BusinessGermanyChina overtakes US to become Germany's top trading partnerRana Taha with Reuters, dpaChina replaces US as Germany's top trading partner, reclaiming a position it held from 2016 to 2023. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit China next week. https://p.dw.com/p/597vtChina re»»»

Moscow: Seven tourists, reported to be Chinese citizens, died Friday when a tour bus crashed through the ice of Russia’s Lake Baikal in Siberia, local officials said. The bus fell into an ice fissure three metres wide and sank, the regional branch of Russia’s emergency situations ministry said in a»»»

The Sofia City Court has terminated proceedings for the early release of Evelin "Brendo" Banev. The ruling is appealable. According to the judge, the proceedings were initiated by the director of the Central Sofia Prison, who was later suspended, while an authorized representative of the current di»»»

Doha, Qatar: The holy month of Ramadan continues to consolidate its position as a peak season for the gold market in Qatar, despite unprecedented global price levels for the precious metal, which have recently surpassed the $5,000 per ounce threshold for the first time in history. This year's Ramad»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The issue of the Iranian nuclear dossier cannot be resolved by military means, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday amid an increase in the US military presence in the Middle East and an increasing number of reports of possible military actions against Tehran. In»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky is mentioned in the documents of infamous late financier Jeffrey Epstein more than 50 times, Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian opposition politician and chairman of the Other Ukraine movement, said on Friday. "Zelensky's name is mentioned in the documents more tha»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has discussed the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, taking into account the outcomes of US-Iranian contacts in Geneva, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "On February 20,»»»

US President Donald Trump praised the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs and the leader of the anti-green and Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves party Petr Macinka following Macinka’s participation at a debate at the Munich Security Conference where he provoked clashes with Hillary Clinton and his»»»

Poland aims to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels within five to six years, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said this week, setting out one of the most ambitious convergence targets yet voiced by a Central European government. »»»

View of Royal Lodge, ex-Prince Andrew's residence in Windsor Great Park, where officers from Thames Valley Police were continuing to search Friday for evidence in an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by King Charles' younger brother. Photo by Tolga Akman/EPA Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Br»»»

The European Commission has convened an extraordinary meeting of its Oil Coordination Group for February 25, following a halt in diesel deliveries from Hungary and Slovakia to Ukraine and threats that they could cut off electricity and gas supplies if repairs to the Druzhba pipeline are not complet»»»

Dubai: If your company was founded after 2015, you are more likely to have a work-from-home (WFH) policy than one founded before 1990 and that's according to new data from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), an American private nonprofit research organisation. And it's not just the age»»»

Dubai: Kuwait is moving towards introducing a regulated freelance visa, as part of an effort to overhaul its labour market and curb the long-standing trade in residency permits. Also Read: New residency fees and conditions set for expat families in KuwaitThe proposal, announced by First Deputy Prim»»»

Dubai: Oman is considering a new framework to regulate children’s use of social media, as authorities respond to growing concerns over digital safety and the impact of online platforms on young users. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has begun a comprehensive review of how children engag»»»

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have discussed the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, including the outcomes of the recent US-Iran indirect talks in Geneva, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement following their telephone »»»

Dubai: Nearly 99 per cent of people in the UAE say they feel safe walking alone at night, according to a new national study that showcases the country’s strong public confidence in its security environment. The Quality of Life Security Survey 2025 found that 98.7 per cent of respondents reported fe»»»

Dubai: The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) have signed a data-sharing agreement aimed at producing more accurate and reliable migration data to better protect and empower Filipinos living and working abroad. The agreement has been signed»»»

The United States and its NATO allies have moved quite a bit of military hardware around amid rising tensions in the Middle East. This infographics by Sputnik offers a detailed look on these military preparations in Europe and in the Middle East: what kind of gear was shipped and where?»»»

Dubai: A number of key roads across Al Ain will face rolling closures on Saturday, February 21, as the UAE Tour men’s cycling event passes through the city from Al Ain Museum to Jabal Hafeet, with authorities urging motorists to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Abu Dhabi Mobility said the te»»»

Livigno, Italy: New Zealand freestyle skier Finley Melville Ives was stretchered off on Friday after a hard fall during his second qualifying run for the halfpipe event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Ives, 19, the current world number one in the event, was treated by medical personnel after »»»

US President Donald Trump has said he would “love” to see Russia and China join his ‘Board of Peace’, established to guide the stabilization of Gaza following the Israel-Hamas war. Moscow earlier signaled that it was contemplating the idea, while China has declined, citing commitments to the UN. Sp»»»

The Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals in Nursing (BAHPN) on Friday circulated an open letter to the media opposing the transfer of creches to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Science. The shift has been proposed by Sofia Municipality in the form of draft amendments to t»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with Malawian FM George Chaponda in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss strengthening of bilateral relations and deepening of cooperation. "The interlocutors agreed that Serbia and Malawi are connected by decades of friendship and close cooperation in the Non-Align»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have carried out one massive strike and six group strikes using precision weapons and drones against military facilities in Ukraine in response to enemy strikes on civilian infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "From February 14 to February 2»»»

Britain's foreign minister Yvette Cooper ‌will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, after President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of London for ceding sovereignty of ​the Chagos Islands, which is home to a US-UK air base. Last year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed »»»

The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation of the Kyrgyz Republic (NTRK) has officially acquired the license to broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026. The upcoming tournament will be the largest in the competition’s history, and viewers in Kyrgyzstan will be able to watch the matches li»»»

Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out a wide-ranging series of community initiatives to honour the Holy Month of Ramadan, united under the theme 'Family is where we belong.' The programme is designed to nurture social solidarity, celebrate the spirit of generosity, and s»»»

Car Fare Group joined a growing list of contributors to the Edge of Life campaign to rescue five million children from hunger, after announcing a contribution of Dh3 million. The campaign was launched in Ramadan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Ministe»»»

Al Ain: The city of Al Ain is experiencing a vibrant Ramadan season this year, with a wide-ranging programme of cultural, heritage and community events designed to bring families and visitors together in a unique atmosphere that blends tradition with modern experiences. The Department of Culture an»»»

Caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski has ordered an inspection at Sofia’s St Ana hospital following the death of a newborn, the press centre of the Ministry of Health said on Friday. Inspectors from the Regional Health Inspectorate in Sofia and the Executive Agency Medical Supervision will t»»»

The United Kingdom has refused to grant US forces permission to use British military bases for potential strikes against Iran, The Times reported on Thursday. According to the report, US President Donald Trump’s public withdrawal of support for UK plans to give up sovereignty over the Chagos Island»»»

Presidential press secretary Askat Alagozov met with Aya, a student from Japan who has captured the hearts of many in Kyrgyzstan through her love for the country’s national culture. Aya arrived in Kyrgyzstan in 2025. During this time, she not only learned the Kyrgyz language but also mastered playi»»»

The European Climate Law does not prescribe specific policies or measures, which allows flexibility for EU Member States and takes into account the regulatory framework for achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, Plamen Peev, an expert in environmental and climate law and poli»»»

Tunis, Feb 20 (TAP) - In Tunisia over the 2018–2024 period, the erosion of purchasing power, measured by the evolution of real household income per capita, amounted to about 8°C, generating "increased budgetary pressure on households, growing...»»»

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has attempted to calm speculation about her stepping down early that has called into question the central bank's separation from politics, telling the Wall Street Journal she expects to complete her term. Lagarde's status as leader of Europe's most »»»

The Israeli army has ready plans that involve carrying out a preemptive attack on Hezbollah, Israel’s Maariv newspaper has reported, at tensions grow between the U.S., Israel and Iran. Lebanese ministerial sources meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that the Presidency has been conducting loca»»»

Bishkek’s budget revenues for 2026 will amount to 32.9 billion soms. The figure was announced during public hearings on the capital’s draft budget. Funds are planned to be allocated for road construction and repairs, development of engineering infrastructure, major renovations of social facilities,»»»

Venezuela's National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners jailed for being government detractors.»»»

President Donald Trump on Thursday night announced that he is ordering the Pentagon and other US departments and agencies to identify and release government files related to extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Hours earlier, Trump accu»»»

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he is ordering federal agencies to begin "identifying and releasing" government files related to UFOs and aliens, a move sought for decades by some Americans.»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the European Commission's Director-General of the Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Gert Jan Koopman in Belgrade on Friday to discuss Serbia's EU path, reform processes, advancement of Serbia-EU cooperation and a set of judicial laws. »»»

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad met Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, accompanied by a delegation from the Loyalty to Resistance bloc. “We are keen on Lebanon’s security and stability and the normalcy of life in it, and we are also keen on confronting Isra»»»

Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying a man left in a critical condition following an attack in Dublin's Temple Bar. An Garda Síochána (Irish police) said the man was brought to Beaumont Hospital after the assault which occurred at Cope Street on Wednesday at about 00:30 local t»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Parliamentary Bloc Visits Speaker Berri, MP Raad Says to Run Jointly in Elections 20-02-2026 12:59 PM Hezbollah MPs pose with Spe»»»

Abu Dhabi: Deerfields Mall, the capital’s premier community shopping destination, invites families and friends to come together for its much-anticipated Ramadan Nights Festival, taking place from 19 February to 22 March. In collaboration with Jetour - Elite Group Holding LTD, the mall is celebratin»»»

Dubai: A new AI-generated video imagining U.S. President Donald Trump as if he were born in India, China, and other countries has gone viral on social media, amassing more than 9 million views since its release this week. The clip, shared on Instagram by creator @mobin.dxb18, uses advanced artifici»»»

Dubai: Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver has recently met with Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation on development projects in the Philippines. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on »»»

The Israeli enemy has persisted in its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, carrying out a series of blatant breaches of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon and, by extension, UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In this context, Al-Manar TV’s correspondent reported that the enemy has launched mult»»»