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Biden welcomes Southeast Asian leaders with energy, maritime pledges
President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington with promises to support clean energy and maritime security, hoping to showcase a US commitment as China makes wide inroads.
Without Hariri, Lebanon's Sunnis leaderless ahead of vote
Lebanon's Sunni Muslim community is gearing up for Sunday's parliamentary polls without strong leadership for the first time in decades after former premier Saad Hariri stepped down from political life.
Women don't like Brazil's Bolsonaro. Cue the first lady
President Jair Bolsonaro has a problem heading into Brazil's October elections: he is unpopular with a demographic that makes up more than half the electorate -- women.
Biden welcomes Southeast Asian leaders with energy, security pledges
President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington, promising support for clean energy and maritime security in the face of a rising China.
Thousands of Argentines protest soaring inflation
Thousands of Argentines brought central Buenos Aires to a standstill on Thursday in another massive protest against the South American country's soaring inflation.
Powell wins second term as Fed chief as inflation battle rages
The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Jerome Powell to a second term as head of the Federal Reserve, as the central bank ramps up its fight to crush soaring inflation.
One killed, 12 injured in Karachi bombing: police
One person was killed and 12 injured in a bomb blast late Thursday in Karachi, police said, just two weeks after a suicide attack by a Pakistan separatist group killed four in the same city.
Mexican teenager's death becomes media, justice 'spectacle'
The still-unsolved death of teenager Debanhi Escobar has brought into sharp focus not just the dangers facing women in Mexico but also the questionable judicial and media handling of the high-profile case.
Amnesty condemns 'misguided' remarks from Norman over Saudi Arabia
Amnesty International on Thursday criticised former world number one golfer Greg Norman over "wrong and seriously misguided" remarks about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Qatar, EU say pushing stalled Iran nuclear talks
Qatar's emir and the European Union on Thursday said they are working to push forward stalled negotiations aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers.
UK govt accused of 'cover-up' over Russian-born press baron
The UK government was accused Thursday of a "cover-up" after refusing to release security advice issued about the controversial 2020 appointment of a Russian-born newspaper baron to parliament.
Biden administration cancels 3 offshore oil lease sales
The Biden administration has scotched plans to hold three offshore oil and gas lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, a government spokeswoman said Thursday.
French far-right newcomer Zemmour to seek parliamentary seat
French far-right TV pundit-turned-politician Eric Zemmour said Thursday he would seek a seat in parliament standing in the glitzy constituency around Saint-Tropez, three weeks after failing with a presidential bid.
Getting used to war, Ukraine refugees flood back to Kyiv
Teenager Maria Pshenychna embraces her father, Yuriy, as she descends from a train from Poland at a Kyiv station, returning home after fleeing the Russian invasion two months ago.
Qatar emir blames Israel for Al Jazeera journalist death
The emir of Qatar on Thursday accused Israel over the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.
Russia using energy 'as weapon', says Berlin
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck accused Russia on Thursday of using energy as "a weapon", after Moscow slapped sanctions on Western energy firms and slowed gas flows to Europe.
Top Turkey court upholds jail for opposition figure
Turkey's supreme court of appeals on Thursday upheld a prison sentence for the head of the Istanbul branch of the country's main opposition party, a party official told AFP, in a move seen as another crackdown on opponents ahead of next year's presidential election.
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka appoints new PM to replace president's brother
Sri Lanka's president swore in a new prime minister Thursday to replace his brother, who was banned from leaving the country after his supporters launched violent attacks on a protest against the nation's dire economic crisis.
UK will act unless N.Ireland Brexit deal is changed: FM Truss
The UK will have "no choice but to act" unless the European Union agrees to change post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday.
Finland poised for NATO membership as Ukraine war crimps Russian gas
Finland on Thursday took a step towards fast-track membership of NATO, triggering a warning from the Kremlin, as the war in Ukraine throttled supplies of Russian gas to Europe.
As Finland and Sweden eye NATO, alliance sees mutual gains
With Moscow's invasion of Ukraine pushing Finland and Sweden to join NATO, the trans-Atlantic alliance could soon welcome valuable partners for deterring any future Russian aggression.
'We don't matter': Fuming at Kyiv under Russian bombs
The pudgy Ukrainian policeman taking pasta and bread to villagers trapped under bombs on the eastern front sometimes feels like he is entering enemy territory.
Russian ex-mercenary says Kremlin should stay off foreign soil
For almost half a decade former Russian soldier Marat Gabidullin was a fighter with the controversial mercenary outfit Wagner, deployed in the east of Ukraine and then in Syria, where he was badly wounded.
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka set for new PM, unity government
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was set Thursday to name a new prime minister, hoping to assemble a unity government after weeks of anti-government protests triggered by a dire economic crisis turned violent.
Iraq strikes deal with Iran to secure summer gas imports
Iraq has agreed to pay $1.6 billion in debt to Iran by June 1 to secure a steady gas supply for power generation through the summer, its electricity minister said.
Covid-19 in North Korea: Five things to know
North Korea announced its first official cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, saying the highly transmissible Omicron variant had been detected and a national emergency declared.
Russians fleeing Putin face lukewarm welcome in France
Artyom Kotenko's world collapsed when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Finnish president, PM in favour of joining NATO 'without delay'
Finland's president and prime minister said on Thursday they were in favour of joining NATO and a formal decision would be taken this weekend, after Russia's war in Ukraine sparked a swift u-turn in opinion.
Palestinians honour slain journalist, reject joint probe
Palestinians planned a memorial service Thursday for journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed while covering an Israeli raid in the West Bank, but have rejected US-led calls for a joint investigation into her death.
China defends Hong Kong cardinal's arrest as Western alarm grows
China on Thursday defended the arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal under Hong Kong's national security law, a move that triggered international outrage and deepened concerns over Beijing's crackdown on freedoms in the financial hub.
US, China congratulate Marcos for Philippine election win
The United States and China have congratulated Ferdinand Marcos Jr on his win in the Philippine presidential election, as the superpowers jostle to have the strongest ties with the Southeast Asian nation.
Sri Lanka president set to name new PM
Beleaguered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was set to name a new prime minister Thursday to try to steer Sri Lanka out of its dire economic crisis after days of violence, officials said.
Cardinal's arrest deepens alarm over Hong Kong crackdown
The arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal under Hong Kong's national security law has triggered international outrage and deepened concerns over China's crackdown on freedoms in the financial hub.
Ukraine to hold first war crimes trial over Russian invasion
Ukraine will launch its first war crimes trial over Moscow's ongoing invasion, bringing a 21-year-old Russian soldier to the stand, Kyiv's top prosecutor announced Wednesday.
Finnish political leaders to unveil NATO stance
Finland's president and prime minister will announce Thursday their highly awaited positions on whether to join NATO, the first step toward a formal decision after Russia's war in Ukraine triggered a swift turnaround in opinion.
Russia 'most direct threat to world order': EU's von der Leyen
Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order because of its invasion of Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday in Tokyo.
Besieged Ukrainian commander asks Elon Musk for help
A Ukrainian commander in Mariupol appealed directly to Elon Musk on Wednesday, asking the world's richest man to intervene on behalf of those trapped by Russian forces in control of the southern city.
Colombia's Gulf Clan sows terror ahead of presidential vote
With dozens of villages under siege and as many as two dozen people killed in a week, Colombia's largest drug cartel is sowing terror among civilians, flexing its muscle with days to go to presidential elections.
New Cuban penal code 'turning the screw' on dissent, critics say
Ten months after unprecedented anti-government protests rocked Cuba, the government is pushing through a penal reform opponents say is designed to pre-emptively quell any future displays of growing public discontent.