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Carlos Alcaraz launched the defence of his US Open crown with a brisk victory after his opponent suffered an injury on Tuesday as third seed Daniil Medvedev strolled into the second round with a quick-fire win.

Takashi Hosoda was in a Tokyo skyscraper when the 9.0 magnitude quake struck on March 11, 2011, but the trained architect was "not particularly worried" as modern Japanese buildings are designed to protect their occupants.

The United States wants to work with China to ensure a more "predictable" environment for American businesses in Shanghai, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told officials in the economic hub on Wednesday.

A historic Hollywood strike robbed the Venice Film Festival of some of its usual glitz as it launched its 80th edition on Wednesday, but a raft of big-name -- and controversial -- directors are keeping the film world buzzing.

Strength in depth among forwards and backs has South Africans believing that captain Siya Kolisi and his Springboks can successfully defend in France the Rugby World Cup they won four years ago.

A year after he faced the axe, Ian Foster will step down after four years in charge of the All Blacks following the Rugby World Cup as New Zealand look to bounce back from a record defeat to South Africa.

Venus Williams bowed out of her record-extending 24th US Open at the first hurdle on Tuesday, the seven-time Grand Slam champion losing 6-1, 6-1 to Belgium's Greet Minnen.

Pope Francis heads to Mongolia this week, an unlikely choice given the isolated nation's small Catholic community, but a strategic one due to the young democracy's geographical position between two superpowers.

On the rocky foreshore of Popua, the poorest area of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, a group of girls and boys are tossing around a rugby ball.

Sixty years ago, a crisis hotline for the first time sent a message between the world's superpowers.

John Paul Nohelj has lived in Steinhatchee for two decades. For him, the northwest Florida town set among marshes and forests is paradise on Earth, and he won't leave -- despite being in the crosshairs of a churning hurricane.

Andy Murray shrugged off a bungled attempt to use video review technology for the first time at the US Open before advancing to the second round with a straight sets defeat of France's Corentin Moutet on Tuesday.

Jessica Pegula said lessons she learned while dealing with injuries early in her career have helped shape her into a player targeting a deep run at the US Open as the world number three.

The head of the Venice Film Festival, which starts Wednesday, told AFP it was "absolutely incomprehensible" why US opinion had turned so strongly against director Woody Allen.

Ange Postecoglou defended his team selection after suffering his first defeat as Tottenham boss after Fulham won 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the League Cup second round on Tuesday.

Hurricane Idalia intensified Tuesday as it churned toward the west coast of Florida, triggering mass evacuation orders and flood alerts as authorities warned of life-threatening ocean surge and catastrophic destruction when the storm rages ashore early Wednesday.

Elon Musk on Tuesday lifted a ban on political ads put in place at Twitter to thwart misinformation before the billionaire bought the platform now called X.

Ange Postecoglou suffered his first defeat as Tottenham boss as Fulham won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the League Cup second round on Tuesday.

Barcelona winger Raphinha got a call-up from the Brazilian national team Tuesday to replace injured Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior as Brazil launch their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, officials said Tuesday.

Stock markets extended a global rally Tuesday as the first of a series of data due out this week gave no reason for the US Federal Reserve to hike interest rates further.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev strolled into the second round of the US Open with a quick-fire victory as world number one Carlos Alcaraz prepared to launch his title defence on Tuesday.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scooped the PFA Players' Player of the Year award on Tuesday after his stellar first season with the treble winners.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev said Tuesday he was happy to fly under the radar at the US Open with much of the spotlight fixed on Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Two men who stormed the field in Denver and made physical contact with Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna are facing charges in Denver, police reports showed Tuesday.

Damar Hamlin made the Buffalo Bills' initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, seven months after suffering a cardiac arrest after taking a hit during an NFL game.

Sudan's army chief returned home Tuesday after visiting Egypt on his first trip abroad since the outbreak of war in April, with the latest violence killing dozens of civilians in battle-scarred Darfur.

Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash two months after staging a short-lived mutiny, was on Tuesday laid to rest in a secret ceremony in his native Saint Petersburg.

Former Algerian defence minister Khaled Nezzar has been indicted in Switzerland on charges of committing crimes against humanity in the 1990s during the civil war, state prosecutors said Tuesday.

Megan Rapinoe will play her final game for the United States in a September 24 friendly against South Africa in Chicago, USA Soccer said Tuesday.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been charged with acting in an improper manner after he was sent off at Newcastle on Sunday.

Algeria's foreign minister on Tuesday proposed a six-month transitional plan for neighbouring Niger, whose coup leader seeks a far longer timeline back to democracy.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev raced into the US Open second round on Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Hungary's Attila Balazs.