Global finance in few hands
Scandic Coin, (SNC) and Trust
Brussels misreads Magyar
US China race hits 2027
Under-fire UK PM heckled after Jewish-targeted stabbings
King Charles to honor US troops on final day of visit
US first-quarter growth rebounds less than expected as inflation surges
Ruud's Madrid title defence ended by Belgian Blockx
Boulevard
Manila landfill fire leaves locals gasping
Filipino ferry dispatcher Dave Delos Reyes has been handing out N95 masks for nearly three weeks to protect passengers against the smoke that a landfill fire has sent billowing above a stretch of Manila Bay.
Economy
ECB warns of risks from Mideast war as it holds rates
The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday and warned of growing risks to the growth and inflation outlook thanks to the war in the Middle East.
Last news
Culture
Statue pops up on London plinth bearing Banksy's name
A large statue has appeared on a plinth in central London with Banksy's name scrawled on the base, prompting speculation Thursday that it may be the famously enigmatic street artist's latest work.
Economy
Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar
Iran's supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically-punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.
Politics
Ukraine wants details of Russia's army parade truce offer
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said Kyiv would seek details from Washington about a Kremlin offer for a ceasefire on May 9, when Russia holds large-scale World War II commemorations.
Sports
LIV Golf looking for new partners amid Saudi pullout reports
LIV Golf said on Thursday it was seeking to secure "long-term financial partners", amid rumours Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund will stop financing the series at the end of the 2026 season.
Boulevard
Cambodia deports more than 600 Thais linked to cyberscams: minister
Cambodia deported more than 600 Thais allegedly involved in online scams on Thursday, the information minister said, part of a crackdown against the multibillion-dollar illicit industry that has ballooned in the country in recent years.
Sports
Mainoo signs new five-year Man Utd contract
Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.
European rocket puts Amazon internet satellites in orbit
Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 successfully released 32 satellites into orbit Thursday for Amazon's internet constellation, which is bidding to rival Elon Musk's giant Starlink.
Sports
Mainoo signs new Man Utd contract
Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at Manchester United that will keep him at the club until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.
Economy
White House against Anthropic expanding Mythos model access: report
The White House is opposing Anthropic's plans to expand access to its new artificial intelligence model Mythos to 120 companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Politics
Oil strikes 4-year peak, stocks diverge as central banks in focus
Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while global stock markets diverged as investors turned to central bank decisions and corporate earnings.
Politics
Gaza flotilla organisers say 211 activists 'kidnapped' by Israel
Organisers of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Thursday said Israel's army had "kidnapped" 211 activists including a Paris city councillor in a raid in international waters off Greece.
Weather
Oil crisis fuels calls to speed up clean energy transition
The oil crisis triggered by the Middle East war has underscored the need for the world to accelerate the clean energy transition, the COP31 president-designate and the UN's climate chief said Thursday.
Technology
European rocket blasts off with Amazon internet satellites
Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 launched on Thursday carrying a second batch of 32 satellites into space for Amazon's internet constellation, which is bidding to rival Elon Musk's giant Starlink.
Economy
Nigerian airlines avert shutdown as Mideast war hikes fuel prices
Nigerian airlines continued flying on Thursday despite threatening a shutdown over sky-high jet fuel prices roiling the industry in Africa's top crude producer and most populous nation.
Politics
Eurozone economy barely grows in first months of 2026
Eurozone economic growth dropped to near zero in the first three months of 2026 as surging energy costs triggered by the Middle East war pushed inflation sharply up in April, data showed on Thursday.
Culture
Press freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF
Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, Reporters Without Borders warned on Thursday.
Economy
ArcelorMittal boosts sales but profits squeezed
Steel giant ArcelorMittal said Thursday that while first-quarter sales had risen, adverse exchange rates hit net profits, but added that it was well placed to benefit from European restrictions on imports.
Afghan women footballers celebrate 'historic moment'
A FIFA rule change allowing Afghanistan's women footballers to compete in official matches is a "historic moment" and "basic human right", former captain Khalida Popal told AFP on Thursday.
Sports
Burnley boss Parker leaves club after relegation
Scott Parker has left his position as head coach of Burnley by mutual consent following the club's relegation from the Premier League, it was announced on Thursday.
Politics
Nigerian airlines avert shutdown as Iran war hikes fuel prices
Nigerian airlines continued flying Thursday despite threatening a shutdown over sky-high jet fuel prices roiling the industry in Africa's top crude producer and most populous nation.
Sports
IPL fines Rajasthan's Parag for vaping in dressing room
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined a quarter of his match fee for vaping in the dressing room during a game, the Indian Premier League said Thursday.
Economy
German growth beats forecast but energy shock looms
Germany's struggling economy expanded slightly faster than expected at the start of the year, data showed Thursday, but the positive momentum could be derailed by the Iran war energy shock.
Politics
Under-fire UK boosts security for Jews after latest attack
The UK government on Thursday announced an extra £25 million ($33 million) for security outside synagogues and schools, a day after two Jews were stabbed in the latest attack on the community.
Boulevard
Afghan women footballers celebrate 'historical moment'
A FIFA rule change allowing Afghanistan's women footballers to compete in official matches is a "historical moment", former captain Khalida Popal told AFP on Thursday.
Politics
Iran defies Trump's blockade as oil prices soar
Iran warned the United States on Thursday that its naval blockade was doomed to fail, after President Donald Trump signalled it could be enforced for months to come, in a confrontation wreaking havoc on global energy markets.
Economy
Air France-KLM trims 2026 outlook over Middle East war impact
Air France-KLM cut back its 2026 outlook as it said higher fuel prices caused by the Middle East war would weigh down its fuel bill by more than a third.
Politics
Oil surges to four-year high on Trump blockade warning
Oil prices soared more than seven percent to a four-year high above $126 Thursday after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and a report said he would be briefed on potential fresh military strikes.
Boulevard
Teen with 30 tortoises under clothes nabbed at Thai airport
Thai authorities arrested a teenager at a Bangkok airport for allegedly smuggling 30 protected tortoises valued at about $9,000 that were taped under her clothing, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Sports
Hero's welcome in Kenya for marathon record-breaker Sawe
There was a hero's welcome for marathon world record-breaker Sabastian Sawe as he returned to Kenya and was lauded by President William Ruto on Thursday.
Economy
Oil surges 7% to top $126 on Trump blockade warning
Oil prices soared more than seven percent to a four-year high above $126 Thursday after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and a report said he would be briefed on potential fresh military strikes.
Economy
Volkswagen warns of more cost cuts as profits plunge
Volkswagen's future is at risk without further cost-cuts, the ailing German auto giant warned Thursday after profits plunged more than feared as headwinds mount.
Economy
Rolls-Royce confident on profits despite Mideast war disruption
British engine-maker Rolls-Royce maintained its full-year profit guidance on Thursday, as it expects to "fully mitigate" disruption from the Middle East war.
Economy
French economy records zero growth in first quarter
France's economy recorded zero growth in the first quarter of this year due to "sluggish" domestic demand and a "strongly" negative contribution from foreign trade, the national statistics agency INSEE said Thursday.
Economy
Carmaker Stellantis swings back into profit as sales climb
Global automaker Stellantis -- owner of the Jeep and Fiat brands -- said Thursday it had swung back into profit in the first quarter on rising sales as it fixed manufacturing and operational problems.
Economy
Trump warns Iran blockade could last months, sending oil prices soaring
President Donald Trump said a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years, which held into Thursday.
Sports
Pistons stay alive, Lakers can't stop Rockets
Cade Cunningham kept top-seeded Detroit's NBA playoff run alive against the Orlando Magic, as the Los Angeles Lakers again failed to close out their series with Houston on Wednesday.
Culture
No 'meaningful' shift from social media sites after Australia teen ban: govt report
There was "no meaningful shift" away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia's world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show.
Things to know
Denmark's Soren Torpegaard Lund to 'stay true' at Eurovision
Denmark's Soren Torpegaard Lund, one of the favourites in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, has sparked a homophobic backlash in his progressive country with his electro-pop track, but he's just trying to "stay true to myself", he told AFP in an interview.
Health
Marathon brothers run Ireland in race to find dementia cure
Jordan Adams, who ran the London marathon with a 25-kilogram fridge on his back last weekend, is now running around Ireland in a race to find a cure for a form of dementia both he and his brother are near certain to contract.