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The absurd helps us 'see more' says Austrian artist Wurm
A fat Ferrari, pickles on pedestals and two sausages in an intimate embrace -- welcome to the weird world of Erwin Wurm, one of Austria's most famous contemporary artists, who wants us to embrace the absurd.
Ethiopia plagued by abductions 'epidemic'
One day in August, Aynalem was on her way to university in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia when armed men suddenly stopped the bus and climbed aboard.
Boeing not taking strike talks seriously, union says
The union for striking Boeing workers said Tuesday the aviation giant was not "taking mediation seriously," after some 33,000 US employees walked out last week over a contract dispute, effectively shutting down two Seattle-area plants.
Afghan women continue medical studies in Scotland after Taliban ban
When the Taliban banned women from attending university in Afghanistan, Zahra Hussaini thought her dream of becoming a doctor was over. Now, she is continuing her medical degree in Britain.
Local, foreign firms facing months of recovery in storm-hit Vietnam
Factory roofs blown off, products worth millions of dollars destroyed, supply chains disrupted: Typhoon Yagi has had a disastrous impact on local and global companies in northern Vietnam who could take months to recover, business leaders warn.
Goorjian steps down as coach of Australian basketball team
Brian Goorjian has stepped down as head coach of the Australian men's basketball team, the national body said Wednesday, after two stints in charge of the Boomers.
Wave of exploding Hezbollah pagers kills nine, wounds thousands in Lebanon
Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon Tuesday, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel.
Women drive innovation, evolution of Chinese wine industry
As the female winemaker who put Chinese vintages on the map for the first time, Zhang Jing of Helan Qingxue winery is a trailblazer, but no anomaly.
Three activists risking their lives for the planet
Almost 200 environmental activists were murdered last year, with the toll especially heavy in South America, according to rights group Global Witness.
China piles extra work on weary youth to ease pension crisis
China's decision to raise the retirement age will give a brief boost to its strained pension system but risks further discouraging weary young workers and cannot arrest long-term demographic decline, experts say.
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka eyes China development
Sri Lanka's economic collapse was partly blamed on struggling high-debt Chinese mega-projects, but candidates in Saturday's presidential election are banking on at least one of them to buck the trend.
Withdrawal symptoms: Afghan farmers struggle after poppy ban
Asadullah was a prosperous poppy farmer in southern Afghanistan for 20 years until Taliban authorities abruptly began enforcing a long-standing ban on the crop.
Verstappen vows Red Bull fightback as McLaren head to Singapore on top
Max Verstappen declared "the fight is not over" as Red Bull head to Singapore this week having been knocked off the top of the constructors' world championship for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
Asian markets fluctuate on uncertainty over Fed rate plan
Asian markets swung between gains and losses Wednesday as traders tried to ascertain how big an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut would be later in the day, while the dollar held gains against the yen after forecast-beating US data.
Trump says only 'consequential' presidents get shot at
Donald Trump resumed campaigning Tuesday for the first time since a second apparent attempt on his life, boasting "only consequential presidents get shot at" while praising Kamala Harris for making a phone call to check on him.
Yamal's Barca hopeful of Champions League revival
Approaching a decade since Barcelona last won the Champions League, the Catalan giants face Monaco in this season's European opener on Thursday aiming to make a statement.
Arsenal focus on Atalanta ahead of Man City showdown
Jorginho has challenged Arsenal to use their Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday as a springboard to success in their crucial clash with Manchester City this weekend.
Russia intensifies disinformation ops against Harris campaign: Microsoft
Russian operatives are ramping up disinformation operations to malign Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign by disseminating conspiracy-laden videos, Microsoft said Tuesday, amid heightened alert over foreign influence operations targeting the US election.
US Fed set to make first rate cut since 2020
The US Federal Reserve is all but certain to cut interest rates on Wednesday for the first time in more than four years, a significant move likely to ripple through global financial markets.
Chile birth rate plummets as women say no to motherhood
Chilean lawyer Camila Ramirez, 29, does not want to give up her freedom and well-being to become a mother, and she is not alone.
Musk to deliver 'drastic' cuts to Trump government
Elon Musk's fervent support for Donald Trump in the upcoming US election could extend far beyond incendiary tweets and campaign cash if the former president returns to the White House.
In Colombia, a river's 'rights' swept away by mining and conflict
In 2016, a Colombian court sent a powerful statement on environmental protection by ruling that a crucial river in the northwestern Choco jungle, which was being decimated by illegal mining, had legal rights.
UN General Assembly to vote on call for end to Israeli occupation
UN member states were set to vote Wednesday on a push by the Palestinians to formally demand an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months.
Chinese carrier sails through northeast Taiwan waters
A Chinese naval formation led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed through waters northeast of Taiwan on Wednesday and continued towards the southeast of Japan's Yonaguni Island, Taipei's government said.
Google faces another test in EU court over 1.5-bn euro fine
An EU court will rule on Wednesday on Google's appeal of a 1.49-billion euro ($1.65 billion) fine from the European Union, a week after the US tech giant suffered a stinging legal defeat over a bigger penalty.
India's disputed Kashmir votes after special status scrapped
Indian-administered Kashmir votes on Wednesday in the first local elections since the cancellation of its special semi-autonomous status sparked fury in the troubled Himalayan territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan.
In French Polynesia, boom in whale-based tourism sparks concern
A giant whale stole the show at the Summer Olympic Games, shooting out of the water as athletes competed in women's surfing semi-finals on the French Pacific island of Tahiti last month.
Farrell says resisted 'Sopranos' rewatch ahead of 'Penguin' mob role
Colin Farrell resisted rewatching iconic mob drama "The Sopranos" while preparing for his turn as a gangster boss in "The Penguin," the Irish star of the new Batman universe series told AFP on Tuesday.
Once pop culture's party boy, Diddy sits behind bars pending trial
For decades, Diddy and his myriad aliases loomed large in pop culture as an impeccably dressed rap magnate who reigned over lavish parties and media boardrooms with class and confidence.
North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles
North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Wednesday, Seoul's military said, Pyongyang's second such weapons test in a week.
Bayern hit nine, Real Madrid and Liverpool win as new Champions League kicks off
Bayern Munich became the first team to score nine goals in a game in the modern Champions League as the new format of Europe's elite club competition kicked off on Tuesday, with title holders Real Madrid and Liverpool also among the winners.
Author John Grisham joins bid to save Texas death row inmate
Lawmakers in Texas, medical experts and the best-selling novelist John Grisham are pushing to save an autistic death row inmate whose daughter died in 2002 in a tragedy blamed on shaken baby syndrome.