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
Politics
Trump favorite reclaims narrow lead in Honduras presidential vote
A right-wing Honduran presidential candidate backed by Donald Trump reclaimed a narrow lead over his rival Thursday on the fourth day of a plodding vote count.
Politics
UN Security Council says ready to support Syria on first-ever visit
A United Nations Security Council delegation made its first-ever visit to Syria on Thursday, pledging the international community's support for the country days before the anniversary of Bashar al-Assad's ousting.
Politics
Assumed likelihood of US rate cuts lifts global markets
World stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates next week and in 2026.
Politics
Suspect arrested in US capital pipe bomb case: media
A 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, US media reported.
Health
Putin found 'morally responsible' for nerve agent death in UK
The UK Thursday sanctioned Russia's intelligence service and summoned Moscow's ambassador after an inquiry found President Vladimir Putin bore "moral responsibility" for the death of a British woman in a 2018 nerve agent attack.
Sports
Olympic favourite Malinin stumbles at Grand Prix Final
Ilia Malinin gave his Olympic figure skating rivals a glimmer of hope after botching his signature quadruple axel to finish the short programme third at the Grand Prix Final on Thursday.
Politics
Israel launches fresh strikes on south Lebanon after warnings
Israeli raids hit south Lebanon on Thursday as Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah targets, a day after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks in decades.
Politics
Trump to sign Rwanda, DR Congo agreement even as violence rages
US President Donald Trump on Thursday brings the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo together to endorse a deal that Trump has hailed as his latest peace triumph despite ongoing violence on the ground.
Russia's Putin in India for defence, trade talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at deepening defence ties, as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.
Culture
Memphis soul guitarist Steve Cropper dead at 84
Steve Cropper, the Booker T. & the MG's guitarist and key songwriter and producer for the Memphis soul sound of Stax Records, has died aged 84, his family said.
Boulevard
Devastating landslides turn Sri Lanka village into burial ground
Electrician V. K. Muthukrishnan ran to help when a lightning-fast mudslide flattened his neighbour's home in rural Sri Lanka -- only to see his own house swept away minutes later.
Sports
'Wasim's still better' says Starc after left-arm wicket landmark
Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Thursday he could not be compared with Wasim Akram after he surpassed the Pakistani great as the leading left-arm pace bowler in Test history.
Sports
Salah does not have 'unlimited credit' at Liverpool, Van Dijk says
Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah's omission from Liverpool's team for a second successive match shows no player at the club has "unlimited credit".
Economy
Microsoft faces complaint in EU over Israeli surveillance data
Microsoft is facing a complaint in the European Union filed by a non-profit organisation alleging it illegally stored data on Palestinians used for Israeli military surveillance.
Politics
South Africa prepared to 'take a break' from G20 after US ban
South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did not expect other countries to lobby for its inclusion.
Economy
Milan-Cortina organisers rush to ready venues as Olympic flame arrives in Italy
The Olympic flame arrives in Rome on Thursday as the Milan-Cortina Winter Games home into view, but organisers are rushing to make sure everything is ready for a sprawling sports showcase spread across a vast area of northern Italy.
Boulevard
1,327 days: Families pine for OSCE employees detained in Russia
They have been accused of crimes including treason and espionage, some deported to Siberian penal colonies, their health deteriorating, their families counting the days in anguish.
Sports
'Chuffed for him': Crawley, Starc pay tribute to 'flawless' Root
England opener Zak Crawley praised a "flawless" Joe Root after the 34-year-old broke his Australia century drought on the first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.
Economy
Truth commission urges Finland to rectify Sami injustices
A Finnish truth and reconciliation commission on Thursday urged Finland to rectify historic injustices committed against the indigenous Sami people, as it finalised a report after four years' work.
Sports
Root's superb first ton in Australia guides England to 325-9
Joe Root finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia on his fourth Ashes tour to guide England from a precarious 5-2 to 325-9 at stumps after a pulsating first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.
Politics
French rugby great Blanco eyes bid for Biarritz mayorship
French rugby great Serge Blanco announced on Thursday he would stand for mayor in the southwestern city of Biarritz, where he played his entire career and was also twice club president.
Politics
S.Africa must tackle 'xenophobic' health clinic protests, court says
South African authorities must do more to tackle a spate of "xenophobic" protests aimed at blocking access to clinics and hospitals to undocumented foreigners, a court ruled on Thursday.
Economy
Stocks rise eyeing series of US rate cuts
European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates next week and into 2026.
Economy
Italy sweatshop probe snares more luxury brands
Italian prosecutors on Thursday named Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent as among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited migrant workers in Italy, as part of a growing investigation into sweatshop conditions.
Boulevard
Senegal baskets are hot, but women weavers ask where's the money?
Under the shade of a large mango tree in her sandy courtyard in a village in northwest Senegal, Khady Sene rhythmically threads together reeds, the beginning of a new basket.
Sports
2026 Winter Olympics flame handed to Milan-Cortina organisers
The flame for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics was handed to the host city organisers on Thursday in an Athens ceremony for a two-month torch relay in Italy before the Games open on February 6.
Sports
Joe Root: England great conquers final frontier with Ashes ton
Joe Root's century in Brisbane on Thursday -- the first of his prolific career in Australia -- ends any lingering debate over his status as a giant of the sport.
Sports
Kolisi backs Erasmus rotation policy with third straight World Cup title in mind
South Africa's two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi said on Thursday that coach Rassie Erasmus's rotation policy had increased his chances of trying for a record third successive crown.
Sports
Joe Root scores his first Ashes century in Australia
Joe Root scored his first Test century on Australian soil in the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday to cement his position as a modern-day great.
Technology
EU hits Meta with antitrust probe over WhatsApp AI features
The EU said Thursday it has opened an antitrust probe to determine if the way Meta is rolling out AI features in WhatsApp breaches the bloc's competition rules.
Economy
Russia's Putin heads to India for defence, trade talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin was due in India on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at deepening defence ties, as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying oil from Moscow.
Culture
Kate Winslet 'so proud' as directorial debut premieres
Oscar-winning British actress Kate Winslet said she was "so proud" of herself for directing her first film "Goodbye June" and would "love to do more".
Economy
South Africa telecoms giant Vodacom to take control of Kenya's Safaricom
South Africa's biggest mobile operator Vodacom said Thursday it had agreed to take control of East Africa's largest telecoms firm, Safaricom, in a deal worth $2.1 billion.
Sports
Flamengo add Brazilian title four days after Copa Libertadores win
Four days after beating Palmeiras to win their fourth Copa Libertadores, Flamengo secured the Brazilian title with a 1-0 success against Ceara at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium on Wednesday.
Politics
Oil refinery shutdown could cost Serbia for years, experts warn
The fallout from the shutdown of Serbia's only oil refinery could last years, experts told AFP, putting thousands of jobs and the state's budget at risk -- as well as exposing the country to further sanctions.
Sports
Root edges closer to elusive ton as England reach 196-4
Joe Root edged closer to his maiden Test century in Australia as England reached 196-4 at dinner on the first day of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
Politics
South Africa will 'take a break' from G20 after US ban
South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did not expect other countries to lobby for its inclusion.
Sports
Struggling McIlroy pulls in crowds as three share Australian Open lead
PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox, Australian Elvis Smylie and LIV golfer Carlos Ortiz upstaged Rory McIlroy to share the lead at the Australian Open Thursday as the Masters champion struggled with his putter on Royal Melbourne's tricky greens.
Politics
Israel awaits return of last hostage remains from Gaza
Israel awaited the return of the last hostage remains held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, as the military said on Thursday that those of a Thai national had been identified after they were handed over.