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A Turkish military pilot was killed on Wednesday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed shortly after take-off during a mission flight, local authorities said. Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff during a mission flight. Turkish media reported that the crash site was in the Naipli area of Balikesir’s Karesi district, and traffic on part of the Istanbul-Izmir highway was temporarily halted as emergency teams worked at the scene. In a statement, Turkey’s defence ministry said a technical investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the accident, adding that search teams were dispatched to the site immediately after contact was lost. The Turkish Interior Ministry said it was monitoring the investigation in coordination with relevant authorities. Source link
A woman looks at a stall displaying dried fruits and nuts at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on February 24, 2026. Iran warned the United States on February…
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said there are “all the guarantees” for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the country, after the capture and death of Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader triggered roadblocks, arson and security clashes, notably in Jalisco state. Asked if the top international football tournament, which is expected to draw crowds of fans from around the world to matches in Mexico City, Monterrey and Jalisco’s capital Guadalajara, would pose a risk to visitors, Sheinbaum said there was “no risk.” A spokesperson for FIFA told Reuters that the organisation was closely monitoring the situation and was in close contact with the authorities. “We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities,” they said. Local Mexican leagues postponed some matches that had been scheduled for Sunday, the day cartel members coordinated a series of violent attacks across the country in the aftermath of an operation to capture cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” which resulted in his death. Sheinbaum told a morning press conference that the situation was continuing to normalise, noting that several new roadblocks appeared overnight but said security forces were working to safeguard public security. Sheinbaum has largely followed the political map of her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who prioritised alleviating poverty and other root causes of violence, adopting a slogan of “hugs not bullets.”Asked whether the killing of Oseguera marked a break from that policy, Sheinbaum said this would never be the case. “The detention of a suspected criminal with an arrest warrant can generate this type of circumstance, but we are looking for peace, not war,” she said. The arrests of other top cartel figures in Sinaloa state have in recent years also triggered cartel retaliation, including shootouts and vehicles set on fire. Mexico is set to host 13 of 104 World Cup matches. Four of these are set to be held in Guadalajara. It will also host some preliminary warm-up matches before the tournament opens on June 11. Source link
Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan received eye treatment yesterday, according to a hospital statement, although a spokesman for the ex-cricket star complained that he was not allowed to see his personal doctor. Khan has been in jail since 2023 and was sentenced late last year along with his wife to 17 years on corruption charges they both deny. The 73-year-old’s family and lawyer say that he has lost most of the vision in his right eye. Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for a second dose of eye injections, the hospital said. “Khan was found to be clinically stable,” it added. However, Khan’s press adviser Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari said that “access should be granted to his personal physician and family”. Last week, more than a dozen international cricket captains concerned for Khan’s health urged the Islamabad government to give him “adequate” medical treatment.Khan was prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed in a no-confidence vote during a crisis over tensions between his government and Pakistan’s military establishment. He has since faced multiple legal cases on corruption and other charges. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, maintain that the cases against him are politically motivated. Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, told a news conference on February 12 that “one of Khan’s eyes has only 15% vision”, following a jail visit. Source link
India's drug regulator has inspected nearly 90% of the country's cough syrup makers and found compliance lapses in some, its chief said on Monday, amid heightened scrutiny after India-made syrups were linked to the deaths of children in the country and abroad.The inspections follow the discovery of a brand of cough syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol that was linked to the deaths of 24 children in October last year. The product, named Coldrif, was made by Sresan Pharmaceutical, based in Tamil Nadu.’We took serious actions on serious non-compliances, and our belief is that the rot of cough syrup manufacturing will be removed,’ Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Raghuvanshi said at the IPA 11th Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit in Mumbai.The regulator is looking to fix issues around cough syrup products, he said, without providing a timeline.The agency is under pressure to tighten oversight of the $42bn pharma industry, dominated by small manufacturers, after India-made cough syrups have been tied to the deaths of more than 140 children in Africa and Central Asia since 2022, denting its reputation as the ‘pharmacy of the world’.About 90% of all cough syrup makers, around 1,100, had been inspected, Raghuvanshi said, and pointed to breaches of good manufacturing practices, failure to test incoming raw materials and use of invalid methods or processes. He did not share the number of companies found non-compliant or name them.The regulator has also inspected an additional 1,250 drug manufacturing units protectively to evaluate risks, a practice begun in 2022, he said, but declined to say how many had compliance issues or were forced to halt operations temporarily.India's drug regulator aims to bring its operations on par with the US Food and Drug Administration by addressing staffing shortages, speeding up approvals, and boosting resources, Raghuvanshi said.The agency plans to create 1,500 positions, with about 40% of them flexible, contract roles, and may bring in global industry experts as advisers. It is also piloting the use of artificial intelligence to review applications, according to Raghuvanshi.Separately, the regulator has streamlined export clearances by removing the need for so-called no-objection certificates for drugs shipped to the US, Europe, Australia, Japan, the UK and Canada, a move he said will save time and resources. Source link
Sidra Medicine and QatarEnergy officials at the MoU signing. Sidra Medicine and QatarEnergy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set a framework for mutual collaboration across healthcare services, professional development opportunities, and the exchange of expertise. The MoU reflects both organisations’ commitment to contribute to the ongoing development of Qatar’s healthcare ecosystem and support the needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and the wider community. Mohammed Khalid al-Mana, acting CEO and member of the Board of Governors at Sidra Medicine, said: “This Memorandum of Understanding with QatarEnergy reflects our commitment to working closely with national partners to support access to high-quality healthcare services, and invest in professional development. Our collaboration and shared expertise will help strengthen and support Qatar’s healthcare systems in the long term.” Nabeel Mohammed al-Buenain, executive VP, HSE & Business Services at QatarEnergy, noted: “This Memorandum of Understanding with Sidra Medicine reflects QatarEnergy’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our workforce through access to high-quality, specialised healthcare services. By collaborating with a leading healthcare institution, we aim to enhance healthcare pathways, invest in professional development, and contribute to the continued advancement of Qatar’s healthcare ecosystem.” The MoU framework covers commercial healthcare solutions, including insurance pathways and tailored maternity and corporate healthcare packages. It also includes education and training initiatives such as continuing medical education, professional development, and health education programmes. Additional services include the coordination of clinical services such as outpatient support, referral pathways, and access to specialised care for QatarEnergy employees. Related Story Source link
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, delivers remarks at the top of the Cabinet meeting to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, at…
Vladimir Putin has not broken Ukraine, its leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday as the Kremlin marked the start of the fifth year of its invasion by vowing to keep fighting Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II until it achieves its goals.Moscow had hoped to take Kyiv in days when it launched its invasion on February 24, 2022.Four years later – with hundreds of thousands dead, millions forced to flee, much of eastern Ukraine destroyed and US-led peace talks still deadlocked over territory – it conceded that it has not achieved all it wants in the country.”The goals haven’t been fully achieved yet, which is why the military operation continues,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to an AFP question.Ukraine, meanwhile, was ready to do “everything” it could to secure peace, Zelensky said in a video address that featured images of Ukrainians carrying out acts of resistance against Russian soldiers in the opening days of the conflict.However, any settlement must not “betray” the price paid by Ukrainians throughout the conflict, he said.”Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace – and to ensure there is justice,” Zelensky said.”We want peace. Strong, dignified, and lasting peace,” he said, but any deal must be “accepted by Ukrainians”.”Everything Ukraine has gone through. It must not be surrendered, forgotten, or betrayed,” he added.Several European leaders including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited Kyiv Tuesday to mark the anniversary.In an address to the EU parliament and speaking alongside visiting EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, Zelensky urged Brussels to accelerate Kyiv’s admission to the bloc, or face “decades” of Russian attempts to disrupt the process.Tuesday’s anniversary of the start of the conflict comes a day after Hungary vetoed new EU sanctions against Russia and a €90bn ($105 billion) loan critical to Ukraine’s survival.Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow, and neighbouring Slovakia accuse Kyiv of deliberately blocking their supplies of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, which Ukraine says it is trying to repair after a Russian strike last month.Speaking in Moscow to agents of his FSB security service, Putin said that Ukraine has “not managed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield” and was upping its behind-the-lines sabotage attacks.Separately, top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying that Russia would brief the US on what it says are attempts by Ukraine to obtain nuclear weapons.He provided no evidence, and Kyiv denied the claim.In the suburb of Irpin – where the bodies of hundreds of civilians were discovered in 2022 after it and the neighbouring suburb of Bucha were occupied by Russian forces – locals told AFP how the war had completely changed their lives, and the country.”We have become accustomed to sleeping under sirens and shrapnel,” said Yevgenia Antoniuk, 43.Recalling a moment in 2022 when she gave some bread to a hungry old man after the Russians abandoned Irpin, she said: “He burst into tears and began kissing my hands. At that moment, I hated Russians so deeply and strongly that I realised that neither I, nor my children, nor my grandchildren would ever forget or forgive them.”As in many places across the country, locals there had gathered for a ceremony to mark the four-year anniversary.Ukrainians are filled with a mix of fatigue at the relentless bombardments and mounting battlefield losses, and determination to resist.Whatever the outcome on the battlefield or at the negotiating table, “there will be no victory for us in this war”, said Valentyn Oleksiyenko, a 29-year-old wounded veteran.”The price we are paying for it is too high. Too many of our people have been killed,” he added.Hundreds of thousands have been killed since Moscow invaded.The UN has verified around 15,000 Ukrainian civilians killed, but says the true number is likely considerably higher.Others said the fact Ukraine had not fallen to the Russians was a victory in itself.”We have shown that no matter who the enemy is that comes to our land, we can repel them,” said Isakiy Zinkevich, a 38-year-old priest in Bucha, a Kyiv commuter town that became synonymous with atrocities committed by Russian troops.The United States has been pushing to end the conflict, mediating talks this year in Geneva and Abu Dhabi between the two sides, but they remain at odds over the issue of territory.Russia, which occupies around 20% of Ukraine, is fighting to gain full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region as part of any deal.Ukraine has rejected the demand and said it would not sign a deal without security guarantees from allies – including the US – to deter Russia from invading again.The grinding four-year war has devastated the country, with the cost of post-war reconstruction estimated at around $588bn over the next decade, according to a joint World Bank, EU and UN report with Kyiv, published on Monday. 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Ticket sales for the Qatar Football Festival, including Finalissima, will begin on February 25, Wednesday at 9pm, Doha time, at www.roadtoqatar.qa. Fans from across the globe are set to experience a star-studded football extravaganza, taking place between March 26-31 in Qatar, that will feature Spain, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Serbia in six high-profile matches. The centrepiece Finalissima will feature an epic showdown between European champions Spain and South American and World champions Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on March 27. This is the first time that Qatar is hosting this prestigious international fixture, reaffirming its position as a global sports capital, as the country continues to gain recognition for its renowned legacy of hosting mega-sporting events. The much-anticipated fixture will see the return of reigning world champions and Conmebol Copa Amarica 2024 winners Argentina to the iconic Lusail Stadium – where they lifted the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 title – this time to face the UEFA EURO 2024 champions, Spain. Fans attending the Finalissima will witness a once-in-a-lifetime generational showdown, with Argentina’s legendary Messi set to face Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal.The Qatar Football Festival will also bring together hosts Qatar, Serbia, as well as continental giants Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in a series of thrilling matches, offering participating nations valuable preparation to measure their readiness and assess their capabilities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Fans planning to attend the Qatar Football Festival can purchase tickets in the following categories: Thursday, March 26: Egypt v Saudi Arabia at Ahmad bin Ali StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Qatar v Serbia at Jassim bin Hamad StadiumCAT 1: QAR 100 CAT 2: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Friday, March 27: Finalissima Qatar 2026 (Spain v Argentina) at Lusail Stadium CAT 1: QAR 1200 CAT 2: QAR 600 CAT 3: QAR 200 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 200 Monday, March 30: Egypt v Spain at Lusail StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Saudi Arabia v Serbia at Jassim bin Hamad StadiumCAT 1: QAR 100 CAT 2: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Tuesday, March 31: Qatar v Argentina at Lusail StadiumCAT 1: QAR 400 CAT 2: QAR 200 CAT 3: QAR 50 Accessibility Ticket: QAR 50 Fans can purchase up to four tickets for each match and will receive confirmation via their registered email. All fans attending a match will need their own ticket, including infants. All tickets will be digital and will be made available on the Road To Qatar official ticketing app closer to the match date. Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets include accessible seating options for disabled fans. Disabled fans wishing to request accessible seats can do so by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Throughout the festival, fans will also be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Fans are requested to purchase tickets only through www.roadtoqatar.qa – the official ticket platform for Qatar Football Festival. Tickets purchased from any other unauthorised resale platforms are subject to cancellation. All three venues are connected by the Doha Metro, allowing fans to utilise Qatar’s state-of-the-art public transport network. For international fans, exclusive travel packages, including a round-trip flight, accommodation and a match ticket (CAT 1 or 2), are available through Qatar Airways and Visit Qatar, the marketing and promotional arm of Qatar Tourism. For more information, visit https://www.qatarairways.com/footballfestival.For tickets and more information on the Qatar Football Festival, visit www.roadtoqatar.qa and follow @roadtoqatar on all major social media platforms. Related Story Source link
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea,…