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Azerbaijan grants visa-free travel to Omani citizens for one year/Representative Image Omani nationals will be able to travel to Azerbaijan without obtaining a prior visa under a temporary exemption announced by Oman’s Foreign Ministry. The visa-free arrangement will run for one year, starting 15 February 2026 and ending 15 February 2027, allowing short-term stays under specific conditions.One-year visa exemption
The Foreign Ministry said the Republic of Azerbaijan has decided to exempt citizens of the Sultanate of Oman from entry visa requirements for a defined period.From 15 February 2026 until 15 February 2027, Omani citizens may enter Azerbaijan without securing a visa in advance.Under the terms of the exemption:Visitors may stay for up to 30 days per visitThe arrangement permits a maximum of three visits with in one yearThe exemption is temporary and applies only within the stated dates.Travel conditions and entry requirements
While the visa requirement has been lifted for the spe..

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (File photo)

Experts believe the deadly toxin that allegedly killed Russian dissident Alexei Navalny in February 2024 was likely created in a lab rather than extracted from wild South American poison dart frogs, as claimed by multiple European nations. Five European countrieslast week said tests confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with epibatidine, a powerful toxin found in the skin of poison dart frogs native to South America, accusing the Russian state of responsibility.While these frogs can be easily purchased in South American markets or legally exported with permits, scientists say making a deadly poison from actual frogs would be impractical. Ivan Lozano, director of Tesoros de Colombia, explained that it would take “an enormous number of frogs” to create a lethal dose for humans, making it virtually impossible to gather enough for this purpose.The toxicity of these frogs presents another challenge. According to University of Illinois re..

AdvertisementAustraliaAsiaAustralasiaAustralian smuggler jailed record 8 years for mailing lizards in popcorn bagsInvestigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 4:53pm, 17 Feb 2026A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail, authorities said on Tuesday.The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said.
A district court in Sydney gave the man, 61-year-old Neil Simpson, a non-parole period of five years and four months.
AdvertisementInvestigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.Popcorn bags and handbags containing the reptiles. Photo: D..

AdvertisementHong Kong societyHong KongSocietyHong Kong’s first 4 babies of Year of the Horse include fifth child for a coupleAmong newborns are a girl whose father is a talent visa holder from mainland China and a boy who is the fifth child of a local couple
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPJess MaPublished: 4:51pm, 17 Feb 2026Updated: 5:17pm, 17 Feb 2026Hong Kong has welcomed at least four new babies as it enters the Year of the Horse, including a girl whose father is a talent visa holder from mainland China and a boy who is the fifth child of a local couple.
Four babies were born at midnight on Tuesday: a girl and a boy at Union Hospital in Tai Wai; a boy at Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei; and a girl at St Teresa’s Hospital in Kowloon City.
The boy born at Union Hospital weighed 2.94kg (6.48lbs) and was the fifth child of the Tang family.
Advertisement“There’s both joy and sadness in this. When I think of a big family, it’s lively and heartwarming. I don’t feel burdened..

Saudi Arabia forecasts warmer Ramadan 2026 with light rainfall expected in Makkah and Madinah/Image: SPA Pilgrims heading to the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan should prepare for warmer days and limited rainfall. Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology has released its preliminary climate outlook for Ramadan 1447H, forecasting above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall in Makkah and Madinah throughout the holy month.The forecast forms part of the centre’s seasonal monitoring efforts aimed at supporting preparedness and operational planning, particularly for authorities serving worshippers during Ramadan.Temperatures expected to edge higher
According to the National Centre for Meteorology, temperatures in both cities are projected to exceed seasonal norms.In Makkah, maximum temperatures could rise by around 1°C above the historical average. In Madinah, the increase could reach up to 1.2°C above average.Historically, average temperatures during Ramadan stand at approxim..

Royal Blue Shirt Trend: Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Vogue Editor Embrace Classic Style In an era of viral gowns and headline-grabbing couture, it is not a crystal-encrusted dress or archival tiara setting the fashion agenda but a crisp, powder-blue button-down shirt. The most talked-about piece in royal and style circles this week is this sharply tailored Oxford shirt from London label With Nothing Underneath, worn within days by Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and American Vogue’s editorial heavyweight Chloe Malle.In fashion terms, that is less coincidence and more cultural signal because when three women who define modern power dressing across monarchy, media and Montecito reach for the same quietly confident staple, it tells us that 2026 is not about excess. It is about precision, polish and above all, it is about the enduring magnetism of a perfectly cut shirt. The Blue Shirt That United Royals and Fashion Elite: Is This the End of Extravag..