Kremlin official says Russian navy to stop West’s seizure of merchant ships
Russian official says Western powers seizing sanctioned vessels carrying Moscow’s oil commit ‘piracy-like attacks’.

Russian official says Western powers seizing sanctioned vessels carrying Moscow’s oil commit ‘piracy-like attacks’.

![People carry "Lion and Sun" pre-Iranian Revolution national flags as they gather near the United Nations office, as the second round of nuclear talks between US and Iran takes place, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17, 2026. [Pierre Albouy/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1771361714.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![The drone maker is set to merge with JFB Construction, a Florida based company known for retail and commercial real estate [File: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-17T154334Z_2123575230_RC2WYIAITY79_RTRMADP_3_JFB-CONSTR-HLDG-XTEND-1771349187.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)




![A screenshot shows an Iranian battleship in the Strait of Hormuz conducting naval exercises ahead of nuclear talks with the United States in a video released on Feb. 16, 2026. [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1771259579.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)

Thousands of Western citizens joined the Israeli military in its war on Gaza that killed over 72,000 Palestinians.
New opinion poll finds seven in 10 US adults disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of Greenland issue.
Thailand’s traditional centres of political patronage, the ‘Baan Yai’ (Big Houses), swayed election for conservatives.

US President Donald Trump says a second aircraft carrier strike group will deploy to the Middle East.
These are the key developments from day 1,450 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Despite nuclear diplomacy with Iran, US president suggests Washington will send more military assets to the region.

Palestinian homes have been bulldozed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
The FAA initially announced a 10-day airspace closure but removed the restriction less than eight hours later.
These are the key developments from day 1,449 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
These are the key developments from day 1,448 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.