
Alert in Trump’s America

Seven-Day Sanctions Showdown

Zelenskyy anti-graft gamble

Why China props up Putin

Joao Felix says late Jota 'will forever be part of football history'

Javelin star Kitaguchi finds new home in small Czech town

Rain halts rescue operation after Pakistan floods kill hundreds

Zelensky says Russia must end war, after Trump pressures Ukraine
Politics
China slams Germany for 'hyping' regional tensions in Asia
China lashed out at Germany on Monday, warning Berlin against "inciting confrontation and hyping up tensions" after its foreign minister said Beijing was "increasingly aggressive" in the Asia-Pacific region.
Politics
US envoy says Israel's turn to 'comply' as Lebanon moves to disarm Hezbollah
US envoy Tom Barrack on Monday called on Israel to honour commitments under a ceasefire that ended its war with Hezbollah, after the Lebanese government launched a process to disarm the militant group.
Last news

India's 'disco king' Bappi Lahiri dies at 69
Indian singer-composer and "Disco King" Bappi Lahiri, who collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Samantha Fox, has died aged 69, his family said Wednesday, prompting tributes from the world of politics and Bollywood.

Chainsaws, ice and a sauna in India's frozen north
High in the barren Indian Himalayas, artists are chainsawing blocks of ice from a frozen river creating what they hope will be the beginnings of India's answer to China's Harbin International Ice Festival.

Giannis pours in 50 in Bucks victory, Celtics win ninth straight
Giannis Antetokounmpo led a potent Milwaukee attack, scoring a season-high 50 points Tuesday as the Bucks snapped a modest two-game losing skid with a 128-119 win over the Indiana Pacers.

One-horse open sleigh ride across frozen Turkish lake
By the time Kismet the horse sets off, Orhan Goller's bare fingers have already turned blue from the freezing temperatures. But the pure white surroundings and the echo of hooves are enough to delight his customers in eastern Turkey.

Pirozzi's journey from wedding singer to opera star
Anna Pirozzi was more into Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston growing up -- it never even crossed her mind that she might one day be singing in the world's most illustrious opera halls.

New Zealand virus cases spike as anti-vaccine protesters claim win
New Zealand Covid-19 infections reached a record high Wednesday as anti-vaccine protesters claimed victory after police failed to clear vehicles blocking the streets around parliament.

Early riser Hall 'gambles' to bag slopestyle gold at Beijing Games
Alex Hall admitted that he was "not a morning person" but he still managed to rise and shine to claim freeski slopestyle gold at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.

Wheat and corn prices ride the Ukrainian rollercoaster
The crisis between Ukraine and Russia, two of the world's biggest wheat and corn producers, has sent the commodities' prices on a wild ride -- with anything from a diplomatic statement to rumor of a maritime blockade roiling markets.

Green wicket holds key to New Zealand-South Africa first Test
New Zealand and South Africa are focusing on the notoriously green Hagley Oval wicket as they draw up battle plans for the first Test starting in Christchurch on Thursday.

Fresh twist in Valieva doping scandal after three substances claim
The Beijing Olympics doping controversy engulfing Russian skater Kamila Valieva took a fresh twist Wednesday after a US media report said she had three substances used to treat heart conditions in the sample which triggered the scandal.

Barcelona clash with Napoli headlines Europa League play-offs
Barcelona's new reality will hit home on Thursday when they play in Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time in 18 years as Napoli visit the Camp Nou in the Europa League.

China may take advantage of Ukraine crisis: US general
China may take advantage of the Ukraine crisis and do something "provocative" in Asia while Western powers are focused on defusing tensions with Russia, a US general warned Wednesday.

US satirist PJ O'Rourke dead at 74
US political satirist PJ O'Rourke, who skewered both Democrats and his fellow Republicans in barbed works including "Republican Party Reptile," has died at age 74, the writer's friends and employers said Tuesday.

North Korea marks ex-leader's birthday with snowy celebration
North Korea marked the 80th birthday of leader Kim Jong Un's late father with a mass outdoor meeting in sub-zero temperatures, state media reported Wednesday, but no missiles or military parade.

18 dead in storms near Brazil's Rio de Janeiro: firefighters
Landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least 18 people Tuesday in a tourist town in the hills above Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian firefighters said.

Crosby scores 500th goal as Penguins rally past Flyers
Canadian hockey superstar Sidney Crosby, who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scored his 500th NHL career goal on Tuesday.

Austria's Strolz in pole after Olympic slalom first leg
Austria's Johannes Strolz sat in pole position of the men's Olympic slalom after topping times for the first leg on Wednesday.

Facebook co-workers now 'Metamates' as image evolves
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg laid out revamped company values Tuesday, urging workers to be "Metamates" who treat one another with respect and look to the future.

Markets rise, oil holds losses on Russia-Ukraine hopes
Asian markets rebounded and oil held steep losses Wednesday on hopes that Russia will not invade Ukraine after Moscow said some of its troops on the countries' border had started pulling back.

China inflation slows as govt vows to keep prices under control
Inflation in China slowed in January, official data showed Wednesday, as the government pledged to keep prices in check in the world's second-biggest economy.

Russian army, Putin's favoured foreign policy tool
Whether they have been camped out on Ukraine's borders or moving tanks across the vast country, Russia's battle-hardened troops have made the world listen to Vladimir Putin, who wants to redefine European security.

Ukraine's comedian-turned-president stars in crisis
He was the comic from Ukrainian TV who implausibly became president.

EU court to deliver key rule-of-law judgement
The EU's highest court will rule Wednesday on whether European Union funds can be slashed for member states flouting democratic standards, a case with major implications for Poland and Hungary.

Ukraine marks 'Day of Unity' as US warns Russia may yet attack
A defiant Ukrainian leader urged citizens to celebrate a "Day of Unity" on Wednesday, as Washington warned once again that Russia remains poised to launch a devastating assault.

Troubled Barca face European reality check on road to recovery
Joan Laporta claimed Barcelona are "back as big players" but Thursday will mark another checkpoint in the club's decline as they face Napoli in the knock-out stage of the Europa League.

Ukraine marks 'Day of Unity' as US warns Russian may yet attack
A defiant Ukrainian leader urged citizens to celebrate a "Day of Unity" on Wednesday, as Washington warned once again that Russia remains poised to launch a devastating assault.

As costs jump, Sao Paulo Uber drivers set to launch rival app
The Uber driver's phone bleeps out the signal to pick up a passenger, but he checks the distance and declines: with fuel prices soaring in Brazil, "I've become a mathematician at the wheel," he says.

Online privacy and profit clash with fortunes at stake
Facebook and Google are under growing pressure to better balance privacy and ad-targeting -- with their fortunes at stake as users rebel, regulators loom and Apple pounces on the moment to polish its image.

10 dead, 11 missing as Spanish trawler sinks off Canada
At least 10 fishermen died and 11 others were missing Tuesday after a trawler from Spain sank in rough seas off eastern Canada, officials said, with poor weather reducing chances of finding more survivors.

'Unstoppable' Mbappe underlines value to PSG and leaves Messi in shade
Kylian Mbappe's importance to Paris Saint-Germain was all too evident long before his stoppage-time strike gave them a narrow win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League showdown on Tuesday and left them on course for a place in the quarter-finals.

Tigray rebels gang-raped women and girls in Ethiopia war: Amnesty
Tigrayan fighters deliberately killed civilians and gang-raped dozens of women and underage girls in two towns in Ethiopia's Amhara region last year, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, the latest example of the horrific toll exacted by the 15-month war.

US senators send 'message of solidarity' to Ukraine
US senators joined together Tuesday to express a "message of solidarity" to the Ukrainian people and a warning to Russia's Vladimir Putin, although the chamber failed to agree on drafting sanctions against Moscow.

US priest used wrong baptism words for 26 years
Thousands of Catholics in the United States may have to be re-baptized after the church discovered a priest had gotten one word wrong in the blessing for decades -- invalidating the rite.

Ronaldo ends barren run as Man Utd climb back into top four
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his six-game goal drought on Tuesday as Manchester United recovered from an insipid first-half display to beat 10-man Brighton 2-0 and clamber back into the Premier League top four.

Altria says it won US antitrust ruling on Juul stake
Tobacco giant Altria said Tuesday it prevailed over a US regulatory agency that challenged its investment in vaping company Juul on antitrust grounds.

Volcano damage to Tonga undersea cable worse than expected
The volcanic eruption near Tonga shredded an 80-kilometre (50 mile) stretch of undersea cable, complicating efforts to reconnect the Pacific kingdom after a month of digital darkness, the company overseeing repairs says.

Biden sees chance for Ukraine diplomacy, keeps pressure on Moscow
US President Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to push for a diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis, but warned that a Russian invasion remained "very much a possibility" and that retaliatory sanctions were primed and ready.

Ronaldo strikes as Man Utd climb back into top four
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his goalscoring drought on Tuesday as Manchester United recovered from an insipid first-half display to beat 10-man Brighton 2-0 and clamber back into the Premier League top four.

Stocks jump, oil slides on easing Ukraine fears
US and European stock markets rebounded and oil prices tumbled Tuesday on easing fears of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine.