Velux Rentals unveils 'Celebration at Sea' to transform Dubai yachts into premier event venues
Dubai: Velux Rentals, a leading provider of luxury yacht rental experiences, has announced the launch of its “Celebration at Sea” programme, positioning Private Yachts as Dubai’s newest venues for milestone celebrations and lifestyle events. The initiative is designed to transform the concept of ya»»»
Norway’s mission in Moscow gets defence attaché from northern border
Former Commissioner on the Norwegian - Russian border Jens Arne Høilund is appointed as an defence attaché with the Embassy in Moscow. Høilund, who served as the Border Commissioner from 2020 to 2025, was appointed as defence attaché to Russia by the Government on February 14. Norway suspended all »»»
The Alex Eala phenomenon: What the growing hype says about Philippine pride and global ambition
Dubai: Filipino tennis star Alexandra Maniego Eala, more popularly known as Alex Eala, has emerged as one of the most promising talents in the tennis world. But what pushed her rise to global recognition? The 20-year old athlete entered the Miami Open as a wildcard, ranked No. 140 in the world, wit»»»
MEP: Constitutional Court Is the Safest Way for Bulgaria to Exit the Trump Board of Peace
Bulgarian MEP Radan Kanev has argued that referring the agreement on the so called "Trump Board Peace" to the Constitutional Court is the most appropriate way for Bulgaria to withdraw from the format without provoking political tension with the United States. Speaking in a Dir.bg podcast, Kanev sai»»»
Hezbollah MP: Anniversary of Martyred Leaders Pivotal Moment to Recall Resistance Achievements
Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi stressed on Monday that the anniversary of the martyred leaders constitutes a pivotal moment to reaffirm the resistance’s record of victories and achievements. In an interview with Al-Nour Radio, Al-Moussawi hailed the resistan»»»
Indian Idol takes centerstage in Abu Dhabi with special Yas Island episode
Dubai: Abu Dhabi is set to play a starring role in Indian Idol as the iconic music reality show will be filmed for the first time in the UAE with a special episode filmed at Yas Island. According to reports, Sony Pictures Networks India has announced that they will bring its popular ‘Yaadon Ki Play»»»
Ramadan working hours for government sector announced
Doha, Qatar: The Council of Ministers Secretariat General has announced the official working hours for government sector during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The working hours for civil servants are set at five hours per day, from 9am to 2pm. Employees may flex their start time up to 10am, provided th»»»
Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital launches advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory services
Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced the opening of advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) services at its Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital (AAH), marking a significant expansion for specialized cardiovascular care across Qatar. The new Cath Lab service com»»»
Road Fatality Rate in Bulgaria Remains Much Higher than EU Average – European Commission
Some EU countries including Bulgaria, Romania and Greece still record significantly higher road fatality rates than the EU average highlighting the need for more action in these Member States, the European Commission says in a report presented on Monday. In 2024, Bulgaria had 74 road fatalities per»»»
Lukashenko Conveyed Message From Putin to French Representatives in Minsk
MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that he conveyed a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to French representatives visiting Minsk. "The French came here. I conveyed a message to them not only from myself but also from Putin," Lukashenko was quoted »»»
Mother of Alexei Navalny says poison finding confirms he was murdered
The mother of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny says the assessment that her son died of poisoning has validated her belief that he was murdered. On Saturday, the UK and European allies put out a statement saying Navalny, who died in 2024, was killed using a poison developed from a »»»
Spain unveils public investment fund to tackle housing crisis
Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday presented a new public investment fund that he said would raise 120 billion euros ($142 billion) and help tackle the country's persistent housing crisis. Scarce and unaffordable housing is consistently a top concern for Spaniards and represents»»»
Would you pay Dh12,000 for suhoor?
As Ramadan approaches, Dubai’s hotels and restaurants are preparing for what has become one of the city’s most dynamic and commercially vibrant seasons, rolling out a wide range of iftar and suhoor offers that reflect both the emirate’s diversity and its growing appeal as a year-round global destin»»»
Sharjah sets new truck movement timings for Ramadan 2026
Sharjah: The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), in coordination with Sharjah Police, has announced new truck movement timings across the emirate during Ramadan, aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing road safety during peak commuting hours. The revised schedule will come into e»»»
QMD warns of rising humidity, possible fog from Tuesday
DOHA: The Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) has forecast an increase in relative humidity levels across the country beginning Tuesday, February 17, and continuing until Friday, February 20. In a statement, the department said the rise in humidity may lead to mist and fog formation in some areas, p»»»
Dubai’s Nasdaq tops $100b in Sukuk listings after record year
Dubai: Nasdaq Dubai recorded a milestone year in 2025, with the total value of outstanding Sukuk listings on the exchange surpassing $100 billion, driven by strong issuance activity and sustained global demand for Sharia-compliant debt instruments. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques»»»
No firm deadlines expected from Cabinet session discussing north Litani disarmament
Today's cabinet session appears unlikely to be decisive in setting detailed timelines for the plan to confine weapons north of the Litani River, a media report said. “Observers do not rule out the possibility that this article will be a contentious issue, especially since the contacts made in the p»»»
Search under way for Irish women missing since 1990s
A search is taking place in the Republic of Ireland as part of the investigation into the disappearance and murders of Josephine "Jo Jo" Dullard and Deirdre Jacob in the 1990s. Gardaí (Irish police) said that they were starting a search operation on open ground at a location near the border between»»»
Qatar Chamber, Islamic Chamber sign agreement to establish digital platform for halal products
MAKKAH AL MUKARRMAH: Qatar Chamber and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) signed an agreement to establish a digital platform for halal products. This came during the sidelines of the 41st Meeting of the General Assembly of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development and the»»»
2,600-year-old Egyptian cat statue stolen in Australia, recovered after dramatic arrest
Dubai: A 2,600-year-old wooden Egyptian cat statue was stolen from a museum in Australia before being recovered by police, who have charged a 52-year-old man over the alleged break-in. Authorities said the suspect smashed a window at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Queensland on Friday a»»»
ITIDA unveils revamped ‘Egypt Innovate’ to power the country’s startup ecosystem
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) announced the official launch of the revamped version of the “Egypt Innovate” platform, the first fully integrated national platform for innovation and entrepreneurship. The platform is developed and operated through a consortium led by»»»
Syrian Investment Authority holds talks in Jordan to attract investors
Amman, Feb. 16 (SANA) The head of Syria’s Investment Authority, Talal al-Hilali, held a series of meetings in Jordan aimed at promoting investment opportunities in Syria and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. Al-Hilali met with Syrian and Jordanian investors in Amman to o»»»
Market Modernisation Push Sends EGX Capitalisation Above EGP 3.29 Trillion
Egypt’s stock market closed the week of 8–12 February on a strong upward trajectory, buoyed by structural reform announcements and renewed foreign investor appetite. The benchmark EGX30 advanced 1.59% to 50,490.2 points, breaking decisively above the 50,000-point threshold and reinforcing bullish m»»»
Education Above All Foundation celebrates official opening of fourth Assalam School
Doha, Qatar: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and Qatar Charity, this week celebrated the official opening of the Fourth Assalam School, marking another milestone under the ‘Together’ Project. The Fourth Assalam Schoo»»»
Dubai Police warns against online charity scams during Ramadan
Dubai Police have warned residents against a rise in online begging during the holy month of Ramadan, urging the public not to respond to suspicious donation appeals circulating on websites and social media platforms. The Anti-Cybercrime Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigatio»»»
CBSE makes first Class 10 board exam compulsory under new system
Dubai: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for Class 10 students to appear for the first board examination, as part of its new two-exam system starting in 2026. Also Read: CBSE exams: UAE’s Indian school principals share smart revision tips for final weeksUnder the»»»
EU to Take Part in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ but Not as Member
The European Union will take part in this week's inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace", but a spokesman insisted Monday that Brussels would not be joining as a member. The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, will head to Washington to represent t»»»
Bloggers Sary Kyz and Argen Sigma to assist officials in developing tourism - | 24.KG
The Tourism Development Support Fund of Kyrgyzstan announced the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with bloggers Sary Kyz and Argen Sigma. The partnership aims to promote the country’s tourism potential in the media and social media and is scheduled to run until the end of 2026. With the help »»»
Christian Tour sold over EUR 8 million worth of holidays at the Tourism Fair
The average booking value per person was approximately EUR 800. During the fair, thousands of visitors requested Travel Prime, Romania’s first travel subscription, to benefit from additional discounts and advantages. “The fair shows us once again that vacations are maintaining the trend that emerge»»»
El-Sisi meets with Amer to review economic progress
President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi met on Sunday with Governor of Egypt’s Central Bank Tariq Amer according to an official statement issued by the presidency spokesperson. On his part, Amer discussed with President El-Sisi the advanced results achieved by the Egyptian economy’s performance during the fi»»»
Europeans step up submarine hunting in the North
Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik says ‘a burden-sharing arrangement’ with Germany and the UK related to submarine hunting in the north is coming into place. In an interview with the National Defense Magazine, the Norwegian defence minister confirms that the three countries have agreed to e»»»
Iran flexes military muscle while pursuing diplomacy in Geneva
Dubai: Iran on Monday projected a dual strategy of diplomacy and deterrence, launching fresh military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz even as its top diplomat arrived in Geneva for a new round of nuclear negotiations with the United States. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began na»»»
Media Review: February 16
A key topic that continues to dominate media coverage in Bulgaria is the high-profile criminal case in which six bodies were found at two remote mountain locations in Northwestern Bulgaria: a lodge near the Petrohan Pass and a camper van near Okolchitsa Peak. Simultaneously, attention is turning to»»»
Best outdoor Ramadan decorations
Ramadan outdoor decorations not only enhance the beauty of your living space, but also reflect cultural heritage and meaning. From stunning lanterns to statement lighting and Ramadan Kareem banners, these outdoor Ramadan decorations can enhance all outdoor spaces. Whether you're looking for somethi»»»
Sharjah rolls out “Masar” for trucks
Sharjah: The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), in partnership with the emirate’s central finance department, has launched Masar, a new electronic system designed to collect fees for heavy trucks, marking a major step in advancing digital transport services across the emirate. The strate»»»
Hydrocarbons: 12 exploration and prospecting permits valid as of end of December 2025
Tunis, Feb. 16 (TAP) – The total number of valid permits in 2025 stood at 12, including 11 exploration permits and 1 prospecting permit, the National Observatory of Energy said in its Energy Outlook Report.The total number of concessions is 57, of...»»»
German president urges Israel and Hezbollah to adhere to ceasefire agreement
Following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun in Baabda on Monday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reassured that Berlin “will remain by Lebanon's side after the UNIFIL mission concludes." "We support the Lebanese Army and want to rebuild everything that has been destroyed with the suppor»»»
Bondi Beach shooting suspect makes first court appearance - UPI.com
State-appointed defense counsel Ben Archbold, who is representing Naveed Akram, speaks to the media outside Downing Center Local Court in Sydney on Monday after his client made a brief appearance by video-link from prison. Photo by Bianca de Marchi/EPA Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The lone surviving suspect in»»»
Parliamentary Committee approves Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov as SCNS Chairman - | 24.KG
The Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan approved the candidacy of Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov for the post of Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS). President Sadyr Japarov appointed Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov as A»»»
Shaiyrbek Tashiev denies criminal case and detention reports - | 24.KG
Member of Parliament of Kyrgyzstan Shaiyrbek Tashiev stated that no criminal case has been opened against him and denied reports alleging his detention. He made the remarks in an interview with Azattyk. According to the lawmaker, information circulating about a criminal investigation and arrest doe»»»
Community College of Qatar launches first employers forum
Doha, Qatar: Community College of Qatar (CCQ) launched on Monday its first employers forum for employees and college graduates under the theme of aligning CCQ programs with the requirements of the labour market in Qatar. The forum kicked off with the participation of 45 entities and institutions fr»»»
ADJD launches 108 initiatives to stem bureaucracy
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) announced that it implemented 108 development initiatives during 2025 as part of the Government Bureaucracy Elimination Project and Procedures Re-engineering programme. The initiative aims to simplify processes through an institutional methodology while moti»»»
Swiss train derails, injuries likely
Geneva: A regional train derailed early on Monday in southern Switzerland, police said, adding that people were likely to be injured as a result. “Derailment of train, probably with injuries,” regional police said in a post on the social media platform X, adding that the derailment occurred at 7am »»»
Ashghal announces partial road closure at Umm Al Houl Interchange
Doha, Qatar: The Public Woks Authority, Ashghal, announced partial road closure on Mesaieed Road at Umm Al Houl Interchange. The closure will affect the third and fourth lanes on the left towards Al Wakrah, while the first and second lanes from the right will remain open to traffic. The closure is »»»
Pernod Ricard and Mediascope strengthen performance of off-trade portfolio campaigns in autumn-winter 2025 season
After the in-store activations during the summer season, Pernod Ricard Romania and the trade marketing and innovation agency Mediascope continued to develop an extensive program of off-trade campaigns dedicated to the autumn and end-of-year season – one of the most relevant commercial periods for t»»»
Abdulaziz Mohammed Faraj Al Mulla appointed Director General of Federal Tax Authority
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, issued a Federal Decree appointing Abdulaziz Mohammed Faraj Al Mulla as Director General of the Federal Tax Authority, with the rank of Ministry Undersecretary. Abdulaziz Al Mulla has more than 20 years of professional ex»»»
Sali Berisha Rejects Penal Code Changes, Opposes Amnesty for Corruption Convicts
The leader of Albania’s Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, on Monday ruled out any possibility that opposition lawmakers would support proposed legal amendments aimed at preventing the suspension from duty of senior state officials. Speaking to reporters after leaving SPAK, Berisha said the opposition»»»
Aoun says Lebanon insists on 'absolute peace' but wants its rights
President Joseph Aoun stressed Monday that Lebanon is “no longer able to bear anyone's conflicts, nor anyone's burdens.” “We desire nothing but the well-being of our people, the prosperity of our nation and the lives of our children,” Aoun said during a joint press conference with his German counte»»»
Iran Meets UN Nuclear Watchdog in Geneva Ahead of a Second Round of US Talks
Iran's top diplomat met with the head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency on Monday, ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency»»»
Australian Citizens with Alleged ISIS Ties Depart Syria’s Roj for Repatriation
A group of Australian citizens left on Monday a camp in northeast Syria housing people with alleged ties to ISIS militants to begin the journey to their home country, part of an ongoing repatriation process. Relatives of the 34 individuals, from 11 families, traveled from Australia to accompany the»»»