President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov attended the opening of the gondola lift in Ala-Archa Nature Park. Speaking at the ceremony, the head of state noted that the development of modern tourism infrastructure is a priority of state policy. «Our goal is to fully unlock the country’s tourism potentia»»»

NEW DELHI An Indian professor has sparked ridicule after falsely suggesting a Chinese-made robot dog displayed at a major AI summit in New Delhi was developed by her university. The silver mechanical dog - a model sold by Chinese startup Unitree - appeared at a booth run by the private Galgotias Un»»»

Dubai: Actor Vin Diesel was spotted being an ardent fan of Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Los Angeles premiere of their much-anticipated action thriller The Bluff. Both share the same birthday and Diesel was heard waxing lyrical of Priyanka, even dropping comparison to Nelson Mandel»»»

Dubai: Aster Clinics UAE has launched a new specialist diabetes centre in Dubai, together with its public awareness campaign, in response to the country's recent tiered sugar tax that took effect this year. The healthcare provider has opened the Aster Diabetes 360 Care Clinic in Al Qusais, while al»»»

Arval Romania, a mobility solutions provider part of the BNP Paribas Group, announces the launch of a new range of products dedicated to fleet electrification: Arval Energy Card, Arval Energy Cable, and Arval Route Planner. These solutions are part of an integrated approach that supports companies »»»

Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, Iranian media reported. On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, also launched exercises in the strategic Str»»»

Little Ramadan lanterns and string lights appeared on streets lined with collapsed buildings and piles of rubble in Gaza City, bringing joy and respite as Islam's holiest month began -- the first since October's ceasefire. In the Omari mosque, dozens of worshippers performed the first Ramadan morni»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Tourism and Hamad Medical Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to raise awareness about off-road safety among Qatar’s adventurist residents, families, and high-risk groups. The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration and coordination between the two entities, wi»»»

Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has announced its official working hours for the holy month of Ramadan 2026, ensuring continued delivery of services while accommodating the spirit of the holy month. Customers can access services at the Directo»»»

Dubai: In a new move to simplify its services, Meta has announced that it will shut down the standalone Messenger website starting this April. This is not the first time that the tech giant has made significant changes. Last year, it discontinued the Messenger desktop apps for Windows and Mac. What»»»

Ivan Hristanov has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Gurov draft cabinet. Hristanov was born in Sofia on December 24, 1973, according to information posted on the Edinenie (Unity) political party website. Hristanov was among the people who founded the party in 2025»»»

Born in Dragoynovo Village (South Central Bulgaria) on April 16, 1950. Graduated as communications engineer from Vasil Levski National Military University, then from S. M. Budyonny Military Academy of Signal Corps, Russia, and from General Staff Faculty of the G.S. Rakovski National Defence Academy»»»

A plane from Spain's Air Europa landed in Venezuela Tuesday, according to a flight tracking monitor, the first European commercial flight to arrive in the country since the United States toppled president Nicolas Maduro. A slew of international carriers stopped flying to Venezuela after the United »»»

An explosion at a fireworks shop in central China killed 12 people on Wednesday, the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year, which fell on »»»

Iran has indicated that it may send some of its enriched uranium to a third country, such as Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US, Iranian, and regional diplomats. Iranian officials also suggested that they might pause enrichment for up to three years and floated a proposa»»»

UNESCO welcomed Wednesday the completion of parliamentary committee deliberations on Lebanon’s draft Media Law, describing it as a major milestone in a reform process that has spanned nearly 15 years. The draft law, submitted in late 2025 by the Minister of Information with sustained technical supp»»»

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Okoliyski has been nominated for caretaker Minister of Health in the proposed Andrey Gurov cabinet. From 2014 until June 2023, he served as head of the Bulgaria Office of the World Health Organization. Between 1998 and 2014, he was an associate professor at the National Cent»»»

Andrey Yankulov has been proposed as caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice in the draft cabinet of Andrey Gyurov. He is a lawyer specializing in criminal law, according to the website of the Anti-Corruption Fund foundation. He was born on August 25, 1980, in Sofia, according to in»»»

The U.N. missions for 85 member states issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning Israel's encroaching control of the West Bank, which critics say amounts to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. "We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's»»»

OVES Enterprise, a Romanian software development company with expertise in complex software solutions and AI innovations for the aerospace, defence, and cybersecurity industries, has unveiled its Sahara Autonomous System project, described as the first cruise missile developed in Romania by a priva»»»

NEW DELHI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he had had a very friendly and substantial discussion with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi and noted that India had confirmed its participation in EXPO 2027. "The meeting with Modi was remarkably friendly and substantial and I ha»»»

Bulgaria is entering a new political phase as the caretaker government led by Andrey Gyurov takes shape, with early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026. President Iliyana Yotova received Gyurov at “Dondukov” 2, where he formally presented the composition of his interim cabinet. The»»»

A panel of independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has concluded that millions of files related to Jeffrey Epstein point to a “global criminal network” whose actions may amount to crimes against humanity. In a statement released on [Day], the experts detailed that the crimes do»»»

The Vatican ‌will not participate in US President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. Pope Leo, the first »»»

Recognising the achievements of women is about more than acknowledgement, it sets direction. In the UAE, gender balance has moved beyond policy statements to board mandates, executive appointments and measurable participation across government and industry. Female representation in leadership is no»»»

The management of St. Anna Hospital in Varna Wednesday sent a letter to Varna Municipal Council Z\Chair Hristo Dimitrov requesting an urgent allocation of EUR 300,000 in financial assistance for the medical institution, the Municipal Council said on its website. It will be considered at a meeting o»»»

There were no other people present at the Petrohan mountain lodge on the night when three people died there, Deputy Appellate Prosecutor of the Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office Natalia Nikolova said during a joint briefing by the prosecution service and the police. All evidence collected so far, »»»

What began as an ordinary shift for Jerusalem bus driver Fakhri Khatib ended hours later in tragedy. A chaotic spiral of events, symptomatic of a surge in racist violence targeting Arab bus drivers in Israel, led to the death of a teenager, Khatib's arrest and calls for him to be charged with aggra»»»

Doha, Qatar: Ramadan decorations and festive lights are illuminating streets and public spaces across Qatar, marking the advent of the holy month. With the start of Ramadan, major roads and destinations including the Doha Corniche, Katara Cultural Village, and Old Doha Port have been adorned with c»»»

The world's main coffee-growing regions are roasting under additional days of climate change-driven heat every year, threatening harvests and contributing to higher prices, researchers said Wednesday. An analysis found that there were 47 extra days of harmful heat per year on average in 25 countrie»»»

Dubai: As US and Iranian negotiators cautiously sustain indirect talks in Geneva, diplomacy is unfolding against one of the most heavily militarised backdrops in recent US–Iran history. American carrier strike groups sit within operational reach of Iran, while Tehran conducts missile exercises near»»»

Skopje, 17 February 2026 (MIA) - Wizz Air is set to introduce two new direct flights from Skopje to Italy’s Palermo and Alghero in July, the company announced Tuesday. Towards the end of March, flights to Budapest and Naples will also be launched at the Skopje International Airport, as well as to M»»»

Dubai: When the alarm doesn’t go off (or you hit snooze one too many times) suhoor can quickly turn into a rushed glass of water and a promise to 'eat better tomorrow'. But skipping suhoor during Ramadan isn’t just uncomfortable, it can mean low energy, headaches and serious brain fog by mid-mornin»»»

EY Romania today released the study Migration at a crossroads: The evolution of emigration and immigration in Romania within the global system, analysing the impact of migration on the country’s economy, as well as on its social and cultural structures, unveiling a complex reality around the phenom»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli occupation forces open fire at pickup truck in the outskirts of Al-Wazzani in south Lebanon: Al-Manar correspondent 18-02-2026 11:5»»»

The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented new findings on the Petrohan and Okolchitsa cases at a press briefing on Wednesday. Participants included Deputy Appellate Prosecutor Nataliya Nikolova, Chief Commissioner Zahari Vaskov, Deputy Director Senior Commissioner Ivan »»»

Dubai: As Ramadan brings unique traffic patterns and heightened road activity across the UAE, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are urged to exercise extra caution to prevent accidents, particularly during the rush hours before iftar. Most road accidents during Ramadan occur just before sunset, »»»

New Delhi: An Indian professor has sparked ridicule after falsely suggesting a Chinese-made robot dog displayed at a major AI summit in New Delhi was developed by her university. The silver mechanical dog -- a model sold by Chinese startup Unitree -- appeared at a booth run by the private Galgotias»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The trilateral negotiations in Geneva were difficult, but businesslike, head of the Russian delegation and Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said on Wednesday. "As you know, the negotiations went on for two days — for a very long time yesterday in different formats, and»»»

The narrative pushed by Zelensky and European leaders that Ukraine is "defending" Europe, is nothing but a big lie, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. The conflict in Ukraine is not Europe's issue, and therefore he considers assertions touted by both Ukrainian and European leaders tha»»»

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 »»»

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»»»