Dubai: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s leading professional body for marketing, has officially launched its new regional hub in Dubai Knowledge Park, marking a significant milestone in its expansion across the Middle East. The launch event brought together senior leaders, in»»»

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be involved "indirectly" in high-stakes talks between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program set for Tuesday in Geneva, adding he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal. His comments came as Iran held a military drill on Monday in the Str»»»

NATO personnel operating Western military hardware in the Ukrainian conflict zone has long been an open secret, Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik. Ukraine, Litovkin explains, ended up relying on foreign personnel because it:Lacks the necessary number of skilled pilots and speci»»»

In tonight's edition: The 39th African Union summit came to an end on Sunday, after two days dominated by the crises affecting the continent. Also, student action continues in Senegal, following the deadly protest against unpaid financial aid last week. Plus the African continent sees increasing re»»»

Political negotiations are underway, led by regional actors, with the aim of reaching a "security agreement with Lebanon," the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper quoted informed sources as saying. The Americans are saying that they are interested in arranging this agreement and Hezbollah is not show»»»

The Arab World Institute is set to elect a new leader Tuesday after Jack Lang, a former culture minister, resigned over a week ago following revelations of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Potential candidates to succeed Lang includes Anne-Claire Legendre, a diplomat and close adviser to President Emm»»»

The west and southwest of France remain on high alert Tuesday, despite the national weather agency announcing a “slow” but “temporary” drop in water levels in the River Garonne, which has burst its banks and flooded villages and towns. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes since l»»»

The deportation of an Irish man who is being held in an US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in El Paso, Texas, has been temporarily halted. Seamus Culleton, who is originally from Glenmore, County Kilkenny, was detained by ICE in September 2025 while he was in the proces»»»

Dubai: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a series of sharply worded warnings aimed at the United States and President Donald Trump on Tuesday, escalating rhetoric amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington. In remarks posted on X and reinforced by public statements, »»»

The Fyli landfill, northwest of Athens, Greece’s largest waste disposal site, is expected to continue to expand for as long as it can, as efforts to increase recycling and reduce waste production stall. Last week, the Environment Ministry approved another expansion to increase its capacity by 2 mil»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday praised the "remarkable acceleration" of France's ties with India in response to the "changing international order". Macron met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai at the start of a three-day visit focused on artificial intelligence co»»»

With lanterns, red banners and traditional foods, China is ushering in the New Year. Tuesday marks the first day of the Year of the Horse, believed to bring optimism and opportunity. FRANCE 24's Jan Camenzind Broomby reports from the streets of Beijing.»»»

All eyes are on India's Narendra Modi and France's Emmanuel Macron who are set to hold talks over a potential multibillion dollar fighter jet deal as the French president begins a three-day visit to New Delhi for an&nbs»»»

Traditional prayers, fireworks and fairs marked the Lunar New Year on Tuesday – alongside 21st-century humanoid robots. The activities ushered in the Year of the Horse, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, succeeding the Year of the Snake. Crowds descended on popular temples to burn incens»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron holds a joint press event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Tuesday during his three-day visit focused on artificial intelligence cooperation, defence deals and strengthening strategic ties. Follow FRANCE 24's live coverage.»»»

The UAE is preparing to welcome Ramadan 2026 with a wide-ranging set of measures aimed at preserving the spiritual and social character of the holy month while ensuring business continuity across public and private sectors. Authorities across the country have introduced flexible working arrangement»»»

According to the latest nationwide survey by the sociological agency "Myara", if parliamentary elections were held in mid-February, voter participation would reach 51.5 percent, translating into the involvement of roughly three million voters. Further reading: NATO Pilot, Putin Sympathizer, or Some»»»

When US President Donald Trump revived the idea of buying Greenland – and refused to rule out stronger measures if Denmark declined – the reaction across Europe was swift and indignant. The proposal was framed as an anachronism: a throwback to imperial horse-trading that modern international politi»»»

US Democratic Senator Mark Kelly has said he will “seriously consider” a run for the White House in 2028, as he remains embroiled in a legal and political dispute with the Trump administration over a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, the Ari»»»

Bulgaria will complete the construction of the first LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) radiotelescope antenna station in Southeastern Europe by the end of 2026, the Institute of Astronomy with a National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday. LOFAR is the world's l»»»

Kidnapping Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel would be an easy operation for the American military, US President Donald Trump has claimed. Speaking on Tuesday to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump praised his strategy of economically isolating the island nation, which has been under a US trade em»»»

Authorities in Indonesia announced on Tuesday that Thursday, February 19, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision comes after observers in the country were unable to sight the crescent. This follows an identical decision earlier today by several Asian countries, such as Mal»»»

A research project conducted under the supervision of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science has reached a scientific breakthrough confirming the feasibility of laser-induced water vapor condensation and is now preparing for field trials in collaboration with international partners. »»»

New York: Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it is resuming talks with Paramount Skydance on its buyout offer, giving the company a week to beat out a rival Netflix bid. These discussions scheduled to end February 23 are designed to give Paramount Skydance a chance to make its "best and final offe»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on the Iranian nuclear issue ended in Geneva on Tuesday, Axios reported, citing a US official. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Iran was ready to stay in Geneva for s»»»

A 71-year-old man under house arrest since last year for attempting to bribe a Supreme Court judge was taken back into custody Monday night after allegedly firing a shotgun outside his home in eastern Attica, police said. Christos Mavrikis, known for his role in a high-profile political wiretapping»»»

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- An Amazon delivery van took a wrong turn while following GPS directions and ended up stuck on mudflats used as a shooting range by Britain's Ministry of Defense. HM Coastguard Southend on Sea said on social media that crews responded Sunday morning to The Broomway, "a 600-year-old,»»»

University of Maryland researchers designed "Smart Underwear" to track and measure the wearer's flatulence. Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland Feb. 16 (UPI) -- University of Maryland researchers designed "Smart Underwear" to track and measure flatulence -- and they are seeking volunteers »»»

A toddler in Italy remains in critical condition after undergoing a transplant with a damaged heart. The organ, which was transported south from the from the city of Bolzano to Naples in December, was reportedly placed in an unsuitable container and in direct contact with dry ice, leading to severe»»»

As Catholics prepare to mark Lent starting from tomorrow, February 18, Pope Leo XIV has called on Church members to listen, fast, and come together in a shared journey of faith. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when a mass will be held followed by the marking of the ashes on the forehead. The whole se»»»

Dubai: The UAE has once again put the interest of the people first by warning retailers against price increases for nine categories of essential goods during Ramadan, while inspection teams in Dubai have already begun field visits ahead of the holy month to ensure price labels match checkout bills »»»

Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova welcomed the graduates of the Class of 2025 of the Faculty of Medicine at Medical University of Sofia at a formal diploma award ceremony for newly qualified doctors on Tuesday. “Goodness is part of humanity and lies at the heart of the medical profession”, Iotova s»»»

Police in Arizona say family members of Nancy Guthrie have been cleared as possible suspects, as speculation grows on social media about the whereabouts of the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie. "The family has been nothing but co-operative and gracious and are victims in th»»»

Dubai: Uncertainty surrounding Bill Gates’ participation in the India AI Impact Summit has been resolved, with the Gates Foundation confirming that the Microsoft co-founder will attend as scheduled and deliver his keynote address. Questions had emerged after Gates’ name did not appear on the summit»»»

The crescent marking the beginning of Ramadan was not sighted in Malaysia on Tuesday, the country’s authorities announced. Therefore, Wednesday (February 18) will be the last day of Sha’aban while Ramadan will begin on Thursday. The announcement was made by Malaysia’s Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Ta»»»

Dubai: French President Emmanuel Macron, who turned heads at the World Economic Forum with his blue reflective aviators, brought his signature style to Mumbai today while meeting Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee. In the pictures that are now doing the rounds, Macron was spotted w»»»

Wilmington: The first husband of former first lady Jill Biden is set to appear in court Tuesday in Delaware on charges he killed his current wife. William Stevenson, 77, is expected to enter a plea in the first-degree murder case. He was married to Jill Biden from 1970 to 1975. A state grand jury t»»»

Dubai: Steel and mining giant ArcelorMittal Projects - a part of the ArcelorMittal Group - is set to open a third plant in Hamriyah Free Zone, expanding its industrial presence in Sharjah to around 5 million square feet by 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new »»»

Kuwait has unveiled a draft budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year projecting capital expenditure of approximately KWD 3.1 billion ($10 billion), underscoring the government’s continued commitment to strategic infrastructure development despite mounting fiscal pressures. The Ministry of Finance prese»»»

BLD Group has officially launched operations in the Egyptian market, unveiling an investment plan valued at approximately EGP 2.5 billion aimed at developing and upgrading a portfolio of mixed-use real estate projects across the country. The move positions the company as a new entrant in Egypt’s in»»»

Egypt’s Egyptian Drilling Company has secured a contract valued at $80 million to supply and operate two petroleum drilling rigs in Turkey, marking a significant step in the company’s international expansion strategy. The contract was awarded by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Turkey’s na»»»

Mergers and acquisitions activity across the Middle East and North Africa reached approximately $106 billion in 2025, reflecting strong deal momentum despite regional geopolitical tensions and global trade-policy uncertainty. Advisory reviews indicate that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates »»»

Egypt and Cyprus have agreed to establish a Cyprus-based company to construct and operate a subsea natural gas pipeline linking the Aphrodite gas field to Egypt, in a project expected to exceed $2 billion in investments. According to a senior Egyptian government official cited by Asharq Business wi»»»

Several Asian nations have officially confirmed that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, after crescent moon sightings were not recorded on the expected evening. Authorities in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei announced the start date following traditional lunar observations and official ver»»»

Modern technologies and artificial intelligence can now detect the crescent moon with remarkable accuracy, often identifying what the naked eye and ground-based telescopes cannot. Yet, despite these advances, the final decision on the start of Islamic months remains a matter of religious judgement,»»»

Mayors from across Bulgaria gathered in the village of Bistritsa to show support for their colleague Samuil Popov, following the arson of his home and car on Monday night, Bulfoto reported. The demonstration, held in front of the local administration building, was attended by political figures incl»»»

Syrian authorities began evacuating remaining residents of the ISIS group-linked Al-Hol camp in the country's northeast on Tuesday, as they empty the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, two officials told AFP. Fadi al-Qassem, the official appointed by the government with managing Al-Hol's affairs»»»

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Tuesday held a press conference to defend the controversial taxes that were imposed by the government overnight. "We have reached a critical juncture with a paralyzed and struggling public sector. A decision was necessary. Negotiations took place with the military,»»»

Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday night, President Donald Trump said he would be involved in nuclear talks with Iran that get underway Tuesday but reiterated warnings to Tehran that it may face further U.S. military strikes if it doesn't make a deal. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UP»»»

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday to lead the first elected government since a deadly 2024 uprising, facing a daunting list of challenges. Top of the list for 60-year-old Rahman will be improving security, healing rifts in a country polarised by years »»»