Molten glass drops through chutes before being blown into bottles at manufacturer Encirc's northwest England plant, where intensive operations are under strain from exorbitant energy prices weighing on Britain's heavy industry.
From tracking the trajectory and speed of a footballer's strike to monitoring a Tour de France rider's real-time power output, performance athlete data is deepening its reach in sports, with specialised firms eyeing to score big business.
Weeks after Hamdy Ibrahim left his village in Egypt's Nile Delta hoping to reach Europe, his brother's phone rang with a chilling message from Libya: pay now or the boy would die.
- Indonesia coal plant closure U-turn sows energy transition doubts
- Ukraine war talks to resume in Geneva with no sign of progress
Economy
With women banned from most jobs in Afghanistan, an embroidery boutique run by 22-year-old Rahima Alavi is a surprising and treasured sight in Bamiyan.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
US to discuss base with Mauritius as UK returns islands
Politics
February 18, 2026
- Mexico prepares for possible drone threats during the World Cup
- SPT and Segofs Energy Successfully Deploy SPT's First In-House Gyro While Drilling System, Demonstrating Collision-Avoidance Gains and Significant Rig-Time Savings in Nigeria
- From Seoul's Global K-Wave to Web3 Leadership: Datavault AI and TBURN Chain Align K-Pop, Esports, and Korean Cultural Exports with Enterprise-Grade Data Asset Infrastructure and Tokenized Real World Assets
- The Numbers are Clear: Latest Iteration of Stagwell's News Advertising Study Shows Germans Love Their News
Japanese teenager Ami Nakai set the pace in the Olympic women's figure skating competition on Tuesday as freestyle skier Tormod Frostad soared to gold in an all-time classic big air final.
February 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Japanese teenager Ami Nakai put herself in contention for an Olympic medal in her debut senior season as she led superstar teammate Kaori Sakamoto and US world champion Alysa Liu after the Olympic women's short programme on Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
Two-time Olympic men's ice hockey champions Sweden will face the USA in the quarter-finals of the Milan-Cortina tournament after they beat Latvia 5-1 in a qualification playoff on Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
Trent Alexander-Arnold hit out at "disgusting" alleged racist abuse directed at team-mate Vinicius Junior, whose wonder goal gave Real Madrid a crucial 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica on Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
Things to know
Scientists are sounding the alarm over the spread of bird flu across Antarctica, with a leading Chilean researcher telling AFP Tuesday of an observed strain "capable of killing 100 percent" of infected fauna.
February 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Japanese teenager Ami Nakai put herself in contention for an Olympic medal in her debut senior season as she led superstar teammate Kaori Sakamoto after the Olympic women's short programme on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy scored a goal and laid on another as Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 at home on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie.
Vinicius Junior scored a sensational goal to earn Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica on Tuesday, although the match was marred by apparent racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian.
Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase play-off tie on Tuesday.
February 17, 2026
Politics
Iran said Tuesday it had agreed with the United States in talks in Geneva on "guiding principles" for a deal to avoid conflict, but Vice President JD Vance said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington's red lines.
February 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
A "climate cult" has weighed on Europe's economy, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told AFP on Tuesday, adding that the United States has shown its allies "tough love" because it wants them to become stronger.
Norwegian freeskier Tormod Frostad soared to gold in an Olympic men's big air final for the ages on Tuesday, finding an extra gear under the most intense pressure at a snow-swept Livigno.
Peru lost its seventh leader in almost as many years Tuesday with the impeachment of interim President Jose Jeri on allegations of graft.
French authorities on Tuesday arrested nine suspects over the killing last week of a far-right activist, including an assistant to a hard-left member of parliament, a prosecutor and an informed source said.
February 17, 2026
- France arrests seven over far-right activist's killing
- No sign of progress on first day of Ukraine war talks in Geneva
- Frostad dethrones Ruud in Olympic freeski big air thriller
- Galatasaray thrash 10-man Juve in Champions League play-off 1st leg
- Woods return timeline uncertain, but won't rule out Masters
- Dozens of film figures condemn Berlin Film Festival 'silence' on Gaza
- Iran, Ukraine talks spark diplomatic merry-go-round in Geneva
- Canada launches huge defence plan to curb reliance on US