Brasilia rioters: Who are they?
They are a diverse bunch -- black and white, rich and poor, young and old.
World News
UK minister rules out permanent return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece
UK culture minister Michelle Donelan on Wednesday said she did not support the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, following a report that a "cultural exchange" is close to being agreed with Athens.. Taken by Elgin when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Greece maintains the marbles were stolen and has long campaigned for their return while the UK maintains they were legally obtained.
US, Japan talk on updating alliance as China worries grow
The United States on Wednesday holds talks on ways to "modernize" its alliance with Japan, which plans to ramp up its defenses in the face of a rising China and tensions over Taiwan and North Korea.. The ministers "are going to lay out a vision of how a modernized alliance between the United States and Japan is positioned to prevail in this new era of strategic competition," a senior US official said, in an allusion to the rise of China.
Crisis-hit Egypt's currency halved in value since March
The Egyptian pound traded Wednesday at half its value from March after the central bank intervened for a third time as part of an International Monetary Fund loan agreement.. The currency plunged to 31.95 pounds to the dollar in state banks on Wednesday, before settling at 29.7 in the afternoon, according to the central bank.
Space junk, not meteorites, remains biggest threat to spacecraft
Dodging the kind of meteorite strike that forced Russia to plan a space station rescue mission is nearly impossible, yet the greater threat to spacecraft is actually the man-made debris in orbit, experts say.. - While meteorites might sound scary, the biggest threat to spacecraft is believed to be from orbital debris -- disused satellites and other human-made objects spinning around Earth known as "space junk".
Five things to know about the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, which holds the first round of its presidential election on Friday and Saturday, is an ex-communist country that has been a part of the European Union since 2004.. A factfile on the country: - EU, NATO member - The Czech Republic became a NATO member in 1999 before joining the EU. The country is also a part of the Schengen free travel area, but it has resisted adopting the euro, favouring its own koruna currency.
Ex-PM, NATO general, economist lead Czech presidential vote
Three candidates -- a billionaire ex-premier, a former NATO general and an economist -- lead the polls ahead of Friday's first round of Czech presidential election.. His military career included leading the NATO Military Committee in 2015-2018.
Kyiv asks for long-range missiles and tanks to win the war in 2023
Ukraine will be able to win the war in 2023 if it receives more Western weapons, particularly long-range missiles and heavy tanks, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak told AFP Wednesday. . "Only missiles with a range of more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) will allow us to significantly accelerate the de-occupation of our territories," he told AFP in an interview.
Greece's ex-king Constantine to have private funeral
Greece's former king Constantine II, who has died aged 82, will have a private funeral next week and be buried at the former royal estate of Tatoi, his family and officials said Wednesday.. Most members of the former royal family are buried at the former royal summer palace at Tatoi, including the dynasty's Danish-born founder George I and another seven kings and queens of Greece.
Russia, Ukraine agree new prisoner swap in Turkey
Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday agreed a new prisoner swap during rare talks in Turkey during which they also discussed the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" in the war zone.. Ukraine and Russia have been able to agree prisoner swaps despite unrelenting fighting over the last 11 months.
