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Germany's education minister on Tuesday inked a technological cooperation deal with Taiwan, kicking off the first cabinet-level German visit to the island in 26 years.

Self-proclaimed "QuadGod" Ilia Malinin said Tuesday that he is "ready to deliver" at this week's world figure skating championships in Japan and cement his place as one of the sport's hottest new talents.

Afghanistan's schools reopened Tuesday for the new academic year, but no classes were held as students were unaware of the start and hundreds of thousands of teenage girls remain barred from attending class.

French President Emmanuel Macron will give a televised interview Tuesday after his government fended off two no-confidence votes in parliament after a controversial pensions overhaul that has sparked mass protests.

Seven storeys above a shopfloor hawking cheap perfume and nylon underwear, Thailand's "shopping mall gorilla" sits alone in a cage -- her home for 30 years despite a re-ignited row over her captivity.

Sri Lanka must not allow entrenched corruption to undermine a bailout for its bankrupt economy, the IMF said Tuesday after signing off on a $3 billion loan for the crisis-hit nation.

Until October, the medieval castle on the hill above Mukacheve in Ukraine's westernmost region sported a statue of Hungary's national symbol, the "turul" bird.

A US citizen sentenced to 19 years in a Saudi prison for social media posts criticising the kingdom's rulers has been released, his son told AFP on Tuesday.

Egypt's fertile Nile Delta may not be the obvious destination for field hockey, but a women's team is blazing a trail in a region that lays claim to the sport's ancient roots.

In a palm grove north of Baghdad, bemused Iraqi shepherds looked on as models paraded second-hand garments down an improvised catwalk, seeking to raise awareness of the fashion industry's environmental impact.

Japan came from behind twice to defeat Mexico 6-5 on Monday and set up a World Baseball Classic final showdown with the United States.

A rider in camouflage lies forward and hugs the neck of a horse called Peach, stroking his coat.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday to offer "solidarity and unwavering support," Japan's foreign ministry said.

Gripping the steering wheel of his truck, Grygoriy expertly made his way along a muddy route to take personnel and ammunition to an artillery position near Ukraine's front line.

New Zealand Rugby on Tuesday announced Scott "Razor" Robertson as the All Blacks coach from 2024, tapping him to lead a once all-conquering side now plagued by on and off-field woes.

Scott Robertson is the New Zealand rugby coach who breakdances after winning titles, surfs to relax and was confirmed Tuesday as the next boss of the All Blacks.

Anthony Gonzalez, the man behind M83, the group that helped define electro-pop, fears for a music industry that increasingly wants artists to be influencers.

Japan came from behind twice to defeat Mexico 6-5 on Monday and set up a World Baseball Classic final showdown with the United States.

Asian markets bounced Tuesday from the previous day's rout, with lenders boosted by easing concerns of another financial crisis, while focus turned to the Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the week.

The International Monetary Fund approved a $2.9 billion bailout deal for Sri Lanka on Monday, raising hopes for an easing of the island nation's dire economic crisis.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were set to hold a second day of talks on Tuesday, as the internationally isolated Russian leader said he was open to discussing China's proposals on the fighting in Ukraine.

Letter bombs were sent to at least five journalists working in TV and radio stations in violence-plagued Ecuador Monday, one of which exploded without causing serious injury, Interior Minister Juan Zapata said.

Indian authorities extended a mobile internet blackout across a state of about 30 million people on Monday as police hunted a radical Sikh preacher.

There are few places on Earth as isolated as Trindade island, a volcanic outcrop a three- to four-day boat trip off the coast of Brazil.

US authorities may have taken extraordinary steps in recent weeks to assure depositors of failed lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, but they are avoiding parallels with bailouts of the 2008 crisis -- which have been criticized.

Former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has warned Ireland they must cope with the pressure of being favourites at the Rugby World Cup to avoid being "chokers" when the tournament kicks off this September.

Kylian Mbappe has succeeded the retired Hugo Lloris as France captain, a source close to the team told AFP on Monday.

A Florida jury on Monday found three young men guilty in the shooting death of the rising rap star known as XXXTentacion in 2018.

Letter bombs addressed to journalists were sent to three TV stations in violence-plagued Ecuador Monday, one of which exploded without causing casualties, officials and the outlets reported.

The FIA said on Monday it intends to "address" the problems at last weekend's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix where Fernando Alonso was handed a punishment at the end of the race that was later overturned.

Venezuela's oil minister Tareck El Aissami resigned on Monday after prosecutors opened a corruption investigation into officials at the state oil company PDVSA.

Two letter bombs were sent to TV stations in violence-plagued Ecuador on Monday, one of which exploded without causing casualties as other media also received suspect envelopes, officials and media reported.