As Prince William walked through in Saudi Arabian oasis city on Wednesday, it looked like a scene straight from the BBC's smash hit spy thriller The Night Manager.

Speaking at a summit on the night-time economy in Liverpool, Ms Rayner - wearing Superman logo socks - said 'more needs to be done' to rescue the struggling sector.

Long-awaited trans guidance for schools finally arrived, having been watered down from previous Tory proposals.

A social media post claiming that a local childcare centre has reported a case of measles is untrue, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Friday (Feb 13).An anonymous parent said in a Facebook group on Feb 11 that she was informed by her daughter's childcare centre of a measles case, and asked if any other centres have an «outbreak».«We wish to clarify that as of Feb 12, 2026, 12pm, there are no confirmed measles cases at childcare centres or pre-schools in Singapore,» CDA said.It added that while doctors have referred a few cases of suspected measles to the CDA, all of them tested negative.«We advise members of the public not to speculate and/or spread unfounded rumours, and to rely on official sources for health information.»

Animal smuggling cases in Singapore fell 33 per cent in 2025 with 28 cases detected, compared with 42 in 2024, said the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 13). NParks said the cases it detected last year in coordination with partner agencies such as ICA involved pets as well as wildlife for the pet trade, including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). There were 35 cases reported in 2023 and 34 in 2022. Out of the 28 cases detected last year, eight led to court charges while 20 resulted in composition fines issued to offenders, including buyers. NParks emphasised that animal smuggling not only harms the animals involved but also poses broader risks to public health and safety, as smuggled animals may carry infectious and contagious diseases that can threaten native wildlife, resident pets and even humans. 

On Friday (Feb 13) afternoon, a car pulled up at the National University of Singapore (NUS) @ UTown and three gunmen got out and started shooting at students.Chaos reigned as students suffered «gunshot wounds».One of the gunmen then went to a dustbin nearby to place an improvised explosive device (IED) in it. Three «gunmen» attempted to wreak havoc at NUS @ UTown on Friday (Feb 13) afternoon. They shot at students and passers-by after getting out of a vehicle and even placed an IED in one of the dustbins. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Shafiq Apandi Then, it fell eerily quiet again, as the «gunmen» disappeared into the building, leaving their victims groaning in pain.

The effort to indict six Democratic lawmakers marks the first time DOJ has attempted to classify critical speech from prominent Trump detractors as a crime.

Among other things, the UK has pledged to allocate an additional $500 mln pounds for Ukraine’s air defenses

According to the publication, the steps taken by Washington point to «a significant shift in its nuclear policy» and could «threaten to reignite a nuclear arms race that the world can ill afford»

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that, while there is no immediate prospect of coordinated action within the BRICS alliance, various options remain on the table depending on how the situation evolves

The group’s press service emphasized that Russian specialists have consistently demonstrated the tanks’ ease of maintenance and serviceability

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, February 13th

Singapore’s plans to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) by encouraging its timely adoption, several firms told AsiaOne on Friday (Feb 13).It comes after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a slew of initiatives in his Budget 2026 speech on Thursday (Feb 12) — part of a nationwide push for businesses, workers and students to harness AI as a strategic advantage.PM Wong, who unveiled a record $154.7 billion budget, said: «AI will change how we work. The pace of change can be unsettling, especially when livelihoods are at stake. »We will press ahead with AI because we must. At the same time, we will put in place strong support to help our workers adapt and progress, because we will take care of our own."Adeline Liew, country business leader of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise in Singapore, said that the immediate challenge for businesses is ensuring that there are resources in place to adopt AI in their operations.

SINGAPORE – Blind boxes offered in Singapore will soon be regulated, following a review by the authorities.In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Feb 12, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) have studied the issue and have decided to introduce regulations.The regulations, which are currently being drafted, will stipulate conditions under which blind boxes may be offered here, to better manage gambling inducement risks, he added.He was responding to a question from Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) about whether the Government intends to legislate mandatory and standardised disclosure of odds and probability ranges for blind box or “gacha” products.Mr Shanmugam said Mr Tan’s suggestion will be among the points considered for the regulations.Blind boxes are sealed boxes that contain a random collectible, such as a figurine, toy or accessory.Buyers purchase blind boxes not knowing what collectible they will get, with the odds of getting specific collectibles not always disclosed explicitly by manufacturers.

The movement of between 6,000 and 7,000 detainees to Iraqi government control, underway for weeks, could be complete as soon as Friday.

Standard Bank is facing a growing backlash from angry customers who say the bank has been quietly bleeding their accounts through endless, unexplained deductions — and only speaking up after the outrage exploded on social media. Across platforms, customers are sharing screenshots and complaints of repeated charges hitting their accounts without warning. One customer reported […] The post Standard Bank in the Dock: Customers Slam “Secret” Deductions as Bank Hides Behind Taxes appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

In a firm response to mounting public criticism, the Malawi Judiciary has issued a hard-hitting statement defending the Supreme Court of Appeal’s controversial ruling in favor of Finance Bank of Malawi. The statement, released on February 13, 2026, by Chief Registrar Innocent Nebi, comes after a wave of speculation and social media frenzy over alleged […] The post Malawi Judiciary Strikes Back: Defends Supreme Court Ruling on Finance Bank Case Amid Public Outcry appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Five people were taken to hospital after an accident involving a car and a van along the TPE on Friday (Feb 13) morning.The accident, involving a red Tesla and a van, happened at about 2.30am towards the PIE, before Punggol Road exit. When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 3.45am, the van was lying on its side. A video posted on its Facebook page by SG Road Vigilante shows passing motorists helping the 38-year-old male van driver and the three male passengers out of the van.They were later taken to hospital.

A 27-year-old Indonesian man was arrested on Feb 29 on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a drug called Kratom via Singapore.Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, according to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), and its leaves contain Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine which can affect the brain and cause mood swings.It is commonly consumed by chewing on raw leaves or boiled as a tea.The stimulant can cause effects including nausea, seizures, and hallucinations.In a Facebook post on Friday (Feb 13), the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the man was flagged for additional checks at Singapore Cruise Centre as he appeared nervous.A search of his luggage revealed a wrapped package, which is suspected to contain 1.02kg of Kratom in powder form.Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are classified as Class A controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.For importing Class A controlled drugs, offenders face a mandatory jail term of at least five years and five strokes of the cane.The case has been referred to CNB for further investigation.

Thomas Partey has been charged with two additional counts of rape. The ex-Arsenal midfielder has already appeared in court where he denied raping two women.

[allAfrica]

[allAfrica] The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence, which was released in 2020, pledged to combat harmful gender norms. However, a new study reveals that the battle over what it means to «be a man» is being fought online in real time, with fractures on the frontlines more than ever.

A new workgroup has been set up to develop strategies and strengthen Singapore's position as a global leader in private capital, said Minister for National Development and deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chee Hong Tat.Speaking to the media on Friday (Feb 13), Chee said that the Growth Capital Workgroup will recommend measures to support the financing needs of companies from Singapore and the region across the various growth stages.The workgroup, first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his Budget statement on Thursday, will be chaired by Chee. It will comprise key private sector stakeholders and public sector representatives, including organisations like DBS, Temasek Holdings and Goldman Sachs. Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Manpower, is the other political office holder in the workgroup.«The supply of capital and the demand for capital presents an opportunity for us as a trusted financial hub to see how we can benefit from this growth,» said Chee.

The police conducted enforcement operations against illegal activities in Chinatown and Jalan Besar on Thursday (Feb 12) which led to the arrest of seven women aged between 32 and 43.The seven women are being investigated for various offences, including working without a valid work pass; providing massage services without a licence; and keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a place of assignation.There have been previous media reports of shops suspected of offering «special» services to male customers.Most recently, in December 2025, there were reports of shops on the ground floor and third floor of People's Park Centre in Chinatown offering such services.Business owners in the complex noted that the authorities had conducted anti-vice raids, but the seedy parlours would resume their activities afterwards.

Anthropic has injected $20 million into a political advocacy group that backs candidates favoring AI regulation Read Full Article at RT.com

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun collided with fast combat support vessel USNS Supply near South America Read Full Article at RT.com

The Justice Department has said it logs searches made by congressional investigators on its systems only to protect sensitive information Read Full Article at RT.com

The Bangladesh National Party has reportedly secured over 200 seats in the 300-member parliament Read Full Article at RT.com

[New Times] For years, Rwandan patients with severe knee injuries, complex fractures, or chronic joint pain learned to pack their bags long before they knew their surgical dates--heading to India, South Africa, and sometimes Europe, wherever a referral letter and personal savings could take them.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on the BNP's decisive election victory, pledging India's support for a democratic Bangladesh. The BNP secured a significant majority, signaling a new political era after months of unrest. Rahman, son of a former president, is poised to become prime minister, marking a shift after former PM Sheikh Hasina's departure.