Gold soared to a fresh record near $5,600 on Thursday and oil prices climbed after US President Donald Trump ramped up geopolitical tensions with threats of a military strike on Iran.
Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka crushed Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in a politically charged Australian Open semi-final on Thursday and faces Elena Rybakina for a third Melbourne title.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the ideological army of the Islamic republic tasked with protecting the revolution from external and domestic threats but is accused by the West of militant activity abroad and serial rights violations at home.
- EU eyes migration clampdown with push on deportations, visas
- Umpire call fired up Sabalenka in politically charged Melbourne clash
Sports
Elena Rybakina battled past Jessica Pegula into the Australian Open final on Thursday with the fifth seed setting up a repeat of her 2023 title match against Aryna Sabalenka.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina said the plight of her homeland put her Australian Open semi-final loss Thursday into perspective, calling herself "a very, very lucky person".
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Deutsche Bank said Thursday it aimed to become a "European champion" after reporting record profits in 2025, even as the results were overshadowed by a money-laundering probe reportedly linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
January 29, 2026
French energy giant TotalEnergies officially relaunched Thursday a massive gas project in northern Mozambique after a five-year pause imposed following a jihadist attack that claimed hundreds of lives.
January 29, 2026
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that "really good progress" had been made on issues such as visa-free travel and tariffs during talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday.
January 29, 2026
Sports
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka powered into her fourth Australian Open final in a row with a dominant win over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Thursday in a politically charged encounter.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Turkey will offer to mediate between Washington and Tehran during a visit by Iran's foreign minister on Friday, officials said, as Ankara considers reinforcing security along its border should the dispute escalate.
Oumar Cisse used to lead tours of Djenne, an ancient, fabled city in central Mali known for its towering mud-brick mosque, but he now ekes out a living driving an old motorcycle taxi in Bamako.
China's football association issued lifetime bans to 73 people, including former national team head coach Li Tie, and punished 13 top professional clubs for match-fixing and corruption, it said Thursday.
Ghana is preparing to overhaul its mining laws to increase its share of the revenues generated by the surge in the precious metal's price, sparking concern among foreign mining companies in Africa's top gold producer.
January 29, 2026
Culture
South Africa's main cinema houses have pulled a documentary about US First Lady Melania Trump just ahead of its release, with the distributor citing "the current climate", local media reported.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been banned for five Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches and fined $100,000 after the chaotic scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco this month, it was announced on Thursday.
Russia's oil giant Lukoil, sanctioned by Washington over the Ukraine war, said Thursday that it would sell its foreign assets to the US investment firm The Carlyle Group.
Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said Thursday it was "a fine line" between player promotion and privacy after top stars complained about backstage cameras at the Grand Slam, with Iga Swiatek comparing it to a zoo.
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.
January 29, 2026
- Gold soars towards $5,600 as Trump rattles sabre over Iran
- Russia's Petrosian skates in Valieva shadow at Milan-Cortina Olympics
- China executes 11 linked to Myanmar scam compounds
- Germany to harden critical infrastructure as Russia fears spike
- Colombia plane crash investigators battle poor weather to reach site
- Serena Williams refuses to rule out return to tennis
- Vietnam, EU vow stronger ties as bloc's chief visits Hanoi
- New glove, same fist: Myanmar vote ensures military's grip