February 18, 2026

Ramadan 1447 Begins February 18 in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar after Moon Sighting

Ramadan 1447 officially starts on February 18, 2026, in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar following confirmed crescent moon sightings. Fasting begins at dawn with special prayers and shortened work hours across UAE.

February 18, 2026

Ramadan Begins in Palestine, Gulf Amid Gaza Crisis; Other Muslim States to Start Thursday

Ramadan started in Gaza and several Gulf countries on Wednesday amid food shortages and Israeli attacks. Other Muslim states including Egypt and Syria will begin fasting Thursday based on moon sightings and calculations.

February 18, 2026

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Resume in Geneva; Zelenskyy Slaps Sanctions on Belarus Leader

US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue in Geneva. Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls out Russia’s sincerity and sanctions Belarus’s Lukashenko. Both sides dig in despite hopes for peace.

February 18, 2026

TTAP Ends Protest Over Imran Khan’s Health, Demands Unrestricted Medical Access

The opposition alliance TTAP ended its sit-in at Parliament House but demands full access for Imran Khan's personal doctors and jail meetings with his family during Supreme Court hearings.

February 18, 2026

Supreme Court Orders Guidelines To Boost Judicial Sensitivity In Sexual Assault Cases

The Supreme Court has tasked retired Justice Aniruddha Bose with creating simple, clear guidelines for judges on handling sexual assault cases with compassion. This follows concerns over insensitive language used in a High Court order on a minor's assault. The report will be in plain language and translated into Indian languages.

February 18, 2026

Gaza Holds on to Ramadan Traditions Amid War and Hardship

Gaza faces Ramadan with heavy hearts as war causes loss, destruction, and financial hardship. Despite daily violence, residents keep Ramadan traditions alive to bring hope and joy.

February 18, 2026

Oscar-Winning Director’s Family Attacked Again in West Bank Amid Rising Tensions

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning film No Other Land, says settlers attacked his family home in Masafer Yatta, West Bank. The army intervened and detained relatives. The violence follows a court ban on non-residents and ongoing land disputes.

February 18, 2026

Alcoa Fined $55m for Illegal Land Clearing in WA, Gets 18-Month Mining Exemption

Australia fines Alcoa $55 million for unauthorized clearing of 2,000 hectares in WA's jarrah forests. The firm gets an 18-month exemption to clear more land amid plans to expand mining till 2045.

February 18, 2026

Budweiser Struggles, Heineken Thrives in China as Drinkers Shift to Home Beer in 2025

In 2025, Budweiser's profits fell sharply in China while Heineken's soared. Changing habits show Chinese drinkers now prefer beer at home over bars, hitting Budweiser hard but boosting Heineken’s growth.

February 18, 2026

Case Filed Against Haldiram’s Attapur Outlet Over Fungus-Infected Sweets

A customer in Hyderabad found fungus in sweets bought from Haldiram’s Attapur store. Police have registered a case and collected samples for testing.