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Nantes’ French midfielder Remy Cabella #20 (C) shoots and scores a penalty kick for his team’s second goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique…
Around 100 flights were cancelled at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday morning because of snowfall and fierce cold, and a further 40 were cancelled at Orly airport, France’s transport minister said. The flights disruptions had already been anticipated late Tuesday, and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot told CNews television he was “hoping the situation returns to normal this afternoo Source link
The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland, making clear that using the US military is not off the table. “President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Tuesday statement to CNN. “The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” the statement added. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt announced that she had requested a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the recent statements issued by the US government. Motzfeldt said in in a Facebook post that Greenland had made the request along with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen. Source link
– Hyundai Motor Group announced Tuesday a strategic partnership between Boston Dynamics, its US-based robotics unit, and Google to accelerate the development of humanoid robotics technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) for future manufacturing application.The partnership was announced in CES 2026, a major technology exhibition under way in Las Vegas.The South Korean automotive group clarified in a report that Boston Dynamics will combine its cutting-edge robotics capabilities with AI foundation models of Google DeepMind, the US tech giant’s AI research lab.The move follows Hyundai Motor’s agreement last year with Nvidia Corp. to enhance the group’s physical AI capabilities, part of the group’s growing cooperation with leading global technology firms. The automotive group also plans to consolidate the capabilities of key units to build an AI robotics ecosystem and establish a system capable of producing 30,000 robot units annually by 2028, according to (Yonhap) News Agency. In addition, the group plans to open a robotics training facility, named Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC), in the US later this year to conduct pretraining before robots are deployed for manufacturing application. This step follows a partnership announced by Hyndai Motor last year with Nvidia, aimed at enhancing the group’s efforts in the artificial intelligence capabilities, as a part of the group’s growth with global leading technology companies. Source link
Venezuela’s Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello attends a women’s rally in support of ousted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas Tuesday.…
Cricket – The Ashes – Australia v England – Fifth Test – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia – January 4, 2026 England’s Harry Brook celebrates with…
This photograph shows a train amid the snow in Hollandsche Rading, the Netherlands yesterday as train traffic is affected by the wintry weather. – AFP France’s civil aviation authority has asked airlines to cancel 15% of flights until later in the evening at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports following heavy snowfalls in the French capital Paris.The airlines are free to choose which flights they cancel so long as they reduce takeoffs and landings, a spokesperson told Reuters. Airlines were asked to reduce flights until 2000 CET (1900 GMT) at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, and until 2330 CET (2230 GMT) at Paris-Orly. The French transport ministry urged travellers to check if their flight was taking off before leaving home, and to go to the airport by public transportation rather than by car. Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, cancelled almost 500 flights yesterday morning and was closed to incoming traffic until 1200 GMT also because of snowfalls, news agency ANP reported. Planes headed for Amsterdam were diverted to other airports, ANP said.Schiphol could not immediately be reached for further comment. The airport had already been forced to scrap hundreds of flights a day since Friday due to snow and icy temperatures. The snow, which covered large parts of the Netherlands yesterday morning, also crippled traffic. The Dutch railway company NS said no trains were operating in the region around Amsterdam and public transport was severely affected in many places across the country. Ice and snow also caused many delays and accidents on the roads, even as authorities advised people to stay at home whenever possible.Snowfall is expected to continue in the Netherlands throughout the week. …
An imperious Joe Root hit a magnificent 160 to drive England to 384 in the fifth and final Ashes Test Monday before Travis Head let rip to haul Australia back into the contest with a rapid-fire unbeaten 91. Root’s superb innings, his 41st ton to match Ricky Ponting, was only ended courtesy of a brilliant caught-and-bowled by Michael Neser, who finished with 4-60. Australia were left to negotiate the final session of day two at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground, which they did for the loss of Jake Weatherald (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (48). By stumps the hosts – who have already won the series – had raced to 166-2 with nightwatchman Neser on one alongside Head. “I think it’s set interestingly,” Root told TNT Sports. He added: “Most important for us is not panicking, not dwelling too much on what happened here. “It’s how we respond tomorrow morning and maximise that chance first up.” Weatherald, who needed a big score to stave off the critics, again failed to live up to expectations since making his debut at the first Test in Perth. He was dropped twice in the space of three balls, by Root then Ben Duckett, before Ben Stokes trapped him lbw. But Head, who like Root has slammed two centuries this series, was in the zone. He clattered three boundaries off the second over from Matthew Potts, in the side for the injured Gus Atkinson, and there was no let-up, blitzing a quickfire 50 off 55 balls. Labuschagne was also in good touch, stroking seven boundaries before thick-edging Stokes to Jacob Bethell at gully. Labuschagne and Stokes had clashed between overs, with the England captain aiming an expletive at the batsman. The hosts lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another win after victory at the previous Test in Melbourne. “Fresh start tomorrow,” said Neser. “But the wicket seems to be quickening up just a little bit, so we’re going to be mindful of that tomorrow.” England resumed at 211-3 but lost Harry Brook (84), Stokes (0) and Jamie Smith (46) before lunch. Will Jacks (27), Brydon Carse (1) and Josh Tongue (0), along with Root, departed in the second session. The day belonged to Root, who started on 72 and reached an almost chanceless century off 146 balls to reaffirm his status as an all-time great. The 35-year-old had begun the series under pressure after failing to make a hundred in Australia over three previous Ashes tours. He snapped the drought with an unbeaten 138 in the day-night Test at Brisbane and his exploits in Sydney drew him level third with Australia’s Ponting on the all-time century-makers’ list, with 41. Only India’s Sachin Tendulkar (51) and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (45) have scored more Test centuries. Root and Brook came together with England in trouble at 57-3 on Sunday, with both eyeing big centuries on an ideal batting deck. But Brook only lasted five balls Monday, adding six to his overnight 78 before dabbing at a Scott Boland delivery and edging into the safe hands of Steve Smith at slip. It ended a 169-run partnership, not just England’s best of the series but the biggest by either team, surpassing Head and Alex Carey’s 162 in Adelaide. Stokes only survived 11 balls before getting the faintest of edges off Mitchell Starc to Carey. Jamie Smith lived dangerously and was fortunate to survive after chipping Cameron Green to Labuschagne at cover when he had scored 22. He began walking off but replays showed Green overstepped and it was a no-ball. He added another 24 before medium-pacer Labuschagne bagged him in his first over. The run rate slowed significantly after lunch when the new ball was taken, but Root persisted, passing 150 for a 17th time, just one behind the legendary Don Bradman and three short of Tendulkar. He and Jacks put on 52 for the seventh wicket until Jacks sent a leading edge to Green in the gully off Neser. Root was ninth man out for England and Tongue followed without any addition to the score. BRIEF SCORESAustralia 166 for 2 (Head 91*, Stokes 2-30) trail England 384 (Root 160, Brook 84, Neser 4-60) by 218 runs Related Story Source link
FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers are parked at Thar Dry Port in Sanand in the western part of Gujarat, India, August 27, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo The United States could raise tariffs on India if New Delhi does not meet Washington’s demand to curb purchases of Russian oil, President Donald Trump said on Sunday, escalating pressure on the South Asian country as trade talks remain inconclusive. “(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.“They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said in response to a question on India’s Russian oil purchases. India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump’s comments follow months of trade negotiations after the US doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last year as punishment for its heavy buying of Russian oil. Indian markets reacted yesterday, with the information technology stock index falling about 2.5% to its lowest in more than a month, as investors worried that strained trade relations could further delay a US-India trade deal. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally travelling with him, said US sanctions on Russian oil companies and higher tariffs on India had helped curb Indian oil imports. Graham is backing legislation to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries such as India that continue to buy Russian oil. “If you are buying cheap Russian oil, (you) keep Putin’s war machine going,” he said, adding that “we are trying to give the President ability to make that a hard choice by tariffs.” Trump’s actions were the main reasons India was now buying “substantially less Russian oil,” Graham said.Trade experts warn, however, that New Delhi’s cautious approach risks weakening its position. Ajay Srivastava, founder of trade think-tank Global Trade Research Initiative, said Indian exports already face a 50% US tariff, with 25% linked to purchases of Russian crude. While Indian refiners have cut imports after sanctions, he said, buying has not stopped entirely, leaving India in a “strategic grey zone”. “Ambiguity no longer works,” Srivastava said, urging India to clearly state its stance on Russian oil. He warned that even a complete halt may not end US pressure, which could shift to other trade demands, and that higher tariffs risk deeper export losses. Separately, India struck a cautious diplomatic stance after the United States captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, urging dialogue without explicitly naming Washington.Despite steep tariffs, India’s exports to the US leapt in November, though shipments fell more than 20% between May and November 2025. As New Delhi seeks to clinch a trade deal with Washington, the government has asked refiners for weekly disclosures of Russian and US oil purchases to address US concerns. …
The world’s fastest sport is taking centre stage in the desert. Starting today, the Lusail Sports Hall transforms into a global coliseum as the 31st edition of the Qatar Open that kicks off a month-long marathon of elite competition. This isn’t just a tournament; it’s a high-stakes statement of intent from Qatar, solidifying its status as the undisputed hub of the international game under the leadership of Hamad al-Hammadi and the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA). The opening act, WTT Champions Doha 2026, is a lean and mean sprint featuring only the best of the best. A staggering $500,000 prize money is up for grabs. A curated field of 64 players, 32 men and 32 women, representing over 50 nations – will battle for supremacy over five days of intense, single-elimination play. There are no ‘easy draws’ in a field this deep, and the official bracket has already served up some mouth-watering matchups that feel like gold-medal finals. In the men’s singles, all eyes are on the top-seeded Lin Shidong of China, who faces a dangerous opening test against the electric French rising star Flavien Coton. Qatar table tennis players Aia Mohamed and Mohammed Abdulwahhab are seen during the draw ceremony of the WTT Champions Doha 2026. Meanwhile, a clash of styles and generations looms as veteran German powerhouse Dimitrij Ovtcharov goes head-to-head with Brazil’s human highlight reel, Hugo Calderano, in a first-round bout that promises to set the arena on fire. But the WTT Champions is merely the first chapter in a massive January ‘Grand Slam’ for the city. Once the first trophy is raised on the 11th, the action moves immediately into the WTT Star Contender from January 13-18, bringing 170 players into the fold. The focus then shifts to the ‘Next Gen’ stars with back-to-back Youth Contender and Youth Star Contender events, before finally concluding with the WTT Feeder Doha at the end of the month. This tiered gauntlet offers something for everyone, from world number ones to emerging talents fighting for their first ranking points. With more than 200 participants including coaches and world-class training partners on-site, Doha has officially become the preferred destination for the global sports community. The QTTA has transformed the Lusail Sports Arena into a fortress of world-class infrastructure, proving that the nation’s sporting vision extends far beyond the football pitch. For the next five days and the weeks that follow, the world will be watching the blur of the ball and the grit of the players as Doha reminds the world why it is the capital of international table tennis. The paddles are out, the draw is set, and the first serve is just hours away. Doha: The countdown clock to the opening WTT Series event of the season is approaching its final ticks, with the first-ever WTT Champions Doha 2026 taking over Lusail Sports Arena from January 7-11. Amongst the superstar names are two of Qatar’s finest players. Wildcard entries for the five-day spectacle, Aia Mohamed and Mohammed Abdulwahhab make their WTT Champions debut, joining the world’s best players in an exclusive event reserved for the table tennis elite. Despite this marking a first-time appearance for both players at this level, Aia and Abdulwahhab are no strangers to the spotlight. Both Qatari players were present at last year’s ITTF World Championships Finals in Doha, flying the home flag with great pride. While Aia’s hopes were dashed at the first hurdle, Abdulwahhab picked up a mighty 4-0 win in his opening round clash against Alfred Dela Pena, finishing in the Top 64 positions in the Men’s Singles field. The memories of competing at a home World Championships Finals will stick with both players throughout the rest of their careers, and soon they will have another taste of the big time as WTT Champions comes to town. Today evening, Abdulwahhab will step out onto the event venue with a huge clash against No 7 seed Sora Matsushima, with Aia rounding off the action one day later against Prithika Pavade. Wang Manyu, Miwa Harimoto, Lin Shidong, Truls Moregard – these are just some of the world class names set to compete at Lusail Sports Arena, with highly coveted trophies and the lion’s share of the $500,000 prize money up for grabs. For Aia and Abdulwahhab, the honour of competing at this level is something to cherish unto itself. An opportunity to test their credentials and learn from the very best is a tantalising prospect, and with home advantage on their side, they can dare to dream. Related Story…