Occupied Jerusalem, Feb. 16 (SANA) Israeli occupation forces on Monday arrested 19 Palestinians in various areas of the West Bank, Palestinian media reported. According to the WAFA news agency, troops carried out raids in Qalqilya, the suburb of Shuweika and the town of Deir al-Ghusun in Tulkarm, t»»»

Some residents of Tehran on Sunday chanted slogans against the clerical leadership from balconies and windows, reports said, a day after Iranians abroad staged giant opposition rallies in Europe and North America. The country under supreme leader Ali Khamenei was shaken by a protest movement that p»»»

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals for Public Affairs, Production, and Industrial Zones, Mustafa Al-Samou, held an extensive meeting yesterday with officials from Chinese company Goodwill Ceramic (Wankang) Ltd to discuss the arrangements and technical procedures related to »»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov gave a detailed interview to Kabar news agency, in which he commented on the public debate following Kamchybek Tashiev’s dismissal as Chairman of the State Committee for National Security. He answered questions about a possible regional split, early elections, »»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov presented a long-term model for training government personnel, which, according to him, should finally eliminate regional divisions in the country. A key element of the reform will be the development of Akylman boarding school network. The existing school in Ch»»»

Shumen remains without water as the city faces an ongoing disruption at its main pumping station, BNT reported. Specialists from Varna have been deployed to assist with repairs, working to assess the facility and safely restart the pumps. Authorities warned that it will take several hours before th»»»

Speaking during Saturday’s of the Ministry of Health’s “100-Day” strategy for reform priorities in the health sector, held at the newly opened Health Specialisations Council in Tripoli, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba called for a restructuring of the sector, speaking of i»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Negotiations on Ukraine and Iran will be held in Geneva simultaneously on February 17, a diplomatic source told Sputnik on Monday. "The negotiations on Ukraine and Iran will take place at the same time on Tuesday [February 17]. The negotiations on Iran are being held with Oman ac»»»

Damascus, Feb. 16 (SANA) The Syrian government on Monday launched a new national agricultural strategy aimed at strengthening food security and supporting economic recovery, in cooperation with international organizations. The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with»»»

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation eased noticeably in January, rising 1.8 percent year on year, the slowest pace since February last year, signaling positive momentum for the domestic economy. According to official data, inflation in January 2026 was driven mainly by higher housing, water, electricit»»»

The West must provide Ukraine with weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have said. Moscow has warned that this would lead to a major escalation and trigger an “overwhelming” response. Speaking at the M»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov stated in an interview with Kabar news agency that organized crime groups no longer exist in the country in their previous format. According to him, the situation has fundamentally changed after 2020. «Kyrgyzstan in 2020 and Kyrgyzstan after 2020 are different »»»

Dubai: Dubai-based flydubai is expanding again in Southeast Asia, confirming a double-daily service to Bangkok from September that will lift its Thailand operation to 28 flights a week. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move gives travellers more choice, deepens link»»»

Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, extended his condolences to the family and friends of 'royal photographer Ramesh Shukla.' “Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ramesh Shukla, who »»»

Humanitarian operations in Yemen are entering a new and more complex phase after the United Nations was forced to rely on alternative aid-delivery mechanisms in Houthi-controlled areas, following the closure of its offices and the seizure of its assets. The move has reshaped relief efforts in one o»»»

Nearly two weeks have passed since the publication of materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, yet public interest shows no sign of fading. On the contrary, the controversy surrounding Epstein’s archive seems only to be intensifying. What was released proved scandalous enough to dominate head»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has once again commented on the resignation of former State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Chairman Kamchybek Tashiev, stating that he maintains friendly relations with him, but that his return to public service is out of question. Photo Internet Accord»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, HE Gitanas Nauseda on the occasion of his country's National Day.»»»

"I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you! How dare you?" Tyra Banks' rant - angry and disappointed - at America's Next Top Model (ANTM) contestant Tiffany Richardson is the stuff of reality TV legend. Watching the former supermodel lay into the young hopeful in front of millions of viewe»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced that the recently formed Board of Peace will unveil a humanitarian and reconstruction aid package for Gaza, along with a major international security commitment, during the Board's inaugural meeting in Washington scheduled for Thursday. In a post on h»»»

Instead of the usual 10 days, schoolchildren in Kyrgyzstan will have only one day off during the spring break. According to the basic curriculum for general education institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic, school students will rest only on Friday, March 6. After the weekend on Saturday and Sunday, th»»»

The car and the entrance to the home of Samuil Popov, mayor of the village of Bistritsa, were deliberately set on fire in the early hours of the morning, shortly after 1:30 a.m. Popov said he was awakened by a loud sound similar to an explosion, which initially made him think thunder had struck nea»»»

Dubai: Carriers based in the United Arab Emirates are not pressing the brakes on expansion in 2026 — with new destinations across Europe, North America, Central Asia and beyond planned by Emirates, Etihad and other operators. Travellers from the UAE will for the first time see direct flights to Hel»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that he will hold technical discussions with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi in Geneva ahead of negotiations with the United States. "Joined by nuclear experts, I will meet Rafael Gros»»»

Washington is preparing to send the final draft of a proposed UN-backed mechanism to monitor a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan to the warring parties, according to Massad Boulos, special adviser to US President Donald Trump for Middle East affairs. Speaking at a Sudan session during the Munich Secu»»»

Downtown Munich is best-known for chic shops and flashy fast cars but right now its streets are bedecked with posters advertising next generation drones. "Europe's security under construction" boasts the slogan on an eye-catching set of sleek black-and-white photographs, festooned across a scaffold»»»

The Military Medical Academy Monday announced Open Days for prospective military doctors and nurses. The initiative will run for four days until February 20. The Academy is delivering its training programme jointly with the Naval Academy in Varna, and the Medical University of Varna. Graduates rece»»»

Authorities are actively working on the case involving the arson attack on the car and front door of the Mayor of Bistritsa village (near Sofia), Samuil Popov, the Interior Ministry told BTA on Monday. Active investigative measures are underway. A report was received between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m.»»»

1/15Shukla, whose images helped shape the visual memory of a young nation, died at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, his family said. Gulf News archives2/15An iconic picture of the UAE’s rulers, captured by Ramesh Shukla in 1971. Ramesh Shukla3/151967. Aerial view of Maktoum Bridge, which crosses Dubai Cre»»»

Tunis, Feb. 16 (TAP) – The weather, on Monday, will be cloudy nationwide. At times, cloud cover will be heavier in the north, bringing scattered showers to the far northwest. These rains are expected to spread to the rest of the northern regions by...»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko has been charged with money laundering, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Monday. "NABU and SAPO [Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office] have broadened the list of suspects in the 'Midas ca»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The political course of Moldovan President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) could lead the southeastern European country to a repeat of the Ukrainian scenario, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon told Sputnik. "What worries me most is that the Moldovan authoriti»»»

Iran is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the US if the Americans are willing to discuss lifting sanctions, an Iranian minister has told the BBC. US officials have repeatedly emphasised that Iran, not the US, is holding up progress in this protracted negotiating process. On»»»

A new survey by the sociological agency Market Links shows that if parliamentary elections were held now, five political formations would enter the National Assembly, with the future coalition around Rumen Radev clearly in the lead. According to the data, Radev’s formation would win 25.6% of the vo»»»

A man accused of killing 15 people in a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach appeared in court Monday for the first time since his release from the hospital. Naveed Akram appeared in Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court via a video link from the maximum security Goulburn Correc»»»

On Feb. 16, 2005, after a five-month lockout, the National Hockey League canceled its entire 2004-05 season. 1 of 5 | NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman meets the New York media on February 16, 2005, to announce the cancellation of the 2004-05 hockey season. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Pho»»»

German Galushchenko, Ukraine's former energy minister, pictured here in Britain in April 2025, was detained Sunday while attempting to leave Ukraine. Photo by Chris J. Ratcliffe/EPA Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian anti-corruption law enforcement initiative on Monday announced it has detained former En»»»

The demand for qualified chefs in Bulgaria continues to grow, driven by tourism, urban development, and rising expectations in the hospitality sector. Restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses are no longer looking only for short-term solutions—they need reliable professionals who can contribute»»»

Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that the recently formed Board of Peace will unveil a humanitarian and reconstruction aid package for Gaza, along with a major international security commitment, during the Board's inaugural meeting in Washington scheduled for next Thursday. In a post»»»

Doha, Qatar: Estithmar Holding announced yesterday the establishment of its fifth group, “Estithmar Capital,” in a strategic step aimed at strengthening the company’s expansion and diversifying the sectors in which it operates. Estithmar Capital will specialize in managing financial investments, st»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Insurance (QIC, the Company), the leading insurer in Qatar and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, yesterday reported a net profit of QR791m for the full year 2025, a rise of 9% from QR725m in the previous year. Following a meeting of the Board of Directors yesterday,»»»

Unknown vandals attacked the National Resistance Memorial of Kaisariani, a former shooting range where 200 Greek resistance fighters were executed by Nazi occupation authorities on May 1, 1944. Images showed a black granite monument engraved with the victims’ names smashed, with shattered pieces sc»»»

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has begun setting up Ramadan tents, launching its seasonal “Iftar Saem” (Iftar for Fasters) project under the campaign Ramadan… Giving Without Limits. The initiative forms part of a nationwide programme supporting vulnerable families and individuals across the UAE du»»»

Two female Israeli soldiers had to be rescued by police after being chased by a crowd of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Footage from the city of Bnei Brak showed the women running through streets strewn with rubbish and overturned bins as police officers formed a protective barrier. More than 20 people»»»

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted flights, trains and ferries, forcing the closure of roads across large parts of New Zealand's North Island on Monday, while snapping power links to tens of thousands. Domestic media reported a few flights had resumed operating by afternoon from the airport in W»»»

Israel's government has approved a process to register land in the West Bank, drawing condemnation from Arab nations and critics who labelled it a "mega land grab" that would accelerate annexation of the Palestinian territory. Israel's foreign ministry said the measure would enable "transparent and»»»

Dubai: Oman has opened the Al Rawdah border crossing for commercial goods in a move aimed at strengthening trade links with the United Arab Emirates, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said. The Directorate General of Customs, under the ROP, said the crossing in Al Buraimi Governorate will facilitate the »»»

Interest rates on Romania's RON- and euro-denominated loans have dropped significantly, meaning lower interest costs for the state and more resources that can be directed toward investments or other economic needs, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said last week."Romania's interest rates are falli»»»

Fiscal uncertainty, administrative pressure, and high expectations regarding the modernisation of the tax authority are the main challenges flagged by CFOs in Romania this year, according to the EY Romania Tax Policy Survey conducted in January 2026. These concerns follow a 2025 marked by significa»»»

Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania has announced the signing of two guarantee agreements with the Investment and Development Bank (IDB), aimed at strengthening its role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as public-interest projects with economic and social impact. The first a»»»