Easy win for Maria Sharapova and Kvitova, eases into semifinals
Sharapova plays Ekaterina Makarova, a 23-year-old Russian ranked No.56, who was good enough to bundle out an erratic Serena Williams in straight sets on Monday. Sharapova advanced to the semifinals of AO2012 with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
No.2 seed Petra Kvitova has advanced to the semifinals of AO2012 with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Italy's Sara Errani at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.
Despite making numerous unforced errors Kvitova took the first set in 53 minutes as she looked too strong for the 48th-ranked Italian.
Errani bounced straight back in the second set, taking an early break and racing out to a 4-1 lead. ...
Japan seeks UN nuclear agency presence in Fukushima
Japan is asking the UN's nuclear agency to set up a permanent office in Fukushima to monitor its efforts to contain the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, according to officials.
The news came as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts began examining Japan's safety checks on idled nuclear reactors.
Tokyo wants an international seal of approval for the energy-hungry country's nuclear industry to bolster its faltering efforts at reassuring the public it is safe to resume atomic operations.
The vast majority of Japan's 54 commercial nuclear reactors are offline because popular opposition is preventing their being restarted in the ...
Louvre’s Da Vinci restoration ignites art world row
Delicate work to restore a Leonardo Da Vinci masterpiece, to be unveiled in March, has turned into a headache for the Louvre, after experts accused the Paris museum of putting the precious oil work at risk.
Da Vinci began painting "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne" in 1503 and when he died in France in 1519 the unfinished work, depicting Christ beside his mother and grandmother with a sacrificial lamb, was acquired by King Francis I.
Restoration carried out in the past century left the "Saint Anne" disfigured by stains, on the Virgin's dress for instance, due to the ageing of a ...
Klum and Seal split
German supermodel Heidi Klum has separated from British singer Seal after seven years of marriage, the couple confirmed Sunday.
"While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate," the couple told US celebrity gossip magazine People.
"We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart," they added. "This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition."
Klum is one of Germany’s most ...
After Early Set Back Sharapova moves to quarter final of Australian Open
Maria Sharapova showed tremendous grit to beat Sabine Lisicki in three sets and move one step closer to winning the Australian Open. She came back from a set down to beat Lisicki 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in just more than 2 hrs.
In 35 minutes Lisicki won the first set 6-3 after being down 0-3. Lisicki found her length and power to break Sharapova five times to win the set in enthralling fashion. Sharapova had no answers to the Lisicki strokes as she ended up losing 6 games in a row.
Sharapova took the second set 6-2 to square the match at 1 set all. Sharapova ...
Renowned attorney Bennett to represent Megaupload
When Megaupload executives arrive in court to answer charges that they orchestrated a massive online piracy scheme, they'll be backed by a prominent lawyer who has defended Bill Clinton against sexual harassment charges and Enron against allegations of corporate fraud.
Washington attorney Robert Bennett said Friday that he will represent the company, which was indicted in federal court in Alexandria Thursday on copyright infringement and other charges.
The U.S. government shut down Megaupload's file-sharing website on Thursday, alleging that the company facilitated illegal downloads of copyrighted movies and other content. Seven individuals — including the company's founder, who had his name legally changed to Kim Dotcom — were also charged. ...
Snows cut off Austrian resorts amid avalanche risk
Ski resorts were cut off and avalanche warning levels raised in western Austria Saturday as heavy snowfall also disrupted World Cup ski races and Winter Youth Olympics competitions.
The resorts of Lech, Zuers and Stuben in the westernmost province of Vorarlberg, and the popular ski destination of Ischgl in Tirol, were inaccessible after roads were blocked.
Experts also spoke of a "critical" avalanche situation and advised skiers to avoid going off-piste. In Vorarlberg, the avalanche risk was raised to level four -- the second highest.
Overnight, over 7,000 households in Tirol were also without power.
More than half a metre (one and a half ...
UK ticket scoops EuroMillions prize
A UK-based ticketholder has won nearly £41 million on the EuroMillions draw, Camelot said.
The winner scooped the rollover jackpot of £40,627,241.
A Camelot spokesman said: "This is fantastic news - we're absolutely delighted to have yet another huge EuroMillions win here in the UK.
"We have plenty of champagne on ice and look forward to welcoming the lucky ticketholder into The National Lottery millionaires' club.
"Over 2,800 people have become millionaires since The National Lottery began and, to date, our players have raised an amazing £27 billion and counting for National Lottery Good Causes."
No one has yet come forward to claim the prize.
The ...
Sweden mulls jail term for forced marriage
Forcing someone into marriage against their will could soon carry a punishment of up to two years imprisonment, according to an inquiry tasked with formulating a law criminalizing the practice under Swedish law.
The inquiry, which will be completed later in the spring, also calls a halt to the existing possibility of special dispensation to allow minors to marry.
"My view has always been that we need a law against forced marriage and that the child marriage dispensation needs to be removed," said equality minister Nyamko Sabuni to news agency TT.
"At the same time we have to be show humility. When an inquiry is ongoing we ...
Westerwelle counters US Europe-bashing
Germany's foreign minister assured Americans Friday that Europe left socialism behind two decades ago, despite statements to the contrary by Republicans on the US presidential campaign trail.
With Republican White House hopefuls telling voters they will prevent America from sinking into a European-type malaise, Guido Westerwelle sought to dispel the notion of a region collapsing on the back of social welfare.
"When I look at the American debate over the past weeks I see mostly a caricature of Europe, the image of a continent mired in gloom and self-absorption," he told an audience at Brookings Institution.
"I beg to differ. First point: We ...
