The Olympic flame arrives in Rome on Thursday as the Milan-Cortina Winter Games home into view, but organisers are rushing to make sure everything is ready for a sprawling sports showcase spread across a vast area of northern Italy.
They have been accused of crimes including treason and espionage, some deported to Siberian penal colonies, their health deteriorating, their families counting the days in anguish.
England opener Zak Crawley praised a "flawless" Joe Root after the 34-year-old broke his Australia century drought on the first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.
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Politics
French rugby great Serge Blanco announced on Thursday he would stand for mayor in the southwestern city of Biarritz, where he played his entire career and was also twice club president.
December 04, 2025
RECENT NEWS
2026 Winter Olympics flame handed to Milan-Cortina organisers
Sports
December 04, 2025
Four days after beating Palmeiras to win their fourth Copa Libertadores, Flamengo secured the Brazilian title with a 1-0 success against Ceara at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium on Wednesday.
December 04, 2025
RECENT NEWS
The fallout from the shutdown of Serbia's only oil refinery could last years, experts told AFP, putting thousands of jobs and the state's budget at risk -- as well as exposing the country to further sanctions.
December 04, 2025
Joe Root edged closer to his maiden Test century in Australia as England reached 196-4 at dinner on the first day of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
December 04, 2025
South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did not expect other countries to lobby for its inclusion.
December 04, 2025
Sports
PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox, Australian Elvis Smylie and LIV golfer Carlos Ortiz upstaged Rory McIlroy to share the lead at the Australian Open Thursday as the Masters champion struggled with his putter on Royal Melbourne's tricky greens.
December 04, 2025
RECENT NEWS
Israel awaited the return of the last hostage remains held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, as the military said on Thursday that those of a Thai national had been identified after they were handed over.
Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent are among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited Chinese workers in Italy, according to documents issued Thursday by a Milan prosecutor.
Asian and European markets were mixed Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for a third successive time next week.
Australian veteran Mitchell Starc became the most prolific left-arm paceman in Test history on Thursday, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram.
December 04, 2025
Politics
French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine and to tackle trade deficits as the two leaders met in Beijing on Thursday.
December 04, 2025
RECENT NEWS
Turkey warned Russia and Ukraine against targeting energy infrastructure following several Black Sea drone attacks claimed by Kyiv on Russia-linked tankers, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
India are all in a spin after losing a scarcely believable 20 coin tosses in a row in one-day internationals -- at odds of more than a million-to-one.
Asian markets struggled to maintain their early momentum Thursday, even after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for a third successive time next week.
Zak Crawley and Joe Root led an England recovery to 98-2 at the first tea break of the day-night second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane on Thursday after Mitchell Starc took two early wickets.
December 04, 2025
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