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World Cup host Qatar seeks to change minds on Islam
Proudly Muslim Qatar has taken advantage of the World Cup to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of visiting fans to change minds about Islam or even make conversions.
Spain warned over 'collapse' ahead of Morocco clash, says Rodri
Spain's Rodri says his country have been warned about suffering another "collapse" when they face Morocco in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday.
Protest-hit Iran abolishes morality police
Iran has scrapped its morality police after more than two months of protests triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini for allegedly violating the country's strict female dress code, local media said Sunday.
Don't write off Ronaldo, warns Shaqiri
Cristiano Ronaldo may be 37 and without a club but Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, whose team face Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday, says it would be a mistake to consider him a fading force.
Socceroos say World Cup run 'puts Australian football on map'
Australia's World Cup heroes hope their surprise run to the last 16 will transform football at home after they went down fighting in a 2-1 defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.
Indonesia villagers race to escape eruption as sky turns black
Thousands of villagers living near Indonesia's Mount Semeru were racing for refuge Sunday to the wail of emergency sirens as lava snaked towards their homes under a black sky after the volcano erupted.
Shanghai axes some Covid testing requirements
Authorities in China's financial hub of Shanghai will from Monday scrap some testing requirements in the country's latest relaxing of its strict zero-Covid policy following nationwide protests unseen in decades.
Liberian president's long stay abroad criticised
Liberian President George Weah's long absence from the country has raised eyebrows and prompted criticism, leading one opposition figure to ask if the West African nation is running on "autopilot".
War dogs: sausages bolster the fight in eastern Ukraine
On the roads leading to the front in Ukraine's war-torn east, every morning begins with a familiar scene -- soldiers filling up trucks, sipping steaming coffee and catching up between bites of fresh hot dogs.
As chatbot sophistication grows, AI debate intensifies
California start-up OpenAI has released a chatbot capable of answering a variety of questions, but its impressive performance has reopened the debate on the risks linked to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Love behind bars: the Russian imprisoned poet and his fiancee
In a Moscow prison where he is held for reciting an anti-war poem in public, Artyom Kamardin scribbled some hearts in a letter to his girlfriend Alexandra Popova.
Afro-Greeks struggle to emulate 'idol' Antetokounmpo
Young Athenians sharpen their shooting skills under the dazzling white lights of an outdoor basketball court, forever dreaming of emulating local hero and global star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Estrada edges Gonzalez in super flyweight world title triology fight
Juan Francisco Estrada won a majority decision over Roman Gonzalez Saturday to claim the vacant WBC super flyweight world title in an action-packed third installment of their rivalry.
Warriors shoot down Rockets, Mavs beat Knicks in New York
Andrew Wiggins scored a season-high 36 points on Saturday as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors got off to a hot start and made it hold up Saturday in a 120-101 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Dissident says Cuba regime has unleashed 'repressive fury'
Trailblazing blogger Yoani Sanchez said Saturday the Cuban regime has hit any sign of discontent with "repressive fury" and warned that a new penal code seeks to stifle independent journalists.
Colombia says pact reached with ELN rebels on displaced people
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Saturday the ELN rebel group has agreed to allow a displaced indigenous community to return to its lands in the west of the nation, the first significant achievement in 12 days of peace talks.
Art of noise: UK project aims to save lost sounds
The mostly defunct red phone boxes no longer attract much attention in London except from tourists. But Stuart Fowkes is thrilled to stumble upon one still in working order.
UK groups hope creative biodiversity message takes flight
A human "murmuration" using dance techniques previously showcased by French choreographer Sadeck Waff at the Tokyo Paralympics will deliver a powerful message of "hope" to next week's United Nations biodiversity talks.
Morocco reaps cash, clout from fertiliser supply shock
A global fertiliser supply shock deepened by Russia's Ukraine invasion has brought boom times for the North African phosphate superpower Morocco and earned the kingdom new diplomatic capital.
Palestinian Santa brings festive cheer to Jerusalem
In Jerusalem's Old City there are dozens of churches, but as Christmas beckons there is just one Santa Claus -- a towering Palestinian former basketball player.
Fury forecasts 'biggest year of career' after defeating Chisora
Tyson Fury said 2023 would be "the "biggest year of my career" as the Briton looks to unify boxing's fractured heavyweight division.
Displaced Syrians fear Turkish threats spell new exodus
Syria's grinding conflict has already uprooted Ahmed Yassin and his family several times, but now they fear a threatened Turkish offensive will force them to flee the muddy camp they call home.
Germany's Scholz weathers shocks in turbulent first year
A war in his backyard, galloping economic crisis, and unhappy partners at home and abroad -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has weathered unprecedented shocks in his first year, while struggling to make a mark on the global stage.
Israel strikes Gaza after rocket fired from enclave
The Israeli air force said it had carried out overnight air strikes against sites of the Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip after a rocket was fired from the Palestinian enclave towards Israeli territory.
Ukraine war strips shine off Merkel legacy
Angela Merkel left the German chancellery on December 8, 2021 at the height of her global stature. Twelve months on, it is hard to find a more precipitous drop in popularity and prestige in modern European politics.
Brazil sweat on Neymar return ahead of South Korea World Cup clash
Brazil head into Monday's World Cup last-16 tie against South Korea preoccupied by the health of the great Pele and with coach Tite wondering whether to recall the Selecao's current number 10 Neymar after an ankle injury.
Opec+ likely to maintain oil output levels
Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia look set to maintain their current output levels at a meeting Sunday, ahead of fresh sanctions against Moscow coming into force.
Pragmatic style pays off for Van Gaal's Netherlands
Louis van Gaal's Netherlands have been repeatedly criticised for being "too boring" but a clinical counter-attacking display on Saturday saw them pick off the United States to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Tireless Modric leading by example at World Cup as Croatia face Japan
Croatia's squad features only a few of the players which led them to the World Cup final in 2018, runners-up to France, but Luka Modric is defying time to be one of those few constants.
France, England in World Cup spotlight after Messi helps Argentina into last eight
France's bid to retain the World Cup continues against Poland on Sunday, while England's pursuit of a first major trophy in 56 years will be tested by African champions Senegal.
Drought in Peru Andes proves fatal for alpacas, potato crops
A drought in the Peruvian Andes has ravaged alpaca flocks and withered potato crops, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency on Saturday for 60 days in more than 100 districts.
Fury dominates Chisora to retain WBC heavyweight title and eyes Usyk
Tyson Fury retained his World Boxing Council heavyweight title with a decisive stoppage win over British rival Derek Chisora on Saturday before setting his sights on a blockbuster unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk.