Last news
Politics
'I am sorry,' embattled UK PM tells Epstein victims
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, battling for his political future, apologised Thursday to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing disgraced Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Sports
England's Brook predicts record 300-plus scores at T20 World Cup
England captain Harry Brook said on Thursday that he believes it could be a record-breaking T20 World Cup, with fans treated to a batting blitz and 300-plus scores.
Politics
Ukraine, Russia swap prisoners, US says 'work remains' to end war
Ukraine and Russia swapped over 300 prisoners following "productive" talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, as a US mediator conceded that "significant" work lay ahead in the quest for a broader deal to end the war.
Sports
Wales' Rees-Zammit at full-back for Six Nations return against England
Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit has been moved to full-back from the wing for his Six Nations return against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Culture
Sad horses and Draco Malfoy: China's unexpected Lunar New Year trends
A morose horse, rice cakes, and a Harry Potter villain have become surprise hits in China ahead of the country's Lunar New Year holiday.
Politics
Hong Kong students dissolve pro-democracy group under 'severe' pressure
A pro-democracy student organisation in Hong Kong said Thursday its members had decided to dissolve, citing "increasingly severe pressures".
Economy
Germany claws back 59 mn euros from Amazon over price controls
Germany's competition watchdog ordered Amazon on Thursday to stop implementing price controls for retailers on its marketplace and told the US tech giant to return 59 million euros ($70 million) in what it deemed unfair gains.
Economy
Germany claws back 70 mn euros from Amazon over price controls
Germany's competition watchdog ordered Amazon on Thursday to stop implementing price controls for retailers on its marketplace and told the US tech giant to return 59 million euros ($70 million) in what it deemed unfair gains.
Politics
VW and Stellantis urge help to keep carmaking in Europe
Europe's largest carmakers Volkswagen and Stellantis have called for subsidies to keep carmaking in the EU as they struggle with challenges from US tariffs to Chinese competition, in an article published Thursday.
Economy
Stock markets drop amid tech concerns before rate calls
Major European and Asian stock markets mostly fell Thursday after more losses on Wall Street's Nasdaq, where technology firms are under pressure over concerns about vast AI investments.
Economy
BBVA posts record profit after failed Sabadell takeover
Spanish banking giant BBVA on Thursday reported a record annual profit, shrugging off the rollercoaster ride of its failed hostile takeover bid for its biggest national rival Sabadell.
Economy
UN human rights agency in 'survival mode': chief
The UN human rights chief said Thursday his agency was "in survival mode" due to funding shortfalls, as he launched a $400 million appeal to tackle global rights crises in 2026.
Nature
Greenpeace slams fossil fuel sponsors for Winter Olympics
Greenpeace activists staged a protest in Milan on Thursday against the sponsorship of the Milan-Cortina Olympics by energy giant Eni, warning that fossil fuel emissions were threatening the viability of winter sports.
Economy
Greenpeace slams fossel fuel sponsors for Winter Olympics
Greenpeace activists staged a protest in Milan on Thursday against the sponsorship of the Milan-Cortina Olympics by energy giant Eni, warning that fossil fuel emissions were threatening the viability of winter sports.
Sports
Kinghorn, Van der Merwe dropped by Scotland for Six Nations opener
Scotland's top two try-scorers of all time -- Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham -- plus British and Irish Lions full-back Blair Kinghorn have all been left out by Gregor Townsend for his side's Six Nations opener away to Italy on Saturday.
Economy
Russia says thwarted smuggling of giant meteorite to UK
Russian investigators have prevented a giant meteorite fragment being smuggled to Britain disguised as a garden ornament, the Federal Customs Service reported Thursday.
Nature
Salt war heats up in ice-glazed Berlin
As a winter cold snap grips Germany, Berliners have been slip-sliding on ice-covered footpaths, driving a heated debate on whether the capital should use environmentally damaging salt to melt away the hazard.
Sports
Liverpool in 'good place' for years to come, says Slot
Liverpool's recruitment of rising stars will put the club on a sure footing for years to come, according to manager Arne Slot despite a difficult season for the Premier League champions.
Economy
Heathrow still Europe's busiest airport, but Istanbul gaining fast
London Heathrow remained the busiest aviation hub in Europe last year but Istanbul Airport was nearly neck-and-neck and is likely to overtake it soon, an industry group said Thursday.
Nature
Highest storm alert lifted in Spain, one woman missing
Spain on Thursday lifted its highest weather alert for torrential rain in the southern region of Andalusia, where a woman went missing, a day after the storm killed one in Portugal.
Economy
Shell profits climb despite falling oil prices
British energy giant Shell said Thursday that its net profit rose 11 percent last year as higher volumes and lower costs helped to offset falling oil and gas prices.
Sports
Pakistan will seek govt nod in potential India T20 finals clash
Pakistan will seek advice from their government if they reach the knockout phase of the T20 World Cup and meet arch-rivals India, captain Salman Agha said on Thursday.
Politics
China shuns calls to enter nuclear talks after US-Russia treaty lapses
China rejected calls to enter talks on a new nuclear treaty after a US-Russian agreement expired on Thursday, ending decades of restrictions on how many warheads the two powers can deploy.
Economy
German factory orders rise at fastest rate in 2 years in December
German factory orders unexpectedly posted their biggest rise in two years in December, official data showed Thursday, fuelling hopes that a turnaround is taking hold in Europe's struggling top economy.
Politics
Nigeria president deploys army after new massacre
Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deployed an army batallion to a troubled state after gunmen killed as many as 162 people in one of the country's deadliest attacks in recent months.
Politics
Ukraine, Russia, US start second day of war talks
Ukraine and Russia on Thursday began a second day of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending a war sparked by Moscow's 2022 invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.
Politics
Nepal's youth lead the charge in the upcoming election
Kishori Karki, 25, has been seeking blessings from elders in her community as the young candidate prepares to fight for change ahead of Nepal's landmark election next month.
Boulevard
Sony hikes forecasts even as PlayStation falters
Japanese giant Sony hiked its full-year forecasts on Thursday, as a weaker yen compensates for its ageing PlayStation games console and a memory chip crunch.
Culture
Rijksmuseum puts the spotlight on Roman poet's epic
Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum on Friday opens the biggest exhibition ever devoted to art inspired by "Metamorphoses", Roman poet Ovid's most famous work, featuring contributions from artists as varied as Caravaggio, Magritte and Bernini.
Economy
Trump fuels EU push to cut cord with US tech
Until President Donald Trump's return a year ago, when the EU talked about cutting economic dependency on foreign powers -- it was understood to mean China. But now Brussels has US tech in its sights.
Sports
Fearless talent: Five young players to watch at the T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup begins on Saturday in India and Sri Lanka, with a chance for fresh faces to shine in the global spotlight.
Sports
India favourites as T20 World Cup to begin after chaotic build-up
Cricket's T20 World Cup begins Saturday after an acrimonious build‑up overshadowed by political turmoil, with Bangladesh kicked out and Pakistan refusing to face arch-rivals and co-hosts India.