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Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday defended his comments against creating "peoples of mixed-race", saying they represented a "cultural" standpoint, drawing a stinging rebuke from Washington.

As Pope Francis in his vestments prepared to celebrate mass inside a Canadian shrine on Thursday, a young Indigenous woman stood outside in a bright orange beaded dress stitched with dozens of tiny metallic cones.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris with a long handshake, despite outrage from rights groups over their meeting.

British Conservatives Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss Thursday began their first grilling in front of party members as they wage a bitter duel to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ethiopia's athletics chief on Thursday urged the federal government to ease access to the war-torn region of Tigray, which is home to several medallists from the recently concluded World Athletics Championships.

Shimron Hetmyer was recalled by the West Indies on Thursday for back-to-back Twenty20 series against India and New Zealand as the batsman seeks to secure a place at the World Cup.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Joe Biden not to "play with fire" over the self-ruled island of Taiwan during a lengthy phone call Thursday that the White House said aimed to steady the superpowers' rocky relationship.

A road accident in northern Nicaragua has left 16 people dead, including 13 Venezuelans believed to be migrants, police said Thursday.

The International Criminal Court said Thursday it had issued an arrest warrant for a Central African Republic rebel leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity during civil strife in 2013.

President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held "candid" phone talks on Thursday, with Xi warning the US leader not to "play with fire" on Taiwan, according to Chinese state media.

Henrik Stenson said Thursday he had not given up hope of playing in the Ryder Cup in future despite being sacked as Europe captain following his decision to sign with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.

World champion Max Verstappen conceded on Thursday that he feels wary about his prospects at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix where Red Bull have not won since 2014.

The first skeleton of a Gorgosaurus dinosaur to go under the hammer sold for $6.1 million at auction in New York Thursday, Sotheby's said.

Lorena Wiebes demonstrated her impressive sprinting skills with victory in the fifth and longest stage of the women's Tour de France on Thursday in Saint-Die.

AFP Sport selects five of Sebastian Vettel's best races following the German's announcement that he plans to retire from Formula One at the end of the season:

Jonas Vingegaard received a hero's welcome from thousands of fans as he returned to his village home on Thursday following his Tour de France triumph.

A deal has been reached to allow for distribution of a low-cost generic version of a long-term preventative treatment against HIV in low-income countries where most of the world's infections occur, Unitaid and the Medicines Patent Pool announced Thursday.

At least two Hong Kong dancers were injured on Thursday night after being hit by a falling screen at a concert of the city's most popular boy band Mirror.

Russian strikes on military facilities and residential buildings across war-scarred Ukraine Thursday left several dead in attacks President Volodymyr Zelensky described as "missile terrorism".

Wall Street stocks rose on Thursday despite data showing the US economy contracted for a second straight quarter as investors took it as a signal the Federal Reserve may slow interest rate hikes.

Pope Francis celebrated mass Thursday at the oldest Catholic shrine in North America, preaching reconciliation on the fourth day of a visit to Canada as he seeks to reset the Church's relationship with Indigenous people.

Lorena Wiebes sprinted to victory in the fifth stage of the women's Tour de France on Thursday in Saint-Die-des-Vosges.

An "exceptional" marine heatwave is gripping the western Mediterranean with surface temperatures up to five degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than average, according to experts contacted by AFP.

Lewis Hamilton led the way as colleagues, rivals and friends joined in affectionate tribute to Sebastian Vettel on Thursday after the four-time champion announced he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

Everton signed Burnley winger Dwight McNeil on Thursday in a deal worth a reported £20 million ($24 million).

The US economy contracted for a second straight quarter between April and June, government data showed Thursday, adding fuel to recession fears in a headache for President Joe Biden ahead of midterm elections.

Hundreds of internally displaced Afghans who had taken refuge in the capital left for their homes in the country's eastern provinces Thursday, almost a year after the war that forced them to flee ended.

The modern strain of the virus that causes cold sores has been traced back to around 5,000 years ago, with researchers suggesting its spread could have been propelled by the emergence of kissing.

Wall Street stocks slid on Thursday despite data showing the US economy contracted for a second straight quarter.

Liverpool pair Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota have been ruled out of Saturday's Community Shield clash against Manchester City.

Pfizer reported a jump in second-quarter profits Thursday behind a near doubling of revenues driven by sales of its Covid-19 vaccine and therapeutic drug Paxlovid.

Pakistan have withdrawn from the world's biggest international chess tournament in protest at hosts India holding a torch relay for the event through disputed Kashmir, officials said Thursday.