- Sweden says China blocked prosecutors' probe of ship linked to cut cables
- Acid complicates search after deadly Brazil bridge collapse
- Norwegian Haugan dazzles in men's World Cup slalom win
- Arsenal's Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
- Mali singer Traore child custody case postponed
- France mourns Mayotte victims amid uncertainy over government
- UK economy stagnant in third quarter in fresh setback
- Sweden says China denied request for prosecutors to probe ship linked to cut undersea cables
- African players in Europe: Salah leads Golden Boot race after brace
- Global stock markets edge higher as US inflation eases rate fears
- German far-right AfD to march in city hit by Christmas market attack
- Ireland centre Henshaw signs IRFU contract extension
- Bangladesh launches $5bn graft probe into Hasina's family
- US probes China chip industry on 'anticompetitive' concerns
- Biden commutes sentences for 37 of 40 federal death row inmates
- Clock ticks down on France government nomination
- 'Devastated' Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Mozambique on edge as judges rule on disputed election
- Mobile cinema brings Tunisians big screen experience
- Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system
- Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks
- Police arrest suspect who set woman on fire in New York subway
- China vows 'cooperation' over ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables
- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- Beyond Work Unveils Next-Generation Memory-Augmented AI Agent (MATRIX) for Enterprise Document Intelligence
- Brightline Interactive Successfully Delivers A Scalable Immersive Simulation To A Global Government Service Integrator, Positioning Itself As A Leading Operating System For Processing And Visualizing Complex Information In 3D Space
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
Strasser takes third World Cup win as Pinturault drops out again
German skier Linus Strasser won the last slalom on the World Cup programme before the Olympic Games, in Schladming on Tuesday but it was another evening in "hell" for Frenchman Alexis Pinturault who dropped out on the first run.
Strasser, 29, was ony fifth after the first run but came through strongly to take top spot, helped significantly by midpoint leader Kristoffer Jakobsen failing to complete his second run.
It was the third World Cup win of Strasser's career and his second in slalom following his victory in Zagreb last year.
Strasser finished just 0.03secs ahead of the Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath, who collected his first ever podium in slalom.
The Austrian Manuel Feller, returning after being out of action with Covid-19, produced a remarkable second run to rise from 28th after the first run to finish third.
The Norwegian Lucas Braathen, who came in 12th, retains the lead in the discipline standings, where the top eight are separated by fewer than 100 points.
Pinturault, however, who was overall World Cup champion last year, suffered a further setback, failing to complete his first run. It was the fourth time in six slaloms this winter that he has dropped out.
The Frenchman, who is looking to win his first individual gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, also dropped out in Kitzbuehel on Saturday.
"Each time I arrive in a new race, I change my state of mind, but the results are not better for all that and feed this hell," Pinturault said after his failed run.
"The situation is far from easy. After a while there are doubts and doubt is the enemy of the athlete.
"Without confidence I feel less liberated when I ski, I am less able to take risks."
The 30-year-old, however, struck a note of optimism as he looked ahead to Beijing.
"At the Games it can't be worse than what I'm doing right now. The Games are a different universe, where there are surprises.
"Anyone can try their luck, feel comfortable, and be on the podium."
The Winter Olympics in Beijing begin on February 4.
O.Lorenz--BTB