Climate change fuels bush fire risk

"A sunburned country ... with a pitiless blue sky", so the famous poem goes, but where once Australia could rely on "steady, soaking rain", a trend of hotter and drier weather as the climate warms is making it more vulnerable to severe bush fires.

'Tuna King' laments Tsukiji market move

Kiyoshi Kimura's ear-to-ear grin is tough to miss in Japan - it's splashed across ubiquitous billboards advertising his nationwide sushi chain.

Refugees face language barriers

From an economic point of view, it all seemed to make sense.

Ettore Scola, one of the 'grand masters' of Italian film, dies at 84

Film director Ettore Scola, one of the last grand masters of Italian comedy, died on Tuesday at the age of 84, press reports said.

IS confirms the death of 'Jihadi John'

The Islamic State group has acknowledged the death of the masked militant known as "Jihadi John", who appeared in several videos depicting the beheadings of Western hostages, in an article in its online English-language magazine Dabiq.

Marriage contract of Napoleon up for sale

Marriage contract that the Emperor Napoleon and his wife Josephine signed as witnesses goes on sale next month for $20,000, a dealer in autographs and rare manuscripts said Tuesday.

King tries to end political logjam

The mediation skills of Spain's King Felipe VI are being put to the test this week as he meets with political leaders to try to end the impasse the country has faced since an inconclusive general election.

EPA admits slow response to water crisis

The US Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it was reviewing its handling of a crisis over lead-contaminated drinking water in the Michigan city of Flint and acknowledged it did not respond fast enough.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Boycott calls rise in diversity row

Amid calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards over its all-white acting nominees and Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith both announcing they would sit out this year's ceremony, the academy's president said it was time for major changes - and soon.

Astronauts grow first flower beyond Earth

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have successfully grown a flower to full bloom for the first time outside our Earth.

Tougher law to tackle high rates of acid attacks

Acid attack survivors in Colombia hope a new law that punishes perpetrators of the crime with up to 50 years in prison will act as a deterrent in a country with high rates of acid attacks.