Gamers get hold of Nintendo's hotly awaited Switch 2
Gamers on Thursday finally got their hands on Nintendo's new Switch 2 console, which could score record early sales for the Japanese "Super Mario" creator.
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NATO looks to thrash out spending deal under US pressure
US defence chief Pete Hegseth will seek on Thursday to drive home a deal on ramping up NATO defence spending that can satisfy President Donald Trump at a summit later this month.
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Burundi votes but with opposition neutered
Burundi votes for a new parliament on Thursday but with little risk of an upset after the main opposition was effectively barred from running.
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China lead mine plan weighs heavily on Myanmar tribe
Hundreds of protesting Myanmar tribespeople march up a hillside to a cavernous facility where a Chinese joint venture's giant milling machines stand ready to grind up the rocks of their ancestral homeland for lead ore.
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Most Asian markets rise as US data feeds rate-cut hopes
Asian shares mostly rose Thursday after soft US economic data boosted expectations the Federal Reserve will soon cut interest rates and put the focus on key jobs figures coming at the end of the week.
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EU eyes 'leadership' role on oceans ahead of UN summit
The European Union will Thursday unveil a new roadmap on marine conservation -- addressing climate and pollution threats to biodiversity as well as challenges for coastal livelihoods -- ahead of a UN summit on preserving the world's seas.
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Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat in hajj apex
Muslim pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat on Thursday during the high point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the day.
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'Floating village' to house thousands of Asian Games athletes
Athletes at next year's Asian Games in Japan will stay on a "floating village" cruise ship and in converted shipping containers, an organising official told AFP, defending the cost-cutting move.
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Morocco set for sheepless Eid as drought persists
As the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha approaches, Fatima Kharraz can't seem to find the usual sense of celebration after drought-stricken Morocco urged people to forego the traditional sheep sacrifice this year.
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Trump administration ramps up attack on Harvard, Columbia
President Donald Trump ramped up his campaign against top US universities Wednesday, banning visas for all foreign students coming to attend Harvard and threatening to strip Columbia of its academic accreditation.
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