Australia races to shield little penguins from H5N1 bird flu
Mourinho begins second Real Madrid reign with Barca in his sights
Messi scores first goal since father's death
'More confrontational': Iran's new hardline security leadership
Economy
US national debt exceeds $40 trillion for first time
The US gross national debt has surged past $40 trillion for the first time, government data showed Wednesday, outstripping earlier forecasts at a pace fuelled in part by President Donald Trump's invalidated tariffs.
Politics
UK summons Israeli envoy over West Bank settlement project
Britain said on Wednesday it had summoned Israel's charge d'affaires and demanded a halt to a major West Bank settlement project after Israeli authorities opened bidding for more than 1,200 homes in the area.
Last news
Brighton and West Ham seal spots in Europa League knockout round
Brighton booked their place in the Europa League knockout stage with a 1-0 win at AEK Athens, while West Ham also advanced after a late Tomas Soucek goal against Backa Topola on Thursday.
MLS players and referees unions clash over Miazga incident
Major League Soccer's players union has hit out at the referees union for its' role in the suspension of FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga.
Penguins snatch 11 hours of sleep through seconds-long micronaps
In humans, nodding off for a few seconds is a clear sign of insufficient sleep -- and can be dangerous in some situations, such as when driving a car.
Zelensky visits front as Kyiv says six killed in Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday visited frontline command posts in eastern and southern Ukraine, as local officials reported six killed in a spate of Russian air, rocket and artillery attacks.
Dominica pull out of hosting T20 World Cup games
The Caribbean nation of Dominica has withdrawn from the hosting of games at next year's T20 Cricket World Cup, the country's sports ministry said on Thursday.
Lyon end Grosso's spell as coach
Lyon coach Fabio Grosso has been provisionally replaced by academy coach Pierre Sage as the struggling Ligue 1 club announced Thursday it had begun proceedings to dismiss the 2006 World Cup winner.
UK to probe of UAE-backed takeover of Telegraph
The UK government said on Thursday it had triggered a formal probe on public interest grounds into the proposed sale of the Telegraph Media Group to an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund.
OPEC+ slashes oil output further to boost flagging prices
Major oil-producing nations Saudi Arabia and Russia on Thursday announced they would further slash production in an effort to prop up volatile prices following an OPEC+ meeting.
Royals mull response after names revealed in Harry and Meghan 'racism' row
Buckingham Palace is considering its next move after a British TV host named two royals who allegedly raised concerns about the skin colour of Prince Harry's son, a royal source said Thursday.
Venezuela zoo welcomes three white lion cubs
A Venezuelan zoo this week welcomed the country's first three white lion cubs born in captivity, a boost for the genetically rare animal whose wild population numbers only about a dozen living in their native South Africa.
Olympic chiefs 'reassured' by Paris transport plans despite mayoral criticism
The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday it was "reassured" by transport plans for the 2024 Paris Games after the city's mayor said the system would not be ready in time.
Falling inflation gives equities a boost
A drop in inflation in Europe and the United States sent stocks climbing on Thursday, boosting expectations that the US Fed and ECB may be able to soon cut interest rates, although profit-taking set in on Wall Street.
Horn of Africa floods displace more than two million
More than two million people across the Horn of Africa have been forced from their homes by torrential rains and floods, according to an AFP tally compiled Thursday from government and UN figures.
Ex-All Black Whitelock eyes putting 'good spin' on World Cup final defeat with Pau arrival
Former New Zealand second-row Sam Whitelock said on Thursday he hopes to find a positive side to last month's Rugby World Cup final defeat after arriving at French Top 14 club Pau on a two-year deal.
Saracens boss condemns 'shameful' treatment of Owen Farrell
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has criticised the "shameful" treatment of Owen Farrell after the England fly-half opted to take a break from international rugby for mental health reasons.
More Israeli hostages released in extended Gaza truce
Militant group Hamas released two more Israeli women hostages on Thursday with more Palestinian prisoners to be freed under an extended truce that has paused weeks of deadly conflict.
Blinken says Gaza truce 'producing results', should continue
Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli leaders on Thursday that a temporary truce in their war with Hamas was "producing results" and should continue.
US to replace all lead water lines within 10 years
President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday announced it would require the removal of the nation's remaining lead pipes within a decade, preventing an estimated 22 million people from potential exposure to the toxic metal in their drinking water.
OPEC+ mulls further output cuts to boost flagging prices
Major oil-producing nations led by Riyadh and Moscow were moving towards an agreement to further slash production to prop up volatile prices, a source close to the negotiations told AFP.
Najmul to lead Bangladesh in New Zealand ODIs, T20Is
Bangladesh on Thursday named batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto as the country's one-day international and Twenty20 international captain for a tour of New Zealand next month.
Falling inflation fuels rise in stocks
A drop in inflation in Europe and the United States sent stocks climbing on Thursday, boosting expectations that the US Fed and ECB may be able to soon cut interest rates.
Hundreds of new oil and gas projects approved despite climate crisis
More than 400 oil and gas projects were approved globally in the last two years despite calls to abandon all new hydrocarbon development, new figures showed as the UN COP28 climate talks opened Thursday.
COP28 opens with 'historic' launch of loss and damage fund
Nearly 200 nations agreed Thursday to launch a fund to support countries hit by global warming, in a "historic" moment at the start of UN climate talks in the oil-rich UAE.
US Fed's favored inflation gauge slows in October
A key inflation measure used by the US Federal Reserve to set interest rates eased further last month amid declining energy and goods prices, according to government data published Thursday.
Russia bans 'international LGBT movement' for 'extremism'
Russia on Thursday banned the "international LGBT movement," claiming it was an extremist group in a move that cements a long crackdown on the community as the Kremlin pushes ultra-conservative social values.
Grounded by flu, Pope urges COP28 to reject 'vested interests'
Pope Francis, who cancelled his trip to the United Nation climate talks due to flu, urged participants Thursday to reject "vested interests" and focus on the common good.
Shane MacGowan, folk-punk Pogues frontman, dies aged 65
Shane MacGowan, songwriter and lead singer of Celtic folk-punk band The Pogues, has died aged 65 after a long illness, his wife announced Thursday.
'We don't have superpowers', says embattled Red Cross
The Red Cross, which has faced criticism for not doing enough for hostages and prisoners in the Gaza conflict, stresses it has no "superpowers" and relies on the warring parties for access.
Australia Test bowler Nathan Lyon joins Lancashire
Australia Test bowler Nathan Lyon has joined Lancashire for the 2024 season, the English county announced on Thursday.
Hamas shooting threatens extended Gaza truce
The Palestinian group Hamas said its militants carried out a shooting in Jerusalem on Thursday, killing three people despite agreeing to extend for a day a truce in Gaza and to release at least 10 more Israeli hostages.
Former UK finance minister Alistair Darling dies aged 70: family
Alistair Darling, the UK finance minister when the 2008 financial crisis hit, has died at the age of 70 following a "short spell" in hospital, his family said on Thursday.
Zelensky visits eastern front as Russia ramps up attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday visited a frontline command post in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been stepping up attacks after holding back a Ukrainian counteroffensive.