Last news
Irish great Murray set for century landmark against Springboks
Conor Murray will become the eighth Irish player to reach the 100 caps landmark when he starts against world champions South Africa in Saturday's autumn international Test match at Lansdowne Road.
Canada trade surplus doubles as wheat shipments rebound
Canada's trade surplus doubled to Can$1.1 billion (US$800 million) in September from the previous month as wheat shipments rebounded strongly, the national statistical agency said Thursday.
US trade deficit widens in September as imports rise
The US trade gap widened in September after five straight months of decline, government data showed Thursday, on cooling food and energy exports while imports of products like semiconductors and consumer goods picked up.
Guinea junta gives order to prosecute ex-president Conde
Guinea's ruling junta on Thursday ordered prosecutors to take legal action against former president Alpha Conde, whom it overthrew in a 2021 coup, and more than 180 other officials and ex-ministers, notably for alleged corruption.
European golfers get pay guarantee in face of LIV threat
DP World Tour players will be guaranteed minimum earnings of $150,000 next season in the latest response from the established tours to the threat from the lucrative rebel LIV Golf series, it was announced on Thursday.
Stock markets sink, dollar jumps
Stock markets around the world sank Thursday while the dollar rallied after the Federal Reserve warned US interest rates would go higher than previously expected in its fight against decades-high inflation.
Bank of England warns UK faces two-year recession, hikes rate
The Bank of England on Thursday announced its biggest interest rate hike since 1989 to combat sky-high inflation that it warned was pushing Britain into a recession set to last until mid-2024.
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan wounded in assassination attempt
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was in stable condition after being shot in the leg at a political rally on Thursday in what the country's president deemed "a heinous assassination attempt".
NGO asks France, Spain, Greece to help 234 Mediterranean migrants
Migrant rescue group SOS Mediterranee said Thursday that it had called on the governments of France, Greece and Spain to help find a port for 234 people rescued while trying to reach Europe, after Italy and Malta failed to respond.
Biden hits campaign trail in final uphill push to salvage Democrats
President Joe Biden was embarking Thursday on a final push to try and save Democrats from defeat in next week's midterms, hours after he gave a dramatic speech casting the election as a make-or-break moment for US democracy.
CAS rejects Quintana's Tour de France appeal
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday rejected Colombian Nairo Quintana's appeal against his disqualification during the last Tour de France for using a banned painkiller.
UN calls on nations to 'urgently' boost climate funds
Climate change impacts battering vulnerable countries threaten to outstrip efforts to adapt to global warming, the UN warned Thursday, with a "significant" amount of international funding help recycled from other purposes.
Wales hand Dyer baptism of fire against New Zealand
Uncapped Dragons winger Rio Dyer faces a baptism of fire after being named in the Wales team to play New Zealand at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan stable after 'assassination attempt'
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was in stable condition after being shot in the foot Thursday at a political rally in what the country's president deemed "a heinous assassination attempt".
Bank of England delivers biggest rate hike in 33 years
The Bank of England delivered Thursday its biggest interest rate hike since 1989 to combat soaring inflation and warned that Britain faced a recession set to last until mid-2024.
Wallabies' White back at scrum-half to face France
Experienced scrum-half Nic White will start Australia's Autumn Nations Series Test with France this weekend in four changes from the Scotland victory, the Wallabies announced on Thursday.
Europe could face gas shortage next year: IEA
Europe must act immediately to prevent a shortage of natural gas next year as Russia slashes deliveries in the wake of the Ukraine war, the International Energy Agency warned Thursday.
Pakistan keep slim World Cup hopes alive with South Africa win
Pakistan kept their slim Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with a 33-run win over South Africa in a dramatic rain-affected match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
South Korean fans abuse Marseille defender online after Son injury
South Korean football fans have subjected Marseille's Chancel Mbemba to a torrent of abuse online, some of it racist, and demanded he apologise to Son Heung-min with the forward's World Cup in doubt.
France's fit-again Ntamack 'ready' to face Wallabies
France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Thursday Romain Ntamack was "ready" to start their Autumn Nations Series opener with Australia this weekend despite last playing for his club in September.
Smith to leapfrog Carter as most capped All Blacks back against Wales
Scrum-half Aaron Smith was named in New Zealand's team to play Wales on Saturday, when he will surpass Dan Carter as the most capped back in All Blacks history.
French Alps village says goodbye to ski lift of winters past
Older residents of Saint-Firmin can recall learning to ski on slopes served by one of the first lifts above the village, one that will now be seen only in pictures of days when winter meant abundant snow.
East Ukraine hospital that stayed open despite war, occupation
In six months of Russian occupation and eight months of fighting, Izyum hospital in eastern Ukraine never stopped working, operating on wounded civilians in its basement while awaiting liberation.
Fit-again Ntamack returns for France against Wallabies
Fly-half Romain Ntamack will start France's Autumn Nations Series opener with Australia this weekend despite last playing for his club in September, Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie announced on Thursday.
Stock markets sink, dollar jumps on central bank watch
Asian and European stock markets sank and the dollar rallied Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned US interest rates would go higher than previously expected in its fight against decades-high inflation.
Iranians defy crackdown as another teen reported killed
Iranians staged new protest actions Thursday in defiance of a crackdown by the authorities as a rights groups said an 18-year-old became the latest teen killed in clashes in the northwest.
Irish tougher under Farrell, says Springbok boss Erasmus
Rassie Erasmus stirred things up in Ireland in 2019 when he labelled their Rugby World Cup team 'softies' but South Africa's director of rugby says the present team are quite the opposite.
Tropical Storm Lisa moves towards Mexico after lashing Belize
Tropical Storm Lisa slowed on Thursday after making landfall in Belize, causing flooding and plunging parts of the country into darkness as it churned westwards toward Mexico.
Norway brings climate ambitions in line with EU
Norway, the largest oil producer in Western Europe, on Thursday announced it intended to cut 1990 emissions levels "at least 55 percent" by 2030, in line with EU goals.
Ukraine shipments resume but Russia casts doubt on grain deal
Grain ships left Ukraine's ports on Thursday, a day after Russia rejoined an international agreement to guarantee their safe passage through the Black Sea.
iPhone factory lockdown shows risks of China dependence, analysts say
The lockdown of Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory, the world's biggest producer of iPhones, has highlighted some of the risks of relying on zero-Covid China's manufacturing sector, analysts told AFP.
China authorities apologise after boy dies in Covid lockdown
Chinese local authorities apologised Thursday after a three-year-old boy died of carbon monoxide poisoning when medical care was delayed because of a Covid lockdown, in a rare admission of responsibility.