World

Russia has demanded that more than a dozen foreign technology companies, most of them American, open offices in the country by the end of this year or face sanctions and potential bans. The country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor issued the demand on Monday and listed Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok among the companies being targeted.

France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been convicted for his involvement in the attempted blackmail of a former international team mate over a sex tape. The footballer was sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term and fined 75,000 euros (£62,967) over his role in the episode. The 33-year-old’s lawyer said the player would appeal against

The Great Barrier Reef is erupting with colour again as the natural wonder recovers from recent life-threatening coal bleaching. About two-thirds of the coral in the reef off the coast of Australia has been affected by bleaching caused by unusually high ocean temperatures in 2016, 2017 and 2020. However, scientists on Tuesday night recorded the

The World Health Organisation has said it is “alarmed” about the surge in COVID-19 infections across Europe as the continent battles a fresh wave of the virus. Cases are rising again in much of Europe – sharply in the case of countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, with the latter going back into a

Fully vaccinated travellers will finally be able to enter New Zealand from 30 April 2022, easing border restrictions that have been in place since March last year. Meanwhile, fully vaccinated New Zealanders and residence visa holders in neighbouring Australia will be able to enter the country from 16 January. Fully vaccinated residents and visa holders

One of Albert Einstein’s manuscripts has been sold at auction for $13.17m (£9.8m). The 54-page paper, which is half-filled with the physicist’s handwriting, is only one of two working documents known in which he approaches his famous theory of relativity. Auction house Christie’s had estimated the value of the manuscript, which was co-authored by Michele

We were taken up the stairs at a community centre in Addis Ababa and offered a seat at what appeared to be a boisterous rally. There were women, draped in flags, dancing at the front of the hall and a hundred or so people hollering and clapping in time to the music. There was something

A man convicted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007 has been freed early from jail. Rudy Guede served about 13 years of a 16-year sentence, said his lawyer, Fabrizio Ballarini. He was convicted in 2008 and had been due to be freed on 4 January next year, but a

A study of former professional rugby players has found they were more likely to suffer mental health problems than other sportsmen thanks to increased concussions on the field. The retired players who took part in the research had suffered more head impact injuries than amateurs or those in other sports, raising a possible link to

The EU could surpass two million coronavirus deaths by next March if further action isn’t taken to combat the virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. More protective measures are needed to “help avert unnecessary tragedy and loss of life”, according to experts who fear the region is on course to pass another landmark

Residents have been warned to stay inside after a stream of lava from the La Palma volcano reached the Atlantic Ocean. The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish Island has been erupting for more than two months, causing more than 7,000 people to be evacuated. One of its seven lava flows has now travelled across

China has called on people to stop “hyping” the case of tennis star Peng Shuai in response to questions being raised over her whereabouts and wellbeing. Peng had not been seen or heard from publicly for three weeks after she alleged on social media on 2 November that former vice premier Zhang Gaoli had coerced

A woman has alleged that the late football star Diego Maradona raped her when she was a teenager. Mavys Alvarez, from Cuba, who had a relationship with the athlete for five years, said he subjected her to physical and sexual violence when she was 16 years old and introduced her to drug addiction. She testified

Brazil’s foreign minister has said he is “surprised” that deforestation in the Amazon has increased, following last week’s news it had jumped 22%. The destruction of the rainforest has soared under President Jair Bolsonaro, who has encouraged agriculture and mining and emboldened loggers. Brazil‘s foreign minister, Carlos Franca, said in a briefing yesterday that the

A statue of US President Thomas Jefferson has been removed from New York City Hall over his links to the slave trade. The 1833 sculpture has been in the New York City Council chamber for more than a century but has now been taken down following a vote last month. The New York City Public

At least six people, including four children, have died after a ferry capsized off the coast of eastern Sri Lanka. A total of 12 people have been rescued so far, a spokesperson for the country’s navy, Captain Indika de Silva, confirmed. He added that a search operation was continuing to take place. Image: Sri Lankan