Sadyr Japarov: Our goal is to make Kyrgyzstan a mountain tourism center - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov attended the opening of the gondola lift in Ala-Archa Nature Park. Speaking at the ceremony, the head of state noted that the development of modern tourism infrastructure is a priority of state policy. «Our goal is to fully unlock the country’s tourism potentia»»»
Indian professor’s robot dog claim at AI summit sparks uproar
NEW DELHI An Indian professor has sparked ridicule after falsely suggesting a Chinese-made robot dog displayed at a major AI summit in New Delhi was developed by her university. The silver mechanical dog - a model sold by Chinese startup Unitree - appeared at a booth run by the private Galgotias Un»»»
Vin Diesel compares Priyanka Chopra to Nelson Mandela at 'The Bluff' premiere, calling her his perfect 'birthday twin'
Dubai: Actor Vin Diesel was spotted being an ardent fan of Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Los Angeles premiere of their much-anticipated action thriller The Bluff. Both share the same birthday and Diesel was heard waxing lyrical of Priyanka, even dropping comparison to Nelson Mandel»»»
Aster opens Diabetes 360 Care Clinic amid UAE's new sugar tax rollout
Dubai: Aster Clinics UAE has launched a new specialist diabetes centre in Dubai, together with its public awareness campaign, in response to the country's recent tiered sugar tax that took effect this year. The healthcare provider has opened the Aster Diabetes 360 Care Clinic in Al Qusais, while al»»»
CPrime Minister Gurov: I Take Full Responsibility for All Ministers in Caretaker Cabinet
“I conducted the talks independently and I take full responsibility for all the ministers in this cabinet,” said Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, speaking to journalists after presenting the lineup of the caretaker government to President Iliana Iotova. /MORE /КТ/»»»
Arval Romania launches all-inclusive mobility solutions for fleet electrification
Arval Romania, a mobility solutions provider part of the BNP Paribas Group, announces the launch of a new range of products dedicated to fleet electrification: Arval Energy Card, Arval Energy Cable, and Arval Route Planner. These solutions are part of an integrated approach that supports companies »»»
Merz Rules Out Nuclear Weapons For Germany
Germany is open to discussing European nuclear deterrence but is not seeking independent possession of the weapons, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. "I don’t want Germany to consider independent nuclear armament," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on the Machtwechsel podcast, commenting o»»»
Iran, Russia to Conduct Joint Drills in the Sea of Oman
Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, Iranian media reported. On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, also launched exercises in the strategic Str»»»
First Ramadan After Truce Brings Flicker of Joy in Devastated Gaza
Little Ramadan lanterns and string lights appeared on streets lined with collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in Gaza City, bringing joy and respite as Islam's holiest month began -- the first since October's ceasefire. In the Omari mosque, dozens of worshippers performed the first Ramadan morni»»»
Qatar Tourism and Hamad Medical Corporation sign MoU to raise awareness and promote off-road safety
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Tourism and Hamad Medical Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to raise awareness about off-road safety among Qatar’s adventurist residents, families, and high-risk groups. The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration and coordination between the two entities, wi»»»
GDRFA Dubai announces Ramadan 2026 working hours
Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has announced its official working hours for the holy month of Ramadan 2026, ensuring continued delivery of services while accommodating the spirit of the holy month. Customers can access services at the Directo»»»
Meta to shut down Messenger website in April 2026, redirects users to Facebook
Dubai: In a new move to simplify its services, Meta has announced that it will shut down the standalone Messenger website starting this April. This is not the first time that the tech giant has made significant changes. Last year, it discontinued the Messenger desktop apps for Windows and Mac. What»»»
Head of State: Choosing Caretaker Ministers Is No Easy Task in Current Situation
In this situation, choosing caretaker ministers is no easy task, said President Iliana Iotova on Wednesday during the presentation of the caretaker government by caretaker prime minister-designate Andrey Gurov. The President identified the preparation of fair elections as the most important task. M»»»
Ivan Hristanov: Minister of Agriculture and Food
Ivan Hristanov has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Gurov draft cabinet. Hristanov was born in Sofia on December 24, 1973, according to information posted on the Edinenie (Unity) political party website. Hristanov was among the people who founded the party in 2025»»»
Atanas Zapryanov: Defence Minister
Born in Dragoynovo Village (South Central Bulgaria) on April 16, 1950. Graduated as communications engineer from Vasil Levski National Military University, then from S. M. Budyonny Military Academy of Signal Corps, Russia, and from General Staff Faculty of the G.S. Rakovski National Defence Academy»»»
First European Flight Lands in Venezuela Since Maduro’s Ouster
A plane from Spain's Air Europa landed in Venezuela Tuesday, according to a flight tracking monitor, the first European commercial flight to arrive in the country since the United States toppled president Nicolas Maduro. A slew of international carriers stopped flying to Venezuela after the United »»»
Fireworks Shop Explosion Kills 12 in China
An explosion at a fireworks shop in central China killed 12 people on Wednesday, the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year, which fell on »»»
Moody’s Establishes Regional HQ in Riyadh, Deepening Presence in Region
Moody’s Corporation announced that it has established its regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting ongoing commitment to support the development of the Kingdom’s capital markets and economy. “This investment aligns to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative and underscores its dynamism and growth,”»»»
Iran could send enriched uranium to Russia – WSJ
Iran has indicated that it may send some of its enriched uranium to a third country, such as Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US, Iranian, and regional diplomats. Iranian officials also suggested that they might pause enrichment for up to three years and floated a proposa»»»
Parliament committee finalizes draft media law, UNESCO urges swift adoption
UNESCO welcomed Wednesday the completion of parliamentary committee deliberations on Lebanon’s draft Media Law, describing it as a major milestone in a reform process that has spanned nearly 15 years. The draft law, submitted in late 2025 by the Minister of Information with sustained technical supp»»»
Dr. Michail Okoliyski: Health Minister
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Okoliyski has been nominated for caretaker Minister of Health in the proposed Andrey Gurov cabinet. From 2014 until June 2023, he served as head of the Bulgaria Office of the World Health Organization. Between 1998 and 2014, he was an associate professor at the National Cent»»»
Andrey Yankulov: Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister
Andrey Yankulov has been proposed as caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice in the draft cabinet of Andrey Gyurov. He is a lawyer specializing in criminal law, according to the website of the Anti-Corruption Fund foundation. He was born on August 25, 1980, in Sofia, according to in»»»
dozens of UN member states condemn Israeli west bank measures
The U.N. missions for 85 member states issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning Israel's encroaching control of the West Bank, which critics say amounts to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. "We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's»»»
OVES Enterprise unveils Romania’s first privately developed cruise missile
OVES Enterprise, a Romanian software development company with expertise in complex software solutions and AI innovations for the aerospace, defence, and cybersecurity industries, has unveiled its Sahara Autonomous System project, described as the first cruise missile developed in Romania by a priva»»»
Vucic: India has confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027
NEW DELHI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he had had a very friendly and substantial discussion with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi and noted that India had confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027. "The meeting with Modi was remarkably friendly and substantial and I ha»»»
Officially: Andrey Gyurov Presented the Caretaker Cabinet as Bulgaria Prepares for Early Vote in April
Bulgaria is entering a new political phase as the caretaker government led by Andrey Gyurov takes shape, with early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026. President Iliyana Yotova received Gyurov at “Dondukov” 2, where he formally presented the composition of his interim cabinet. The»»»
UN experts: Epstein files point to ‘crimes against humanity’
A panel of independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has concluded that millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein point to a “global criminal network” whose actions may amount to crimes against humanity. In a statement released on [Day], the experts detailed that the crimes do»»»
Vatican Says It Will Not Participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
The Vatican will not participate in US President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. Pope Leo, the first »»»
Tristar and Gulf News launch Limitless women’s leadership forum
Recognising the achievements of women is about more than acknowledgement, it sets direction. In the UAE, gender balance has moved beyond policy statements to board mandates, executive appointments and measurable participation across government and industry. Female representation in leadership is no»»»
Ramadan 2026: Sharjah announces public parking hours
Sharjah: Paid public parking in Sharjah will operate from 8am until midnight throughout the holy month of Ramadan, Sharjah City Municipality announced on Wednesday, as part of wider preparations that include intensified inspections of food establishments and public facilities across the emirate. Th»»»
Couple held for Valentine’s Day hotel theft
Police on the resort island of Corfu have arrested a couple who allegedly spent the night of Valentine’s Day in a local hotel stealing copper piping to sell for scrap. A police statement Wednesday said the suspects, aged 29 and 30, made off with some €2,000 worth of copper from the hotel on the fri»»»
St. Anna Hospital in Varna Requests Financial Assistance from Municipal Budget
The management of St. Anna Hospital in Varna Wednesday sent a letter to Varna Municipal Council Z\Chair Hristo Dimitrov requesting an urgent allocation of EUR 300,000 in financial assistance for the medical institution, the Municipal Council said on its website. It will be considered at a meeting o»»»
President Iotova to Decree Appointment of Caretaker Cabinet, Holding Snap General Elections on April 19
President Iliana Iotova said here on Wednesday after caretaker Prime Minister-designate Andrey Gurov presented his proposal for a cabinet line up, that she will decree the appointment of the caretaker cabinet and will issue another decree for holding the early parliamentary elections on April 19, 2»»»
Prosecutor: No Other People Present at Petrohan Lodge on Night of Three Deaths, Evidence Points to Suicide
There were no other people present at the Petrohan mountain lodge on the night when three people died there, Deputy Appellate Prosecutor of the Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office Natalia Nikolova said during a joint briefing by the prosecution service and the police. All evidence collected so far, »»»
'No one to back us': Arab bus drivers in Israel grapple with racist attacks
What began as an ordinary shift for Jerusalem bus driver Fakhri Khatib ended hours later in tragedy. A chaotic spiral of events, symptomatic of a surge in racist violence targeting Arab bus drivers in Israel, led to the death of a teenager, Khatib's arrest and calls for him to be charged with aggra»»»
In photos: Qatar glows with Ramadan lights, decorations
Doha, Qatar: Ramadan decorations and festive lights are illuminating streets and public spaces across Qatar, marking the advent of the holy month. With the start of Ramadan, major roads and destinations including the Doha Corniche, Katara Cultural Village, and Old Doha Port have been adorned with c»»»
Coffee Regions Hit by Extra Days of Extreme Heat, Say Scientists
The world's main coffee-growing regions are roasting under additional days of climate change-driven heat every year, threatening harvests and contributing to higher prices, researchers said Wednesday. An analysis found that there were 47 extra days of harmful heat per year on average in 25 countrie»»»
Son Charged After Father Assaulted and Stabbed in Sofia Apartment
The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office has charged a 30-year-old man with inflicting serious bodily harm on his father in an incident of domestic violence. According to the investigation, on February 14, the man assaulted his father in their apartment in the Lyulin district of Sofia. The attack inv»»»
Deal or conflict? Military risks linger as diplomacy clock ticks
Dubai: As US and Iranian negotiators cautiously sustain indirect talks in Geneva, diplomacy is unfolding against one of the most heavily militarised backdrops in recent US–Iran history. American carrier strike groups sit within operational reach of Iran, while Tehran conducts missile exercises near»»»
Wizz Air to launch new direct flights to Palermo and Alghero in July
Skopje, 17 February 2026 (MIA) - Wizz Air is set to introduce two new direct flights from Skopje to Italy’s Palermo and Alghero in July, the company announced Tuesday. Towards the end of March, flights to Budapest and Naples will also be launched at the Skopje International Airport, as well as to M»»»
Suhoor made easy: 5 Quick recipes for rushed Ramadan mornings
Dubai: When the alarm doesn’t go off (or you hit snooze one too many times) suhoor can quickly turn into a rushed glass of water and a promise to 'eat better tomorrow'. But skipping suhoor during Ramadan isn’t just uncomfortable, it can mean low energy, headaches and serious brain fog by mid-mornin»»»
Caretaker PM-Designate Gurov Proposes Cabinet Members
Caretaker Prime Minister-designate Andrey Gurov presented his proposal for a cabinet lineup to President Iliana Iotova on Wednesday. Here are the caretaker Cabinet members: Andrey Gurov - Prime Minister Andrey Yankulov - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Maria Nedin - Deputy Prime Minis»»»
Bulgaria Must Measure Itself Against Levski’s Deeds, Not His Words, ARF MP Haytov Says
In a declaration delivered on behalf of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, MP Yavor Haytov said from the parliamentary rostrum on Wednesday that the day marked 153 years since the snowy February day of 1873, when on the outskirts of Sofia, amid the shouts of a crowd ga»»»
Romania’s workforce structure evolves as immigration offsets emigration – EY study
EY Romania today released the study Migration at a crossroads: The evolution of emigration and immigration in Romania within the global system, analysing the impact of migration on the country’s economy, as well as on its social and cultural structures, unveiling a complex reality around the phenom»»»
Dog Gives Olympics Organizers Paws for Thought
A dog decided he would bid for an unlikely Olympic medal on Wednesday as he joined the women's cross country team free sprint in the Milan-Cortina Games. The dog ran onto the piste in Tesero in northern Italy and gamely, even without skis, ran behind two of the competitors, Greece's Konstantina Cha»»»
Israeli occupation forces open fire at pickup truck in the outskirts of Al-Wazzani in south Lebanon: Al-Manar correspondent - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli occupation forces open fire at pickup truck in the outskirts of Al-Wazzani in south Lebanon: Al-Manar correspondent 18-02-2026 11:5»»»
Bulgaria: Prosecutor’s Office Confirms Petrohan Suicides, Okolchitsa Case Involves Murder and Suicide
The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented new findings on the Petrohan and Okolchitsa cases at a press briefing on Wednesday. Participants included Deputy Appellate Prosecutor Nataliya Nikolova, Chief Commissioner Zahari Vaskov, Deputy Director Senior Commissioner Ivan »»»
Ramadan road safety: Are you risking your life to break your fast?
Dubai: As Ramadan brings unique traffic patterns and heightened road activity across the UAE, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are urged to exercise extra caution to prevent accidents, particularly during the rush hours before iftar. Most road accidents during Ramadan occur just before sunset, »»»
Tunisia kicks off final phase of pollutant gas elimination plan ahead of 2030
Tunis, Feb. 18, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisia has officially entered the final phase of its commitment to climate protection. The third and concluding phase of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-Out Management Plan was recently launched in Tunis during...»»»
Net foreign currency assets cover 106 days of imports (BCT)
Tunis, Feb. 18 (TAP) – As of February 17, Tunisia’s net foreign currency assets reached 25.06 billion dinars, equivalent to 106 days of imports. Compared to the same period last year, foreign reserves (23.3 billion dinars, or 102 days of imports)...»»»