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Gunman murders at least 37 in Thai nursery attack
A former police officer shot dead at least 37 people, most of them children, when he stormed a nursery in Thailand on Thursday in one of the kingdom's deadliest mass killings.
Kenya lobby groups protest lifting of ban on GM crops
Activists and agriculture lobby groups on Thursday urged Kenya's government to reverse its decision to lift a long-standing ban on genetically modified crops as the country struggles with a crippling drought.
'Gold dust': Liberians queue for rice
In the Clara Town suburb of Liberia's capital Monrovia, Aminata Kanneh stands sweating under the hot midday sun, queueing in a 100-metre-long line to buy rice.
Annie Ernaux: 'I'm just a woman who writes'
A feminist icon for generations in France and beyond, the newly crowned Nobel literature laureate Annie Ernaux described herself to AFP earlier this year as "a woman who writes -- that's all".
Gunman murders at least 35 in Thai nursery attack
A former police officer shot dead at least 35 people, most of them children, when he stormed a nursery in Thailand on Thursday in one of the kingdom's deadliest mass killings.
Live and Let Buy: James Bond auction nets record haul for charity
A James Bond sale in London featuring the fictional superspy's Aston Martin cars, suits and wristwatch has raised £6.9 million ($7.8 million) for charity -- more than all previous 007 sales at the auction house combined.
Gunman murders at least 30 in Thai nursery attack
A former police officer stormed a nursery in Thailand on Thursday, shooting dead at least 30 people, most of them children, before killing himself and his family.
Markets mostly up as focus turns to key US jobs report
Equity markets rose Thursday as traders fought to extend this week's global rally, though concerns about the impact of a huge oil output cut on inflation tempered hopes that central banks could soon ease their rate hike campaigns.
Lebanon years away from gas riches despite Israel deal: analysts
Lebanon is nearing agreement with Israel over a maritime dispute involving offshore gas fields, but the cash-strapped country still faces an uphill struggle towards unlocking potential hydrocarbon riches, analysts say.
In Spain, the long fight to find Franco era's 'stolen babies'
When the bones of her twin sister who died at birth were exhumed, Maria Jose Robles's worst fears were confirmed: their DNA didn't match, suggesting she was one of the newborns snatched during the Franco dictatorship.
Inflation puts squeeze on Spain's legendary lunch menu
Dreamt up in the 1960s to attract tourists, Spain's three-course "menu del dia", or set lunch menu, has long been seen as the best deal in town.
Crowd-pleaser or obscure pick for literature Nobel?
The Nobel Literature Prize will be announced on Thursday, with speculation in literary circles split over whether it will go to an overdue bestselling author or a relative unknown lifted into the spotlight.
Former Uber security chief convicted in hack cover-up: reports
A jury on Wednesday found Uber's former security chief guilty of federal crimes for covering up a massive hack that compromised personal information of users and drivers, according to US media reports.
Judge says Twitter-Musk trial still on track
The judge presiding over Twitter's legal battle to hold Elon Musk to his $44-billion buyout deal said Wednesday the case was still on course for trial -- despite the billionaire's apparent U-turn.
Spain lawmakers pass bill honouring Franco-era victims
Almost five decades after the death of Francisco Franco, Spanish lawmakers passed a flagship law Wednesday seeking to honour the victims of the 1936-1939 civil war and the ensuing dictatorship.
OPEC+ delivers Biden diplomatic slap with output cut
President Joe Biden got a diplomatic slap in the face Wednesday with the OPEC+ cartel's decision to ignore both his efforts at isolating Russia and desperate attempts to hold down fuel prices ahead of midterm elections.
Nord Stream leaked less methane than feared: atmospheric monitor
Leaks from the Nord Stream gas pipelines released some 70,000 tonnes of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, researchers said Wednesday, less than previously thought.
OPEC+ angers US with major oil output cut
Saudi Arabia, Russia and other top oil producers agreed on a major cut in production on Wednesday to boost crude prices -- a move denounced by the United States as a concession to Moscow that will further hurt the global economy.
Homemade 'DIY' weapons boost Ukraine war arsenal
In a metal workshop in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in southern Ukraine, a homemade anti-drone system waits to be mounted on a military pick-up truck.
OPEC+ agrees major oil output cut, Biden 'disappointed'
OPEC and its Russia-led allies agreed on a major cut in oil production to boost crude prices on Wednesday, irking the United States which warned that it would hurt countries struggling with soaring energy prices.
Amid Ukraine war, US flys Russian cosmonaut to ISS
A SpaceX spaceship blasted off from Florida Wednesday, headed for the International Space Station and carrying a Russian crewmate, in a voyage that carries symbolic significance amid the Ukraine war.
WHO probing Indian cough syrup after 66 children die in The Gambia
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert Wednesday over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India, warning they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.
OPEC+ agrees major oil output cut
OPEC and its Russia-led allies agreed on a major cut in oil production on Wednesday, a move to prop up prices that could bolster sanction-hit Moscow's coffers and irk Washington.
UK rail workers stage latest strike over pay
Train travel in Britain was disrupted on Wednesday by the latest in a string of strikes by railway workers over wages.
Moving on up... or out? UK's PM seeks to soothe Tory faithful
Britain's embattled Prime Minister Liz Truss marched to the lectern for the most important speech of her political career on Wednesday -- accompanied by a song about a bitter break-up.
WC host Qatar sees 'incredible progress' in labour rights: union head
The International Trade Union Confederation chief said Wednesday that Qatar has made a dramatic turnaround in its treatment of foreign workers to become a country fit to host World Cup 2022.
OPEC+ eyes major oil output cut
Ministers from oil exporting countries were expected Wednesday to agree on major production cuts to prop up prices, a move that could irk the United States as economies struggle with energy-fuelled inflation.
Canada trade surplus drops in August to lowest 2022 level
Canada's trade surplus fell in August to Can$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) -- its lowest level so far this year -- as both exports and imports slumped, the government statistical agency said Wednesday.
Oil prices rise awaiting OPEC output cut
Oil prices rose Wednesday as OPEC and Russia-led allies prepare to announce a big cut in output.
EU signals shifts towards gas price cap
The EU is "ready to discuss" a price cap on gas within the bloc to bring down soaring energy costs, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.
Musk-Twitter deal: a roller-coaster saga
Elon Musk's pursuit of Twitter was a melodrama from the beginning -- a mercurial billionaire locked in a bitter fight with his favorite social media platform.
In Morocco hills, cannabis farmers bet on budding industry
In the hills of northern Morocco, vast cannabis fields are ready for harvest, but farmers complain that a government plan to market the crop legally is yet to deliver them any benefits.
Hong Kong 'Rick and Morty' fans spot protest codes in new episode
Eagle-eyed Hong Kong fans of the adult cartoon sitcom "Rick and Morty" have spotted oblique references to the city's democracy movement in the latest episode of the cult sci-fi show.
Beaten and robbed: Vietnamese fisherman recounts China attacks
Vietnamese fisherman Nguyen Van Loc has been attacked by Chinese coast guard vessels so many times, he has lost count.
OPEC+ expected to slash oil output
Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia were set to meet Wednesday as reports said they were mulling an output cut of up to two million barrels per day in a bid to prop up slumping prices.
Energy crisis feared by Europe long a reality in Iraq
Europe may fear an energy crisis over the coming winter, but for Iraqis an unstable power supply and frequent blackouts have been a reality during decades of war and turmoil.
Equities extend rally on rate hopes, traders await OPEC decision
Asian investors joined their Wall Street and European counterparts in an equity buying spree Wednesday as more data pointing to weakness in the US economy further fanned hopes the Federal Reserve could temper its rate hike campaign.
UK's Truss rejects 'drift and delay' in defiant speech to Tories
Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss is set Wednesday to close her party's tumultuous annual conference with an unabashed defence of "disruption" to counter economic "drift and delay".
Stocks surge on hopes interest rate hikes will slow
Global stocks gained on Tuesday and the dollar slid amid growing hopes the Federal Reserve could ease its interest-rate hiking plans.