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Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the depth of the cultural ties between his country and India, stressing the growing importance of their relationship in light of the current geopolitical shifts. This came during a bilateral meeting held on Sunday in Malaysia between Anwar Ibrahim and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which he expressed Kuala Lumpur’s desire to expand areas of cooperation with New Delhi, particularly following Modi’s official two-day visit to Malaysia. For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that relations between India and Malaysia have witnessed remarkable and rapid development in recent years. Modi explained that cooperation between the two countries spans multiple fields, including agriculture, manufacturing, clean energy, the semiconductor industry, skills development and capacity building, as well as defense and security cooperation. He also emphasized the importance of joint coordination in combating terrorism, pointing out that India and Malaysia, as maritime neighbors, are required to strengthen their partnership amid the global state of instability. He confirmed that the objective of his visit is to elevate the bilateral partnership to new levels, in a way that enhances cooperation and shared prosperity between the two countries across various sectors. Source link
The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP reported. Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue. But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo. The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP. The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added. The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland. As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture. Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener yesterday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash. Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments. England’s Salt passed fit for opener Hard-hitting batsman Phil Salt was passed fit as England named their team for their first match in the T20 World Cup. He will open the batting alongside wicketkeeper Jos Buttler against Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium today in Group C. Salt missed Tuesday’s third T20 against Sri Lanka with a back spasm but trained successfully on Friday and will take his place at the top of the order. Tom Banton, fresh from a sparkling 54 off 33 balls against Sri Lanka five days ago, is preferred to Ben Duckett and will bat at number four. Left-arm fast bowler Luke Wood gets the nod ahead of Jamie Overton and joins express man Jofra Archer and Sam Curran in the seam attack. England have opted to have four spinners at their disposal with spearheads Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson backed up by all-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks. Source link
Two people were killed and eight others injured when a three-story building collapsed in Kota, Rajasthan, in northwestern India.Indian police reported that a building in the Kota area collapsed suddenly, killing two and injuring eight others, five of whom are in stable condition. Building collapses are common in India, affecting both new and old structures. Construction experts attribute these incidents to mismanagement, citing the use of substandard building materials and the lack of oversight and enforcement of construction safety standards for both buildings and workers. Source link
Iranian authorities have arrested 11 members of an outlawed Kurdish group on suspicion of committing acts of sabotage, state television said yesterday. The arrest of the 11 alleged members of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) – considered a terrorist group in Iran – comes in the wake of mass anti-government protests last month. Since its formation in 2004, the PJAK – an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – has staged operations against the Iranian military. The 11 people arrested in west Iran were “in direct contact with PJAK elements, seeking to launch sabotage actions and to disturb the population’s security”, the Fars news agency said. “They were identified and arrested before they were able to commit the act,” it added, citing Mohsen Karimi, a regional commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Both the governments of Turkiye and the United States also consider the PJAK to be a terrorist organisation. Source link
Al-Attiyah suffers broken wheel and resultant suspension damage while leading the event Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and his brother Nasser ended a 10-year wait for a third FIA Middle East Rally Championship victory when they secured a second win at the Qatar International Rally yesterday. The Qatari duo trailed runaway leader Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah for three-quarters of the event but hit the front when the defending champion suffered a broken wheel and resultant suspension damage after nine of the event’s 12 gravel stages to the north of Doha. From then on, the Sarrazin Skoda Fabia RS duo stayed clear of trouble over the remaining three special stages to follow up their 2012 victory in Qatar at the wheel of a Mini S2000. Al-Kuwari had also notched up success on a candidate event in Oman back in 2014 and picked up maximum MERC points in Cyprus the same year. His brother only came back as a stand-in co-driver for this event after announcing his retirement from the sport last year. The delighted Qatari had a flattering winning margin of 5min 08.8sec. He said: “Fourteen years I didn’t win the event and, 14 years, my brother was never next to me on this event. I brought him back. I said he had to retire at home. It was good to come back and win the rally. I never pushed 100%. I never had a penalty or a puncture, maybe one of the only ones. There is a limit you have to stay below. The team did a great job. Thanks to the QMMF and Sarrazin Motorsport. Now, for sure, I will ask the QMMF if I can continue the Middle East championship. I think I deserve it. I am always there.” Nasser al-Kuwari added: “When my brother tried to push me to come back, I had a feeling that we were going to win it. This will be my last race and we have won it. I am so happy for my brother, my father, my family, the QMMF. I am proud of my brother. This is the end of my career.” Al-Attiyah’s goal of a 19th Qatar victory fizzled out on the road section after stage nine. The Qatari and co-driver Candido Carrera had completed the stage with a broken rear-left wheel and damaged suspension on their Autotek Skoda Fabia RS. They were forced to change the wheel and make emergency repairs on the side of the road after the stage but the wheel was hanging at an angle and there was a small fire when they began the return to Lusail. The Qatari tried a couple of times to make further repairs and made it back to Lusail within his maximum lateness, albeit on three rotating wheels, before throwing in the towel. He admitted that he thought he had a puncture and drove to the end of the stage, not realising that the wheel had broken and damaged the suspension. Saudi Arabia’s Hamza Bakhashab and his Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore applied the pressure on local youngster Mohammed al-Marri and Frenchman Pierre Delorme as the leg progressed and took full advantage of a large time loss for the young Qatari on stage 10 to secure second overall in a Jameel Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. It was the Saudi’s third ever special stage rally after the WRC event in Saudi Arabia last November and Oman last month. Al-Marri delivered a memorable performance on his first outing in a Citroën C3 Rally2 but was forced to retire after the 10th stage with a broken suspension rod. Nasser Khalifa al-Atya and Ziad Chehab finished on the final step of the podium in their Motortune Ford Fiesta and al-Atya claimed maximum points in the FIA Master Driver category for the second event in succession.Shaker Jweihan completely dominated the FIA MERC2 category with Mustafa Juma in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X for a second time in three weeks. Despite a bent suspension arm for the opening loop of stages, the Jordanian finished fourth and romped to class victory by 13min 20.8sec. Rashid al-Muhannadi and Gary McElhinney moved into a useful lead in the FIA MERC4 category on the first stage of the morning when Khalifa Saleh al-Attiyah was sidelined with technical problems. The defending champions increased their advantage as the day progressed in a QMMF-backed Peugeot 208 but a penultimate stage retirement with transmission issues enabled rivals Ahmad Shaheen al-Muhannadi and Taha al-Zadjali to take the lead. They then rolled in the last stage and gifted victory and fifth place to Nouef al-Sowaidi and Aisvydas Paliukenas. Ahmed al-Kuwari and Baptiste Cerrato finished sixth in the second of the Peugeots. The Italian duo of Christiano Gabbarrini and Alessandro Forni were seventh in a Yamaha Quaddy YXZ 1000R and the Omani duo of Zakariya al-Aamri and Mohammed al-Mazrui finished eighth in a Subaru Impreza N14 and picked up points for second in MERC2. Charbel Chebly drove well on his Qatar debut with Carlos Hanna, finished third in MERC2 and ninth overall. Mohammed Mansoor Parol (Mitsubishi), Shadi El-Fakih (Renault) and Jassim al-Muqahwi (Mitsubishi) rounded off the 12 finishers.Abdullah al-Rawahi retired before the restart. The Omani had suffered several time-consuming punctures during leg one and had back pain as a result of his injury in Lebanon last year. Source link
At least eight people have died as a result of the Tropical Storm Basyang, according to the Philippine authorities.Deputy Spokesman for the Philippine Office of Civil Defense Diego Agustin Mariano explained that four people died in Cagayan de Oro City as a result of a landslide that swept through a residential area. Three others died in Iligan City due to flooding, and one person drowned in Agusan del Norte province. Local authorities indicated that about 3,800 families were affected by the rising floodwater levels in some areas, prompting the evacuation of more than 2,000 people in Cagayan de Oro. Thousands of travelers across the country were also stranded after cruises were suspended due to bad weather. Source link
Several Saudi companies signed a series of strategic contracts with Syrian government entities in Damascus on Saturday, aiming at strengthening the path of economic cooperation between the two countries. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the agreements covered an array of vital sectors, notably aviation, communications, infrastructure, in addition to several developmental initiatives.Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Falih affirmed that the signed agreements mark a new phase in the path of economic cooperation between the two countries, supporting shared interests and enhancing opportunities for sustainable growth. Al Falih explained that these projects will contribute to developing Syria’s strategic infrastructure, expanding quality investment opportunities across several vital sectors, supporting economic development, creating jobs, and stimulating private-sector participation. He reiterated Riyadh’s commitment to continuing support for investment partnerships that promote stability and prosperity in both countries. Source link
The Second GCC Sports Games for Female University and Higher Education Students were officially opened yesterday in a spectacular opening ceremony held at the Longines Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab. The championship, hosted by Qatar, runs from yesterday until 11 February 2026 and features wide participation from female students representing Gulf universities. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Maryam bint Hamad Al-Mannai, Chair of the Organising Committee and Vice President for Student Affairs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Dr. Al-Jazi Ftays, Tournament Director; a number of federation presidents; and H.E. Eng. Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The official launch of the championship was declared by Dr. Ahmed Mujahid Omar Hassaneh, President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The opening ceremony featured several outstanding segments, including the parade of athletes representing the participating countries, who entered the arena carrying their national flags. Reem Al-Badr, a star of the Qatari national futsal team, delivered the athletes’ oath, marking the official start of the Games. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the championship aims to strengthen sports cooperation among GCC countries and contribute to the development of women’s university sport at the regional level. Competitions are being staged across seven venues, including six venues in Education City and one venue at Qatar University. The Games feature the participation of approximately 450 female students representing 16 universities and higher education institutions from GCC countries, competing in eight sports: football, volleyball, basketball, padel, table tennis, badminton, athletics, with fencing being included in the championship programme for the first time. Dr. Maryam Al-Mannai Dr. Maryam bint Hamad Al-Mannai, Chair of the Organising Committee and Vice President for Student Affairs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, expressed her happiness at the launch of the Second GCC Sports Games for Female University and Higher Education Students. She affirmed that the opening ceremony represents an important milestone reflecting Qatar’s commitment to supporting women’s university sport and strengthening sports cooperation among higher education institutions across the GCC. She added that Doha’s hosting of the Games for the first time underscores Qatar’s growing position as a regional hub for organising sporting events and aligns with its vision of embedding sport as an integral part of the university education system, given its important role in developing students’ personalities and promoting the values of teamwork, discipline, and positive competition. She explained that the wide participation of Gulf universities reflects the increasing interest in university sport and confirms the ability of educational institutions to provide a comprehensive competitive environment that helps refine students’ skills and strengthen their presence on the Gulf sports scene. She also noted that staging the Games in conjunction with Qatar National Sport Day adds an important community dimension to the event and embodies the national approach to promoting sport as a way of life, particularly within university and youth communities. Dr. Al-Jazi Fetais Dr. Al-Jazi Fetais, Tournament Director, stated that the Organising Committee was keen to prepare an opening programme that reflects the identity and objectives of the Games, while highlighting the growing role of women’s university sport in GCC countries. She added that the championship features a diverse range of sports and competitions, providing opportunities for a larger number of female students to participate and compete. She stressed that the organisational and technical preparations were the result of joint cooperation among the relevant entities, ensuring the delivery of a distinguished edition that meets the aspirations of the participating universities and students. She noted that the championship goes beyond competition alone, also contributing to strengthening communication among female students from different Gulf universities and reinforcing the values of sportsmanship and teamwork within the university environment. Ghalia Al-Hajri Ghalia Al-Hajri, a student at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and a volunteer at the GCC Sports Games for Female University and Higher Education Students, said that this experience is not her first during her academic journey. She explained that her current focus is on photography, particularly through her involvement with the university. She added that she recently developed this talent, especially during this championship, expressing her aspiration to leave a personal mark through her participation. She also voiced confidence that the tournament would be a distinguished one hosted by Doha, noting the strong participation of female students. Ibrahim Al-BalushiIbrahim Mukhtar Al-Balushi, Head of the UAE delegation participating in the championship, affirmed that Qatar consistently impresses everyone with its organisation of outstanding sporting events, as it has done across various competitions and sports.He said: “Qatar always seeks to highlight sporting activities in general, and this exceptional women’s championship in particular. Everyone genuinely supports the development of women’s sport.”He added: “The UAE is participating with one university, the United Arab Emirates University, and our objective is to compete strongly and achieve positive results during this edition of the Games.” Source link
A bogey-free third round at the Qatar Masters Saturday saw American Patrick Reed open up a two-shot lead heading into the final round, keeping himself firmly in contention for a second victory in three weeks.Reed sits at 14-under-par after carding a two-under 70 at Doha Golf Club. Denmark’s Jacob Olesen is his closest challenger on 12 under, having produced the standout round of the day among the pursuers. Olesen fired a four-under 68, highlighted by a blistering back nine that featured five birdies.“I felt like I hit the ball better today than I did the last two days – well, really compared to Saturday, and shot two shots worse, so it’s an interesting game,” Reed said.“The golf game feels good, it feels solid, it feels steady and really just got to go out there and keep the foot on the gas tomorrow, get off to hopefully a faster start than today, and see where it goes.”Reed’s birdies at the second and the par-five tenth were backed up by 16 pars in a solid round despite a three-putt from just under 100 feet at the last hole after finding the green in two.“It’s one of those days you’ve got to take advantage of the par-fives, I didn’t really do that very well today. A three-putt on the last obviously stings but to go round this place bogey-free, especially with how the wind was, it’s obviously successful,” the 2018 Masters champion said.Reed won the Dubai Desert Classic last month and then lost in play-off at Bahrain Championship last week as Germany’s Freddy Schott claimed a maiden victory. The American, now playing regularly on the European-based circuit after leaving LIV Golf with a return to the PGA Tour not possible until August.“Hopefully we can continue to do that tomorrow, continue hitting the ball solid and giving ourselves a lot of birdie looks, and hopefully make a couple more than just two tomorrow,” the 35-year-old said.Reed’s playing partner Joakim Lagergren slipped off the pace slightly with a one-over par 73 seeing him fall back to 10-under. Bogeys for Lagergren at the 11th, 14th and 16th left him four off the pace going, meaning Olesen will play with Reed in today’s final group.The left-hander Olesen was one over for his front nine but five birdies coming home, including three in the last four holes, put him in contention for his maiden DP World Tour win.“It was a grind on the front nine, couldn’t really get anything going, didn’t hit any good shots at all either,” said Olesen.“I hit a good wedge in on ten after a poor drive. It’s not really the pin position where you want to be stuck with a wedge out the first cut, but hit a good one in there and rolled one in. That got me back to level and I kind of knew it wasn’t playing that easy so I knew I wasn’t in a terrible spot, just needed to get something going,” the Dane said.Australia’s Daniel Hillier and Spain’s Angel Ayora are joint third on 11 under, while Scotland’s Calum Hill – the third member of last week’s play-off in Bahrain with Reed and Schott – and England’s Daniel Bradbury are in a six-way tie for ninth on nine under.Sebastian Soderberg from Sweden, posted the best round of the day – a seven-under 65 that included an eagle two at the 10th to reach nine under. Alongside them on that total were Dan Bradbury, Kazuma Kobori and Johannes Veerman.Padraig Harrington carded a one-under par 71 to sit on four-under overall in tied-34th. The Dubliner, who is making his 500th start on the tour, recorded birdies on the first, sixth, 10th and 14th holes with dropped strokes on the eighth, 13th, and the par-5 18th. Related Story Source link
Dr Alia Al-Senussi, Art Basel’s senior adviser for international outreach and VIP representative for the UK and MENA. The hosting of Art Basel in Qatar marks a defining moment for the country and the wider Middle East, positioning regional artists and cultural ecosystems firmly on the global art map, according to Dr Alia Al-Senussi, Art Basel’s senior adviser for international outreach and VIP representative for the UK and MENA.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of Art Basel Qatar, Al-Senussi said the partnership between Art Basel and Qatar represents far more than the launch of a new fair, describing it as a transformative cultural platform.“Art Basel is the world’s leading brand within the cultural ecosystem,” she said. “To see these conversations happening here, with artists present in person and collectors engaging directly with them, is deeply impactful for how artists from the region are perceived globally.”She noted that the strong presence of artists from across the Arab world and Africa, alongside international collectors, curators, and institutions, has already begun to reshape perceptions. Many visitors, she said, described the fair as an eye-opening experience, gaining insights they plan to take back to their home institutions and programmes.“I hope that in the coming years we will see more artists from this region represented in international museums and institutions around the world,” she added.Comparing Art Basel Qatar with other global editions such as Miami Beach and Hong Kong, Al-Senussi said the Qatar edition stood out for its emotional and cultural significance. A Libyan by heritage, she expressed pride in seeing artists from Libya, Qatar, Palestine, and across the Arab world receiving meaningful international engagement.“I’ve been overwhelmed with joy seeing people from the West come here and truly learn about artists from our region,” she said, adding that the growing cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Qatar has been particularly inspiring. She pointed to her work with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation as an example of how regional collaboration is shaping a powerful cultural moment.Reflecting on her roles with institutions such as Tate, the Guggenheim, and the Delfina Foundation, Al-Senussi said global institutions that began engaging seriously with the Middle East have continued to deepen those commitments. She highlighted Tate’s early establishment of international acquisition committees and the creation of the Guggenheim Middle East Council as vital platforms supporting artists and galleries from the region.Addressing the challenges faced by young Middle Eastern artists seeking global access, Al-Senussi pointed to communication barriers and the intimidation often associated with the art world. “It’s not about English or Arabic,” she said. “It’s about understanding how the art world works and making it more accessible and more human.”Turning to Qatar’s local scene, she praised the country’s growing residency ecosystem, including programmes such as Fire Station, saying they are laying the foundation for a new generation of Qatari artists.“These initiatives are creating an ecosystem that will educate, support, and elevate artists for years to come,” she said.On education, Al-Senussi highlighted Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar as a strong example of bridging theory and practice. Drawing on her teaching experience there, she stressed the importance of demystifying the art world and expanding career pathways beyond artistic practice to include curators, gallerists, collectors, and cultural leaders.Looking ahead, she said success for Art Basel Qatar should be measured not only by attendance or market impact, but by the emergence of a strong regional collector base.“We’ve always had extraordinary artists. What we need now is the next generation of Arab collectors who are active in Basel, Miami, and across the global art market. Seeing Middle Eastern collectors become part of the international art canon would mark a major milestone for the region’s cultural future,” Al-Senussi concluded. Source link