Foreign tourism in Finland hits record high in 2025
HELSINKI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays in Finland surged in 2025 and set new records, the Business Finland said in a press release on Tuesday. "The total number of foreign tourists rose to 5.1 million, an increase of five percent from the previous year," said Katarina Wakonen, an expert at Visit Finland, a unit of Business Finland, in the press release. Meanwhile, overnight stays of international visitors in Finnish accommodation establishments climbed to an all-time high of 7.2 million last year, representing an increase of 12 percent year on year, according to the organization. Foreign tourists spent an estimated 3.7 billion euros (4.4 billion U.S. dollars) in Finland last year, the organization said. Business Finland attributed part of the rise to shifting travel preferences toward northern destinations.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 06:15 UTC
QuickCheck: Has a man gone on an ATM vandalism spree in KL?
MULTIPLE reports of damaged automated teller machines have emerged from the Sentul area in Kuala Lumpur, with CCTV footage allegedly showing a suspect systematically targeting banking facilities. But has someone really been going around smashing ATMs across the city? Verdict:TRUEAround RM64,000 in damages have been reported following a series of ATM vandalism incidents in the Sentul area in Kuala Lumpur. CCTV footage of the suspect vandalising the ATM machines has since gone viral on social media. On Feb 17, four additional reports of vandalism were received at two more banks in Jinjang Selatan and two in Jinjang Utara.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 06:09 UTC
Special Report: MyCC opening digital economy Pandora’s box
This has become more apparent after the Covid-19 pandemic,” Datuk Iskandar Ismail, CEO of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC), tells The Edge in a recent interview. Iskandar describes the exercise as “opening Pandora’s box” to highlight information on market structure and practices of the digital economy. He adds that Malaysia would not be the first country to strengthen its regulations on the digital economy. He says it ensures that MyCC is not in the dark whenever issues related to the digital economy arise. Competition is vital to ensuring the robustness of the nation’s economy, Iskandar stresses, so competition law is not anti-business.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 18, 2026 06:02 UTC
Indonesian police chief in Bima, subordinates arrested for drug trafficking
JAKARTA: The chief of Bima police in West Nusa Tenggara, Sr Adj Comr Didik Puta Kuncoro, along with several of his subordinates, has been arrested for allegedly abusing and trafficking drugs. IR, his wife AN, and two of their assistants on Jan 26 for alleged drug trafficking. He was then arrested and formally named a suspect in the drug trafficking case. During the investigation, Malaungi claimed that his involvement in drug trafficking began at Didik’s request. This is not the first time members of the National Police have been implicated in drug trafficking.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 06:00 UTC
Medal table at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 17
MILAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Following is the medal table at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games after the competitions on Tuesday, February 17 (tabulated under delegations, gold, silver, bronze and total medals):Norway 14 8 9 31Italy 9 4 11 24United States 6 10 5 21Netherlands 6 6 1 13Germany 5 8 7 20Austria 5 8 4 17France 5 7 4 16Sweden 5 5 2 12Switzerland 5 2 3 10Japan 4 5 10 19Canada 3 4 5 12Australia 3 1 1 5Britain 3 0 0 3Czech Republic 2 2 0 4Slovenia 2 1 1 4South Korea 1 2 3 6Brazil 1 0 0 1Kazakhstan 1 0 0 1China 0 3 3 6Poland 0 3 1 4Latvia 0 1 1 2New Zealand 0 1 1 2Georgia 0 1 0 1Finland 0 0 4 4Bulgaria 0 0 2 2Belgium 0 0 1 1
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 05:45 UTC
Hamzah: "Reset" not about me, first step towards correction, improvement
PETALING JAYA: Ousted Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin speaks up after a three-day silence, saying that the "Reset" is not a movement about him. The Opposition Leader and Larut MP said "Reset" is the first step towards "correction and improvement". "Reset is the first step toward correction and improvement that will form the foundation for rebuilding collective strength, ensuring a clearer and more convincing future for the nation. Hamzah said he was "deeply moved" by the show of support from Bersatu MPs and members who turned up at the PAUM. However, Hamzah has stated that he will not appeal the decision.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 05:35 UTC
As many as 10 skiers missing, at least six stranded in California avalanche
'High avalanche danger'If all 10 of the missing skiers should perish, the incident would rank among the deadliest single avalanches on record in the United States. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has tallied six US avalanche fatalities so far this season. The Sierra Avalanche Center had posted an alert before dawn on Tuesday, warning of a "high avalanche danger" in the ski region, the sheriff's statement said. Rescue ski teams were dispatched to the avalanche zone from the Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner's Alder Creek Adventure Center. Weather conditions remained hazardous in the Sierra backcountry slopes, with additional avalanche activity expected through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, according to the sheriff's statement.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 18, 2026 05:02 UTC
Ukraine's Zelenskiy says Trump exerting undue pressure on him
Feb 17 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said U.S. President Donald Trump was exerting undue pressure on him in trying to secure a resolution to the nearly four-year-old war pitting Kyiv against Moscow. Axios quoted Zelenskiy as saying it was "not fair" that Trump kept publicly calling on Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions in negotiating terms for a peace plan. Trump has twice in recent days suggested it was up to Ukraine and Zelenskiy to take steps to ensure the talks proved successful. That's all I'm telling you," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday. Zelenskiy, Axios said, suggested it might be easier to put pressure on Ukraine than on Russia.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 05:01 UTC
Health Minister: 85% of TB cases in Malaysia involve local
PETALING JAYA: Some 85% of the reported tuberculosis (TB) cases in Malaysia involved locals, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Dzulkefly said, contrary to some public sentiment, foreigners make up only 15% of the reported TB cases. “Recently, various perceptions have emerged linking the spread of TB to the influx of foreign nationals. Data from the Health Ministry confirms that 85% of reported cases involve local citizens, while only 15% involve foreigners. On Monday (Feb 16), the Health Ministry reportedly said that a total of 503 new TB cases were detected nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 5 this year, bringing the cumulative total to 2,571 cases.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 04:58 UTC
The Final Cut: Hairdresser offers free service to the frail, terminally ill
IPOH: Feeling guilty for putting off his grandmother’s request for a haircut eight years ago became the turning point that reshaped hairdresser Ezuan Husaini Rosli’s life. The 33-year-old recalled that in 2018, he finally made time to cut the hair of his frail 80-year-old grandmother after she had asked him repeatedly. "An hour after I cut her hair, she passed away due to shortness of breath,” he told Bernama when met recently. "My grandfather said I was fortunate because at least I managed to cut her hair. A Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 3 holder in hairdressing, Ezuan resolved to use his skills to serve those who are frail, terminally ill or have little hope of recovery, free of charge.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 04:20 UTC
Thousands converge for Manjung fireworks fest
IPOH: A fireworks festival held in Kampung Baru Ayer Tawar in Manjung in conjunction with this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations drew more than 5,000 people, creating a vibrant atmosphere and reinforcing community ties. “This fireworks festival reflects the spirit of togetherness among people of various races, ethnicities and religions in our country, who take every opportunity to visit one another and foster closer ties,” he said on Wednesday (Feb 18). “Organising events like this at the Madani recreational park can stimulate local social and economic activities while promoting the unique identity of new villages as part of the country’s heritage,” he said. Nga expressed appreciation to the organising committee, government agencies, local authorities and residents for working together to ensure the success of the event. Also present were Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, and Pantai Remis assemblyman Wong May Ing.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 04:19 UTC
Couple killed after motorcycle crashes into road divider on NSE
KULAI: A married couple was killed after their motorcycle crashed into a road divider at KM37.4 of the North-South Expressway (Southbound) here. “Early investigation found that the man lost control of his motorcycle, causing the vehicle to skid before crashing into the road divider. “Both the rider and the passenger sustained severe head injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene,” he said in a statement here. ACP Tan said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He also urged those with information about the incident to contact the investigating officer, Insp Mohamad Firdaus Mustaffa at 011-26081008.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 04:17 UTC
Ask The Expert: How to keep traditional wear in the modern fashion conversation
Ask The Expert is a monthly column to answer your questions on topics related to fashion and beauty. You can also opt for wide-leg trousers for a sophisticated and modern look. Siblings Shirley (left) and Yen Lee Wong, founders of Maglifestyle, believe that traditional designs do not need to look old-fashioned. Photo: Maglifestyle Read more: How Chinese New Year fashion celebrates heritage while setting a festive moodWhat should people avoid when wearing traditional designs in a modern way to ensure they’re honouring the culture, not misrepresenting it? — Winnie, PJAvoid wearing designs without understanding their history, symbolism and cultural context.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 04:04 UTC
U.S. dollar ticks up
NEW YORK, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar increased in late trading on Tuesday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, went up 0.1 percent to 97.161 at 3 p.m. (2000 GMT). The U.S. dollar bought 153.39 Japanese yen, lower than 153.49 Japanese yen in the previous session. The U.S. dollar increased to 0.7705 Swiss francs from 0.7692 Swiss francs, and it advanced to 1.3641 Canadian dollars from 1.3635 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar was up to 8.9847 Swedish Kronor from 8.9412 Swedish Kronor.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 03:44 UTC
Letter writing is enjoying a revival as fans seek a break from screen time
Tactile activities ranging from writing letters and typewriter clubs to TikTok communities showcasing calligraphy skills and wax seals are giving retro writing instruments a resurgence. In a society shaped by constant availability, hands-on hobbies like writing letters and scrapbooking require focus and patience. Owoyele launched the event less than a year ago and has since organized evenings with letter writing, coloring, vinyl listening sessions and other activities. These analog activities are a representation of that.”While writing letters and engaging in other vintage pursuits might seem accessible, it is not always easy to get involved. Frequenting spaces where communities centered around these hobbies gather can be a way to learn about the different activities.
Source:The Star
February 18, 2026 03:32 UTC