US Charges Ex-head Of Syrian Prison With Torture
The former head of a notorious Syrian prison was charged Thursday in the United States with torturing opponents of the now-collapsed government of Bashar al-Assad, the Justice Department said.
Nerds Or Crooks? 3D Gun Makers In Spotlight After US Executive Murder
Gun rights activist Rob Pincus was worried when he heard a 3D-printed "ghost gun" was found on the alleged shooter in last week's notorious murder of a US health executive in New York.
The Secret To Living To 110? Bad Record-keeping, Researcher Says
Most of what we know about humans living to very old age is based on faulty data, including the science behind the "blue zones" famous for having a high proportion of people over 100, according to one researcher.
Macron To Finally Name New French PM After Deadlock
President Emmanuel Macron is set to name a new prime minister on Friday after days of deadlock over finding a candidate to replace Michel Barnier, whose ousting by parliament pushed France into a fresh crisis.
Man Utd Grab Win At Plzen In Europa League, Spurs Held By Rangers
Rasmus Hojlund fired Manchester United to a late 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday, while Tottenham were held to a stalemate at Rangers.
Syria's Rebel Victors Expose Ousted Government's Drug Trade
The dramatic collapse of Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime has thrown light into the dark corners of his rule, including the industrial-scale export of the banned drug captagon.
Google Renews Push Into Mixed Reality Headgear
Google is ramping up its push into smart glasses and augmented reality headgear, taking on rivals Apple and Meta with help from its sophisticated Gemini artificial intelligence.
Rapes, Torture, Killings -- A Litany Of Abuses Blamed On Assad Forces
Bashar al-Assad's government has been accused of carrying out torture, rape, summary executions and other abuses since since Syria's civil war started in 2011.
Virgin Galactic Eyes Possible Expansion Into Italy
US space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced Thursday it is exploring the possibility of opening a new base in Italy, potentially bringing crewed launches to Europe for the first time.
Escalation Feared As Georgia Pro-EU Protests Enter Third Week
Georgia's pro-EU protests entered their third week Thursday, amid fears the post-electoral crisis could further escalate with the ruling party set to appoint a loyalist as the country's next president.
Thousands Attend Funeral Of Afghan Minister
Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
Single Heat Wave Wiped Out Millions Of Alaska's Dominant Seabird
The common murre, a large black-and-white seabird native to northern waters, has become far less common in Alaska over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change.
Brazil's 2026 Elections, Without Lula Or Bolsonaro?
Brazil's 2026 presidential election may offer a field of candidates featuring neither incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva nor far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro.
Prison Will Not Silence Me, Iran's Mohammadi Says
Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate on temporary medical leave from prison, said in a video call released Thursday that she would never let prison silence her.
Brazil's Lula 'Cognitively Healthy' After Operations
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is "cognitively healthy" after surgery to relieve bleeding pressure on his brain and should be leaving intensive care on Friday, his medical team said.
UN Investigators Say 4,000 Syrian Rights Abusers Identified
UN investigators say they have compiled secret lists of 4,000 perpetrators of serious crimes in Syria and hope the fall of Bashar al-Assad will help ensure accountability up to the highest level.
Indian Teen Prodigy Becomes Youngest World Chess Champ
Indian teen prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest undisputed world chess champion Thursday after beating China's Ding Liren in the final match of their series in Singapore.
Time Magazine Names Donald Trump Person Of The Year For Second Time
Time Magazine on Thursday named US President-elect Donald Trump its "person of the year," marking the second time he has won the accolade in acknowledgement of the mogul's stunning political comeback.
Salome Zurabishvili: Defiant Champion Of Georgia's EU Dream
Salome Zurabishvili was a French diplomat before entering the turbulent politics of her ancestral homeland, where she was elected Georgia's first woman leader in 2018 and became the beacon of Tbilisi's EU aspirations.
Swiss Central Bank Announces Big Rate Cut To Boost Economy
The Swiss central bank announced an unexpectedly large interest-rate cut on Thursday, citing rising "uncertainty" about the economic outlook due to the potential impact of Donald Trump's policies and political turmoil in Europe.
US Hoping For 'Inclusive' Transition In Syria
The United States was pushing Thursday for an "inclusive" transition in Syria from president Bashar al-Assad's brutal rule, after the country's new leaders pledged to protect minority rights.
Suspense Mounts As Macron Expected To Name New French PM
French President Emmanuel Macron was expected Thursday to name a new prime minister a week after MPs toppled the government, with politicians across the spectrum holding their breath while he conducts a day visit to Poland.
Russians Suffer Rising Costs Of Ukraine Conflict
In the small town of Dedovsk, just outside Moscow, pensioner Zinaida Kudriavtseva is struggling to pay the bills.
K-pop, Carols, Free Food At South Korea Impeachment Protests
Waving colourful glow sticks, singing parody songs and sporting elaborate outfits, demonstrators in Seoul this week calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's departure have highlighted South Korea's unique and creative protest culture.
Sweden Ends Rape Investigation Allegedly Targeting Kylian Mbappe
An investigation into alleged rape and sexual assault in Stockholm which Swedish media said targeted Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been closed due to insufficient evidence, the Swedish prosecutor said Thursday.
Israel Condemned By Media Groups Over Gaza Journalist 'Massacre'
Israel has been accused of carrying out a "massacre" of journalists in Gaza in two separate reports from media freedom organisations this week that analysed the deaths of reporters worldwide this year.
Sweden Ends Rape Inquiry Allegedly Targeting Kylian Mbappe
An investigation into alleged rape and sexual assault in Stockholm which Swedish media said targeted Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been closed due to insufficient evidence, the Swedish prosecutor said Thursday.
Gaza Rescuers Say Israel Kills 33 In Morning Strikes
Gaza's civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes on Thursday killed at least 33 people, including 12 guards securing aid trucks in southern parts of the Palestinian territory.
Trump Taps Election Denier To Head Global Media Operation VOA
US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday appointed election denier Kari Lake to be the new director of Voice of America, the state-funded international media organization.
Suspense Mounts As Macron Prepares To Unveil New French PM
French politics was on hold Thursday during a day trip to Poland by President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to name a new prime minister a week after MPs toppled the government.