In Nepal's eastern plains, rival political flags depicting blue bells and red suns flutter over tea farms and brick homes -- symbols of a local election campaign shaping landmark nationwide polls.
Tech firms led gains across Asian equities Thursday following a positive lead from Wall Street, where traders also welcomed strong US data that suggested the world's top economy remained in rude health.
There are no outward signs of jitters, at least not yet: people in Svalbard are going about their daily lives as normal despite speculation that this Norwegian archipelago could be the next Arctic territory coveted by the United States or Russia.
- Veteran Slipper set for new Super Rugby landmark
- Sudan's historic acacia forest devastated as war fuels logging
Nature
Permits revoked, lawsuits filed, the threat of state takeovers. Deadly flooding in Indonesia has prompted unprecedented government action against companies accused of environmental destruction that worsened the disaster.
February 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
MotoGP dumps Phillip Island for Adelaide street circuit
Sports
February 19, 2026
Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal deserve criticism for the self-inflicted wounds that threaten to ruin their Premier League title bid after the leaders blew a two-goal lead in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Rory McIlroy will try to keep the birdie bandwagon rolling and eliminate the "big numbers" that doomed his Pebble Beach bid as he vies for a first Genesis Invitational title at Riviera this week.
February 18, 2026
Greek winger Christos Tzolis grabbed a late equaliser for Club Brugge as Atletico Madrid twice let the lead slip in a 3-3 Champions League play-off first leg draw on Wednesday.
February 18, 2026
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tech CEOs including OpenAI's Sam Altman will give their take on the opportunities and threats posed by artificial intelligence at a global summit in New Delhi on Thursday.
February 18, 2026
Culture
Fresh from his success at the Grammys and a triumphant Super Bowl halftime show, Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny is set to take the lead role in an all-star film, producers announced Wednesday.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered a major blow as they squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves on Wednesday.
Marseille have appointed their former captain Habib Beye as coach, the club announced on Wednesday, just over a week after he was sacked by their Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.
Atletico Madrid twice let the lead slip in a 3-3 Champions League play-off first leg draw at Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Patrik Schick scored twice in a four-minute spell to steer Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie on Wednesday.
February 18, 2026
Sports
Bodo/Glimt continued their remarkable debut Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the knockout play-off round first leg on Wednesday, as Kasper Hogh scored once and created two other goals.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices surged more than four percent on a toughening US posture towards Iran.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday he regretted Meta's slow progress in identifying underage users on Instagram, as he faced stinging criticism at a landmark social media trial over accusations that his company deliberately hooked under-13s.
Eileen Gu is one of the biggest names at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. That's obvious from how her answer to AFP's question about her performance at the Games has gone viral.
Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday said that Ferrari's new car has his "DNA" within it as the seven-time world champion put it through its paces on the first day of the second pre-season test in Bahrain.
February 18, 2026
- US lingerie magnate says was 'conned' by Epstein
- Marner fires Canada into Olympic ice hockey semis, as Finland survive
- Israel conducting 'gradual de facto annexation' of W.Bank: UN official
- Alcaraz, Sinner cruise into Qatar Open quarter-finals
- Mavs confirm Irving will miss rest of NBA season
- Environmental groups sue Trump administration over scrapped climate rule
- Major US naval, air buildup sets stage for potential Iran war
- Eight skiers missing in California avalanche found dead