Long known for its olives and seaside charm, the southern Greek city of Kalamata has found itself in the spotlight thanks to a towering mural that reimagines legendary soprano Maria Callas as an allegory for the city itself. The massive artwork on the side of a prominent building in the city center»»»

Chyngyz Eshimbekov has been appointed Consul General of Kyrgyzstan in Chicago, USA. The presidential press service reported. Sadyr Japarov signed the corresponding decree. Previously, this position was held by Bolotbek Borbiev, brother of the famous singer Bek Borbiev. He was relieved of his post l»»»

Dubai: Dubai South has opened a new aviation support facility designed to help airlines repair and service aircraft equipment more quickly. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new centre, launched at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH), will be operated by RH»»»

Eighty-five countries have signed on to a Palestinian-led joint statement condemning the recent Israeli security cabinet decisions aimed at tightening the occupation’s control of the West Bank. “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful prese»»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has approved a draft plan to merge its Indian branches with RBL Bank, subject to the acquisition of a majority stake, marking a key regulatory step in what would be the UAE lender’s largest international banking expansion. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bal»»»

“One of the most cherished and sacred dates in our national history is the date on which Vasil Levski passed into immortality. And that date is February 19,” said in a statement from the parliamentary rostrum Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov, on the occasion of the 153rd anniversary of Vasil »»»

British ‌Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night about US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Geneva, as well as talks between the US and Iran on ‌their nuclear ‌dispute, a Downing Street ‌spokesperson ⁠said. Starmer also discussed ⁠Gaza with Trump and str»»»

Poland has barred Chinese-made vehicles from entering military facilities due to concerns their onboard sensors could be used to collect sensitive data, the Polish Army said on Tuesday evening. The army said in ‌a statement ‌that such vehicles ‌may ⁠still be allowed onto ⁠secured sites if specified»»»

The Polish Defense Ministry has withdrawn a supplementary training course on “gender perspectives in military operations” after it drew sharp criticism from right-wing politicians. The ministry said on Monday the program had been scrapped by Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who appeared »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Pezeshkian: Nuclear Talks Under Leader’s Supervision, Not Just For Show 18-02-2026 11:31 AM President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Starmer and Trump held call on Iran, Gaza and Ukraine: Downing Street 18-02-2026 10:42 AM Latest News Urgent News Starmer and Trump held ca»»»

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan announced measures to improve air quality, develop climate policy, and implement waste management systems. According to the ministry, as part of efforts to improve air quality, Cabinet of Ministers’ Decree No. 221 a»»»

Zhainak Usen uulu has been appointed head of the press service of the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic. The decision was made by the parliament’s leadership. Zhainak Usen uulu is a renowned media manager. He previously served as the General Director of the National Television and Radio Broadc»»»

PoliticsGermanyGermany news: Merz open to social media ban for under-16sRichard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, KNA, SID, epaGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he would consider a ban on social media for under-16s. Meanwhile, Berlin's ambassador to Iran is summoned for a reprimand over "a»»»

Retail schemes are maintaining a strong pace of expansion, with more than 750,000 sqm of projects currently under construction or in planning across Romania, with delivery by 2029. If all planned projects are completed, the country’s total retail stock will exceed 5.6 million sqm by the end of 2029»»»

A large number of residents of Istočno Novo Sarajevo welcomed their fellow citizen Aleksandar Ivanović last night, the boxer who won the UBF title in the cruiserweight division. A spectacular reception featuring flares was organized in Gavrilo Princip Park for Ivanović, a professional boxer of Boxi»»»

Saudi Arabia has launched its first endowment fund dedicated to advancing environmental, water and agricultural sustainability, reinforcing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s non-profit sector and long-term development. Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli on T»»»

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has killed 11 people in recent strikes on three boats allegedly transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. The boats were attacked late Monday, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement, which alleged that the three boats were operated by des»»»

At a meeting of the Environmental Council, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev commented on the situation with ash from the capital’s heating and power plant (HPP). The city is facing an environmental problem: ash dumps, previously located far from populated areas, are now located within the city lim»»»

TradeGermanyChina shock: Will Merz take on Germany's top rival?Nik MartinChancellor Friedrich Merz is scrambling to defend German industry from the economic upheaval caused by intense rivalry from China. Momentum is building for fresh trade barriers to stop unfair trade practices. https://p.dw.com/»»»

Police in northern Greece have arrested the driver of a private ambulance for drink driving, reports said. According to the voria.gr website the 41-year-old man was stopped early Wednesday in Thessaloniki’s Kalochori district and taken into custody after he failed a breathalyser test. Greek authori»»»

Dubai: Javed Akhtar, who worked with veteran screenwriter Salim Khan during their celebrated partnership in the 1970s, visited him at Lilavati Hospital late Tuesday night. He was joined by Aryan Khan, who also came to see the ailing writer. Salim Khan was admitted to the hospital after suffering a »»»

A GERB–UDF declaration stated that February 18 is a day for monuments, but it must also be a day for merciless reassessment, as read by MP Georgi Krastev on Wednesday on the occasion of the 153rd anniversary of the death of revolutionary Vasil Levski. “If Vasil Ivanov Kunchev were to enter this cha»»»

Due to overnight snowfall, road conditions in parts of the country are complicated, and some municipalities have declared Wednesday a non-school day. Because of heavy snowdrifts and reduced visibility, traffic for all motor vehicles has been temporarily restricted on the Trakia Motorway between Bur»»»

Nine skiers were missing after an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada mountains on Tuesday, but six others, who had been stranded, have since been rescued, authorities said. The avalanche swept the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe, at about 11:30 a.m. »»»

Turkey could “lose its industry” unless structural problems, high borrowing costs and persistent inflation are tackled. That’s the warning from Burhan Ozdemir, head of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Assoc»»»

Turkey could “lose its industry” unless structural problems, high borrowing costs and persistent inflation are tackled. That’s the warning from Burhan Ozdemir, head of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Assoc»»»

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. »»»

Rescuers have found the body of a 59-year-old man who was buried under a snow avalanche in Suusamyr, the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. On the instructions of the head of the ministry, Major General Urmatbek Shamyrkanov, the search operation w»»»

Manila: At a raucous 2022 campaign rally, the two most formidable names in Philippine politics stood side by side, sealing an alliance that seemed unstoppable. Before a sea of roaring supporters, then–vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte turned to her running mate, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and dec»»»

Romanian engineering company Piaxo has announced the opening of a new research and development center in Timisoara, developed in strategic collaboration with Clarios, a firm specialized in battery technology. The opening will create over 120 highly skilled jobs across all engineering disciplines — »»»

In a declaration delivered on behalf of the parliamentary group Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, MP Elisaveta Belobradova said from the parliamentary rostrum on Wednesday that February 18, 2026 marks 153 years since the hanging of Vasil Levski, one of the most powerful symbols of Bulgaria»»»

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. »»»

A luminous outline of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores loomed over Caracas against the night sky in January. The steady light of hundreds of drones in a show put on by the government in Venezuela, suspended their image in front of the clouds, before rearranging to call for their return: "El»»»

It was May 1999, and US Army sergeant Andrew Ramirez had been held captive for over a month by Yugoslav forces, enduring days of dark confinement and interrogations. Just a few weeks earlier, Ramirez and two other soldiers had been on a routine patrol near the Macedonian-Yugoslav border during the »»»

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has raised the readiness of Makkah’s hospitality sector to its highest level ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, stressing that serving pilgrims and visitors remains a top national priority. Makkah is preparing to receive worshippers and visitors amid a marked exp»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran, Russia to hold combined naval drill on Thursday 18-02-2026 10:16 AM Latest News Urgent News Israeli soldier killed in so-called frien»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli soldier killed in so-called friendly fire incident in south Gaza: Israeli media 18-02-2026 10:38 AM Latest News Urgent News Israeli»»»

Damascus, Feb.18 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh discussed priorities for technical support to public finances with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on Tuesday, alongside talks with the UN Resident Coordinator on strengthening cooperation in recovery and development initia»»»

At today’s session of the Zhogorku Kenesh, deputies unanimously approved the appointments of three new Cabinet Ministers without holding a discussion or posing questions to the candidates. The approved appointments are: Earlier, on February 16, President Sadyr Japarov signed decrees dismissing the »»»

A man who tried to rob an Athens supermarket at gunpoint has been foiled, first by a cashier who routed him brandishing a pair of scissors and then by an off-duty policeman who gave chase and detained him, police said Wednesday. The attempted robbery in the Athens district of Tavros went awry from »»»

Dubai: After 20 years of discovering singing talent across India, Indian Idol, the iconic music reality show has finally packed its bags and gone international, and Gulf News was given exclusive access to it. The reality show cast and crew landed in Abu Dhabi earlier this week to film special episo»»»

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement. His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with »»»

Jhajjar: A chartered accountant from Hisar has been arrested for the brutal killing of his 27-year-old wife, a bank employee whose body was found with her throat slit near Bahadurgarh in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Police said the accused attempted to stage the crime as a robbery-cum-murder, but in»»»

Gale-force winds blowing across Greece have disrupted air and sea transport. Overnight, nine domestic and international flights to and from Thessaloniki were diverted to other airports because the wind was too strong for them to land safely. Later Wednesday the winds dropped but several flights wer»»»

Parliament will hear on February 19 representatives of Kozloduy NPP and the competent authorities regarding the emergency shutdowns of Unit 6 at the nuclear power plant, MPs decided on Wednesday with 107 votes in favour, 86 against and 14 abstentions. The proposal was put forward by MP Yordan Todor»»»

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would pursue a policy of "encouraging the migration" of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Wednesday. "We will eliminate the idea of an Arab terror state," said Smotrich, speaking at an event o»»»

School bus driver Ali al-Dorr averts his gaze every time he passes the rubble of his son's home -- destroyed by an Israeli strike in south Lebanon despite a year-old ceasefire. Though his son managed to evacuate in time, the attack left notebooks, papers and furniture strewn among the debris of the»»»

Damascus, Feb. 18 (SANA) Syria’s Investment Authority met with representatives of the Syrian-British Business Council on Tuesday to discuss expanding cooperation and organizing a future investment forum aimed at attracting international companies. Talal Hilali, head of the Syrian Investment Authori»»»

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»»»