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UN inspectors vowed to press on with a visit to a Russian-held nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Thursday despite an early shelling attack on the town next to the facility.

The southern Pakistan village of Karim Bakhsh is almost entirely under muddy water after catastrophic monsoon rains -- hardly any stable buildings are left for shelter, the wheat silos are empty and venomous snakes are a constant threat.

Around 16 million people in the Chinese city of Chengdu will be effectively under lockdown from Thursday as authorities race to snuff out a new Covid-19 outbreak.

A colourful Taiwanese tycoon unveiled plans Thursday to train more than three million "civilian warriors" to help defend the democratic island in the event of a Chinese invasion, donating TW$1 billion ($33 million) of his own money.

The symbolism is not lost on the White House: US President Joe Biden heads Thursday to Philadelphia, the cradle of American statehood, to deliver a rare primetime speech on what he calls "the battle for the soul of the nation."

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber is treating Saturday's rematch with Australia in Sydney as "a final" for his injury-ravaged side as they strive to stay in Rugby Championship contention.

Who said what at the US Open on Wednesday, the third day of the 2022 championships at Flushing Meadows:

Serena Williams insisted that she feels "like I've already won" the US Open after dramatically extending her iconic career with a never-say-die, three-set victory over world number two Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday.

Two Japanese trading houses will maintain stakes in a Russian energy project despite Tokyo joining sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine, as the Asian country looks to secure its power supply.

A hit Netflix K-drama about a high-functioning autistic lawyer is prompting soul-searching in South Korea, where some on the spectrum say they can feel invisible.

Cameron Smith's defection to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit is the biggest blow yet to the US PGA and European Tours in a power struggle threatening to rip the sport apart.

Dave Rennie on Thursday named his first unchanged starting side since taking over as Australia coach, as they attempt to clinch back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Volkswagen on Thursday hands over the reins to new CEO Oliver Blume, tasked with steering the German automotive giant through challenging economic conditions after four turbulent years under his predecessor, Herbert Diess.

Wu Yibing created a piece of tennis history on Wednesday after becoming the first player from China to reach the third round of the US Open.

Investors further unloaded equities in Asia on Thursday as they girded themselves for more interest rate hikes aimed at quelling runaway inflation, with some analysts warning that markets could retest the lows touched in June.

Norwegian climber Kristin Harila is only three peaks away from achieving the lung-busting feat of scaling the world's 14 highest mountains in record time.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster took a dig at critics who "want blood" as he defended naming an unchanged team on Thursday for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Hamilton.

Serena Williams roared into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, overpowering second seed Anett Kontaveit with a battling performance to extend her Grand Slam singles career in dramatic fashion.

Longstanding Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy will face a French court on Thursday in defamation cases brought against him by top officials in his home country.

Serena Williams dramatically extended her iconic career on Wednesday with a never-say-die, three-set victory over world number two Anett Kontaveit at the US Open.

As Hong Kong students return for the new academic year, veteran teacher Wong is counting down the days until the political maelstrom sweeping the city leaves him no choice but to quit.

Max Verstappen is expecting an emotional and "pretty crazy" festival as he heads into his first home race as world champion, seeking his 10th win of the season, at this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

A charming, must-do tourist attraction or a cruel, outdated commercial activity? New York's horse-drawn carriages have operated since the 1800s, but lawmakers now want to replace them with electric vehicles.

In a divisive election campaign blighted by fears of unrest if far-right President Jair Bolsonaro refuses to accept defeat, Brazil is waging an uphill battle against disinformation wielded as a political weapon.

Brazil has used electronic voting machines in its elections since 1996. But it is only recently they became controversial, with allegations by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro that they are plagued by fraud.

Sixteen years ago, after his son died by suicide, Lance Neiberger thought of taking his own life.

The United Nations released a bombshell report late Wednesday into serious human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region, saying torture allegations were credible and citing possible crimes against humanity.

Mikhail Gorbachev stepped onto a Washington street and began shaking hands to cheers and applause in 1990 -- a bit of unaccustomed political showmanship worthy of his friend Ronald Reagan.

Singapore-born batting powerhouse Tim David was on Thursday called up by Australia for this year's Twenty20 World Cup on home soil, the only change to the squad that won the tournament last year.

Nick Kyrgios claimed fans were smoking marijuana and unleashed a volley of expletives at members of his entourage before advancing to the US Open third round in typically tempestuous fashion on Wednesday.

UK hospitals bosses on Thursday warned that patient care may have to be cut to offset huge increases in energy bills over the winter months.

Argentina coach Michael Cheika on Thursday laughed off suggestions his in-form team are favourites to notch another win over New Zealand in this weekend's Rugby Championship Test at Hamilton.