Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (February 24) - the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion -- urged the European Union to set out a clear timeline for his country's accession to the bloc. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg tells us more from Kharkiv.»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, February 24, 2026: First, the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine makes the front pages in France and Europe. Elsewhere, the British front pages discuss the arrest of former British ambassador Peter Mandelson over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Next»»»

Their names are Oleksandr, Sofiia, Bohdan, and Angelina. They are between 18 and 28 years old and live in Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, their lives and plans for the future were turned upside down by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. FRANCE 24 sp»»»

Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev will participate in the first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and the United Kingdom, the ministry’s press service announced. The minister will visit the United Kingdom on February 25-26, 2026. Bilateral meetings with UK Secretary of »»»

Dubai: Dubai Customs inspectors have foiled an attempt to smuggle 18kg of marijuana concealed inside a passenger’s luggage at Dubai International Airport, officials said. The seizure was made in the early hours of the morning after X-ray screening operators detected an unusual density in a suitcase»»»

An Emirati donor has filed a civil case in Dubai seeking to recover more than Dh3.5 million from two men he accused of fraudulently collecting funds under the guise of delivering humanitarian aid. The case, however, was dismissed after a final criminal ruling acquitted one of the defendants, preven»»»

A draft National Plan to increase defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 must be approved, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Tuesday at the opening of the annual conference of the Chief of Defence. This year's conference reviews the development of the Bulga»»»

Foreign minister Youssef Rajji said Tuesday that Lebanon fears its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates. Rajji said Lebanese authorities had appealed to Hezbollah, which has fought several wars with Israel, most recently in 2024, not to respond in any »»»

The U.S.-led Mechanism committee will meet Wednesday in Ras al-Naqoura for the first time since December 19, al-Akhbar newspaper reported. It quoted informed sources as saying that the meeting will be limited to military personnel in the vein of the previous meeting. “The U.S. and Israel do not wan»»»

Tunis, Feb. 24 (TAP) - The government is implementing an unprecedented set of fiscal and financial incentives to democratise access to electric and hybrid vehicles, aiming to make them a competitive alternative both economically and...»»»

Dubai: Fresh satellite imagery and flight-tracking data point to a significant expansion of US military assets across Europe and the Middle East, underscoring rising tensions with Iran and fuelling renewed debate over whether Washington is preparing for a sustained military campaign. Signals of pos»»»

The UK and France are preparing to hand Ukraine a nuclear bomb to strengthen its leverage in forcing more favorable terms to end the conflict, according to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). "France and the UK are likely acting with the goal of pulling the US more directly into the situat»»»

The Ministry of Education has approved the new teaching plan for public and private schools applying the national curriculum for the 2026-2027 academic year, as part of its effort to modernise the education system and raise learning outcomes across all stages. According to the plan, the changes cov»»»

An Emirati donor has filed a civil case in Dubai seeking to recover more than Dh3.5 million from two men he accused of fraudulently collecting funds under the guise of delivering humanitarian aid. The case, however, was dismissed after a final criminal ruling acquitted one of the defendants, preven»»»

Four Bulgarian nationals have been arrested for allegedly tricking other vulnerable people from Bulgaria into coming to work in Greece, where they were kept under harsh conditions and forced into effective slavery. A police statement Tuesday said one of the suspects also faces rape charges for alle»»»

Washington, United States: American tech giant Meta has reached an agreement to purchase millions of chips from processor manufacturer AMD, in which it could become a shareholder, the two companies announced Tuesday. AMD has committed to supplying Meta with up to 6 gigawatts worth of graphics proce»»»

Badung, Indonesia: Flooding in parts of Indonesia's popular resort island of Bali prompted hundreds of people, including dozens of tourists, to seek safety, a local disaster official said Tuesday. Intense rains triggered flooding since late Monday across several Bali districts and the provincial ca»»»

Sharjah Charity International has inaugurated the Martyr Mohammed Ismail Al Bloushi Mosque in Al Saf area of Kalba, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen religious infrastructure and serve communities across the emirate. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Sharjah Department »»»

Abu Dhabi: The State Security Department has warned against attempts by extremist groups to recruit young people through emotionally manipulative messaging, urging families and communities to remain vigilant and reinforce the values of moderation. In a statement shared on social media, the departme»»»

Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company will launch its first autonomous ride next month, a significant step in the emirate’s efforts towards adopting smart mobility and AI-driven transport, its chief executive said. The announcement came as the company’s board recommended final dividends of Dh142 million for th»»»

A 23-year-old AEK soccer fan blew off his own finger after lighting a flare outside a stadium during Sunday’s match with Levadiakos. The man was standing amid scores of fans outside the Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfia, Athens, at around 9.30 p.m. when the pyrotechnic exploded, mangling his right han»»»

The Evros regional unit, in northeastern Greece, has been placed on code red from Tuesday through Friday due to heavy rainfall and an increased risk of flooding from the rising Evros river. According to an announcement, authorities reactivated the code red status after the regional governor and a r»»»

A presidential decree has officially relieved Kanybek Dosmambetov of his position as Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan reported. The document, signed today, does not disclose the reasons for the decision. It is expected that an acting head o»»»

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced a Dh5 million contribution to the Edge of Life campaign, which works towards aiding five million children. The initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Du»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday the Serbian average wage had been at 1,057 euros in December, exceeding the 1,000 euro mark for the first time. Vucic also said a Serbia 2030-2035 development plan was being finalised and due to be unveiled between March 6 and 10. Vucic »»»

The enemy failed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield and now resorts to individual attacks and terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) board. Other statements by the Russian president: FSB employees are now »»»

The Serbian authorities have arrested two people suspected of plotting to assassinate President Aleksandar Vucic and his wife and children, the Interior Ministry has said. The arrests come as Serbia grapples with anti-government protests which Vucic says are driven by foreign interference. In a sta»»»

France has blocked US Ambassador Charles Kushner from direct government access after he ignored a summons to the Foreign Ministry to explain American comments on the death of right-wing activist Quentin Deranque. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot summoned Kushner to the Quai d’Orsay after Wa»»»

Yordan Bozhilov and Zlatin Krastev were appointed Deputy Ministers of Defence, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Tuesday at the opening of the annual conference of the Chief of Defence. The conference focused on the development of the Armed Forces through the prism of national and»»»

Foreign minister Youssef Rajji said Tuesday that Lebanon fears its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates. Rajji said Lebanese authorities had appealed to Hezbollah, which has fought several wars with Israel, most recently in 2024, not to respond in any »»»

The army accused the Israeli military on Tuesday of firing near a position it was setting up in the country's south, saying it had instructed troops to return fire. In a statement, the Lebanese army said it was "establishing a new observation post on the southern border" when "the area surrounding »»»

The Bank of Israel Monetary Committee maintained the interest rate at 4%, halting a streak of two consecutive 0.25% cuts implemented in November and January. Most analysts had anticipated a third reduction until geopolitical tensions with Iran altered the calculus, Globes noted. »»»

Student protests continued across Tehran's universities for a fourth consecutive day on February 24, with demonstrations reported at more than ten institutions as Basij militia members deployed on campuses to contain the unrest, according to student Telegram channels. »»»

Authorities in Serbia have arrested two men suspected of plotting to assassinate President Aleksandar Vucic and overthrow the constitutional order, the interior ministry said on February 23. In a statement, the Ministry of»»»

The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) posted significant gains on February 23, defying a broader downturn across Western equity markets. The local rally was largely driven by robust domestic retail sales data and relief that a feared US military strike on Iran, which markets anticipated could have o»»»

In February 2025, during his address at the Federal Security Service Board, Russian President Putin said the service is a strong, reliable and effective link in national security. Sputnik goes life as Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Boa»»»

Polish retail sales grew 4.4% year-on-year (y/y) in constant prices in January, easing somewhat from a 5.3% y/y rise in December, the statistics office GUS said on February 23. The January reading beat market consensus, wh»»»

Dubai: We know what you must be thinking. A holiday for under Dh2,000? A few weeks away from the Eid holidays, no way, José. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Fortunately, travel agents have confirmed that UAE travellers have a few short- and mid-haul options that offer »»»

Bakyt Torobaev submitted a letter of resignation from the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, sources reported. There has been no official confirmation from the Cabinet of Ministers yet. According »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Speaker of Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, to discuss a draft law regarding owners' association, in light of the council's decision to return the draft to the committe»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s consumer protection department has urged residents to shop responsibly during promotional seasons and avoid excessive purchasing, warning that misleading discounts and unnecessary stockpiling can place pressure on household finances and disrupt market stability. Ahmad Ahli, Acting Di»»»

Malayalam movie fans and political watchers in Kerala have something to look forward to: superstar Mohanlal will be interviewing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a programme that delves into his personal life, political journey, and governance. Pictures of the two together have already gone viral»»»

Dubai: Mayank Pawar, a fitness enthusiast, reality TV personality, and seven-time Mr India titleholder, has passed away at the age of 37. The Splitsvilla Season 7 contestant’s death was confirmed through a post on his official Instagram account, leaving fans and members of the fitness community sho»»»

Kuwait has brought into force a new compulsory national service law requiring every male citizen to report for military service within 180 days of turning 18, in a move aimed at strengthening defence readiness and closing gaps in previous legislation. The amended law entered into effect last Sunday»»»

By order of Prime Minister Andrey Gurov, Alexander Traykov has been appointed Deputy Minister of Culture, the press center of the Culture Ministry announced here on Tuesday. Alexander Traykov was born in 1977 in Sofia. He holds a degree in History and a Master’s degree in “Crises, Conflicts and Dip»»»

Delivery of the second batch of eight F-16 jet fighters for the Bulgarian Air Force will probably be delayed by a year, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said here on Tuesday. Under two contracts with the US, Bulgaria has purchased a total of 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft worth USD 2.5 billio»»»

The Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday that it has requested assistance from an American partner service and from Europol, through Bulgaria’s national representative at Eurojust, in connection with pre-trial proceedings into a high-profile multiple deaths case - the Petrohan-Okolc»»»

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is marked, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its continued backing for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. In an official statement, the min»»»

Acting Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov has indicated that the delivery of Bulgaria’s second batch of eight F-16 fighter jets is likely to be postponed by approximately one year. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Chief of Defence, he explained that the delay »»»

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