Football

Soccer-Italy and Bosnia chase World Cup return in history-laden playoff

March 29 (Reuters) - Bosnia and Italy meet ⁠in a World Cup playoff on Tuesday with both sides aiming to end a 12-year finals absence and erase memories of ⁠playoff heartbreak, in a fixture that rekindles memories of Bosnia's first international win.

World

Death toll in Lebanon reaches 1,238 since start of Israeli attacks

BEIRUT, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 49 people were killed and 116 injured on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 1,238 and the number of wounded to 3,543 since the escalation of hostilities on March 2, Lebanon's Disaster Risk Management Unit at the prime minister's office said.

World

Three paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse stolen from Italian museum: local media

ROME, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Three masterpieces by French artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse were stolen in a burglary at a museum near Parma in northern Italy, Italy's Ansa news agency reported Sunday.

World

Georgia to host 5th Tbilisi Int'l Archival Film Festival in October

TBILISI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The National Archives of Georgia will host the 5th Tbilisi International Archival Film Festival from Oct. 27 to 31, 2026 in Tbilisi, NewsGeorgia reported Sunday.

World

Italy hosts first national forum on cuisine following UNESCO recognition

MANDURIA, Italy, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The first Forum of Italian Cuisine following its recent recognition as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage was held over the weekend in the southern region of Puglia, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, and producers to enhance the competitiveness of Italy's food sector and promote its sustainable growth.

World

1st LD: U.S., Iran express confidence in Pakistan for talks: Pakistani FM

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said here on Sunday that both the United States and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate potential talks, describing it as a positive development amid ongoing regional tensions.

World

Three dead in Russian attack on Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, police say

March 29 (Reuters) - ⁠A Russian strike on the ⁠eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk killed ‌three people and injured 13 on Sunday, police said, one of several attacks in ​frontline areas.

World

Humpback whale 'Timmy' struggles to escape shallow waters off Germany

BERLIN, March 29 (Reuters) - A ⁠young humpback whale named Timmy by rescuers was struggling to find ⁠its way out of shallow bays off the Baltic coast ‌of Germany on Sunday morning, after a week-long ordeal that has put its survival in doubt.

World

U.S., Iran express confidence on Pakistan to facilitate talks: Pakistani FM

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said here Sunday after a four-party foreign ministers' meeting on Middle East tensions that both the United States and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate talks.

World

Four FMs have detailed discussion on possible ways to bring Mideast conflict to early end: Pakistani FM

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The four foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Türkiye held a detailed discussion on possible ways to bring the conflict in the Middle East to an early end, the Pakistani foreign minister said here on Sunday.

World

Finland reports territorial violation by drones, at least one from Ukraine

HELSINKI, March 29 (Reuters) - ⁠Finland reported on Sunday a suspected territorial violation by unmanned aerial ⁠vehicles in the southeast of the country, which the Finnish prime ‌minister said was likely linked to Ukrainian drone attacks against Russia.

World

Chinese medical team saves woman with severe postpartum hemorrhage in NW Benin

NATITINGOU, Benin, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A Beninese woman suffering from a perineal tear and a severe vaginal wall laceration was successfully treated by the 28th Chinese medical team at Natitingou Zone Hospital, more than 700 km northwest of Cotonou, despite challenging conditions, medical sources said Sunday.

Other Sports

Figure skating-ISU say Fear and Gibson's world score stands after British challenge

PRAGUE, March 29 (Reuters) - The ⁠International Skating Union said the two‑point deduction that denied ⁠ice dancers Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson a world championships ‌bronze medal cannot be appealed, after British Ice Skating said it was seeking to overturn the decision.

Football

Soccer-Germany to make changes against Ghana after hard-earned win in Switzerland, says coach

STUTTGART, Germany, March 29 (Reuters) - Germany ⁠will make a number of changes to their line-up for Monday's friendly ⁠against Ghana as some players need to be rested following their ‌draining win over Switzerland earlier this week, coach Julian Nagelsmann said.

Football

Soccer-Tottenham's Tudor tenure ends in turmoil as Spurs teeter on relegation brink

March 29 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur's brief ⁠experiment with Igor Tudor came to an abrupt end on Sunday, with the Premier League strugglers announcing ⁠they had "mutually agreed" to part ways with their interim manager after just five weeks in charge.

Nation

700 open burning cases recorded in Perak since January 2026

IPOH: A total of 700 open burning cases involving vegetation have been recorded in Perak from January to March 2026.

World

France detains two more suspects over foiled Paris Bank of America attack

PARIS, March 29 (Reuters) - French ⁠authorities have arrested two more suspects over a foiled attack on Bank of America's Paris ⁠offices, the country's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said on Sunday.

World

UK counter terror officers join probe after car hits pedestrians, injuring 7

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - British ⁠counter terrorism officers are assisting police after a driver ⁠who struck pedestrians in the city of Derby on ‌Saturday night was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said on Sunday.

Football

Soccer-Africa Cup of Nations to be increased to 28 teams

CAIRO, March 29 (Reuters) - ⁠The Africa Cup of Nations is set to ⁠be increased to 28 teams from 24, ‌CAF president Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday.

AseanPlus News

Residents affected by Hong Kong fire at Tai Po district get window for retrieval of their belongings

From April 20 to May 4, over 1,700 households displaced by last year's blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po district can return in stages to retrieve personal belongings from their fire-damaged flats.