India's island choke point
China’s lithography leap
China’s cartel lifeline
Australia limits migration
Once a top export, prized Kashmir carpet fades
Japan's 'polka dot queen' artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97
Search for 1,000 missing after deadly Nepal-Tibet floods
Nepal-Tibet disaster: what we know
Sports
Park So-yeon first woman to play for eSports powerhouse South Korea
Park So-yeon is set to become the first woman to represent South Korea's national team in eSports and wants to pave the way for more in the male-dominated world of competitive gaming.
Politics
China deploys record number of ships around Taiwan as pressure grows
China deployed a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other ships in Taiwan's waters last month, the island's coast guard told AFP, as Beijing dials up pressure on Taipei.
Last news
Nadal v Kyrgios -- Four of the best in a testy history
Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios will meet for a place in the Wimbledon final on Friday in what the Australian star claims will be "the most watched tennis match ever."
Stocks climb on recession watch; pound gains before Johnson exit
Stock markets recovered further Thursday as investors weighed recession risks, while the pound rallied as Britain's scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to quit as leader of the Conservative party.
Ukraine must fight corruption too, says UN development chief
Besides fighting Russia, Ukraine must also actively combat corruption in order to unleash a massive influx of reconstruction money, the head of the UN development agency told AFP.
UK PM Johnson set to step down
Boris Johnson was expected to resign as leader of Britain's Conservative party on Thursday, paving the way for the appointment of a new prime minister after dozens of ministers quit his scandal-hit government.
Disputed grain ship returns to Russia from Turkey
A disputed cargo ship carrying allegedly stolen grain from Ukraine has returned to Russian territorial waters, a Turkish source told AFP on Thursday, drawing angry condemnation from Kyiv.
Spring handed France debut against Japan
France head coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday handed full-back Max Spring his debut for Saturday's second rugby Test against Japan in Tokyo in an otherwise unchanged side.
High-octane thrills as Spain's Pamplona bull run returns
Half-tonne fighting bulls knocked over thrill-seekers on Thursday in the first bull run since 2019 at Spain's San Fermin festival in Pamplona, with five people taken to hospital.
China's Wang meets Lavrov in Bali ahead of G20 talks
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Bali Thursday for talks ahead of a G20 ministerial meeting overshadowed by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Piffle: Boris Johnson in his own words
Boris Johnson forged a high-profile career as a journalist before going into politics, rising to become British prime minister, never losing his flair for controversy in print and speech.
Brexit to exit: The rise and fall of Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson rode his luck throughout his career, bouncing back from a succession of setbacks and scandals that would have sunk other less popular politicians.
Farah set for make-or-break London Marathon
Quadruple Olympic champion Mo Farah says his stellar track career is over but he is going to run in October's London Marathon to see if he can still be competitive on the road.
Kruger honours memory of Springbok World Cup winning father at Wimbledon
South Africa's Isabella Kruger only needs to think of the photograph of her Rugby World Cup winning father, standing proudly next to Nelson Mandela, to inspire her title dreams at Wimbledon.
Russia says US 'hype' not helping WNBA player Griner
Moscow said Thursday that US "hype" over women's basketball star Brittney Griner, held in Russia on drug smuggling charges, will not help her case after President Joe Biden spoke out against her detention.
UK PM Johnson to step down: reports
Boris Johnson will resign as Conservative party leader on Thursday, the BBC reported, paving the way for a successor to replace him as British prime minister, after dozens of his ministers quit his scandal-hit government.
Stocks enjoy bounce, sterling and FTSE up as Johnson to resign
Equities rose Thursday following a recent sharp drop, though recession fears continue to cast a shadow over markets with the euro stuck around 20-year lows and crude struggling to bounce back from this week's hefty selling.
Five in hospital as Spain's Pamplona bull run returns
Half-tonne fighting bulls knocked over thrill-seekers on Thursday in the first bull run since 2019 at Spain's San Fermin festival in Pamplona, with five people taken to hospital.
Stocks rise but recession fears linger as euro, crude struggle
Equities rose Thursday following a recent sharp drop, though recession fears continue to cast a shadow over markets with the euro stuck around 20-year lows and crude struggling to bounce back from this week's hefty selling.
Italy bridge trial starts four years after tragedy
Nearly 60 defendants went on trial in Genoa on Thursday, accused of manslaughter and undermining transport safety over the collapse of a bridge in the Italian city that killed 43 people four years ago.
Japan introduces up to one-year jail time for cyberbullying
People found guilty of cyberbullying in Japan now face up to a year in prison under rules implemented Thursday, which were toughened up after the suicide of a reality star who had been trolled online.
England revamp back line for must-win clash against depleted Wallabies
Coach Eddie Jones said Thursday three new faces in England's back line would give his team more attacking options for their must-win second Test against an Australian side that has been forced into five changes.
Euro and crude struggle, stocks rise but recession fears linger
Crude extended the week's losses Thursday, while the euro struggled to recover from 20-year lows, and while stocks bounced from early losses recession fears continued to cast a pall across trading floors.
Taliban excavate ex-leader Mullah Omar's 'getaway car'
The car used by Taliban founder Mullah Omar to escape being targeted by US forces after the 9/11 attacks has been excavated in eastern Afghanistan, where it lay buried for more than two decades, officials said.
England revamp back line for must-win Wallabies clash
England coach Eddie Jones revamped his back line Thursday among four changes to the starting side for their must-win second Test against Australia.
Muslim pilgrims stream out of Mecca for hajj high point
Hundreds of thousands of hajj pilgrims began streaming out of Mecca Thursday ahead of the highlight of the annual rites, which have attracted huge crowds despite the continuing pandemic and unforgiving heat.
Ireland relieved that Sexton to face All Blacks after concussion scare
Ireland forward Peter O'Mahony expressed relief on Thursday that Johnny Sexton had been named to face New Zealand in the second Test, despite the "hugely important" fly-half failing a concussion assessment during last week's defeat in Auckland.
Hong Kong suspends 'not effective' Covid flight ban
Hong Kong's new government on Thursday suspended a longstanding flight route ban that penalised airlines for bringing in coronavirus cases and severely impeded travel into the city, saying it was "not very effective".
US hopes for G20 action on Ukraine even with Russia presence
The United States believes Group of 20 talks in Bali can make progress related to the Ukraine crisis despite the participation of Russia, a senior official said Thursday.
Haiti's women footballers dream of international success
They may be considered international minnows, but women footballers from Haiti hope to finally make their mark on the world stage, helped by their experience playing professionally in Europe.
Joseph calls for 'smarter' Japan in second Test against France
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph said Thursday that his team will have to play "smarter" in the second Test against France after he made three changes to the side that collapsed in the second half against the Six Nations champions last week.
Wallaby Kellaway out for England series, five changes for second Test
Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway was ruled out for the rest of the England series Thursday as coach Dave Rennie made five changes to his starting line-up for the second Test in Brisbane.
Russia's plastic surgery sector feels pinch from western sanctions
When it comes to looking good, Russian women are happy to splash out, even on a bit of nip-and-tuck plastic surgery.
One year after Haiti's president assassinated, investigation stalls
One year after Haitian president Jovenel Moise was shot to death at his home in Port-au-Prince, no suspected mastermind or motive has yet been identified, with the investigation stalling amid a crumbling political environment.