Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that the authorities have received an oral message from Washington, “clearing and explicitly” hinting at possible sanctions if former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki was named to head the new government. The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a stateme»»»

Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear program fizzle out. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes 1»»»

Fujairah: A number of key roads across Fujairah, Hatta and surrounding areas will face temporary closures on Friday as stage four of the UAE Tour passes through the emirate, with motorists urged to plan alternative routes and allow extra travel time. The 182-kilometre stage, considered one of the m»»»

Two men who went missing while attempting to reach the Gerontovrachos peak (2,389 meters) on Mt Parnassos (Parnassus) in central Greece were found late Thursday night in good condition, authorities said. The men, ages 46 and 44, became disoriented in dense fog and were unable to find their way back»»»

The third edition of the “Mirkaz ABalad AlAmeen”, a leading platform for exchanging opportunities in Makkah, will kick off on Sunday, under the theme “Makkah Inspires the World.” The platform, organized by the Holy Makkah Municipality, will feature 15 exceptional Ramadan evenings focused on dialogu»»»

A meeting was held last Monday (16 February) at the Commercial Registry Authority to discuss mechanisms for activating the “One-Stop Shop” system, in implementation of the Prime Minister’s directives to simplify company registration procedures and improve the business environment. The meeting was a»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has amended the procedure for calculating and paying mandatory state social contributions. The decision was adopted in implementation of Law No. 243 dated October 29, 2025, concerning the tax regime and insurance payments. The document covers several areas at »»»

India’s leading power company, Adani Power Limited (NSE: ADANIPOWER), has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Adani Atomic Energy Limited, marking its formal entry into the country’s nuclear power generation industry at a time when New Delhi has tweaked its nuclear energy policy framework to op»»»

India’s leading power company, Adani Power Limited (NSE: ADANIPOWER), has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Adani Atomic Energy Limited, marking its formal entry into the country’s nuclear power generation industry at a time when New Delhi has tweaked its nuclear energy policy framework to op»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov will meet with the leadership of the Central Election Commission (CEC) at the CEC headquarters on Friday afternoon, the government press service reported. The agenda will cover the upcoming early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026. On Thursday»»»

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) granted on Thursday a unified license to international shipping line Global Shipping Line (PIL), officially recognizing it as an authorized foreign investor to operate maritime agencies in the Kingdom's ports, reported the Saudi Press Agency. The license is issued»»»

President Donald Trump said on Thursday Iran must reach a deal on its nuclear programme within 10 to 15 days or face “really bad things,” as Tehran warned it would retaliate against US bases if attacked, amid a large American military buildup in the Middle East that has heightened tensions. Preside»»»

Lebanon's economy has shown resilience despite conflicts in the region, with tourism fueling a bit of a rebound, but restoring growth will require comprehensive reforms, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack said the global lender remains engaged in complex »»»

President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the release of government documents about alien and extraterrestrial life. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo Feb. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday said he will direct the Department of Defense to start the process of releasing govern»»»

Benghazi’s Julyana Free Zone announced last Monday (16 February) that its Director General, Ahmed Al-Amami, received from the United Kingdom on an official visit to Benghazi aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries. The delegation had also held meetings with Benghazi Municipalit»»»

Dubai: Gold buyers in Dubai faced another price increase on Friday morning, extending a steady upward trend driven by global geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around US interest rates. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.»»»

Dubai has opened 10 new mosques since the start of the year and plans to inaugurate five more during Ramadan, as authorities seek to keep pace with rapid urban growth and rising demand for places of worship across the emirate. (Click here for UAE Ramadan Prayer Timings 2026) The Islamic Affairs and»»»

The founder of the charity Ark of the World (Kivotos tou Kosmou), Father Antonios Papanikolaou, was sentenced by an Athens appeals court on Thursday to 9 years and 6 months in prison for punitive treatment of minors housed in its facilities. The sentence is harsher than the 4 years and 3 months imp»»»

Two police officers are under investigation for loan-sharking as part of a sweeping anti-corruption operation on the island of Rhodes that also netted cannabis and cash, authorities said Thursday. Two women were also arrested on drug trafficking charges, authorities said. Officers from the Internal»»»

Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank shot and killed a Palestinian-American during an attack on a village, the Palestinian Health Ministry and a witness said Thursday. Raed Abu Ali, a resident of Mukhmas, said a group of settlers came to the village Wednesday afternoon where they attacked a f»»»

President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree amending the document of December 7, 2022, regulating the creation of Korea — Kyrgyzstan agro-industrial cluster. The amendments are aimed at accelerating the development of the agricultural sector and ensuring the entry of domestic agricultural products into»»»

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is revising regulations under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985 to broaden protection for marine wildlife, by adding nine marine mammal species to the existing list under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, The Edge M»»»

The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the UN, a United Nations spokesperson said on Thursday as President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his "Board of Peace" initiative that experts say could undermine the United Nations. "Last week, we recei»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah have stepped up inspections of food establishments during Ramadan, launching round-the-clock monitoring campaigns and awareness programmes aimed at ensuring public health during the fasting month, officials said. The Department of Municipality has inten»»»

President Iliana Iotova will host the traditional iftar dinner on Friday to mark the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, the President's Press Secretariat reported. Representatives of both the Muslim and other traditional religious communities in Bulgaria have been invited to the fest»»»

The country’s authorities are proposing to introduce life imprisonment for crimes against children and women. The Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan has submitted a draft law for public discussion introducing life imprisonment for serious crimes against women and children. The document also »»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved amendments to several resolutions regulating the implementation of the state-significant project Ala-Too Resort, which is being developed in Ak-Suu district of Issyk-Kul region. The adjustments are related to the transformation of the state enterp»»»

Some people report feeling mentally sharper and calmer while fasting during Ramadan. Others struggle with headaches, fatigue and brain fog by midday. Doctors told Gulf News that the difference often comes down to how flexible and resilient a person’s metabolism is. Also Read: Ramadan 2026 in UAE: W»»»

The fall of the Assad regime has marked a turning point for civic space in Syria, but the shape of that opening remains uncertain. Accounts from inside the country diverge sharply, offering contrasting pictures of how far public space has truly expanded. Some describe an unprecedented shift. The pe»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s next phase of district-led development moved forward with the opening of a large open-air events space at Uptown Dubai. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Plaza, developed by DMCC, spans 21,000 square metres at the centre of the district and is designed»»»

In a groundbreaking achievement for Qatar's private healthcare sector, Dr. Sirajeddin Belkhair, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon and Director of Neurosciences at DOC Medical Center, successfully performed the nation's first navigated spine surgery in a private hospital at View Hospital. Combining cut»»»

Estonian lender Inbank is accelerating growth in Poland through a new partnership with Otomoto, the country’s largest automotive platform. After talks that began in summer 2025 and a contract signed in December, full API integration enabled fully digital financing for car purchases in early Februar»»»

Warsaw University of Technology’s CEZAMAT research center is positioning itself as a future producer of secure semiconductors for Poland’s military and public administration, but says government funding is essential to launch production. The facility, whose infrastructure is valued at PLN 1.5 billi»»»

President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed the Active Farmers Act, arguing that its provisions could harm small farms. The legislation aimed to regulate subsidy collection by landowners and introduce a national register of active farmers, but sparked strong debate across the agricultural sector. Hours bef»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a decree approving the National Football Development Program in Kyrgyzstan for 2026–2034. The document provides for creating conditions for mass football participation, improving the professional development of players, and promoting a healthy lifestyle »»»

At Thursday’s Government Info briefing, Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, Gergely Gulyás, announced that the government has released Hungary’s strategic crude oil reserves following Ukraine’s decision to halt oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline. The minister described Kyiv’s move as»»»

The administration of Donald Trump and the Indonesian government have confirmed the conclusion of a trade agreement that will reduce US tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%, down from 32%, BBC reports. According to the White»»»

The administration of Donald Trump and the Indonesian government have confirmed the conclusion of a trade agreement that will reduce US tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%, down from 32%, BBC reports. According to the White»»»

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran has 15 days maximum to make a deal with the United States. Ten days "would be enough time. 10-15 days. Pretty much maximum,” Trump told reporters abroad Air Force One.. The US president also did not specify what he meant by saying "bad things" ma»»»

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's (ZNPP) Ferrosplavnaya-1 (Ferosplavna-1) backup line was shut down on February 10, presumably due to nearby military activity, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday. "ZNPP’s Ferosplavna-1 330 kV back-up off-site power line was disconnecte»»»

The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek has taken Aibek Tashmatov (known by the nickname Kuchuk), Director of the Sh. Sydykov Republican Sports College, into custody until April 15. The decision was made at the request of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Military Prosecutor’s Office, the Pervomaisky Court r»»»

Dubai: Sharjah-Dubai commuters faced significant delays on Friday morning as peak-hour traffic built up across several major highways and inner-city roads, according to Google Maps data. A serious accident on the E311 near Expo City, heading towards Dubai South, has caused major disruptions. Witnes»»»

Venezuela's acting president signed the Amnesty Law after unanimous parliamentary approval, granting pardon for political crimes committed between 1999 and 2026. Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez presented the initiative for the new law, which is set to take effect, under the premise tha»»»

PoliticsNorth KoreaNorth Korea's Kim Jon Un opens key party congressKate Hairsine with AFP, Reuters, APKim Jong Un lauded North Korea's improving economy as he opened the Workers’ Party congress. Held every five years, the country's most important political event is a forum for the leader to outlin»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree introducing amendments to a number of his previous decisions aimed at ensuring gender balance and expanding women’s participation in the civil and municipal service. The document revises the state program on supporting women’s leadership thr»»»

A new head has been appointed at the Directorate for Non-Olympic Sports. Samat Erkinbekov has been named to lead the body, the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of Kyrgyzstan reported. «Samat Erkinbekov has been appointed with a three-month probation period and officially assumed his dut»»»

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on February 19, with discussions focusing on cooperation in critical minerals, energy, counter-terrorism and the potential for increased American investment, according to a statement from the State Departme»»»

First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev spoke about measures to stabilize prices and improve coordination between government agencies and markets at a board meeting of the Chui Regional State Administration summarizing the results of 2025. «It is precisel»»»

Manila: Filipinos applying for South Korea visa would soon find it easier to visit the world's K-pop and K-drama capital, it was announced on Friday. South Korea has rolled out major visa simplifications for Filipinos effective February 20, 2026, slashing paperwork to spur tourism and visits. Also »»»