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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted Tuesday to having lunch on the private island of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012, but denied closer ties, amid bipartisan calls for his resignation.

The mayor of Ecuador's violence-ravaged city of Guayaquil, a fierce critic of President Daniel Noboa, was arrested Tuesday along with the president of a top football club for alleged money laundering, prosecutors said.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a solid half-century while spinner Usman Tariq grabbed three wickets as Pakistan downed the United States by 32 runs in a T20 World Cup Group A game in Colombo on Tuesday.

Stock markets were largely mixed Tuesday as traders assessed mixed company earnings and the outlook for the tech sector ahead of key economic data releases, with lacklustre US retail sales data keeping investors cautious.

French President Emmanuel Macron has revived the idea of joint EU borrowing that has long been divisive in the European Union, although the bloc has shifted its position on the issue to head off several crises.

US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin suffered more Winter Olympic heartbreak on Tuesday as Games chiefs banned a Ukrainian athlete from wearing a helmet depicting victims of the war with Russia.

Mikaela Shiffrin said there were no excuses for a disappointing slalom run that cost her a medal in Tuesday's Olympic team combined, insisting she would learn her lesson ahead of her individual events.

A defiant British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to move on Tuesday from fevered speculation about his future after fighting off strident calls to resign over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Armed with swimsuits, caps and goggles, rural French children are gaining access to swimming lessons close to home at an unlikely venue: a retrofitted trailer truck.

An enhanced version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket will blast off Thursday to launch 32 satellites into orbit, forming part of the Amazon Leo network, which it hopes will rival Elon Musk's Starlink.

The push for a digital euro has gained greater urgency as Europe seeks to bolster its financial sovereignty, with hopes the proposal will move forward this year after European lawmakers Tuesday backed the plans.

Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica announced the sale of its Chilean unit for $1.2 billion on Tuesday in its push to leave Latin America and concentrate on core markets elsewhere.

A rare spell of torrential rain has killed at least 22 people and left thousands of families displaced in Colombia's northern cattle belt, officials said Tuesday.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a robust half-century to help Pakistan post 190-9 in their T20 World Cup Group A game against United States in Colombo on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump's administration is expected to finalize this week its repeal of a foundational scientific determination that underpins the US government's authority to regulate greenhouse gas pollution.

Nepal captain Rohit Paudel on Tuesday called for cricketing powers India, England and Australia to tour his country to play a T20 series.

Stock markets posted modest gains Tuesday as traders assessed mixed company earnings and the outlook for the tech sector ahead of key economic data releases, with lacklustre US retail sales data keeping investors cautious.

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday allowed a Ukrainian skeleton racer to wear a black armband after banning his helmet that features pictures of Ukrainian sportspeople killed in the war with Russia.

French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry are poised to win Olympic gold in Milan despite a baptism of fire in their debut season with accusations of control and manipulation flying.

Norway's Birk Ruud won gold in the Olympic men's freeski slopestyle on Tuesday after an error-filled event at Livigno Snow Park.

Mikaela Shiffrin suffered more Winter Olympic pain on Tuesday after the US ski star failed to claim a medal in the women's team combined, bringing back memories of her disastrous performance at the Beijing Games four years ago.

Captain Maro Itoje returns as one of two changes for England's Six Nations trip to Scotland on Saturday as Steve Borthwick's men look to build on a 12-game winning run.

In the heart of the Sahara, where the routes to Sudan and Libya cross, the Chadian city of Amdjarass has been transformed this week into an open-air celebration of desert culture.

US retail sales showed no growth in December, according to delayed government data released Tuesday, missing analysts' expectations amid heightened scrutiny of the American consumer's appetite -- a key driver of the world's biggest economy.

Farmers across Europe are protesting amid one of the most plentiful potato harvests in years, as the unintended consequences of US tariffs and increased competition drive down prices.

Bangladesh's leading prime ministerial hopeful Tarique Rahman said on Tuesday he faces "huge" challenges if he wins elections this week, vowing to repair a country he said was looted under the previous ousted government.

Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday Manchester City must address a habit of second half slumps if they are to retain any hope of chasing down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

Senegal ordered the closure of student residences at a major university in Dakar on Tuesday, a day after a medical student died during clashes with police, shocking the university community.

US Vice President JD Vance arrived Tuesday in Azerbaijan, a day after visiting Armenia on a regional trip aimed at consolidating a US-brokered peace process between the Caucasus neighbours.

Russia had been widely expected to launch a massive strike on Ukraine, but the evening crew at one of the country's frequently targeted power stations could do nothing to prepare.

Mikaela Shiffrin suffered more Olympic pain on Tuesday after the US ski star failed to claim a medal in the women's team combined, which was won by Austrian duo Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber.

India said Tuesday it would be "a challenge" to face a "quality" Pakistan team in Colombo after Islamabad U-turned and decided to play the blockbuster T20 World Cup clash.

EU lawmakers backed plans Tuesday for a digital euro, a project that has split the bloc but has gained greater urgency as Europe seeks to bolster its financial sovereignty.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to move on Tuesday from speculation about his future after fending off serious calls to resign over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Winter Olympics organisers said Tuesday that athletes whose medals had broken at the Milan-Cortina Games could hand them in for repair after a string of embarrassing glitches.

Russia's internet watchdog on Tuesday announced it was throttling the Telegram messenger platform for alleged violations of Russian law, as Moscow tries to push Russians to use a more tightly controlled domestic online service.

ArcelorMittal said Tuesday that it would build a low-carbon electric furnace at its steel mill in northern France, after months of wrangling with officials over the project's economic viability.

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert posted a T20 World Cup record partnership of 175 as New Zealand crushed the United Arab Emirates by 10 wickets with almost five overs to spare in Chennai on Tuesday.

Norway's Birk Ruud won gold in the Olympic men's freeski slopestyle competition on Tuesday after an error-filled event at Livigno Snow Park.