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Ethiopia starts generating power at Nile mega-dam
Ethiopia began generating electricity from its mega-dam on the Blue Nile on Sunday, a milestone in the controversial multi-billion dollar project.

Beijing Olympics closes after sporting drama, doping and golden Gu
A Beijing Winter Olympics which saw sporting drama and milestones but was tarnished by a Russian doping scandal ended on Sunday with an uplifting closing ceremony.

Beijing Winter Olympics closed: IOC president
The Beijing Winter Olympics are officially over, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Queen Elizabeth catches 'mild' Covid
Britain's 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, a fortnight after marking 70 years on the throne, but aides said her symptoms were "mild".

'Fortress Australia' re-opens after two-year Covid closure
Australia opens its international borders to all vaccinated tourists Monday, nearly two years after the island nation first imposed some of the world's strictest Covid-19 travel restrictions.

UAE drone conference warns of rising threat
The UAE and its allies warned Sunday of the rising threat of drone attacks, as Middle East militants rapidly acquire a taste for the cheap and easily accessible unmanned systems.

Israel sees Iran nuclear deal 'shortly,' warns it will be weak
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that Iran may "shortly" agree a new nuclear deal with major powers but warned it will be weaker than the original 2015 agreement.

Winter Olympics return to Italy in sprawling Milano-Cortina event
After two editions in Asia, the Winter Olympics returns to Europe and to Italy in 2026, in a huge event spread over hundreds of kilometres.

UK's PM denies end to Covid law is reckless
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied throwing "caution to the wind" as he prepares to end all pandemic-related legal restrictions in England, amid a political backlash and scientific unease.

Curtain set to fall on Beijing Olympics after tears, doping and Gu
A Beijing Winter Olympics beset by concerns about rights and Covid in the build-up and tarnished by a Russian doping scandal once under way were set to close on Sunday.

Russian forces to stay in Belarus as Ukraine braced for war
Russian military exercises in Belarus will continue, Minsk announced Sunday, leaving Moscow with a large force near the northern Ukraine border as Western powers warn of an imminent invasion.

Israel sees Iran nuclear deal 'shortly,' warns it will be weaker
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that Iran may "shortly" agree a new nuclear deal with major powers but warned it will be weaker than the original 2015 agreement.

Last-ditch push to head off Russian attack on Ukraine
Last-ditch diplomatic efforts were underway on Sunday to prevent what Western powers warn could be the imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine and a catastrophic European war.

China celebrates record Winter Olympics haul -- and beating US
China celebrated a record gold medal haul as the Beijing Winter Olympics concluded Sunday, narrowly beating out chief geopolitical rival the United States to rank third in the medal count.

Australia's Green makes golfing history with win in mixed-gender event
Former US LPGA champion Hannah Green made history Sunday by becoming the first woman to win a mixed-gender professional golf tournament with a dominant four-shot victory at the TPS Murray River event in Australia.

Passenger found alive on ferry ablaze off Greece
A passenger was on Sunday found alive on a ferry that has been ablaze off Greece for three days, coastguards said, with 11 truck drivers still missing.

Finland finally win hockey gold in last event of Beijing Games
Finland roared back to beat defending champions Russia 2-1 on Sunday and win the country’s first gold medal in ice hockey, in the final event at the Beijing Olympics.

Shiffrin out but not down as curtain set to fall on Beijing Games
Mikaela Shiffrin said her United States team-mates got her through a disappointing Beijing Olympics that ended on Sunday with her going home without a medal, as Finland's ice hockey players won the final gold of the Games.

Rohit's elevation to India Test captaincy praised by pundits, players
Indian pundits and players on Sunday hailed Rohit Sharma as the new all-format skipper after he replaced Virat Kohli in one of world cricket's biggest jobs.

China helps virus-ravaged Hong Kong build isolation units
Construction crews from mainland China were helping Hong Kong build two temporary isolation facilities to house thousands of coronavirus patients on Sunday as a senior official declared the city "in full combat mode".

Shiffrin vows to rebound after 'epic Olympic under-performance'
Mikaela Shiffrin arrived at the Beijing Games as one of the most recognisable and decorated figures in wintersports, at the peak of a career in which she has dominated the World Cup.

With weak lira, Turkey woos foreign firms
There is a silver lining to Turkey's currency crisis and the global supply chain crunch: The country is becoming an attractive alternative at the gates of Europe for foreign firms.

Britain slide out of sight at disappointing Beijing Olympics
Sporting powerhouse Britain has experienced a disappointing Beijing Winter Olympics with only the curling teams saving the blushes of a small but well-funded squad.

Broken Valieva to White's farewell: Five Beijing Games moments
There were plenty of tears, some cheers from Covid-restricted crowds and the sight of an ice hockey match between players wearing medical masks.

Luxury sector undaunted by Covid, soaring inflation
The pandemic and soaring inflation have done nothing to take the shine off luxury brands, from Louis Vuitton to Gucci and Cartier, as the sector hiked prices to notch up stellar profits.

Fijian Drua crushed on Super Rugby debut, Crusaders win
Pacific newcomers Fijian Drua had a rude introduction to Super Rugby with a heavy defeat while 12-time champions Canterbury Crusaders ground out a victory as the new season kicked off over the weekend.

'I feel like a joke': Who said what at the Beijing Olympics
The Beijing Olympics close on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on over two weeks of sporting -- and other -- drama.

Macron and Putin to talk as Ukraine front line grows more volatile
French President Emmanuel Macron will call Russia's Vladimir Putin on Sunday to try to avert what Western powers predict will be an imminent invasion of Ukraine.

Shiffrin goes home without medal as curtain set to fall on Beijing
Mikaela Shiffrin said her United States team-mates got her through a disappointing Beijing Olympics that ended on Sunday with her going home without a medal, but there was a last-gasp gold for Britain.

Karl-Anthony Towns wins three-point contest, Toppin earns NBA dunk title
Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns scored a record 29 points in the final round to capture the NBA All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest, holding off the sharpshooting duo of Trae Young and Luke Kennard.

Textiles fan inflation fears amid London Fashion Week
Textile prices, like many raw materials, are soaring on resurgent post-pandemic demand and the rocketing cost of both energy and transport, industry experts say.

Macron and Putin to meet as Ukraine front line grows more volatile
French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Russia's Vladimir Putin on Sunday to try to avert what Western powers predict will be an imminent invasion of Ukraine.