Reuters

By Eduardo Munoz

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A miniature poodle named Sage was crowned "Best in Show" on Tuesday at the 148th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, fetching the grand prize in the most prestigious competition among pure-bred canines in the United States.

The finalist representing all breeds classified as non-sporting dogs, Sage emerged victorious from more than 2,500 top-ranked canines competing in a two-day contest, held at... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - China is considering a plan to have local governments across the country buy millions of unsold homes, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, as a protracted property crisis weighs heavily on the world's second-largest economy.

China's blue-chip CSI 300 index rose 2% following the report.

The State Council is gathering feedback on the preliminary plan from various provinces and government bodies, the report added, citing people... (continue reading...)

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai industrial sentiment index dropped in April, dented by slowing domestic demand, a government wage hike plan and drought, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday.

The FTI said its industrial sentiment index fell to 90.3 in April from 92.4 the previous month.

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by John Mair)

By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Gunshots could be heard and schools remained shut in New Caledonia's capital Noumea on Wednesday morning after a night of rioting despite a curfew, as France's National Assembly approved changes to voting rules in the Pacific island.

Lawmakers in Paris voted 351 to 153 in favour of the bill to allow French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections - a move... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Russian air forces repelled a "massive" air attack by Ukraine on Sevastopol, though debris from a missile fell onto a residential area, the Russia-installed governor of the Crimean port, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said on Wednesday.

According to preliminary information, no one was injured, Razvozhayev said on his Telegram messaging channel. He added that "several air objects" were destroyed by Russia's air defence systems over the Black Sea... (continue reading...)