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Sports
Ex-Germany defender Suele to retire aged 30
Former Germany international centre-back Niklas Suele announced on Thursday he will retire at the end of the season aged 30 when his current contract with Borussia Dortmund expires.
Economy
Royal and Ancient Golf Club names first woman captain after 272 years
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has appointed amateur player Claire Dowling as the first woman captain in its 272-year history.
Things to know
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler 'recuperating' after emergency surgery in Portugal
Husky-voiced Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was "recuperating" Thursday after emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal, a post on her official Instagram page said.
Economy
US awaits Iran response to latest deal offer
The United States was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle East and to reopen the key shipping lane out of the Gulf.
Politics
No tanks, no internet, simmering discontent: Putin to host nervous May 9 parade
No military hardware, internet shutdowns, Ukrainian drone threats and simmering discontent: President Vladimir Putin will host Moscow's Victory Day parade Saturday amid signs some Russians are tiring of more than 50 months of war.
Sports
Bangladesh and Pakistan renew rivalry in first Test
Bangladesh and Pakistan open their two-match Test series in Mirpur on Friday, with the hosts aiming to complete a remarkable double after their historic away whitewash in 2024.
Sports
England captain Stokes '100 percent to bowl' on return to cricket
Ben Stokes is expected to bat and bowl for county side Durham as he returns to action for the first time since England's disastrous Ashes campaign.
Politics
Russia scolds ally Armenia for hosting Zelensky
Russia said Thursday that it was "incomprehensible" its ally Armenia hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a European summit earlier this week, and cautioned the country against deeper European integration.
Politics
Women linked to IS fighters charged with slavery after landing in Australia
Counter-terrorism forces arrested two women for slavery on Thursday as they returned to Australia from Syria, where they allegedly committed "crimes against humanity" while supporting Islamic State jihadists.
Oil prices drop awaiting Mideast peace progress
Oil prices fell and global stock markets traded mixed Thursday awaiting an update on a US plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Politics
France's far-right leaders court Israel, Germany envoys ahead of vote
France's far-right leaders have met the ambassadors of Germany and Israel in recent months as their party, once deemed antisemitic, seeks to court foreign envoys in the run-up to next year's presidential elections.
Economy
Latest evacuee from hantavirus-hit cruise lands in Europe
Another sick passenger from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship landed in Europe on Thursday, as the vessel headed to a Spanish island and health officials scrambled to map the outbreak of the potentially deadly human-to-human strain.
Rubio meets US pope in bid to ease tensions
The top US diplomat, Marco Rubio, went to the Vatican on Thursday for talks with the first US pope, Leo XIV, against the backdrop of sharp tensions between the White House and the Vatican.
Politics
Women linked to IS fighters return to Australia from Middle East
A group of women linked to Islamic State jihadists arrived in Australia on Thursday, returning home years after allegedly sneaking into Syria to join the group's self-declared caliphate.
Economy
Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices
British energy giant Shell announced Thursday rising net profits for the first quarter as the Middle East war sent oil and gas prices soaring in volatile trading.
Health
Oil sinks, Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
Oil sank again Thursday and Tokyo's Nikkei index led another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the Iran war is close to ending and the revival of demand for all things AI.
Politics
India vows to crush terror 'ecosystem', a year after Pakistan conflict
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India remains "steadfast as ever" in its determination to defeat terrorism and its "enabling ecosystem", marking one year since a deadly clash with arch-enemy Pakistan.
Politics
Circus tackles jihadist nightmares of Burkina Faso's children
By miming children juggling ammunition found on the ground or driven mad by fear, the four acrobats hope to express what is too painful for words: how their native Burkina Faso's jihadist conflict has ruined countless childhoods.
Politics
Iran denies ship attack as Trump warns of renewed bombing, eyes deal
Iran denied on Thursday attacking a South Korean cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz this week, as US President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war was "very possible" but warned Washington would resume bombing if talks failed.
Sports
Badminton looks to future with 'evolution and innovation'
Synthetic shuttlecocks, shorter games and a new generation of stars are all part of the "evolution" of badminton, a top official told AFP, saying the sport can't afford to sit still.
Nature
Troubled waters: Jakarta battles deadly, invasive suckerfish
Mounds of slimey carcasses pile up on a riverbank in Jakarta where authorities are fighting an uphill battle against a fast-breeding invasive fish flourishing in Java island's heavily polluted waterways.
Economy
Senegal's children mourn in silence when migrant parents disappear
Fallou softly whispers that since his mother's death he has chosen to remain quiet, while young Sokhna recounts the many nightmares she has had following her father's disappearance: for the children of Senegalese migrants lost at sea, the torment of grief is long-lasting.
Politics
EU weighs options as summer jet fuel threat looms
How big is the jet fuel threat to Europe's summer holidays? The EU says it is not facing shortages yet, but it is readying for the worst -- and weighing options including using US kerosene as a back-up.
Sports
Spurs thrash Timberwolves as Knicks edge Sixers in NBA playoffs
Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs thrashed the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 to level their NBA playoff series as the New York Knicks edged Philadelphia for a 2-0 lead Wednesday.
Economy
Australia to force gas giants to reserve fuel for domestic use
Australia will look to stave off energy shortages by forcing major gas companies to reserve 20 percent of their exports for domestic use, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Thursday.
Economy
AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets
Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies said, with the low-cost carrier adding Thursday that it could double the order to meet future demand.
Politics
Japan fires missiles during drills, drawing China rebuke
Japan fired surface-to-ship missiles and sank an old warship in waters between the Philippines and Taiwan as part major military exercices that include US forces, angering China.
Sports
Toluca rout Son's LAFC to set up all-Mexican CONCACAF final
Son Heung-min's Los Angeles FC were thrashed 4-0 in Wednesday's second leg by Deportivo Toluca to set up an all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Sports
Vingegaard begins bid for Giro-Tour double with Pellizzari boosting home hopes
Jonas Vingegaard will make his Giro d'Italia debut on Friday when he begins his bid to win both the Italian Grand Tour and the Tour De France in the same year, thus emulating his great rival Tadej Pogacar.
Sports
Roma's Champions League return back on as Milan, Juve wobble
Roma have a return to the Champions League firmly within their sights ahead of Sunday's trip to Parma as both Juventus and AC Milan's hope's of finishing in Serie A's top four are threatened by the resurgent capital club.
Economy
Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the Iran war is close to ending and the revival of demand for all things AI.
Sports
Australia cricket great Warner to 'accept' drink-drive charge: lawyer
Australian cricket star David Warner will "accept responsibility" for drink-driving, his lawyer told reporters on Thursday after a Sydney court hearing.
Sports
Brunson steers Knicks to 2-0 lead with tight win over Sixers
Jalen Brunson spearheaded a late surge as the New York Knicks edged a razor-tight NBA playoff clash against the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Wednesday.
Politics
Rubio seeks to ease tensions with US pope
America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, will visit the first US pope, Leo XIV, on Thursday, seeking to ease tensions between Washington and the Vatican while also promoting President Donald Trump's interests.
Politics
AI disinfo tests South Korean laws ahead of local elections
In an airy office in South Korea, workers comb through social media, uncovering AI-generated content whose growing sophistication is testing toughened election laws ahead of local polls.
Culture
Australian state overturns Melbourne ban on World Cup watch party
Australian authorities on Thursday reversed a ban on public watch parties in Melbourne's Federation Square for the 2026 football World Cup after the decision sparked an outcry.
Nature
Colombian ex-fisherman swaps trade for saving Caribbean coral
Yerson Granados used to fish off Colombia's Caribbean coast for a living, but when he discovered the havoc he was wreaking on coral reefs, he changed his ways.
Politics
Lobito Corridor: Africa's mega-project facing delivery test
The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the global race for critical minerals.
Economy
Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy
The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export port says his priority is the business of the operation, not the geopolitical tussle over Africa's minerals.