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Musk asks court to halt upcoming Twitter trial
Elon Musk asked a US judge Thursday to halt an upcoming trial over his troubled bid to take over Twitter, after the embattled social media company balked at the Tesla's chief's demand to freeze the litigation.
Musk says Twitter has refused to suspend litigation on buyout
Elon Musk asked a US judge Thursday to suspend Twitter's lawsuit over their troubled takeover negotiations after the embattled social media company balked at the Tesla's chief's demand to freeze the litigation.
IMF chief says world better prepared for this crisis
The global economy is at a difficult crossroads, buffeted by multiple shocks including soaring inflation, rising interest rates and a growing threat of broad debt crisis, but IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told AFP that institutions are better prepared to weather this storm.
Chagall painting stolen by Nazis to be auctioned in New York
A painting by Marc Chagall, which was among 15 works stolen by Nazis and eventually returned by France to the heirs of the affected families, will go on sale next month in New York, the Phillips auction house said Thursday.
Floods to drag up to 9 million Pakistanis into poverty: World Bank
Between six and nine million Pakistanis are set to be dragged into poverty as a result of cataclysmic monsoon flooding linked to climate change, the World Bank said on Thursday.
Spain smashes giant counterfeit money ring
Spanish police said Thursday they had smashed one of Europe's largest counterfeit money rings that had made over eight million euros of fake cash.
Revamp of World Bank and lenders needed to tackle global problems: Yellen
The World Bank and development lenders need to evolve to tackle the complex challenges that the world is facing, such as by going beyond country-based lending, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday.
Diamond millionaire hopes to rock Lesotho vote
Sitting at the desk of a grand office in Lesotho's capital of Maseru, Sam Matekane doesn't attempt to hide his ambition.
OPEC+: a thriving Saudi-Russian marriage of convenience
By ignoring the United States and slashing its oil production, the OPEC+ group of petro-states demonstrated the tightening bond between Saudi Arabia, normally a close US ally, and Russia.
IMF chief urges action as global recession risks rise
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva urged global policymakers Thursday to take concerted action to avoid a "dangerous 'new normal,'" as the risks of a worldwide recession are driven ever higher by repeated economic shocks.
Barcelona predict record revenues, rising profits
Barcelona on Thursday forecast profits of 274 million euros (270.7 million dollars) this season and record revenues of 1.255 billion euros.
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.