France24 17m

Former Palestinian delegate to France Leïla Shahid dies age 76

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»»»

france24.com
France24 17m

More than 80 UN member states condemn Israel’s plans to expand in West Bank

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»»»

france24.com
France24 17m

White House urges Iran to strike deal as Trump renews military threat

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 »»»

france24.com
Gulf News 19m

Russia hosts Cuban foreign minister, urges US not to blockade Cuba

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 21m

Indian parents pardon driver after losing toddler son visiting father in UAE

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 »»»

gulfnews.com
UPI 41m

UNICEF: A third of Ukrainian children are displaced by war - UPI.com

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»»»

upi.com
Gulf News 43m

India's Chief of Naval Staff meets heads of Russian, Thai, Lanka navies at IFR

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 45m

Faster, error-free results? What CBSE’s Class 12 shift means for UAE students

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»»»

gulfnews.com
France24 45m

Sudanese people face 'generations of trauma', head of UN OCHA tells France 24

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»»»

france24.com
BBC 51m

Hamas is reasserting control in Gaza despite its heavy losses fighting Israel

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»»»

bbc.com
France24 51m

Press Review - Death of Quentin: Suspect's links with France Unbowed party put left in spotlight

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»»»

france24.com
France24 51m

Paris prosecutor makes public appeal for Epstein victims in France to come forward

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 »»»

france24.com
France24 51m

What day again? French Muslims confused and frustrated over rival Ramadan dates

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 »»»

france24.com
France24 51m

Pressure mounts on France's far-left party after killing of far-right activist

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»»»

france24.com
Gulf News 55m

She was headhunted for VP roles in UAE — until she said she was pregnant

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»»»

gulfnews.com
France24 1h

Tête à tête - New Delhi and Kabul 'on the same page' for striking Pakistan, Pakistani defence minister says

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»»»

france24.com
Gulf News 1h

Fifth day of hunger strike for freedom of Venezuelan political prisoners

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»»»

gulfnews.com
UPI 1h

Department of Education backs down on anti-DEI directive after lawsuit - UPI.com

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»»»

upi.com
Gulf News 2h

8 skiers dead in California avalanche tragedy, 6 rescued alive

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Canada-Qatar relations enter promising new phase: Envoy

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Russia showcases rich heritage at Darb Al Saai Cultural Week

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

MoEHE issues circular on student enrolment, relocation procedures for academic year 2026-27

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Cabinet approves amending National Committee for Customs Clearance System, Single Window provisions

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Alcaraz reels in Royer; Sinner holds off Popyrin

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

India AI summit aims to shift focus from model races to scaled reality

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

QRCS Ramadan campaign to reach out to 18 countries

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

QU hosts 11th Annual IPE Student Association Forum

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Qatar Charity begins implementation of iftar projects around the world

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 »»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Awqaf strengthens partnership with Hifz Al Naema Centre for ‘Giving Basket’ to 2,000 Families

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
Qatar Tribune 2h

Ramadan season of QF’s Siraj enhances children’s connection to Names of Allah

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»»»

qatar-tribune.com
BBC 2h

Trump adviser calls for Fed economists to be 'disciplined'

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»»»

bbc.com
UPI 3h

Kevin Hassett on New York Federal Reserve research: 'The worst paper I've ever seen' - UPI.com

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»»»

upi.com
France24 3h

Latest round of Ukraine-Russia talks yield ‘insufficient’ results, Zelensky says

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»»»

france24.com
France24 3h

'I wanted my story to help others': Gisèle Pelicot memoir launches in 22 languages

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»»»

france24.com
France24 3h

The Debate - Fighting for Trump's attention? Russia, Ukraine in rival bids to sway US mediators

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»»»

france24.com
UPI 3h

8 skiers dead, 1 missing after Tahoe National Forest avalanche - UPI.com

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 »»»

upi.com
BBC 3h

Eight skiers found dead after California avalanche

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»»»

bbc.com
The Peninsula 3h

Wifaq Center launches Ramadan campaign on family awareness and home protection

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»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
TAP 3h

Majoul meets US Ambassador to discuss investment programmes, impact of US tariffs

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...»»»

BBC 3h

Canada Conservative leader dismisses MP's 'hissy fit' remark over US relations

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»»»

bbc.com
BBC 3h

Billionaire Lex Wexner tells US lawmakers he was 'naive' and 'conned' by Epstein

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 »»»

bbc.com
The Peninsula 4h

Things to do this weekend in Qatar (February 19-21, 2026)

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»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
The Peninsula 4h

2nd Ramadan Blitz Chess Championship kicks off Thursday

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»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
RT 4h

US ramps up nuclear claims against China

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»»»

rt.com
RT 4h

German state blacklists right-wing party for first time

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»»»

rt.com
The Peninsula 4h

U.S. dollar ticks up

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»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
UPI 4h

Environmental groups sue the EPA for auto emissions changes - UPI.com

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»»»

upi.com
Daily News Egypt 4h

Opinion | Forecasting Uncertainty: Diplomacy, Deterrence, and the Limits of Political Prediction in the Iran–Israel Crisis

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»»»

dailynewsegypt.com
Gulf News 4h

Sharjah Police earn three excellence awards

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»»»

gulfnews.com
RT 5h

AI overlords of the world hacked: Fallout from the massive Palantir breach

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»»»

rt.com