Top World News
U.N. Security Council holds high-level meeting on Gaza before Trump's Board of Peace convenes
Feb 18, 2026 - World 
The U.N. Security Council is holding a high-level meeting Wednesday on the Gaza ceasefire deal and Israel's efforts to expand control in the West Bank before world leaders head to Washington to discuss the future of the Palestinian territories at the first gathering of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.
Ghana and Kenya investigate presumed Russian national for secretly recording sexual encounters
Feb 18, 2026 - World 
Ghana and Kenya have launched investigations into the activities of a man believed to be a Russian national who is accused of secretly recording sexual encounters with several women and publishing them online without their consent
Zelenskyy says no agreement on key issues in peace talks as he accuses Russia of ‘dragging out negotiations’ – as it happened
Feb 18, 2026 - World 
Unresolved ‘sensitive’ issues in peace talks are fate of occupied territories in east Ukraine and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plantThe peace talks ended abruptly today after about two hours, according to reports, in contrast with yesterday’s negotiations that apparently took place over six hours.Neither side have offered any public sign of progress, but instead said the talks were “difficult” with Russian news agencies quoting sources describing the negotiations as “very tense”. Continue reading...
Hundred-year reveal: Catalonian chalet confirmed as Gaudí work in centenary year
Feb 18, 2026 - World 
Xalet del Catllaràs contains elements of architect’s naturalistic style, expressed in works such as Park Güell and Sagrada FamíliaAn elegant modernist building in the mountains north of Barcelona, originally constructed to house engineers establishing a nearby mine, has been confirmed as a work of Antoni Gaudí, Catalonia’s most celebrated and distinctive architect.The Xalet del Catllaràs, about 80 miles from Barcelona in the county of Berguedà, was built in 1905 and commissioned by Eusebi Güell, Gaudí’s lifelong patron. Güell was the owner of a cement company with mines in the region and he needed somewhere to house the engineers, many of them British, who would help extract the coal for his factories. Continue reading...
Belgian investigation into three Jewish men sparks diplomatic row with US
Feb 18, 2026 - World 
US ambassador accused of interference after labelling inquiry into suspected illegal circumcisions ‘antisemitic’A diplomatic row is escalating between Belgium and the US, with Donald Trump’s ambassador refusing to apologise for accusing his host country of antisemitism and reportedly threatening to bar a socialist politician from travelling to the US.Bill White, a staunch ally of the president like many US ambassadors, on Monday demanded Belgium drop a “ridiculous” and “antisemitic” investigation into three Jewish men suspected of performing circumcisions without medical qualifications. Continue reading...
