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S.African left-wing leader Malema jailed for five years on gun charges
A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle into the air at a rally eight years ago.
Pope condemns 'endless cycle' of death in 'bloodstained' Cameroon region
Pope Leo XIV condemned "an endless cycle of destabilisation and death" on a visit Thursday to a "bloodstained" region of Cameroon that has been gripped by an English-speaking separatist conflict for nearly a decade.
WADA targets India's performance-enhancing drugs production
A crackdown on India's performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) production -- the biggest globally -- is key to tackling the doping menace and protect the athletes, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka told AFP on Thursday.
Tokyo stocks hit record high as Iran peace hopes grow
The Tokyo stock market reached a record high Thursday on heightened optimism that the United States and Iran would extend their ceasefire, hold fresh talks on ending their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas traffic.
Outpouring of emotion as Turkey buries school shooting victims
Crowds gathered for the funerals of eight children and a teacher in southern Turkey on Thursday, killed when a 14-year-old opened fire at a school in a crime that has plunged the country in to shock and the community into grief.
Pakistani army chief in Iran to discuss new round of US talks
The influential chief of Pakistan's armed forces visited Iran to meet the head of Tehran's negotiators on Thursday, as Washington considers agreeing to another round of peace talks in Islamabad.
Leading economists call for windfall profit taxes on energy firms
Prominent economists called Thursday for governments to introduce windfall profit taxes on energy companies who are set to reap financial benefits from the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Israel minister says Netanyahu to talk to Lebanon leader Thursday
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, one of his ministers said Thursday, in what would be a historic first.
In Lebanon shelters, women care for tiny babies, face pregnancy
Mariam Zein cradled her 11-week-old son on a mattress on the floor where she and her family have sheltered near Beirut since the Israel-Hezbollah war upended her young family's life.
Pope heads to Cameroon conflict zone with message of peace
Pope Leo XIV was expected to pray for peace on Thursday in Cameroon's troubled northwest region, plagued by a near decade-long separatist insurgency that has killed thousands.
Trump says Israel, Lebanon leaders to hold talks Thursday
US President Donald Trump said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak on Thursday in what would be a historic first, but there was no confirmation from either side.
Russian strikes kill at least 16 across Ukraine
A massive Russian drone and missile barrage killed at least 16 people in cities across Ukraine, more than four years into the war with peace talks stalled, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.
Australian court overturns protest limits after Bondi Beach attack
A law clamping down on protests following an antisemitic mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach was overturned by a court on Thursday, a written ruling showed.
Tokyo record leads stocks higher as Iran peace hopes grow
Japanese stocks hit a record high as most equity markets rose Thursday on heightened optimism the United States and Iran will extend their ceasefire for further talks to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Turkey to hold funerals for school shooting victims
Turkey will hold funerals for nine victims killed in a school shooting by a 14-year-old, an attack that has sent shockwaves across the country, with authorities saying the suspect had referenced a US mass killer in a WhatsApp profile image.
Fresh Russian barrage kills 14 in Ukraine
Russian strikes killed at least 14 people in Ukraine, local authorities said Thursday, after Moscow rained missiles and drones on its neighbour in overnight attacks.
Syria's Kurds register for citizenship after decades of marginalisation
In a packed hall in Qamishli's sports stadium in northeast Syria, Firas Ahmad is one of dozens of Kurds waiting to apply for citizenship after many in the minority were barred from doing so for decades.
Strikes kill three in Ukraine, two in Russia, including children
Overnight strikes killed three people including a boy in Ukraine and two children in Russia, officials from both countries said on Thursday.
Trump turmoil sees Spain's Sanchez emerge as progressive star
Spain's Pedro Sanchez hosts a summit of world progressives this week with greater global clout as turbulent relations with US President Donald Trump bolster his image as a left-wing hero.
Russia rains strikes across Ukraine, killing three
Russia pummelled Ukraine with drone and missile attacks overnight, killing three including a child and triggering air alerts in the capital Kyiv, officials said Thursday.
Trump's triumphal arch gets official name
It's been dubbed the "Arc de Trump." But now President Donald Trump's latest building project has an official name -- the "United States Triumphal Arch."
Australia to boost defence spending citing growing threats
Australia will raise defence spending to 3.0 percent of GDP by 2033 as armed conflicts flare worldwide, the government said Thursday.
Left-winger Sanchez climbs to second place in Peru vote count
Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez climbed to second place in Peru's presidential election on Wednesday, positioning himself as a surprise rival to conservative frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in a June runoff.
YouTube suspends pro-Iran channel posting Lego-style clips mocking Trump
YouTube has terminated a channel belonging to a pro-Iran group producing viral Lego-themed AI videos that ridicule US President Donald Trump, the Google-owned platform said Wednesday, sparking online criticism.
US announces new sanctions against Iran oil sector
The United States announced Wednesday it is tightening sanctions against Iran's oil industry as Tehran keeps up its closure of the Strait of Hormuz as part of the Mideast war.
US optimistic about reaching peace deal with Iran
The United States is discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and is optimistic about reaching a deal, US officials said Wednesday, as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade of its ports.
S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as markets bet on US-Iran accord
Major Wall Street stock indices finished at records Wednesday, extending an upward climb on optimism about an accord in the US-Iran conflict as the White House signaled plans for more talks.
US says optimistic about reaching peace deal with Iran
The United States said on Wednesday it was discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and was optimistic about reaching a deal, as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade on its ports.
IMF and Argentina agree deal unlocking $1 bn in assistance
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with the highly indebted Argentine government as it reviews the country's financial reforms, paving the way for a $1 billion dollar disbursement.
World Bank chief economist warns of hunger risk from war in Iran
The conflict in the Middle East could push millions more towards hunger as its economic fallout reverberates further around the globe, the World Bank's chief economist warned in an AFP interview on Wednesday.
Pope urges Cameroon's leaders to examine 'conscience'
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged Cameroon's leaders to examine their "conscience" and tackle corruption and rights abuses, in a pointed speech on the first day of his visit to the central African country.
'Fantastic feeling': Sudan capital returnees relieved after three years of war
Sudanese pilot Mohamad Daafallah grins as he shakes hands with passengers after their landing at Khartoum Airport, exactly three years after it was bombed to shreds during the outbreak of war in Sudan.