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Polish president vetoes 40-bn-euro EU defence funding plan
Poland's ferocious dispute over EU defence loans reached a fever pitch on Thursday as nationalist president Karol Nawrocki vetoed a multi-billion-euro plan that parliament had already approved.
Israel renews Beirut strikes as Netanyahu vows hard line on Hezbollah
Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that if the Lebanese government did not disarm Hezbollah, Israel would do the job "on the ground".
Oil surges, stocks retreat on fears of prolonged Iran war
Oil prices jumped Thursday with Brent crude settling above $100 a barrel for the first time since August 2022, as Iran vowed to make the United States regret launching its war against the country.
Israel renews Beirut strikes after threatening to expand Lebanon operations
Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, as it threatened to seize territory in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks.
The Chinese cable that could trip up Chile's new leader
Chile's new president Jose Antonio Kast faces a tough choice in his first weeks in office.
Iran vows unrelenting war as oil prices soar
Iran vowed Thursday to make the United States regret launching its war against the Islamic republic, and said it would keep up its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz as oil prices soared.
World in 'new dark age' of abuse: UN rights expert
The world has entered a "new dark age of abuses", with the United States "raining death" on Iran and Venezuela, a UN special rapporteur said Thursday.
In Iran, shut shops, joblessness and a dash for cash
AFP reporters have been speaking to a range of people living in Iran to build a picture of life under daily US and Israeli bombardment despite an internet blackout and major communication problems.
Israel strikes Beirut after threatening to expand Lebanon operations
Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, as it threatened to expand operations and seize territory in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks.
New Iranian leader vows revenge, keeps oil shipping route shut
Iran's new supreme leader ordered his forces to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane shut on Thursday, as Tehran launched more devastating attacks on Gulf energy targets that sent global oil prices soaring.
Poland reels from row over EU loans to fend off Russia
A spat over huge EU defence loans has erupted into trench warfare between Poland's pro-European government and nationalist president.
Laundry fire on giant US aircraft carrier injures two: US military
Two crew on the USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world's largest aircraft carrier currently deployed for the war against Iran -- were injured Thursday in a laundry room fire, the US Navy said.
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.