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NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said the "resilient" military alliance can ride out any political changes in major powers ahead of crunch elections in the United States and France.

Global stocks mostly slid Thursday as Europe geared up for key elections, the US awaited key inflation data and Japan contemplated measures to strengthen the yen.

Max Verstappen on Thursday confirmed he will stay with Red Bull next year, dealing a significant blow to Mercedes' hopes of recruiting him to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

Palestinians fled eastern Gaza City on Thursday under heavy bombardment as the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for the area it had previously declared clear of Hamas militants.

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to field in the defending champions' rain-delayed T20 World Cup semi-final against India in Guyana on Thursday.

Basketball star Victor Wembanyama joined other leading French sports heros on Thursday in warning against voting for the "extremes" in this weekend's parliamentary election.

Bolivian President Luis Arce was facing a deep political crisis on Thursday after a botched bid by military chiefs to overthrow his government deepened turmoil in a country facing severe economic decline.

French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini ended home hope Katie Boulter's fine run on grass at Eastbourne on Thursday, winning their quarter-final 6-1, 7-6 (7/0).

Croatia defender Josip Stanisic has extended his deal at Bayern Munich until 2027, having returned from a year-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen.

The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the Sackler family that controlled the drugmaker from future litigation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a long-term security agreement to be inked between Kyiv and the European Union on Thursday would advance "peace and prosperity" across the continent.

Shilese Jones has some catching up to do at the US Olympic gymnastics trials, where she'll try to earn a Paris Games berth after missing the national championships with a shoulder injury.

Olive oil producers are improving irrigation and seeking new varieties of olives to safeguard production as climate change upends harvests, causing prices of the staple of the Mediterranean diet to soar.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Thursday, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas as turnout by demonstrators dropped sharply, following deadly clashes earlier this week.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump square off Thursday in a crucial US presidential debate that carries enormous stakes for both candidates as they battle for the approval of undecided voters and any slim advantage in their neck-and-neck race for the White House.

England defender Marc Guehi dismissed criticism of under-fire manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday, saying "everyone is behind" the coach.

Vienna is still the world's most liveable city for a third year in a row, while the rating of Tel Aviv in Israel slumped, according to a new survey published Thursday.

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has been hosting executives and entrepreneurs in London this week to boost investment in cutting-edge technologies promising big breakthroughs in tackling climate change.

Tensions soared on Thursday between supporters of Emmanuel Macron and the French far-right after its longtime leader Marine Le Pen cast doubt on the president's ability to act as head of the armed forces after legislative elections.

More than half of Sudan's population is facing high levels of "acute food insecurity", a situation exacerbated by the country's devastating war, said a report cited by the United Nations on Thursday.

France should avoid voting for "extremes" in looming parliamentary elections, French basketball star Victor Wembanyama said Thursday, three days ahead of the first round of voting expected to be won by the far right.

Thousands of mourners on Thursday attended the funeral of a popular Buddhist abbot shot dead by Myanmar security forces in an incident that drew a rare apology from the junta.

Manchester United said on Thursday captain Katie Zelem is leaving the Women's Super League club following the expiry of her contract, becoming the latest star player to exit.

A key political meeting that is watched for signals on China's economic direction will be held in mid-July, state media said Thursday, as policymakers seek to shore up a stuttering recovery.

Spain defender Nacho Fernandez is hoping his move to Saudi Arabia from Real Madrid is no distraction from his country's Euro 2024 challenge.

Sri Lanka has asked Russia to allow its former soldiers fighting in Moscow's war against Ukraine to return home voluntarily, the government said Thursday.

Israel launched air strikes on Gaza Thursday after warning Hezbollah, Hamas's ally in Lebanon, to avoid a large-scale war that would send the neighbouring country "back to the Stone Age".

In the shade of an almond tree, Zubayda Pardayeva began the age-old and barely profitable process of turning cocoons into silk that Uzbekistan wants to overhaul.

Kenyan police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators in Nairobi on Thursday, as protesters returned to the streets despite President William Ruto scrapping contentious tax hikes after deadly clashes.

Major stock markets mostly dropped Thursday as Europeans gears up for key elections, the US awaits inflation data and Japan contemplates measures to strengthen the yen.

Months into the closure of Tunisia's main border crossing with Libya, a haven for smugglers, shops are shuttered and unemployment has soared in the already-marginalised desert region, merchants say.

Andy Murray remains hopeful he will play at Wimbledon but admits it is unlikely to be in the singles competition after undergoing surgery on a spinal cyst.