Leïla Shahid, a former Palestinian delegate-general to France who became one of the most recognisable political figures of the Palestinian cause, died on Wednesday at the age of 76. Leila Shahid, the first woman diplomat representing Palestine abroad, died in southern France aged 76, her family sai»»»

UN missions from 85 member states on Tuesday condemned what they described as Israel’s expanding control in the West Bank, warning it could amount to de facto annexation. In a joint statement, they said unilateral measures violated international law and urged Israel to reverse them immediately. A t»»»

Washington (United States) (AFP) – The White House warned Iran it would be “wise” to reach a deal with the United States, as President Donald Trump again raised the prospect of military action amid renewed, Oman-mediated talks. The remarks come as tensions remain high following »»»

MOSCOW: Russian top officials hosted the Cuban foreign minister for talks in Moscow on Wednesday and spoke out in support of the island nation as it faces blackouts and severe fuel shortages worsened by a US oil embargo. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with his Russian counterpart Sergey»»»

Sharjah: An Indian expat in the UAE and his wife living back home say they have pardoned the driver whose car struck their toddler son following which he died in Sharjah last week. As reported by Gulf News last week, 22-month-old Alan Rumi died in the freak accident on Wednesday while visiting his »»»

A Russian drone strike on a five-story residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, shows why a third of Ukrainian children are displaced, as reported by UNICEF on Tuesday. Photo by EPA/Stringer Feb. 18 (UPI) -- As the Ukraine war nears its fifth year, more than a third of Ukrainian children remain displ»»»

Visakhapatnam: Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K. Tirpathi had an interaction with chief of Russian Navy at the International Fleet Review here on Wednesday. According to spokesperson of the Indian Navy, the CNS held an interaction with Admiral Aleksandr Alekseevich Moiseev, Commande»»»

The Central Board of Secondary Education will introduce On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 board exams from 2026, shifting from traditional physical evaluation of answer books to a fully digital system – a reform the board said is a step towards “greater accuracy and transparency”. Also Read: CBS»»»

Discussing the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in war-torn Sudan, Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, explains that the Sudanese people face "generations of trauma" and "they're crying out for peace", stressing that "the world isn't responding with the generosity a»»»

When a US-imposed ceasefire halted the Gaza War last October, Hamas's war for survival against Israel switched into a battle for control at home. The war had left the group's disciplined military units shattered into guerrilla forces, and most of its leaders killed; Gaza's buildings and infrastruct»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, February 18, 2026: The killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque has plunged France into political chaos, as one of the suspects was revealed to be working for the far-left France Unbowed party. Meanwhile, as tributes for civil rights act»»»

The Paris prosecutor on Wednesday made a public appeal for victims of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to come forward during an interview on a French radio show. Laure Beccuau said she was ready to receive testimony from any victims and that her office has jurisdiction when a perpetrator »»»

Just after sundown on Tuesday, the new moon began to make the rounds of the earth, setting the starting date for the holy month of Ramadan for either February 18 or 19, depending on the country. But in France, a squabble over when to call the crescent sighting split Muslim leaders, prompting rival »»»

Pressure is mounting on France's far left political party France Unbowed, in the wake of the brutal killing of a far right student activist last week. 11 people have been arrested in connection with the 23-year-old's death, including two parliamentary assistants of a France Unbowed MP. This Wednesd»»»

Dubai: Ahead of a job interview, Aisha Mohamed had rehearsed answers about strategy, revenue growth and AI transformation. She was ready to talk about leadership, performance metrics and scaling teams. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Instead, she found herself explaini»»»

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed the security situation in Pakistan, claiming that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a "proxy war" waged by India in complicity with the Taliban government in Kabul. He also spoke abo»»»

Relatives of Venezuelan political prisoners staged a fifth day of hunger strike Wednesday on the eve of a parliament sitting they hope will result in passage of a long-awaited amnesty law. Outside the "Zona 7" prison in the capital Caracas, five women from an initial group of about a dozen lay on m»»»

1 of 5 | Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks with protesters against transgender athletes competing in women's sports outside the Supreme Court in January. The Department of Education backed down on its February 2025 "Dear Colleague" letter that demanded schools stop practicing diversity, e»»»

SAN FRANCISCO: Eight skiers died while six were rescued alive, and 10 are still missing Tuesday in an avalanche in Northern California during a powerful winter storm moving through the state, BBC reported. Rescue teams in California's Lake Tahoe backcountry have recovered the bodies of eight skiers»»»

Ashraf Siddiqui HE Karim Morcos, Ambassador of Canada to Qatar, has affirmed that the steadily growing relationship between Canada and Qatar — now spanning more than five decades — is entering an exciting new phase, marked by deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation. Speaking at a re»»»

Ashraf Siddiqui The Russian Cultural Week concluded on a high note at Darb Al Saai, offering residents and visitors in Qatar a vibrant celebration of heritage, art, and friendship. The event was inaugurated last Thursday by HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Culture, alon»»»

QNA Doha The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has issued a new circular outlining instructions to regulate the enrolment and transfer of students in public schools for the upcoming academic year 2026-2027. These instructions are intended to streamline procedures for parents and en»»»

Congratulations were also extended to ministries and government entities that won the Government Excellence Award in its second edition. The Cabinet praised their outstanding institutional performance and the award’s role in elevating the quality of public services since its launch. The Cabinet app»»»

ATP/TNN Doha Carlos Alcaraz roused a big finish to secure progress in straight sets while Jannik Sinner got the better of Alexi Popyrin in top two matches of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Wednesday under lights. World number one Alcaraz overcame V»»»

Agencies New Delhi One of the world’s most high-profile gatherings on artificial intelligence (AI) has opened in India, with analysts saying it could shift the focus from the race to build ever more powerful models to the challenge of deploying them at scale. As policymakers and tech executives con»»»

Tribune News Network Doha As the holy month of Ramadan 2026/1447 AH begins, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has initiates the activities of its annual Ramadan Campaign. Under the theme “Keep Your Balance of Good Deeds Alive”, the drive involves numerous humanitarian projects and charitable initia»»»

Tribune News Network Doha The 11th Annual Interprofessional Education (IPE) Student Association Forum at Qatar University (QU) marked a significant milestone in the ongoing development of collaborative health profession education. The forum brought together students, health professionals, educators»»»

Tribune News Network Doha With the support of the Qatari people, Qatar Charity (QC) launched its iftar project from the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan in 42 countries worldwide as part of this year’s Ramadan campaign, ‘Good Starts With You’. In the Republic of Djibouti, thousands of people »»»

QNA Doha The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has reaffirmed its annual commitment to ensuring that endowment support reaches those in need during seasons of charity and benevolence, especially duringthe holy month of Ramadan. This comes th»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Siraj, an initiative of Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) Pre-University Education (PUE), launched its special Ramadan edition for children in Qatar and across the Arab world, featuring five episodes that highlight the meanings of the Names of Allah. Each episode explores one of t»»»

One of Donald Trump's most senior economic advisers has said a group of economists should be "disciplined" for a Federal Reserve study which argued that US firms and consumers have borne the brunt of the president's tariffs. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said the report, publishe»»»

1 of 5 | Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, speaks outside the White House in December. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Feb. 18 (UPI) -- White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Wednesday said that employees at the New York Federal Reserve should face punis»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said the result of Ukraine’s latest round of peace talks with Russia was “not sufficient”, despite some issues being discussed “seriously and substantively”. The two sides have yet to address “sensitive political matters, possible c»»»

Gisèle Pelicot, the French woman whose husband was convicted of inviting dozens of men to rape her unconscious body, has released her memoir, recounting the horrors she endured and why she chose to go public in a trial that shocked the world. Released in 22 languages worldwide, "A ​H»»»

Call it speed dating diplomacy. In Geneva, real estate magnate Steve Witkoff playing lead U-S negotiator with Iran in one room while in another acting as broker for the hard bargaining between Russia and Ukraine. We’ll ask how the Ukranians feel about it, especially when the mediator’s boss piles o»»»

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Eight skiers died and one is missing from a group of 15 people completing a three-day backcountry tour in California's Tahoe National Forest when an avalanche struck, local law enforcement said Wednesday. Local emergency services received a 911 call at 11:30 a.m. PST on Tuesday to »»»

Rescue teams combing through the backcountry of California's Lake Tahoe region say they have found the bodies of eight skiers who went missing in an avalanche on Tuesday. The search for a final missing skier continues but that person is presumed dead, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a ne»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Family Counseling Center "Wifaq", one of the centers affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, has launched its Ramadan campaign 2026 under the motto: Your Awareness Protects Your Home. This flagship initiative underscores the center's overall vision in deepening family»»»

Tunis, Feb. 18 (TAP)- President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), Samir Majoul, emphasised the importance of developing joint investment and development programmes with partners like the United States to...»»»

Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he does not agree with an elected member of his party who claimed that Canada was harming its relationship with the US by throwing an "anti-American hissy fit". Jamil Jivani, a Conservative MP from Ontario, made the remark in an interview with righ»»»

American billionaire businessman Lex Wexner, who is alleged to have played a key role in helping Jeffrey Epstein build his wealth, has described himself as "naive, foolish and gullible" for trusting the late sex offender. In a statement to US lawmakers, the former CEO of Victoria's Secret lingerie »»»

Doha, Qatar: The first weekend of the holy month of Ramadan has arrived, carrying with it a pleasant mix of activities. Old Souq Bazaar Until April 30, 2026 10am - 10pm Tawar Mall Tawar Mall invites you to enjoy the From Our Homeland Productive Families Markets Exhibition hosted at the Old Souq Baz»»»

Doha, Qatar: The second edition of the Ramadan Blitz Chess Championship, organized by the Qatar Chess Association and the Doha Youth Center, will begin Thursday, with the participation of 70 players. The internationally rated tournament aims to promote chess in Qatar and provide a strong competitiv»»»

China carried out an underground “nuclear explosive test” in June 2020, a senior US State Department official has claimed, citing “fresh intelligence” on the matter. Beijing has repeatedly dismissed such allegations as “entirely unfounded,” while independent observers say the evidence is inconclusi»»»

Authorities in the German state of Lower Saxony have designated the local chapter of the right-wing AfD party a surveillance priority, citing what they called “extremist” tendencies. Founded in 2013, Alternative for Germany (AfD) espouses a tough stance on migration and opposes Berlin’s support for»»»

NEW YORK: The U.S. dollar increased in late trading on Wednesday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, went up 0.56 percent to 97.702 at 3 p.m. (2000 GMT). In late New York trading, the euro lost to 1.1788 dollars from 1.1845 dollars in the previous session, and t»»»

1 of 2 | Traffic moves down Seventh Avenue in Times Square in New York City on December 26. On Wednesday, a coalition of environmental groups sued the EPA, saying its new emissions rules go against decades of government policy and science. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Feb. 18 (U»»»

At the very least, if we analyze the situation without speculating about intentions or disregarding the overwhelming evidence before us, U.S. President Donald Trump appears determined to continue pursuing a negotiated agreement with Iran rather than resorting to military action at this stage—someth»»»

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 Police sec»»»

Palantir Technologies has been hacked, according to well-known blogger Kim Dotcom. The company develops software for intelligence and big data analysis. Palantir (named after the magical ‘seeing stones’ from ‘The Lord of the Rings’) doesn’t engage in surveillance in the conventional sense using spi»»»