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Seventeen dead in Argentina after taking laced cocaine
At least 17 people died and 56 more were hospitalized in a northwestern suburb of Buenos Aires after consuming cocaine cut with an a toxic substance, possibly opioids, authorities said Wednesday.
German cardinal urges lifting celibacy rule for priests
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, whose archdiocese was the subject of a recent damning report into child sex abuses, said Wednesday he was in favour of lifting the celibacy requirement for priests.
Europe rights body launches rare action against Turkey
The Council of Europe on Wednesday launched for only the second time in its history disciplinary action against Turkey over its failure to free activist Osman Kavala, with Ankara denouncing the decision as interference.
Death toll from Brazil storms rises to 28
Floods and landslides caused by torrential rains have killed at least 28 people in southeastern Brazil, with seven still missing, authorities said Wednesday.
Footballer Benjamin Mendy's rape trial set for July
Manchester City and France international footballer Benjamin Mendy will face trial in July for the alleged rape and assault of six women, a court heard Wednesday.
Sport begins at Beijing Olympics under shadow of Covid, rights fears
Curling started the sport at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Wednesday in front of a smattering of spectators as China tried to move on from the diplomatic boycotts and Covid fears that have dogged the lead-up to the Games.
UN seeks $169 million in aid for Philippine typhoon victims
The United Nations has increased its fundraising target for victims of Typhoon Rai to $169 million as the Philippines struggles to recover from the devastating storm, the organisation's resident coordinator said Wednesday.
Man disrupts pope audience, shouts: 'God rejects you'
A shouting man denouncing the Church disrupted an audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican Wednesday, before being escorted outside by police.
Man Utd's Mason Greenwood released on bail after arrest
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has been released on bail after being questioned over the alleged rape and assault of a young woman, police said on Wednesday.
Beijing Olympics begins torch relay under shadow of Covid, rights fears
The Beijing Winter Olympics torch relay began its truncated journey to Friday's opening ceremony as China tried to move on from the diplomatic boycotts and Covid fears that have dogged the build-up to the Games.
UK college requests removal of slavery-linked memorial
A university college in the United Kingdom is Wednesday to ask a judge to allow the removal from its chapel of a memorial to a historical donor implicated in the slave trade.
US law scholar says Hong Kong denied him visa to teach at university
An American legal scholar specialising in LGBTQ rights said Wednesday he was denied a visa to teach at a Hong Kong university, as concerns deepen about academic freedom in the city.
Sports set to start at Beijing Olympics but controversies weigh heavy
The sporting action gets under way at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony of a Games overshadowed by diplomatic boycotts and concerns about human rights and Covid.
Art sleuth returns statue to France almost 50 years after heist
A Dutch art detective has returned a rare Roman statue that was considered one of France's most important treasures to the museum from which it was stolen nearly 50 years ago.
Brits on platinum pudding quest for queen's jubilee
"It would be such an honour!": Amateur British cooks are battling to create the best Platinum Jubilee pudding to mark 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
Queen Elizabeth II to mark 70 years on the throne
Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday becomes the first British monarch to reign for 70 years, heralding the start of her Platinum Jubilee year despite her retreat from public view.
Taco-a-day or meal-a-month, US restaurants join subscription craze
For Jebin Tuladhar, the past two years have been like walking a tightrope as he tried to steer Shanti, the Indian restaurant chain he manages in Boston, through the pandemic.
Eruption-hit Tonga closes borders as Covid detected
Volcano-devastated Tonga will close its borders Wednesday after Covid-19 was detected in the previously virus-free Pacific kingdom as it struggles to recover from last month's deadly disaster, officials said.
Starbucks reports higher profits, but Omicron adds costs
Starbucks reported higher quarterly profits Tuesday, but said an unexpectedly costly hit from the latest Covid-19 wave would lead to further price increases.
Pharma giants to pay $590 mn to US Native Americans over opioids
A group of pharmaceutical companies and distributors agreed to pay $590 million to settle lawsuits connected to opioid addiction among Native American tribes, according to a US court filing released Tuesday.
Pharma groups to pay $590 mn to US Native Americans over opioids
A group of pharmaceutical companies and distributors agreed to pay $590 million to settle lawsuits connected to opioid addiction among US Native American tribes, according to a US court filing Tuesday.
22 dead, dozens injured as flooding hits Ecuador capital
The heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in two decades has killed at least 22 people in Quito, inundating homes, swamping cars and sweeping away athletes and spectators on a sports field, officials said Tuesday.
Man United's Greenwood further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has been further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill as police were again granted more time to question the 20-year-old.
Four giants: The major players in video game industry
The global video game industry has undergone a series of blockbuster takeovers, most recently Sony's acquisition of Bungie and Microsoft's move for Activision.
Canadian Indigenous visit to Vatican reset for late March
A Canadian Indigenous delegation announced Tuesday it will travel next month to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis and discuss abuses at church-run residential schools.
The race is on to translate viral app Wordle
Wordle, the simple word game that has taken the English-speaking world by storm, is sparking spontaneous efforts to develop similar games for other languages.
Chinese, French oil majors seal deal for Uganda megaproject
Chinese and French oil giants sealed a landmark $10-billion deal on Tuesday to develop Uganda's energy resources and build a vast regional oil pipeline, a megaproject that has incensed environmental groups.
Amnesty joins other rights group in condemning Israeli 'apartheid'
Amnesty International on Tuesday labelled Israel an "apartheid" state that treats Palestinians as "an inferior racial group," joining the assessment of other rights groups which the Jewish state vehemently rejects.
Rights groups blame Taliban for missing journalists
The Taliban have arrested two Afghan journalists working for a local news channel, rights groups said Tuesday, weeks after two women activists went missing.
Pet owners go private to jet 'fur babies' out of Hong Kong
Bags packed and ready to go, Hong Kong house cats Teddy and Newman were all set for leaving on a private jet plane -- an expensive last resort for their owners as the city piles on pandemic restrictions.
Japan parliament adopts resolution on China rights issues
Japan's parliament on Tuesday passed a rare resolution expressing concern about rights issues in China, including the treatment of its Uyghur Muslim population and Hong Kong, days before the Beijing Olympics open.
New York Times buys 'Wordle'
The New York Times announced Monday it had bought Wordle, a phenomenon played by millions just four months after the game burst onto the Internet, for an "undisclosed price in the low seven figures."
Trials to resume for Nicaragua government opponents: prosecution
Criminal trials will resume this week for 46 opponents of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government, including seven presidential hopefuls precluded from contesting November elections, the prosecutor's office said Monday.
Rescuers dig desperately in mud for Brazil flood survivors
Knee-deep in the mud left by a horrific landslide in southeastern Brazil, dozens of rescue workers and volunteers raced Monday to find any remaining survivors before it was too late.
Pakistan police call for PUBG game ban after family massacre
Pakistani police called Monday for the wildly popular PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) game to be banned after a teenager confessed to killing four members of his family in a rage after bingeing for days playing online.
Cyprus court quashes UK woman's 'false gang rape' conviction
The Cyprus Supreme Court on Monday overturned the conviction of a young British woman who had been found guilty of lying about being gang-raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists.
Hong Kong sees first 'seditious publication' jailings since handover
Hong Kong's courts jailed two people for publishing seditious content on Monday, the first time the colonial-era law has been used to secure a conviction for printed content since the city's 1997 handover to China.
Cyprus church to suspend unjabbed priests
The leader of the Cyprus Orthodox Church has warned he would suspend a dozen unvaccinated priests from Tuesday if they continue to defy church rules on Covid-19.
Thai fishing crews fear five-year recovery after oil spill
The nightly armada of bobbing green lights from squid boats has all but disappeared near the site of an oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand, as devastated local crews brace for lost income and damaged fish stocks.