Minister of Education of Kyrgyzstan Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva, together with First Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation Gulnur Mamyrova, held a meeting with members of the European Parliament, led by Giuseppina Princi, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Central Asian Cou»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar (CAAQ) released preliminary air transport statistics for January 2026, revealing a robust start to the year. The data shows significant year-on-year growth in aircraft movements, passenger traffic, and cargo handling, signaling a continued upward t»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices moved back above the Dh600 mark on Thursday morning, keeping the local market on edge after weeks of sharp swings that have tested buyer sentiment across jewellery stores. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, an»»»

Doha, Qatar: TotalEnergies is pleased to announce the appointment of Antoine Delafargue (pictured) as Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Qatar and Country Chair, effective January 2026. In this role, Antoine will lead the affiliate’s Exploration and Production activities in Qatar and contribute »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2026 returns to Doha for its second year as an ATP500 event, following its debut season’s recognition as the ATP 500 ‘Tournament of the Year.’ This success reflects the strong partnership between ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF), a relati»»»

Doha: The Ministry of Culture is organising this year’s ‘Al Razji’ at the Darb Al Saai from February 25 to March 3. The initiative, organised during Ramadan, is aimed at reviving Qatar’s cultural heritage and celebrating its traditions through an impactful experience in a unique Ramadan atmosphere.»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the State of Qatar recorded 109.90 points in January 2026, marking a decrease of 2.22 percent compared with December 2025, whereas it marked a year-on-year rise of 2.28 percent compared with the same month in 2025. The index, which measures inflation, »»»

Doha, Qatar: The banking sector loans expanded by 6.6 percent in December last year versus financial year 2024, compared to a growth of 4.6 percent in the same period. The loans grew by an average of 4.9 percent over the past five years (2020-2025). The loans remained flat month on month (MoM) in D»»»

Doha, Qatar: The third edition of the Al Thumama Ramadan Tournament kicks off tomorrow evening at Al Furjan Stadium, continuing a community football tradition that has gained momentum over the past two years. Organised in cooperation with the Qatar Sports for All Federation, the tournament targets »»»

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press conference on February 18 in which she indicated that a US strike on Iran is an increasing possibility.  With the Iranians threatening to put a chokehold on cr»»»

India’s healthcare sector is drawing increasing investor attention as rising incomes, urbanisation and expanding insurance coverage fuel demand for hospital services, diagnostics and specialised treatment. Private capital »»»

India’s healthcare sector is drawing increasing investor attention as rising incomes, urbanisation and expanding insurance coverage fuel demand for hospital services, diagnostics and specialised treatment. Private capital »»»

India’s healthcare sector is drawing increasing investor attention as rising incomes, urbanisation and expanding insurance coverage fuel demand for hospital services, diagnostics and specialised treatment. Private capital »»»

Syrian authorities said they have thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of drugs out of the country. The Syrian Narcotics Directorate said on Wednesday it seized approximately 400,000 captagon pills, weighing about 65 kilograms, during an operation in Homs province in central Syria. The d»»»

In recent months, cases of teenagers being drawn into extremist and terrorist ideas through social media and messaging apps have been identified in Kyrgyzstan. The press center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) reported. According to the SCNS, remote radicalization i»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sekou Yansane’s extra-time strike sent Qatar’s Al Ahli into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League (ACL) Two as they edged Sepahan 1-0 in the second leg for a 3-2 aggregate victory at Al Thumama Stadium yesterday. Yansane’s decisive goal came in the 91st minute, giving coach Yo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner powered into the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarter-finals while World No.33 Stefanos Tsitsipas knocked out former champion Daniil Medvedev in an action-packed Round of 16 in Doha yesterday. Playing in the late-night clash against Frenchman Valentin Royer at»»»

Ramadan remains one of the most significant periods for family gatherings and social connection across the UAE. As residents prepare for iftar invitations and home visits, floral gifting has become an increasingly visible part of the season’s traditions. Retailers report a steady rise in demand for»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has again extended its airspace closure for Indian-registered aircraft by another month, keeping restrictions in force until March 23 as bilateral tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours persist. According to a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports»»»

British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman have been sentenced in Iran to 10 years in prison for espionage, their family have said. The couple were arrested while on a motorcycle trip on 3 January 2025 and later charged with espionage, which the couple denies. The Foremans previously appeared in a th»»»

A new building for school No. 8 named after D. Moldogaziev has been opened in the village of Shaty in Tyup district of Issyk-Kul region. Designed for 225 students, it replaces a building built in 1965. The new school consolidates the educational process under one roof: previously, children studied »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Foundation’s Ability Friendly Program (AP) has evolved significantly since its launch, witnessing steady growth in participation and broadening its range of sports, and building a strong cohort of highly trained coaches committed to inclusive practice. What began in 2018 with»»»

Philippine Vice President and freshly declared presidential candidate Sara Duterte is facing a fourth impeachment case against her, documents seen by AFP on Thursday show. Also Read: Impeachment showdown: One-complaint-one-year rule explained, how removing top officials really works in the Philippi»»»

Dubai: From watching school productions at Dubai’s now-closed DUCTAC theatre in Mall of the Emirates to performing on one of New York’s most politically charged Off-Broadway stages, UAE kid Anuka Sethi has travelled a long, quietly radical road. “I was a very shy kid who used to watch the plays tha»»»

Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of the “GDRFA Dubai Nudgeathon”, an innovative programme focused on applying behavioural i»»»

The Ministry of Finance has canceled plans to lease sections of two iconic Koufonisi beaches, Italida and Pori, for umbrellas and sunbeds following local outcry. The decision, signed by general-secretary Antigoni Giannakaki, honors a request from the Naxos municipality to protect the island’s chara»»»

During his pre-recorded video speech aired last night to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 17th of February Revolution, that ended the 42-year Qaddafi regime, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, stated: The country enters the month of Ramadan amidst an economic crisis,»»»

Members of Parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved the implementation of the project «On the ratification of the Financing Agreement and Grant Agreement for the Phase 1 Project for the Kyrgyz Republic under the One Health Program to Prevent Pandemics, Ensure Resilience of Food Systems, and Healthy Ecosys»»»

The caretaker government led by Andrey Gurov is expected to be sworn in before the National Assembly on Thursday. Afterwards, a ceremony for the transfer and acceptance of power will be held at the Council of Ministers, the Government Information Service said. On Wednesday, caretaker prime minister»»»

Members of the Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan approved the draft law «On Ratification of the Extradition Treaty between Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia,» which was signed on July 21, 2025 in Bishkek, in its third reading. The document provides legal mechanisms for the extradition of individuals»»»

Registration for the Nationwide Testing has begun in Kyrgyzstan. Durus Kozuev, Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation, announced at a press conference. According to him, registration will continue until April 2. The following individuals are eligible to participate in the Nati»»»

Beijing: Five children were among the 12 people killed in an explosion at a general store selling fireworks in China during the Lunar New Year holiday, state media said Thursday. Setting off fireworks and crackers is common during holiday celebrations in China, especially around Lunar New Year. The»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Police General Headquarters has won three awards at the seventh edition of the Minister of Interior Excellence Award 2026, held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Lt. Gen. Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Sharjah P»»»

Small-scale protests broke out across Serbia on February 18, as students and farmers demonstrated over political and economic grievances. The demonstrations followed two nights of clashes with police in Belgrade and Novi S»»»

As part of the Ministry of Energy’s reform and digitalization of the electricity supply system, the National Electric Network of Kyrgyzstan will install 390,000 smart meters across the country in 2026. This project is being implemented with the support of the World Bank and aims to modernize the na»»»

North Korea’s Namyang in Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, is seen across the Tumen River from Tumen in China’s Jilin province. Photo by Asia Today Feb. 18 (Asia Today) -- Residents along the China-North Korea border in Tumen say talk is spreading that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could vi»»»

When authorities in Truckee, California, learned of a large avalanche that hit a group of backcountry skiers, they rushed into action. Emergency messages came on Tuesday at 11:30 PT from a group guide's iPhone, using satellite-texting capabilities, as well as from another skier's emergency distress»»»

Dubai: boAt - World’s No. 3 Audio Company (Source: IDC, CY 2024), has announced its retail expansion into Lulu stores across the UAE, further strengthening its presence in the region. Already available both online and offline across the UAE, boAt’s entry into Lulu Hypermarkets - including key locat»»»

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland is entering a “year of turbo-acceleration,” following what he called a 2025 economic breakthrough. Speaking at the Warsaw Stock Exchange, he described Poland as an “oasis of stability and growth” despite geopolitical tensions, highlighting GDP growth of 3.6% l»»»

The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan has approved the amount of sadaqah al-fitr for 2026. Its press service reported. This year, the sadaqah al-fitr per person is 1.6 kilograms of wheat (60 soms), raisins (880 soms), flour (90 soms), or 3.2 kilograms of barley (100 soms), and dates (1»»»

Dubai: Ras Al Khaimah’s residential market recorded exceptional growth in 2025, with prime apartment prices climbing to Dh2,428 per square foot, marking the highest level in the current property cycle. Strong capital appreciation across coastal destinations, including Al Marjan Island, Al Hamra and»»»

The Syrian government is interested in Russia maintaining its military presence in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. "As for our military facilities, discussions are ongoing. Let me reiterate: the Syrians are keen for our presence to endure," Lavrov told Al Arabia broadcaster»»»

Gen. Francis Donovan, head of US Southern Command, visited Venezuela alongside diplomatic envoy Laura Dogu and Pentagon official Joseph Humire for direct talks with interim authorities. According to the command's statement, the discussions were focused on "security environment"."Building trust and »»»

Kyrgyz wrestler Akzhol Makhmudov will take part in a ranking tournament in Albania. The United World Wrestling (UWW) reported. The second ranking tournament of 2026, Muhamet Malo Tournament, will be held from February 25 to March 1 in Tirana. Makhmudov has been included in the Kyrgyzstan’s national»»»

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized the UK over a lease deal concerning Diego Garcia island, the site of a major US military base, saying it may be needed to counter a "potential attack" by Iran if nuclear talks collapse. "I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of th»»»

Israeli planes sprayed chemicals on farmland in Quneitra, Syria in late January and early February, 2026. Farmers say that their crops yellowed and died in just a few days and that they lost dozens of hectares of farmland. There have been similar reports of the Israeli Army spraying fields in south»»»

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev met with a delegation of the European Parliament, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. According to the ministry, the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, interparliamentary dialogue, and the regional agenda. »»»

Dubai: Motorists across the Dubai and Sharjah faced a difficult Thursday morning commute as a series of accidents cause significant tailbacks on major arterial roads. The most severe disruptions were reported on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), and Emirates Road (E611) where a string of accid»»»

The Middle East is used to conflict, but the current moment is fundamentally different. Wars overlap, alliances are in flux, and long-standing assumptions about external protection and the regional order are eroding. For the Arab world, this is not simply another phase of instability; it is a strat»»»

The holy month of Ramadan has begun today for Muslims around the world. The head of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, Abdulaziz Zakirov, addressed compatriots on the occasion of the start of Ramadan. He congratulated Muslims, the people of Kyrgyzstan, and all humanity on the arriv»»»