President Iliana Iotova met with Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Patriarch Daniil, the President’s Press Secretariat reported on Thursday. The meeting was held at the invitation of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. "Faith unites us and instills values that are necessary»»»

Dubai: As part of its Ramadan outreach and road safety drive, Dubai Police has rolled out the ‘Ramadan Without Accidents’ initiative, aimed at reducing speeding and reckless driving during the critical minutes before Maghrib. Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rahman Al Falasi, Director of the Traffic Awaren»»»

Dubai Police, represented by its Sports Excellence Centre, will stage the Ramadan Games Championship from February 20 to March 11, bringing together officers and community members in a wide-ranging sporting showcase across the emirate. Colonel Abdul Basit Ali Abdul Rahman said the championship will»»»

Bulgaria will face unsettled and wet weather on Friday, according to the forecast issued by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology for February 13. Cloud cover will be widespread, and rainfall is expected to affect nearly the entire country as the day progresses. Rainfall amounts will »»»

Doha, Qatar: Under the auspices of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah inaugurated Thursday the 13th edition of the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition "»»»

Tunis, Feb. 12 (TAP)- The trade deficit shrank to TND 1,287.6 million by late January down from TND 1,764.6 million during the same period in 2025, the National Institute of Setatistics (INS) Thursday said in a note on foreign trade at current...»»»

Light, swift and agile, Sarma is a weapon adapted for modern warfare where the difference between completing your mission and being obliterated is measured in minutes. So what exactly makes a perfect weapon for quick hit-and-run strikes that can put a hurt on the enemy and escape retaliation? Russi»»»

Syrian government forces have taken control of a base in the east of the country that was run for years by US troops as part of the war against the ISIS group, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday. The al-Tanf base sits on a strategic location, close to the borders with Jordan and Iraq»»»

1 of 3 | United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Thursday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket launched successfully Thursday morning while experienci»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) launched a public procurement procedure related to machine voting in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026, in accordance with the technical specifications and contractual terms, the Commission announced on Thursday. The estimated value of the co»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 12: Gisèle Pelicot gives far-reaching interviews in the French press ahead of the release of her upcoming book. Also, Donald Trump's climate and energy policies continue to reject scientific consensus. Finally, we bring you the story of the figure skating coach at »»»

With Valentine's Day being celebrated this coming Saturday, we're taking a look at how many of us might say "I love you" to that special someone. There are of course roses, simple acts of kindness like preparing a meal, but also chocolates and other sweet treats. Eugénie Pont from Fou de Patisserie»»»

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has referred prosecutors to a French diplomat linked to Jeffrey Epstein, who is suspected of passing UN documents to the late convicted financier. The diplomat, Fabrice Aidan, accused of acting as a fixer for Epstein, reportedly provided him with contac»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Passports concluded a training course titled “Forgery Detection and Biometric Investigation,” organized by the Internal Training Center of the Administrative Affairs Department in cooperation with the Federal Police of the Federal Republic of Germany. The gra»»»

People eat at a restaurant in Shanghai, China, 30 October 2025 (issued 31 October 2025). File. Photo by ALEX PLAVEVSKI / EPA Feb. 11 (Asia Today) -- China's restaurant industry, long seen as resilient in the world's largest consumer market, is facing mounting bankruptcies as domestic demand weakens»»»

Doha: Gold prices in the Qatari market rose by 1.97 percent during the current week, reaching USD 5,060.27200 per ounce on Thursday, according to data released by Qatar National Bank. The bank's data showed that the price of gold per ounce increased from USD 4,962.34000 its level last Sunday. At th»»»

Forty-seven years ago today, a political earthquake reshaped West Asia and sent shockwaves through the global order. The Islamic Revolution in Iran did far more than topple a monarchy; it marked the emergence of a state determined to define its own destiny outside a system long dominated by the Uni»»»

Dubai: Shivam Mishra, son of Uttar Pradesh tobacco businessman K.K. Mishra and the main accused in the Kanpur Lamborghini crash case, was arrested on Thursday morning after days of confusion, competing claims and dramatic courtroom developments. Kanpur Nagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Kumar»»»

A viral video of a Filipina being attacked by a foreign man inside a mall in Singapore is storming social media and drawing attention of fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The video, recorded by a passerby, showed the woman walking away as the foreigner kicked her hard. As a result, the two f»»»

Except for a single reported incident, voting in Bangladesh appears to be proceeding peacefully, FRANCE 24’s correspondent reports.This election is seen as a crucial test for Bangladesh’s democracy after years of political unrest. Voting is taking place under tight security and will determine the c»»»

“People in Bangladesh are exciting that democracy is returning and that there's a free and fair election,” explains Dr. Sohela Nazneed, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton, speaking to Oliver Farry on FRANCE 24. The country goes to the polls after 17 years of authorita»»»

Türkiye's central bank on Thursday increased its estimates for inflation as officials try to rein in soaring price increases that have weighed on the economy for years. The official inflation rate is now seen falling to between 15 and 21 percent by the end of this year, up from a previous forecast »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) announced that the construction of the Colleges of Medicine and Health Sciences building at Qatar University (QU) has reached 96 percent completion. The project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026, as part of Ashghal's efforts »»»

Doha, Qatar: In the context of strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in technical systems and digital transformation, the General Directorate of Communications and Information Systems at the Ministry of Interior welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Interior of Romania, headed by »»»

Digital WorldGlobal issuesAI-fueled chip shortage drives up smartphone pricesAstrid Prange de OliveiraThe era of cheap data storage is ending. Artificial intelligence is pushing chip prices higher and exacerbating supply shortages. Anyone buying a new smartphone in 2026 should brace for higher pric»»»

Sharjah: Air Arabia has reported its strongest financial performance to date, posting a record pre-tax net profit of Dh1.8 billion for the year ending December 31, 2025. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The figure marks a 14 per cent increase compared with Dh1.6 billion»»»

Bulgaria has the potential to increase its competitiveness in the automotive industry by expanding its contribution to the sector, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Council of Ministers announced in a Facebook post on Thursday. The two spoke at an i»»»

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Elected political representatives of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and representatives of Serbian health care and educational institutions in the province adopted on Thursday a declaration demanding legal, administrative and other facilities for Kosovo-Metohija residents in the process»»»

A meeting scheduled to be held in Doha to pave the way for the Lebanese Army support conference has been postponed, local al-Liwaa newspaper said Thursday. The daily said it had learned from informed diplomatic sources that the Doha meeting will not take place next week, as scheduled, for technical»»»

Israeli troops have recently intensified their incursions into southern border villages, where they detonate houses, bulldoze lands, uproot trees, and sometimes kill or abduct people. They've also been dropping stun grenades to scare or disperse people, sometimes during funerals. More than a year a»»»

Tunis, Feb 12 (TAP) - The Tunis Court of Appeal on Thursday has adjourned the hearing on the case of Ahmed Souab to February 23, in response to a request by his defence lawyers, while rejecting his request for release, a judicial source told TAP.The...»»»

Ports overseen by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) reported a 2.01% increase in container handling for January 2026, totaling 738,111 TEUs, up from 723,571 TEUs in January 2025. Transshipment containers rose significantly by 22.44%, reaching 184,019 TEUs compared to 150,295 TEUs the previous year»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Franklin Templeton announced the launch of the Franklin Templeton Qatar Equity Fund (the Fund). Franklin Templeton is one of the world's largest asset managers, with approximately USD 1.68 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued a series of royal decrees reshuffling ministerial and senior government positions, relieving several officials of their posts and appointing replacements across key institutions, Saudi Press Agency SPA said on Thursday. Under the orders, Kh»»»

DOHA: Elegancia MEP, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding QPSC, has announced that it has been awarded the contract to execute the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) works and Extra Low Voltage (ELV) systems for the Damascus International Airport – Terminal 2 project. The project represents a »»»

The parliamentary Committee on Internal Security and Public Order Thursday approved unanimously on second reading by a vote of 13 in favour draft legislation requiring specific information on election candidates to be submitted upon registration to the Communist-Era Secret Police Files. The Committ»»»

US border tsar Tom Homan said the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota will end, telling reporters that President Donald Trump has approved his request to end the operation. "I will also remain in Minnesota a little longer to oversee the drawdown, to ensure its success," Human said during the»»»

Abu Dhabi: Amana Healthcare, part of the M42 group, has shared the recovery story of a patient whose journey after a serious accident highlights the role of both medical care and human support in healing. Claudio, who suffered severe injuries in a life-threatening incident, was admitted for long-te»»»

The Emirates Inventors Association crowned its distinguished participation in the 16th International Inventions Exhibition in the Middle East, held in the State of Kuwait, by winning the award of the Patent Office of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The recognition cam»»»

Tunis, Feb 12 (TAP) - Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Mohamed Ben Ayed on Thursday received Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Tunisia Giuseppe Perrone.The meeting pointed...»»»

On a day when NATO has promised new help for Ukraine, while thousands more people in the country have been left without power after Russian attacks, a Ukrainian analyst has offered his hopes to FRANCE 24. Peter Zalmayev, director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, says he is not very hopeful that»»»

The Kremlin said on Thursday said that US messenger app WhatsApp has been completely blocked in Russia for failing to comply with local law, suggesting Russians turn to a state-backed "national messenger" MAX instead. Critics say MAX is a surveillance tool, something the au»»»

NATO defence ministers hold a key meeting on Ukraine and Greenland this Thursday. Leaders discuss keeping weapons flowing to Ukraine while pressuring countries that haven’t contributed enough, and launch the ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission to strengthen security in Greenland and the Arctic. FRANCE 24's Ket»»»

Doha, Qatar: Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and juice company, announced its full year and fourth quarter results for the period ended 31 December 2025. Performance for the year reflected strong growth, primarily attributed to returns from the Strategically Diversified Investment Portfolio»»»

Doha, Qatar: Elegancia MEP, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C., has announced that it has been awarded the contract to execute the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) works and Extra Low Voltage (ELV) systems for the Damascus International Airport – Terminal 2 project. The project re»»»

Tunis, Feb 12 (TAP) - The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries on Thursday called on farmers and fishermen to exercise vigilance following a warning issued by the National Institute of Meteorology (INM) announcing strong winds over...»»»

Dubai: When Flipkart announced it would sponsor Namibia’s cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the internet had questions. Flipkart doesn’t operate in Namibia, so why back a team from a market where it has no business presence? At first glance, it seemed random. In reality, it’s a cal»»»

Dubai: Love will be in the air — quite literally — for Emirates passengers this Valentine’s Day. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.On February 14, the Dubai airline is adding chocolate treats, pink desserts, romantic movies and even special beverages across cabins and lo»»»