Dubai: Dubai’s commercial transport sector recorded more than 40 per cent growth in licensed companies in 2025, with annual revenues exceeding Dh8.4 billion, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said»»»

Catholics from different Emirates in the UAE has marked the start of the Lenten season today with Ash Wednesday. For Filipino believers, the tradition is observed wherever they may be across the globe. The cross-shaped ashes in their forehead signifies the beginning of a spiritual time filled with »»»

Bulgaria's Parliament on Wednesday voted, 141-0 with 27 abstentions, to pass on first reading amendments to the Penal Code extending the same legal protection against sexual offences to children aged 15 and 16 as to those under 14. The revisions, tabled by MPs of MRF - New Beginning, were adopted w»»»

Ivaylo Ivanov, one of the six people who lost their lives in the Petrohan–Okolchitsa case, killed himself with two shots to the head. One gunshot wound had an entry point under the chin, and the other had an entry point at the left temple and an exit at the right, said Ivan Madzharov, Deputy Direct»»»

An international probe into Volodymyr Zelensky could reveal he’s just one link in a sprawling corruption chain, according to Volodymyr Oleynyk, a Ukrainian politician and former MP of the Verkhovna Rada. "Most Western leaders are entangled in Ukrainian corruption schemes," Volodymyr Oleynyk, a Ukra»»»

Before Pakistan commits to sending troops to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force it wants assurances from the United States that it will be a peacekeeping mission rather than tasked with disarming Hamas, three sources told Reuters. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set t»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has announced the official working hours for its departments during the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH. From Sunday to Thursday, several MOI departments will operate from 8am to 1pm. These include the General Directorate of Passports and its affiliated dep»»»

Dubai: Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has never played it safe in her career. Her first film was the incredibly enjoyable romantic comedy 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' in which she played a plus-size woman navigating an arranged marriage to a vain high-school drop out. The self-made star, Bhumi, was brill»»»

The history of wine production is a history of constant adaptation, said shadow rapporteur on the so-called "wine package" in the European Parliament, MP Eric Sargiacomo (France, S&D), during a discussion on the topic "The Future of the Wine Sector: European Perspectives", which took place in Sofia»»»

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Bulgaria is honouring its national hero, revolutionary and freedom fighter Vasil Levski (1837-1873) on the 152nd anniversary of his death. In a declaration delivered on behalf of the parliamentary group Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, MP Elisaveta Belobradova sa»»»

Following a period marked by adjustments, the local real estate market enters 2026 with enhanced confidence on the part of Romanian investors. They have become an essential factor in supporting the market’s liquidity and stability, showing greater interest both in income-generating assets and in br»»»

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (@gulfarium) Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A resident of a Florida aquarium confirmed to be at least 71 years old has been certified as the oldest manatee ever by Guinness World Records. The record-keeping organization said Romeo, a re»»»

Damascus, Feb. 18 (SANA) Head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Omar Hosari met Canadian Ambassador Gregory Galligan in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in civil aviation. During the talks, the two sides reviewed prospects for strengthening»»»

TradeIsraelWhy a German shipping deal alarms Israel's governmentNik MartinHapag‑Lloyd's deal to buy a major Israeli shipping company is colliding with national-security red lines. Critics say the purchase could expose critical infrastructure at a volatile moment in the Middle East. https://p.dw.com»»»

Authorities are investigating the escape of a detainee from the Evelpidon courthouse area in Athens on Wednesday. The man, an Egyptian national, was being transferred for administrative deportation proceedings when he managed to flee. Reports indicate that he was not handcuffed during the transfer.»»»

Irena Mladenova has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth in the Gurov draft cabinet. Mladenova is an assistant professor in the Department of Business Administration at the Faculty of Economics, St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, according to the University’s website»»»

Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The move came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil passes. The move is a rare, perhaps unprecedented shutdow»»»

The Israeli government has scrapped a longstanding rule preventing Israeli citizens from buying land directly from Palestinians, in a bid to establish facts on the ground that would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. The previous rules—in place since 1967—served as a legal obstacle t»»»

Japan's exports surged nearly 17% in January from a year earlier, lifted by seasonal factors and strong demand in China and other Asian markets. Imports slipped 2.5% from the same month a year earlier to 10.3 trillion yen ($67 billion), while exports climbed 16.8% to 9.19 trillion yen ($59.8 billio»»»

Indonesia is tightening state control over the world's largest nickel supply after years of betting the metal would anchor a homegrown electric-vehicle industry, and just as global demand begins shifting away from heavy reliance on nickel. The move could still ripple through global EV supply chains»»»

The final report of the Winograd Commission, which investigated the events of the Second Lebanon War, was one of the most prominent probes that addressed the Israeli political and military failures in commanding the July 2006 war. The report’s significance stems from the broad powers granted to the»»»

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he is pleased to see steps taken in neighbouring Syria to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state structures, after a US-backed ceasefire deal late last month between the sides. In a readout on Wednesday of his comments to reporters »»»

1 of 5 | White House crypto czar David Sacks and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (R) attend a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump with tech leaders at the White House in September. Zuckerberg is expected to testify today in a trial that will decide if his platforms intentionally addict kids. File Phot»»»

The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs presented additional findings on the cases at Petrohan and Okolchitsa during a joint briefing, attended by Deputy Appellate Prosecutor Natalia Nikolova, senior officials from the Interior Ministry, and Criminal Police representatives. Aut»»»

The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority has issued a safety advisory urging parents and caregivers to closely supervise children in kitchens, warning that the area remains one of the most common locations for household accidents. The alert, released as part of the authority’s ongoing “Spark of Awarenes»»»

Sharjah’s economic performance in 2025 underscored the strength of the emirate’s business environment and reinforced its position as a competitive and sustainable economic hub in the UAE, said Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) and member of»»»

George Sharkov has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Electronic Governance in the Gurov draft Cabinet. Sharkov is an expert in information technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, according to information published by the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies.»»»

Julian Popov has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Environment and Water in the Gurov draft cabinet. Born in Sofia on September 21, 1959. Graduated with a degree in Bulgarian Philology from Sofia University, according to information on the presidential administration website. Chair of the Boa»»»

Stoil Tzitzelkov has been nominated as caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Fair Elections in the Gurov Cabinet. Tzitzelkov is a member of the Public Council of the Central Election Commission. He also serves as chairperson of the European Association for the Defence of Human Rights - Bulgaria. He i»»»

The Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most Americans realize. It could begin very soon, U.S. news portal Axios reported on Wednesday. A U.S. military operation in Iran would likely be a massive, weeks-long campaign that would look more like full-fledged war than »»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with new Ukrainian Ambassador to Belgrade Oleksandr Lytvynenko on Wednesday to discuss strengthening of cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. Welcoming the ambassador, Macut expressed a wish for a "continuation of good and successful cooperation esta»»»

Türkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) has signed a partnership agreement with Shell to carry out exploration work in Bulgaria's maritime zone, the Turkish energy ministry and British oil major said on Wednesday. European Union member Bulgaria, which had been totally dependent on Russian gas until 2022, has bee»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Vatican Says Won’t Participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ in Gaza 18-02-2026 15:16 PM Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City (image from January 202»»»

Neel let out a piercing cry at the New Sonapur Crematorium on Wednesday as he bid farewell to his father, Ramesh Shukla – the legendary lensman known across the UAE as the “royal photographer”. From Shukla’s wife Tarulatta and grandchildren to relatives, friends and staff at the Four Seasons Ramesh»»»

George Sharkov has been nominated as caretaker Minister of e-Government in the Gurov cabinet. Sharkov is an expert in information technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, according to information published by the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies. He graduated i»»»

The leader of Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov described on Wednesday the composition of the caretaker cabinet, proposed by Andrey Gurov, as “weak, extremely unprofessional, the result of bargaining and backroom deals.” “I am shocked by the names in the cabinet, especially Justice Minister Andrey Y»»»

Unannounced, U.S.-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have made major progress, a senior source said. “These negotiations, led by a high-ranking Lebanese figure, are based on a mutually agreed-upon framework of concessions,” the source told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. The source adde»»»

A 39-year-old man has been taken into custody following an alleged sexual assault involving a minor. Bulgarian authorities report that the incident constitutes intercourse with a child who was unable to defend themselves and did not give consent. The case was officially opened on Tuesday by the dis»»»

Dubai: In a major leadership change at one of the world’s largest hotel groups, Hyatt has appointed its President and CEO, Mark S. Hoplamazian, as Chairman of the Board with immediate effect. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The leadership shakeup comes after Thomas J. »»»

Dubai: Dubai Police has extended the submission deadline for the ‘SWAT Clip’ competition to March 1, following strong public interest and growing participation from across the UAE and abroad. Originally scheduled to close on February 17, the competition will now give participants additional time to»»»

Sharjah: On the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has pardoned 738 inmates, thanks to their good behaviour. The inmates were serving their sentences at Sharjah’s correctional and punitive establi»»»

Irina Shtonova has been nominated as caretaker Minister of Economy and Industry in the cabinet of Andrey Gurov. Irina Shtonova holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford University and a PhD in Economics from the Sofia University. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in Economi»»»

The new facility in the capital is equipped with state-of-the-art digital equipment—computed dental tomography (CBCT), endodontic microscope, digital scanning systems (3Shape Trios & Modjaw)—and integrates modern computer-guided diagnosis and treatment protocols. The location is part of a complete »»»

DUBAI - The Serbian-Kazakh duo of Aleksandra Krunic and Anna Danilina is through to the women's doubles quarter-finals at the Dubai WTA tennis tournament after defeating the Indian-Thai pair of Rutuja Bhosale and Peangtarn Plipuech 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) on Wednesday. Krunic and Danilina, who won after an »»»

Saudia Airlines has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City, becoming the official premier partner exclusively in the airline category. As part of the partnership, Saudia will develop special travel packages designed to enable visitors to experience world-»»»

Dubai: Carrefour is pulling back from more countries as it tries to rebuild profits and simplify its sprawling global business, even as its stores remain a familiar sight for shoppers across the Gulf. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The French supermarket group said on»»»

Skopje, 17 February 2026 (MIA) - The memorandum of cooperation, signed by Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska with representatives of CFS Media & Advisory DOO, which includes the Balkan Green Energy News portal and the Belgrade Energy Forum, sets out coordinated acti»»»

Sharjah: The Board of Trustees of the American University of Sharjah (AUS) has approved a series of strategic measures aimed at expanding academic offerings, strengthening governance and reinforcing long-term institutional resilience during a recent meeting held on campus. The meeting, chaired by S»»»