Meteorologists predict rain in Bishkek during the second half of the week. February 19: Sunny. Nighttime temperatures around +7°C, daytime highs up to +24°C. February 20: Partly cloudy. Night +7°C, daytime +21°C. February 21: Rain expected. Night lows of +5°C, daytime highs up to +11°C. February 22»»»

Dubai: The UAE is set to add around 390,000 new homes by 2030, marking one of the largest residential expansion cycles in recent years, according to a new industry report. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The first-ever Alpen GCC Real Estate 2026 report by Alpen Capital»»»

The number of employees in Bucharest reached, at the end of November 2025 1,113,044 people, dropping by 880 people (minus 0.08%) against the previous month, according to the data centralized by the National Institute for Statistics.Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of employees increa»»»

The annual inflation rate will extend its slow drop in quarter 1, 2026, while in quarter 2 it will register an increase, on the background of influences coming from basic effects, and from the evolution of the quotation of goods and the eliminaton of VAT level for basic goods. Later on, the annual »»»

On Feb. 18, 1979, snow fell in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the first known time. It fell a second time in 2016 and a third time in 2018. 1 of 7 | On February 18, 1979, snow fell in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the first known time. It fell a second time in 2016 and a thir»»»

Damascus, Feb. 18 (SANA) Syria is seeking to expand economic ties with Uzbekistan in a move aimed at opening Central Asian markets to Syrian exports and attracting investment in key sectors as part of efforts to support the country’s economic recovery. A Syrian economic delegation visited Uzbekista»»»

The 2026 SABIS STEAM Competition brought together the largest gathering of young innovators from across the SABIS Network, transforming an ordinary weekend into a vibrant showcase of creativity and future‑ready skills. With record participation, the event welcomed over 500 students from 21 schools »»»

Authorities have scrapped plans to lease the two main sand beaches on the tiny island of Ano Koufonissi to businesses that planned to set up sun loungers and umbrellas there, ending their free and unrestricted use by the public. The Finance Ministry, which is responsible for leasing Greece’s once p»»»

Doha, Qatar: Weather inshore until 6pm on Wednesday will be misty to foggy at first, moderate in temperature daytime, and cold by night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected poor horizontal visibility at first. Offshore, the weather will be misty to fo»»»

US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington had made “meaningful progress” in negotiations on a potential Ukrainian settlement after a first day of trilateral talks in Geneva on February 17 involving US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives. »»»

US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington had made “meaningful progress” in negotiations on a potential Ukrainian settlement after a first day of trilateral talks in Geneva on February 17 involving US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives. »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums has announced revised operating hours for the Holy Month of Ramadan, introducing a split schedule across its network of museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. Under the updated timetable, all its museums, galleries, and institutions will open from Saturday to Thur»»»

Japan's lower house formally reappointed Sanae Takaichi as prime minister on Wednesday, 10 days after her historic landslide election victory. Takaichi, 64, became Japan's first woman premier in October and won a two-thirds majority for her party in the snap lower house elections on February 8. She»»»

Taxi drivers are on strike across Greece over government timelines for their obligatory transition to using electric vehicles and against competition from other chauffeuring services. Athens taxi drivers launched a three-day strike Tuesday — which ends at 6 a.m. Friday — while cabbies all over Gree»»»

North Korea was designated a "high-risk jurisdiction" for money laundering and terrorism financing for the 16th consecutive year, Seoul's Financial Action Task Force said Wednesday. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo North Korea has been designated a "high-risk jurisdiction" for money»»»

Monaco: Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie yesterday. United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after ju»»»

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks to reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap South Korea will seek to reinstate a no-fly zone over the border with North Korea under the suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at easing tensions, Unification Minister Chung Dong»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan yesterday claimed the top spot in Group B at the AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League (GCCL) after a 3-1 victory over Oman’s Al Nahda in a match held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, concluding the group stage fixtures. The win lifted Al Rayyan’s tally to 12 points, confirm»»»

Commercial "air taxi" service has been pushed back. Again. Reason: It's not because the technology doesn't work or is unproven. It's because US certification timeline for the next-generation electric vertical-landing-and-takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft — a new mode for human flight — poses complex challen»»»

The Indonesian government, through the Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, has officially declared that 1 Ramadan 1447 AH will fall on February 19, after the isbat (confirmation) session concluded that the crescent moon did not satisfy the agreed visibility standards, Jakarta Globe reports. »»»

The Indonesian government, through the Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, has officially declared that 1 Ramadan 1447 AH will fall on February 19, after the isbat (confirmation) session concluded that the crescent moon did not satisfy the agreed visibility standards, Jakarta Globe reports. »»»

The Indonesian government, through the Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, has officially declared that 1 Ramadan 1447 AH will fall on February 19, after the isbat (confirmation) session concluded that the crescent moon did not satisfy the agreed visibility standards, Jakarta Globe reports. »»»

The Indonesian government, through the Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, has officially declared that 1 Ramadan 1447 AH will fall on February 19, after the isbat (confirmation) session concluded that the crescent moon did not satisfy the agreed visibility standards, Jakarta Globe reports. »»»

Doha, Qatar: United Development Company (UDC), the master developer of The Pearl and Gewan Islands, has announced the launch of the fourth edition of The Pearl Ramadan Bazaar, taking place throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan along the waterfront at Porto Arabia (1 to 5 La Croisette) and Qanat Quar»»»

Doha: Al Sadd SC secured a place in the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 despite a 4-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Club at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. The big victory for Al Ittihad still allowed Al Sadd to claim the final Round of 16 spot from the West Zone, edging out fe»»»

1 of 2 | U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday arrested an 18-year-old accused of running toward the Capitol with a loaded shotgun. Photo courtesy of U.S Capitol Police/Release Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Police have arrested an armed teenager who was running toward the U.S. Capitol building, authorities said. The s»»»

Doha, Qatar: Carlos Alcaraz made a victorious start to his Qatar ExxonMobil Open campaign at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday, withstanding a challenge from Arthur Rinderknech to advance with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win. Playing his first match since lifting the Australia»»»

UNDP Libya reported yesterday that, as part of a series of introductory workshops, national Libyan institutions explored how emerging technologies can strengthen education and scientific research. In partnership with the Ministry of Planning and the Institute of Planning discussions held at the Ins»»»

Nissan Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa has singled out Saudi Arabia as a cornerstone of the automaker’s global ambitions, calling the kingdom and the wider Middle East a “golden jewel” in the company’s international portfolio, driven by strong brand equity, steady profitability, and a deep, loyal cus»»»

Nearly two weeks after the deadly explosion at the Violanta biscuit factory in Trikala, a 10-year employee told fire investigators he had smelled “at least for two months” an odor “like LPG” (liquefied petroleum gas) in Building 2, strongest in restrooms and the dishwashing area. The worker, assign»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up the first day of a state visit to India on February 17, 2026, elevating defence cooperation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting out an expanded industrial and military roadmap. »»»

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up the first day of a state visit to India on February 17, 2026, elevating defence cooperation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting out an expanded industrial and military roadmap. »»»

Convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sought to cultivate ties with Russia’s political elite and repeatedly pressed for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to US Justice Department files released on Tuesday. The documents detail Epstein’s travel to Russia and efforts to recruit y»»»

The revelation that a high-profile member of the British government had close historic ties with the disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein has entrenched British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the worst political crisis he has faced since taking office. Questions about his ability to sur»»»

After the first meeting in Oman this month, about which very little is known, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi are meeting in Geneva on February 17. »»»

Kamchybek Tashiyev, last week stripped of his post as Kyrgyzstan’s national security chief by President Sadyr Japarov, has temporarily left the country, Ozodlik reported on February 17, citing a report by Region TV’s Utkirbek Rakhmonov. »»»

Hundreds of people in Tajikistan who faced criminal charges for posting “likes” have been acquitted. Habibullo Vohidzoda, the country’s prosecutor general, told a press conference – as reported by Asia-Plus – that the move»»»

PUEBLO, Colorado: Four people died in crashes involving over 30 vehicles, including six semitrailers, on an interstate in Colorado Tuesday after blowing dirt made it nearly impossible to see, authorities said. Dirt kicked up by heavy winds blew across Interstate 25 just south of Pueblo around 10 a.»»»

Manila: In a game-changing move, the government has unleashed a major policy tweak allowing a 100% electricity subsidy for poorest Filipino families. Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos recently unveiled the "auto-enrollment" scheme for millions of target beneficiaries -- families unde»»»

Bayer subsidiary Monsanto on Tuesday said it would pay $7.25 billion over 21 years to settle class action lawsuits filed by those claiming its Roundup weedkiller caused cancer. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Officials for Germany-based Bayer have agreed to pay $7»»»

"Life is becoming more expensive," complains Alexander, a Moscow-based advertising specialist who works for a big corporation. In the course of one month his monthly food budget soared by more than 22% - from 35,000 roubles (£330; $450) to 43,000 (£406; $555). With Russia's economy hanging somewher»»»

A water taxi/ferry is escorted through the ice in the Hudson River before docking in Manhattan as seen from "Edge" at Hudson Yards as sub freezing temperatures continue after the weekends major snow storm on January 29 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Across the United »»»

Officials for Fulton County, Georgia, on Tuesday accused the FBI of lying to obtain a warrant that authorized a raid on the county's elections office on Jan. 18. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Officials for Fulton County, Ga., said in a filing Tuesday that the Department of J»»»

1 of 2 | A fatal crash on I-25 near Pueblo, Colo., took place Tuesday during a high-wind event. Photo courtesy Colorado State Patrol Powerful winds kicking up dust across the Plains contributed to multiple fatal crashes and sparked rapidly spreading wildfires on Tuesday as dry grasses fueled fast-m»»»

Monaco: Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie on Tuesday. United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after j»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Fifty One East, ‘Qatar’s favourite department store’, has officially launched the 6th edition of its annual Jalabiyas & Kaftans Private Exhibition, displaying the latest collections by prominent local and regional designers. The opening, hosted on Level 1 of Fifty One East»»»

Palantir co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Alex Karp is among those who announced the tech firm has moved its headquarters to Miami on Tuesday. Photo by Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Artificial intelligence and software analytics firm Palantir Technologies Inc. has moved its headquarte»»»

1 of 6 | An image released by the FBI shows a person of interest in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie. On Tuesday, police said the DNA found on a glove nearby Guthrie's home did not find a match in the federal database. Image courtesy of the FBI | License P»»»

Evanan Romero, who was detained for four days, is part of a committee of about 400 former state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela technicians and executives dedicated to developing proposals for rebuilding the energy sector under a future government. File Photo by Henry Chirinos/EPA Feb. 17 »»»

Spanish officials on Tuesday announced they are launching an inquiry into potential criminal violations by X, Meta and TikTok over respective users' creation and distribution of AI-generated child sex abuse materials. Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Spanish authorities plan to investigat»»»