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Vote counting got under way Saturday in Taiwan's presidential election, held in the shadow of threats from China that choosing the wrong leader could set the stage for war on the self-ruled island.

A "pain-free" Novak Djokovic begins his Australian Open defence against a teenage qualifier on Sunday as he bids for an unprecedented 25th major crown, but women's top seed Iga Swiatek faces a much trickier assignment.

On a freezing January morning, dozens of discarded Christmas trees collected after the holidays are tossed into Stockholm's glacial waters, recycled to provide a welcoming habitat for marine life.

Novak Djokovic said Saturday he had overcome a worrisome wrist injury ahead of the Australian Open while revealing one of the secrets to his success in Melbourne was hugging trees.

Carlos Alcaraz says the challenge of toppling 10-time champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open gives him "extra motivation" as he aims to end the Serbian's long reign in Melbourne.

Israel pounded Gaza on Saturday as the Palestinian territory suffered under a dire humanitarian situation and grappled with a telecommunications blackout on the 99th day of the war.

Fast-rising American Emma Navarro upset two-time champion Elise Mertens to secure her first WTA title on Saturday with a battling 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win at the Hobart International.

China's Carl Yuan grabbed six birdies in a five-under par 65 to share the halfway lead in the US PGA Tour's Sony Open with An Byeong-hun and Austin Eckroat on Friday.

Golden State stars Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry shook off slow starts to power the Warriors to a much-needed 140-131 NBA victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

The administration of Democratic US President Joe Biden on Friday accused Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott of preventing the federal border patrol from carrying out its mission by blocking its access to a key sector of the border with Mexico.

Canadian Summer McIntosh cruised to victory in the women's 200m freestyle Friday, clocking 1min 55.41sec to notch her second win in two days at the Pro Swim meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Beijing to maintain cross-strait stability on Friday during a meeting with a senior Chinese official, hours before voters in Taiwan headed to polls to choose a new president.

Workers were just starting construction on a new apartment complex in northeastern Brazil when they began finding human bones and pottery shards, their edges worn smooth by time.

A Fox News host suggested this week that Taylor Swift is a "front for a covert political agenda," echoing disinformation that has percolated in right-wing circles for months -- and which experts say will likely get worse before the 2024 US election.

As Ecuador wages war against criminal gangs, experts warn that similar security crackdowns have produced mixed results elsewhere in Latin America -- and sometimes even led to worse violence.

Plunging temperatures, whipping wind and buckets of snow derailed the final stretch of caucus campaigning in the US state of Iowa Friday as Republican presidential hopefuls delivered their last pitches to voters.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all sides "not to escalate" the volatile situation in the Red Sea, his spokesman said on Friday after Washington and London launched strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane said he was "really happy" to be reunited with former Tottenham teammate Eric Dier, who has signed with the German club.

Pep Guardiola has revealed injured Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is set to be sidelined until the end of January.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer has been left out of the West Indies ODI and Twenty20 squads for the upcoming white ball series in Australia.

Oil prices climbed Friday after US and UK forces launched strikes against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, while global stocks were mixed following the kickoff of corporate earnings season.

Carlton Morris scored a controversial stoppage-time equaliser as Luton salvaged a 1-1 draw in their crucial clash with relegation rivals Burnley on Friday.

Jamal Musiala scored twice and Harry Kane added a late goal as Bayern Munich won 3-0 at home over Hoffenheim on Friday as the club celebrated the life of Franz Beckenbauer.

Recent strikes against Yemen's Huthis are unlikely to end the threat they pose to international shipping, with the Iran-backed rebels having already survived years of heavy aerial bombardment by Gulf states.

Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga said Friday he is confident he can handle Major League Baseball changes and challenges after signing a four-year deal worth $53 million with the Chicago Cubs.

Millions of Taiwanese head to the polls Saturday for a presidential election closely watched across the world, as the new leader will set the course for the democratic island facing increasing aggression from China.

Is it the little spaceship that could?

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis said Friday that US and British interests were "legitimate targets" after the Western allies launched deadly strikes following weeks of disruptive rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Tech aimed at battling climate change and even pumping fresh water out of thin air attracted crowds as the annual CES gadget extravaganza showed its green side.

Technology is often designed to lighten the load from the everyday - and brushing your teeth or using the toilet are no exception.

President Joe Biden took office vowing to negotiate an end to a bloody war in Yemen and to remove US troops from harm's way.

France's Adam Siao Him Fa successfully defended his European figure skating title on Friday despite a fall and pulling off a banned backflip.