Rubio meets US pope in bid to ease tensions
Women linked to IS fighters return to Australia from Middle East
Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices
Oil sinks, Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
Economy
Australia to force gas giants to reserve fuel for domestic use
Australia will look to stave off energy shortages by forcing major gas companies to reserve 20 percent of their exports for domestic use, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Thursday.
Economy
AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets
Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies said, with the low-cost carrier adding Thursday that it could double the order to meet future demand.
Last news
Politics
Japan fires missiles during drills, drawing China rebuke
Japan fired surface-to-ship missiles and sank an old warship in waters between the Philippines and Taiwan as part major military exercices that include US forces, angering China.
Sports
Toluca rout Son's LAFC to set up all-Mexican CONCACAF final
Son Heung-min's Los Angeles FC were thrashed 4-0 in Wednesday's second leg by Deportivo Toluca to set up an all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Sports
Vingegaard begins bid for Giro-Tour double with Pellizzari boosting home hopes
Jonas Vingegaard will make his Giro d'Italia debut on Friday when he begins his bid to win both the Italian Grand Tour and the Tour De France in the same year, thus emulating his great rival Tadej Pogacar.
Sports
Roma's Champions League return back on as Milan, Juve wobble
Roma have a return to the Champions League firmly within their sights ahead of Sunday's trip to Parma as both Juventus and AC Milan's hope's of finishing in Serie A's top four are threatened by the resurgent capital club.
Economy
Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the Iran war is close to ending and the revival of demand for all things AI.
Sports
Australia cricket great Warner to 'accept' drink-drive charge: lawyer
Australian cricket star David Warner will "accept responsibility" for drink-driving, his lawyer told reporters on Thursday after a Sydney court hearing.
Sports
Brunson steers Knicks to 2-0 lead with tight win over Sixers
Jalen Brunson spearheaded a late surge as the New York Knicks edged a razor-tight NBA playoff clash against the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Wednesday.
Politics
Rubio seeks to ease tensions with US pope
America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, will visit the first US pope, Leo XIV, on Thursday, seeking to ease tensions between Washington and the Vatican while also promoting President Donald Trump's interests.
Politics
AI disinfo tests South Korean laws ahead of local elections
In an airy office in South Korea, workers comb through social media, uncovering AI-generated content whose growing sophistication is testing toughened election laws ahead of local polls.
Culture
Australian state overturns Melbourne ban on World Cup watch party
Australian authorities on Thursday reversed a ban on public watch parties in Melbourne's Federation Square for the 2026 football World Cup after the decision sparked an outcry.
Nature
Colombian ex-fisherman swaps trade for saving Caribbean coral
Yerson Granados used to fish off Colombia's Caribbean coast for a living, but when he discovered the havoc he was wreaking on coral reefs, he changed his ways.
Politics
Lobito Corridor: Africa's mega-project facing delivery test
The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the global race for critical minerals.
Economy
Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy
The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export port says his priority is the business of the operation, not the geopolitical tussle over Africa's minerals.
Politics
Trump to host Lula in test of fitful relationship
US President Donald Trump will host his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday -- the latest test of the ideological opposites' tenuous relationship, with security and investment topping the agenda.
Politics
K-pop stars BTS draw 50,000-strong crowd in Mexico
Around 50,000 fans of K-pop superstars BTS gathered outside Mexico's National Palace on Wednesday to get a look at the group, who waved to the crowd from a balcony after meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Politics
Britons set to punish Starmer's Labour in local polls
Millions of Britons vote Thursday in local elections set to heap more pressure on beleaguered Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and showcase the rise of hard-right and left-wing populists.
Politics
Wars in Middle East, backyard loom over ASEAN summit
Leaders of the ASEAN states are descending on the central Philippines for what President Ferdinand Marcos has pledged will be a "bare bones" summit focused on economic issues tied to the Middle East war.
Politics
US court releases purported Epstein suicide note
A US judge on Wednesday released a suicide note purportedly written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein weeks before his death in a New York jailhouse.
Politics
Israeli court rejects flotilla activists' appeal challenging detention
An Israeli court on Wednesday rejected an appeal contesting the detention of two foreign activists seized by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla, with the rights group representing them denouncing the ruling as "unlawful."
Boulevard
Victim's lawyer alleges Boeing was 'negligent' in 2019 Ethiopian crash
US aviation giant Boeing was "negligent" in the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the lawyer for the family of one of the victims told a Chicago federal civil court on Wednesday.
Sports
Williamson named in New Zealand squad for Ireland, England Tests
Kane Williamson will continue his pursuit of 10,000 Test runs after being named Thursday in New Zealand's squad to play Ireland and England in May and June.
Sports
PSG add muscle to magic as another Champions League final beckons
Paris Saint-Germain have been the most thrilling outfit in Europe over the last year but Luis Enrique's side showed another side to their game as they held off Bayern Munich on Wednesday to reach a second straight Champions League final.
Sports
Tigers' pitcher Valdez suspended for hitting opponent
Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez was handed a six-game suspension and given an undisclosed fine from Major League Baseball on Wednesday for intentionally throwing a pitch at Boston Red Sox star Trevor Story.
Politics
Trump says Iran deal 'very possible' but threatens strikes if talks fail
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible" but threatened to again bomb the country if negotiations fell apart.
Economy
Musk's SpaceX strikes data center deal with Anthropic
AI startup Anthropic announced Wednesday it has agreed to a major computing partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, securing access to a vast data center as the Claude maker scrambles to keep pace with surging demand for its AI services.
Sports
Bayern lament lack of 'killer' instinct after PSG elimination
Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer bemoaned his side's lack of killer instinct in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final elimination at the hands of holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Economy
Virus-hit cruise ship heads for Spain as evacuees land in Europe
A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak will reach the Spanish island of Tenerife "within three days", with the evacuation of passengers to start from May 11, Spain said Wednesday.
Sports
Holders PSG edge Bayern Munich to reach Champions League final
Holders Paris Saint-Germain set up a Champions League final against Arsenal after a 1-1 second-leg draw at Bayern Munich secured a 6-5 aggregate victory on Wednesday.
Politics
Russia warns diplomats in Kyiv to evacuate in case of strike
Russia sent an evacuation warning to foreign diplomats in Kyiv on Wednesday, saying it would attack the city if Ukraine disrupted World War II commemorations in Moscow this weekend.
Things to know
Hantavirus ship passenger: 'They didn't take it seriously enough'
Ruhi Cenet was surprised when cruise-ship life carried on as usual aboard the MV Hondius, even after the captain announced the first passenger's death.
Politics
First hantavirus infection could not have been during cruise: WHO expert
The first hantavirus case on the MV Hondius could not have been infected during the cruise, a World Health Organization expert told AFP on Wednesday.
Sports
Kentucky Derby-winner Golden Tempo to skip Preakness Stakes
Kentucky Derby-winner Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness Stakes, history-making trainer Cherie DeVaux said Wednesday, dashing hopes of a Triple Crown challenge in 2026.
Politics
Trump says Iran deal 'very possible', but threatens strikes if not
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible", but threatened to resume his bombardment of the country if negotiations fell apart.
Politics
Lula heads to Washington to meet Trump in fraught election year
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva flew to Washington Wednesday for talks with US President Donald Trump on thorny issues, while seeking to boost his image at home ahead of October elections.
Sports
No timeline for injury return for 'frustrated' Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic says it's still unclear when he'll return from a hamstring strain that has sidelined him for the team's NBA playoff campaign.
Economy
Virus-hit cruise ship evacuees land in Europe
A plane believed to be carrying a passenger from a cruise ship struck by the deadly hantavirus landed in the Netherlands on Wednesday after patients were evacuated from the vessel off Cape Verde.
Sports
Diallo says Manchester United squad happy if Carrick stays
Amad Diallo has no doubt "everyone" at Manchester United would be pleased to see Michael Carrick carry on as head coach next season.
Sports
'Motivated' McIlroy ready to tee it up for first time since second Masters win
Rory McIlroy says he's "more motivated" than ever after bagging his second Masters title to take his tally of major championships to six.
Sports
Klaasen knock fires Hyderabad top of IPL
South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen smacked 69 to help Sunrisers Hyderabad climb to the top of the IPL table with a convincing 33-run win over Punjab Kings on Wednesday.