UN Urges US to Comply With UN Charter Amid Trump’s Claims to Greenland - Spokesman
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United Nations calls on the United States to comply with the Charter amid Washington's plans to "acquire" Greenland and threats of tariffs on countries opposing a takeover, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said on Friday. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump did no»»»
Look: Shades of purple as Cebu marks Sto Niño festival with fluvial parade
Manila: Nearly 400 vessels carrying the image of Señor Sto. Niño from Mactan Island back to Cebu City joined the procession on the Mactan Channel on Saturday (January 17) for Sinulog 2026. The event, which marks a key religious highlight of the annual Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival, kicked off a»»»
All eyes on Riyadh as Joy Awards bring global stars together
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: If you thought red carpets were dramatic, wait until Hollywood, Bollywood, and Arab superstars collide on Riyadh’s lavender carpet tonight. The 6th Joy Awards is here, and Gulf News Manjusha Radhakrishnan will be there, front-row, keeping tabs on celebrity arrivals, jaw-droppi»»»
20 nabbed in drugs raid in northern Greece
A large police operation unfolded Friday morning in Soufli, in the Evros region, with authorities reporting about 20 detentions and arrests, including two military personnel. Special police units carried out raids on suspects’ homes, assisted by drug‑detection dogs, as part of a centrally coordinat»»»
EU nation issues its first-ever war bond
Luxembourg has issued its first-ever war bond, becoming the first EU country to issue such a debt security since World War Two. The issuance of the bond was announced on Thursday by Finance Minister Gilles Roth, who said the initiative was designed to “make citizens’ savings more available for econ»»»
Gaza Peace Board to Include Rubio, Witkoff, Kushner - White House
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, among others, while US Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers has been appointed Commander of International Stabilization F»»»
NATO Buildup in Arctic Fuels Tensions - Russian Ambassador
Russia is concerned about NATO’s increased activity in the Arctic, Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov told Sputnik. As experience shows, "boosting the North Atlantic alliance’s presence in a particular region does not contribute to strengthening security but, on the contrary, leads to i»»»
Bishkek mayor inspects HPP readiness to operate in freezing conditions - | 24.KG
Due to a drop in air temperatures, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev and his deputy Nurgazy Kurmanbekov inspected the Bishkek Heating and Power Plant (HPP). According to the Bishkek City Hall press service, during the visit city officials reviewed current temperature conditions and electricity load»»»
Bishkek cleared of snow: Municipal services switch to round-the-clock operation - | 24.KG
Due to heavy snowfall, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev personally inspected the city to assess street conditions and monitor the work of municipal services. During the inspection, the head of the capital issued prompt instructions to relevant departments and emphasized the need for timely and uni»»»
Unsettled weather hits UAE as winds pick up
Dubai: The UAE is experiencing a spell of unsettled winter weather on Saturday, with partly cloudy skies, strong northwesterly winds and very rough seas. A surface low-pressure system from the east is interacting with a high-pressure system moving in from the west, the National Centre of Meteorolog»»»
From lofts to flamingos: Dubai Design District’s bold new expansion revealed
Dubai: Dubai Holding Real Estate (DHRE) has unveiled the next phase of development at Dubai Design District (d3), outlining a major expansion that will bring new luxury homes, creative workspaces, wellness zones and waterfront living to one of Dubai’s most strategic locations along the Creek. Sign »»»
Daiyrbek Orunbekov: 50 journalists will receive apartments through SMC - | 24.KG
Sadyr Japarov closely monitors the information environment, high-profile cases, and social media discussions. Daiyrbek Orunbekov, head of the Presidential Administration’s Information Policy Service, stated. «The president believes that information policy is directly linked to security and stabilit»»»
Latin America: US issues 'military activity' flight advisory
BusinessUnited States of AmericaLatin America: US issues 'military activity' flight advisoryShakeel Sobhan with AFP, Reuters, dpaThe warnings come as Trump has suggested possible military strikes against drug cartel targets in Mexico. However, Mexican authorities said the US advisory has no operati»»»
Ukraine suspends Iran embassy operations
Ukraine has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, citing deteriorating security conditions as protests continue across Iran, the mission announced via social media on January 16. The announcement follows mass prot»»»
Russia denies new Telegram restrictions despite user complaints
Russia's state communications regulator Roskomnadzor denied implementing new restrictions on popular messaging application Telegram despite user complaints about slow video loading speeds, the agency told state TASS on January 16. »»»
Syria's new president issues decree granting Kurdish language and citizenship rights
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree on January 16 granting Kurdish citizens language rights and citizenship while declaring the Persian and Kurdish new year Nowruz a national holiday, state news agency SANA reported. »»»
Ukraine suspends Iran embassy operations
Ukraine has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, citing deteriorating security conditions as protests continue across Iran, the mission announced via social media on January 16. The announcement follows mass prot»»»
ChatGPT to carry adverts for some users
Adverts will soon appear at the top of the AI tool ChatGPT for some users, the company OpenAI has announced. The trial will initially take place in the US, and will affect some ChatGPT users on the free service and a new subscription tier, called ChatGPT Go. This cheaper option will be available fo»»»
Google appeals landmark antitrust verdict over search monopoly
Google has appealed a US district judge's landmark antitrust ruling that found the company illegally held a monopoly in online search. "As we have long said, the Court's August 2024 ruling ignored the reality that people use Google because they want to, not because they're forced to," Google's vice»»»
Russia denies new Telegram restrictions despite user complaints
Russia's state communications regulator Roskomnadzor denied implementing new restrictions on popular messaging application Telegram despite user complaints about slow video loading speeds, the agency told state TASS on January 16. »»»
A faceless hacker stole my therapy notes – now my deepest secrets are online forever
A soon as Meri-Tuuli Auer saw the subject line in her junk folder, she knew it was no ordinary spam email. It contained her full name and her social security number - the unique code Finnish people use to access public services and banking. The email was full of details about Auer no one else shoul»»»
Tyler Robinson wants prosecutor removed from Charlie Kirk murder case - UPI.com
Attorneys for alleged Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson, 22, on Friday argued to have a prosecutor removed from the case because his daughter was at the Utah Valley University event when Kirk was shot and killed. File Photo by UPI | License Photo Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Attorneys for alleged Charlie Kirk»»»
Emirati Resolve and the imperative of confronting terrorist organisations
The concept of Emirati Resolve — a deeply rooted national value embodying determination, strategic foresight, moral responsibility, and steadfast readiness to defend legitimate states and protect regional stability — has long shaped the United Arab Emirates’ approach to security and peace. Resolve »»»
US aircraft carrier heading to Middle East – Fox News
The US has deployed at least one aircraft carrier to the Middle East, Fox News has reported, citing anonymous military sources. It comes on the heels of thinly-veiled threats against Iran in recent days by President Donald Trump. The Islamic Republic has been gripped by mass protests since late Dec»»»
India's astrotourism boom draws urban stargazers beyond city limits
On a cold winter night, around 200km (125 miles) from the Indian capital Delhi, dozens of people huddle around telescopes, waiting for darkness to settle over the landscape. Over the next few hours, more than 150 meteors streak across the sky - a spectacle all but impossible to witness from India's»»»
Trump's proposed credit card cap spotlights Americans' debt. Would it help?
Credit card debt is an increasingly heavy burden for millions of Americans. Selena Cooper, 26, is among those dealing with the strain. A former paralegal at the Social Security Administration, she was left without a stable income when the US government shut down a few months ago. She lost her job p»»»
From camouflage to tracksuits - Guinea's junta leader poised to become civilian president
From the moment he seized power in September 2021 Guinea's Mamadi Doumbouya struck an imposing figure. Just 36 years old at the time, the broad-shouldered colonel, standing at well over six feet (1.8m), wearing military fatigues, mirrored sunglasses and a red beret certainly made an impression when»»»
Supreme Court agrees to review geofence warrant challenge - UPI.com
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to weigh arguments for and against using geofence warrants while investigating criminal cases. Photo by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office/Wikimedia Commons Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review a challenge to geofence warrants filed b»»»
US justice department investigates Minnesota Democrats over alleged obstruction of ICE
The US justice department is investigating two prominent Minnesota officials over alleged attempts to impede federal immigration agents, in an escalation of the Trump's administration's clash with Democrats. Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are facing an inquiry over statements th»»»
Under fire from the sea, families in Odesa try to escape Russian barrage
From Mariia's 16th-floor flat, the calm waters of the Black Sea stretch out into the horizon beneath the fading twilight. "Up here you can see and hear when the drones come," she says, standing by a wall-length, floor-to-ceiling window. When they hit buildings and homes in the city of Odesa down be»»»
Security engagements kill 12 militants in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- At least 12 "terrorists" were killed in clashes with the security forces in three different areas in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Friday.According to Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), approximately 15 to 20 terroris»»»
GCC chief welcomes Gaza plan phase two
RIYADH, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi welcomed the move to Phase Two of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, and the formation of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).Al-Budaiwi thanked, in a press»»»
'Victims of a slaughter: Iranian people have been rising up for decades against the Islamic regime'
Mark Owen welcomes Aida Tavakoli, co-founder of We Are Iranian Students, who offers a window into the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Iran under a blanket of state-imposed darkness. Her voice, urgent and unwavering, challenges the international community, including the UN Security Council, to rise»»»
Syria's Sharaa declares Kurdish a 'national language' following clashes
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday declared Kurdish one of the country's national languages in the wake of recent clashes between the army and Kurdish forces in Aleppo. Kurds in north Syria have declined to integrate into the State calling instead for a decentralised federal system, which »»»
Focus - Residents of Tunisian town of Gabes demand end to pollution
In the southern Tunisian town of Gabes, anger has been simmering in recent months as locals demand the dismantlement of the Tunisian Chemical Group. This state-owned enterprise turns phosphate into fertiliser, often emitting toxic gases. So far, however, protesters have not achieved their»»»
'Weird couple of years' for Stranger Things star
Irish actress Amybeth McNulty has said it has been a "weird couple of years" since joining the cast of sci-fi horror series Stranger Things. McNulty, who is from County Donegal, said: "It's insane, I feel like a little cog in this very massive machine." The 24-year-old joined Stranger Things in its»»»
Access Asia - Trump's world: India and EU draw closer
In this week's edition of Access Asia, we explore how India and the EU are edging closer, as reports swirl that the two sides are in the final stages of securing a free trade deal. This shift in the relationship comes as both powers grapple with an unpredictable Donald Trump. Plus, w»»»
A hotline to report vapers and caning if you're caught: Singapore's e-cigarette crackdown
It's a busy day at Woodlands Checkpoint, Singapore's main land crossing on the border with Malaysia, and thousands of cars are slowly trundling past the watchful eyes of customs officer Belinda Liaw and her team. Suddenly Liaw steps forward, signalling at a white Toyota van to stop. Her team swarms»»»
Education Department delays garnishment on defaulted student debt - UPI.com
The Department of Education on Friday paused plans to seize tax refunds and garnish wages of those in default while revising student loan repayment regulations. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Education Department has delayed plans to seize tax refunds and»»»
Blair and Rubio among names on Gaza 'Board of Peace'
The Trump administration has named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as two of the founding members of its "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner will also sit on the "founding execu»»»
Poland to produce landmines, abandoning treaty
Poland will formally withdraw from an international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines next month, a senior defense official has announced, outlining plans to mass-produce the ordnance and prepare for possible deployment along the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad Region. Deputy Defense Ministe»»»
Western U.S. faces worsening snow drought; California the exception - UPI.com
The snow-capped mountains behind the downtown Los Angeles skyline are visible before sunset at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles on March 9, 2024. This year, California is one of the rare Western states that are not in a snow drought. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo»»»
Ramadan 2026 in UAE: How shopping, screen time, travel change after iftar
Dubai: Ramadan in the UAE is expected to begin around February 18 or 19, and this year it is arriving with measurable shifts in how residents move, shop, and structure their day. Falling in late winter, the month brings cooler evenings and shorter days, reinforcing behavioural changes that research»»»
Nobel Peace Prize committee: Only Maria Corina Machado is honored - UPI.com
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado presents her medal to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday. Image courtesy of the White House Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Corina Machado is the only recognized recipient of the award despite the Venezuelan leader »»»
Trump envoy outlines demands on Iran
The US prefers a diplomatic solution to ongoing tensions with Iran rather than military action, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has said, urging Tehran to scale down its missile and nuclear programs. A wave of protests kicked off in Iran in late December. Initially prompted by »»»
France warns US over Greenland
France has issued a diplomatic warning to the US, stating that any attempt to seize Greenland would amount to a “crossed line” and threaten economic ties with the EU, Financial Times has reported. The message was delivered by French Finance Minister Roland Lescure to his US counterpart, Treasury Se»»»
Why this famous iceberg turned blue and what it tells us about melting ice - UPI.com
Iceberg A-23A is seen from the International Space Station. Photo courtesy of NASA NASA's Earth Observatory captured striking new satellite imagery showing iceberg A-23A, once one of the largest icebergs ever tracked, which is now taking on an intense blue hue as it drifts in the South Atlantic Oce»»»
China, Canada move to ease trade tensions as tariffs are slashed
China and Canada have agreed to scale back tariffs following a closely watched meeting in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mark Carney, signalling a tentative reset in relations after several years of strain. »»»
China, Canada move to ease trade tensions as tariffs are slashed
China and Canada have agreed to scale back tariffs following a closely watched meeting in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mark Carney, signalling a tentative reset in relations after several years of strain. »»»
DOJ reports 500+ are reviewing millions of Epstein files - UPI.com
More than 500 people are assigned to reviewing and redacting millions of pages of the Jeffrey Epstein case files before making them publicly available, Department of Justice officials said on Thursday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice has more»»»