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India's rugby sevens venture tries to convert Olympic dreams to reality
India launches a rugby sevens league this weekend in a bold bid to win fans and bolster dreams of the Olympics in a country where cricket is king.

Rice prices Japan's hot political issue, on and off the farm
All is calm at Satoshi Yamazaki's rice farm, with its freshly planted rows of vivid-green seedlings, but a row over the cost of the staple in Japan is threatening to deal the government a blow at the ballot box.

Asian shares stumble after Trump's latest trade threat
Asian shares were rattled Thursday after Donald Trump said he would impose unilateral tariffs on partners in the next two weeks, reigniting trade war fears soon after reaching a deal with China to dial down tensions between the superpowers.

From fishing family to Big Tech: French CEO takes on Silicon Valley
At just 39 years old, Fidji Simo is poised to become OpenAI's second-in-command after leaving her mark at two other major tech firms, including Meta.

Value oceans, don't plunder them, French Polynesia leader tells AFP
French Polynesia pledged this week to create the world's largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas -- and it hopes to encourage others to lift their game.

'Our city is not on fire': LA residents reject Trump rhetoric
Just blocks from where a handful of die-hard protesters faced police in Los Angeles on Wednesday, residents were enjoying lunch in the sun and shrugging off Donald Trump's claims their city was burning.

In a Ukrainian strip club, the war is laid bare
When Lisa, 20, laces into her ultra-high heels for her shift at a strip club in Ukraine's Kharkiv, she knows that aside from dancing, she will have to comfort traumatised soldiers.

London museum opens vast 'on-demand' storehouse to public
Imagine being able to visit a museum and examine up close thousand-year-old pottery, revel alone in jewellery from centuries past, or peer inside a Versace bag.

Trump cheered, jeered at 'Les Miserables' debut in Washington
Cheers but also boos met US President Donald Trump as he attended a performance Wednesday of "Les Miserables" at Washington's premier cultural institution, which he has effectively seized control of since returning to power in January.

LA stars react to Trump's migrant crackdown
As President Donald Trump's military-backed crackdown on immigrants continues in Los Angeles and across the US, celebrities are speaking out against the tactics and what they say are the intolerant views driving them.

Trump to flex muscle with huge military parade
Donald Trump's dream of hosting a grand military parade in Washington will come true on Saturday when tanks, helicopters and thousands of troops rumble through the capital on the US president's 79th birthday.

'Terrifying': Migrants fret over LA raids, but still look for work
When immigration officers leapt out of unmarked vans and ran towards undocumented men waiting by a Home Depot in Los Angeles, the day laborers scattered, terrified at the prospect of arrest and deportation.

Blues out to end Crusaders home dominance in Super Rugby semis
Defending champions the Auckland Blues are in bullish mood as they seek to end the Canterbury Crusaders' ominous home play-off record in the Super Rugby semi-finals on Friday.

Bolivia policemen killed in clashes with Morales backers
Clashes Wednesday between followers of Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales and police clearing roadblocks left two officers dead and several wounded, the government said.

Brazil court majority favors tougher social media rules
Brazil's Supreme Court reached a majority Wednesday in favor of toughening social media regulation, in a groundbreaking case for Latin America on the spread of fake news and hate speech.

Canada's McIntosh breaks 400m medley world record
Summer McIntosh bagged her third world record in days on Wednesday, clocking 4min 23.65sec to better her own 400 medley record at the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria.

Third night of anti-immigrant violence hits Northern Ireland town
Hundreds gathered on the streets of Ballymena in Northern Ireland Wednesday, facing police armed with riot shields and water cannon on the third night of anti-immigrant demonstrations.

Israel to expel French nationals on Gaza aid boat by end of week
Israel is to expel by the end of the week four French nationals held after security forces intercepted their Gaza-bound aid boat, France's foreign minister said Wednesday, as an Israeli NGO said one of the French campaigners was briefly put in solitary confinement.

Premier League 'under strain' despite record £6.3 bn revenues
The combined revenue of Premier League clubs rose to a record £6.3 billion ($8.5 billion, 7.5 billion euros) in the 2023/24 season, but fan unrest and worsening competitive balance are cause for concern, according to financial experts Deloitte.

Trump watches 'Les Miserables', tale of revolt and oppression
It's a tale of revolutionary fervor, featuring street protesters manning the barricades against a repressive leader. And watching from the audience was US President Donald Trump.

Apathy and anger cloud USA team a year out from World Cup
A run of four straight losses, including a 4-0 hammering from Switzerland on Wednesday, has left Mauricio Pochettino and his USA team feeling the wrath of critics a year out from the World Cup they will co-host.

Bolivia policeman killed in clashes with Morales backers
Clashes Wednesday between followers of Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales and police clearing a roadblock left one officer dead and another seriously wounded, the government said.

Trump admin aims to loosen power plant emissions rules
US regulators announced plans Wednesday to reverse rules aimed at sharply reducing polluting emissions from coal and gas power plants, in the latest environmental rollback from President Donald Trump's climate skeptic administration.

WADA calls on US to stop 'dangerous' Enhanced Games
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka has called on US authorities to prevent the drug-fueled Enhanced Games from taking place next year.

Majority on Brazil court in favor of tougher social media rules
Brazil's Supreme Court reached a majority Wednesday in favor of toughening social media regulation, in a groundbreaking case for Latin America on the spread of fake news and hate speech.

Tense standoff as N.Ireland town braces for third night of riots
Police were bracing late Wednesday for a third night of violence in a riot-hit town in Northern Ireland as hundreds gathered on the streets armed with molotov cocktails while unrest spread to other areas.

Italy forges on with world's largest suspension bridge
Italy hopes to begin constructing the world's largest suspension bridge connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland this summer amid widespread scepticism that it will ever be built.

Bellingham 'special boy' despite 'repulsive' behaviour, says Tuchel
England manager Thomas Tuchel said his own mother finds some of Jude Bellingham's antics "repulsive" but he does not want to dim the Real Madrid star's fire.

US stocks rally fades after China trade framework, oil prices jump
Wall Street stocks mostly fell Wednesday despite positive movement in the US-China trade conflict, while oil prices rallied on growing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Austria mourns 10 victims of 'abominable' school shooting
Grieving Austrians on Wednesday held tearful memorials for the 10 people shot dead at a high school by a former pupil, an unprecedented attack in the Alpine nation.

'Ref Cam' footage won't show controversial incidents - FIFA
Referees at this month's Club World will wear 'body cams' with the footage used in broadcasts of the game -- but only if the images are of non-controversial incidents, FIFA refereeing officials said on Wednesday.

Trump admin announces plan to loosen power plant regulations
President Donald Trump's administration proposed Wednesday to roll back measures enacted by former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama aimed at reducing polluting emissions from gas and coal-fired power plants.