Trump Says Washington Will Contribute $10Bln to Board of Peace Gaza Reconstruction Effort
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace reconstruction efforts for Gaza, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. "The Board of Peace is showing how a better future can be built, starting right here in this room. And I want to let you know that the»»»
Deep-sea Fish Break the Mold with Novel Visual System
For more than a century, biology textbooks have stated that vision among vertebrates - people included - is built from two clearly defined cell types: rods for processing dim light and cones for bright light and color. New research involving deep-sea fish shows this tidy division is, in reality, no»»»
U.S. forces move on Iran as Trump weighs military strike - UPI.com
1 of 3 | The United States has put military forces in place in the Middle East for a potential strike on Iran but President Donald Trump has not decided whether to attack or continue negotiations on Thursday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The United States has put milit»»»
Ramadan in Gaza; traditional dishes resist erasure after two years of war
Gaza: Amid the rubble of destroyed homes and between worn-out tents, residents of the Gaza Strip are welcoming the holy month of Ramadan for the third consecutive time since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023. This year, however, they hold onto hope that goodness and peace wi»»»
Trump Says Clarity Around Iran Nuclear Negotiations Will Likely be Known in Next 10 Days
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will likely be getting more clarity around the negotiations on Iran's nuclear program in the next ten days, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. "Maybe we're going to make a deal [with Iran] ... you're going to be finding out over the next, probably 10 d»»»
US Planes Spotted in Bulgaria as Tensions With Iran Intensify (UPDATED)
A notable presence of US military aircraft has been observed at Terminal 1 of Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, according to former Deputy Foreign Minister and security analyst Milen Keremedchiev. In a post on Facebook, he reported that seven US Air Force tanker aircraft, used for aerial refueling of comb»»»
US Stocks Fall as Iran Angst Lifts Oil Prices
Wall Street stocks retreated early Thursday as worries over US-Iran tensions lifted oil prices while markets digested mixed results from Walmart. US oil futures rose to a six-month high as Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said no country can deprive the Islamic republic of its right to nu»»»
Trump's Board of Peace to have first meeting in Washington on Gaza - UPI.com
1 of 5 | President Donald Trump shook hands with attending leaders at the Board of Peace meeting during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January. File Photo by World Economic Forum/Benedikt von Loebell/UPI | License Photo Feb. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's Bo»»»
Department of Meteorology warns of low horizontal visibility inshore tonight
Doha, Qatar: Weather inshore until 6am on Friday will be hazy, becoming misty to foggy in some places later, and cold, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of expected poor horizontal visibility. Offshore, conditions will be hazy to misty at times, with some cloud»»»
Trump Chairs First “Board of Peace” Meeting on Gaza
US President Donald Trump presided in Washington Thursday morning over the first Board of Peace meeting, where officials discussed Phase 2 of his Gaza plan. More than 40 countries, as well as the European Union, have confirmed their attendance at Thursday’s inaugural meeting, an unnamed senior offi»»»
UK police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office
UK police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to Jeffrey Epstein, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. King Charles III expressed "deepest concern" over his younger brother's arrest, adding that "the la»»»
Bulgaria: Borissov Reviews Zhelyazkov Cabinet Achievements and Calls for Full Election Mobilization
GERB leader Boyko Borissov met with ministers from the outgoing “Zhelyazkov” cabinet after they formally handed over power to the caretaker government, using the gathering to review the work of the administration and outline the party’s next political steps. At GERB headquarters, Borissov was joine»»»
Klass Wagen appoints Răzvan Vedel, former Chief Sales Officer of UniCredit Leasing, to lead its Mobility Division
Klass Wagen announces the launch of its Mobility Services division, offering flexible solutions for medium- and long-term car usage. In line with its strategic goal of becoming a comprehensive provider of mobility solutions, Klass Wagen is launching the new division to develop and expand the mobili»»»
Speaker Berri Broaches Situation with KSA Ambassador, Discusses Preparations for Paris Conference with Army chief
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, received on Thursday at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari. The discussion reportedly touched on the general developments and the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia»»»
Look: Escaped pig breaks into N.C. home in search of snacks - UPI.com
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in North Carolina entered a resident's home to apprehend an unusual "bacon and entering suspect" -- a trespassing pig in search of snacks. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said on social media that deputies responded Monday to an Ellenboro-area home on a report of»»»
Newark Airport reopens after JetBlue emergency landing, evacuation - UPI.com
An emergency landing and evacuation of a JetBlue flight Wednesday evening after it was forced to turn back closed Newark Airport for more than an hour. File Photo by Todd Bomser/UPI | License Photo Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Newark Liberty International Airport was temporarily closed after the evacuation of »»»
Directorate for Combating Organized Crime to Act as Coordination Point for Terrorism-Related Cybercrime
The General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) will be the communication and coordination point for cybercrime related to terrorism in Bulgaria, after Parliament voted on first reading Thursday to amend the Ministry of Interior Act. The revisions were proposed by three MPs of GERB-UDF. T»»»
UK Intel Pulls ‘Disposable Asset’ Zelensky’s Strings – Analyst
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired in 2024, essentially just parrots cues coming from European and British globalist circles, Alexander Dudchak, a leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, tells Sputnik. That's why he is emboldened to throw around public jabs — like openly»»»
Türkiye Says Greece-Chevron Activity off Crete Unlawful
Türkiye said on Thursday it opposed Greece's "unilateral activities" in energy fields south of Crete with a consortium led by US major Chevron as a violation of international law and good neighbourly relations. Athens responded that its policies abide international law. The Chevron-led consortium s»»»
Hungary won’t bow to Ukrainian ‘blackmail’ – Orban
Ukraine’s decision to block the delivery of Russian oil to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline is “blatant political blackmail,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. The transit of oil via the pipeline has remained on hold since late January, with Kiev blaming Russia and accusing it of dama»»»
Guidelines for children fasting during Ramadan: medical expert advice
Doha, Qatar: Most parents are keen to train their children to observe the obligation of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and to accustom them to this practice. However, they sometimes overlook the medical considerations related to ensuring safe fasting, particularly in later childhood. Cons»»»
Japan's reelected leader wants to cooperate with US in rare earths development
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday expressed hopes of deepening her relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in rare earths development and other areas of economic security when she visits Washington next month. Takaichi, at»»»
Sponsors are more visible at Winter Olympics with product placement and arena shoutouts
Eileen Gu and all the other freestyle skiers wait for their scores by a large Powerade-branded cooler, then glide away without taking a drink. Bottles of the blue sports drink are stacked in hockey penalty boxes. Even the tissues in figure skating's drama-packed "Kiss and Cry" area are branded. One»»»
Iran says no country can deprive it of enrichment rights
Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said Thursday that no country can deprive the Islamic republic of its right to nuclear enrichment, after U.S. President Donald Trump again hinted at military action following talks in Geneva. "The basis of the nuclear industry is enrichment. Whatever you w»»»
Settlers shoot at 19-year-old Palestinian-American in West Bank clashes
Clashes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank killed a 19-year-old Palestinian-American man late Wednesday night, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The ministry said Nasrallah Muhammad Jamal Abu Siyam was shot by settlers in the village of Mukhmas, north of Jerusalem. The Israeli military said sold»»»
Zuckerberg defends Meta's policies on children at landmark social media trial
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company’s policies on children and platform design during a landmark US trial examining whether social media firms knowingly harmed young users, as internal documents and testimony highlighted tensions between safety claims and growth s»»»
Al Wakrah, Al Ghariya patrol boats launched in Turkiye
ISTANBUL: The patrol boats Al Wakrah and Al Ghariya, belonging to Qatar Amiri Naval Forces, were officially launched in Istanbul, Turkiye. The vessels were manufactured by Dearsan Shipyard and the ceremony was attended by Deputy Commander of Qatar Amiri Naval Forces Brig (Navy) Khalid Nasser Al Haj»»»
Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK
Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to proceed with plans that could place Diego Garcia under a 100-year lease arrangement with Mauritius, declaring bluntly: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!” In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged the UK leader to»»»
UAE Food Bank launches Ramadan campaign to distribute 8 million meals
Dubai: Under the guidance of Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE Food Bank has launched its ‘Bank of Goodness in the Month of Giving’ campaign. The initiat»»»
Caretaker Energy Minister Prioritizes Stable, Competitive, Sustainable Energy Sector
Protecting the national interest and developing a stable, competitive and sustainable energy sector will be the main priorities of caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov. The newly appointed minister took over from his predecessor, Zhecho Stankov, at a ceremony at the Energy Ministry on Thursday»»»
Djuric: We are strengthening cooperation with Malawi
BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after meeting with Malawian FM George Chaponda in Belgrade, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday Serbia and Malawi had agreed to strengthen economic cooperation and that Serbia continued the Yugoslav policy of maintaining and building friendships with African co»»»
Gold Advances on US–Iran Tensions as Markets Weigh Fed Policy Path
Gold prices extended gains on Thursday after rising more than 2% in the previous session, as lingering tensions between the United States and Iran prompted a flight to safety, while investors evaluated the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path. Spot gold rose 0.2% to $4,989.09 per ounce by 1227 GM»»»
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»»»
Netherlands refuses to repatriate ISIL militants and their families transferred from Syria to Iraq: reports - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Netherlands refuses to repatriate ISIL militants and their families transferred from Syria to Iraq: reports 19-02-2026 15:08 PM Latest News»»»
Britain’s Prince Andrew Arrested as Epstein Scandal Widens
British police have arrested former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over alleged misconduct during his time in public office, amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to convicted harasser Jeffrey Epstein. Authorities confirmed Thursday that a man in his seventies had been detained on suspicion of offen»»»
Work Within Negotiation Groups on Situation in Ukraine Underway - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The work within the framework of the negotiating groups on the situation in Ukraine is underway and it is difficult, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "The work [of the negotiating groups on the situation in Ukraine] is underway, and then everything, as [head of t»»»
Bulgaria: Syrian National Sentenced to Four Years for Sexual Assault and Theft in Sofia
A 37-year-old Syrian citizen has been sentenced to four years in prison following a conviction for committing acts intended to satisfy sexual desire without intercourse and for extorting BGN 50, according to the Sofia District Prosecution Office. The case stems from an incident on September 6, 2023»»»
'Systemic failures' led to Louvre robbery, inquiry finds
Paris, France: "Systemic failures" led to the $100-million robbery at the Louvre museum in Paris last year, MPs leading an inquiry said on Thursday, raising pressure on embattled director Laurence des Cars. Presenting an interim assessment of their work after 70 hearings, inquiry leaders Alexandre »»»
How self-drilling “e-seeds” dropped by drones can mitigate Aral Sea disaster
Climate change is largely driven by human activity – industrial emissions and the overuse of natural resources. Those who study the field know that one of the most striking examples of environmental mismanagement is the drying of the Aral Sea. »»»
Brazil's Lula targets $20bn India trade as he begins Asia tour with AI summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18 for a state visit targeting $20bn in bilateral trade for the year, up from $15.2bn in 2025, as he seeks to deepen ties with one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. »»»
Brazil's Lula targets $20bn India trade as he begins Asia tour with AI summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18 for a state visit targeting $20bn in bilateral trade for the year, up from $15.2bn in 2025, as he seeks to deepen ties with one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. »»»
Israel Canada becomes Israel’s biggest real estate developer through historic Acro acquisition
Israel Canada is set to acquire Acro's operations for ILS3.1bn ($990mn), turning Israel Canada into the largest real estate company in Israel. Representing a 10% premium over market value, the transaction will lead the company to an estimated combined valuation of ILS10bn ($3.2bn), Globes repo»»»
Brazil's Lula targets $20bn India trade as he begins Asia tour with AI summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18 for a state visit targeting $20bn in bilateral trade for the year, up from $15.2bn in 2025, as he seeks to deepen ties with one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. »»»
Armenia outlines tech priorities, focusing on AI, semiconductors, biotech and high-tech engineering
Armenia will prioritise artificial intelligence (AI), data science, biotechnology, semiconductor design and high-tech engineering solutions as part of a strategic push to strengthen its technology sector, Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Ruben Simonyan said on February 17. »»»
COMMENT: US strike on Iran is all but inevitable with Trump backed into a corner
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press conference on February 18 in which she indicated that a US strike on Iran is an increasing possibility. With the Iranians threatening to put a chokehold on cr»»»
Slovakia declares oil emergency and cuts fuel supplies to Ukraine
The Slovak government has declared an oil emergency and the country’s key refinery, Hungarian MOL-owned Slovnaft, has cut fuel exports to Ukraine to keep its products only for the domestic market. Slovakia has been facing »»»
Slovakia declares oil emergency and cuts fuel supplies to Ukraine
The Slovak government has declared an oil emergency and the country’s key refinery, Hungarian MOL-owned Slovnaft, has cut fuel exports to Ukraine to keep its products only for the domestic market. Slovakia has been facing »»»
Slovakia declares oil emergency and cuts fuel supplies to Ukraine
The Slovak government has declared an oil emergency and the country’s key refinery, Hungarian MOL-owned Slovnaft, has cut fuel exports to Ukraine to keep its products only for the domestic market. Slovakia has been facing »»»
Constitutional Court Dismisses Challenge to Constitutionality of Counter-Corruption Commission Election Procedure
The Constitutional Court has dismissed a motion, submitted by Velichie, MECh, and Vazrazhdane, to declare unconstitutional the nomination commission for selection of members of the Counter-Corruption Commission and terminated the proceedings. The ruling was adopted unanimously. In its reasoning, th»»»