[RFI] Social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok were no longer available in Gabon on Wednesday, AFP journalists and a watchdog said, after regulators suspended them over security concerns amid anti-government protests.

[New Times] When Pierre Rutayisire arrived in Rwanda as a refugee from eastern DR Congo in 1995, his family had no source of income.

[MSF] After eight weeks of emergency intervention by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Sangé in the province of South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the number of cholera cases haves fallen by 90%. The epidemic - the most serious in the area in five years - is driven by limited access to water collection points and a fragile health system. It has also been exacerbated by the mass displacements of people fleeing the ongoing clashes between the Congolese army, allied

The Supreme Court has criticized the Tamil Nadu electricity board's promise of free electricity to all consumers. The apex court expressed concern that such freebies, regardless of financial need, hinder national economic development. It noted that states often offer these schemes, funded by taxpayer money, without proper budgetary justification.

Supermarket chain FairPrice announced on Thursday (Feb 19) that it will be providing refreshments for Muslim customers breaking their fast in-store, as Muslims in Singapore began observing the holy month of Ramadan on the same day. The company will be distributing 80,000 sets of refreshments — an apple, dates or biscuits along with a drink — to Muslim customers 30 minutes before and after the breaking of fast. This initiative — in its 18th consecutive edition — will run throughout the fasting month, which ends on March 20, and be available across 60 FairPrice stores islandwide.On Feb 19 and 20, the supermarket chain's philanthropic arm FairPrice Foundation will distribute 500 Ramadan care packs to Yayasan Mendaki beneficiaries.The care packs will contain fresh apples, dates, fresh milk, cooking paste and other break fast essentials.FairPrice Foundation will also sponsor a breaking of fast event on March 4. It said the event, held in collaboration with the National Trade Union Congress, will benefit more than 100 beneficiaries.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using the prefix 'Swami' for Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva on his birth anniversary. Banerjee stated this displayed cultural insensitivity, as the saint was revered as 'Thakur,' with 'Swami' being a title for his disciples. Modi had earlier paid tributes to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa.

The EU’s Eastern Partnership policy, established in 2009, links the EU with six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The policy supports political, social and economic reforms in these countries to strengthen democracy and good governance, energy security, environmental protection and economic and social development. Moldova and Ukraine have made the most progress, having been granted EU candidate country status in 2022. This was followed by the European Council’s decision on 14 December 2023 to open accession negotiations with them. On 24 and 25 June 2024 the EU held the first Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level to officially open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, but the formal opening of negotiating clusters is still pending as of January 2026. Belarus, by contrast, remains under authoritarian rule and faces EU sanctions for human rights violations and support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said he would not discuss the historical background of the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Donald Trump is weighing options for a military attack on Iran, the Wall Street Journal said Read Full Article at RT.com

Bangladesh’s former interim administration drew flak for attacks on Hindus during recent unrest Read Full Article at RT.com

India is hosting the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, bringing together global leaders to discuss artificial intelligence. Discussions focused on democratizing AI, building sovereign capabilities, and ensuring inclusive growth. Leaders emphasized AI's transformative potential across sectors like healthcare and education. The summit highlighted India's growing role as a trusted AI hub in the Global South.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized democratizing AI for human-centric development at the AI Impact Summit. He highlighted India's talent and policy clarity, inviting global collaboration. Modi unveiled the MANAV Vision for ethical, accountable, and inclusive AI, stressing the need for global standards and child safety in the evolving digital landscape.

Tucker Carlson and his staff were detained at an airport in Tel Aviv and interrogated by Israeli officials on Wednesday, according to the conservative commentator.

A high-stakes financial drama is unfolding in the corridors of power, pitting Malawi’s top legal and anti-corruption offices against its central bank. At the heart of the storm is the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF) and its controversial attempt to purchase the luxury Amaryllis Hotel for a staggering MK 128.75 billion. For thousands of […] The post MK128 Billion Gamble: Inside the High-Risk Amaryllis Deal Putting Civil Servants’ Pensions on the Line appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government is still not clear on when — and how — it will brief Malawians on the next course of action regarding the plane crash report that claimed the life of former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others. Nearly two years after the June 10, 2024 tragedy, the nation is still […] The post Closure Delayed: DPP Government Yet to Outline Concrete Action on Chilima Crash Report appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has found himself uninvited from the National Governors Association Dinner to take place at the White House tomorrow, an event that is part of the winter meetings of governors from across the United States (US). The governors’ winter meeting is scheduled to kick off today with the White House meeting slated for Friday. The black tie dinner follows formal discussions.

With Jamaica’s tourism products experiencing appreciable rebound following the displacements brought about by Hurricane Melissa last October, privately owned attractions are also fighting to get back to pre-hurricane operations. Nearly four months after the Category 5 storm battered sections of western Jamaica, Paul Fearon, chief executive officer of Jamaica Zoo and Waterfalls, is staring down the barrel of over J$300 million in damage.

Pastor Glen Samuels was on Tuesday elected president of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists during its Third Quinquennial Session, held at the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manchester. After being recommended by the nominating committee, his election was ratified by a vote of 113 to 40 by delegates. When called to the podium, Samuels, in a gesture of humility, stooped to wipe dust from the shoes of his predecessor, Pastor Everett Brown, who in turn laid his hands on Samuel’s head in blessing.

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, says there has been no official communication or request to accept anxious Jamaican medical students in Cuba, but it has indicated that it can accommodate those wanting to return to Jamaica. Campus Registrar Dr Donovan Stanberry said the university’s MBBS undergraduate programme can accommodate 280 students per annum, but noted that it has remained undersubscribed over the last few years.

At the completion of a court-ordered mediation in May last year, a judge at the Trelawny Parish Court dismissed four criminal charges laid against a businessman by two policemen who claimed he assaulted them. Rayon Bell was found not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting a constable, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct on May 26 last year after prosecutors offered no evidence against him, citing the “successful” mediation the Probation Office conducted between the businessman and the two policemen, according to court records seen by The Gleaner.

Les candidatures pour les bourses Australia Awards 2027 sont ouvertes. Destiné aux étudiants de Polynésie française, de Nouvelle-Calédonie et de Wallis-et-Futuna, le programme offre un financement complet pour des études supérieures en Australie, dans des domaines liés au développement durable et à l'innovation.

Depuis le début de l'année, 32 cas de leptospirose ont été répertoriés. Ils ont entraîné une vingtaine d'hospitalisations - dont neuf réanimations. Un décès a été enregistré. Le phénomène est courant en Polynésie pendant la saison des pluies. Dans cet article, on vous rappelle les mesures de précaution à prendre.

Gestion municipale fragilisée, économie locale en transition et contraintes de l’isolement : les enjeux structurants de Rangiroa sont au cœur d’un débat organisé ce mercredi 18 février par Polynésie la 1ère. Cinq listes se présentent et exposent leurs priorités à quelques semaines du scrutin municipal de 2026.

Depuis janvier 2026, les forces armées en Polynésie française (FAPF) ont procédé à une série d'interceptions majeures en haute mer, aboutissant à une saisie totale de plus de 11,5 tonnes de cocaïne, destinée à un marché autre que le fenua. Un volume inédit dans la zone.

Are the golden days of dreaming about owning a car in Singapore truly behind us?The enduring pressure of six-figure COE premiums notwithstanding, this week's industry-changing announcement - revealed as part of Singapore's 2026 Budget - now threatens to make financing a car more arduous still.The new regulations announced on Feb 12 threaten to make car ownership more financially difficult stillMoving forward, Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebates are set to be slashed by 45 percentage points across all age groups for PARF-eligible cars. Rebates will also be capped at just $30,000 now, from $60,000 previously.According to the authorities, the move comes as EVs, which are less pollutive (they don't have tailpipe emissions regardless of age), continue to gain traction in Singapore, thus reducing the need to incentivise owners to de-register their cars early.

A piece of Singapore pop-culture history has made a reappearance online.We are referring to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong's 'magic cup'.For the uninitiated, the blue tea-cup was thrown into the spotlight during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when it was used during then-prime minister Lee's multi-lingual televised addresses.It gave rise to the lore that the cup had magical language-changing abilities, as Lee would launch into each of his speeches in a different language after taking a sip of water from the cup.The memes that followed the moment gave Singaporeans reason to smile amidst a difficult time as the nation and others grappled with the virus.Curious netizens also dug into where the cup was made — Japan — what it was made of — porcelain — and where to buy it. Last we checked, an inspired version is still available on online store Supermama for $26.Netizens were also intrigued when Lee did not use the cup again during the following year's televised update on the Covid-19 situation.

Two Singaporeans are purportedly among the more than 50,000 soldiers enlisted in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) as of March 2025 — 17 months into the Gaza war — who held at least one other citizenship. This is according to information obtained by Israeli non-governmental organisation Hatzlacha through the country's Freedom of Information Law. The data obtained by Hatzlacha was first reported by British investigative news portal Declassified UK on Feb 11. Isreali news outlet Yedioth Ahronoth reported on the data on Feb 14, followed by Qatari media outlet Al Jazeera on Feb 15. According to the data, one Israeli soldier was listed as a dual Israeli-Singapore national, while another soldier was listed to have multiple nationalities — having at least one other passport alongside his or her Singaporean and Israeli ones. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship, but minors can hold two passports until they turn 21, when they have to decide whether to renounce Singapore citizenship. The Government may reject the application if a male citizen is subject to the Enlistment Act and has not done his National Service. 

A 74-year-old grandmother has been found dead at the home she shared with her son, who has been arrested on suspicion of her murder, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared in the early hours of February 1. Authorities believe she was kidnapped and are desperately trying to locate her.