India's island choke point
China’s lithography leap
China’s cartel lifeline
Australia limits migration
Bill Gates warns world unprepared for AI upheaval
Stocks mixed as oil drops, inflation stays high
Prince Harry and family arrive back in Britain: UK media
Improving standards transform pole vault as spectacle, says Duplantis
Politics
German plan for sugar tax on Coke Zero fizzles out
German government proposals to include Coke Zero and other artificially-sweetened drinks in its new sugar tax fizzled out Wednesday after pushback within the ruling coalition and from businesses.
Sports
India close in on win despite Sri Lanka fightback in second Test
India are closing in on a big win in Colombo after Sri Lanka slumped to 229-6 at stumps on day four of the second Test, having been made to follow-on on Wednesday.
Last news
Pianist behind Paris 'Bohemian Rhapsody' flash mob aims higher
The man behind a recent viral video featuring musicians playing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" to stunned bystanders in a Paris square has revealed to AFP the meticulous work that went into his latest, even bigger production.
Serbia's sole refinery faces shutdown after US sanctions
Serbia's only oil refinery prepared to shut down on Tuesday, as the country's president set a deadline for the firm's Russian majority-owners to sell out and end US sanctions.
10 kidnapped as mass abductions shake Nigeria
Gunmen have seized 10 women and children in the latest kidnapping to rock Nigeria, police said Tuesday, as parents of dozens of children taken from a Catholic school last week pleaded for their release.
EU gives Germany free pass over defence spending
Germany will escape EU punishment for breaking the bloc's budget rules because of a defence spending exemption, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
Rate cut hopes underpin global stocks but tech weakness weighs
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic posted moderate gains Tuesday on Fed rate cut speculation, but tech sector weakness undermined the bullish sentiment, dealers said.
France arrests two men, two women over Louvre heist: prosecutor
French authorities Tuesday arrested four more people in the probe into last month's spectacular daylight theft of imperial jewels from the Louvre museum, the top Paris prosecutor said.
Rain forces changes to 2026 Winter Olympics flame ceremony
Rainy weather has forced a running change to Wednesday's ceremony in ancient Olympia for the lighting of the sacred flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, organisers said.
US retail sales miss expectations as consumers see higher costs
US retail sales grew at a slower pace than anticipated in September, government data showed Tuesday, as higher prices added to affordability concerns while firms grappled with an uptick in business costs.
India, Pakistan to face off in group stage of T20 World Cup: ICC
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have been clubbed together in the same group and will play each other on February 15 in Colombo in the T20 World Cup, cricket's world body announced Tuesday.
Wall Street leads European equities higher as rate cut hopes rise
A solid opening for New York equities underpinned European stocks Tuesday as the tech sector extended a strong run and a US rate cut next month was seen as a near-certainty.
Facing Russia 'threat', France to restore voluntary military service
President Emmanuel Macron is set this week to announce that France is restoring military service on a voluntary basis in the face of the growing threat posed by Russia, just under three decades after conscription was abolished in the country.
Prosecutors seek jail for Italian influencer Ferragni in fraud case
Italian prosecutors asked a court on Tuesday to sentence fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni to one year and eight months in prison if found guilty of alleged fraud over charity endorsement deals.
Vienna's Spanish Riding School probed over animal abuse claims
Austria is probing Vienna's Spanish Riding School after claims that the famed school mistreated some of its Lipizzaner horses, the government said Tuesday.
Man accused of Liverpool parade crash in tears as trial opens
A British man wiped away tears Tuesday as his trial began for allegedly driving his car into crowds at Liverpool Football Club's Premier League victory parade in May, injuring dozens of people.
Pakistan denies deadly strikes after Afghanistan vows retaliation
Afghanistan's Taliban government vowed on Tuesday to "respond appropriately" to deadly overnight air strikes it blamed on Pakistan, a claim Islamabad denied, as tensions spiked a day after a suicide bombing in a Pakistani city.
Dembele could return for PSG against Spurs after latest injury lay-off
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele could make his latest comeback in an injury-stunted season when Paris Saint-Germain face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday.
EU says must 'step up' against China rare earths 'racket'
The European Union must ramp up efforts to break its dependence on China for rare earths faced with export curbs that amount to a "racket" by Beijing, the bloc's industry chief Stephane Sejourne said Tuesday.
Parents of abducted Nigeria students plead for rescue
Parents of dozens of children kidnapped last week from a Catholic school in Nigeria are desperate for their release, with one father crying out that his son is so young he has not yet learned to speak.
Trump Ukraine push spurs clamour for EU to use Russian assets
The US push to ram through a lopsided plan for Ukraine has amped up calls for the EU to take a decision soon on using Russian frozen assets to fund Kyiv -- as Europe frets it risks losing key leverage.
2026 Winter Olympics flame to be lit in ancient Olympia
The sacred flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy will be lit in ancient Olympia, Greece on Wednesday, with poor weather forcing last-minute changes by the organisers.
South Africa on brink of first Test series win in India since 2000
South Africa had India tottering at 27-2 after setting the hosts a mammoth target of 549 in the second Test on Tuesday, moving to the brink of a first series win in the country for 25 years.
Kyrgyzstan arrests Chinese CEO of gold mining firm
Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday it had arrested the Chinese CEO of a gold mining firm accused of causing "large-scale" environmental damage, amid growing public scrutiny over Beijing's influence in the Central Asian country.
EU, Africa talks hone in on closer ties in Angola
European leaders sought to put some meat on the bones of pledges to boost ties with Africa on Tuesday as an Angola summit with their African counterparts entered its final stage.
Stocks diverge tracking Fed rates outlook, tech rebound
European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Tuesday following a tech-led rally on Wall Street that soothed fears of an AI bubble.
Afghanistan vows retaliation against Pakistan for deadly strikes
Afghanistan's Taliban government vowed Tuesday to "respond appropriately" to overnight strikes it blamed on neighbouring Pakistan that killed 10 people, as tensions spiked the day after a suicide bombing in a Pakistani city.
EU nations must recognise gay marriages recorded in member states: court
A top European court on Tuesday ruled that an EU nation had to recognise a gay marriage recorded in another member state, following a complaint by two Poles married in Germany.
South Africa on brink of Test series win with India tottering on 27-2
South Africa had India tottering at 27-2, after declaring their innings and setting a mammoth target of 549, to be on the brink of a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.
Russia hammers Kyiv as talks over US plan rumble on
Russia rained missiles and drones on Kyiv overnight, killing six people, as frantic diplomatic efforts over a draft US plan to end the war intensified.
Thailand floods kill 13, leaving people stranded and roads submerged
Residents of southern Thailand waded through waist-deep floods on Tuesday, with a main tourist town left inundated by days of heavy rain, stranding people in homes and hotels, and killing at least 13 in the region.
Palestinians fear new Israeli settlement will wreck their town
In a town near Jerusalem, a growing number of houses and businesses are receiving demolition and evacuation notices, and Palestinian residents link the drive to Israel's approval of a major new settlement project.
Stubbs hits 94 as South Africa set India mammoth 549 target
Tristan Stubbs made 94 as South Africa declared their second innings on 260-5 to set India a record victory target of 549 and close in on a series win in the second Test on Tuesday.
Rugby Australia back 'world's best coach' Schmidt after tour flop
Rugby Australia threw its support behind embattled Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt on Tuesday, saying it had "absolute confidence" in the New Zealander despite leading the team to a record 10 defeats in a calendar year.