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'Happy days'?: French communists hope to come in from cold
Armed with its most charismatic leader in decades, France's Communist party aims to return to its glory days in the upcoming presidential election and win back voters who have drifted to the right.
Cautious Macron holds advantage in French election
A relatively flat campaign in which opponents have failed to score points is playing into the hands of French President Emmanuel Macron as he bids for a second term, even if much can still change ahead of the April elections.
Somaliland minister hails 'milestone' visit to Taiwan
Taiwan's push to grow its presence on the world stage as China poaches its diplomatic allies saw Taipei roll out the red carpet on Wednesday to a new friend in a similar position -- Somaliland.
Snowboard great White survives Beijing qualifying scare
American snowboard legend Shaun White breathed a heavy sigh of relief after leaving it until his second and last run to qualify for the final of the halfpipe at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.
Legal hitch delays Olympic team skating medals
The medals ceremony for the team figure skating at the Beijing Olympics has been delayed by a legal issue, the IOC said on Wednesday.
Ukrainians on Russian border 'on alert' for last eight years
Wrapped up against the cold in a padded camouflage jacket, a Ukrainian border guard cradles his automatic rifle as he looks out over a barbed wire-topped fence into the expanse of Russia beyond.
Booker powers first-place Suns over Sixers, Celtics clobber Nets
Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges combined for 58 points and JaVale McGee provided a much-needed spark off the bench as the Phoenix Suns won their third straight game with a 114-109 victory over Philadelphia.
Ruud flies flag for Norway and remembers late dad with Olympic gold
Birk Ruud led from the start to win Beijing Olympic gold in style in the men's freeski Big Air on Wednesday -- even carrying a Norwegian flag in his hand for his third run.
Toyota overcomes chip shortage to beat Q3 net profit forecast
Toyota on Wednesday posted a forecast-beating net profit of $6.8 billion for the three months to December, even as a global chip crunch and a pandemic-driven parts shortage forced production cuts.
Sexual abuse victims condemn Australia PM's 'shocking' response to claims
Two prominent advocates for survivors of sexual abuse pilloried Australia's prime minister Wednesday, decrying "weasel words" and a response to widespread abuse that had not "measured up".
Citi exit sparks angst for Mexican cultural treasures
Paintings by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are among the cultural jewels whose looming sale has sparked concerns about the future of one of Mexico's most important private art collections.
Rainbow-haired snowboarder puts Malta in rare Winter Olympic spotlight
Malta is best known for its Mediterranean sun but Beijing Olympic snowboarder Jenise Spiteri is on an unlikely mission to get her island nation into winter sports.
WHO urges rich countries to pay up for Covid plan
The WHO Wednesday urged rich countries to pay their fair share of the money needed for its plan to conquer Covid-19 by contributing $16 billion as a matter of urgency.
Shiffrin left 'low' at Beijing Olympics as Chloe Kim stars and falls
Mikaela Shiffrin's Beijing Olympics threatened to turn into a winter nightmare after she slid out of the slalom as fellow American star Chloe Kim starred and then sprawled in snowboard Wednesday.
Toyota quarterly net profit beats estimates despite chip shortage
Toyota on Wednesday logged a forecast-beating net profit of $6.8 billion for the three months to December, even as a global chip crunch and a pandemic-driven parts shortage forced production cuts.
New Zealand convoy protesters vow to stay 'as long as it takes'
New Zealand anti-vaccine mandate protesters faced off with police outside parliament Wednesday, as demonstrators camped inside the Wellington legislature's grounds vowed to stay "as long as it takes".
Shiffrin in second Olympic failure, ran out of 'space and time'
Mikaela Shiffrin said she felt "awful" after the American's Beijing Olympics went from bad to worse on Wednesday when she slid out of the slalom.
Ruud flies the flag for Norway with Big Air Olympic gold
Birk Ruud led from the start to win Beijing Olympic gold in the men's freeski Big Air final on Wednesday -- even carrying a Norwegian flag in his hand for his third jump.
Pinturault eyes elusive Olympic combined gold
France's Alexis Pinturault will have a crack at an elusive Olympic gold when he takes on the Beijing 2022 men's alpine combined on Wednesday.
Hindu pride and Muslim fears overshadow key Indian poll
Hindu worshippers from across India gather each morning to pray in Ayodhya, near where a historic mosque was torn down three decades ago by religious zealots -- triggering inter-faith riots that killed thousands of people.
'My heart and body shake': Afghan women defy Taliban
One after the other, quickly, carefully, keeping their heads down, a group of Afghan women step into a small Kabul apartment block -- risking their lives as a nascent resistance against the Taliban.
Pandemic sets sales of microwavable popcorn a-pinging
While the closure of cinemas during the pandemic has eaten into popcorn sales, demand for the microwavable form of the popular snack has reached new records, according to Europe's biggest producer.
Deja vu as US ski star Shiffrin slides out of Olympic slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin said she felt "awful" after the American ski star's Beijing Olympics campaign went from bad to worse on Wednesday when she slid out of the slalom.
Peru's president swears in new cabinet, his fourth in six months
Peru's leftist President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday appointed a new cabinet, the fourth since he came to power six months ago, including replacing a prime minister who lasted just three days in office.
Taliban erases signs of ex-government from Kabul streets
In the six months since taking back control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have erased all visible signs of the former government from the capital.
Godsend or 'ghetto': Syrian migrants flock to small Cyprus town
On the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, grappling with an influx of asylum seekers, the small town of Chlorakas has become the centre of tensions. One-quarter of its residents are refugees.
Beijing sells troubled Xinjiang as a winter sports paradise
China's vast region of Xinjiang has hit the headlines as a centre of massive alleged human rights abuses, but Beijing is keen it gets recognition for another reason -- as a top winter sports destination.
Asian markets rise again as traders gird for US inflation data
Asian markets rose Wednesday following a positive performance on Wall Street as traders prepared for the release of highly anticipated US inflation data, while sentiment was also buoyed by signs of easing Russia-Ukraine tensions.
In Iraq's Mosul, library rises from ashes of IS reign
The storied library of Iraq's Mosul University boasted a million titles before Islamic State group jihadists rampaged through it, toppling book shelves and burning ancient texts.
Top UN court to rule on massive DR Congo reparation claim
The UN's top court will rule Wednesday in a long-running compensation fight between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is claiming billions of dollars over a brutal 1998-2003 war.
Shaken by fracking quakes, Texas is forced to act
"You get used to it. The walls shake," says Sam, a resident of Midland, a town in west Texas where hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas -- known as "fracking" -- is causing more and more earthquakes.
End of war brings relief, and despair, to Afghan women
The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August brought an end to 20 years of fighting -- and relief for many women -- but harsh restrictions imposed by the new government are also causing despair.