ICC rates MCG pitch 'unsatisfactory' after two-day Test
The Melbourne Cricket Ground's seam-friendly pitch for the fourth Ashes Test was rated "unsatisfactory" Monday by the International Cricket Council after it ended inside two days.
Politics
Myanmar's dominant pro-military party is "winning a majority" in the first phase of junta-run elections, a party source told AFP Monday, after democracy watchdogs warned the poll would entrench military rule.
Politics
Families of the victims of Australia's Bondi Beach mass shootings called Monday for a national inquiry into antisemitism and alleged failures in policing, intelligence and policy they blame for the attack.
Politics
For eight days, Sudanese farmer Ibrahim Hussein led his family through treacherous terrain to flee the fighting in southern Kordofan -- the latest and most volatile front in the country's 31-month-old conflict.
Sports
Australia coach Andrew McDonald came to the defence of the Melbourne Cricket Ground's under-fire curator Monday and warned against authorities meddling in pitch preparation.
Politics
South Korea's former first lady was alleged by prosecutors Monday to have accepted lavish bribes totalling over $200,000, including fine art, jewellery and a handbag, as well as meddling in state affairs.
Sports
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado was suspended two games and Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams was suspended one game by the NBA on Sunday for roles in an on-court fight.
Politics
China announced "major" military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, saying it would conduct live-fire drills the following day across five zones in waters and airspace near the island.
Politics
Asian equities mostly rose Monday in quiet post-Christmas trading as investors look ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this month, while precious metals retreated from record highs.
Sports
England pace spearhead Gus Atkinson was Monday ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia with a hamstring injury, their third fast bowler to head home early during the series.
Culture
Film legend Brigitte Bardot in her later decades raised eyebrows calling far-right leader Marine Le Pen a modern "Joan of Arc", but she always maintained she was merely doing what was best for animals.
Nature
Growing Chinese auto giant BYD stands poised to officially surpass Tesla as the world's biggest electric vehicle company in annual sales.
Sports
Alex de Minaur has muscled up in a bid to bridge the gap on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, with the Australian aiming to be a "disruptor" to the pair's tennis dominance.
Politics
North Korea test-fired two strategic long-range cruise missiles, state media reported on Monday, hailing the drill as a show of "combat readiness" against foreign threats.
Sports
Chet Holmgren scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead reigning champion Oklahoma City over Philadelphia 129-104 on Sunday as the NBA's winningest team snapped a two-game losing streak.
Sports
Veteran England batsman Joe Root has said it would be "silly" to change England's management team after losing the Ashes, with players "absolutely committed" to the current set-up.
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that a deal was closer than ever to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the flashpoint issue of territory after new talks with the warring countries' leaders.
Sports
Algeria on Sunday became the third country after Egypt and Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Burkina Faso 1-0 in Rabat through a Riyad Mahrez penalty.
Sports
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored for Africa Cup of Nations defending champions Ivory Coast in a 1-1 draw with Cameroon on Sunday that left them sharing top spot in Group F.
Sports
Antoine Dupont scored his first Top 14 try in more than 14 months and quickly added a second as he led a spectacular Toulouse display as they routed La Rochelle 60-14 Sunday and moved top of the standings.
Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers lost on Sunday to miss out on clinching NFL playoff berths, setting up a pair of winner-take-all showdowns next week for post-season spots.
Sports
Inter Milan stayed at the Serie A summit on Sunday after beating Atalanta 1-0 to maintain their slender lead over local rivals AC Milan.
Politics
Protesting students in Serbia on Sunday swapped massive street demonstrations for a push to collect citizens' signatures, to gauge whether they had support to demand snap parliamentary elections.
Sports
Algeria secured their place in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after a Riyad Mahrez penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Sunday.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" retained the top spot at the North American box office after it debuted the week before, reeling in $64 million during the weekend after Christmas, industry estimates showed Sunday.
Politics
People gathered in several towns in the breakaway region of Somaliland on Sunday to celebrate its recognition by Israel -- a decision condemned by the Somali president as a "threat" to stability in the Horn of Africa.
Politics
US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed the leaders of Ukraine and Russia were serious about peace as he spoke with them both in what he called the final stages of his efforts to end the war.
Boulevard
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was under pressure Sunday after "abhorrent" social media posts by a British-Egyptian activist came to light days after he welcomed his return to the country.
Politics
Guineans voted in a presidential election Sunday with Mamady Doumbouya, a general who led the junta that seized power four years ago, the clear favourite, and the main opposition leaders barred from standing.
Politics
The Central African Republic's incumbent president, Faustin-Archange Touadera, was widely expected to win a third term in an election Sunday in which he touted his efforts steadying a nation long plagued by conflict.
Sports
Tottenham ground out a much-needed three points for the under-fire Thomas Frank with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, while high-flying Sunderland were held 1-1 by Leeds on Sunday.
Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin rebounded from a sluggish opening run with a fluid, attacking second to continue her domination of the women's World Cup slalom under lights in Semmering, Austria, on Sunday.
Sports
Nick Kyrgios beat women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the "Battle of the Sexes" on Sunday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans.
Donald Trump said Sunday he had "productive" talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin hours before the US president meets Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, in a year-end sprint to seal a deal to end the war.
Sports
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for a sixth consecutive Premier League game as Leeds denied Sunderland a place in the top five with a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Christopher Nkunku fired AC Milan top of Serie A with a brace in Sunday's 3-0 win over Verona at the San Siro, the France forward's first goals in Italy's top flight.
President Volodymyr Zelensky will push a new peace plan for Ukraine when he sits down with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, bolstered by the backing of European leaders but with his capital Kyiv still reeling from a massive Russian bombardment.
Sports
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the Premier League champions have to improve a woeful record defending set-pieces if they are to continue an upturn in form.
Sports
Mozambique ended a 39-year wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations victory by defeating Gabon 3-2 in a Group F thriller in Agadir on Sunday.
Culture
Her hair was a wild mess and her skirt slit to the waist, but the mambo dance that Brigitte Bardot performed in "And God Created Woman" became an overnight sensation in the staid 1950s.