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Most Asian markets rose Thursday, tracking a rebound in Europe and New York and following positive remarks from a senior Federal Reserve official that inflation was headed in the right direction.

South Africa's David Bedingham was approaching a maiden Test century as the Proteas extended their lead over New Zealand to 217 at tea on day three of the second Test.

It's still dark outside when Gianni Crea pushes open the imposing entrance door to the Vatican Museums, a heavy ring of keys in his hand.

Wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with delicious fillings, "onigiri" rice balls are shaking off their reputation as a cheap and uninspiring snack in Japan -- and enticing hungry converts abroad.

Once forecast to become the world's biggest economy, Japan slipped below Germany last year to fourth place, official data showed Thursday, although India is projected to leapfrog both later this decade.

Oscar nominee Cillian Murphy will open Berlin's international film festival Thursday with the world premiere of a drama about Ireland's notorious laundries used as prison camps for "fallen" young women.

Much of Libya is bone-dry desert but one Mediterranean coastal town is suffering the opposite problem -- its houses and fields have been inundated by a mysterious upsurge of groundwater.

French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said Wednesday that he had always thought of playing in Major League Soccer as he was introduced by his new club, Los Angeles FC.

The US has seen GDP growth blow past predictions, hiring numbers surge unexpectedly and consumers still spending even as interest rates climbed -- deftly averting a dreaded recession in 2023.

After years of production headwinds, Ubisoft's oft-delayed pirate video game "Skull and Bones" is set to launch on Friday.

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto on Thursday looked set to become the new president of the world's third-largest democracy, likely avoiding a runoff vote against election rivals who have yet to concede.

An American spaceship attempting a lunar landing will aim to launch early Thursday, the second private-led effort this year after the first ended in failure.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated a major Hindu temple and the first in Abu Dhabi while on a two-day visit to the Gulf emirate.

New Zealand pace bowler Will O'Rourke continued his eye-catching Test debut with two wickets on Thursday as South Africa lost three top-order batsmen before lunch on day three of the second Test.

One person was killed and multiple children were among 21 injured after a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday triggered panic among huge crowds of fans.

The contentious issue of how players who embraced the LIV Golf League might return to the US PGA Tour as the global game evolves remains under "daily" discussion, superstar Tiger Woods said Wednesday.

Tiger Woods tees it up in his first US PGA Tour event in more than 10 months on Thursday and his return at The Riviera Country Club has sparked a familiar longing in the 15-time major champion.

US President Joe Biden may not have the stamina for a conventional campaign but he's up to the task of governing, influential House of Representatives lawmaker Adam Smith told AFP Wednesday, dismissing speculation over alternative candidates.

The United States is facing a new and "serious" national security threat, top officials warned Wednesday, with two media outlets reporting it involves a Russian attempt to build a space-based nuclear capability.

At least two vessels, a barge and a tugboat, were involved in the accident last week that sparked a massive, ongoing oil spill in Trinidad and Tobago, the government of the Caribbean nation said Wednesday.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel described his side's performance as "slapstick" in the 1-0 defeat to Lazio on Wednesday that leaves them with a tough task to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

One person was killed and up to 15 people were injured in a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, triggering panic among huge crowds of fans celebrating their team's success.

A kaleidoscopic tribute to the strength of black women won Rio de Janeiro's cutthroat carnival parade competition Wednesday, as samba school Viradouro took home the coveted title to close out Brazil's pre-Lent party season.

Earth-bound surgeons remotely controlled a small robot aboard the International Space Station over the weekend, conducting the first-ever such surgery in orbit -- albeit on rubber bands.

A dozen victims of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein sued the FBI on Wednesday, accusing the agency of failing to adequately investigate allegations against the accused sex offender.

Nine people, seven of them civilians, were killed on Wednesday in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon, official sources said, while the Israeli army said it lost a soldier in cross-border rocket fire.

Kylian Mbappe scored the opener as Paris Saint-Germain took a big step towards reaching the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Ciro Immobile gave Lazio a slender lead in their Champions League last 16 tie with under-fire Bayern Munich after netting the only goal in a 1-0 win in Wednesday's first leg.

Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong won the first long-course world title of her career by taking gold in the women's 200m freestyle on Wednesday.

One person was killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, triggering panic among huge crowds of fans celebrating their team's success.

The US Federal Reserve should be "careful" about the timing of interest rate cuts, a senior bank official said Wednesday, adding to the cautious tone taken by US central bank officials in recent months about moving too quickly.

Lando Norris believes he can take McLaren to a Formula One world championship after declaring that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are "beatable" in 2024.