fuel is heading towards Cuba, potentially setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between Moscow and Washington as the island struggles under a de facto US fuel embargo that has crippled power generation, transport and basic services. »»»
Kuwait summons Iraq envoy as Gulf states rally over UN maritime map dispute
Kuwait has summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires and delivered a formal protest after Baghdad deposited a maritime coordinates map with the United Nations that Kuwait says infringes on its sovereignty over disputed shoals, triggering a wave of condemnation from Gulf states and beyond, according to stat»»»
Kuwait summons Iraq envoy as Gulf states rally over UN maritime map dispute
Kuwait has summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires and delivered a formal protest after Baghdad deposited a maritime coordinates map with the United Nations that Kuwait says infringes on its sovereignty over disputed shoals, triggering a wave of condemnation from Gulf states and beyond, according to stat»»»
Kuwait summons Iraq envoy as Gulf states rally over UN maritime map dispute
Kuwait has summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires and delivered a formal protest after Baghdad deposited a maritime coordinates map with the United Nations that Kuwait says infringes on its sovereignty over disputed shoals, triggering a wave of condemnation from Gulf states and beyond, according to stat»»»
Indonesia is open for business - at least on the surface
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took to the stage at the headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington last week. His message to American executives focused on how Indonesia is open for business, as it intends to remain stable, predictable, and strategically indispensable. As he wa»»»
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pledge sizeable but unspecified financial backing for Trump’s Board of Peace
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to channel sizeable financial backing through the World Bank’s Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund in a show of support for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP). »»»
Kuwait summons Iraq envoy as Gulf states rally over UN maritime map dispute
Kuwait has summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires and delivered a formal protest after Baghdad deposited a maritime coordinates map with the United Nations that Kuwait says infringes on its sovereignty over disputed shoals, triggering a wave of condemnation from Gulf states and beyond, according to stat»»»