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Mauritanian anti-slavery stalwart Boubacar Ould Messaoud dead
Boubacar Ould Messaoud, a rights activist who fought incessantly to wipe out slavery in his native Mauritania, died on Thursday in the capital Nouakchott aged 80, a representative of his NGO told AFP.
Behind Cambodian border casino, Thai military shows off a scam hub
Broken computer monitors in bombed-out offices, scattered fake police uniforms and phoney hundred-dollar bills: these were the vestiges of a frantic escape of suspected cyberscammers fleeing a resort on the Cambodia-Thailand border.
IPL-linked Sunrisers sign Pakistan's Ahmed for Hundred
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was snapped up by Sunrisers Leeds -- a Hundred franchise with links to the Indian Premier League -- on Thursday despite fears Pakistani players would be frozen out due to political tensions.
New Iranian supreme leader calls for defiance, keeps key waterway shut
Iran's new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump said stopping the Islamic republic's "evil empire" was more important than crude prices.
Turkey talking to US, Iran in bid to end war: minister
Turkey is talking to both Washington and Tehran in a bid to end the Middle East war, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday as the conflict raged for a 13th day.
'One war too many': Lebanese angry with Hezbollah for attacking Israel
When an air strike hit their Beirut neighbourhood, people were angry with Israel, but they reserved their deepest rage for Hezbollah, for dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war.
Russia jails 15 for life over IS-claimed 2024 concert hall attack
A Russian court on Thursday handed life sentences to four gunmen from Tajikistan, and 11 others it said were their accomplices, for the 2024 Crocus concert hall attack that left 150 people dead.
Strike on Beirut seafront kills 8 as Israel threatens to 'take territory'
An Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed eight people on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said, as Israel threatened to expand operations and seize territory if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks.
War creating 'largest' oil shock in history as Iran hits new Gulf targets
The Middle East war is creating the biggest oil supply shock in history, the International Energy Agency warned Thursday, as Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets that sent prices spiking above $100 a barrel.
Mideast oil shock 'largest' in history as Iran hits new Gulf targets
The Middle East war has caused the biggest oil supply shock in history, the International Energy Agency warned Thursday, as Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets that sent prices spiking above $100 a barrel.
China's leaders project stability despite Middle East war
China's leaders wrapped up nine days of annual legislative meetings in Beijing on Thursday, projecting an image of domestic stability seemingly unaffected by the war in key trading partner Iran.
Lebanon says Israeli strike on Beirut seafront kills 8
An Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed eight people early on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said, another attack in the heart of the capital, as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.
Mideast war lands India restaurants in soup
Indian restaurant MadCo took the tough call this week to remove some menu favourites, including bone marrow -- a beef bone cut in half and slowly roasted, in an attempt to save cooking gas as the Iran war disrupts supply chains.
Bangladesh parliament reconvenes after uprising and polls
Bangladesh's parliament convened Thursday for the first time since a deadly 2024 uprising plunged the country into political turmoil and following elections last month.
Checkpoints, air strikes and hope: a Tehran resident tells her story
Torn between hope and fear, a Tehran resident in her 30s agrees to share her thoughts with AFP about the ongoing war and daily life.
Ukraine's tech evangelist defence chief preaching the 'future of war'
Ukraine's newly installed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov waltzed on stage like a stand-up comedian to take the mic in front of journalists in Kyiv as a sleek slideshow zoomed across a map of the country.
Iran targets fuel facilities, sending oil soaring again
Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets on Thursday, hours after two oil tankers were hit, sending crude prices soaring again despite record reserve releases.
Lebanon says 7 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
Lebanon said an Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed at least seven people early on Thursday, another attack in the heart of the capital as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.
Three crew 'believed trapped' aboard Thai ship attacked in Gulf: firm
Three crew members were "believed to be trapped" aboard a Thai bulk carrier that was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while travelling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the vessel's owner said.
Oil tops $100 as Iran attacks offset IEA stockpile release
Oil prices soared back above $100 Thursday as Iran's fresh attempts to hit supplies in the Middle East and threats to bring down the global economy overshadowed a record release of strategic crude by the International Energy Agency.
War forces lengthy detours for Iranian truck drivers to Iraq
Rubbing his hands together to warm them, Iranian truck driver Reza curses the more than 300-kilometre detour he was forced to make to enter Iraq after the war closed most of the usually busy border crossings.
Oil prices surge as supply fears offset IEA's record stockpile release
Oil prices soared Thursday and stocks sank as Iran struck two tankers in Iraq and threatened to bring down the global economy, overshadowing a record release of strategic crude by the International Energy Agency.
Russia to sentence gunmen of 2024 Moscow concert hall attack
A Russian court will on Thursday sentence the gunmen of a Moscow concert hall attack that killed 150 people two years ago -- the country's deadliest in 20 years -- with 15 men facing possible life terms.
Fear, boredom for Philippine sailors stuck in Hormuz strait
Filipino sailor George Miranda was racing to help a stricken vessel aboard the tugboat Mussafah 2 when he last spoke to his wife and young daughter.
Scary times for Haitians in US living in shadows of ICE
Life has not always been easy for Maryse Balthazar since she relocated to the United States from Haiti, but she felt peace of mind before Donald Trump returned to office.
With Middle East in flames, Texan bunker maker sees business boom
Since the war in the Middle East began nearly two weeks ago, the phone at Ron Hubbard's bomb shelter company in Texas hasn't stopped ringing.
Iran threatens prolonged war as Trump says it is near defeat
Iran warned it could wage a prolonged war with the United States and Israel that would "destroy" the world economy, even as US President Donald Trump said late Wednesday the Islamic republic was facing imminent defeat.
North Korea unveils image of leader's daughter firing pistol
North Korea released an image on Thursday of leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter firing a pistol, weeks after photos showed her shooting a rifle — once again stoking speculation she is being groomed as heir.
Global Anti-Scam Alliance Launches Scam.org with OpenAI and Key Partners
AI technology meets on-the-ground expertise from leading organizations across five continents, accessible to billions of consumers in 50+ languages covering 97% of global internet users.
US takes first steps towards new global trade penalties
The United States announced new investigations Wednesday into what it considers unfair trade practices by dozens of countries, opening the door to penalties such as further tariffs as President Donald Trump seeks to replace duties struck down by the Supreme Court.
Iran says war could destroy global economy, Trump vows to 'finish' job
Iran warned it could wage a prolonged war with the United States and Israel that would "destroy" the world economy, even as US President Donald Trump vowed Thursday to "finish the job", saying there was little left for American forces to strike.
UN Security Council demands Iran halt attacks on Gulf states
The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for Iran to halt its attacks on Gulf states, in a resolution that did not mention US or Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran's ambassador to decry a "blatant misuse" of the international body.