Infantino backs away from biennial World Cup plans
FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday tried to distance himself from a highly controversial project to hold the World Cup every two years as he suggested the plan had never actually been proposed by world football's governing body.
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Qatar rights overshadows FIFA congress in World Cup year
FIFA's decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar took centre stage at the global body's annual congress on Thursday with president Gianni Infantino forced to defend progress made by the Gulf state on human rights.
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UN warns of Ukraine refugee 'humanitarian crisis'
The United Nations said on Thursday the refugee exodus from Ukraine was a "massive humanitarian crisis" that was growing by the second, after another 40,000 fled the country in 24 hours.
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OPEC and Russia-led allies set to resist oil output pressure
The OPEC group of oil producing countries and its Russia-led allies were expected Thursday to again ignore Western pressure to significantly boost production as the Ukraine conflict has rocked prices.
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Turkey seeks to shelve Khashoggi case
A Turkish prosecutor on Thursday asked an Istanbul court to halt the trial of 26 suspects in the murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi and hand the case over to Riyadh.
Read moreUkraine in 'desperately important' rescue bid for besieged city
Kyiv said Thursday it was sending dozens of buses to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol after a Russian ceasefire announcement, as the international Red Cross said it was ready to lead the "desperately important" operation.
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Sweden cuts ex-NBA star Jerebko after CSKA Moscow move
Ex-NBA star Jonas Jerebko has been cut from Sweden's national basketball squad, the federation said Thursday, a day after he joined CSKA Moscow despite international condemnation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
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Exit Expo: Dubai to close shutters on lavish world fair
Dubai will bid farewell to its extravagant Expo 2020 world fair on Thursday, leaving a multi-billion dollar mini-city in the desert and heightened expectations for future hosts.
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Morocco seeks to impose solution in Western Sahara conflict
Boosted by Western support, Morocco is working to impose its own settlement in the long-running Western Sahara conflict, even at the cost of a falling out with its allies, analysts say.
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Salah hints at retirement from Egypt after World Cup disappointment
Mohamed Salah has stirred doubts about his future with the Egyptian national team following their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
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