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Munro slams 99 as Heat crush Stars to open Big Bash League
Big-hitting New Zealander Colin Munro slammed an unbeaten 99 to help steer Brisbane Heat to a 103-run thrashing of Glenn Maxwell's Melbourne Stars Thursday on the opening day of Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League.
German pair triumphs in short programme at Beijing Grand Prix
Newcomers Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin claimed figure skating gold in the pairs short programme at the Grand Prix Final in Beijing on Thursday.
Bitcoin rally shines spotlight on investor risks
A much-anticipated US approval of wider bitcoin trading has helped the world's biggest cryptocurrency reach 20-month heights, risking however pain for new investors unaccustomed to its volatility.
'Struggling' Man City leave Guardiola with title headache
Pep Guardiola admits "struggling" Manchester City's unexpected stumble in the Premier League title race has left him searching for solutions to the champions' problems.
Ukraine 'very concerned' over Russian Olympics call: Sports minister
The Ukrainian government is "very concerned" by the call from sports federations and National Olympic Committees to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at next year's Paris Olympics, its acting sports minister has told AFP.
Urban fighting rages in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war enters third month
Heavy urban combat raged in and around Gaza's biggest cities Thursday as the bloodiest ever war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas entered its third month since the October 7 attacks.
Insured disaster losses to again top $100 bn: Swiss Re
Insured losses from natural catastrophes will pass the $100-billion threshold for the fourth year running in 2023, reinsurance giant Swiss Re said Thursday.
Fatah in freefall as Hamas and Israel wage war
Fatah, the largest Palestinian party, has seen its popularity plunge during the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, from where the Islamists violently ousted rivals Fatah in 2007.
'A place of fear': Hong Kong activist recalls years of repression
Agnes Chow was trapped in Hong Kong, had her passport seized and was branded a "foreign agent" after years as one of the city's most prominent democracy activists.
Asia, Europe track Wall St stock losses as US jobs market softens
Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead of key US jobs data and oil struggled to bounce back after hitting a five-month low.
'Dance is beautiful': Kenyan slum reaches for ballet stars
Bravian Mise hits a series of grand jetes -- leaping like a gazelle across the cramped living room -- and pirouettes during an exhaustive rehearsal at his home in a Kenyan slum.
Asia tracks Wall Street sell-off as US labour market softens
Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead of key US jobs data and oil struggled to bounce back after hitting a five-month low.
All Black Barrett looking to 'mentally refresh' in Japan
All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett said Thursday that he plans to "mentally refresh" during his season-long sabbatical in Japan before returning to play for New Zealand next year.
'Unabated': a word to split the world at COP28
The outcome of the most important climate negotiations in years could rest on the ambiguity surrounding one linchpin term, according to experts: "unabated fossil fuels".
'National circumstances' key to COP28 fossil fuel deal: S.Africa minister
Any eventual agreement on a fossil fuel phase-out at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai must take into account "different national circumstances", South Africa's environment minister Barbara Creecy told AFP.
Between love and exile: Albanian filmmaker captures nation's struggles
With short films centred on poverty, migration and love, Erenik Beqiri has helped draw the global spotlight to Albania's film industry by telling stories at the heart of the country's social and economic fault lines.
Israel battles Hamas in south Gaza city
Israeli troops battled Hamas militants Thursday in the heart of southern Gaza's main city where a suspected mastermind of the October 7 attacks is believed to be hiding, while pressing their offensive across the besieged territory.
Suarez fires farewell double to end Brazilian adventure
Luis Suarez scored twice in his farewell match for Gremio as the Brazilian side defeated Fluminense 3-2 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
EU tells China 'differences' must be addressed
EU President Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday that the bloc and its biggest trading partner must address their differences, as they began the first in-person EU-China summit in over four years.
Turkey's Erdogan in Athens in 'new chapter' bid
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travels to Athens on Thursday in a keenly watched visit billed as an attempted "new chapter" between the NATO allies and historic rivals after years of tension.
China says exports rise for first time in seven months
Chinese exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, officials said Thursday, as the country navigates a troubled recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stretched to breaking, Germany's debt rule faces reform
Germany's strict constitutional debt rule faces an overhaul after a shock court ruling blew a hole in the budget and left the government scrambling to make its sums add up.
EU leaders meet China's Xi for summit with high stakes but low expectations
European leaders met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday for talks dominated by divisions between the bloc and its largest economic partner over everything from trade to the war in Ukraine.
Indonesia ends search after volcano eruption kills 23
Indonesian authorities on Thursday said they had ended a search and rescue mission for any hikers missing or killed after a volcano eruption over the weekend that left 23 people dead.
Asia tracks Wall St sell-off as US labour market softens
Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead of key US jobs data, while oil struggled to bounce back after hitting a five-month low.
Israel battles Hamas militants inside south Gaza city
Israeli troops battled Hamas fighters Thursday in the heart of southern Gaza's main city where a top militant leader is believed to be hiding, while pressing their offensive across the besieged territory.
McDonald's eyes big expansion, plans CosMc's small-chain pilot
McDonald's announced an aggressive expansion roadmap Wednesday to reach 50,000 restaurants worldwide by 2027, as the chain unveiled plans to roll out CosMc's, a new network of small-format shops focused on cold beverages.
Ukraine sees drones as crucial to battlefield success
Sat in a soggy field and strapped into a virtual reality headset, Ukrainian soldier Igor was piloting a military drone test flight using a small control panel in his hands.
Pioneering Cuban movie maintains its relevance 30 years later
It has been three decades since the seminal film "Strawberry and Chocolate" generated both ovations and tears, marking a before and an after in Cuban cinema.
New York's Met takes a feminist look at global fashion
New York's Metropolitan Museum has pulled the curtain back on its latest blockbuster exhibit, showcasing women couturiers many of whom have been kept in the shadows of obscurity until now.
Kyrgios, Raducanu missing from Australian Open entry list
Showstopper Nick Kyrgios and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu were notable absentees Thursday from the 2024 Australian Open entry list, but Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are set for their Grand Slam comebacks.
Australia, Papua New Guinea announce security deal
Australia clinched a security deal with Papua New Guinea on Thursday, bolstering ties to a key Pacific neighbour that has been courted persistently by China.