Last news
Medicine shortages and Russian army searches: life in occupied Kherson
Tanks in the streets, a severe medicine shortage and Russian soldiers searching homes -- residents in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson told AFP about life under Russian occupation.
Biden orders unprecedented use of oil stockpile to combat US fuel prices
President Joe Biden will announce Thursday a record release from US strategic oil reserves in an attempt to curb a politically damaging surge in domestic fuel prices following Russia's attack on Ukraine, the White House said.
Ramadan prayers return to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque after 88 years
"Tarawih" prayers which Muslims perform every night during the holy month of Ramadan, are returning to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque for the first time in 88 years, the country's top religious body announced on Thursday.
Blue Origin launches its fourth crew to final frontier
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin successfully carried out its fourth crewed spaceflight Thursday, a ten-minute joyride beyond the planet's atmosphere and back again.
Far-right Le Pen closes in on French presidential favourite Macron
Steering clear of scandals and of debates about Ukraine, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen is gaining ground ahead of a presidential election and increasingly confident she has a fighting chance of defeating incumbent Emmanuel Macron.
UN urges donors to avert 'death spiral' for Afghans
Afghanistan's economy risks falling into a "death spiral" without urgent aid, with some Afghans already forced to sell their children and body parts to survive, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday.
Biden orders unprecedented use of US oil stockpiles to combat fuel prices
President Joe Biden will announce Thursday the release of a record million barrels of oil a day, for about 180 days, from US strategic stockpiles in an attempt to dampen soaring fuel prices in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine, the White House said.
Oil prices sink as US mulls tapping reserves; equities fall
Oil prices tumbled on Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war.
Biden set to order record release of US oil reserves: reports
President Joe Biden was expected Thursday to announce the release of a record million barrels of oil a day from US strategic stockpiles in a dramatic attempt to cushion the political fallout from soaring crude prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ton-up McDermott propels Australia to 348-8 in second ODI
Ben McDermott smashed a maiden century Tuesday to guide Australia to a massive 348-8 in the second day-night international against Pakistan in Lahore.
Premier League to introduce five subs from next season
Premier League clubs will be able to make five substitutions from the 2022/23 season after they belatedly agreed to the rule change on Thursday.
Nine foreign judges to stay on Hong Kong's top court
Nine foreign judges from Britain, Australia and Canada confirmed Thursday they will stay on Hong Kong's top court after two senior British justices resigned to avoid endorsing China's crackdown on political freedoms in the financial hub.
FIFA faces new attack over rights in World Cup host Qatar
Lingering divisions over FIFA's decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar overshadowed the annual congress of football's world governing body on Thursday, forcing its president Gianni Infantino to insist that the event had already brought change to the Arab state.
Biden weighs record release of US oil reserves: reports
President Joe Biden plans to announce a potentially record release of oil from US strategic stockpiles to counter elevated gasoline prices in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US media reported Thursday.
Vettel cleared to race in Australian GP after Covid absence
Sebastian Vettel has been declared fit to take part in next week's Australian Grand Prix after he missed the opening two races of the season following a bout of coronavirus.
Hamilton 'struggling mentally' after tough start to F1 season
Lewis Hamilton has revealed he is "struggling mentally and emotionally" after a tough start to the Formula One season.
Bangladesh hit back after South Africa start well
Bangladesh hit back with three wickets during the first afternoon of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Americans pulled back on spending in February as inflation bit
US consumers spent less and saved more in February amid rising prices for a range of goods, even as their incomes continued to increase, government data showed Thursday.
OPEC+ sticks to modest oil output increase despite Western pressure
The OPEC group of oil producing countries and its Russia-led allies agreed on another modest oil output increase on Thursday, ignoring Western pressure to significantly boost production as the Ukraine conflict has rocked prices.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ukraine 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The siege of Mariupol
Civilians trapped in dire conditions in Mariupol, a strategically important city in southeastern Ukraine besieged by Russian forces for the past month, were waiting Thursday for buses sent to rescue them after Moscow announced a local ceasefire.
FIFA heads for record seven billion dollar revenues
FIFA is on target to reap record revenues of seven billion dollars on the back of this year's Qatar World Cup, president Gianni Infantino said Thursday as experts predicted a long-term financial boom for football.
Oil prices sink as US mulls tapping reserves; equities struggle
Oil prices tumbled Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war.