Eighty-five countries have signed on to a Palestinian-led joint statement condemning the recent Israeli security cabinet decisions aimed at tightening the occupation’s control of the West Bank. “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s unlawful prese»»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has approved a draft plan to merge its Indian branches with RBL Bank, subject to the acquisition of a majority stake, marking a key regulatory step in what would be the UAE lender’s largest international banking expansion. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bal»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Pezeshkian: Nuclear Talks Under Leader’s Supervision, Not Just For Show 18-02-2026 11:31 AM President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Starmer and Trump held call on Iran, Gaza and Ukraine: Downing Street 18-02-2026 10:42 AM Latest News Urgent News Starmer and Trump held ca»»»

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan announced measures to improve air quality, develop climate policy, and implement waste management systems. According to the ministry, as part of efforts to improve air quality, Cabinet of Ministers’ Decree No. 221 a»»»

PoliticsGermanyGermany news: Merz open to social media ban for under-16sRichard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, KNA, SID, epaGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he would consider a ban on social media for under-16s. Meanwhile, Berlin's ambassador to Iran is summoned for a reprimand over "a»»»

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has killed 11 people in recent strikes on three boats allegedly transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. The boats were attacked late Monday, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement, which alleged that the three boats were operated by des»»»

At a meeting of the Environmental Council, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev commented on the situation with ash from the capital’s heating and power plant (HPP). The city is facing an environmental problem: ash dumps, previously located far from populated areas, are now located within the city lim»»»

Dubai: Javed Akhtar, who worked with veteran screenwriter Salim Khan during their celebrated partnership in the 1970s, visited him at Lilavati Hospital late Tuesday night. He was joined by Aryan Khan, who also came to see the ailing writer. Salim Khan was admitted to the hospital after suffering a »»»

Due to overnight snowfall, road conditions in parts of the country are complicated, and some municipalities have declared Wednesday a non-school day. Because of heavy snowdrifts and reduced visibility, traffic for all motor vehicles has been temporarily restricted on the Trakia Motorway between Bur»»»

A luminous outline of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores loomed over Caracas against the night sky in January. The steady light of hundreds of drones in a show put on by the government in Venezuela, suspended their image in front of the clouds, before rearranging to call for their return: "El»»»

It was May 1999, and US Army sergeant Andrew Ramirez had been held captive for over a month by Yugoslav forces, enduring days of dark confinement and interrogations. Just a few weeks earlier, Ramirez and two other soldiers had been on a routine patrol near the Macedonian-Yugoslav border during the »»»

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has raised the readiness of Makkah’s hospitality sector to its highest level ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, stressing that serving pilgrims and visitors remains a top national priority. Makkah is preparing to receive worshippers and visitors amid a marked exp»»»

Dubai: After 20 years of discovering singing talent across India, Indian Idol, the iconic music reality show has finally packed its bags and gone international, and Gulf News was given exclusive access to it. The reality show cast and crew landed in Abu Dhabi earlier this week to film special episo»»»

Gale-force winds blowing across Greece have disrupted air and sea transport. Overnight, nine domestic and international flights to and from Thessaloniki were diverted to other airports because the wind was too strong for them to land safely. Later Wednesday the winds dropped but several flights wer»»»

Meteorologists predict rain in Bishkek during the second half of the week. February 19: Sunny. Nighttime temperatures around +7°C, daytime highs up to +24°C. February 20: Partly cloudy. Night +7°C, daytime +21°C. February 21: Rain expected. Night lows of +5°C, daytime highs up to +11°C. February 22»»»

Dubai: The UAE is set to add around 390,000 new homes by 2030, marking one of the largest residential expansion cycles in recent years, according to a new industry report. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The first-ever Alpen GCC Real Estate 2026 report by Alpen Capital»»»

The minister of defense, Radu Miruta, received on Monday a delegation of the Congress of the United States of America led by senator Jeanne Shaheen with whom he visited the Training Centre for F’16.’The main moment of the meeting was the visit to the F-16 Training Centre, inaugurated in 2023 at the»»»

The Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria parliamentary group has begun collecting signatures for the resignation of National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan, Continue the Change (CC) Chair Assen Vassilev said on Bulgarian National Television’s morning show on Wednesday. The reason, he added, is t»»»

This Ramadan, ibis Doha invites families, friends, and corporate groups to gather for a thoughtfully curated Iftar Buffet at Charlie’s Corner, a tradition that has become a familiar part of the city’s Ramadan dining scene over the past four years. Priced at QR99 per person, with children aged 4 to »»»

Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Search-and-rescue personnel working through dangerous weather conditions recovered six skiers who were stranded in Northern California's backcountry following an avalanche on Tuesday, according to authorities, who said rescue efforts were ongoing to locate nine more people unaccoun»»»

Dubai: Emirates Skywards is marking Ramadan with a major rewards campaign, giving members the chance to win a share of 2 million Skywards Miles. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a statement issued on February 18, a day after Ramadan was announced in the UAE, the loya»»»

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde plans to leave her job before next year's French presidential election to allow Emmanuel Macron to have an input into picking her successor, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Lagarde's term is due to end in October 2027 but some fear that t»»»

The EU is facing the deepest crisis in its history, with economic problems compounded by a lack of leadership and long-term vision in Brussels, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has warned. Fico made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at a conference on affordable rental housing in country’s cap»»»

A warning for hazardous weather conditions is in effect on Wednesday - an orange code (second degree) and a yellow code (first degree) for snowfall, as well as strong and gale-force winds across most of the country, according to the warning map published on the website of the National Institute of »»»

The Saudi Aviation Club announced that it will organize the AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 in Riyadh from November 24 to 28, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday. The event is set to be the largest of its kind for general aviation in the Middle East, combining international business, inve»»»

Mandarin Oriental, Doha welcomes guests to embrace the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan with Baraha Ramadan Nights, a refined Iftar and Suhour experience set within the open-air surroundings of Barahat Msheireb. Designed for meaningful gatherings with family and friends, the experience offers a »»»

As Ramadan approaches, a time marked by reflection, togetherness, and shared meals after sunset, Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach introduces Grand Iftar Nights, offering a relaxed and distinctive Iftar experience for Doha’s diverse community. Hosted at bāzār, the Iftar unfolds in a warm, welcoming»»»

A rare inherited disorder affecting brain development and muscle strength has been officially named after an Abu Dhabi-based specialist at Burjeel Medical City, marking a milestone for the UAE’s medical research community. The condition, now known as El-Hattab-Schmidts syndrome, was identified thro»»»

North Korea was designated a "high-risk jurisdiction" for money laundering and terrorism financing for the 16th consecutive year, Seoul's Financial Action Task Force said Wednesday. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo North Korea has been designated a "high-risk jurisdiction" for money»»»

At a meeting of the Ecological Council in Bishkek, urban ecologist Dmitry Pereyaslavsky called for daily publication of emissions data from the new waste-to-energy plant located at the sanitary landfill near Altyn-Kazyk residential area. He noted that the facility is located in a district that has »»»

Monaco: Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie yesterday. United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after ju»»»

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks to reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap South Korea will seek to reinstate a no-fly zone over the border with North Korea under the suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at easing tensions, Unification Minister Chung Dong»»»

Doha, Qatar: The 14th Arabian Women Exhibition continues to draw strong visitor interest at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), Hall 5, and remains open until today, (February 18). The event, which began on February 13, serves as a significant regional platform for women in business, »»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai moved higher on Wednesday morning, though they remained below the closely watched Dh600 mark that continues to shape buying decisions across the local market. At 9:50 am, 24K gold stood at Dh594.50 a gram compared with Dh590.75 on Tuesday, while 22K rose to Dh550.50 from»»»

Commercial "air taxi" service has been pushed back. Again. Reason: It's not because the technology doesn't work or is unproven. It's because US certification timeline for the next-generation electric vertical-landing-and-takeoff (eVTOL) aircraft — a new mode for human flight — poses complex challen»»»

Doha, Qatar: World-class equestrian sport continues in Doha as the star-studded Concours Hippique International (CHI) Al Shaqab Presented by Longines gets underway today. The prestigious event brings together the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations, promising four thrilling days of competitio»»»

Dubai: Emirates Group confirmed that its Chief Financial and Group Services Officer, Michael Doersam will step down from his role at the end of June 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a statement to Gulf News, the company said, “We can confirm that Michael Doersa»»»

Two victims shot dead at a high school ice hockey game in Rhode Island have been identified as the suspect's ex-wife and son, police said on Tuesday. Robert Dorgan - who police said also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgan - was found dead inside the Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtuc»»»

Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Search-and-rescue personnel were working through dangerous weather conditions Tuesday to reach a group of six stranded skiers and locate 10 others unaccounted for in Northern California's backcountry following an avalanche, authorities said. Rescue ski teams from Boreal Mountain Sk»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up the first day of a state visit to India on February 17, 2026, elevating defence cooperation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting out an expanded industrial and military roadmap. »»»

French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up the first day of a state visit to India on February 17, 2026, elevating defence cooperation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting out an expanded industrial and military roadmap. »»»

Convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sought to cultivate ties with Russia’s political elite and repeatedly pressed for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to US Justice Department files released on Tuesday. The documents detail Epstein’s travel to Russia and efforts to recruit y»»»

The revelation that a high-profile member of the British government had close historic ties with the disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein has entrenched British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the worst political crisis he has faced since taking office. Questions about his ability to sur»»»

Dubai: Commuters faced significant delays on Wednesday morning as the first day of Ramadan brought heavy traffic and a series of incidents to the main arteries linking Sharjah and Dubai. The shift in traditional working hours and school timings, resulted in a concentrated surge of vehicles during t»»»

After the first meeting in Oman this month, about which very little is known, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi are meeting in Geneva on February 17. »»»

Dubai: The UAE will experience fair to partly cloudy weather today, the first day of Ramadan, with humid conditions developing overnight and into Thursday morning, and a probability of fog or mist over some western areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). (Click here for the Ra»»»

More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austria's highest mountain, her boyfriend goes on trial on Thursday accused of gross negligent manslaughter. Kerstin G died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner that went horribly wrong. Her boyfriend is accused»»»

Late-night host Stephen Colbert has accused his network of refusing to broadcast his interview with a Democratic politician over fears of retaliation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). CBS, the network which hosts the programme, denies that it "prohibited" the interview from being aire»»»

"Life is becoming more expensive," complains Alexander, a Moscow-based advertising specialist who works for a big corporation. In the course of one month his monthly food budget soared by more than 22% - from 35,000 roubles (£330; $450) to 43,000 (£406; $555). With Russia's economy hanging somewher»»»