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Ukrainian lawmakers approved Thursday an army mobilisation bill that will keep more long-serving soldiers fighting Russia's offensive, as Moscow pounded energy facilities in another "massive" air raid across the country.

At a dusty warehouse in northern China, Liu Wei feeds photos of beaming bridal couples into an industrial shredder -- turning stories of heartbreak into a source of electricity.

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola will return to the Cannes Film Festival with his long-awaited epic "Megalopolis", organisers said on Thursday, announcing a line-up that includes some huge names of world cinema.

Bad weather delayed the start of the 88th Masters at Augusta National on Thursday with world number one Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy scheduled to tee off in a dream first-round pairing.

Israel was on alert Thursday after its arch foe Iran threatened reprisals over a strike in Syria this month that killed two Iranian generals, and as the war against Hamas ground on in Gaza.

Poland's parliament on Thursday will open a long-awaited debate on liberalising abortion laws in the majority Catholic country, with splits in the ruling coalition suggesting an uncertain outcome.

Former Atletico Madrid assistant manager German Burgos has apologised for an offensive comment aimed at Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal when he was working as a TV pundit.

A Russian rocket blasted off for a test flight on Thursday at the third try, after previous launch attempts earlier this week were aborted in the final seconds of countdown.

A top Vietnamese property tycoon was sentenced to death on Thursday in one of the biggest corruption cases in history, with an estimated $27 billion in damages.

Russia said on Thursday that unprecedented flooding had created "difficult" conditions and another major river had burst its banks, submerging roads and villages in the Siberian region of Tomsk.

US President Joe Biden holds the first ever summit with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines Thursday to show support for Manila against China's growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

Veteran fullback Kurtley Beale said Thursday he hopes to force his way back into Wallabies contention after signing a short-term contract with Western Force.

Russia on Thursday launched a "massive" aerial attack on Ukraine, Kyiv said, hitting the northeastern city of Kharkiv again and targeting energy facilities across the country.

Myanmar junta troops have withdrawn from their positions in a major trade hub near the Thai border following days of clashes, an ethnic armed group said Thursday, in a further blow to the embattled military.

Most markets edged down Thursday after forecast-topping US inflation dealt a blow to hopes for a June interest rate cut and forced traders to re-evaluate the outlook for monetary policy, with a warning that the next move could even be a hike.

Most Asian markets edged down Thursday after forecast-topping US inflation dealt a blow to hopes for a June interest rate cut and forced traders to re-evaluate the outlook for monetary policy, with a warning that the next move could even be a hike.

Poland's parliament on Thursday will open a long-awaited debate on liberalising abortion laws in the majority Catholic country, with splits in the ruling coalition suggesting an uncertain outcome.

Eight-time Grand Slam champion Samantha Stosur is banking on a strong camaraderie within the Australia team to help topple Mexico in her debut as captain at the Billie Jean King Cup.

The day after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, theatre director Anatoliy Levchenko was due to stage an opening night in Mariupol.

Universal Pictures was crowned Hollywood's top studio last year, dethroning Disney at the box office for the first time in nearly a decade with a string of mega-hits like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and the Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer."

A top Vietnamese property tycoon faces a potential death sentence Thursday as she and her co-accused await verdicts in one of the biggest corruption cases in history, with an estimated $27 billion in damages.

French police have flooded the troubled Marseille district of La Castellane with forces since a crackdown on the drug trade started last month, and one mother told how she feels safer, for now at least.

European lawmakers will cast votes Thursday on a contested appointment to a plum Brussels job, with Ursula von der Leyen suspected of playing favourites to aid her own re-election as commission chief.

Electric cars are a key part of Europe's green transition plans but the road ahead remains littered with obstacles with 10 years to go before a crucial milestone.

Nikola Jokic scored 41 points as the Denver Nuggets reclaimed pole position in the Western Conference playoff race with a 116-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday.

Thunderstorms are forecast to disrupt the start of the 88th Masters at Augusta National on Thursday as world number one Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy tee off in a dream first-round pairing.

Few doubt Narendra Modi will win re-election in India's marathon polls starting this month -- the question is how far the prime minister will succeed in wooing the wealthier and better-educated south.

Mexican side Monterrey sent Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash.

Naomi Osaka returns to the BJK Cup for the first time in four years on Friday, optimistically hoping to force her way into the Olympic Games.

The Grand National remains an "iconic race", 2021 winning trainer Henry de Bromhead told AFP, despite recent reforms leaving the world's most famous steeplechase close to "the last chance saloon", a leading bookmaker warned.

Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain. The world's best football team -- statistically speaking -- might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan.

At a damaged temporary shelter in western Indonesia, Rohingya men slick their hair with gel while women apply make-up and colourful hijabs to look the part for prayers at the start of Eid-al-Fitr festivities.