According to the latest nationwide survey by the sociological agency "Myara", if parliamentary elections were held in mid-February, voter participation would reach 51.5 percent, translating into the involvement of roughly three million voters. Further reading: NATO Pilot, Putin Sympathizer, or Some»»»

When US President Donald Trump revived the idea of buying Greenland – and refused to rule out stronger measures if Denmark declined – the reaction across Europe was swift and indignant. The proposal was framed as an anachronism: a throwback to imperial horse-trading that modern international politi»»»

Bulgaria will complete the construction of the first LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) radiotelescope antenna station in Southeastern Europe by the end of 2026, the Institute of Astronomy with a National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday. LOFAR is the world's l»»»

Kidnapping Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel would be an easy operation for the American military, US President Donald Trump has claimed. Speaking on Tuesday to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump praised his strategy of economically isolating the island nation, which has been under a US trade em»»»

Authorities in Indonesia announced on Tuesday that Thursday, February 19, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision comes after observers in the country were unable to sight the crescent. This follows an identical decision earlier today by several Asian countries, such as Mal»»»

A research project conducted under the supervision of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science has reached a scientific breakthrough confirming the feasibility of laser-induced water vapor condensation and is now preparing for field trials in collaboration with international partners. »»»

New York: Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it is resuming talks with Paramount Skydance on its buyout offer, giving the company a week to beat out a rival Netflix bid. These discussions scheduled to end February 23 are designed to give Paramount Skydance a chance to make its "best and final offe»»»

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- An Amazon delivery van took a wrong turn while following GPS directions and ended up stuck on mudflats used as a shooting range by Britain's Ministry of Defense. HM Coastguard Southend on Sea said on social media that crews responded Sunday morning to The Broomway, "a 600-year-old,»»»

University of Maryland researchers designed "Smart Underwear" to track and measure the wearer's flatulence. Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland Feb. 16 (UPI) -- University of Maryland researchers designed "Smart Underwear" to track and measure flatulence -- and they are seeking volunteers »»»

A toddler in Italy remains in critical condition after undergoing a transplant with a damaged heart. The organ, which was transported south from the from the city of Bolzano to Naples in December, was reportedly placed in an unsuitable container and in direct contact with dry ice, leading to severe»»»

As Catholics prepare to mark Lent starting from tomorrow, February 18, Pope Leo XIV has called on Church members to listen, fast, and come together in a shared journey of faith. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when a mass will be held followed by the marking of the ashes on the forehead. The whole se»»»

Dubai: The UAE has once again put the interest of the people first by warning retailers against price increases for nine categories of essential goods during Ramadan, while inspection teams in Dubai have already begun field visits ahead of the holy month to ensure price labels match checkout bills »»»

Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova welcomed the graduates of the Class of 2025 of the Faculty of Medicine at Medical University of Sofia at a formal diploma award ceremony for newly qualified doctors on Tuesday. “Goodness is part of humanity and lies at the heart of the medical profession”, Iotova s»»»

Police in Arizona say family members of Nancy Guthrie have been cleared as possible suspects, as speculation grows on social media about the whereabouts of the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie. "The family has been nothing but co-operative and gracious and are victims in th»»»

Dubai: Uncertainty surrounding Bill Gates’ participation in the India AI Impact Summit has been resolved, with the Gates Foundation confirming that the Microsoft co-founder will attend as scheduled and deliver his keynote address. Questions had emerged after Gates’ name did not appear on the summit»»»

The crescent marking the beginning of Ramadan was not sighted in Malaysia on Tuesday, the country’s authorities announced. Therefore, Wednesday (February 18) will be the last day of Sha’aban while Ramadan will begin on Thursday. The announcement was made by Malaysia’s Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Ta»»»

Dubai: French President Emmanuel Macron, who turned heads at the World Economic Forum with his blue reflective aviators, brought his signature style to Mumbai today while meeting Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee. In the pictures that are now doing the rounds, Macron was spotted w»»»

Wilmington: The first husband of former first lady Jill Biden is set to appear in court Tuesday in Delaware on charges he killed his current wife. William Stevenson, 77, is expected to enter a plea in the first-degree murder case. He was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975. A state grand jury t»»»

Dubai: Steel and mining giant ArcelorMittal Projects - a part of the ArcelorMittal Group - is set to open a third plant in Hamriyah Free Zone, expanding its industrial presence in Sharjah to around 5 million square feet by 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new »»»

Kuwait has unveiled a draft budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year projecting capital expenditure of approximately KWD 3.1 billion ($10 billion), underscoring the government’s continued commitment to strategic infrastructure development despite mounting fiscal pressures. The Ministry of Finance prese»»»

BLD Group has officially launched operations in the Egyptian market, unveiling an investment plan valued at approximately EGP 2.5 billion aimed at developing and upgrading a portfolio of mixed-use real estate projects across the country. The move positions the company as a new entrant in Egypt’s in»»»

Egypt’s Egyptian Drilling Company has secured a contract valued at $80 million to supply and operate two petroleum drilling rigs in Turkey, marking a significant step in the company’s international expansion strategy. The contract was awarded by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Turkey’s na»»»

Mergers and acquisitions activity across the Middle East and North Africa reached approximately $106 billion in 2025, reflecting strong deal momentum despite regional geopolitical tensions and global trade-policy uncertainty. Advisory reviews indicate that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates »»»

Egypt and Cyprus have agreed to establish a Cyprus-based company to construct and operate a subsea natural gas pipeline linking the Aphrodite gas field to Egypt, in a project expected to exceed $2 billion in investments. According to a senior Egyptian government official cited by Asharq Business wi»»»

Modern technologies and artificial intelligence can now detect the crescent moon with remarkable accuracy, often identifying what the naked eye and ground-based telescopes cannot. Yet, despite these advances, the final decision on the start of Islamic months remains a matter of religious judgement,»»»

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Tuesday held a press conference to defend the controversial taxes that were imposed by the government overnight. "We have reached a critical juncture with a paralyzed and struggling public sector. A decision was necessary. Negotiations took place with the military,»»»

Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday night, President Donald Trump said he would be involved in nuclear talks with Iran that get underway Tuesday but reiterated warnings to Tehran that it may face further U.S. military strikes if it doesn't make a deal. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UP»»»

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday to lead the first elected government since a deadly 2024 uprising, facing a daunting list of challenges. Top of the list for 60-year-old Rahman will be improving security, healing rifts in a country polarised by years »»»

A 17-year-old has died after being involved in a road accident on the Cycladic island of Paros. According to initial information, the teenager was on a motorcycle that veered off course and crashed. A 31-year-old man was also injured in the collision and was hospitalized with serious injuries. The »»»

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that the Bulgarian authorities failed to effectively investigate a racist assault, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) reported on Tuesday. The Court delivered its judgment in the case of British national Leon Koffi, who was beaten by a group o»»»

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed Al Rowaiyah Street, a major new 3.5-kilometre corridor that directly connects Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, significantly improving mobility in one of the city’s fast-growing districts. The new»»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday inspected the impoverished northern city of Tripoli, accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs Hanin El Sayed, kicking off his visit by meeting with families temporarily residing in building of the Lebanese University’s Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Manage»»»

Skopje, 13 February 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski met Friday with the management of 4iG during the 62nd Munich Security Conference. As the Prime Minister reported on social media, they discussed an investment package worth €100 million in several sectors in the country. “In Munich,»»»

Dubai Police have completed preparations to fire the traditional Ramadan cannons that will announce the sighting of the holy month’s crescent, with the main cannon positioned in the Nazwa area alongside six additional locations across the emirate. The initiative is being carried out in coordination»»»

CANAL+ Benelux & Central Europe, which owns the Focus Sat brand in Romania, is evolving its Executive Committee under the leadership of Yassine Bouzoubaa, CEO CANAL+ Benelux & Central Europe, and announces several new appointments. The management of the activities in Romania is now led by Florina P»»»

Protesters blocked main roads in and around Beirut on Tuesday after Lebanon’s Cabinet approved new taxes that raise fuel prices and other products to fund public pay hikes. The Cabinet approved a tax of 300,000 Lebanese pounds (about $3.30) on every 20 liters (5.3 gallons) of gasoline on Monday. Di»»»

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday morning, his family said. He was 84 years old. File Photo by Matt Marton/UPI | License Photo Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who twice sought to be the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. pres»»»

The Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic has concluded that the mandate of the president elected in January 2021 under the 2010 Constitution must be completed within the originally established six-year term. The five-year term introduced by the 2021 Constitution does not apply to the already»»»

Dubai: For a luxury hotel group founded in 1865, the absence of a UAE address stands out. Langham Hospitality Group has been eyeing the Emirates for years. Deals were discussed. Opportunities came close. There were whispers of launches. But a Langham in the UAE is yet to materialise. Sign up for ou»»»

Dubai: NKEY Architects, an international full-cycle architecture and design company, behind more than 500 residential and commercial projects across over 45 countries, has announced the relocation of its global headquarters to Dubai, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s next phase of growt»»»

South Asia is one of the great paradoxes of the global economy. Home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, including three of the ten most populous countries, it should logically be among the most interconnected regions on earth. Instead, it remains one of the least integrated — economical»»»

The Sharjah Social Services Department has launched the 14th edition of its community initiative “Eid Joy”, aimed at bringing happiness to children benefiting from the department’s social care programmes through the distribution of special “Boxes of Joy”. The initiative, organised by the department»»»

Stockholm: A 17th century Swedish Navy shipwreck buried underwater in central Stockholm for 400 years has suddenly become visible due to unusually low Baltic Sea levels. The wooden planks of the ship's well-preserved hull have since early February been peeking out above the surface of the water off»»»

Wiener Privatklinik (WPK), one of Austria’s largest private hospitals, treated more than 1,000 Romanian patients in 2025, while the total value of treatments provided to Romanian patients increased by 10% compared to the previous year. Romanian patients accounted for 24% of all international patien»»»

Iran is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, if necessary, as soon as possible, Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri said on Tuesday. "If there is a pretext for closing the Strait of Hormuz, our armed forces will carry out this operation as soon »»»

The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps naval force has announced that the IRGC’s intelligence unit maintains round-the-clock surveillance over the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil transit route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. IRGC Navy Launches War Game»»»

China has long ago overtaken the US when it comes to the navy, but now Beijing has also overhauled the US in submarines. China has rapidly expanded its nuclear-powered submarine production, surpassing US launch numbers and»»»

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL) has unveiled a new electric vehicle battery that it says can fully charge in 12 minutes and retain 80% of its capacity after 1.5mn miles, marking a potential breakthrough in durability and charging speed in the global EV market. »»»