Oil prices rise, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
Solanke handed England recall as Palmer returns
Serge Gainsbourg Paris home in receivership one year after opening
UK hands Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius but keeps key US military base
Politics
New NATO chief Rutte says wants Ukraine to 'prevail' in Kyiv trip
NATO's chief Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday that his goal as head of the Western military alliance was to ensure that "Ukraine prevails."
Sports
Mbappe left out of France squad for Nations League games
France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team's UEFA Nations League matches this month after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named his squad.
Last news
Gauff survives scare to reach China Open semi-finals
Coco Gauff survived a scare to beat Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in three sets and reach the China Open semi-finals on Thursday.
Sosie draw gives Fabre Arc boost while Japan's Shin Emperor hopes take hit
Sosie's chances of providing trainer Andre Fabre with a record-extending ninth win in Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, were boosted on Thursday with a favourable draw.
Japan's 'master of horror' Kurosawa highlights 'B-movie' appeal
Kiyoshi Kurosawa, cinema's "master of horror" and recipient of the Busan International Film Festival's Filmmaker of the Year Award, said on Thursday he'd like to see more Japanese artists explore genre cinema.
History-maker Zhang to plough on after fairytale Beijing run
China's 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai has vowed to play on after her historic run in Beijing ended valiantly in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Israel, Hezbollah in deadly battles on Lebanon border
Israel's military said Thursday it killed 15 Hezbollah militants in an air strike on southern Lebanon, as the Iran-backed movement said it thwarted an Israeli advance at the border.
Oil rallies, stocks mostly retreat on Middle East tensions
Oil prices jumped and major stock markets mostly retreated Thursday as investors reacted to fears of widening conflict in the Middle East.
Israel says killed 15 Hezbollah militants in Lebanon strike
Israel's military said it killed 15 Hezbollah militants in an air strike on southern Lebanon, as the Iran-backed movement said it thwarted an Israeli advance at the border.
Phasing out teen smoking could save 1.2 mn lives: study
Banning the sale of tobacco to people born between 2006 and 2010 could prevent around 1.2 million deaths from lung cancer by the end of the century, said a modelling study released Thursday.
'Kill him first': Israel eyes top level targets
After the killing of Hezbollah's leader in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted Israel had "settled the score". But the legacy of Israel's past targeted killings calls into question how much will actually change.
Championship leader Martin warns of 'unpredictable' Japan MotoGP
Championship leader Jorge Martin on Thursday warned of "unpredictable" conditions at this weekend's Japan MotoGP as he looks to increase his lead over nearest challenger Francesco Bagnaia.
France must fully probe Azerbaijani dissident's killing: Amnesty
French authorities must consider all the possible motives for the killing of an Azerbaijani dissident stabbed to death at his home in eastern France and better protect such exiles, Amnesty International said.
'Welcome relief': Asia producers hail EU deforestation law delay
Producers from Malaysia's palm oil industry to Vietnam's coffee sector on Thursday welcomed a European Union decision to delay implementation of its anti-deforestation rules.
Japan PM slated to announce plans for 'happiness index'
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will propose a new happiness index during his first parliamentary policy speech on Friday, local media have reported.
Turkish inflation falls less than expected in September at 49.4%
Turkish annual inflation slowed less than expected in September to 49.4 percent, official data showed Thursday, a figure which analysts said could disappoint central bank officials after a series of interest rate hikes.
Easing inflation lifts profit at UK supermarket Tesco
Supermarket group Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, said Thursday that net profit gained in its first half as cost pressures eased for consumers and companies.
Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
World skiing's governing body joined forces with the UN's weather agency on Thursday in a bid to feed its meteorological expertise into managing the "existential threat" to winter sports posed by climate change.
China wine industry looks to breed climate resilience
At a laboratory in Beijing, purple and green hybrid-species grapes are laid out on a board for testing, part of the strategy China's nascent wine industry is using to try to combat climate challenges.
Gaza war fuels Arab support for Palestinians, to little effect
A year into the Gaza war, grassroots support for Palestinians has surged across the Arab world, but the groundswell has yet to trigger stronger action against Israel, with governments largely ignoring these calls.
Singapore ex-minister jailed in rare graft trial
A Singaporean former minister was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in prison for obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gifts in the city-state's first political graft trial for nearly half a century.
Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong drops after surge
Japanese shares rallied Thursday as the yen extended losses after the country's new prime minister dampened interest rate hike expectations, while Hong Kong fell for the first time in more than a week after a blistering China-fuelled surge.
Dutch airline KLM unveils 'firm' cost-cutting measures
Dutch airline KLM on Thursday announced a sweeping package of "firm" cost-cutting measures it hopes will lead to a boost in operating profits of around 450 million euros ($496 million) "in the short term."
Sri Lanka spinner Jayawickrama banned from cricket for corruption
Sri Lankan spin bowler Praveen Jayawickrama has been banned from cricket for a year by the sport's world governing body after he pleaded guilty to a corruption charge.
EU top team knuckle down for 'scary' confirmation hearings
Designated members of the EU's new top executive team are to be grilled by lawmakers next month in a showdown every five years between parliament and the powerful European Commission that has Brussels abuzz with speculation.
Gruelling schedule highlighted as Alcaraz runs from stadium to airport
Carlos Alcaraz said Thursday he had no time to celebrate becoming the China Open champion thanks to the gruelling tennis schedule, rushing straight from the stadium to catch a flight to the ongoing Shanghai Masters.
'People will come back': Kazakhstan debates nuclear future
In the semi-abandoned village of Ulken on a giant steppe, Anna Kapustina, a mother of five, hopes controversial plans to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant will breathe life into her ailing hometown.
'They even murder children': Burkinabes caught in conflict crossfire
In northern Ivory Coast, thousands of refugees from neighbouring Burkina Faso have fled two threats -- jihadist attacks, and massacres committed by army-backed militiamen who target the Fulani community.
Carpe diem: the Costa Rican women turning fish into fashion
On a beach in Costa Rica, as fishermen land the day's catch, two women are hard at work on a slimy sea bass skin, rubbing, scraping, washing and tanning the hide to turn it into leather.
Senegal looks to aquaculture as fish stocks dwindle
The Senegalese town of Kayar sits on the doorstep of the vast Atlantic Ocean, but it is a farm located further inland that provides part of its fish production.
Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon makes landfall
Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taiwan's south on Thursday, the island's weather agency said, after forcing schools and offices to shut for a second day amid winds and rain that have left two dead and more than 100 injured.
Deadly strike on central Beirut after Israel, Iran trade threats
Israel carried out a deadly air raid Thursday in central Beirut after eight ground troops were killed near the Lebanese border, as it traded threats with its arch foe Iran over possible future attacks.
Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
Artificial intelligence is already disrupting industries from banking and finance to film and journalism, and scientists are investigating how AI might revolutionise their field -- or even win a Nobel Prize.
Conte plays down Napoli's title chances
Antonio Conte has taken Napoli back to the top of Serie A for the first time since they won the title in 2023 but he says while the fans can dream of regaining the crown "I have to keep my feet on the ground."
Tolstoy's descendants in family saga over Russian peace prize
A new peace prize backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin bearing Leo Tolstoy's name has divided the writer's descendants, bringing to mind the unhappy families of his novel "Anna Karenina".
Climate change, economics muddy West's drive to curb Chinese EVs
China's meteoric rise as the world's powerhouse of electric vehicle production makes Western efforts to curb their exports a tough sell -- and means they could even stifle the fight against climate change, analysts warn.
Tigers, Royals, Padres advance in MLB playoffs, Brewers stay alive
Andy Ibanez smashed a three-run double in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers defeated Houston 5-2 on Wednesday to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.
Argentina's Milei vetoes university budget after huge protests
Argentine President Javier Milei has made good on threats to veto proposed increases to university funding, with the measure made official early Thursday after a day of major student-led protests.
Singapore ex-minister sentenced to 12 months in prison in rare graft trial
A Singaporean former minister was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in prison for obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gifts, local media reported, in the city-state's first political graft trial for nearly half a century.
Baseball 'superhuman' Ohtani finds new ways to amaze among greats
Japan's Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball "superhuman" following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to American sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady.
TotalEnergies plans to grow oil and gas production until 2030
French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced plans to increase its oil and gas production until 2030, as it seeks to reassure investors about its fundamentals.