Madras Times - Stay Informed with Madras Times: Round-the-clock Coverage of Chennai, India, and Global Affairs in Six Languages

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced another pause in rate cuts and warned of higher risks to its inflation and unemployment goals in a likely reference to President Donald Trump's tariff rollout.

Thick black smoke emerged Wednesday from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in a sign that cardinals had failed to elect a new head of the Catholic Church in their first conclave vote.

As President Donald Trump's administration purges public records since storming back to power, experts and volunteers are preserving thousands of web pages and government sites devoted to climate change, health or LGBTQ rights and other issues.

Shares in Google parent Alphabet plunged more than eight percent on Wednesday after Apple executive Eddy Cue testified in federal court that Google's search traffic on Apple devices declined last month for the first time in over two decades.

Regional French authorities ordered Nestle on Wednesday to remove a system that filters Perrier and to renew its authorisation to call it natural mineral water, marking the latest turn in a saga that has ensnared the government.

Russia said Wednesday it shot down several Ukrainian drones headed towards Moscow as world leaders arrived in the capital for World War II commemorations on May 9.

The PGA of America will give away 3,000 tickets to September's Ryder Cup showdown at Bethpage Black, surprising New York area fans with a program known as The People's Perk.

Regulators said Wednesday they have been slowing arrivals and departures at one of the United States' busiest airports following a 90-second traffic control system outage last week that has industry experts sounding alarm bells.

South Africa's Dewald Brevis hit a 22-ball fifty as Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two wickets on Wednesday, leaving the defending IPL champions in grave danger of missing the playoffs.

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced another rate cut pause and warned of higher risks to its inflation and unemployment goals in a likely reference to President Donald Trump's tariffs

Having won the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam and end a 10-year major win drought, Rory McIlroy is ready to move on starting at this week's PGA Truist Championship.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed James Maddison will miss the rest of the season ahead of Thursday's crucial Europa League semi-final showdown with Bodo/Glimt.

OpenAI on Wednesday announced an initiative to help countries build their own artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructures, with the US government a partner in projects.

Germany's new government said Wednesday it would reject most asylum seekers at its borders as conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to limit irregular immigration and curb the rise of the far-right.

The United States will host the knockout rounds of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup tournament, organizers announced Wednesday, with three teams directly qualifying for the 2027 Australia Rugby World Cup.

Six Bulgarians, members of a sophisticated spy network dubbed "The Minions", were before court Wednesday for sentencing, facing up to 14 years in prison for spying for Russia.

Rohit Sharma rose from humble beginnings to captain cricket-mad India and redefined Test batting with his ability to score big hundreds as he dominated opposition attacks.

Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe is leaving Gloucester to join French Top 14 side Bayonne next season, the Basque club announced on Wednesday.

Shares in Google parent Alphabet plunged more than seven percent on Wednesday after an Apple executive told a federal court that the search engine's traffic fell on Apple products last month.

Ruben Amorim says nothing will change if he wins the Europa League with the "worst" Manchester United team in Premier League history.

Excluded from the conclave to elect a new pope Wednesday -- and more broadly from the Church's entire global priesthood -- some Catholic women were determined that their voices will be heard.

Mammoth has been selected as the nickname for Utah's NHL club, the team announced on Wednesday after playing its first season as the Utah Hockey Club.

Cardinals choosing the next leader of the global Catholic Church were locked into the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, marking the formal start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled Wednesday a plan to revive South Africa's flagging local governments, weeks after publicly criticising the state of the financial capital Johannesburg as it prepares to host the G20 summit in November.

Chinese stocks rose on Wednesday, as did the dollar, as investors eyed weekend US-China trade talks and an imminent Federal Reserve interest-rate decision.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic arrived in Moscow Wednesday for the week's celebrations marking 80 years since the victory over Nazi Germany, risking anger in Brussels as he tries to balance Russian ties and European aspirations.

The European Union is accelerating free trade talks with Asia following hefty tariffs by US President Donald Trump, the bloc's trade chief said Wednesday.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca claims winning the UEFA Conference League would prove that his side must be taken seriously as trophy contenders.

Mexico will fight to keep its free trade agreement with the United States and Canada in the face of President Donald Trump's trade war, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday.

UN experts demanded action on Wednesday to avert the "annihilation" of Palestinians in Gaza, as rescuers said Israeli strikes across the territory killed dozens of people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin.

A Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet crashed Wednesday near the Rovaniemi airport in Finland's Arctic north, but the pilot was rescued after ejecting, the armed forces said.

India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the team's tour of England starting next month, but will continue to play the shorter 50-over format.

In-form South African sprinter Akani Simbine insists he is no "nearly man" despite missing a podium finish in the men's 100m at the last three Olympics by a combined total of just eight-hundredths of second.

Red-robed cardinals assembled in the Vatican on Wednesday to pray, shortly before being locked in to elect a new pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

The Walt Disney Company announced plans Wednesday for a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the country's growing prominence as a global financial and entertainment hub.

US and Chinese stocks rose on Wednesday, along with the dollar, as investors eyed weekend US-China trade talks and an imminent Federal reserve interest-rate decision.

Ruben Amorim has insisted he wants to keep Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes despite interest from Saudi Arabia, labelling the Portugal international "one of the top players in the world".

The EU is preparing to hit US goods worth nearly 100 billion euros ($113 billion) with tariffs in retaliation for President Donald Trump's sweeping levies if talks fail, European diplomats told AFP Wednesday.