Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also known as MBZ, made his first public appearance since health rumors surfaced, meeting with US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, the South Korean government announced that civilian drone flights into North Korea are harming inter-Korean relations, as reported by Sky News. In other news, Leila Shahid, the first female diplomat to represent Palestine abroad, died at the age of 76, as confirmed by Al Jazeera.
The Presidential Court shared video footage of MBZ smiling alongside Senator Graham at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, Al Jazeera reported. This appearance followed online speculation about the president's health. The meeting took place on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Simultaneously, South Korean authorities are investigating three civilians who allegedly flew drones into North Korea on four occasions between September 2025 and January 2026, according to Sky News. Chung Dong-young, a South Korean minister, stated that these actions are negatively impacting relations between the two Koreas.
In France, Leila Shahid's death prompted an outpouring of condolences. She served as the Palestinian ambassador to France and died at her home in the south of the country, according to Le Monde newspaper, cited by Al Jazeera.
In other news, US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" is facing scrutiny. The board's plan includes $5 billion for rebuilding Gaza and the deployment of thousands of foreign troops, but critics believe it falls short of what is needed, according to Al Jazeera. The board is scheduled to meet in Washington.
Finally, despite initial reservations from actor Ken Watanabe, the nearly three-hour-long kabuki film "Kokuho" has become Japan's top-grossing live-action film, according to The Verge.
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