Global Pulse

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  • Leila Shahid, first female Palestinian ambassador, dies in France at 76

    Leila Shahid, first female Palestinian ambassador, dies in France at 76

    RAMALLAH, West Bank — Leila Shahid, the groundbreaking Palestinian diplomat who became the first woman to represent Palestine in ambassadorial roles across Europe, has passed away in France at age 76. Her death marks the conclusion of an extraordinary career spanning some of the most volatile periods in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas commemorated Shahid as an exemplary figure whose diplomatic service embodied “the values of freedom, justice and peace.” Through the official WAFA news agency, Abbas noted that she maintained unwavering dedication to her people’s cause throughout her life.

    Born in Beirut in 1949 during the aftermath of Israel’s establishment—which displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—Shahid’s heritage traced to Jerusalem and northern Israel. Her early humanitarian work in Palestinian refugee camps preceded her academic pursuits in Paris, where she embarked on doctoral studies in anthropology during the 1970s. Her leadership qualities emerged early when she was elected head of the Palestinian student union in France in 1976.

    Shahid’s diplomatic career was forged amidst tragedy and conflict. She returned to Beirut during the horrific 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, where Israeli-backed Lebanese Christian militias slaughtered hundreds of Palestinian refugees. This experience undoubtedly shaped her resolve in international representation.

    Her historic appointment as Palestine’s first female ambassador came in 1989 with her posting to Ireland, followed by a transfer to the Netherlands the subsequent year. From 1993 to 2005, she served as Palestinian envoy to France, navigating both the optimistic peace process era and the tumultuous second intifada that erupted in 2000. She was present with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his final days before his 2004 death in a French military hospital.

    Shahid’s diplomatic service extended until 2014 through her representation to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Beyond diplomacy, she contributed academically as longtime director of “The Review of Palestinian Studies,” a French-language journal examining the historical dimensions of the conflict.

  • Ramadan 2026: Paid parking rates, timings revised in 3 emirates; see list here

    Ramadan 2026: Paid parking rates, timings revised in 3 emirates; see list here

    In observance of the holy month of Ramadan, which commenced in the United Arab Emirates on February 17, 2026, following the sighting of the crescent moon, municipal authorities across three emirates have implemented revised parking and toll fee schedules. These annual adjustments are designed to accommodate altered daily routines and support residents during this period of spiritual reflection.

    Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has established a bifurcated paid parking schedule effective from Monday through Saturday. The first fee period runs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, followed by a second collection window from 8:00 PM until midnight. This structured timing intentionally provides a complimentary two-hour parking window around Maghrib (sunset) prayers, enabling residents to perform religious obligations and partake in Iftar meals without incurring parking costs. The RTA confirmed that multi-storey parking facilities will maintain 24/7 operations without interruption.

    In the capital emirate, Q Mobility, administrator of the Darb toll gate system, announced adjusted peak timing tariffs. Toll charges have been set at Dh4 during morning commutes (8:00 AM to 10:00 AM) and evening periods (2:00 PM to 6:00 PM) from Monday to Saturday. Concurrently, Abu Dhabi’s public parking system will enforce fees across two daily intervals: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM, with standard spaces costing Dh2 hourly and premium zones Dh3 per hour. Sundays will remain toll-free and parking-exempt throughout the capital.

    Sharjah Municipality has implemented distinct regulations, maintaining free public parking on Fridays except for smart parking facilities and zones designated for continuous weekly fees, including public holidays. From Saturday to Thursday, paid parking hours will extend from 8:00 AM until midnight, ensuring consistent enforcement while respecting religious observances.

    These coordinated transportation policy adaptations reflect the UAE’s commitment to facilitating comfortable religious observance while maintaining urban mobility and regulatory consistency during Ramadan’s unique temporal rhythms.

  • US senators visit key Ukrainian port city as they push for fresh sanctions on Russia

    US senators visit key Ukrainian port city as they push for fresh sanctions on Russia

    A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators concluded a significant visit to Odessa on Wednesday, marking the first congressional trip to Ukraine’s strategic Black Sea port since Russia’s invasion nearly four years ago. The delegation, comprising Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, and Sheldon Whitehouse, aimed to galvanize congressional action on comprehensive sanctions designed to economically pressure Moscow into meaningful peace negotiations.

    The timing of this diplomatic mission coincides with critical U.S.-brokered talks in Switzerland, where both Ukrainian and Russian delegations remain deadlocked on fundamental issues including territorial sovereignty and security arrangements. Senator Shaheen emphasized that Ukrainian officials consistently expressed desire for a peace agreement that preserves their nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Legislative efforts to impose robust sanctions have stalled in Congress for months, despite multiple proposals gaining traction. The most comprehensive bill would authorize the Trump administration to implement tariffs and secondary sanctions against nations purchasing Russian energy exports, targeting the financial infrastructure supporting Moscow’s military operations. Additional targeted measures would address China’s military support for Russia, seize frozen Russian assets, and disrupt Moscow’s ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers circumventing existing sanctions.

    Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed during the Munich Security Conference that Senate Majority Leader John Thune committed to bringing the sanctions package to vote once it secures the necessary 60-vote threshold. Graham characterized the legislation as a ‘game changer’ that has received President Trump’s endorsement.

    The House of Representatives is considering parallel measures, including bipartisan legislation targeting Russia’s defense industry and financial systems, alongside an $8 billion military aid package for Ukraine proposed by House Foreign Affairs Committee’s top Democrat Gregory Meeks.

    Upon returning to Washington, the senators plan to document attacks on U.S. businesses in Ukraine and increase pressure for enhanced military support. As Senator Blumenthal noted, ‘Putin understands weapons, not words.’ However, the administration’s ambiguous long-term commitment to Ukrainian security presents ongoing challenges, despite bipartisan consensus on the necessity of sustained pressure against Russian aggression.

  • Grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups accuses Hershey of cutting corners

    Grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups accuses Hershey of cutting corners

    The Hershey Company faces significant criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups inventor H.B. Reese, over alleged ingredient modifications that compromise product quality. In a publicly-shared February 14 letter addressed to Hershey’s corporate brand manager, the 70-year-old heir accused the candy giant of secretly replacing premium ingredients with cheaper alternatives across multiple Reese’s products.

    According to Reese’s detailed allegations, Hershey has substituted milk chocolate with compound coatings and authentic peanut butter with peanut crème in various product lines. This formulation shift directly contradicts the brand’s longstanding reputation for quality that originally established consumer trust, Reese argued in his LinkedIn-published letter.

    Hershey responded to these claims on Wednesday, acknowledging certain recipe adjustments while maintaining that its iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remain unchanged. The company attributed modifications to evolving consumer demands for innovative shapes and sizes, alongside economic pressures from persistently high cocoa prices that have compelled industry-wide experimentation with reduced chocolate content.

    Corporate representatives emphasized that all recipe changes undergo extensive consumer testing to preserve the essential chocolate-peanut butter combination that defines the Reese’s experience. However, Reese provided tangible examples of quality degradation, describing his recent disposal of Valentine’s Day Reese’s Mini Hearts due to poor taste and noting packaging terminology changes from ‘milk chocolate’ to ‘chocolate candy’.

    The controversy extends to international markets, where Reese claims products sold in Europe and the UK differ significantly from American versions. Hershey countered that recipe consistency remains global, with labeling variations solely reflecting stricter European Union requirements for cocoa percentages in milk chocolate classification.

    This confrontation emerges against a backdrop of confectionery industry challenges, with Hershey’s Chief Financial Officer Steven Voskuil having previously acknowledged formula adjustments during investor communications. While Voskuil asserted these changes maintained taste profiles without consumer impact, Brad Reese reports frequent complaints about diminished quality and urges Hershey to recommit to founder Milton Hershey’s quality-first philosophy.

  • Israel extends length of settler raids at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Ramadan begins

    Israel extends length of settler raids at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Ramadan begins

    Israeli authorities have implemented controversial measures at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound at the start of Ramadan, extending access hours for nationalist settlers while imposing severe restrictions on Palestinian worshippers. The Jerusalem District Commander, Avshalom Peled, authorized an additional hour for organized settler visits, extending them from four to five hours daily during the holy month. Under the new schedule, these visits now run from 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM instead of the previous 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM timeframe.

    Concurrently, Israeli forces have dramatically limited Palestinian access to the site, one of Islam’s holiest locations. Authorities announced that only 10,000 West Bank Palestinians—restricted to those over 50 or under 12 years old—will be permitted entry, exclusively on Fridays and with prior military approval. This represents a significant reduction from the hundreds of thousands who typically gather for prayers during Ramadan.

    The tension was palpable on Wednesday morning as groups of ultra-nationalist Israelis entered the compound under heavy armed protection, with reports emerging of singing and dancing in the mosque’s courtyards. Meanwhile, Israeli forces detained Sheikh Mohammed al-Abbasi, the mosque’s imam, without providing justification according to Wafa news agency.

    Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the former grand mufti of Jerusalem who is himself banned from the site, condemned the measures as evidence of “Israel’s ambitions toward Al-Aqsa” and accused authorities of deliberately disrupting Muslim worship during the holy month. The mosque has long stood at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, representing both the struggle for Palestinian freedom and identity for Muslims worldwide, and the aspiration of some nationalist Jews to see a third Jewish temple erected on the site.

    Israeli forces have increased their presence throughout occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, conducting additional arrests and operations. In a separate incident in Hebron, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home, leaving its residents without shelter on Ramadan’s first day. Police authorities are reportedly still considering whether to permit settler visits during the final ten days of Ramadan, a period traditionally off-limits to such incursions and which typically draws massive numbers of worshippers.

  • Pope laments ‘ashes of international law’ left by today’s conflicts in Ash Wednesday liturgy

    Pope laments ‘ashes of international law’ left by today’s conflicts in Ash Wednesday liturgy

    In a solemn commencement of the Lenten season, Pope Leo XIV presided over Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Vatican, delivering a poignant critique of global conflicts that have reduced international law to “ashes.” The pontiff personally led the traditional prayer and procession—a practice his predecessor had largely delegated—walking alongside monks, priests, bishops, and cardinals between Roman churches before administering ashes during Mass.

    Ash Wednesday initiates the 40-day period of fasting, reflection, and spiritual preparation leading to Easter observances. In his homily, Pope Leo framed the ritual ashes as symbolic of broader global destruction: “They bear the weight of a world that is ablaze, of entire cities destroyed by war.”

    The Pope specifically lamented the deterioration of post-World War II legal frameworks, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and even referencing U.S. military actions in Venezuela. His remarks extended beyond geopolitical concerns to include ecological damage, loss of traditional wisdom, and diminished respect for sacredness in creation.

    Concurrently, the Holy See confirmed its non-participation in the U.S.-proposed Board of Peace for Gaza. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, asserted that the United Nations remains the appropriate institution to oversee ceasefire monitoring and reconstruction efforts in the conflict-ravaged territory.

  • Smotrich says not Israel’s fault Palestinians ‘murder one another’

    Smotrich says not Israel’s fault Palestinians ‘murder one another’

    Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ignited fierce controversy during a parliamentary session on Tuesday by asserting that the government bears no responsibility for the escalating homicide rates within Palestinian communities, claiming Palestinians “murder one another.” The inflammatory comments came during debates concerning his proposed 1.5% property tax on vacant land, which Palestinian lawmakers argue would disproportionately harm Palestinian landowners unable to afford development costs.

    Palestinian parliament members, including Iman Khatib-Yassin, condemned both the tax proposal and the government’s perceived failure to address surging violence in their communities. Smotrich retorted by questioning whether the administration should be held accountable for intra-community killings, prompting immediate outcry with legislators labeling his remarks “disgusting” and “racist.” The finance minister further demanded that Palestinian leaders explicitly condemn terrorism and recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.

    This political confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of widespread demonstrations across Israel. Recent weeks have seen nearly 100,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel mobilize in Tel Aviv—one of the largest gatherings in years—to protest government inaction regarding rampant violence and organized crime. According to data from the Abraham Initiatives NGO, 51 Palestinian citizens have been killed in Israel since January, continuing a devastating trend that saw 252 fatalities in 2025 alone—a fourfold increase over the past decade.

    Experts and advocates attribute this crisis to systemic neglect. Criminologist Dr. Walid Haddad notes that Israel has never treated this violence as a strategic threat, resulting in no comprehensive governmental response. Human rights lawyer Ahmed Khalifa argues that state policies deliberately enable criminal networks to flourish within Palestinian areas. These concerns are reinforced by historical context: Palestinian citizens, descendants of those who remained after the 1948 Nakba, continue to face discriminatory practices despite comprising 20% of Israel’s population. The community’s longstanding grievances include inadequate policing, socioeconomic marginalization, and institutional bias, as exemplified by former Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai’s 2023 statement that violence was “in their nature.”

  • Ajman Ruler announces release of 134 prisoners for Ramadan 2026

    Ajman Ruler announces release of 134 prisoners for Ramadan 2026

    In a significant humanitarian gesture marking the commencement of Ramadan 2026, His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, has authorized the release of 134 prisoners from correctional facilities under the Ajman Police General Command. This compassionate decision, announced on February 18, 2026, follows established UAE traditions of granting pardons during religious observances and special occasions.

    The emancipation order specifically applies to inmates who demonstrated exemplary conduct and rehabilitation progress throughout their incarceration period. Each released individual met stringent eligibility criteria for pardon consideration and received official clearance for sentence remission. The initiative reflects Sheikh Humaid’s commitment to fostering hope and facilitating social reintegration for those who have shown genuine reform.

    Major General Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police, expressed profound gratitude for the ruler’s decision, emphasizing that release procedures would commence immediately to enable timely family reunions during the holy month. The move aligns with broader UAE values of mercy and tolerance, particularly emphasized during Ramadan’s spiritual period.

    This pardon initiative represents more than mere early release—it embodies a rehabilitative justice approach that encourages former inmates to contribute positively to community security and stability. The timing during Ramadan, a month characterized by reflection and forgiveness, amplifies the gesture’s symbolic significance within Emirati cultural and religious contexts.

  • Alpine skier Tallulah Proulx becomes the first Filipina to compete at the Winter Olympics

    Alpine skier Tallulah Proulx becomes the first Filipina to compete at the Winter Olympics

    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The Philippines has entered a groundbreaking chapter in winter sports history with 17-year-old Alpine skier Tallulah Proulx becoming the nation’s first female Winter Olympian and its youngest ever representative at the Winter Games. The U.S.-born athlete completed her historic participation in the Milan Cortina Games, finishing 50th in slalom and 52nd in giant slalom after proudly carrying the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony.

    Proulx, who grew up skiing at California’s Sierra Tahoe resort before moving through Iowa’s Sundown Mountain and ultimately settling in Park City, Utah, represents a new wave of Filipino athletic excellence following tennis standout Alexandra Eala’s Australian Open popularity and gymnast Carlos Yulo’s dual gold medal performance at the Paris Olympics.

    Despite her American upbringing, Proulx maintains deep familial connections to the Eastern Samar province in the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas region through her father. Though the COVID-19 pandemic canceled her planned first visit to the homeland, she immersed herself in Filipino culture through her grandmother’s cooking and traditions. The skier dedicated her Olympic journey to her grandmother, who passed away last year, viewing her participation as both a personal achievement and a tribute to her heritage.

    At Cortina, Proulx experienced memorable interactions with skiing elites including American slalom specialist Paula Moltzan and gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin, moments she described as surreal for someone who had long admired these athletes from afar.

    The pioneering skier now looks forward to finally visiting the Philippines, hoping her trailblazing performance will inspire more tropical nations to participate in winter sports and demonstrate that geographical limitations need not determine athletic possibilities.

  • UN panel says European calls for resignation of Albanese ‘rooted in disinformation’

    UN panel says European calls for resignation of Albanese ‘rooted in disinformation’

    A United Nations expert panel has issued a stern rebuke to several European nations for their demands that Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, resign from her position. The Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, comprising six independent experts, characterized the campaign against Albanese as fundamentally “rooted in disinformation.”

    The controversy stems from edited video footage circulated by pro-Israel advocacy group UN Watch, which misleadingly suggested Albanese had referred to Israel as “the common enemy of humanity” during her address at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum earlier this month. Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic subsequently called for her resignation based on this manipulated content.

    The UN committee clarified that Albanese’s actual remarks used the phrase “common enemy” in context of criticizing political, military, and economic systems that have enabled Israel’s military operations in Gaza, not referring to Israel itself. In her February 7th remote address, Albanese stated: “We now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy and the respect of fundamental freedoms is the last peaceful avenue that we have to regain our freedom.”

    The expert panel urged European governments to redirect their efforts toward ensuring Israeli accountability under international law rather than targeting Albanese, who faces “persistent intimidation, coordinated personal attacks and unlawful unilateral sanctions” while performing her mandate. The committee specifically called for support of International Criminal Court proceedings against officials accused of committing war crimes in Gaza.

    The situation has escalated to legal dimensions, with a group of French international lawyers filing a formal complaint with Paris prosecutors accusing French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot of disseminating false information in his calls for Albanese’s resignation.

    This incident represents the latest development in ongoing tensions surrounding Albanese’s work. In July, the United States imposed sanctions against her related to her investigations into potential genocide in Gaza, effectively barring her from entering the US and freezing her assets there. These measures have reportedly disrupted her access to global financial systems and daily transactions.

    Since October 2023, Albanese has produced three major reports characterizing Israel’s military operations in Gaza as genocidal and criticizing global systems supporting these actions. In a November interview, she specifically accused 63 states of enabling Israeli violations of international law, noting that major European powers continue providing diplomatic, military and political cover despite overwhelming evidence of atrocities.