CIA Knew at Early Stage of Terrorists' Plans to Blow Up Nord Stream Pipelines - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The CIA was aware at an early stage of the terrorists' plans to blow up the Nord Stream pipelines, the German newspaper Spiegel reported on Thursday, citing sources. The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were hit by explosions in September 2022. Germany, Denmark and Swe»»»
Georgia Arrests Two Foreigners Trying to Purchase Uranium
Georgia has detained two people who attempted to purchase $3 million worth of uranium and a cache of a radioactive isotope found in nuclear weapons testing programs, the national security service said on Thursday. Two foreign nationals from unspecified countries were arrested in the city of Kutais»»»
Former South Korean President Yoon Receives Life Sentence for Imposing Martial Law
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law in a dramatic culmination to the country’s biggest political crisis in decades. Yoon was ousted from office after a baffling attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled legislature b»»»
RNC sues to block Democratic-backed Virginia redistricting referendum - UPI.com
Virginians cast their ballots at Robious Elementary School in Midlothian, VA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The Republican National Committee on Wednesday filed a lawsuit to block a referendum on an amendment that if approved by the state's voters would allow lawmakers to redraw Virginia's congressi»»»
OFWs warned against unaccredited Philippine schools abroad
Dubai: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has urged Filipinos abroad to exercise caution when enrolling in institutions that market themselves as “Philippine Schools Overseas” (PSOs). In an advisory, the agency has issued a warning that not all schools using the label are officially recogni»»»
AI Summit photo op fails to unite CEOs
New Delhi, India: Tech bro rivalry is real, or at least it is for Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, the CEOs of two leading US artificial intelligence startups. A video of the pair at a global AI summit in New Delhi on Thursday rapidly spread on social media after the former colleagues awkwardly refused»»»
Bill Gates Cancels AI Summit Keynote Amid Epstein Allegations - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US billionaire and Microsoft founder Bill Gates has canceled his keynote speech at an artificial intelligence summit in India amid allegations of ties to infamous late financier Jeffrey Epstein, CNN reported on Thursday, citing a statement from the Gates' foundation. "After caref»»»
SkyTower Bucharest secures new leases and extensions of over 9.000 sqm
During 2025, SkyTower has signed lease agreements and extensions covering approximately 9,000 square metres GLA, including both new tenants and expansions for existing occupants. These transactions reinforce SkyTower’s leading position in the Bucharest office market and highlight its growing appeal»»»
UK Condemns 10-year Sentence for British Couple in Iran
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday condemned as "totally unjustifiable" the 10-year sentence given to a British couple in Iran for spying, saying the government would continue to press for their release. Craig and Lindsay Foreman had been charged with espionage after Iran accused th»»»
Former South Korean President Yoon sentenced to life for insurrection - UPI.com
1 of 7 | Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment on insurrection charges Thursday. In this September 26 photo, Yoon attends the first hearing of his second trial on martial law-related charges. File Pool Photo by Yonhap/EPA SEOUL, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A South Korean court on T»»»
US Tankers and Cargo Planes Spotted in Bulgaria as Tensions With Iran Intensify
A notable presence of US military aircraft has been observed at Terminal 1 of Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, according to former Deputy Foreign Minister and security analyst Milen Keremedchiev. In a post on Facebook, he reported that seven US Air Force tanker aircraft, used for aerial refueling of comb»»»
Bulgaria: GERB Prepares Leadership Shake-Up Ahead of Elections
GERB is set to hold a reporting and election national assembly on March 22 in Sofia, marking the start of the campaign for the early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19. The party announced the upcoming congress in newspapers on Friday, highlighting that the agenda will focus on electing»»»
130 travellers left waiting overnight after technical issue changes aircraft
Dubai: More than 125 passengers travelling from Muscat to New Delhi were left waiting for over five hours after an Air India Express flight was delayed late on Tuesday night, according to a report by Times of Oman. Air India Express confirmed the incident to Gulf News. Sign up for our daily busines»»»
Biryani trail exposes Rs700 billion restaurant tax scam in India
What began as a closer look at popular biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad has snowballed into what could be one of the biggest alleged tax suppression cases in India’s food and beverage sector. According to a report by The Times of India, an in-depth probe by the Income Tax department’s Hyderab»»»
Relief for OFWs as Philippines begins final wave of balikbayan box deliveries
Dubai: The Philippine government has started distributing the first batch of long-delayed balikbayan boxes of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as it commenced the final wave of deliveries. The initiative has been led by Department of Finance (DOF) secretary Frederick Go and Bureau of Customs (BOC) »»»
Stranded after Canada setback, man kills ex-wife in Hyderabad
Dubai: A man allegedly stabbed his former wife to death at her residence in Hyderabad after months of resentment over a domestic violence case that, according to police, had upended his life and prevented him from returning to Canada. Police said the accused, who is in his 30s, barged into the woma»»»
Indian expat wins Dh50,000 Big Ticket Abu Dhabi draw 2026
Dubai: For Nibin Mathew, a 36-year-old engineer who relocated from Kerala to Abu Dhabi six years ago, a single phone call changed everything. Having joined Big Ticket just five months prior after hearing about it from a friend, Nibin participated as part of a group and walked away with a winning pr»»»
TISP Floor Leader Links Caretaker Cabinet to Petrohan Case
There Is Such a People (TISP) Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov linked Thursday the caretaker cabinet of prime minister-designate Andrey Gurov, which later in the day took the oath of office on Thursday, to the so-called Petrohan case that has shaken the country in recent weeks. Reading a declaration on»»»
Deutsche Welle to axe Greek radio service amid funding cuts
Germany’s state-funded Deutsche Welle broadcaster says it will close its decades-old Greek language radio service, admired for its independent coverage during the 1967-74 dictatorship, citing budget cuts and Greece’s status as “a stable democracy with a diverse media landscape.” The decision announ»»»
Iran, US lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance
Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday as nuclear talks between the nations hung in the balance, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast. The Iranian drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford a»»»
LEKTRI.CO ends 2025 with a turnover of RON 12 million, up by 33%
The company is present in seven international markets and estimates a sales increase of approximately 30% for 2026, supported by international expansion and the development of integrated energy charging and storage solutions. The year 2025 marked a period of adjustment for the electric mobility mar»»»
Oath Taken: New Caretaker Cabinet Takes Over in Bulgaria, Focus on Elections, Budget Stability and Rule of Law
The caretaker government headed by Andrey Gyurov officially entered office after taking the oath before the National Assembly in the presence of President Iliana Yotova. Gyurov and the ministers pledged to observe the Constitution and the law, declaring that all their actions would be guided by the»»»
N. Korea Flexes Nuclear-capable Rocket Launcher Ahead of Key Congress
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a battery of huge nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a key congress of the nation's ruling party, state media said Thursday. Kim is expected to detail the next phase in North Korea's nuclear weapons program when he opens a rare congress of the rul»»»
Iran Says No Country Can Deprive it of Enrichment Rights
Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said no country can deprive the Iranian republic of its right to nuclear enrichment, after US President Donald Trump again hinted at military action following talks in Geneva. "The basis of the nuclear industry is enrichment. Whatever you want to do in the»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia discuss 2nd phase of school construction project - | 24.KG
Minister of Construction, Architecture, Housing, and Communal Services of Kyrgyzstan Nurdan Oruntaev paid a working visit to Riyadh as part of Construction of Public Schools (Phase II) project. On February 18, the meeting was attended by Ulugbek Maripov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary»»»
SPEEDWELL announces handover of third building in The Ivy residential project
Developed as a gated residential community on a plot of over five hectares, THE IVY has become one of the most desired residential projects in northern Bucharest, offering a mix of facilities dedicated to everyday life, lush green spaces, pedestrian walkways, and a children’s playground. The projec»»»
UN Probe: RSF Actions in Sudan's el-Fasher Point to Genocide
Mass killings of non-Arab communities when the Rapid Support Forces captured the Sudanese city of el-Fasher bears hallmarks that point to genocide, an independent UN probe said in a new report on Thursday. At the end of October last year, the RSF took over the city - which had been the last remaini»»»
UNRWA: The humanitarian situation across Gaza Strip is catastrophic, coinciding with restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe UNRWA: The humanitarian situation across Gaza Strip is catastrophic, coinciding with restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid 19-02»»»
Ministry of Culture proposes revisiting TikTok ban in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
At a board meeting of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Deputy Minister Marat Tagaev stated that the decision to block the social media platform TikTok in Kyrgyzstan should be reconsidered. According to him, the Center for Monitoring and Research »»»
Did Aamir Khan get involved in Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar's Don 3 casting drama?
Dubai: A day after reports claimed Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan had intervened in the Don 3 casting missteps, the actor clarified he is not involved in the fallout between Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar. Earlier this week, speculation of his intervention gained traction after a meeting at Khan’s»»»
Caretaker Government Sworn In, Election Set for April 19
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and his cabinet took the oath of office before the National Assembly on Thursday, with President Iliana Iotova in attendance. Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and the ministers in the caretaker government took the oath of office before the National Assembl»»»
'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits
As the toy industry gathered in New York City recently for its marquee annual convention, the head of one small company stood out from the crowd, greeted by fellow business owners like a minor celebrity. Rick Woldenberg, the chief executive of Learning Resources, helped make headlines last year, wh»»»
Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal
"Do not give away Diego Garcia," US President Donald Trump has said as he criticised the UK's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base. Trump said "this land should not be taken away from the UK" and if it did it would be "a blight on our Great All»»»
Etsy sells second-hand fashion app Depop to eBay for $1.2bn
Depop, the second-hand clothing app that has skyrocketed in popularity among Gen Z shoppers, is being sold to eBay for $1.2bn (£890m). Etsy, the online platform, is offloading Depop just five years after it bought the business - which was founded in the UK - for $1.6bn. eBay is hoping that the deal»»»
Oil Prices Extend Gains on Concerns of Potential US-Iran Conflict
Oil prices rose on Thursday as the US and Iran attempted to ease a standoff in talks over Tehran's nuclear program while both sides heightened military activity in the key oil-producing region. Brent futures climbed 23 cents, or 0.3% to $70.58 a barrel by 0735 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate »»»
Australian Police Investigate Threatening Letter to Country's Largest Mosque
Australian police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation after a threatening letter was sent to the country’s largest mosque, the third such incident in the lead-up to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The letter sent to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney’s west on Wednesday contained a drawi»»»
Tucker Carlson says he was ‘detained’ in Israel
US journalist and podcaster Tucker Carlson has said he was briefly detained at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday after taping an interview with the American ambassador to Israel. Carlson, who frequently criticizes US aid to West Jerusalem, told the Daily Mail that Israeli of»»»
Justice minister says Turkish crime baron owner of record-breaking 10 tonnes of seized cocaine
Turkish crime baron Cetin Goren was the owner of a record European haul of almost 10 tonnes of cocaine seized last month by the Spanish police, Turkey’s newly-appointed justice minister Akin Gurlek said on February 13 in remarks made during his first televised interview as minister. »»»
Justice minister says Turkish crime baron owner of record-breaking 10 tonnes of seized cocaine
Turkish crime baron Cetin Goren was the owner of a record European haul of almost 10 tonnes of cocaine seized last month by the Spanish police, Turkey’s newly-appointed justice minister Akin Gurlek said on February 13 in remarks made during his first televised interview as minister. »»»
Emirates NBD rolls out branded silver bars to meet rising demand
Dubai: Emirates NBD has launched its own branded silver bars, expanding its precious metals platform as demand rises among retail and high net worth investors seeking alternatives to traditional financial assets. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new offering adds to»»»
Police nabs fugitive in northern Greece
A 42-year-old fugitive from justice with a jail sentence and an arrest warrant pending for two separate crimes was arrested in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, police said. A court in Thessaloniki had convicted the man to five years in prison for his involvement in a shooting incident eight years ago in »»»
Destroyed cookie factory owner jailed pending trial over deadly blast
The owner of the Violanta cookie factory, where five workers died in a massive gas explosion last month, has been jailed pending trial on charges including homicide with possible intent. Authorities have blamed the January 26 blast on a long-term leak of propane, used to fuel the factory’s ovens, f»»»
UN says Israeli actions raising 'ethnic cleansing' fears in West Bank, Gaza
Israel's increased attacks and forcible transfers of Palestinian civilians "raise concerns over ethnic cleansing" in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the United Nations said Thursday. "Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance»»»
2026 to mark shift from AI assistants to operational, multimodal AI agents in enterprise – SoftServe
AI agents are gaining traction in the enterprise sector, with 2026 marking a shift towards systems capable of executing complex workflows and supporting operational decision-making. According to global IT consulting and digital services provider SoftServe, adoption is advancing, but large-scale suc»»»
Strong wind and very rough sea
Tunis, Feb 19 (TAP) - Thursday's weather will be temporarily cloudy nationwide, getting very cloudy in the afternoon over northern western regions with scattered showers expected to extend to remaining northern areas and locally to central regions...»»»
Awqaf renews sponsorship of global Quran recitation competition ‘Tejan Al Noor’
Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has renewed its sponsorship of the “Tejan Al Noor” International Quran Recitation Competition, organised by Jeem TV, for the 14th consecutive year during the holy month of Ramadan. The continued support »»»
QPC, Middle East Council on Global Affairs sign cooperation agreement
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Center (QPC) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs to strengthen collaboration between media and research institutions in Qatar and the wider Arab region. The partnership aims to advance media and research work, organise scien»»»
Bishkek FEZ entities to be relocated to new territory - | 24.KG
On February 19, the head of the National Agency for Investment under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ravshanbek Sabirov, held a working meeting with representatives of ministries, agencies, and entities of the Bishkek Free Economic Zone (FEZ). During the meeting, current issues related to rel»»»
Daniyar Amangeldiev: Kyrgyzstan's GDP approaches 2 trillion soms - | 24.KG
First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev spoke at a roundtable discussion on regional development and digitalization of public administration. According to him, Kyrgyzstan’s GDP approached 2 trillion soms by the end of 2025, almost double the 2022 figures.»»»