South Korea to double spending on AI and chips in 2027
Asian stocks mixed as tech sector struggles to rebound from selloff
On All Saints' Day, Philippine mountain town honours dead with fire
India's royals find new power in their past
Politics
Years on from fall of IS, French jihadists face justice in Iraq
A decade ago, the Islamic State group broadcast its crimes as it recruited radicals from around the world and imposed a brutal system of oppression across swathes of Syria and Iraq.
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Irish bookshops help meet UK demand for Sally Rooney novels
Irish bookshops are helping readers in Britain and elsewhere obtain novels by Sally Rooney after her publisher halted UK supplies because of complications arising from the author's support for a pro-Palestinian group.
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Vogue World: Paris mega-party mixes fashion and sport
Vogue World, one of the major fashion events of the year, hits Paris on Sunday, bringing together top French designers for a rare joint show themed around the Olympics.
'Emotional control' driving sunny Tsunoda to blossom in F1
Yuki Tsunoda used to be known for his four-letter outbursts on the team radio -- this season it's for his controlled mastery of four wheels.
European stocks advance, AI propels US into record territory
European stock markets rose Thursday as central banks made interest rate calls while AI enthusiasm pushed Wall Street higher from record closes.
Nobel committee condemns jail term for Iranian laureate Mohammadi
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Thursday criticised an Iranian court's decision to slap an additional one-year jail term on imprisoned 2023 Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
Trump to Putin: what key challenges face Rutte at NATO?
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who on Thursday sealed the race to be the next head of NATO, will take the reins of the Western military alliance at a perilous moment.
Rutte: Cycling 'Trump whisperer' set to steer NATO in wobbly times
Best-known for riding his bike to work, often crunching an apple, Dutchman Mark Rutte will need all his sense of balance to steer NATO through one of its toughest-ever periods.
Swedish court acquits former Syrian general of war crimes charges
A Stockholm court on Thursday acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the attacks carried out during the country's civil war.
Thomas out of Springboks' clash as Wales call-up Grace ahead of Australia tour
Wales prop Henry Thomas has been ruled out of Saturday's match against world champions South Africa at Twickenham with a foot injury.
Thousands of young Kenyans protest tax hikes
Thousands of mostly young demonstrators took to the streets across Kenya on Thursday to protest tax hikes, blowing whistles and chanting slogans in a vivid show of anger by Gen-Z protesters against the government.
Rutte seals NATO top job after lone rival drops out
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday clinched the race to become the next head of NATO at a pivotal time for the alliance, after sole challenger Romanian President Klaus Iohannis pulled out.
Is the founder of the modern Olympics being cancelled?
France likes to honour its late pioneers and visionaries, but the aristocratic Frenchman who founded the modern Olympics is proving to be a troublesome figure for organisers of the Paris 2024 Games.
French-Chinese probe to hunt universe's biggest explosions
A French-Chinese telescope satellite will blast off this weekend on a mission to hunt down gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Bank of England freezes rate before UK election
The Bank of England on Thursday kept its key interest rate at a 16-year high despite slowing UK inflation, opting against a cut before Britain's general election next month.
Croatia coach Dalic complains he is taken for granted
Under-fire Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hit out at his critics on Thursday after their Euro 2024 draw with Albania, defending his team selection and complaining that he is taken for granted.
S. Korea to 'reconsider' ban on weapons sales to Ukraine
Major weapons exporter South Korea will "reconsider" a longstanding policy that bars it from supplying arms directly to Ukraine, a presidential official said Thursday, after North Korea and Russia signed a defence deal.
Kuwait announces power cuts as demand spikes in summer heat
Kuwait has announced temporary power cuts in some parts of the country during peak consumption hours, saying it is struggling to meet increased demand spurred by extreme summer heat.
Over $1 billion pledged to create 'African vaccine market'
World leaders, health groups and pharmaceutical firms announced $1.2 billion in funding at a summit Thursday to produce vaccines in Africa, which is facing numerous health crises including rising cholera outbreaks.
Two-time defending champion Vingegaard to ride in Tour de France
Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard will ride in this year's Tour de France after recovering from the serious injuries he suffered earlier in the season his team Visma-Lease a Bike announced on Thursday.
Contepomi sweeps changes in first Argentina squad
New Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has named a much-changed squad for next month's Tests with France and Uruguay, leaving out 15 members of the set-up at last year's Rugby World Cup.
Anti-Semitism fears stalk Jewish voters' choice in France
Left-leaning Jewish associations and individual voters in France are struggling to make a choice ahead of snap parliamentary polls, with the far right expected to make massive gains and the hard left mired in allegations of anti-Semitism.
Iraqis flock to river or ice rink to escape searing heat
In the sizzling Baghdad heat, Mussa Abdallah takes to the Tigris river during the day to cool off, while others opt for ice skating to escape the relentless temperatures.
European equities advance before Bank of England rate call
European stock markets rose Thursday as dealers awaited the Bank of England's latest decision on interest rates, after Switzerland cut borrowing costs and Norway kept its status quo.
'When we win, I mean nothing', says Croatia coach Dalic
Under-fire Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hit out at his critics on Thursday after their Euro 2024 draw with Albania, saying that when his team are successful he "means nothing".
Sudan one of world's 'worst crises' in decades: medical charity
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has provoked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises in decades, the international chief of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.
Wary England set for Jones reunion in steamy Japan Test
England come face to face with former boss Eddie Jones when they play his new-look Japan in a Test in sweltering Tokyo on Saturday.
Death toll tops 1,000 after hajj marked by extreme heat: AFP tally
The death toll from this year's hajj has exceeded 1,000, an AFP tally said on Thursday, more than half of them unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia.
Israel-Hezbollah tensions drive fears of widening Gaza war
Fears of a regional war rose Thursday after Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement said none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict, and Israel said it had approved plans for a Lebanon offensive.
Steve Cooper named manager of Premier League Leicester City
Leicester City have appointed former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper as their new manager, the newly promoted Premier League club said on Thursday.
Russia and Vietnam vow to strengthen ties as Putin visits
Russia and Vietnam pledged Thursday to deepen ties as President Vladimir Putin made a state visit aimed at bolstering his alliances to counter Moscow's growing isolation over the war in Ukraine.
As UK election looms, Bank of England set to sit tight on rate
The Bank of England was set to hold its interest rate steady on Thursday despite slowing UK inflation, with higher price risks and Britain's looming election preventing a cut, according to analysts.
Japan seeks more visitors despite overtourism woes
Japan's tourism chief said Thursday its ambitious goal of luring 60 million foreign tourists a year -- more than double the current level -- is well within reach, despite surging overtourism concerns.
Jones says Japan will have 'red-hot go' against England
Eddie Jones vowed Japan will have "a red-hot go" against his former team England when the two sides meet in Tokyo on Saturday.