South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
Early results from South Africa’s November 4 local elections have prompted renewed arguments that voters should judge parties primarily on competence and service delivery.
Thai authorities began extradition proceedings on Thursday against a Chinese investigative reporter wanted by Beijing and detained for months in Thailand, his lawyer and an official told AFP.
Romanian businessman Alex Bodi combines international connections with substantial investments running into many millions and ventures into new business areas. On 19 September 2026, Bodi visited ALIX LASERS in Germany, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of AI-powered aesthetic laser systems, and held intensive, final-stage contract negotiations with Head of Operations Dieter Eitner about opening a showroom in Bucharest before the end of 2026. The venture could mark another milestone in Bodi’s expansion across multiple sectors.
When a woman died of suspected plague in Siberia last week, Oksana was in the maternity ward for observation.
Nearly 200 nations pledged to transition away from fossil fuels in a landmark agreement at the UN climate summit in Dubai in 2023.
Taiwan's exports hit a record high of $87.2 billion in September, the government said Thursday, thanks to skyrocketing global demand for artificial intelligence hardware.
Motorsport's governing body said transboundary haze from Indonesian fires, which pushed air pollution in Singapore into unhealthy levels on Thursday, did not "represent a threat" to this weekend's Formula 1 race in the city-state.
Defending champion Marc Marquez vowed to go on the "attack" on Thursday as he chases down compatriot Jorge Martin at the top of the MotoGP standings.
Organisers of an upcoming UN climate summit in Turkey said Thursday they would prepare a summary text for countries to adopt, as they lead a push for "ambitious" action on keeping the goal of global temperature rise of 1.5 C within reach.
Diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital were sheltering in place and international schools took safety measures on Thursday, diplomats and residents told AFP, after explosions echoed across the city.
World number 34 Nikola Bartunkova stunned her Czech compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 at the China Open on Thursday to breeze into the semi-finals.
The European Union's top commerce official said Thursday that the bloc's trade deficit with China was "unsustainable", as he kicked off two days of talks in Beijing aimed at averting a trade war.
A drone caused a fire at a data centre belonging to Russian technology company Yandex, the company told AFP Thursday, in the first such strike of its kind on Russia.
Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down as captain of the Test team on Thursday, ahead of selection for next month's two-match series against Pakistan.
Oil prices soared Thursday and equities tumbled on fresh inflation fears following a report that said President Donald Trump was considering more strikes on Iran ahead of next month's US midterm elections.
Carlos Alcaraz said he was feeling "mentally fresh" on Thursday ahead of the Shanghai Masters, after the Spanish star won his first title since returning from a months-long injury.
AI startup Manus, whose acquisition by Meta was blocked by the Chinese government, said Thursday it had completed a funding round that raised more than $500 million.
Israel said the British consulate in Jerusalem ended its functions on Thursday but that seven diplomats would be allowed to remain in a limited capacity, with the UK saying it would continue to offer "vital services".
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim once urged his Muslim-majority nation to show solidarity with the persecuted Rohingya who fled Myanmar en masse, but this week rolled out the red carpet for the man accused of orchestrating their genocide.
Equities extended losses Thursday as a fresh surge in oil prices stoked inflation fears, following a report that said President Donald Trump was considering more strikes on Iran ahead of next month's US midterm elections.
Double major winner Collin Morikawa said Thursday that LIV Golf players have to make "a business decision" about their futures, after Jon Rahm's lawyer said the Spanish star was quitting the breakaway tour.
The powerful sister of North Korea's leader said Thursday that Seoul must show the "utmost respect" to mend ties, after Pyongyang denied responsibility for a DMZ mine blast that wounded South Korean soldiers.
As a new biopic puts the life of mountaineer Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on screen, his son says climate change is transforming the Himalayas and making mountaineering increasingly dangerous.
Saudi authorities said Wednesday three people were killed in attacks on two of the kingdom's international airports, including in the capital Riyadh, after Yemen's Houthis claimed to have fired on both transport hubs.
Valtteri Bottas swapped his Formula One car for a bicycle as he pedalled the 420 kilometres from Sepang in Malaysia to this week's Singapore Grand Prix
Nigerian producer and media mogul Mo Abudu has realised a "mad dream" by opening a unique cultural centre in London complete with a cinema dedicated to African film and black culture.
The Australian Open will revive its innovative "1 Point Slam" in 2027 with Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner among those agreeing to take part Thursday.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said on Thursday "it's not about me" as he prepares for his first clash against Australia, three years after his abrupt exit from the Wallabies.
The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 to advance in the Major League Baseball Playoffs on Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Rays ousted the New York Yankees.
India's election commission is facing mounting pressure after a newspaper investigation alleged misconduct during a nationwide voter-roll revision.
For several days this summer the Albanian city of Elbasan choked in a dense cloud of stinging smoke coming from the direction of its notorious steelworks.
Equities extended losses Thursday as inflation fears were stoked by a fresh jump in oil prices following a report that said Donald Trump was considering more Iran strikes ahead of next month's US midterm elections.
British historian Julian Jackson has played a crucial role in creating the French cinema sensation of the year: a two-part biopic about 20th-century political colossus Charles de Gaulle.