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Iran 'boycotting' USA but not World Cup: football federation chief
Iran will "boycott the United States" but "not the World Cup", Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars.
Iran causes 'extensive' damage to Qatar gas hub, sparks Trump warning
Qatar reported "extensive" damage on Thursday to the site of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility following Iranian strikes, sparking fears for global energy supplies and fresh threats from Donald Trump against Iran.
Thailand's Anutin: Millionaire PM with a populist approach
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is the scion of a construction dynasty and a hobbyist jet pilot, but championed Thailand's decriminalisation of cannabis and styles himself as a man of the people.
Thailand's new parliament elects Anutin as PM
Thailand's new parliament on Thursday elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, according to an AFP tally of the vote, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals.
In Seoul square of protest and history, BTS fans welcome grand comeback
Through months of winter protests in support of South Korean democracy, professor Lee Ji-young clutched her K-pop glowstick -- a small but telling sign of her love for K-pop megastars BTS.
Hong Kong panel hears safety measures failed on day of deadly fire
Almost all life-saving fire safety measures failed on the day a devastating blaze tore through a Hong Kong housing complex last year, killing 168 people, a public hearing was told on Thursday.
Trump threatens to destroy Iran's largest gas field
US President Donald Trump threatened to "massively blow up" a vast Iranian gas field unless Tehran stops striking Qatari energy facilities, which sustained extensive damage Thursday.
Ahead of election, Danish city mirrors country's challenges
In the Danish city of Kolding, voters are worried about rising prices, the welfare state and immigration ahead of the country's general election, reflecting nationwide concerns reinforced by worries about Greenland and global uncertainty.
Iran missile fire kills 3 Palestinians in West Bank, foreign worker in Israel
Iranian missile attacks have killed three Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank and a foreign worker in central Israel, medics said Thursday.
Pacific nations fear fuel shortages as Middle East war sends oil prices soaring
Leaders of Samoa and Tonga appealed for help this week as the import-reliant Pacific nations raised fears over possible fuel shortages and escalating costs caused by war in the Middle East.
Crude prices surge, stocks sink as Iran warns of regional energy strikes
Oil surged more than five percent Thursday and stocks sank as Iran carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy facilities and warned of more following a strike on one of its key gas fields, while warnings of higher US inflation also soured the mood.
'No oil, no money': Orban brings Ukraine standoff to Brussels
EU leaders converge on Brussels Thursday hoping to unlock a massive loan for Kyiv, with the much-needed funding ensnared in a standoff between Hungary's Viktor Orban and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
Venezuelan leader sacks defense minister, a Maduro stalwart
Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced the sacking Wednesday of defense minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who headed the military for almost a decade under ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.
Thailand's new parliament set to elect Anutin as PM
Thailand's new parliament is set to elect Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister Thursday, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals with a nationalist campaign.
Costa Rica cuts ties with Cuba, closes embassy in Havana
Costa Rica on Wednesday cut diplomatic ties with Cuba and President Rodrigo Chaves declared that the "hemisphere must be cleansed of communists."
Costa Rica closes Havana embassy, tells Cuba to withdraw diplomats
Costa Rica on Wednesday closed its embassy in Havana and told Cuba's communist authorities to pull their diplomats from Costa Rica.
First international aid convoy arrives in crisis-hit Cuba
The first shipment of international aid for crisis-hit Cuba has arrived in the country in the shape of five tons of medical supplies, official sources said Wednesday.
Oscar-winner Sean Penn meets troops in frontline Ukraine
US actor Sean Penn met frontline troops in Ukraine, pictures showed Wednesday, the latest appearance in a surprise tour of the war-torn country after skipping the Oscar awards ceremony on Sunday.
Thousands rally in Istanbul to mark year since mayor's arrest
Thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul City Hall Wednesday to mark one year since the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu in a graft probe widely seen as a politically motivated act against the key opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
From Faraja to Sepah: Iran's multiple security forces
Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has taken steps to ensure it is not reliant on a single security force but rather multiple structures to defend the Islamic republic against external and internal threats.
Iran condemned as UN maritime body holds emergency talks on Mideast shipping
Gulf states and Western nations strongly criticised Iran at an emergency meeting Wednesday of the UN's maritime body, convened amid growing fears for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers.
Iraqi Kurdish shepherds stoic in face of yet another war
Through one conflict after another, herders in Iraqi Kurdistan have grazed their animals under the endless blue skies of the Zagros Mountains -- a lifestyle they are stoically trying to maintain as yet another war engulfs the region.
'Free France': Macron reveals name of Europe's largest warship
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be called "France Libre" (Free France), as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power.
Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment, US intelligence finds
US intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year by the United States and Israel, contradicting a key justification by President Donald Trump for his ongoing war.
Trump administration takes steps to curb energy cost hikes
US President Donald Trump's administration scrambled Wednesday to rein in surging energy costs from war in the Middle East, temporarily waiving a century-old shipping law and easing Venezuela sanctions.
Pakistan announces Eid 'pause' in conflict with Afghanistan
Pakistan announced on Wednesday a "temporary pause" in hostilities with Afghanistan to mark the end of Ramadan, after Kabul promised to avenge the deaths of hundreds killed in a strike on a Kabul drug treatment centre.
Maiduguri bombings follow surge of jihadist violence in Nigeria
Nigeria's defence chiefs visited Maiduguri Wednesday after one of the deadliest attacks in the Borno state capital in years, in a show of defiance.
Stocks fall, oil surges as US inflation jumps and Israel strikes gas facilities
Stocks markets fell and oil prices surged Wednesday after a closely watched US inflation gauge came in hotter than expected and Iran said that Israel struck one of its gas facilities.
South Lebanon residents flee death and destruction
The line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see along the coast of southern Lebanon, as residents of areas bombarded in the Israel-Hezbollah war poured into the ancient city of Sidon in search of safety.
Under Hezbollah fire, people in north Israel hope for better days
Israeli dairy and fruit farmer Tommy Kurlender refused to abandon his herd during the last war with Hezbollah, and vowed he would again stay put this time around.
Iran women's football team cross Turkish border to head home: AFP
The Iranian women's national football team crossed the Turkish border into Iran on Wednesday, among them several players who withdrew an asylum bid in Australia.
Fear in central Beirut as Israel strikes, with and without warning
Sara Saleh and her family fled wearing their pyjamas on Wednesday when Israel's military said it would strike a central Beirut building near the school-turned-shelter where they had been staying.