South Korea to withdraw some Ukraine embassy staff after POW row
Threats of political violence soar in Australia's 'online echo chamber'
S. Korea warns of 'firm' response after North threatens fresh measures near border
Alberta separatists lose vote on leaving Canada
Economy
Canada awaits result in Alberta independence vote
Canada was waiting Monday for the results of a vote on whether the oil-rich province of Alberta wants a binding independence referendum, following a divisive campaign that tested national unity.
Politics
Ukraine claims US missile holdup ahead of reported talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of deliberately delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles to his war-torn country ahead of reported talks with a top US envoy on Tuesday.
Last news
Niger isolated and suspicious despite end of sanctions
It's been two weeks since the lifting of tough sanctions on military-ruled Niger, but the pace of economic recovery is slow and the generals have shown no inclination to re-open the border with Benin and seek a diplomatic settlement with neighbouring nations.
Lufthansa warns on 'damaging' strikes, as 2023 profits double
German airline giant Lufthansa warned Thursday about the "damaging" impact of a wave of industrial action at the start of this year, as it reported 2023 profits doubled on booming demand.
Spain's Mango clothing chain ramps up global expansion
Spanish fashion retailer Mango, founded 40 years ago in Barcelona, is ramping its global expansion despite economic uncertainties that have shaken some other global mass-market apparel giants.
Mediators struggle as Gaza war enters sixth month
Mediators struggled on Thursday to reach a truce in Israel's war with Hamas that entered its sixth month with dozens more killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory threatened by famine.
EU conservatives set to back von der Leyen for second term
The conservative European People's Party (EPP) -- the biggest force in the EU parliament -- is expected on Thursday to formally support European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second term.
Van Gogh, Kandinsky stars of the show at Dutch art fair
A rare early work by Vincent van Gogh and a record-selling masterpiece by Wassily Kandinsky will be up for sale when one of the world's largest art fairs opens its doors this weekend.
Horne to start for Scotland in Italy Six Nations clash
Scotland scrum-half George Horne has been handed a surprise start for Saturday's Six Nations clash in Italy, with regular No 9 Ben White not even in the matchday 23.
Indonesian single mom makes ends meet as autorickshaw driver
Her three-year-old daughter at her side, single mother Ekawati plies Jakarta's notorious traffic in her three-wheeled autorickshaw, making ends meet as one of a growing number of Indonesian women seeking informal employment outside the home.
Yadav, Ashwin help India bundle England out for 218
Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin shared nine wickets between them as India bowled out England for 218 on day one of the fifth Test on Thursday.
Deaf voters find way to polls as Senegal grapples with political crisis
Like many in Senegal's isolated deaf community, 52-year-old Mame Massar Faye has always struggled to vote by himself.
Yadav takes five as England collapse to 194-8 against India
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets including Zak Crawley for 79 to leave England 194-8 at tea, in the fifth and final Test on Thursday.
UN, France co-host forum to decarbonise construction sector
France and the UN Environment Programme co-host a two-day conference starting Thursday to find ways to cut the sizeable carbon footprint of the construction sector, a major contributor to climate change.
Markets struggle ahead of key US jobs data
Equities were mixed on Thursday as investors try to assess the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates after boss Jerome Powell indicated they would start to come down this year.
Tourists banned from private alleys in Kyoto's geisha district
Visitors will be banned from entering private alleys in Kyoto's famous geisha district, a local representative said on Thursday, as the ancient city tackles overtourism after the pandemic.
Women rangers fight poachers and prejudice in Kenya
Under the blazing Kenyan sun, Maasai women patrol the vast plains in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, determined to tackle poachers and patriarchal prejudices.
AI tools generate sexist content, warns UN
The world's most popular AI tools are powered by programs from OpenAI and Meta that show prejudice against women, according to a study launched on Thursday by the UN's cultural organisation UNESCO.
Ireland votes in family, gender equality referendums
Ireland votes on Friday on constitutional references to the family and women's role in the home after campaigns that have honed in on vague wording, "mansplaining" and panic over polygamy.
German rail, air workers walk out in new strike round
Hundreds of thousands of passengers in Germany faced travel misery Thursday as rail and airport workers stage new strikes to back demands for higher wages.
Lufthansa doubles profit in 2023, but strikes cast shadow
German airline giant Lufthansa more than doubled its profits in 2023, extending a rebound from the coronavirus pandemic even as it faces fresh risks from a wave of industrial action.
Drama after deluge as USA set up Gold Cup final with Brazil
The United States beat Canada 3-1 on penalties after their CONCACAF women's Gold Cup semi-final ended 2-2 after extra-time, to reach the final of the CONCACAF women's Gold Cup where they will face Brazil.
Curry stars as Warriors bounce back to rout Bucks
Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors bounced back from their catastrophic defeat in Boston to rout the Milwaukee Bucks 125-90 on Wednesday.
Lufthansa doubles profit in 2023 as demand booms
German airline giant Lufthansa said Thursday it had doubled profits in 2023 on booming demand, as the aviation sector extends a rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
China calls war in Gaza 'a disgrace to civilisation'
China described the war in Gaza as a "disgrace to civilisation" and called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire as the conflict stretched into its sixth month despite efforts by mediators to reach a truce.
Biden to give high-stakes address as Trump rematch looms
US President Joe Biden faces one of the most critical moments of his political career Thursday with a State of the Union speech aimed at convincing skeptical voters the 81-year-old is fit to beat Donald Trump in November's election.
China trade surges in first two months of 2024
China's exports sharply accelerated in the first two months of 2024, official figures showed Thursday, providing policymakers a bright spot as they battle to revive the world's second-largest economy.
What we learned from Chinese foreign minister's press briefing
China's foreign minister gave a rare press conference to foreign media on Thursday, outlining Beijing's positions on major global issues as it holds annual political meetings known as the Two Sessions.
Tibetans fear for future as they recall failed uprising
The Dalai Lama, wrapped in red and yellow robes, urged chanting monks and nuns in his latest public prayers to help heal the world with their "compassionate heart".
Hong Kong court lowers bar for sedition convictions
Hong Kong's appeal court lowered the bar for sedition convictions on Thursday in a ruling expected to affect ongoing trials of news outlets and the government's new national security law.
AI tools still permitting political disinfo creation, NGO warns
Tests on generative AI tools found some continue to allow the creation of deceptive images related to political candidates and voting, an NGO warned in a report Wednesday, amid a busy year of high-stake elections around the world.
Oscar-nominated Korean diaspora film follows 'lives we leave behind'
A Korean-Canadian director's debut feature film -- a quiet romance exploring time, longing and lost chances -- has arrived in South Korea for theatre release after garnering two Oscar nominations.
India's Modi to visit Kashmir, first time since special status cut
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to hold a rally in main city of Indian-administrated Kashmir on Thursday, on his first visit since the disputed region's semi-autonomy was cancelled in 2019.
Chinese FM blasts US 'suppression', defends Russia ties
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out against the United States and praised his country's partnership with Russia on Thursday, in a wide-ranging press conference where he called the war in Gaza a "disgrace for civilisation".