Last news
Power cut to Paris 2024 Olympic sites in pensions protest: union
A French labour union said members working in the energy sector had on Thursday cut power to the building sites for the Olympic Village for the 2024 Paris Games, as well as the main Stade de France stadium.
EU ministers wade back into row over migrant landings
EU ministers met Thursday to wrangle once again over who should take responsibility for migrants arriving in Europe, pointing the finger at a reluctant Italy.
Italian PM gathers ministers near deadly migrant shipwreck site
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gathered her ministers Thursday for a meeting near the site of a fatal shipwreck, as protesters accused her right-wing government of risking lives with its hard line on migration.
US democracy group downgrades Peru, Burkina but sees bright spots
Peru and Burkina Faso led a global deterioration in freedom last year but a number of other nations made improvements, giving hope in the fight against authoritarianism, a US democracy research group said Thursday.
Stocks mixed as traders nervously await US jobs data
Wall Street rose on Thursday but European stock markets fell as investors brace for US jobs data that they fear could prompt the Federal Reserve to ramp up interest rate hikes.
England drop Farrell as Smith starts against France in Six Nations
England captain Owen Farrell has been dropped for Saturday's Six Nations match against France, with Marcus Smith selected in his place for the pivotal fly-half role.
Uganda presents anti-gay bill in parliament
Ugandan lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament that proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations in a country where homosexuality is already illegal, defying criticism from human rights groups.
Prada touts strong profits despite China sales slump
Italian luxury group Prada said Thursday its profits jumped in 2022 as strong sales in Europe and the United States offset declines in China, and that it expects its sales to outpace the market this year.
Freedom House downgrades Peru, Burkina Faso but sees bright spots
Peru and Burkina Faso led a global deterioration in freedom last year but a number of other nations made improvements, giving hope in the fight against authoritarianism, Freedom House said Thursday.
US conservatives fire opening salvo in trans sports battle
US lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday aimed at banning transgender women and girls from sports teams that match their gender identity, as Congress turned its focus on one of the most polarizing issues in American culture.
Rescuers 'fear worst' for three trapped deep down Spanish mine
Rescuers were struggling on Thursday to reach three people trapped deep underground after an accident at a Spanish potash mine, with officials admitting they "feared the worst".
Homecoming hero Ohtani helps Japan win baseball opener
Major league superstar Shohei Ohtani was given a hero's welcome as he led Japan to an 8-1 win over China in their World Baseball Classic opener in Tokyo on Thursday.
Scientists use TikTok to explain, fight climate change
With his moustache caked in icicles and frozen droplets, glaciologist Peter Neff shows his 220,000 TikTok followers a sample of old ice excavated from Antarctica's Allan Hills.
Petr Pavel, pro-Western war hero sworn in as Czech president
Retired general Petr Pavel, who was sworn in as the Czech Republic's new president on Thursday, is a war hero with a pro-Western drive and a passion for motorcycles.
Uganda introduces anti-gay bill in parliament
Ugandan lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament that proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations in a country where homosexuality is already illegal, defying criticism from human rights groups.
Former Shell CEO gets big payday on soaring oil prices
Shell's recently retired CEO earned close to £10 million ($12 million) last year after the energy giant scored record profits on soaring energy prices, the British company said Thursday, sparking outrage amid a cost-of-living crisis.
North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South Korea drills
North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile Thursday, Seoul's military said, Pyongyang's latest show of force just days before South Korea and the United States kick off major joint military exercises.
England drop captain Farrell as Smith starts against France
England captain Owen Farrell has been dropped for Saturday's Six Nations match against France, with Marcus Smith selected in his place for the pivotal fly-half role.
Russia pounds Ukraine with deadly 'retaliation' strikes
Russia on Thursday targeted Ukraine with a barrage of missiles in strikes which Moscow said were in response to a border incursion earlier this month.
Pogba dropped for Juve's Freiburg clash for 'disciplinary reasons': club source
Paul Pogba has been dropped for the first leg of Juventus' Europa League last-16 tie with Freiburg for "disciplinary reasons", a club source told AFP on Thursday.
Rabada, Coetzee lead South Africa attack as West Indies struggle
The West Indies batsmen struggled against disciplined South African bowling on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Rise in ocean plastic pollution 'unprecedented' since 2005
Plastic pollution in the world's oceans has reached "unprecedented levels" over the past 15 years, a new study has found, calling for a legally binding international treaty to stop the harmful waste.
Wales boss Gatland makes six changes for Italy as Alun Wyn Jones dropped
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made six changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations clash against fellow strugglers Italy in Rome.
'Bittersweet story': joy, pain of nations casting off UN poorest tag
There will be jubilation in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan this year when it quits the club of the world's poorest countries, while others still have a mountain to climb.
Conte nears exit door as Spurs trophy drought lengthens
Antonio Conte's reign as Tottenham manager appears to be rapidly drawing to a close after the club's limp Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.
Four bodies found after Swiss house explosion
Four bodies were on Thursday found in the rubble from an explosion and fire that destroyed a residential home in western Switzerland, police said.
Uncertainty over fate of three trapped Spain miners
The fate of three miners trapped deep underground at a potash mine in Spain was unclear Thursday after a tweet by a regional leader confirming their deaths was deleted.
Pentagon chief holds Israel talks overshadowed by protests
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin held talks in Israel Thursday as flaring violence killed three suspected Palestinian militants and protesters again rallied against the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Stocks drop as traders nervously await US jobs data
Stock markets mostly retreated Thursday on the eve of US jobs data, which is being eagerly awaited in light of warnings from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that interest rate hikes could be ramped up should the economy show no sign of slowing.
Diacre sacked as coach of France women's football team
Corinne Diacre has been sacked as coach of the France women's team, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday, after her position was weakened following a revolt by leading players.
Kane bemoans another trophyless season for Spurs
Harry Kane said Tottenham "should be winning trophies" and not settling for a top-four finish in the Premier League after they crashed out of the Champions League.
Greek officials charged over train crash, PM vows 'transparency'
Greek prosecutors on Thursday charged three more railway officials in connection with the country's worst train crash that killed 57 people, as the prime minister vowed "absolute transparency" in the probe into the tragedy.