Italy’s Di Maio seen quitting as 5-Star leader in blow to government
Luigi Di Maio will step down as leader of Italy’s co-governing 5-Star movement on Wednesday, a senior party source said, as it seeks to stem a wave of defections that threatens the government’s parliamentary majority.
With a nod from parliament, Greece gets first female president
Top judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou became Greece’s first woman president on Wednesday when lawmakers elected her head of state in a rare display of unity.
Formula One to hold auction for Australian bushfire relief
Formula One, whose 2020 season starts in Melbourne on March 15, has announced an auction to help areas most affected by the Australian bushfires.
China companies issue staff with masks, travel warnings as virus outbreak fears grow
Companies across China are handing out masks and warning staff to avoid the central city of Wuhan amid fears that the new flu-like coronavirus will rapidly spread with much of population embarking on travel for Lunar New Year holidays.
Soccer: Australia’s Olympic team says preparing for Wuhan amid virus fears
The Australian women’s soccer team are still preparing for a trip to Wuhan for Olympic qualifiers early next month despite concerns about an outbreak of the new coronavirus in the Chinese city, head coach Ante Milicic has said.
South Korean military moves to discharge first transgender soldier
The South Korean military announced on Wednesday it will discharge a soldier who underwent gender reassignment surgery, in a landmark case that sparked a national debate about the treatment of transgender members of the armed forces.
Israeli electric company ends power cuts to West Bank after Palestinians pay debt
Israel’s state-owned electric company said on Wednesday it was ending power cuts to the occupied West Bank after the Palestinians’ main power distributor paid off a chunk of debt.
Australia evacuates parts of its capital as bushfire conditions return
Some residents of Australia’s capital Canberra were evacuated briefly on Wednesday after a bushfire broke out near the airport as searing hot weather ended a few days of respite and the number of out-of-control blazes surged in the southeast of the cou…
Australia volunteers feed wild wombats affected by bushfires
To most of the world, the enduring image of Australia’s bushfires has been injured koalas, but for former teacher John Creighton, the impact has been far worse for the native wombat.
Lengthy pizza delivers funds for embattled Australian firefighters
An Italian restaurant in Australia has made a 103 meter (338 foot) Margherita pizza to raise funds for firefighters battling bushfires.
