India's island choke point
China’s lithography leap
China’s cartel lifeline
Australia limits migration
Top India court orders new steps to protect threatened elephants
Real Madrid star players are compatible: Mourinho
Djibouti football federation accused of misusing funds
Drovix Launches In-House Multi-Asset Liquidity and Execution Stack for Sub-Millisecond Fills, Tighter Spreads
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Australia charges man with trying to pass Ukraine military intel to Russia
Australian police charged a man with foreign interference on Friday for allegedly seeking to pass intelligence about Ukrainian military activities to Russia.
Culture
'So bad it's good': rough animated film becomes surprise Chinese hit
A low-budget Chinese animated film that was widely mocked for its crude visuals became a viral hit, with people packing cinemas to see just how bad it is.
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Vienna dims street lighting as energy prices soar
Vienna, a city known for its Christmas markets and its New Year concert, is cutting back on public lighting in the face of soaring energy prices.
Ailing beluga put down in last-ditch French rescue bid
An ailing beluga whale that strayed into France's Seine river was put down by vets Wednesday during a last-ditch rescue attempt to keep the animal alive, local officials said.
Qatar World Cup start brought forward to November 20: sources
The World Cup's start will be brought forward by a day to allow hosts Qatar to play the opening game, sources told AFP on Wednesday, just over three months before the competition gets underway.
Afif hits unbeaten 85 as Bangladesh post 256-9 in Zimbabwe ODI
Middle-order batter Afif Hossain top scored with an unbeaten 85 for Bangladesh in a dead-rubber third one-day international against series winners Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday.
European stocks steady, dollar down before US inflation data
European stock markets and the dollar fell Wednesday ahead of a crucial US inflation report that could help set the the pace of future interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.
What we know of the symptoms and spread of monkeypox
With monkeypox surging across the world, experts are gathering more evidence on how people catch it and its typical symptoms.
13 killed in Russian strikes near nuclear plant
Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russia of rocket strikes that killed 13 civilians in areas near a Russian-held power plant, where renewed fighting has raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
Ailing Beluga whale dies in French rescue bid
An ailing Beluga whale that strayed into France's River Seine has died during a last-ditch rescue attempt, experts having decided to put the animal down to prevent further suffering, local officials said Wednesday.
Berlusconi eyes fresh comeback in Italian polls
Scandal-plagued former premier Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday he hoped to return to Italy's parliament in September elections, almost a decade after being forced out over a conviction for tax fraud.
Qatar World Cup to start a day early on November 20: sources
The opening match for this year's World Cup, between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, will be brought forward by one day to November 20, World Cup sources told AFP on Wednesday.
Unrepentant LIV rebel Reed shifts focus to Asian Tour
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed said Wednesday he expects other high-profile LIV rebels to be drawn to the Asian Tour as it becomes one of the main avenues for them to earn world-ranking points.
Elon Musk sells nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares
Elon Musk has sold nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares, according to legal filings, amid a high-stakes legal battle with Twitter over a $44 billion buyout deal.
Germany plans 10-bn-euro inflation relief tax package
Germany will offer tax relief worth 10 billion euros ($10.2 billion) to help workers cope with soaring inflation, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said Wednesday.
Heat, drought rekindle huge wildfire in southwest France
A fire that destroyed thousands of hectares of tinder-dry forest in southwest France has flared again amid a fierce drought and the summer's latest heat wave, officials said Wednesday.
Australian cricket captain Lanning takes indefinite break
Australian women's cricket captain Meg Lanning on Wednesday said that she will take an indefinite break from the game to "spend time focusing on myself".
Deliveroo says losses grow, to exit Netherlands
Deliveroo, the international delivery food app, announced Wednesday a big increase in losses as investment costs ate into rising revenues, adding it planned to exit its struggling Netherlands market.
Raymond Briggs: curmudgeonly creator of 'The Snowman'
British cartoonist and illustrator Raymond Briggs called himself "a miserable old git". Even his publisher said he was "the grumpiest of grumpy old men".
Raymond Briggs, author of UK Christmas classic 'The Snowman', dies aged 88
British cartoonist and illustrator Raymond Briggs, whose creation "The Snowman" became a Christmas staple for generations of children, has died aged 88, his publisher Penguin Random House said Wednesday.
Tense Kenya awaits results of close-fought vote
Kenyans waited anxiously on Wednesday for the results of the country's presidential election after a largely peaceful poll, with low turnout pointing to growing frustration with the political elite.
Asian, European markets hit by rate fears ahead of inflation data
Equities fell Wednesday, tracking a drop on Wall Street ahead of a crucial US inflation report later in the day, which could have a huge bearing on the Federal Reserve's plans for raising interest rates.
Pakistan zoo cancels lion auction, plans expansion instead
A Pakistan zoo has called off plans to auction 12 lions from its ever-growing pride to private buyers, saying it would instead create new enclosures for the big cats.
Stranded beluga whale removed from France's Seine river
A beluga whale stranded in the Seine river in northern France for more than a week was removed from the water early Wednesday in a risky rescue operation, but officials warned it was in poor health.
Japan PM reshuffles cabinet as approval ratings slide
Japan's prime minister reshuffled his cabinet Wednesday after a slump in approval ratings, replacing the brother of assassinated ex-leader Shinzo Abe as defence minister.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific narrows H1 loss, eyes better end to year
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific on Wednesday reported losses had narrowed in the first half after an "extremely difficult start" to the year, but said its capacity will improve in coming months as travel sentiment improves.
China warns it will not tolerate Taiwan 'separatists'
China on Wednesday vowed zero tolerance for "separatist activities" in Taiwan and reaffirmed that it would take the self-ruled island by force if necessary.
In Norway, old oil platforms get a second life
At an industrial yard in southwestern Norway, decommissioned oil platforms are slowly being dismantled for a second life in the circular economy.
Billboards get Poles talking low birth rate
The billboards are hard to miss: large and plastered all over Poland, they show two blonde girls in immaculate white posing in a wheat field.
Experts see inflation reprieve in America
Is inflation finally slowing down in the United States?
Taliban torn over reforms one year after seizing power
One year on from the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, some cracks are opening within their ranks over the crucial question of just how much reform their leaders can tolerate.
Elon Musk sells nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares: document
Elon Musk has sold nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares, according to legal filings published Tuesday, amid a high-stakes legal battle with Twitter over a $44 billion buyout deal.
Kabul airport, symbol of chaotic US exit from Afghanistan
Tens of thousands of Afghan men, women and children rushed to Kabul's airport a year ago in a desperate bid to flee the advancing Taliban, who seized power on August 15, 2021.
Stranded beluga whale rescued from France's Seine river
A beluga whale stranded in the river Seine in northern France for more than a week was removed from the water early Wednesday in the first stage of an ambitious rescue operation to return it to the sea.