Chinese cities are struggling to pay their bills as 'hidden debts' soar

Three years of strict pandemic controls in China and a real estate crash have drained local government coffers, leaving authorities across the country struggling with mountains of debt. The problem has gotten so extreme that some cities are now unable to provide basic services, and the risk of default is rising.
https://ift.tt/5LItPRT

US says Russia is violating key nuclear arms control agreement

Russia is violating a key nuclear arms control agreement with the United States and continuing to refuse to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities, a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/xz2iPZV

Ex-Wagner commander describes brutality and incompetence on the frontline

• Live updates: Putin's former speechwriter says military coup is becoming a possibility • Analysis: A brutal mercenary army is gaining power in Russia
https://ift.tt/hkyxwX8

Chinese province drops restrictions on unmarried people having children

China's southwestern province of Sichuan will drop restrictions on unmarried people having children, part of a broader attempt by the government to boost the country's plummeting birth rate.
https://ift.tt/DSYO0nI

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro applies for six-month US tourist visa

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is seeking a six-month tourist visa to remain in the United States, the law firm representing Bolsonaro confirmed to CNN Brasil on Monday.
https://ift.tt/Qa6buY7

Pope Francis to visit two fragile African nations

Pope Francis starts a trip on Tuesday to two fragile African nations often forgotten by the world, where protracted conflicts have left millions of refugees and displaced people grappling with hunger.
https://ift.tt/m8ozJ65

Trader Joe's asked customers to rank their nine top products. Here they are

Trader Joe's asked its customers a simple question: If you were to spend the rest of your life on a deserted island, which nine Trader Joe's products would you take with you?
https://ift.tt/NDiOp7k

Meet the man behind this look

Nearly 20 years after launching his eponymous brand, Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta made his hotly anticipated debut at Paris Haute Couture Week on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/bGhC61D

Korean star Song Joong-ki announces marriage to Katy Louise Saunders, says they are expecting a baby

South Korean actor Song Joong-ki married British actress Katy Louise Saunders Monday and the two are expecting a child, Song's agency, HighZium Studio, told CNN.
https://ift.tt/57Pkm6g

Coca-Cola in the Forbidden City: Why this 1981 photo symbolized a cultural shift in China

A young man stands grinning in Beijing's Forbidden City. It's the dead of winter, and one of his hands is buried deep into the pockets of his long overcoat to protect it from the chill. The other grasps the unmistakable contours of a glass Coca-Cola bottle.
https://ift.tt/H0VNwfe

NATO secretary general urges South Korea to allow direct arms exports to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday asked South Korea to reconsider its rule on not exporting weapons to countries in conflict so it could help arm Ukraine in repelling Russia's invasion.
https://ift.tt/lj17KyH

One of Princess Diana's most famous dresses sells for over $600K

It might not be as famous as her head-turning "revenge dress," but an aubergine-colored silk velvet piece is still one of Princess Diana's most iconic gowns — a status confirmed when it sold for $604,800, just over five times the $120,000 auction estimate — at Sotheby's in New York Friday.
https://ift.tt/4HZKbLj

Drones attack Iran military plant, Tehran says

Drones attacked a military plant in Iran's central city of Isfahan, Tehran said on Sunday.
https://ift.tt/AwSdrYC

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fires senior minister over tax controversy

The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bowed to pressure on Sunday by firing the Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, who has faced criticism over his personal tax arrangements.
https://ift.tt/Aj1tTsI

10 children killed and seven injured in Pakistan after boat capsizes

Ten children were killed and seven were injured when a boat capsized on a lake in northern Pakistan Sunday, police said.
https://ift.tt/XIiaKZy

Bus crash kills 39 people in Pakistan

At least 39 people were killed when a bus careered into a ditch and caught fire in the southern Pakistan city of Bela on Sunday.
https://ift.tt/IQb4CtK

Five Russian men fleeing military conscription have been living at a South Korean airport for months

Five Russian men who fled the country after Moscow's military mobilization order last September have been stranded at South Korea's Incheon International Airport for months after authorities refused to accept them.
https://ift.tt/PhTWY4j

Search underway for missing radioactive capsule in Western Australia

Officials have warned the public of the risks in touching a small capsule containing a radioactive substance that was lost during transportation in Western Australia.
https://ift.tt/k4T2V6L

Berlin made the historic move to arm Ukraine. But many Germans are uneasy

The biggest moment in the Ukraine war this week took place hundreds of miles from the battlefield. After days of diplomatic pressure from its increasingly exasperated NATO allies, Germany announced Wednesday that it would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, a potentially pivotal move in the conflict that could decisively tip the balance in Kyiv's favor.
https://ift.tt/dDpw38W

Two wounded in shooting in Jerusalem, police say, after synagogue attack leaves seven dead

Two people were wounded in a shooting attack in Jerusalem on Saturday, emergency services say, the day after a gunman killed at least seven people near a synagogue in the city.
https://ift.tt/CkojauS

US citizen charged over alleged killing of DJ in Colombia

Colombian authorities have charged an American citizen over the alleged murder of a female DJ in Colombia whose body was discovered inside a suitcase at the bottom of a garbage container.
https://ift.tt/gFTlwYG

At least seven dead in Jerusalem synagogue attack, Israeli police say

Israeli police say at least seven people were killed and three were injured in a shooting near a synagogue in Jerusalem on Friday amid high tensions in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
https://ift.tt/wlgdxz4

Every year, 'Invasion Day' forces Australia to confront some painful truths

Musician Fred Leone sings traditional songs to the steady beat of clap sticks that echo through the empty streets as the sun rises on what he calls a "hard day for Blackfellas."
https://ift.tt/BXSmNz5

Blinken to visit Israel and West Bank with tensions high after outbreak of violence

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah next week has gained new urgency after a wave of deadly violence in Israel and the West Bank.
https://ift.tt/K6biuJ7

Why a billionaire has stashed 300 vintage cars in the desert

Qatar hasn't only been busy building soccer stadiums but also a slew of architecturally striking and accessible museums in its well-documented quest to be recognized as the arts capital of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar travel guide
https://ift.tt/VRfmq3E

'A ginormous can of worms': How a fight over snow crabs could lead to a win for oil drilling access

A legal fight in Norway over snow crabs could end up having big implications for access to oil in the Arctic.
https://ift.tt/XWjJ1mu

Analysis: Peru's embattled president could have eased the crisis. What happened?

When Dina Boluarte was anointed Peru's sixth president in five years, she faced battles on two fronts: appeasing the lawmakers who had ousted her boss and predecessor Pedro Castillo, and calming protesterse enraged by the dethroning of yet another president.
https://ift.tt/UfDyAu5

'White Lotus' stars go viral in lingerie campaign

Scheming "White Lotus" besties Mia and Lucia have moved onto their next gig: a Skims fashion campaign.
https://ift.tt/HzOAUmf

Southwest posts quarterly loss and warns more losses are ahead

Southwest Airlines reported a loss for the fourth quarter because of the company's service meltdown over the holiday travel season, and it warned the costs from those problems will result in another loss in the first quarter.
https://ift.tt/CachPk1

Spanish authorities believe fatal machete attack suspect acted alone

Spanish authorities believe the Moroccan suspect in a deadly machete attack at two churches in the southern port city of Algeciras Wednesday acted alone in the assault, which is being investigated as a suspected terror attack.
https://ift.tt/TZV7cbt

US announces visa ban on individuals 'undermining' Nigeria's election

The United States has announced visa restrictions on individuals believed to be "undermining the democratic process" in a recent election in Nigeria.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/politics/us-visa-ban-nigeria-election/index.html

Israeli forces kill 9 in clash with Palestinian gunmen, marking West Bank's deadliest day in over a year

Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, and wounded several others during a raid in the restive West Bank city and refugee camp of Jenin on Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
https://ift.tt/rS51UMJ

Russian warship armed with hypersonic missiles to train with Chinese, South African navies

A Russian warship armed with advanced hypersonic missiles completed a drill in the Atlantic Ocean, ahead of joint naval exercises with the Chinese and South African navies scheduled for next month, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/CKyBQdG

Chinese engineer sentenced to 8 years in US prison for spying

A former graduate student in Chicago was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for spying for the Chinese government by gathering information on engineers and scientists in the United States.
https://ift.tt/GEt2TKA

From China to Japan, extreme cold is gripping East Asia. Experts say it's the 'new norm'

Tens of millions of people across East Asia braved a severe cold snap Wednesday as subzero temperatures and heavy snow brought travel chaos during the Lunar New Year holiday, with climate experts warning that such extreme weather events had become the "new norm."
https://ift.tt/Z9LhFBR

How to recycle the world's largest passenger plane

The Airbus A380 entered service nearly two decades ago, but although passengers loved it, it was doomed from the start. Too big and too expensive for airlines to run due to its four engines, it quickly fell out of favor, surpassed by more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets.
https://ift.tt/EOfHxBS

Peruvian families demand reparations for protester deaths amid reminders of a painful past

"If something happens to me, don't cry," Leonardo Hancco told his wife, Ruth Barcena, the morning of December 15 in Peru's southern city of Ayacucho.
https://ift.tt/qiy3X5B

Ghislaine Maxwell claims that Prince Andrew photo with Virginia Giuffre is 'fake'

Convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has said a decades-old photograph of Prince Andrew with his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre is "fake," in a series of interviews from prison.
https://ift.tt/kZXlHK2

Cargo ship capsizes off Japan's coast with 22 aboard

Five crew members have been rescued and efforts are underway to save 17 others after a cargo ship capsized off Japan's Nagasaki prefecture on Wednesday, the Japan Coast Guard told CNN.
https://ift.tt/onpZ7F0

Hundreds of child asylum seekers have gone missing in UK, government admits

Hundreds of child asylum seekers have gone missing since the British government started housing minors in hotels due to a strain on the country's asylum accommodation system, British Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told lawmakers in parliament on Tuesday, amid calls for an investigation into the matter.
https://ift.tt/Ui4XAa2

Kylie Jenner's life-size lion's head brooch divided the internet

Nothing says fierce like using an apex predator as a brooch. On Monday, Kylie Jenner stole the show at Schiaparelli's couture runway in Paris when she arrived in a black velvet strapless gown adorned with the life-size head of a lion — a pre-release from the label's Spring-Summer 2023 couture collection that debuted moments later.
https://ift.tt/p7EcAJL

Biden administration raised concerns with Beijing over Chinese companies' non-lethal aid in Russian war effort

The Biden administration has recently raised concerns with China about evidence it has suggesting that Chinese companies have sold non-lethal equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine, in an effort to ascertain how much Beijing knows about the transactions, according to two US officials.
https://ift.tt/ajcD7PA

China's northernmost city just saw its coldest day ever

Temperatures in China's northernmost city plunged to minus 53°C (minus 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit) -- its coldest ever recorded, meteorologists said.
https://ift.tt/Ri42HtJ

Former GOP candidate to remain behind bars as he awaits trial in shootings at New Mexico lawmakers homes

The failed Republican New Mexico state House candidate who is accused of masterminding shootings at Democratic officials' homes will remain in jail as he awaits trial, a judge ruled Monday.
https://ift.tt/wZ0Pq26

A group of friends attended a vigil in Beijing. Then one by one, they disappeared

• China says 80% of population have had Covid • Struggling pig kills butcher at slaughterhouse in Hong Kong
https://ift.tt/LgtAyqT

Brazil and Argentina are discussing whether to combine currencies

The two biggest economies in South America are starting talks to create a common currency. Analysts are skeptical.
https://ift.tt/28P4Bju

Analysis: Iran's regime is trying to execute its way out of trouble

The cries of the women outside a Tehran courthouse swell to a collective wail. The gathering is reminiscent of a vigil, but it is one of the vestiges of a nationwide uprising that has all but died down after the Iranian judiciary's breathless handing down of death sentences in recent weeks.
https://ift.tt/KmctwGX

India bans BBC documentary on PM Modi's role in Gujarat riots

India has banned a BBC documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged role in deadly riots more than 20 years ago from being shown in the country, in a move critics decried as an assault on press freedom.
https://ift.tt/Ln5p7gA

Chinese zodiac fortune predictions: What's in store for the Year of the Rabbit?

Say goodbye to the Tiger; it's time to hop into the Year of the Rabbit.
https://ift.tt/TAihnwN

Why is Britain's health service, a much-loved national treasure, falling apart?

Most winters, headlines warn that Britain's National Health Service (NHS) is at "breaking point." The alarms sound over and over and over again. But the current crisis has set warning bells ringing louder than before.
https://ift.tt/52VaX7G

Paris Fashion Week: Top moments from the menswear shows

The menswear shows in Paris are underway and despite chilling temperatures and a debilitating transit strike, the fashion community is out in full force.
https://ift.tt/mvVwbCZ

Burkina Faso's military government demands French troops leave the country within one month

The military government of Burkina Faso has demanded the departure of French troops from the country, according to the government press agency Agence d'Information du Burkina (AIB).
https://ift.tt/OqAtS62

Palace reveals details of three-day celebration to mark King Charles III's coronation

Buckingham Palace on Saturday revealed details of King Charles III's coronation, set to be less extravagant than his mother's ceremony 70 years ago, in a reflection of the cost-of-living crisis many Britons are enduring.
https://ift.tt/vuan2wH

Why are South Koreans losing faith in America's nuclear umbrella?

They have them, so we need them.
https://ift.tt/whDZpcL

Struggling pig kills butcher at slaughterhouse in Hong Kong

A butcher died while trying to slaughter a pig in Hong Kong on Friday, the city's police said.
https://ift.tt/ul4hYQK

US strike kills approximately 30 al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia

The United States carried out a strike in Somalia that killed approximately 30 al-Shabaab fighters, US Africa Command said in a statement Saturday.
https://ift.tt/mZyX8Lp

Tourists can't enter Machu Picchu because of unrest in Peru

Tourist entry to Machu Picchu Citadel and the Inca Trail Network has been suspended until further notice due to ongoing unrest in Peru, officials in the country said Saturday.
https://ift.tt/YoS928f

Andy Murray receives standing ovation from crowd despite Australian Open defeat

Andy Murray's fairytale run at the Australian Open came to an end on Saturday after he was beaten by Roberto Bautista Agut.
https://ift.tt/woNDPLk

Capture of Mafia boss raises questions over how he stayed free for so long

The arrest of Cosa Nostra mob boss Matteo Messina Denaro at a private health clinic in Palermo on Monday stunned many around the world due to the extraordinary length of time he'd been on the run -- but came as little surprise for some who watched the Mafia more closely.
https://ift.tt/FSfDjKb

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fined for failing to wear seatbelt

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined by police for failing to wear a seatbelt while he was a passenger in a moving car.
https://ift.tt/JKUdhkB

Top Indian wrestlers demand inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against top official after days of protest in New Delhi

Several leading Indian wrestlers are demanding an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), amid a days-long protest in New Delhi.
https://ift.tt/ybO1vnS

Australian rugby player suspended after arrest

Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs have suspended Kurtley Beale after he was arrested and charged over sexual assault allegations on Friday in Kingsford, Australia, the union announced in a statement.
https://ift.tt/tsgvZkb

He beheaded his wife in Iran. His prison sentence? Eight years and two months

An Iranian man who beheaded his 17-year-old wife in February 2022 was sentenced to just eight years and two months in prison on Wednesday, according to the country's semi-official Khabar Online website, sparking criticism over the leniency of the prison term.
https://ift.tt/zpQuy45

The death of an American attorney at a Mexico hotel did not show signs of violence, official says

Mexican authorities investigating the case of an American attorney who was found dead at a resort hotel earlier this month determined there was no foul play in his death, according to an official statement released Thursday.
https://ift.tt/ZSx9TQ3

The rise of the K-drama heroine

One of last year's most successful South Korean TV shows, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," follows the story of a young autistic woman, Woo Young-woo, who navigates adulthood while winning cases at one of the nation's top law firms. Already renewed for a second season, it is now Netflix's sixth most-watched non-English television series and was recently nominated for a 2023 Critics' Choice Award.
https://ift.tt/qDn9Gkl

Thousands of officers prepare to guard Peru capital

Almost 12,000 police officers are preparing to guard the Peruvian capital Lima as the country braces for massive protests on Thursday.
https://ift.tt/MaEVhpx

One dead, 60 injured in stampede at Gulf Cup soccer final in Iraq

One person was killed and 60 more were injured in a stampede ahead of a soccer match in the Iraqi city of Basra on Thursday, the state news agency INA reported.
https://ift.tt/0WYNgj3

French workers walk out in mass strikes against plans to raise the retirement age

Trains and flights were canceled in France, primary schools shut and thousands of police officers deployed as labor unions held nationwide strikes Thursday to protest the government's plan to raise the retirement age for most workers.
https://ift.tt/fCpTG4m

New aircraft design from NASA and Boeing could benefit passengers in the 2030s

Greener commercial flight technology may be on the horizon.
https://ift.tt/eHda7PE

Spending the night in an igloo, in the Alps. Sounds cool, but is it?

Spending the night in an igloo sounds cool. And it is, though mainly literally.
https://ift.tt/1IZFyMh

The complicated history of longevity noodles, a popular Lunar New Year dish

It's nearly Lunar New Year, and Johnny Mui is finally smiling.
https://ift.tt/aM2TIe6

Qantas plane lands safely after mayday alert

A Qantas flight landed safely at Sydney Airport Wednesday after a mayday alert was issued on approach.
https://ift.tt/Sl2H7PO

Key Netanyahu ally cannot serve as cabinet minister, Israel's top court rules, sparking potential political crisis

Israel's top court ruled 10-1 on Wednesday that Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas party and a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should not be allowed to serve as a cabinet minister because of a February 2022 conviction for tax fraud.
https://ift.tt/ktVfzxp

Why these frog clogs are trending this week

First it was pigeons, in the form of a Carrie Bradshaw-approved clutch bag. Then came a red carpet-worthy goldfish dress. Now, Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson has selected a new animal to elevate in the name of fashion: frogs.
https://ift.tt/4WzJLBD

Tokyo High Court acquits three former Tepco executives over 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident: NHK

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday acquitted three former Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) executives, finding them not guilty of manslaughter over the 2011 triple reactor meltdown at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/IOGmfDN

Taiwan to allow women into military reserve force training as China fears grow

Taiwan's military on Tuesday rolled out plans to allow women to volunteer for reserve force training for the first time, as China continues to ramp up military pressure on the democratic self-ruled island.
https://ift.tt/eF2fXWN

UK officer who admitted to 49 sex offenses sacked, as questions mount over trust in the police

London's Metropolitan Police force has dismissed officer David Carrick after he admitted to a litany of sexual attacks on women in a case that has sparked calls for an inquiry into the United Kingdom's largest police service.
https://ift.tt/NA7bnZV

The British government wants to hand police unprecedented powers to handle protesters. Human rights activists say it's an affront to democracy

The British government wants to hand new powers to police that would allow officers to take stronger action against people engaging in peaceful, political protest. 
https://ift.tt/xK4wIC0

Prominent Pakistani lawyer shot dead inside court building, police say

A prominent Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist was shot dead on Monday at a court building in the northwestern city of Peshawar, according to police and a witness.
https://ift.tt/np2SkMU

Australian runner aims for world record with 150 marathons in 150 days

Australian Erchana Murray-Bartlett completed 150 marathons in 150 days, running 6,300 kilometers (3,900 miles) from the country's northern tip to the southern city of Melbourne in what could be a new world record.
https://ift.tt/y8Egaqz

China records first population decline in 60 years

China's population shrank in 2022 for the first time in more than 60 years, a new milestone in the country's deepening demographic crisis with significant implications for its slowing economy.
https://ift.tt/2Oza3W0

Devil's dung or dinner delight? The story behind one of India's most divisive ingredients

An appetizer or an abhorrent? A medicine or a pesticide?
https://ift.tt/HKMIsw8

UK government blocks Scotland's new gender recognition law

The UK government has blocked a new law intended to allowed trans people in Scotland to change their legal gender without a medical diagnosis -- a controversial move that has added fuel to the already highly emotional debate over Scottish independence.
https://ift.tt/bDoactp

Former Afghan lawmaker Mursal Nabizada shot dead at her home in Kabul

Former Afghan lawmaker Mursal Nabizada and her security guard were shot dead her home in Kabul early Sunday morning, according to Kabul police.
https://ift.tt/IobRMEa

Best red carpet fashion at the 2023 Critics' Choice Awards

The Critics' Choice Awards returned to its usual January time slot after 2022's ceremony was delayed for over two months amid a surge of Covid-19 cases. And all eyes were on the red carpet as stars arrived at LA's Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel on Sunday evening.
https://ift.tt/6RwDWco

How the dream of moving to Italy turned sour for one family

Making a move to Italy to start a new life in the sunshine, surrounded by beautiful scenery, incredible food and fascinating culture is a dream that many people have realized in recent years thanks to a sell-off of cheap homes.
https://ift.tt/LckjfY7

China allows Didi to resume signing up new users as tech crackdown eases

Ride-hailing giant Didi received approval to resume new user registration in China, it said Monday, providing more evidence that Beijing's regulatory crackdown on tech giants might be coming to an end.
https://ift.tt/dotmUTz

At least 68 dead in Nepal plane crash

• Video appears to show plane rolling on its side before crash • Why is it so risky to fly in Nepal?
https://ift.tt/EWdKBwr

Indonesia sends warship to monitor Chinese coast guard vessel

Indonesia has deployed a warship to its North Natuna Sea to monitor a Chinese coast guard vessel that has been active in a resource-rich maritime area, the country's naval chief said on Saturday of an area that both countries claim as their own.
https://ift.tt/SF68YvQ

More than 80,000 people turn out for Tel Aviv protest against Netanyahu government

https://ift.tt/Nr8BVkO

China says 60,000 people have died of Covid since early December

Close to 60,000 people have died of Covid in China since the country abruptly abandoned its tight "zero-Covid" policy in early December, a medical official from the National Health Commission (NHC) told a press conference in Beijing on Saturday.
https://ift.tt/cx1L0Zw

Germany plans to destroy this village for a coal mine. Thousands are gathering to stop it

It's a stark image in 2023: Police in riot gear flooding a village, pulling people out of houses and tearing down structures to make way for the arrival of excavating machines to access the rich seam of coal beneath the ground.
https://ift.tt/ALxYX8F

'Command your troops, damn it!' How a series of security failures opened a path to insurrection in Brazil

A sea of people, draped in the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag, surge onto the roof of the country's modernist congressional building in the capital Brasilia, a video shared on social media shows.
https://ift.tt/vak4wS7

Novak Djokovic says deportation from Australia helped him 'achieve some great results'

Novak Djokovic's long absence from competitive tennis at the start of last year after he was deported from Australia helped him "achieve some great results," he said in a press conference on Saturday ahead of the 2023 Australian Open.
https://ift.tt/CoUZmlu

UK condemns Iran's execution of dual British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari

A dual British-Iranian citizen was hanged by Iran on charges of espionage and corruption, a state-affiliated media outlet reported Saturday, the latest in a string of executions carried out by a regime grappling with unprecedented protests across the country.
https://ift.tt/UcGkWad

A hairline crack became a 3-foot chasm. That's when he knew they had to leave

For years, residents in the northern Indian city of Joshimath have complained to local officials that their homes are sinking. Now authorities are being forced to take action, evacuating nearly 100 families in the last week and expediting the arrival of experts to determine the cause.
https://ift.tt/zdhNWIV

Brazil's public prosecutor asks Supreme Court to investigate Bolsonaro over January 8 attacks

Brazil's public prosecutor has formally requested the Supreme Court to investigate former President Jair Bolsonaro's alleged involvement in the January 8 attacks on government buildings in the capital Brasilia.
https://ift.tt/9KdPQj1

Russian Olympians closer to claiming figure skating gold after Russian agency clears skater in doping scandal

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) found figure skater Kamila Valieva violated anti-doping rules but bore no "fault or negligence" for the transgression, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
https://ift.tt/2rwFml9

US hostage envoy quietly traveled to Venezuela to see detained Americans

The US State Department's top official for hostage and detainee issues quietly traveled to Venezuela last month as efforts to bring home Americans wrongfully detained there continue.
https://ift.tt/NhyQdbm

Google claims a Supreme Court defeat would transform the internet — for the worse

An unfavorable ruling against Google in a closely watched Supreme Court case this term about YouTube's recommendation engine could have sweeping unintended consequences for much of the wider internet, the search giant argued in a legal filing Thursday.
https://ift.tt/YiZ9yvB

The world's most powerful passport for 2023 revealed

A trio of Asian passports offer their holders greater global travel freedom than those of any other countries, according to a new quarterly report released by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.
https://ift.tt/GD4JphB

Inside China's crackdown on tattoo culture

"My behavior encroached on the physical and mental health of minors," read a court-ordered apology issued by a tattoo artist in China's Shaanxi province in September. "I am deeply aware of my mistakes," he added.
https://ift.tt/obtnLra

Defiant Navalny has opposed Putin's war in Ukraine from prison. His team fear for his safety

Surviving President Vladimir Putin's poisoners was just a warm-up, not a warning, for Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny. But his defiance, according to his political team, has put him in a race against time with the Russian autocrat.
https://ift.tt/9kYn3VP

Protester killed in Peru as anti-government violence spreads to tourist city

One protester has died and at least 19 Peruvian police officers were injured in anti-government clashes in Cusco as officials in the tourist city put health facilities on red alert.
https://ift.tt/lX9qvfz

Peru's top prosecutor launches inquiry as death toll from unrest reaches 47

Peru's top prosecutor's office launched an inquiry Tuesday into new President Dina Boluarte and senior cabinet ministers over deadly clashes that have swept the country following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo.
https://ift.tt/a4hNuyL

Australia pulls out of Afghanistan cricket series over Taliban's restrictions on women

Australia's men's cricket team has withdrawn from a series of upcoming matches against Afghanistan in protest over the ruling Taliban's restrictions on women and girls' education and employment, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement Thursday.
https://ift.tt/dC7KAbG

China's local governments set 2023 growth targets, offering clues on economic recovery

A number of key provinces and cities in China have announced their growth targets for this year, most of them above 5%, offering the first clues about the country's economic path in 2023.
https://ift.tt/EG5rn9k

Dual British-Iranian citizen sentenced to death for spying for UK

Alireza Akbari, a dual British-Iranian citizen and former Iranian official, has been sentenced to death in Iran for spying for the United Kingdom, according to Iranian judiciary-affiliated outlet Mizan on Wednesday.
https://ift.tt/KrQRoTM

Executions aren't new in Iran, but this time they're different

The Islamic Republic of Iran has long ranked among the world's top executioners. But with the recent death sentences handed down to protesters, critics say the regime has taken capital punishment to a new level.
https://ift.tt/CNkDEsP

Macron is dragging France's retirement age out of the 17th century

The last time President Emmanuel Macron tried to drag France's antiquated pension and retirement system from the 17th century into the 21st century with one long pull, mobs coursed through the streets of Paris, flaming barricades went up on the Champs Elysées and Macron's entire presidency nearly floundered in the face of the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vests).
https://ift.tt/d7EXy5M

Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak

Ugandan authorities have officially declared the end of a recent Ebola outbreak after 42 consecutive days with no new cases.
https://ift.tt/Q0CwzRo

Ex-King Constantine II of Greece dies at 82

The former King of Greece, Constantine II, has died at the age of 82, CNN affiliate CNN Greece reported on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/rabLnpd

Cardinal George Pell dies aged 81

Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic official to be convicted of child sex abuse before the ruling was overturned in 2020, has died, according to his secretary. He was 81.
https://ift.tt/FQDYqZT

French workers can retire much younger than most. That's about to change

The French government on Tuesday will propose raising the retirement age by at least two years as part of a long-delayed reform to the country's pension system that was met with huge protests by labor unions the last time it was attempted.
https://ift.tt/Kn6HWX2

'History might repeat itself': Chinese ambassador warns Australia to be wary of Japan

China's ambassador to Australia says Canberra should be wary of its relationship with Japan, reminding them that Japanese troops attacked Australia during World War II and could do the same again.
https://ift.tt/wjOd27e

China stops issuing short-term visas for South Koreans in retaliation for travel restrictions

Chinese authorities have stopped issuing short-term visas to South Korean citizens in the country's first retaliation against Covid entry restrictions on arrivals from China.
https://ift.tt/QjHqbwr

The world's most punctual airlines in 2022 were...

This week we've seen air passengers stranded in the Philippines after a power outage, flight delays in Florida and Denver, as well as the ongoing saga of Southwest Airlines' winter holiday meltdown.
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Donors pledge more than $9 billion for Pakistan's flood recovery

International donors on Monday committed over $9 billion to help Pakistan recover from ruinous floods last year, exceeding its external financing goals and paving the way for a new model on raising funds to fight climate disasters in poorer countries.
https://ift.tt/jdRNyLB

Mystery of why Roman buildings have survived so long has been unraveled, scientists say

The majestic structures of ancient Rome have survived for millennia — a testament to the ingenuity of Roman engineers, who perfected the use of concrete.
https://ift.tt/9l46DuC

Ozone layer on track to recover within decades as chemicals are phased out, scientists report

In rare good news for the planet, Earth's ozone layer is on track to recover completely within decades, as ozone-depleting chemicals are phased out across the world, according to a new United Nations-backed assessment.
https://ift.tt/klxwMG2

China's crackdown on tech giants is 'basically' over, top official says

China's heavy-handed crackdown on tech giants is coming to an end and the country's economic growth is expected to be back on track soon, according to a top central bank official.
https://ift.tt/kPHCs2I

Kyiv dismisses Russia's claim hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers killed in Kramatorsk attack

Ukrainian officials on Sunday dismissed Moscow's claim that a large number of Kyiv's soldiers were killed in a Russian attack last week in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine.
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Adidas takes fashion house to court over famous stripes

Adidas and fashion house Thom Browne are facing off in a New York court after the sportswear giant claimed that the house's use of parallel bars on its apparel infringed on Adidas' trademarked "Three Stripes."
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Pakistan to seek $16 billion to rebuild flood-hit country at UN conference

Pakistan and the United Nations are holding a major conference in Geneva on Monday aimed at marshaling support to rebuild the country after devastating floods in what is expected to be a major test case for who pays for climate disasters.
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Q&A: Can international tourists visit China?

Some potentially good news for travelers hoping to visit China in 2023.
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Iran executes karate champion and volunteer children's coach

The executions on Saturday of two young men in Iran, one a karate champion, the other a volunteer children's coach, in connection with nationwide protests have sparked outrage around the world.
https://ift.tt/4Pv38po

'We're the one connection': The postal workers risking their lives to get pensions to Ukraine's elderly

Every few minutes the ground shakes as blasts echo through the battered streets of Siversk, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. Sometimes it's outgoing Ukrainian fire, sometimes the Russians firing back.
https://ift.tt/wTUzv2W

40 dead, many injured in Senegal bus crash, president says

At least 40 people were killed Sunday and many others seriously injured in a bus crash in central Senegal, according to the country's president. 
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Germany detains Iranian national suspected of planning a terror attack

German police have detained an Iranian national on suspicion of planning a terror attack, authorities in the country said Sunday.
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Mexico City subway train collision kills at least 1, injures dozens

Two trains collided on Mexico City's subway system Saturday, killing at least one person and injuring 57 others, the city's mayor said.
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Six journalists detained over footage that shows South Sudan president seemingly wetting himself

Six journalists in South Sudan have been detained over the circulation of footage showing President Salva Kiir appearing to wet himself at an official event, the national journalists union said on Saturday.
https://ift.tt/LBEpJKc

Extradition of 'El Chapo' son to the US halted after 29 killed in arrest operation

A Mexico City federal judge halted the extradition of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán's son, alleged drug cartel leader Ovidio Guzmán, to the United States on Friday, a day after he was arrested in an intense operation in northern Mexico that led to the deaths of 29 people.
https://ift.tt/Q39IM6U

Western Australia in grip of 'devastating' flood emergency, PM says

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday his government was ready to provide whatever support was needed to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking floods isolated far-flung communities there.
https://ift.tt/afrpwNh

What the return of Chinese tourists means for the global economy

In the years before Covid, China was the world's most important source of international travelers. Its 155 million tourists spent more than a quarter of a trillion dollars beyond its borders in 2019.
https://ift.tt/4V9muwz

US returns looted antiquity to Palestinian Authority for first time ever

For the first time ever, the United States has returned a looted antiquity to the Palestinian Authority -- an Iron Age ivory "cosmetic spoon" that is almost 3,000 years old.
https://ift.tt/u4XCHnM

Blackface at Spain's Three Kings parade sparks calls to end the controversial practice

A Spanish tradition of people wearing blackface to represent one of the Three Wise Men -- or Three Kings -- in parades across the country has sparked calls to end the controversial practice.
https://ift.tt/SixE037

Germany and Norway will build a big hydrogen pipeline

Germany just took a step closer to finding a long-term, greener replacement for Russian natural gas and coal.
https://ift.tt/wzVKyPb

China to open border with Hong Kong after three years of tight control

The Chinese government announced on Thursday that it will reopen its border with Hong Kong on January 8, nearly three years after it was largely shut in an effort to contain the spread of Covid.
https://ift.tt/muJAXlT

Myanmar junta to free more than 7,000 prisoners under amnesty

Myanmar's military government will release 7,012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the country's independence day, state broadcaster MRTV reported on Wednesday, as the junta chief praised some countries for maintaining support for his nation.
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United said it had this woman's missing bag. She tracked it to a residential address

Most of us know the travel fear of a bag not appearing on the belt after a flight. Some of us -- ever more, thanks to the aviation chaos this year -- know the gut punch of it not appearing. But an increasing number of travelers know what it's like to lose a bag and get it back -- not because of airlines' diligence, but because they knew their bag's location thanks to a tracking device they'd packed with their clothes.
https://ift.tt/qmxXvMd

Funeral of former Pope Benedict XVI to be held at Vatican in prestigious ceremony

The funeral of former Pope Benedict XVI, who died Saturday at the age of 95, will take place Thursday in a traditional ceremony led by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
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Japan is paying families to leave Tokyo. Here's why

Japan is offering to pay families to move out of its overcrowded capital, in an effort to revitalize countryside towns and boost the falling birth rate.
https://ift.tt/tBeKUpZ

Iranian authorities release prominent actress Taraneh Alidoosti on bail

One of Iran's best-known actresses, who was arrested after she criticized the execution of a man involved in nationwide protests, was released on bail on Wednesday, state-aligned ISNA said.
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Israel's rightward shift leaves its new Arab allies in an awkward spot

It was a rare embrace between one of Israel's most controversial politicians and an Arab ambassador. Itamar Ben Gvir and the United Arab Emirates' Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja clutched each other's hands in a warm greeting in Tel Aviv in early December.
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Poland says Germany refused talks on World War II reparations

Germany has rebuffed the latest push by Poland's nationalist government for vast reparations over World War II, saying in response to a diplomatic note that the issue was closed, the foreign ministry in Warsaw said on Tuesday.
https://ift.tt/ltQ6Jgd

Snooker investigates Chinese players over alleged match-fixing scandal

Snooker's governing body on Tuesday said it had suspended two more Chinese players as it investigates an alleged match-fixing and betting scandal -- bringing the number of players from the Asian country caught up in the probe to 10.
https://ift.tt/7aAWbLw

Australia cruise ship stopped for biofuel cleaning will compensate passengers

Viking Cruises will compensate hundreds of passengers on its Orion cruise ship after cruisers were forced to stay on board and miss multiple stops because officials blocked port access due to marine growth on the ship's hull.
https://ift.tt/gUWGq27

Thousands bid farewell to Pelé

Soccer great Pelé was laid to rest on Tuesday after thousands lined the streets in the city of Santos to view his funeral procession.
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'Uncharted territory': January heat records smashed across Europe

The year has only just started but already Europe has broken an alarming number of weather records as extreme heat spread across the continent.
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The best destinations to visit in 2023

New year equals new outlook. Apply this formula liberally to travel planning in 2023.
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Tesla delivered a record 1.3 million vehicles in 2022, but it still disappointed Wall Street

Tesla delivered a record number of cars last year, as sales continued to grow by percentages any other major automaker would dream about. But Tesla still managed to disappoint Wall Street throughout 2022 -- and the last quarter was no different.
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'It's like a constant gamble:' Ukrainian couple await birth of twins in wartime Kyiv

Kateryna and her husband Oleg endure what every citizen of Kyiv must -- long blackouts, hours without any internet connection and constant apprehension about the next missile barrage.
https://ift.tt/qidATpa

Rescuers try to save boy, 10, trapped in Vietnam concrete pile

Rescuers in Vietnam were desperately trying to free a 10-year boy on Monday two days after he fell into the narrow open shaft of a concrete pile at a construction site on New Year's Eve.
https://ift.tt/Ws50oxk

From unwinding zero-Covid to economic recovery: What to watch in China in 2023

After a tumultuous end to a momentous and challenging year, China heads into 2023 with a great deal of uncertainty -- and potentially a glimpse of light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
https://ift.tt/0z3huUs

'Worst way to start the year': Thousands stranded at Manila airport on New Year's Day

Chaos erupted on New Year's Day in the Philippines after a severe airport power outage temporarily impacted air traffic control, disrupting nearly 300 flights and leaving tens of thousands of travelers stranded in the South East Asian hub.
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Analysis: Russia's startling moves in Ukraine leave Europe wondering what's next

Zelensky: Russia waging war so Putin can stay in power 'until the end of his life' | Ukraine dominated the news in 2022: CNN's top stories
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Xi Jinping estimates China's 2022 GDP grew at least 4.4%. But Covid misery looms

China's economy grew at least 4.4% in 2022, according to leader Xi Jinping, a figure much stronger than many economists had expected. But the current Covid wave may hobble growth in the months ahead.
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Canada is banning some foreigners from buying property

Canada in 2023 is closing its doors to foreign investors who want to purchase homes.
https://ift.tt/tNnm37a

Pritzker-prize winning architect Arata Isozaki has died at 91

Pritzker-prize winning architect Arata Isozaki has died at the age of 91, according to his longtime partner Misa Shin. He passed away due to natural causes on Wednesday at his home in Naha, in Japan's Okinawa prefecture. In a statement from his office, Arata Isozaki and Associates, Shin said that a private funeral service would be held with only close relatives present.
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Lula da Silva sworn in as Brazil's president, amid fears of violence from Bolsonaro supporters

Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva was sworn in as Brazil's new president on Sunday, marking the beginning of his third term in office.
https://ift.tt/3eq8b5I

Nine suffocate to death in Uganda New Year's firework crush

At least nine people, including a 10-year-old boy, suffocated to death as crowds rushing to see a New Year's firework display got stuck in a narrow corridor in a shopping mall near Uganda's capital, police said.
https://ift.tt/PAXvCFi

Controversial internet personality Andrew Tate and his brother detained for a month in Romania

Controversial internet personality Andrew Tate and his brother were ordered to be detained for a month on Friday as prosecutors pursued claims of human trafficking and rape.
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