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Japan and Australia took big strides towards the next stage of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup but South Korea dropped two points despite leading through Son Heung-min.

England captain Marlie Packer will make her 100th Test appearance when she leads the reigning champions in their Women's Six Nations opener in Italy on Sunday.

The US Department of Justice sued Apple on Thursday for illegally maintaining a monopoly for its iPhone by stifling competition and imposing exorbitant costs on consumers.

Lawyers for former Manchester City and Real Madrid footballer Robinho, who faces a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil for rape, said Thursday they filed an appeal with the Supreme Court.

US lawmakers moved Thursday toward banning the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags over US embassies, a victory for conservatives in a long-running US cultural battle being played out overseas.

US lawmakers released a $1.2 trillion package in the early hours of Thursday to complete the 2024 federal budget -- teeing off a race to sign it into law before a government shutdown looming at the weekend.

North Korea told Japan on Thursday that it cannot host next week's World Cup qualifier, Japan's football association chief said, throwing the game into doubt.

Sri Lanka on Thursday defended the inclusion of all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh despite his suspension by the ICC.

The world's biggest tulip garden opened to the public on Thursday for its 75th edition, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to enjoy a bewildering array of seven million bulbs in the western Dutch city of Lisse.

Sales of existing homes made the biggest jump in a year last month on improved housing supply, according to industry data released Thursday, as mortgage rates held at slightly lower levels.

A new French cafe is hoping to break into New York's notoriously competitive food scene while also offering opportunity to people with mental and cognitive disabilities.

A nationwide doctors' strike in Kenya on Thursday paralysed health services at some government-run hospitals which are already suffering due to a lack of medicines and equipment.

France's top administrative court is to decide if a three-tonne hippopotamus called Jumbo should be freed after decades working as "the largest hippo in Europe" for a family circus.

Ghana's parliament speaker has halted the approval of new ministers in an apparent standoff over President Nana Akufo-Addo's delay in signing off on a highly contested anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed last month.

Global music revenues were up 10.2 percent last year to $28.6 billion, according figures released Thursday, but record firms are concerned over how to maintain growth in the streaming era.

Leo Varadkar's announcement that he is stepping down as Ireland's prime minister has triggered a leadership contest in his Fine Gael party.

Ao Tanaka's goal after two minutes gave Japan a nervy 1-0 win over a spirited North Korea in a World Cup qualifier in Tokyo on Thursday.

Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday in their first match since the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann.

More than 30 countries -- including European nations, the United States, Brazil and China -- took part on Thursday in the first-ever summit held by the United Nations' atomic energy agency to promote nuclear as a "clean and reliable source of energy".

Traffic through the Panama Canal could return to normal by next February, its administrator said, after record-low water levels limited the number of ships able to transit through the global pipeline.

Turkey's central bank hiked its key interest rate on Thursday, resuming its tightening cycle as one of the world's highest inflation rates rose again last month.

The Swiss National Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to cut interest rates after a sustained period of hikes to combat soaring inflation, with all eyes on when the US Federal Reserve will follow suit.

Turkey's central bank hiked its key interest rate on Thursday, resuming its tightening cycle as one of the world's highest inflation rates rose again last month.

Russia fired more than 30 missiles at Kyiv early Thursday, the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital in weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retribution for escalating strikes on Russia's border regions.

European and Asian stock markets largely rallied Thursday following fresh record-highs for Wall Street as investors cheered the prospect of cuts to US interest rates.

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont is to unveil Thursday his plans for Catalonia's snap May election, a move that could bring forward his return home after years of self-imposed exile.

The United States has circulated for the first time a draft UN resolution calling for an "immediate" ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, as warnings grow of famine in besieged Gaza.

The Swiss National Bank cut interest rates on Thursday -- the first to do so among the major central banks, saying the battle against inflation was working almost two years after launching its monetary tightening campaign.

Anthony Gordon said a switch of international allegiance to Scotland was never an option after realising a childhood dream of being called up to the England squad for the first time.

Russia fired more than 30 missiles at Kyiv early Thursday, the largest attempted attack on the Ukrainian capital for weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retribution for escalating strikes on Russia's border regions.

On a sunny day on the Athens waterfront, a gentle breeze blows through the smashed windows of the abandoned 2004 Olympics beach volleyball centre.

Where politicians once looked to project health and fitness with jogs in the park, martial sports like boxing have now gained the upper hand, with France's Emmanuel Macron the latest to strap on gloves.