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Britain's Keir Starmer is the latest Western leader to thaw trade ties with China in a shift analysts say is driven by US tariff pressure and unease over Donald Trump's volatile policy playbook.

Gold prices soared to a fresh record near $5,600 Thursday, while oil rallied after Donald Trump ramped up geopolitical tensions with his threatened military strike on Iran.

Adeliia Petrosian will be in a fierce spotlight when she takes to the ice at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics four years after the doping debacle involving fellow Russian teenager Kamila Valieva overshadowed the Beijing Games.

China executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including "key members" of telecom scam operations, state media reported Thursday, as Beijing toughens its response to the sprawling, transnational industry.

Germany plans to better protect its critical infrastructure with a new law on Thursday as surging tensions with Russia stoke fears of sabotage attacks and other national security threats.

Investigators were battling thick fog in the Colombian mountains Thursday to reach the site of a plane crash that killed all 15 people on board, including a politician.

Serena Williams has reignited speculation that she could make a return to tennis, refusing to rule it out when asked and instead replying: "I don't know. I'm just going to see what happens."

Vietnam and the European Union pledged to deepen economic and security cooperation on Thursday, upgrading their diplomatic relationship to hedge against an increasingly unpredictable United States.

The colour of the winning party in Myanmar's junta-run election is the same green as a general's uniform, its staff are retired senior officers, and most expect it to march in lockstep with the military.

Deutsche Bank on Thursday reported record pre-tax profits of 9.7 billion euros ($11.6 billion) in 2025, with all divisions performing well, even as Germany's biggest lender faces a new money-laundering probe.

Thailand's foreign minister said Thursday that he hoped Myanmar's recent election would be the "start of a transition" that could ultimately lead to a sustainable peace in the civil war-torn country.

Novak Djokovic knows all too well the mountain he must scale to capture an elusive record 25th Grand Slam crown, but the Serbian great is not ready to "walk out with a white flag" just yet.

Vietnam and the EU upgraded diplomatic ties on Thursday, committing to deeper cooperation on trade, technology and security during a visit to Hanoi by European Council President Antonio Costa.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping stressed the need for closer relations between their countries in order to face geopolitical headwinds, as the two met in Beijing on Thursday.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been banned for five Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches after a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco this month, it was announced on Wednesday.

Phan Huy has had a thrilling -- but quite stressful -- journey to making history at Paris Haute Couture Week on Thursday where he will become the youngest and the first Vietnamese designer to present a collection on the official calendar.

Hong Kong residents hoping to cash in on a precious metals rally are buying up bars of silver as an alternative to gold that they say has become "too expensive" after reaching record highs.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, seeking closer trade ties while balancing sensitive issues of national security and human rights.

Quadriplegic and bedridden in a prefabricated home, 36-year-old Li Xia can only move one finger and one toe -- yet he runs a high-tech farm in southwestern China using sensors, cameras and a computer.

Gold prices soared to another fresh record above $5,500 Thursday, while oil advanced and stocks fell after Donald Trump ramped up geopolitical tensions with his threatened military strike on Iran.

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly profits Thursday, riding massive market demand for the memory chips that power artificial intelligence.

China will act to defend its companies' interests if Australia forcibly buys back control of the strategic northern port of Darwin, Beijing's ambassador has warned.

China has purged top generals before, but the announcement that Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), is being investigated for corruption shocked defence observers.

American singer-songwriters are taking up the protest torch like their forebears Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, releasing tracks featuring searing criticism of Donald Trump and homage to Minneapolis residents killed this month by federal immigration agents.

Ronald Herrera remembered the prosperity that Puerto Cabello enjoyed decades ago as home to the El Palito refinery -- once a symbol of Venezuela's oil boom.

As "AI slop" floods the internet, efforts are mounting to stem an online deluge of shoddy images and videos made using increasingly advanced tech tools.

On a frigid night in Canada's oil capital, Jordan Fritz joined a rally of thousands for a separatist movement once considered a sideshow, but which is now drawing interest from US President Donald Trump's allies.

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly profits on Thursday, riding strong market demand for its artificial intelligence chips.

Expanded agreement infuses Formerra's European healthcare polymer portfolio with life-saving Foster® compounds.

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams will miss the rest of the NBA season after surgery on his left ankle, the team said Wednesday.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted Wednesday that a "catastrophic" run of Champions League matches against some of Europe's best sides had set his team up perfectly for the play-off round as he shrugged off suggestions not qualifying directly for the last 16 was a failure.

French senators adopted a bill on Wednesday to simplify the return of artworks looted during the colonial era to their countries of origin.

Spin-bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux was named captain of the all-conquering Australian women's cricket team across all three formats on Thursday, replacing the retiring Alyssa Healy.

Relentless Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka faces a Ukrainian roadblock between her and a fourth straight Australian Open final on Thursday, and she is determined to blast past it.

Barcelona came from behind to thrash FC Copenhagen 4-1 and qualify directly for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday in fifth place of the league phase.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona booked last-16 places in the Champions League on Wednesday, as holders Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid missed out on the top eight.

Tesla reported a 61-percent drop in fourth-quarter profits on Wednesday due to lower auto sales and increased expenses as CEO Elon Musk ramps up technology investments.

Jose Mourinho condemned his former employers to a ninth-placed finish in the league phase as his Benfica side beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, with a stoppage-time header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin keeping the Portuguese alive in the competition.

Joao Pedro fired Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League with a brace in Wednesday's 3-2 win at Napoli which secured a top-eight finish and eliminated their Italian opponents.