Rumors of Kim China trip swirl in quiet border town - UPI.com
North Korea’s Namyang in Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, is seen across the Tumen River from Tumen in China’s Jilin province. Photo by Asia Today Feb. 18 (Asia Today) -- Residents along the China-North Korea border in Tumen say talk is spreading that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could vi»»»
How rescuers raced against time to reach skiers trapped in avalanche
When authorities in Truckee, California, learned of a large avalanche that hit a group of backcountry skiers, they rushed into action. Emergency messages came on Tuesday at 11:30 PT from a group guide's iPhone, using satellite-texting capabilities, as well as from another skier's emergency distress»»»
Regulator tightens insider rules
The Polish Financial Supervision Authority (UKNF) has clarified rules governing same-day share transactions by company executives and related persons, a move widely seen as a response to the high-profile PKP Cargo case involving former board member Marcin Wojewódka. On 10 December 2025, Wojewódka s»»»
Muftiyat of Kyrgyzstan approves amount of sadaqah al-fitr for 2026 - | 24.KG
The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan has approved the amount of sadaqah al-fitr for 2026. Its press service reported. This year, the sadaqah al-fitr per person is 1.6 kilograms of wheat (60 soms), raisins (880 soms), flour (90 soms), or 3.2 kilograms of barley (100 soms), and dates (1»»»
Akzhol Makhmudov to compete at ranking wrestling tournament in Albania - | 24.KG
Kyrgyz wrestler Akzhol Makhmudov will take part in a ranking tournament in Albania. The United World Wrestling (UWW) reported. The second ranking tournament of 2026, Muhamet Malo Tournament, will be held from February 25 to March 1 in Tirana. Makhmudov has been included in the Kyrgyzstan’s national»»»
How Israel is spraying herbicides on Syrian crops
Israeli planes sprayed chemicals on farmland in Quneitra, Syria in late January and early February, 2026. Farmers say that their crops yellowed and died in just a few days and that they lost dozens of hectares of farmland. There have been similar reports of the Israeli Army spraying fields in south»»»
Jeenbek Kulubaev outlines Kyrgyzstan’s position on EU secondary sanctions - | 24.KG
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev met with a delegation of the European Parliament, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported. According to the ministry, the sides discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, interparliamentary dialogue, and the regional agenda. »»»
ADB backs Thai solar and storage scheme with $350mn in financing
The Asian Development Bank and Gulf Renewable Energy Company Limited have signed a $350mn financing agreement to support the construction of two solar power projects paired with battery energy storage systems in Thailand, alongside a separate 68-MW solar plant, POWERLINE reports. »»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Renewables to contribute 26% of India’s power generation by end-FY2026
Renewable energy is expected to account for 26% of India’s total electricity generation by the end of FY2026, even as demand conditions remain relatively subdued, according to a report by Infomerics Ratings cited by PV Magazine on February 18. »»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Chinese tourist numbers to Japan plunge as diplomatic tensions drag on
Mainland Chinese visitor numbers to Japan fell sharply in January, tumbling 60.7% year on year, as the countries’ ongoing diplomatic spat weighed on travel, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization. T»»»
Rubio holds secret talks with Raúl Castro's grandson on Cuba transition
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been conducting clandestine discussions with the grandson of Cuba's ageing former leader Raúl Castro as Washington explores options for political change on the island, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Axios. »»»
Rubio holds secret talks with Raúl Castro's grandson on Cuba transition
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been conducting clandestine discussions with the grandson of Cuba's ageing former leader Raúl Castro as Washington explores options for political change on the island, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Axios. »»»
Holidaying Israeli soldier faces war crimes prosecution in Chile
A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»
Holidaying Israeli soldier faces war crimes prosecution in Chile
A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»
Holidaying Israeli soldier faces war crimes prosecution in Chile
A Brussels-based human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Chile seeking the investigation and prosecution of an Israeli-Ukrainian former military sniper accused of participating in the deadly siege and destruction of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. »»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Renewables to contribute 26% of India’s power generation by end-FY2026
Renewable energy is expected to account for 26% of India’s total electricity generation by the end of FY2026, even as demand conditions remain relatively subdued, according to a report by Infomerics Ratings cited by PV Magazine on February 18. »»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
Bulgaria sets April 19 election after president approves caretaker cabinet
Bulgaria's President Iliana Yotova approved a caretaker government proposed by prime minister-designate Andrey Gyurov on February 18 and said she would call a snap parliamentary election for April 19. Gyurov, former deputy»»»
Beijing’s expanding grip on Central Asian debt
As Central Asia is drawn more and more into China’s orbit, Beijing is emerging not as a source of strain but as a critical stabilising factor in the region. As was highlighted in the World Bank’s International Debt Report (IDR) published in December 2025, concentrated borrowing can heighten risk if»»»
COMMENT: Illusions of peace mask the enduring drivers of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Expectations that 2026 could prove decisive in ending the war in Ukraine are premature and risk misreading the logic driving Moscow, argues Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and founder of political analysis firm R.Politik, in a comment for Carnegie Politika. »»»
COMMENT: Illusions of peace mask the enduring drivers of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Expectations that 2026 could prove decisive in ending the war in Ukraine are premature and risk misreading the logic driving Moscow, argues Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and founder of political analysis firm R.Politik, in a comment for Carnegie Politika. »»»
'A very MAGA agenda': Is Trump’s Board of Peace meant to replace the United Nations?
On the eve of the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" initiative in Washington, FRANCE 24 spoke to historian and UN expert Alanna O’Malley about how the body reflects the MAGA movement's agenda seeking to further institutionalise US power at a global scale. Dozens of w»»»
Musk cuts Starlink access for Russian forces - giving Ukraine an edge at the front
Evidence is mounting that Elon Musk's decision to deny Russian forces access to his Starlink satellite-based internet service has blunted Moscow's advance, caused confusion among Russian soldiers and handed an advantage to Ukraine's defenders. But for how long? And what can Ukraine's military achie»»»
Desperate hunt for breakthrough in Nancy Guthrie case turns to Mexico
US investigators have reportedly been in touch with Mexican authorities about the disappearance of American news anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother, as the search stretches into a third week. The sheriff's department in the US state of Arizona and FBI declined to confirm they had contacted authoritie»»»
Two paths, one pressure: The quiet guilt of modern motherhood
Motherhood is often framed as a choice between two opposing paths: returning to work or staying at home. Yet what is rarely acknowledged is that neither option comes without an emotional cost. No matter which path a woman takes, guilt seems to follow - quietly, persistently, and often invisibly. Fo»»»
President of Republic extends Ramadan greetings to Tunisian people from Zitouna Mosque [Update 1]
Tunis, Feb. 19 (TAP) - President Kais Saied headed on Wednesday evening to the historic Zitouna Mosque, from where he extended his congratulations to the Tunisian people and the Islamic nation on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.In his...»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Microsoft offers $50B to counter global AI divide - UPI.com
Visitors explore the Microsoft pavilion at the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India, where Microsoft on Wednesday announced a $50 billion investment to narrow the global AI divide. Photo by Rajat Gupta/EPA Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Microsoft announced Wednesday it's allocating $50 bi»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
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»»»
Sinner advances to Qatar Exxonmobil Open quarter-finals
Doha, Qatar: World number two Jannik Sinner booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-set victory over Australia's Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday. Playing at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, the 24-year-old Italian secured a 6-3 7-5»»»
75% of global coffee supply faces rising extreme heat, analysis says - UPI.com
Climate Central's researchers found in a new analysis that heat threatens coffee harvests and coincides with recent record highs in prices. File Photo by Fully Handoko/EPA Feb. 18 (UPI) -- An analysis by Climate Central found that the world's five largest coffee-producing countries, which account f»»»
Satellite Images Show Iran Repairing and Fortifying Sites amid US Tensions
Satellite images show that Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil, experts say, advancing work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024 amid tensions with the US. Images also show that Iran has buried tunnel entranc»»»