Author: Verified News Online

Tulsi Gabbard marked her husband Abraham Williams’ birthday with a message that read less like a routine social media greeting and more like a private vow made briefly visible to the world. “Happy birthday to my one and only,” she wrote, before adding a line that carried the quiet cadence of a promise: “Over and over again, I do.”The tone was unmistakably intimate. It was also entirely characteristic.Because in the theatre of American politics, where spouses are often displayed as carefully managed public assets, Abraham Williams occupies a very different role. He is not a campaign surrogate, not a television presence, not a familiar political spouse. In fact, most Americans encounter his name only when Gabbard herself chooses to mention him. He appears briefly through her words and then slips back into the anonymity he seems to prefer.The reaction to that birthday post captured how unusual their pairing feels. One user replied with a mix of admiration and mock envy: “Two good looking,..

UAE announces 4-day Eid Al Fitr holiday for public sector, 3 days for private sector/Representative Image As Ramadan begins, the UAE has confirmed the official Eid Al Fitr holiday schedule for both federal government employees and the private sector, giving workers and businesses clarity well in advance of the break.The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation jointly announced that employees in federal government entities will observe the Eid Al Fitr holiday from Thursday, 19 March 2026, through Sunday, 22 March 2026. Official working hours will resume on Monday, 23 March 2026.For private sector employees, the holiday will begin on Thursday, 19 March 2026, and continue until Saturday, 21 March 2026. However, authorities confirmed that if the holy month of Ramadan completes 30 days, the private sector break will be extended to include Sunday, 22 March 2026.The announcement applies across the UAE and follows the established f..

AdvertisementTrending in ChinaPeople & CultureTrending in China‘Sportcation’ gains popularity among China youth, transforms romantic getaway into athletic hubIndonesian island renowned for parties and chilling turns holiday spot for fitness-mad travellers who seek ‘military-style’ boot camps
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPYating Yangin BeijingPublished: 6:00pm, 23 Feb 2026Fitness-friendly young Chinese travellers are turning to a new trend known as “sportcation” which blends physical health with leisure.
Health conscious tourists are spending 20,000 yuan (US$2,800) not to relax, but to endure military-style tennis camps, turning the romantic island of Bali into a gruelling Indonesian sporting getaway.
In the trend, which as the name suggests blends sport and holiday, physical activity becomes the central focus of travel.
A Chinese woman prepares to serve during a tennis match. So-called boot camps involving the sport are growing in popularity. Photo: ZhihuInstead of sights..

AdvertisementChina-North Korea relationsChinaDiplomacyXi Jinping expresses hope China can open ‘new chapter’ in relations with North KoreaChinese leader sends message of ‘high trust and wholehearted support’ to Kim Jong-un after major party event
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPYuanyue Dangin BeijingPublished: 5:57pm, 23 Feb 2026Updated: 5:59pm, 23 Feb 2026Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after he cemented his leadership at the latest congress of the country’s ruling party.Xi said Kim’s reselection as general secretary of the Workers Party of North Korea on Monday reflected the “high trust and wholehearted support” of the country’s “party, government and people”, according to state news agency Xinhua.Xi said he was ready to work with Kim to “open a new chapter in China-DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] friendship, serve the cause of socialist development in both countries, and enhance the well-being and friendship of ..

Oman Education Ministry announces new teaching vacancies/Image: X Oman’s Ministry of Education has announced a new round of teaching vacancies in coordination with the Ministry of Labour, opening the door for graduates and aspiring educators to join the national school system. The move is aimed at strengthening the teaching workforce and supporting the sustainable employment of Omani job seekers.Who can apply
The vacancies are open to candidates holding a university degree in Education or a general university degree supplemented by a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.Eligibility also extends to students expected to graduate during the 2025/2026 academic year, whether in the first, second or summer semester.In addition, the ministry has reopened the door for graduates from previous years who did not sit for the recruitment exam, as well as those who previously took the exam but did not achieve the required passing score.Application process and timeline
Applications must be submitted ele..

2,000 years ago, people in Vietnam used iron to permanently blacken their teeth (Image Source – Springer Nature) Archaeologists working in northern Vietnam have found chemical evidence that people were permanently blackening their teeth around 2,000 years ago. The study focused on human remains from the Dong Xa site, dated to the Iron Age and linked to the wider Dong Son cultural sphere. By analysing the surface of ancient enamel, researchers identified traces of iron compounds consistent with deliberate cosmetic treatment rather than natural staining. The results offer the first clear scientific confirmation that tooth blackening was already established in Vietnam two millennia ago. The findings also suggest that the technique relied on iron salts, likely mixed with plant materials rich in tannins, to create a deep, glossy black surface that altered the appearance of the teeth.
Study confirms tooth blackening was practiced in Vietnam 2,000 years agoThe research team used microscopic a..