Salzburger Tageblatt - Salzburger Tageblatt, News from Salzburg, Austria and around the world

German voters head to the polls in a winter election on Sunday but may not have a new government for some time.

To stop invading Chinese forces seizing Taiwan, board gamer Ruth Zhong chooses the nuclear option: dropping an atomic bomb on the capital Taipei to secure the island's freedom and her victory.

Germany's rocky path towards Sunday's early elections began when the outgoing coalition government collapsed in acrimony on November 6, the very day Donald Trump won re-election to the White House.

London-based model Alexsandrah Gondora understands the power of being in "two places at the same time" thanks to an AI replica of herself: "She's doing the hard work so I don't have to!"

From immigration and Germany's ailing economy to cannabis and gender politics, here is a round-up of the burning issues on voters' minds in the run-up to Sunday's election.

A man who went on a stabbing rampage in France, killing one and wounding several others in what President Emmanuel Macron called an "Islamist terrorist act", was on a terrorism watchlist and subject to deportation orders, according to authorities.

As an openly gay politician who lives with her Sri Lanka-born partner in Switzerland, Alice Weidel was an unusual choice to many to lead Germany's far-right and anti-immigration AfD into Sunday's elections.

A huge turnout was expected for the funeral Sunday of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as the Lebanese militant group looks to put on a show of strength after a bruising war with Israel.

Friedrich Merz, the man expected to become Germany's next chancellor, has vowed to rule Europe's top economy by returning to his Christian Democrats' conservative roots, help business and crack down on irregular immigration.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-2 home draw against New York City FC in the opening round of the new Major League Soccer season on Saturday.

Germany holds elections on Sunday after its three-party "traffic light" coalition collapsed last year and could soon have a "black-red" government while a "Jamaica" or "blackberry" alliance is less likely.

German voters head to the polls on Sunday, with the conservatives the strong favourites after a campaign rocked by a far-right surge and the dramatic return of US President Donald Trump.

Nearly a decade after activists led one of the largest anti-pipeline protests in US history, the fight shifts to court as Energy Transfer sues Greenpeace for $300 million in a case with far-reaching free speech implications.

Donald Trump's sudden shift on Ukraine has shaken the transatlantic alliance to its core. Now European leaders are crossing that same ocean in a desperate bid to shore it up.

Western Force coach Simon Cron says his side's 45-42 upset of the powerhouse ACT Brumbies in fortress Canberra boded well for the future after they snapped a 15-game losing streak away from home.

Sean Baker, whose low-budget movie "Anora" is the frontrunner for next weekend's Oscars, delivered an impassioned plea to "keep indie film alive" as he won top prize at the Spirit Awards Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that freeing Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal will be delayed until Hamas ends its "humiliating ceremonies" while releasing Israeli hostages.

The director of a controversial movie about US President Donald Trump's younger years apologized Saturday after admitting to an "over-familiar" gesture towards an actor who later complained of being groped.

Dmitry Bivol dethroned Artur Beterbiev as undisputed light-heavyweight champion in a thrilling contest in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday.

South African Rookie Aldrich Potgieter struggled late on the way to a four-under-par 67 on Saturday that left him with a one-shot lead over Brian Campbell heading into the final round of the US PGA Tour's Mexico Open.

Argentine President Javier Milei met with Donald Trump on the sidelines of a gathering of US conservatives Saturday, where he praised his American counterpart's reciprocal tariffs plans that have shocked trading partners.

Olympic champion Grant Holloway stormed to victory at the US Indoor Athletics Championships on Saturday, extending an 11-year unbeaten streak in the 60m hurdles to win in a world-leading 7.36 seconds.

Barcelona were below par but earned a 2-0 win at Las Palmas on Saturday to move back top of La Liga.

Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres struck to earn Barcelona a 2-0 win at Las Palmas on Saturday which took them back top of La Liga.

Lautaro Martinez shot Inter Milan top of Serie A with the decisive goal in Saturday's 1-0 win over Genoa which piled pressure on title rivals Napoli ahead of next weekend's showdown in Naples.

England captain Maro Itoje praised his side's endurance as they ended a run of four straight defeats by Scotland with a dramatic 16-15 Six Nations win at Twickenham on Saturday.

Four decades after they were cruelly forced apart, US-raised Adamary Garcia and her birth mother fell into each other's arms Saturday at the airport in Santiago, Chile.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was trying to get money back for the billions of dollars sent to support Ukraine's war against Russia.

England-born Josh Inglis described his match-winning century for Australia against his native country in the Champions Trophy on Saturday as "special" and admitted the days he supported the English in sport "are long gone".

Russian dissident punk band Pussy Riot played at a pro-Ukraine protest in Berlin on Saturday, on the eve of German elections as the war nears three years.

Bayer Leverkusen tightened their grip on second place in the Bundesliga as they cruised to a 2-0 victory at struggling Holstein Kiel on Saturday while Serhou Guirassy hit four goals as "euphoric" Borussia Dortmund routed Union Berlin 6-0.

Spain international Jenni Hermoso said Saturday the ordeal sparked by the forcible kiss from disgraced former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales is finally "over".