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Joel Embiid scored 41 points in a dazzling return from injury on Monday as the Philadelphia 76ers romped past the Houston Rockets 124-115.

Voters in a brutally cold Iowa kick of the US Republican presidential nomination race Monday -- the first major test of whether Donald Trump's runaway poll lead will deliver an early knockout victory.

Carlos Alcaraz and women's world number one Iga Swiatek are the headline acts on day three of the Australian Open on Tuesday as Emma Raducanu makes her Grand Slam comeback from injury.

Israel on Monday said the "intensive" phase of its war on Hamas in devastated southern Gaza would end "soon" as the UN chief pleaded for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire".

Guatemala's new President Bernardo Arevalo said Monday he was facing "monumental challenges" to halt the rot of corruption which put his country's democracy at risk.

The US special envoy for Ukraine's economic recovery said Monday that tapping frozen Russian assets would be an "easy" source of money for Kyiv, but the G7 must first agree collectively to do it.

Hundreds of northeast Syrian villages and towns have lost power, with water supplies also affected, after Turkish strikes pounded electricity stations and infrastructure, the region's semi-autonomous Kurdish administration said Monday.

Rafael Nadal was named ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation on Monday, as the Gulf kingdom aims to host more professional tournaments as part of a broader sports push.

Anthony Joshua said on Monday he is hoping a fight against ex-mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou will lead to a shot at becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Guinea joined a growing list of surprise sides at the Africa Cup of Nations by drawing 1-1 against five-time champions Cameroon in Group C on Monday despite playing the second half with 10 men.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League on Monday after admitting to breaches of financial rules.

Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza reported on Monday more than 24,000 deaths in the war with Israel which has rocked the region, and militants released a video announcing the death of two Israeli hostages.

Political tension was running high in the Comoros on Monday, with violent incidents reported one day after the Indian Ocean island nation held a presidential vote.

Talks between London and Northern Irish parties aimed at restoring devolved government in the region failed Monday, days ahead of a deadline for calling an election and a mass public-sector strike.

South Korea launched their campaign for a first Asian Cup since 1960 with a 3-1 win over Bahrain while fellow former champions Iraq beat Indonesia by the same scoreline Monday.

Everton and Nottingham Forest have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League on Monday after admitting to breaches of financial rules.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been released from Walter Reed hospital, he said Monday, after two weeks of treatment that he initially concealed from other top officials including President Joe Biden, leading to calls for his removal from office.

Yemen's Huthi rebels hit a US-owned cargo vessel with a missile on Monday, the US military said, heightening fears for the volatile region after repeated attacks on shipping triggered American and British strikes.

Anthony Joshua will face ex-mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on March 8.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday that his government believed that all planned targets had been destroyed in last week's US-led strikes against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min warned that the Asian Cup was "all about commitment" as South Korea look to end a 64-year title drought.

Looking over his shoulder for eavesdroppers in a cafe, an Israeli anti-war campaigner leaned closer to a woman who plans to refuse military enlistment, risking jail time during Israel's unrelenting Gaza offensive.

Voters kick off the US Republican presidential nomination race Monday with caucuses in freezing Iowa, the first major test of whether Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis have any hope against scandal-plagued front-runner Donald Trump -- or will have to accept cold political reality.

Lamine Camara scored twice as Senegal kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia in Yamoussoukro on Monday.

Thousands of angry farmers descended on Berlin with their tractors and loudly booed a government minister on Monday, rounding off a week of nationwide protests against plans to roll back tax breaks for agriculture.

The International Criminal Court said Monday it was delaying its verdict in the war crimes trial of a Malian Islamist leader, as the head judge is unavailable for health reasons.

An Israeli footballer left Turkey on Monday after being detained overnight and charged with incitement to hatred by displaying a message about the Israel-Hamas war during a top division match.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel says Harry Kane is capable of breaking Robert Lewandowski's 41-goal single-season Bundesliga record with the England captain off to a sensational start at the German champions.

The EU plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, but to get there it needs to pass two decadal milestones -- each implying massive adaptation by industry and consumers.

Wearing heavy makeup and a fuchsia wig, Brazilian drag queen Helena Black is acting out a story for a rapt group of children -- but this is not your typical fairytale.

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in upstaged Son Heung-min with two goals as South Korea began their bid for a first Asian Cup since 1960 with a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Monday.

Naomi Osaka said she had no regrets and had done "the best that I could possibly do" after her Grand Slam comeback came to an abrupt halt at the Australian Open on Monday.