Doha The State of Qatar has announced that Wednesday (February 18) will mark the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, following the sighting of the crescent moon. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said its Moon Sighting Committee had confirm»»»

The Council of Ministers adopted an amendment to Council of Ministers Decision No. 144 of March 10, 2022, on granting temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine, extending the temporary protection of displaced persons from Ukraine on the territory of Bulgaria by one year, effective from»»»

The Council of Ministers allocated additional expenditures for 2026 under its own budget that will cover the Sofia regional administration's activities of providing security for the dismantled bronze figures and bas-reliefs from the Monument to the Soviet Army, including the rental of scaffolding a»»»

Dubai: More than one billion Muslims around the world are preparing to observe Ramadan 2026, with forecasts indicating that fasting hours this year will be slightly shorter than in 2025. The length of the fast varies significantly from one country to another, depending on geography and latitude, as»»»

The European Union is bracing itself for a fight over a proposed ban on Russian steel imports, as lawmakers attempt to push the restrictions through a legislative backdoor, according to Euronews. Members of the European Parliament and EU member states will begin negotiations next week on whether to»»»

NASA Artemis II rests on Launch Complex 39B at sunset at Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Feb. 10. NASA is planning for a second wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis II test flight on Thursday in preparation for a full launch as early as next month. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo Feb. 17 (UP»»»

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) Regional Office in Sofia filed an indictment on Tuesday against four suspects, accused of fraudulently obtaining employment benefits for people with disabilities, the institution reported in a press release. According to the investigation, two companie»»»

The Council of Ministers on Tuesday adopted a decree amending Council of Ministers Decree No. 263 of 2021 on secondary budget administrators under the Ministry of Culture, increasing the staff of Bulgaria’s Cultural and Information Centre in Skopje by one position. The measure is aimed at strengthe»»»

The outgoing Government has approved a plan to promote collective bargaining for the period 2026–2030, prioritizing the expansion of collective bargaining coverage by 2030 through coordinated efforts between the Government and social partners, the Government Information Service said on Tuesday. The»»»

Dubai: The UAE’s Presidential Court has announced that Wednesday, February 18, will mark the first day of Ramadan, following a confirmation by the official moon-sighting committee. (Click here for the Ramadan prayer timings) Also Read: Ramadan 2026 in UAE: Crescent moon sighting and announcements w»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has conducted intensive inspection campaigns on retail outlets and consumer complexes across the country as part of its preparations for the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, the ministry said that these campaigns aim to ensure the availabilit»»»

Ukraine must swiftly give up its uncompromising stance in the negotiations to settle the conflict with Russia, US President Donald Trump has warned. He made the comments ahead of talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday and Wednesday. The parties previously held t»»»

Dubai: French President Emmanuel Macron surprised onlookers in Mumbai with an early morning jog along the iconic Marine Drive during his visit to India, drawing crowds and sparking buzz on social media. Dressed in athletic gear and accompanied by security personnel, Macron was seen jogging along th»»»

For decades, the path of Hezbollah’s resistance has been written not only in victories, but in sacrifice. Leaders rose from among the people, carrying the weight of their homeland, Lebanon, on their shoulders, and when the moment demanded it, they offered their lives so that the nation might stand.»»»

1 of 3 | Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the company will engage with Paramount Skydance on its offer to buy the company, but still believes Netflix is a better choice. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Netflix has grante»»»

A senior imam of the Al‑Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem said Tuesday that Israeli authorities have barred him from entering the compound, just days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I have been barred from the mosque for a week, and the order can be renewed," Sheikh Muhammad al‑A»»»

Dubai: The UAE will host around 20 Muslim scholars during the holy month of Ramadan at the expense of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to lead nationwide religious programmes. Dr Omar Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, sai»»»

The British ‘nuclear umbrella’ will not provide extra security to other NATO members in Europe, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin has said. Discussions about the continent developing its own nuclear deterrent have accelerated following White House announcements that the US would be scaling »»»

A motorcade carrying Russia's negotiating delegation arrives at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva on Tuesday ahead of U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine on ending the war. Photo by Cyril Zingaro/EPA Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A third round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were »»»

France says it has released an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet!" after its owner paid a fine. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the vessel, named Grinch, was "leaving French waters" on Tuesday having paid a penalty of "several million euros»»»

If parliamentary elections were held in mid-February, five political formations could feel secure about winning seats in the newly formed National Assembly, according to data from the independent monthly face-to-face programme of the Myarа polling agency. Two more have realistic chances of crossing»»»

Dubai: The Philippine National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has officially announced that Ramadan in the country will begin on February 19. In a statement, the NCMF has confirmed that the crescent moon was not sighted, leading to the declaration that the first day of Ramadan will fall on T»»»

Dubai: The American University in Dubai (AUD) has partnered with the IE University to offer a new international business degree called the Global Bachelor in Business Administration (Global BBA). The four-year Global BBA will allow students to study in different parts of the world while they pursue»»»

Israeli NGOs have raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem's borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967. Israel has occupied east Jerusalem since 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the internat»»»

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Geneva for the latest round of US-brokered talks, a week before the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Expectations for a breakthrough remain low, as Moscow has not wavered from its maximalist demands for Ukrainian territo»»»

Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two "Godfather" movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in "Tender Mercies," has died at age 95. Duvall died “peacefully” at his home Sunday in»»»

Authorities investigating this month’s deadly migrant shipwreck off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Chios have ordered that divers raise the victims’ small boat, which sank after colliding with a coast guard patrol vessel, so that it can be examined as evidence. The decision by the Chios prosecuto»»»

Dubai: When comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare visitor from beyond our solar system, made its closest pass to the sun last October, every telescope on Earth went blind. The comet had slipped behind the sun, out of reach. But the UAE's Hope Probe, orbiting Mars on the same side of the solar system, had a front-»»»

Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed Tuesday's trading lower by 64 points, or 0.56 percent, to settle at 11,362.59 points. During the session, a total of 115,628,368 shares were traded, with a value of QAR 377,231,317.105, through 22,178 transactions across all sectors. Shares of 21 co»»»

Bulgaria has formally raised concerns about violence and hate speech targeting the Bulgarian ethnic community in the Republic of North Macedonia before the Council of Europe. A written question on the issue has been submitted to the Committee of Ministers and registered as written question No. 806 »»»

Damascus, Feb. 17 (SANA) Syria’s Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh met Tuesday with Indian Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Reno Yadav to discuss boosting economic and financial cooperation and reopening Indian credit lines. Minister Barnieh highlighted Syria’s openness to Indian investment, particul»»»

The Russian Northern Fleet starts live-fire exercise in the Varanger fjord, a few nautical miles from Grense Jakobselv where the Norwegian military is observing. Russia has issued warnings to both seafarers and pilots to stay away from waters close to the coast between Pechenga fjord and Grense Jak»»»

Syria began evacuating remaining residents of Al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters, as it empties the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, two officials told AFP. Al-Hol, located in a desert region of Hasakeh province, had been Syria's largest camp hou»»»

Iran's supreme leader warned on Tuesday that the country had the ability to sink a U.S. warship deployed to the Gulf, as fresh talks between the two sides concluded in Switzerland. The threat by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei follows a military build-up by the United States in the region as President Donal»»»

Dubai: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s leading professional body for marketing, has officially launched its new regional hub in Dubai Knowledge Park, marking a significant milestone in its expansion across the Middle East. The launch event brought together senior leaders, in»»»

NATO personnel operating Western military hardware in the Ukrainian conflict zone has long been an open secret, Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik. Ukraine, Litovkin explains, ended up relying on foreign personnel because it:Lacks the necessary number of skilled pilots and speci»»»

In tonight's edition: The 39th African Union summit came to an end on Sunday, after two days dominated by the crises affecting the continent. Also, student action continues in Senegal, following the deadly protest against unpaid financial aid last week. Plus the African continent sees increasing re»»»

Political negotiations are underway, led by regional actors, with the aim of reaching a "security agreement with Lebanon," the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper quoted informed sources as saying. The Americans are saying that they are interested in arranging this agreement and Hezbollah is not show»»»

The deportation of an Irish man who is being held in an US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in El Paso, Texas, has been temporarily halted. Seamus Culleton, who is originally from Glenmore, County Kilkenny, was detained by ICE in September 2025 while he was in the proces»»»

Dubai: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a series of sharply worded warnings aimed at the United States and President Donald Trump on Tuesday, escalating rhetoric amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington. In remarks posted on X and reinforced by public statements, »»»

The Fyli landfill, northwest of Athens, Greece’s largest waste disposal site, is expected to continue to expand for as long as it can, as efforts to increase recycling and reduce waste production stall. Last week, the Environment Ministry approved another expansion to increase its capacity by 2 mil»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday praised the "remarkable acceleration" of France's ties with India in response to the "changing international order". Macron met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai at the start of a three-day visit focused on artificial intelligence co»»»

The UAE is preparing to welcome Ramadan 2026 with a wide-ranging set of measures aimed at preserving the spiritual and social character of the holy month while ensuring business continuity across public and private sectors. Authorities across the country have introduced flexible working arrangement»»»

According to the latest nationwide survey by the sociological agency "Myara", if parliamentary elections were held in mid-February, voter participation would reach 51.5 percent, translating into the involvement of roughly three million voters. Further reading: NATO Pilot, Putin Sympathizer, or Some»»»

When US President Donald Trump revived the idea of buying Greenland – and refused to rule out stronger measures if Denmark declined – the reaction across Europe was swift and indignant. The proposal was framed as an anachronism: a throwback to imperial horse-trading that modern international politi»»»

US Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has said he will “seriously consider” a run for the White House in 2028, as he remains embroiled in a legal and political dispute with the Trump administration over a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, the Ari»»»

Bulgaria will complete the construction of the first LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) radiotelescope antenna station in Southeastern Europe by the end of 2026, the Institute of Astronomy with a National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday. LOFAR is the world's l»»»

Authorities in Indonesia announced on Tuesday that Thursday, February 19, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision comes after observers in the country were unable to sight the crescent. This follows an identical decision earlier today by several Asian countries, such as Mal»»»

A research project conducted under the supervision of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science has reached a scientific breakthrough confirming the feasibility of laser-induced water vapor condensation and is now preparing for field trials in collaboration with international partners. »»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on the Iranian nuclear issue ended in Geneva on Tuesday, Axios reported, citing a US official. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Iran was ready to stay in Geneva for s»»»