Each year during the holy month of Ramadan, incidents of so-called “online begging” re-emerge, as fraudsters exploit the prevailing atmosphere of compassion and generosity to solicit financial assistance from donors through internet platforms and social media. Authorities have warned the public aga»»»

An unofficial outline of the expected caretaker cabinet headed by Andrey Gyurov has begun to circulate, with multiple familiar political figures likely to return to government. According to information reported by bTV, the proposed lineup must be formally submitted to President Iliana Yotova no lat»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the completion of 10,000 new houses built in Pyongyang, state media KCNA said on Tuesday, as the country prepares to hold a key party congress. Kim has been touring construction sites and touting project progress ahead of this month's Ninth Congress of the rul»»»

The US should reap economic benefits from any potential agreement with Iran for it to be enduring, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Ghanbari has said. Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent weeks, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening military action agains»»»

Russia’s online cartographic service has put blurring over a 100,000 square metres of land near the Northern Fleet’s headquarters. The move prompts the question whether authorities are trying to hide the massive losses in Ukraine. Yandex Maps has for years blurred sensitive weapons stores sites and»»»

Dubai: Dubai: With a new travel pilot between the UAE and Bahrain underway, short-haul regional travel is witnessing a shift. While the immediate focus is on faster airport processing, the initiative forms part of a longer-term effort to rethink how border procedures are coordinated across GCC stat»»»

A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail, authorities said Tuesday. The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment offi»»»

The situation of authorized producers of pigs and pork in Romania is critical due to the accelerated decrease in the selling price, in conditions of increasing real production costs, and Romanian farms will soon begin to close, in the absence of concentrated measures and support from partners, eith»»»

Romania's final electricity consumption decreased last year by 0.9% compared to 2024, while household consumption fell by 1%, according to data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).According to the cited source, between 1 January and 31 December 2025, primary energy res»»»

The Competition Council is analyzing the transaction through which UMB Steel Ltd intends to take over the assets belonging to ArcelorMittal Hunedoara stock company, the competition authority informs in a press release.UMB Steeel Ltd is part of the UMB group, owned by the Umbrarescu family. The UMB »»»

The current account of Romania's balance of payments posted a deficit of EUR 30.127 billion in January-December 2025, compared with EUR 28.853 billion in the same period of 2024, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) said in a press release.In its structure, the goods balance recorded a smaller defici»»»

The annual inflation rate decreased slightly to 9.62% in January, down from 9.69% in December, as services increased by 11.59%, non-food staffs by 9.99%, and food staffs by 7.86%, according to data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS)."The consumer price index was 100.8»»»

Electricity recorded the sharpest price increase in January, rising by 59.33% year-on-year, although it fell slightly compared with the previous month, by 0.44%. Significant annual increases were also registered for cocoa and coffee, up by 25.27%, and for rail transport, which rose by 24.40%, accor»»»

A public administration reform and an economic recovery package have been completed and will be passed by emergency ordinance immediately after the end of the opinion seeking process for them is over, with several amendments concerning the institutions of the defence, public order, national securit»»»

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) launched, on Monday, the annual scholarship program offered by the Romanian Government to foreign citizens from non-EU countries for the 2026-2027 academic year.The program is implemented through the MAE and financed from the budget of the Ministry of Education»»»

Romania will remain firmly committed to deepening its cooperation with Japan, both bilaterally and at NATO level, in the context of shared security risks, was the message conveyed by National Defense Minister Radu Miruta during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, on the sidel»»»

At a plenary session on Monday, the Romanian Senate passed a bill ratifying of the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of prevention, containment and removal of the effects in case of emergencies signed in Bucharest on Octo»»»

Dubai: Ramadan television is a tradition in its own right, and this year Viu along with other streaming platforms is keeping things focused with a carefully chosen slate of premium Arabic dramas. From intense thrillers to light family comedies, the 2026 line-up brings together major regional stars »»»

Dubai: The Al Ain Civil, Commercial and Administrative Court has ordered a woman to pay Dh150,000 to another woman after failing to transfer the full value of her share in a privately organised rotating savings scheme, locally known as a “jamiyah”. The court ruled that the defendant must pay Dh140,»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian navy is the best guarantor of safety of Russian merchant vessels amid Western attacks, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Marine Board Nikolai Patrushev said. By implementing plans for a naval blockade of Russia, the Europeans are explore the limits»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Twenty-one civilians have been killed in Russia in Ukrainian attacks in the week starting February 9, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large on the Ukrainian regime's crimes Rodion Miroshnik told Sputnik. "Over the past week, Ukrainian Nazis' shelling resulted in 147 civili»»»

Senior Egyptian officials have been flocking to eastern Libya, the stronghold of the Libyan National Army (LNA), in what observers have said was increasing alarm in Cairo over the LNA’s support to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The officials have sought to persuade LNA commander K»»»

China's Russian oil imports are set to climb for a third straight month to a new record high in February as independent refiners snapped up deeply discounted cargoes after India slashed purchases, according to traders and ship-tracking data. Russian crude shipments are estimated to amount to 2.07 m»»»

Damascus, Feb. 17 (SANA) Officials at the Damascus Chamber of Commerce met a Jordanian economic delegation on Monday to discuss potential investment in Syria’s cement industry. The talks, held at the chamber’s headquarters, brought together board members and a delegation led by Mohammad Ali Bdeir, »»»

Nearly 3 out of 10 households in South Korea raise pets, mostly dogs, government data showed Tuesday. In this Sept. 28, 2025, photo, dogs wear traditional hanbok at a fashion show held in Seoul. File Photo by Yonhap Nearly 3 out of 10 households in South Korea raise pets, mostly dogs, government da»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential consequences should it fail to strike a deal with the United States, as negotiators prepare for the latest round of talks in Geneva on Tuesday. Mediated by Oman, the recently resumed discussions are aimed at averting the possibility of U.S. milit»»»

Dubai: This Ramadan, the night sky offers something truly extraordinary. On Saturday, 21 February 2026, Al Thuraya Astronomy Center invites you to witness a rare planetary parade from the serene Al Qudra Desert in Dubai. Also Read: Scorpion season brings weather changes to UAE: What to expect this »»»

Tunis, February 17, 2026 (TAP) – Four trophies will be awarded on March 5, 2026, in Tunis to women business leaders supported by the Qualitative Growth for Employment (CQE) project, in celebration of the International Women’s Day.Launched under the...»»»

Oil prices stabilized on Tuesday as investors assessed supply disruption risks after Iran conducted naval exercises near the Strait of Hormuz ahead of nuclear talks with the United States later in the day. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would participate "indirectly" in the Geneva»»»

North Korea completed a five-year project to build 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang, state-run media reported Tuesday. Leader Kim Jong Un, seen here at a Feb. 8 event, attended the inauguration ceremony and touted his regime's domestic accomplishments. Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- North »»»

A consortium led by US oil major Chevron signed exclusive lease agreements on Monday to look for natural gas off southern Greece, expanding the United States' presence in the eastern Mediterranean. The deal doubles the amount of Greek maritime acreage available for exploration and is the second in »»»

London, Feb. 17 (SANA) King Abdullah II of Jordan stressed the importance of supporting Syria’s efforts to preserve its security, stability and sovereignty during talks on Monday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. According to Jordan’s state news agency Petra, Abdullah expressed Jo»»»

As workplaces evolve at unprecedented speed, businesses across the UAE are navigating a landscape defined by technology, talent, and transformation. InsuranceMarket.ae, the largest insurance platform of the UAE, in association with Gulf News, will host the Future of Work Summit, a premier forum in »»»

Dubai: One of the most beloved singer-songwriters of the past four decades is finally making his Middle East debut in Dubai. A legend comes to the UAEGrammy Award-winning artist Richard Marx will perform live at Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday October 3, 2026, marking his first ever concert in the Midd»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Duhail SC’s AFC Champions League Round of 16 hopes were left in the balance after a 3-2 defeat to Al Shorta at Al Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad yesterday. The result leaves the Qatari side seventh in the West Zone on eight points, and their fate now depends on the outcomes of Al Sadd an»»»

Doha: The Organising Committee of the School Olympic Program (SOP) held a ceremony yesterday to honour promising athletes who joined Qatar’s national teams through the program. The event was attended by Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; Dr. Thani bin A»»»

Doha, Qatar: After six thrilling rounds filled with intense competition and high-speed action, the 2026 Arabian Drag Racing League concluded in spectacular fashion at the drag strip of Qatar Racing Club (QRC). The event was held under the patronage of QRC Chairman H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Tha»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) yesterday launched its new website (https://www.qfma.org.qa), which provides investors and participants in the Qatari capital markets, as well as all beneficiaries, stakeholders, and entities licensed by the QFMA, with an additional communic»»»

Weather authorities sounded the alarm on Tuesday, as heavy rain, thunderstorms and gale-force winds threaten flooding and coastal damage in western parts of the country. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection said heightened readiness applies to the Peloponnese, Western Greece, the Ionian Isl»»»

Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a prisoner at Domokos Prison as a potential contract killing rather than a spontaneous crime, according to law enforcement sources. Antonis Papadatos, 42, was shot three times in the head Sunday evening inside the facility. He was serving a senten»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced the launch of the Initiative to Support Innovators, Inventors and Rights Holders, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and in partnership with University of Doha for Science and Technology, Sidra Medici»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber, headed the Chamber’s delegation at the 41st Meeting of the General Assembly of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development and the Mecca Halal Forum, held from February 14 to 16 in Mecca, Saudia Arabia. The »»»

Doha, Qatar: Mannai Corporation (Qatar Exchange: MCCS), yesterday announced its financial results for the year ended 31st December 2025. Mannai Group delivered revenues of QR5.1bn, which is a 25% increase compared to QR4.1bn in FY 2024. This robust performance was supported by the Information and C»»»

Donald Trump has said he will be "indirectly" involved in the talks between Iran and the United States which are due to begin in Geneva later on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US president added that he believed Iran wanted to make a deal over its nuclear programme. The se»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ability Friendly programme at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education hosted the Yalla Swim Meet – National Competition 2026, bringing together 121 swimmers representing 12 swimming teams and centres from across Qatar. The competition aimed to promote a culture of social i»»»

Doha, Qatar: QNB Group held its Ordinary General Assembly Meeting yesterday, at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, where shareholders reviewed and approved the Group’s financial performance and key governance matters for the year ended 31 December 2025. The General Assembly approved the Group’s financial »»»

Doha: Qatar Calendar has announced its preparations to welcome the holy month of Ramadan 2026, unveiling a nationwide programme of events and activities spanning heritage, culture, sports and family entertainment. Qatar Calendar, presented by Visit Qatar, is the national unified platform showcasing»»»

Doha, Qatar: Healthcare professionals across Qatar gathered on Saturday, February 14 at Ideal Indian School ground for a one-day cricket tournament organised by Medicos Markhiya. Medicos Premier League Season 1 cricket tournament is organised with an aim to foster relationship and develop unity amo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Leading scholars and experts convened at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) to advance the practical application of Islamic psychology within mental health service delivery. Hosted by the College of Islamic Studies (CIS), the ‘2nd International Symposium on Islamic Psychology: Integra»»»

Dubai: Mark your calendars! The Filipino community in the UAE is set to come together on June 7 for the celebration of the Philippines’ 128th Independence Day. The annual ceremony will take place at the Zabeel Halls 2 & 3 of the Dubai World Trade Centre. Dubbed as “Kalayaan 2026,” the celebration i»»»