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Boulevard
Aid to Gaza still a fraction of promised amounts: UN data
Fewer than a hundred aid trucks operated by the UN and its partners have entered Gaza each day since a ceasefire earlier this month, a fraction of the total 600 trucks a day promised under the plan brokered by US President Donald Trump, data analysed by AFP shows.
Economy
France's government suspends pensions reform in new budget bill
France's government on Thursday moved to delay the application of a controversial 2023 pensions reform, but sparked criticism for seeking to pay for it with increased health insurance taxes and frozen pensions.
Politics
Zelensky urges EU to agree frozen assets loan
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders Thursday to agree a mammoth new loan using Russian frozen assets, after US President Donald Trump buoyed Kyiv by hitting Moscow with sanctions.
Health
No reduction in Gaza hunger since truce: WHO
The World Health Organization said Thursday there had been little improvement in the amount of aid going into Gaza since a ceasefire took hold -- and no observable reduction in hunger.
Sports
Messi signs Inter Miami contract extension: MLS
Lionel Messi has agreed a contract extension with Inter Miami, Major League Soccer confirmed on Thursday.
Politics
'No basic means to live': exhausted Gazans struggle to rebuild
A fragile ceasefire has brought respite to Gazans exhausted by two years of fighting, but even without the daily bombing they are struggling to live amid the catastrophic destruction wrought by the war.
Economy
Republicans warn of chaos at US airports as shutdown drags
Republicans sounded the alarm Thursday over potential turmoil at US airports as the government shutdown threatens to drag into November, warning of ruined holiday plans for millions of Americans.
Sports
NBA coach, player arrested in illegal gambling probes
NBA coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday for alleged involvement in illegal gambling, US officials said.
Sports
Marathon world record holder Chepngetich gets three-year doping ban
Kenya's marathon world record holder, Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Thursday.
Culture
Asterix packs his bags and heads to ancient Portugal
The latest Asterix cartoon adventure released on Thursday is being published in 19 languages and across 25 countries as it takes the indomitable Gaulish warrior to ancient Portugal.
Politics
Brazil's Lula says will seek a fourth term in 2026 elections
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who turns 80 next week, confirmed Thursday he will run for a fourth term in office in 2026 elections.
Sports
Saudi Arabia to host ATP Masters 1000 tennis event from 2028
The ATP announced Thursday the creation of a new Masters 1000 event which will take place annually in Saudi Arabia from as early as 2028.
Politics
France issues third arrest warrant against Syria's ex-leader Assad
French magistrates this summer issued a new arrest warrant against ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad over deadly chemical attacks in 2013, a judicial source said on Thursday.
Politics
Vance rejects any West Bank annexation as Rubio heads to Israel
US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Israel would not move to annex the occupied West Bank, after Washington warned that such a step could jeopardise a fragile US-brokered truce in Gaza.
Sports
Injured MotoGP champion Marquez to miss rest of season
MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will miss the rest of the season due to an injured shoulder, his Ducati team announced on Thursday.
Politics
China vows to boost consumption, national security after key meet
China's ruling Communist Party said Thursday the country has to "vigorously boost consumption" and "consolidate national security" in the next five years, state media reported, as a key gathering concluded in Beijing.
Politics
Judge clears British ex-soldier of Bloody Sunday murders
A judge in Belfast on Thursday acquitted a British ex-paratrooper of killing unarmed civilians during the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre.
Sports
Short and Connolly star as Australia beat India to seal ODI series
A composed 74 from Matt Short and a maiden half-century by Cooper Connolly steered Australia to a two-wicket win over India on Thursday, sealing the three-match one-day series with a game to go.
Politics
EU parliament adopts curbs on plastic pellet pollution
The European Parliament on Thursday definitively adopted rules clamping down on pollution from the tiny pellets that constitute the building blocks of most plastic products.
Technology
Europe plans satellite powerhouse to rival Musk's Starlink
Three leading European aerospace groups announced Thursday a plan to merge their satellite operations to create a powerhouse for competing in particular against Elon Musk's Starlink internet system.
Nature
French court convicts TotalEnergies over misleading climate claims
A French court Thursday ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by overstating its climate pledges, in what activists said was the first such ruling worldwide against a major oil company for climate misinformation.
Sports
Wembanyama's height sparks debate once again in NBA
After making a thunderous return to the court on Wednesday with a 40-point performance, French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama has not escaped the eternal debate about height in the NBA -- where measurements are often surrounded by a certain amount of mystery.
Sports
Thrill-a-minute DJ gets the crowds pumping at new Philippines event
Former world number one Dustin Johnson rolled in nine birdies Thursday at the inaugural International Series Philippines with a thrilling opening round that had a dash of everything.
Economy
Gender-row boxer Lin wins gold in first event since Paris Olympics
Taiwanese Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting won gold on her return to the ring following the gender row that exploded at the 2024 Paris Games, her coach told AFP Thursday.
Politics
King Charles, Pope Leo pray together in historic first
King Charles III, the head of the Church England, became the first British monarch Thursday to pray publicly with a pope in a Vatican service led by Leo XIV.
Sports
Pogacar, peloton face Alpe d'Huez twice as Tour de France 2026 route unveiled
From Montjuic in Barcelona to Montmartre in Paris, the 2026 Tour de France presents champion Tadej Pogacar and his rivals with a plethora of mountain passes and peaks, including two stages tackling the revered Alpe d'Huez.
Sports
Pakistan spin lessons good for South Africa, says Markram
Skipper Aiden Markram says lessons learnt from the spin-dominated drawn Test series in Pakistan will put South Africa in good stead for their tour of India next month.
Economy
Oil prices surge as Trump hits Russian crude with sanctions
Oil prices surged more than five percent Thursday after US President Donald Trump targeted Russia's key oil industry with new sanctions in a bid to end the war in Ukraine.
Sports
Eddie Jones plots shock against much-changed Australia in Tokyo
Australia made 13 changes and named Nick Champion de Crespigny captain as they begin a five-Test tour on Saturday in Tokyo against Eddie Jones's Japan, with the former Wallabies coach plotting a shock.
Sports
La Liga's Miami match: Why did it fail and what happens next?
La Liga's plan to move Barcelona's trip to face Villarreal in December to Miami in the United States collapsed this week under heavy pressure within Spain. AFP Sport looks at how, why and what happens next.
Politics
Bangladesh court to deliver verdict against Hasina on November 13
The verdict in the crimes against humanity case against ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be delivered on November 13, the attorney general said, as the trial ended on Thursday.
Sports
Third T20 between New Zealand and England washed out
The third T20 between New Zealand and England was rained off on Thursday with only 22 balls bowled in Auckland.
Boulevard
King Charles meets Pope Leo ahead of historic prayer
King Charles III met on Thursday with Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, where he will make history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pontiff.
Sports
Injured Italian skier Bassino out of home Winter Olympics
Two-time world champion Marta Bassino will miss her home Winter Olympics following surgery on Thursday on a broken leg she suffered during a training fall this week.
Politics
Rubio heads to Israel as US seeks to firm up Gaza truce
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio warned that Israel's moves towards annexing the occupied West Bank risked undermining a fragile US-brokered truce in Gaza, as he headed to Israel on Thursday.
Sports
Eddie Jones says 'I enjoy beating Australia' ahead of Tokyo reunion
Eddie Jones said facing his native Australia brings out his "extreme competitive spirit" as the Japan coach plots a surprise win over his old team on Saturday in Tokyo.
Economy
Oil spikes as Trump targets Russia giants, US-China hopes lift stocks
Crude prices spiked more than two percent Thursday after US President Donald Trump said he would impose heavy sanctions on two Russian oil companies.
Politics
Zelensky hails Trump sanctions on Russia as 'strong' message
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday hailed US President Donald Trump's "resolute" decision to sanction Russia's energy sector, as Washington's patience finally snapped with Moscow for stalling peace efforts.
Economy
Indonesia, Brazil strike cooperation deals as leaders meet
Indonesia and Brazil agreed to boost ties and struck a series of agreements on Thursday as their leaders met in Jakarta, with Southeast Asia's biggest economy looking to make further inroads into South American markets.