“We’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” Trump told reporters on Thursday aboard Air Force One. On a deadline, Trump said he thought 10 to 15 days was “pretty much” the “maximum” he would allow for negotiations to continue. The deployment is unlike anything the US has done since 2003, when it amassed forces before the invasion of Iraq. It dwarfs the military buildup that Trump ordered off the coast of Venezuela in the weeks before he ousted President Nicolas Maduro. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal,” Trump said in a speech on Thursday morning.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.5% and was on track for its fourth consecutive week of gains. The session will wrap up a volatile week for global assets, with investors grappling with a blend of geopolitical flashpoints, political risks and shifting economic signals. "Clearly, equity investors are getting used to the noisy geopolitical environment," said Mabrouk Chetouane, head of global market strategy at Natixis Investment Managers. For the week, the dollar is up about 1% on the euro EUR=, pushing the common currency to US$1.1767. Taken together, the news had investors shying away from risk, said Kenji Abe, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo.

DOHA: About a month into his tenure as Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive officer (CEO), Hamad Al-Khater made certain his first overseas trip took him to the French headquarters of planemaker Airbus SE. “They’ve demonstrated that commitment that they’ll be able to deliver on the promises.”The European manufacturer’s planes were among the first to fly for Qatar Airways, and they now comprise about half of its fleet. “We’re in a safe space as Qatar Airways.”The new CEO is the airline’s second in three years. Those will be phased out as Qatar Airways ramps up to nearly 400 jets by 2040. “At this stage in time, it’s a continuous evaluation of our fleet order,” Al-Khater said.

(Feb 20): Heightened geopolitical worries sent stocks lower while extending a surge in oil and keeping a lid on bonds amid perceived inflation risks. Walmart Inc slid on a conservative outlook, but the giant retailer’s comparable sales in the US beat expectations. Iran is a “hot spot” right now even as officials from both sides engage in “good talks”, Trump said. A potential war would put flows at risk from a region that pumps about a third of the world’s oil. “Crude oil prices are rising on the anticipation of possible military action in Iran,” said Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates.

KUALA LUMPUR: FBG Holdings Bhd, formerly known as Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd , said its wholly-owned subsidiary FBG Builder SDn Bhd has accepted a contract from an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of IGB Bhd for the development of a 25-storey hotel building block (Tower 6) containing 375 rooms with facilities on top of the existing The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, in Plentong, Johor Bahru. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said the contract inked with MVS Southpoint Hotel Sdn Bhd is valued at RM238.09mil. The contract will commence on March 1, 2026, and be completed on June 30, 2028. It is expected to contribute positively to the earnings of the group for the financial years ending June 30, 2026, onwards.

TURKANA, Kenya, Feb ⁠19 (Reuters) - Four years after a record drought devastated northern Kenya, failed rains are once again causing starvations, with aid ⁠cuts forcing agencies to scale back their efforts and feed fewer people. The family's difficulties have mounted after her son was killed a fortnight ago in a cattle rustling raid while herding animals. Sarah Ayodi, the head of WFP's field office in Turkana, told Reuters that 333,000 people in the county required food aid, but said the agency would not be able to support them after next month. You can't survive here because of drought ... even trees and wild ​fruits are nowhere to be seen, not even a green leaf," Akol said. The drought has ⁠also left a visible trail of loss in Kenya, with cattle carcasses seen across landscapes inhabited by pastoralists.

KUALA NERUS: The public has been warned not to touch venomous jellyfish that washed ashore at several beaches in Terengganu. As such, she said the assumption that these jellyfish are harmless once dead and washed ashore is incorrect. "The use of vinegar to alleviate the pain of a sting remains a subject of debate and is only suitable for certain species. "Fishermen or individuals engaged in angling activities must also be cautious when handling jellyfish caught in their nets," she added. Over the past few days, the presence of these venomous jellyfish has been detected once again at several popular tourist locations, including Pantai Pandak in Cendering and Pantai Paka in Dungun.

BRASILIA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 2.5 percent in 2025 from a year earlier, according to data released Thursday by the country's central bank. The growth was mainly driven by the agricultural sector with an increase of 13.1 percent, while services grew by 2.1 percent and industry by 1.5 percent. The latest economic data has bolstered market expectations of a potential interest rate cut in March by the monetary policy committee of the central bank.

He said contributing nations had raised US$7 billion as an initial down payment for Gaza reconstruction. Trump first proposed the board last September when he announced his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. Trump also said Fifa will raise US$75 million for football-related projects in Gaza and that the United Nations will chip in US$2 billion for humanitarian assistance. "We're going to strengthen the United Nations," Trump said, trying to assuage his critics. In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said any international force must "monitor the ceasefire and prevent the (Israeli) occupation from continuing its aggression".

JOHOR BAHRU: The Scheduled Water Supply (BAB) programme in the Kluang and Pontian districts has been suspended for 48 hours beginning at midnight on Thursday (Feb 19). Johor water operator Ranhill SAJ announced that the suspension follows encouraging improvements in dam levels supplying raw water to several treatment plants in the two districts. "The suspension of the Scheduled Water Supply took effect at midnight," it said. According to the statement, if raw water levels remain stable after 48 hours, the implementation of the BAB will be discontinued. The BAB was implemented on Feb 7, with water supply distributed for 36 hours, followed by 36 hours without water.

JERTIH: The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) in Besut on Thursday (Feb 19) transferred an obese patient, weighing more than 300kg, from Besut Hospital here to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) in Kuala Terengganu, using a lorry. "APM received an emergency call from the hospital on Thursday morning, requesting special assistance to transport the patient, who had to be placed under sedation, to HSNZ. "We had transported the same patient from his home in Kampung Padang Luas to Besut Hospital on Wednesday (Feb 18), using the same lorry, before he was referred to HSNZ on Thursday,” he said when contacted by Bernama. He said that the patient, accompanied by a medical officer and several Besut Hospital staff, arrived safely at HSNZ at about 2.30pm, with five district APM personnel involved in the operation. Meanwhile, the patient’s elder brother Muhamad Shafik Juraimi, 33, said that his younger brother, Muhammad Azrol Haffiz, 28, was taken to the Emergency Unit of Besut Hospital at about 8pm on Wednesday, due to a leg infection.

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will undertake a special visit to Malaysia on Friday (Feb 20), during which he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that both prime ministers are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest, including the outcomes of the recent Leaders’ Retreat on Dec 4, 2025. Singapore is Malaysia’s neighbour and key partner in Asean, with close and extensive relations in various fields. Singapore is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner with total trade reaching RM402.35bil (US$93.97bil) in 2025, an increase of 1.5 per cent compared with 2024.- Bernama

SHAH ALAM: A drug distribution ring has been busted with the arrest of five suspects, all Malaysians aged 27 to 37, in a police sweep. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said several raids were conducted in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on Feb 12 under Ops Bena. Investigations showed that syndicate had been active since July and operated by hiding drugs inside vehicles left at specific locations before being collected by buyers. Comm Hussein added that the suspects are believed to have links with organised crime. Two suspects have been granted police bail while the rest have been remanded for 13 to 14 days each from Feb 13, he said.

PETALING JAYA: Some 85% of reported tuberculosis (TB) cases in the country involved Malaysians, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic). The Health Minister said this data is contrary to public sentiment, as foreigners account for only 15% of reported TB cases. “Recently, various perceptions have emerged linking the spread of TB to the influx of foreign nationals. “Data from the Health Ministry confirms that 85% of reported cases involve local citizens, while only 15% involve foreigners. On Monday, the Health Ministry said a total of 503 new TB cases were detected nationwide as of the fifth epidemiological week of this year, bringing the cumulative total to 2,571 cases.

KUCHING: Global pepper prices are expected to trend upward in 2026 in view of continued tight supply as demand is outstripping supply. William SC Yii, director of leading pepper exporter Nguong Aik (Kuching) Sdn Bhd foresees the current global pepper prices will either be maintained or go up by 10% to 15% from current levels. “The global white pepper now fetches between US$11,500 and US$12,200 per tonne and black pepper between US$8,300 and US$9,000 per tonne,” he said. The IPC forecasts that the global pepper market will continue to grow, driven by increasing demand from various industries. On Malaysian pepper, Yii said although the published prices by the Malaysian Pepper Board have come down as compared to a year ago, the prices of Sarawak Pepper (brand name for Malaysian pepper) have been stable in its traditional markets due to the tight supply.