Trap laid, Ukraine walked in
BRICS-Dollar challenge
Al-Qaida’s growing ambitions
Saudi shift shakes Israel
India's Modi and Russia's Putin talk defence, trade and Ukraine
Flooding kills two as Vietnam hit by dozens of landslides
Italy to open Europe's first marine sanctuary for dolphins
Hong Kong university suspends student union after calls for fire justice
Economy
Asian markets rise ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
Most Asian markets rose going into the weekend Friday following a broadly positive lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did little to change expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week.
Culture
Nigerian nightlife finds a new extravagance: cabaret
Scantily clad in a sequin leotard and silver heels, a Nigeria dancer swayed to "Money" by Cardi B in an oversized cocktail glass.
Last news
Economy
Abortion in Afghanistan: 'My mother crushed my stomach with a stone'
When Bahara was four months pregnant, she went to a Kabul hospital to beg for an abortion. "We're not allowed," a doctor told her. "If someone finds out, we will all end up in prison."
Sports
Lyon 'absolutely filthy' at being dropped for Ashes Test
Frustrated Australian spinner Nathan Lyon said he was "absolutely filthy" at being axed for the second Ashes Test against England.
Nature
Study says African penguins starved en masse off South Africa
Endangered penguins living off South Africa's coast have likely starved en masse due to food shortages, a study said Friday, with some populations dropping by 95 percent in just eight years.
Sports
West Indies face colossal 531-run target in first New Zealand Test
The West Indies made a safe start to their colossal 531-run target in the first Test against an injury-hit New Zealand on Friday as they reached 20-0 at lunch on day four in Christchurch.
Politics
US signs health aid deal with Kenya in Trump first
The United States on Thursday signed a $2.5 billion health aid deal with Kenya, the first such bilateral agreement after President Donald Trump tore down the historic US aid agency and sidelined NGOs.
Politics
German president urges European 'self-confidence' on UK state visit
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a rallying cry for Europe's future global competitiveness at a City of London banquet Thursday, as he wrapped up the second day of his UK state visit.
Sports
Chiefs face must-win clash as fierce NFL rivalries renewed
Patrick Mahomes and the faltering Kansas City Chiefs face a must-win clash against the resurgent Houston Texans Sunday on a crunch weekend that features some of the NFL's fiercest rivalries.
Sports
Amorim frustrated by wasteful Man Utd
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim criticised his side's lack of killer instinct after blowing the lead against struggling West Ham in a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Sports
Defending champ Scheffler in 5-way tie for lead at Hero World Challenge
Scottie Scheffler, chasing a third straight Hero World Challenge title, had seven birdies before a closing bogey to post a six-under-par 66 on Thursday to join a five-way tie for the first-round lead at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
Sports
Man Utd rue missed chance in West Ham draw
Manchester United's issues defending a lead cost them a place in the Premier League's top five after lowly West Ham hit back to salvage a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Sports
Nigeria stalwart Troost-Ekong retires just before AFCON
Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, just 19 days before the Super Eagles launch their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Politics
Trump revels in peace institute renamed after himself
It may not make up for missing out on the Nobel Prize, but President Donald Trump still looked thrilled to arrive at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.
Economy
Mixed day for US equities as Japan's Nikkei rallies
Wall Street stocks finished mixed at the end of a choppy session Thursday as markets digested varying labor market data and looked ahead to next week's Federal Reserve decision.
Sports
Odermatt dominates Beaver Creek World Cup downhill
Swiss star Marco Odermatt won the Beaver Creek downhill in commanding style on Thursday to notch his third victory in four starts in the young alpine World Cup season geared toward the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
Sports
Frank favours Spurs victory over Brentford sentiment
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank said his need for a home Premier League win will override his feelings for Brentford as he faces his former club on Saturday.
Politics
Eurovision hit by boycotts after Israel cleared to compete
Three countries on Thursday pulled out of the Eurovision Song Contest after organisers opted not to vote on Israel's future participation, allowing it to take part in next year's event.
Politics
Trump, Rwanda and DR Congo leaders sign deal despite fresh violence
US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace deal Thursday, even as fresh violence raised questions about the accord to end one of Africa's longest wars.
Sports
Past is history says Mueller ahead of MLS Messi clash
Thomas Mueller says his past results against Lionel Messi will count for little when he lines up for the Vancouver Whitecaps against Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.
Weather
To counter climate denial, UN scientists must be 'clear' about human role: IPCC chief
With US President Donald Trump and other sceptics calling climate change a hoax, the UN's climate science body must tell the world in a "very clear way" that humans are heating the planet, its chairman told AFP.
Boulevard
Virginia man arrested in January 6 pipe-bomb case
A Virginia man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican party headquarters on the eve of the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot, officials said.
Sports
Hamilton plans team shake-up at Ferrari after miserable season
Lewis Hamilton on Thursday said he plans a shake-up of his team at Ferrari next year after enduring a nightmare first season with the Italians.
Economy
Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
An oversight board created by Facebook to review content-moderation decisions trumpeted improved transparency and respect for people's rights in a survey of their first five years of work on Thursday, while acknowledging "frustrations" to their arm's-length role.
Politics
Eurovision faces withdrawals after Israel OK'd to compete
The Eurovision Song Contest -- the world's largest live music competition -- faced the prospect of mass withdrawals, after organisers opted not to vote on Israel's future participation, allowing it to take part in next year's event.
Boulevard
Iran filmmaker Panahi says to return home despite prison sentence
Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has said he plans to return to Iran despite being sentenced to a year in prison and a travel ban earlier this week, a report said Thursday.
Politics
Trump envoys press plan with Ukraine as sanctions eased on Russia
President Donald Trump's envoys were to meet Thursday with Ukrainian negotiators for the third time in two weeks to press his plan to end the war as his administration eased economic pressure on Russia.
Politics
Global markets scent US rate cuts
World stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week and in 2026.
Politics
Trump hosts Rwanda, DR Congo accord signing even as violence rages
President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to sign a deal that the US leader has hailed as his latest peace triumph despite ongoing violence on the ground.
Politics
Hegseth's Signal use risked harm to US forces, watchdog says
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of commercial messaging app Signal to discuss strikes on Yemen risked compromising sensitive information and could have put troops at risk, the Pentagon's independent watchdog said Thursday.
Sports
2026 Winter Olympics flame lands in Italy
The flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics arrived in Rome on Thursday for a two-month torch relay around Italy before the sprawling Games open on February 6.
Politics
UK, Norway to jointly 'hunt Russian submarines' under new pact
Britain and Norway on Thursday unveiled a new defence pact that will see their navies jointly operate a warship fleet to "hunt Russian submarines" in the North Atlantic.
Sports
Antonelli thanks Verstappen for support after online death threats
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli on Thursday thanked Max Verstappen for his support as he revealed that the Red Bull driver and his race engineer had spoken to him after receiving death threats on social media following the Qatar Grand Prix.
Sports
'Motivated' Bordeaux-Begles launch Champions Cup defence at 'Bull Ring'
Title holders Bordeaux-Begles open the defence of their Champions Cup crown on Saturday with a gruelling trip to the Bulls and the challenge of one of the sport's most difficult away journeys.
Politics
European leaders in phone call voiced distrust of US over Ukraine: report
European leaders in a conference call this week voiced distrust of US efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, according to German news weekly Der Spiegel, which said it had obtained written notes on the call.
Culture
German broadcaster backs Israel in Eurovision debate
The public broadcaster organising Germany's entry for Eurovision said Thursday that Israel was entitled to compete in the contest, as European broadcasters debate whether to exclude the country over its conduct in Gaza.
Sports
Norris rejects idea of team loyalty before Formula 1 title showdon
Lando Norris on Thursday rejected the idea of asking title rival and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to support him this weekend in the decisive season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix even if it is the only way he can beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen to the title.
Culture
Spanish star Rosalia to go on world tour in 2026
Spanish star Rosalia on Thursday announced 2026 world tour dates for her critically acclaimed new album "Lux", with shows across Europe, the United States and Latin America.
Economy
South Africa says wants equal treatment, after US G20 exclusion
South Africa responded Thursday to a US bar on its participation in G20 events under Washington's presidency by saying it was a fully-fledged member of the forum and expected to be treated equally.
Trump despair drives folk icon Joan Baez back to the studio
Legendary American folk singer Joan Baez has told AFP that the return of Donald Trump to the White House has pushed her to go back to the studio where she has just recorded a protest song.
Economy
One in three French Muslims say suffer discrimination: report
Discrimination based on religion has increased in France, a report by the country's rights ombudswoman found Thursday, with one in three Muslims surveyed saying they had suffered from it.