Climber on trial for leaving girlfriend to die on Austria's highest mountain
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»»»
Guatemalan troops deploy to gang-plagued capital
Heavily armed Guatemalan troops and military police deployed to the country's capital Tuesday, challenging street gangs blamed for killing 11 officers and sparking a major security crisis. President Bernardo Arevala ordered the "Plan Sentinel" operation to break the stranglehold of Barrio 18 and MS»»»
I would scream in my sleep: Women from Syria's Alawite minority tell of kidnap and rape
Warning: This report contains accounts of sexual assault and violence that some readers may find distressing. Ramia was preparing for a family picnic, on a warm summer day in her village in Latakia province in western Syria, when a white car drove up, she said. Three armed men got out, saying they »»»
Iran-US talks in Geneva advance on 'guiding principles'
Iran announced a "breakthrough" in Geneva talks with the US on February 17, 2026, agreeing on "guiding principles" for resolving its nuclear dispute, BBC reported. This marking progress after Oman's-hosted first round. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the indirect discussions "constru»»»
Winter is getting shorter across nearly 200 U.S. cities, new climate analysis finds - UPI.com
A water taxi/ferry is escorted through the ice in the Hudson River before docking in Manhattan as seen from "Edge" at Hudson Yards as sub freezing temperatures continue after the weekends major snow storm on January 29 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Across the United »»»
'We're going to always be grateful' - Chicagoans mourns the loss of Jesse Jackson
Residents of Chicago, Illinois, are mourning the loss of US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who died at age 84, surrounded by family, according to a statement released by his relatives. The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue spoke with Chicagoans about what Jackson's passing means for the city and for the wi»»»
Dangerous winds cause deadly Colorado pileup sparks fast-moving Plains wildfires - UPI.com
1 of 2 | A fatal crash on I-25 near Pueblo, Colo., took place Tuesday during a high-wind event. Photo courtesy Colorado State Patrol Powerful winds kicking up dust across the Plains contributed to multiple fatal crashes and sparked rapidly spreading wildfires on Tuesday as dry grasses fueled fast-m»»»
QC supports vulnerablegroups in Burkina Faso with specialised assistance
Tribune News Network Doha Reaffirming its commitment to supporting communities most in need worldwide, Qatar Charity (QC) has delivered a package of special humanitarian assistance to Burkina Faso, aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and strengthening community resilience. The aid was formally re»»»
QPC marks 15 yrs of National Sport Day legacy
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) organised a dialogue session titled “National Sport Day: Results and Legacy,” highlighting the achievements and long-term impact of the national initiative in promoting sports culture, healthy living, and community participation over the past 1»»»
Gaza volunteers bring colour to ruins ahead of Ramadan
In southern Gaza, volunteers from a Turkish NGO paint rubble and decorate a destroyed street as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. Gaza is facing a daunting task ahead to rebuild as more than 80 percent of buildings have been destroyed by the two years of war with Israel, according to the»»»
Palantir moves HQ to Miami after recent Denver protests - UPI.com
Palantir co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Alex Karp is among those who announced the tech firm has moved its headquarters to Miami on Tuesday. Photo by Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Artificial intelligence and software analytics firm Palantir Technologies Inc. has moved its headquarte»»»
French court sentences former Senate adviser for upskirt photos
A French court on Tuesday handed a one-year suspended sentence to a former Senate adviser for collecting over 1,800 mostly sexual images taken in public places or in the Senate building. The man went on trial in 2023 after his colleagues discovered a hard drive in a common area containing the image»»»
Iran, US agree to 'guiding principles' for nuclear deal at Geneva talks
Iran and the United States reached an understanding Tuesday on "a set of guiding principles" laying the groundwork for a broader deal during talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday. This came as the US ramps up military forces in the region and Iran said it»»»
US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies
US civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Jesse L. Jackson died on Tuesday at the age of 84. A protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson was with his mentor when he was assassinated in 1968. Jackson dedicated his life to activism for political and humanitarian causes, including »»»
BSP Leader: Even If There Is Someone from BSP in Caretaker Cabinet, They Will Serve in Personal Capacity
Even if there is someone from BSP in the caretaker cabinet, they will serve in a personal capacity, BSP Chair Krum Zarkov said on bTV in response to a question whether members of the party would be included in the caretaker government. "I am not aware of anything like that," Zarkov added, noting th»»»
Elon Musk’s X facing new EU probes
Two new investigations have been announced in the EU into Elon Musk’s social media platform X amid reports that its AI chatbot Grok produced sexualized images of real people, including children. Grok, developed by Musk’s AI venture xAI and integrated into X, has come under global scrutiny since its»»»
Germany rebukes Macron over defense spending
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of failing to deliver on his calls for European “strategic autonomy,” urging Paris to increase its military expenditure at the expense of social spending. Macron has pushed for European defense autonomy since propo»»»
Ukraine to train German troops – media
Ukrainian service members will train German troops in drone warfare as well as the use of modern command and control technologies as part of a new program, several German media outlets have reported. The Ukraine conflict has seen the mass deployment of strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehi»»»
Former Trump strategist defends ties with Epstein
Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist and prominent MAGA figure, has defended his extensive communications with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, insisting they were part of an effort to produce a documentary. His comments come after the release of millions of pages of Epstei»»»
Live: Suspected Russia 'shadow fleet' tanker allowed to leave France after fine
France on Tuesday allowed a tanker called Grinch suspected of being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" to leave territorial waters after its owner paid a fine of several million euros, a minister said. French forces and their allies boarded the oil tanker last month between Spain and»»»
Moscow mourners mark two years since Navalny’s death in custody
Mourners gathered in Moscow Monday to mark two years since the death in custody of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, under the shadow of a Kremlin crackdown and just two days since a new analysis reinforced suspicions that he was killed by poisoning. Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony o»»»
Alliance for Rights and Freedoms Meets with OSCE Delegation
The Chair of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), Hayri Sadakov, together with Deputy Chairs Sevim Ali and Taner Ali, met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The organization’s Office for Democratic Institutions »»»
Iranians Chant Slogans Against Supreme Leader at Memorials for Slain Protesters
Iranians shouted slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Tuesday as they gathered to commemorate protesters killed in a crackdown on nationwide demonstrations that rights groups said left thousands dead, according to videos verified by AFP. The country's clerical authorities also staged a co»»»
Egypt’s Prime Minister and FM Head to Washington for Trump Peace Council Meeting
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly headed to Washington on Tuesday to participate in the inaugural meeting of a "Board of Peace" established by US President Donald Trump, the cabinet said. Madbouly is attending on behalf of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and is accompanied by Foreig»»»
Sharjah foundation strengthens child protection systems
The Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) has reached more than 36,000 beneficiaries across Morocco, Mexico and Zanzibar in 2025, expanding its international humanitarian work to strengthen child protection systems and address rising risks of exploitation, violence and harm aff»»»
Palestinian Child Dies After Stepping on Mine in West Bank
A Palestinian child died after stepping on a mine near an Israeli military camp in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, with an Israeli defense ministry source confirming the death. "Our crews received the body of a 13-year-old child who was killed after a mine expl»»»
Shutdown of Starlink Terminals Has No Effect on Russian Troops - Senior Military Official
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The shutdown of Starlink terminals did not affect the command and control system for Russian troops in the special military operation zone, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said on Tuesday. "The shutdown of Starlink terminals did not affect the command and contr»»»
Obeidat to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mystery Sniper Killed Wasfi Tal
Former Jordanian Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat, who died earlier this month, was both a key player and a witness to sensitive chapters in his country’s history. Obeidat began his career in the 1970s as an assistant director of intelligence, later serving as head of the General Intelligence Departmen»»»
Independent UN Body Condemns ‘Vicious Attacks’ on UN Expert on Palestinian Rights
An independent United Nations body on Tuesday condemned what it described as vicious attacks based on disinformation by several European ministers against the organization's special rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese. In the past week several European countries, including Germany, France»»»
Eleven killed in multiple strikes on alleged drug boats, US military says
Eleven people were killed in multiple strikes on three alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, the US military says. Officials said that of the 11 "male narco-terrorists" killed, four died on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, four on a second vessel also in the E»»»
Iran Foreign Minister Says Progress Made in Nuclear Talks with US in Geneva
Iran and the United States reached an understanding on Tuesday on main "guiding principles" in talks aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said. Oil futures fell and the benchmark Brent crude contract»»»
Hezbollah Rejects Disarmament Plan and Government’s Four-Month Timeline
Hezbollah rejected on Tuesday the Lebanese government's decision to grant the army at least four months to advance the second phase of a nationwide disarmament plan, saying it would not accept what it sees as a move serving Israel. Lebanon's cabinet tasked the army in August 2025 with drawing up an»»»
Dh4.9m ruling upheld in Fujairah licence transfer case
The Fujairah Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling requiring a company and its partners to pay Dh4,943,018 to an individual after failing to settle the remaining value of an agreement involving the transfer of a commercial licence and the right to use an industrial land plot in the emirate. T»»»
Strasbourg Court Says Bulgarian Regulations on Use of Informers Do Not Meet Minimum Human Rights Convention Safeguards
In a Chamber judgment on Tuesday in the case of Green Alliance v. Bulgaria (application no. 6580/22) the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights, t»»»
Russia-US-Ukraine peace talks: Who is facing off in Geneva?
American, Russian, and Ukrainian delegations have arrived in Geneva for a crucial round of peace talks. After narrowly focused discussions in Abu Dhabi, several key moves from the Russians and Americans suggest that things will be more serious this time around, and that the time to strike a deal is»»»
Bitcoin selloff exposes cracks in El Salvador's sovereign financing strategy
The deterioration in Bitcoin’s market price is feeding directly into El Salvador’s sovereign risk profile, exposing the fiscal and institutional trade-offs embedded in President Nayib Bukele’s flagship digital asset strategy. »»»
IRGC initiates live fire military drills as US-Iran talks in Geneva conclude
A second round of US-Iran negotiations in Geneva concluded after approximately three hours, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that the parties reached an understanding on several key principles. »»»
MARINS: What happens is the Iran-US Geneva talks to stave off war fail?
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. »»»
Australia won't repatriate ISIS-linked citizens stuck in Syrian camps - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he will not allow Australians who moved to Syria to join an ISIS caliphate repatriate to Australia, even though they are mostly women and children and didn't choose to travel there. File Photo by Bianca De Marchi/EPA Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A group »»»
Opinion | Munich Security Conference 2026: A Report Framing Trump’s Bid to Unravel the Liberal International Order
In the halls of the Bayerischer Hof in Munich, where the 62nd session of the Munich Security Conference convened in February 2026, the atmosphere transcended that of a routine diplomatic gathering addressing scattered global crises. Instead, it felt like a direct confrontation with a profound histo»»»
The poster child of ‘post-politics’
He emerged from our screens. He’d be nothing without social media, without its ability to transform an absolute nothing into a famous nothing. His improvised videos were considered provocative at first. Provocation then brought attention, and attention brought voter interest. Who is this? Donald Tr»»»
Zelensky’s Ceasefire for Elections is Strategic Gambit, Not Democratic Move
Volodymyr Zelensky's reluctance to hold elections in Ukraine is multi-faced, according to Marco Marsili, geopolitical analyst at CESRAN International and former OSCE election observer. The Ukrainian politician is on thin ice despite optimistic polling numbers: "The reported approval ratings reflect»»»
Iran partially closes oil route for military drills, prices rise - UPI.com
A container ship sails on the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on June 23, 2025. Iran partially closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping path, to conduct military drills on Monday. File Photo by Ali Haider/EPA-EFE Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Oil prices climbed on Tu»»»
Police identify suspect in Rhode Island ice rink shooting
Police have identified the suspect in a shooting at a high school ice hockey game in Rhode Island that killed two people and injured three others. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Robert Dorgan, who also used the name Roberta and the surname Esposito, died of an apparent self-inflicted gu»»»
Amir exchanges Ramadan greetings with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday with his brothers, Their Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses, the leaders of the brotherly Arab and Islamic countries, on the occasion of the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.»»»
Hezbollah’s Strongly Denounces US blockade on Cuba
Hezbollah’s International and Arab Relations Department strongly condemned the US economic blockade on Cuba and Washington’s move to cut off Venezuelan oil, threatening to halt the country’s economy and disrupt essential services. “The US President’s move is a reckless step, part of a pattern of ac»»»
Council of Ministers Funds Security, Scaffolding for Dismantled Monument to Soviet Army
The Council of Ministers allocated additional expenditures for 2026 under its own budget that will cover the Sofia regional administration's activities of providing security for the dismantled bronze figures and bas-reliefs from the Monument to the Soviet Army, including the rental of scaffolding a»»»
Council of Ministers Funds Security, Scaffolding for Dismantled Monument to the Soviet Army
The Council of Ministers allocated additional expenditures for 2026 under its own budget that will cover the Sofia regional administration's activities of providing security for the dismantled bronze figures and bas-reliefs from the Monument to the Soviet Army, including the rental of scaffolding a»»»
‘High-stakes fight’ erupts in EU over Russian steel – Euronews
The European Union is bracing itself for a fight over a proposed ban on Russian steel imports, as lawmakers attempt to push the restrictions through a legislative backdoor, according to Euronews. Members of the European Parliament and EU member states will begin negotiations next week on whether to»»»
Ukraine should come to the table ‘fast’ – Trump
Ukraine must swiftly give up its uncompromising stance in the negotiations to settle the conflict with Russia, US President Donald Trump has warned. He made the comments ahead of talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday and Wednesday. The parties previously held t»»»