Bangladesh’s new PM Tarique Rahman takes office
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 »»»
Teen killed in crash on Paros
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 »»»
ECHR: Bulgarian Authorities Failed to Effectively Investigate Racist Assault
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»»»
RTA opens new road cutting travel time by 60%
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»»»
QCB announces working hours for financial institutions during Ramadan
Doha, Qatar: On the occasion of the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has announced the working hours for financial institutions. In a statement, QCB said: "It has been decided that the official working hours for the financial institutions would be 5 hours a day, sta»»»
Salam inspects bereaved city of Tripoli
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»»»
Mickoski and 4iG management discuss €100 million investment package in telecommunications, AI and energy
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,»»»
5.8% of Bulgaria’s Population Lived under Water Supply Restrictions in 2024 due to Shortages
A total of 5.8% of Bulgaria’s population was subject to water supply restrictions in 2024 because of water shortages, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). In 2024, 5.8% of the population was under water supply rationing due to insufficient water, according to figures fro»»»
Dubai Police brings back Ramadan cannon tradition
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»»»
Florina Pascu was appointed Director of EVISO MARKETING ADVISORY ROMANIA, the company that operates the Focus Sat brand in Romania
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 Block Beirut Roads after Cabinet Approves New Taxes that Raise Fuel Prices
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»»»
Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, dies at 84 - UPI.com
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»»»
Constitutional Court sets date for next presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
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»»»
Strait of Hormuz will be closed for several hours for live fire drills, Iran says
Dubai: Parts of the Strait of Hormuz will close for a few hours on Tuesday due to ‘security precautions’ for shipping safety, semi-official Fars news agency reported, as the Revolutionary Guards conduct military drills in the waterway. The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which co»»»
Why this ultra-luxury hotel brand still doesn’t have a UAE address. The CEO says that's on purpose
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 becomes new global hub for NKEY Architects following rapid growth in MENA
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: A disconnected giant in a connected world
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»»»
865 children to receive Eid gifts under Sharjah’s ‘Eid Joy’ campaign
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»»»
Deputy Amir leads farewell of Crown Prince of Bahrain
Doha, Qatar: The Deputy Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani led the farewell of HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa upon departure, along with his accompanying delegation, from Doha International Airport on Tuesday, after the end o»»»
17th century wreck reappears from Stockholm deep
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»»»
Over 1,000 Romanian patients were treated in 2025 at the private hospital Wiener Privatklinik in Vienna
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 Ready to Close Hormuz Strait, If Needed, as Soon as Possible - Commander of IRGC Navy
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 »»»
Kallas Became EU Foreign Policy Chief by Chance - Ex-Austrian Foreign Minister
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas landed her post purely by chance, with qualifications taking a backseat, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said on Tuesday. Kneissl told the Solovyov Live show that both Kallas and her predecessor, Federica Mogherini, rose to lead »»»
Iran’s IRGC Maintains 24-Hour Watch Over Strategic Strait of Hormuz
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 overtakes the US in nuclear submarine production, says IISS
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»»»
Chinese EV company CATL unveils a new super battery
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. »»»
Kuwait ranks 30th in GDP per capita, according to Harvard study
A Harvard University study ranked Kuwait 30th out of 145 countries in GDP per capita, recording $31,971 nominally and $51,322 adjusted for purchasing power parity under 2024 standards. The Atlas of Economic Complexity Ran»»»
Slovenia’s GDP grows 1.1% in 2025, driven by domestic consumption
Slovenia’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.1% in 2025 (chart), according to a first estimate published by the statistics office on February 16. Growth was primarily supported by domestic consumption, which rose»»»
EU may freeze Serbia funds over controversial judicial reforms
The European Union could withhold part of a €1.6bn allocation of loans and grants to Serbia after Belgrade passed judicial reforms that are “eroding trust” in its commitment to the rule of law, the bloc’s enlargement commissioner told Reuters on February 12. »»»
Western Balkans truck drivers warn of new blockades over Schengen stay rules
Truck drivers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are considering new blockades of cargo border crossings after the European Union rejected all proposals aimed at easing restrictions on their stay in the Schengen area, local media reported on February 16. »»»
Western Balkans truck drivers warn of new blockades over Schengen stay rules
Truck drivers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are considering new blockades of cargo border crossings after the European Union rejected all proposals aimed at easing restrictions on their stay in the Schengen area, local media reported on February 16. »»»
Western Balkans truck drivers warn of new blockades over Schengen stay rules
Truck drivers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are considering new blockades of cargo border crossings after the European Union rejected all proposals aimed at easing restrictions on their stay in the Schengen area, local media reported on February 16. »»»
Sarajevo protests enter fourth day after deadly tram crash
Protests in Bosnia’s capital entered a fourth day on February 16 as demonstrators demanded accountability after a tram derailment killed a 23-year-old man and seriously injured several others, including a teenage girl who lost a leg. »»»
Western Balkans truck drivers warn of new blockades over Schengen stay rules
Truck drivers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are considering new blockades of cargo border crossings after the European Union rejected all proposals aimed at easing restrictions on their stay in the Schengen area, local media reported on February 16. »»»
Western Balkans truck drivers warn of new blockades over Schengen stay rules
Truck drivers from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are considering new blockades of cargo border crossings after the European Union rejected all proposals aimed at easing restrictions on their stay in the Schengen area, local media reported on February 16. »»»
Ukrainian Geneva talks kick off
A new round of peace talks kicks off today in Geneva. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kuchner have already landed and are due to begin talks in a few hours. We're getting close to the end in the sense that we're running out of time. Trump has already made it clear that he wants the deal done by June ahead »»»
SCNS: Ex-employees will be held accountable under law - | 24.KG
The Military Prosecutor’s Office, together with the Main Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, has conducted a series of investigative and operational measures against certain former employees of the State Committee for National Security. The investiga»»»
Miss Universe 2025 Fátima Bosch stumbles while greeting crowd in Ecuador
Dubai: A festive celebration in Ambato, Ecuador took an unexpected turn when Miss Universe 2025, Fátima Bosch, suddenly stumbled while riding a parade float. The incident happened on Sunday, February 15, during the city’s iconic Fruit and Flower Festival, which draws thousands of visitors every yea»»»
Two ex-municipal officials convicted of breach of trust in Halkidiki
A criminal court in Thessaloniki on Tuesday convicted an ex-mayor and a former legal adviser of the Municipality of Sithonia in Halkidki, northern Greece, of breach of trust for failing to defend municipal land from private ownership claims, court officials said. According to the Athens-Macedonian »»»
Cookie factory owner given another day to testify for second time
The owner of a cookie factory in Trikala, central Greece, where five workers were killed in an explosion late last month, requested on Tuesday a brief postponement of his testimony before an investigative magistrate. The defendant will return to court at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. This will be the second»»»
Mayors Rally in Village of Bistritsa in Support of Mayor Samuil Popov
Mayors from across the country gathered in front of the village hall in Bistritsa in support of the village mayor Samuil Popov, whose car and the front door of his home were set on fire on Monday. Popov told BTA that he accepted the show of support with gratitude and thanked all colleagues who had »»»
Symphopay platform changing payment infrastructures for big retail
Symphopay is strengthening its position as a payment orchestration solution for retail on the Romanian market, following the successful implementation carried out across more than 1,750 stores in the national Profi network. Previously, the company was selected to manage complex payment and settleme»»»
Real estate transactions down 30% YoY in 2025 as Romanian capital takes leading role
The total volume of real estate transactions in 2025 reached approximately EUR 525 million, almost 30% below the EUR 750 million recorded in 2024, according to the annual report published by real estate consultancy Colliers. Romanian investors were the main source of capital on the local property m»»»
Ukrainian Geneva talks kick off
A new round of peace talks kicks off today in Geneva. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kuchner have already landed and are due to begin talks in a few hours. We're getting close to the end in the sense that we're running out of time. Trump has already made it clear that he wants the deal done by June ahead »»»
Commentator calls out IOC hypocrisy over Israeli athlete
A Swiss sports commentator launched a scathing on-air attack against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday, accusing it of hypocrisy for allowing Israeli athletes to compete in the Milano Cortina Winter Games while maintaining strict sanctions against Russians. Stephane Renner of Swis»»»
16 new school buildings commissioned in Osh region in 2025 - | 24.KG
During a working visit to Osh region, Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, attended the opening ceremony of a school in the village of Zhylaldy in Uzgen district. The head of the Cabinet noted that the old schoo»»»
Bulgaria: Teacher Arrested in Pleven Over Alleged Sexual Abuse of Two 13-Year-Old Girls
A teacher from the Pleven region has been taken into custody over allegations of sexual abuse involving two 13-year-old girls, Nova TV reported. The 29-year-old mathematics instructor, who works at a school in the village of Sadovets, is accused of engaging in sexual acts with one girl and committi»»»
Media Review: February 17
PETROHAN Mediapool reported that a group of 10–12 men on ATVs were in the area of Petrohan lodge hours before the deaths of three of its residents, citing testimony from Deyan Iliev, the man who found the bodies, “confirmed by the media outlet’s sources.” He spotted them in the nearby village of Gi»»»
Could air taxis soon operate in Sharjah?
Dubai: The Executive Council of Sharjah has approved the launch of a feasibility study into modern air transport solutions, including air taxis and cargo services, as part of efforts to strengthen the emirate’s position as a regional aviation hub. The meeting was chaired on Tuesday by Sheikh Sultan»»»
Ramadan in Dubai: Free Salik during these hours
Salik has announced amended toll timings for the month of Ramadan on its social media channels. Dubai’s road toll system will be levying the following tariffs across the holy month: From Mon to Sat, the toll will be set at Dh6. For the Zakat calculator, click here. On these days, the toll will dip »»»