Italy's Berlusconi says new government possible even without snap vote

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday a new center-right government that would sweep the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement from power could be formed even without a snap election.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RtpeW7

Brazilians little moved by Vale overtures in wake of disaster

Residents of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais reacted with indifference and in many cases dismissal at a raft of measures mining giant Vale SA pledged to adopt in recent days in the wake of a dam burst that likely killed over 300 people.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WwHx0w

Sudan's Bashir says border with Eritrea, shut for a year, reopens

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Thursday that his country was reopening its border with Eritrea, which has been shut since January 6, 2018.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2TmpTuh

Zimbabwe's public sector union backs down on strike, says situation is volatile

Zimbabwe's umbrella public sector union has backed down from plans for a national strike, an official said on Thursday, citing the volatile situation in the country after violent protests this month were met by a security crackdown.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WxwunD

Germany, France, Britain to launch mechanism for trade with Iran

Germany, France and Britain have officially set up a European mechanism to facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran and circumvent U.S. sanctions, two diplomats said on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RvlaoF

Venezuela's Guaido asks EU to keep pressure on Maduro

Venezuela's self-declared interim president Juan Guaido has asked European Union governments to keep up the pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WynheL

UK to formulate Irish border proposals 'in a few days': Hunt

Britain will take a few days to formulate some proposals to put to the European Union in an attempt to resolve the issue of Irish border arrangements after Brexit, foreign minister Jeremy Hunt told BBC radio on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2BdRR4o

Miners BHP, Rio urge permanent voice for First Nations in Australia's parliament

Australia's two biggest miners on Thursday backed calls for an indigenous advisory body in parliament, saying Prime Minister Scott Morrison's opposition to the proposal did not "stand up to scrutiny".

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2TlbONK

Zimbabwe's public sector union backs down on strike, cites volatile situation

Zimbabwe's umbrella public sector union has backed down from plans for a national strike, an official said on Thursday, citing the volatile situation in the country after this month's violent protests were met by a brutal security crackdown.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MMa65O

Learning With: ‘A Merciless Cold Lingers in the Midwest’

By KATHERINE SCHULTEN from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2GcDKj6

Rescue Pets

By KATHERINE SCHULTEN from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2G91nt3

Venezuela opposition 'has met military', says Juan Guaidó

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó says his team has held talks with the army about regime change.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SeYuxi

Polar vortex brings deadly cold snap to US states

At least eight people have died in the deep freeze, which has paralysed transport services.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2FYNLkW

'American Dying' cooled Earth's climate

European settlement of the Americas killed so many people, it disturbed Earth's climate.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2RsVJ75

Facebook users continue to grow despite privacy scandals

The number of people who logged into the site at least once a month rose 9% last year.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Uu7wUu

Tom Brady 'cheater' slur costs TV producer his job

The New England Patriots quarterback was labelled a "known cheater" during a Pittsburgh broadcast.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2GbzBvV

Sarah Sanders says 'God wanted Trump to be president'

In an interview, the White House press secretary says Donald Trump had divine support.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Bm9a3B

Saudi Arabia ends major anti-corruption campaign

Hundreds of princes and billionaires were held and more than $100bn recouped by the state since 2017.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S0hQGQ

Bastia attack: Gunman found dead in police raid

France's interior minister says "the fanatic committed suicide" after killing one and injuring five.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2B96bLC

Senator Rand Paul wins damages after neighbour attack

Senator Rand Paul was awarded more than $580,000 (£441,000) in damages after his neighbour attacked.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UopeIW

Mystery illness sees Canada halve its Cuba embassy staff

A 14th employee at Canada's embassy in Havana falls ill, and the country cuts staff there by half.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sWTxuQ

China's factory activity shrinks as slowdown worries rise

The data comes as several global firms warn China's slowing economy will hit their bottom line.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UvE5l2

Emiliano Sala: Missing Cardiff striker's former club Nantes pay tribute

Nantes pay tribute to missing former striker Emiliano Sala during their 1-1 draw with Saint Etienne.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SbuBxT

The story of a US raid on al-Qaeda in Yemen

The BBC has gained rare access to Athlan village, the site of a major US attack on al-Qaeda in Yemen.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UqHYHO

Polar vortex: What is it and how does it happen?

The deep freeze gripping much of the US has been blamed on a polar vortex. Here's what that means.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Sex5LW

Actor 'tasted brutality of hatred'

Stars support Empire actor Jussie Smollet, the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2CRvIJi

The Afghan Invictus athletes claiming asylum in Australia

The fears of six athletes who claimed asylum in Australia after the 2018 Invictus Games.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S8Sgz1

Zimbabwe women raped as government crackdown continues

Six women tell the BBC they were raped by security forces as part of a government crackdown.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2CRqD3G

MP defends unmasking shot reporter

Kennedy Agyapong tells the BBC he regrets journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale’s death, but has a clear conscious.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sVKNEY

'Why I fled Saudi Arabia and sought asylum in the UK'

Two Saudis who sought asylum in the UK explain why they risked everything.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SdhEnb

Richard E Grant in tears over Barbra Streisand's reply to 1970s fan letter

The actor and superfan was "overcome with emotion" when Streisand replied to his childhood letter.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2MGAb66

The Lord of the Ringos? Peter Jackson to direct a Beatles film

The Lord of the Rings director will use unseen footage of the tense sessions for their final album.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SdIgEx

Bulgarians decry ‘eco vandalism’ on coast

Social media outcry puts controversial construction on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast under scrutiny.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Uxh9C1

Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave. Poverty and loneliness are two of the possible causes.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sUSv2f

How do you compost a human body - and why would you?

A US state could become one of the first places in the world to allow corpses to become fertile soil.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S04WbU

The Indians sharing their villages with crocodiles

In most places, a crocodile would send people scurrying in fear. But not in this part of India.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Sbqv8X

Maduro and Guaidó: Who is supporting whom in Venezuela?

The international community is split over who it recognises as the country's current president.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2BbqOqp

Nastya Rybka: Model who got caught up in the Trump-Russia row

The story of Nastya Rybka, who was questioned in a Thai jail by the FBI about the Trump-Russia inquiry.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2HHJ9kz

Why Dutch fear Brexit no deal will leave onions to rot

Imagine onions - tonnes of them, rotting in a customs queue. It's a Dutch farmer's Brexit nightmare.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2DLoiZL

Rescue Pets

By KATHERINE SCHULTEN from NYT The Learning Network https://nyti.ms/2G91nt3

Cost-conscious Chinese tourists staying closer to home for Lunar New Year

Trade tensions with the United States and a slowing economy are keeping Chinese tourists to budget-friendly destinations closer to home for the Lunar New Year holiday, with more likely opting for Bangkok than Sydney or San Francisco.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WydHIP

China's military-run space station in Argentina is a 'black box'

LAS LAJAS, Argentina - When China built a military-run space station in Argentina's Patagonian region it promised to include a visitors' center to explain the purpose of its powerful 16-story antenna.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2FZcWn8

Russia, U.S. last-ditch talks to break nuclear pact deadlock fail: agencies

Russia and the United States failed to bridge their differences over a landmark Cold War-era arms treaty at last-ditch talks in Beijing, Russia's deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2HICNBH