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Biden says unprecedented use of oil stockpile will ease US fuel costs 'pain'

President Joe Biden announced Thursday a record release from US strategic oil reserves to "ease the pain" of soaring domestic fuel prices, saying the "wartime" measure will defuse Russia's leverage as an energy power.

Pakistan PM hits out at US as no-confidence debate postponed

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday accused the United States of meddling in Pakistan's politics -- a claim quickly denied by Washington -- as a debate on a no-confidence motion against him in parliament was postponed.

Ukraine could lose half its harvest due to war: minister

Bombed out wheat fields, farmers gone to the front, supplies chains ruined.

'Russian soldiers go home!' says defiant Kharkiv commander

"Russian soldiers, go home, while you're still alive!" The commander-in-chief of the 92nd Brigade of the Ukrainian army and defender of Kharkiv is defiant despite five weeks of war.

Taliban hoist giant flag in Afghan capital, eight months after return

The Taliban raised a giant white flag of their movement on a hill overlooking the Afghan capital Thursday in a ceremony held nearly eight months after they returned to power.

In UK ports, outrage at sacked P&O Ferries workers

Claire Cooper stood with about 30 others at Liverpool docks, braving an icy wind to protest about P&O Ferries sudden sacking of a quarter of its workforce.

Longer conflict could be in store as Russia eyes Donbas: US official

Russia's refocusing of its military efforts on the Donbas could herald a "longer, more prolonged conflict" as Ukrainian forces put up fierce resistance in the eastern region, a senior US defense official said Thursday.

UN starts task force for company climate targets

The United Nations launched a task force Thursday to pressure businesses to keep their emissions-cutting promises instead of masking progress with feel-good "greenwashing".

Macron attacks Le Pen as lead slips in French polls

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday launched a bitter attack against far-right leader Marine Le Pen after warning supporters to take nothing for granted in an increasingly tight French election.

Moscow gas threat as NATO warns Russians 'regrouping' in Ukraine

Russia threatened Thursday to turn off its gas taps to Europe if the continent fails to pay in rubles, opening up a new front amid its war in Ukraine, where NATO and Kyiv warned that Russian troops were regrouping for new attacks.

Greenpeace blocks Russian oil delivery off Denmark

A dozen Greenpeace activists in kayaks and swimming in the water blocked the transfer of Russian oil between two tankers off Denmark's coast on Thursday, the environmental organisation said.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Five weeks of war in Ukraine: from invasion to 'meaningful' talks

Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours of February 24, setting off the worst conflict in Europe in decades.

Australian TV anchor has closed China trial on state secrets charges

The sentencing of Australian journalist Cheng Lei by a Chinese court over accusations of supplying state secrets overseas was deferred on Thursday, with Canberra decrying the trial of a woman detained for 18 months so far as "closed and opaque".

Feijoo: steady hand on the tiller for Spain opposition

Known as a pragmatic moderate with a knack for pouring oil on troubled waters, Alberto Nunez Feijoo promises to be a steady hand on the tiller for Spain's storm-tossed Popular Party (PP).

Strained Moldova keeps doors open for Ukraine refugees

Retired teacher Vera Vranceanu is one of thousands of Moldovans who have taken those fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine into their own homes, but the strain is starting to show in one of Europe's poorest countries.

Three dead as West Bank violence escalates

Israeli security forces on Thursday raided a West Bank town after three deadly attacks rocked the Jewish state in a week, with two Palestinians shot dead and a third killed after he launched a knife attack on a bus.

Japan rules out withdrawal from joint Russia gas project

Japan has no plans to withdraw from a joint Russian oil and gas project, despite joining tough sanctions on Moscow over its Ukraine invasion, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.

Cuba sentences protester to 5 years for 'enemy propaganda'

A Cuban man who staged a rare protest over the detention of a dissident rapper has been slapped with a five-year prison term for disobedience and "enemy propaganda," according to a sentencing document seen by AFP on Wednesday night.

Central Asian migrants eye Russia exit amid economic pain

Weeks after returning from Russia amid sanctions triggered by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Emomali Safarov has swapped construction tools for a video camera and his old low-paid journalism job in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe.

Ukraine sends evacuation buses to besieged city

Ukraine said Thursday it was sending dozens of buses to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol after a Russian ceasefire announcement, but dismissed Kremlin promises to scale back attacks on the capital saying forces were simply regrouping to target the east.

H&M sees boosted sales but Russian closures start to weigh

Swedish clothing giant H&M said Thursday its revenue increased in the first quarter, but its closure of Russian stores has started to impact growth.

China, Solomon Islands agree controversial security pact

The Solomon Islands on Thursday said it had inked a wide-ranging security pact with Beijing, an agreement Western allies fear will pave the way for the first Chinese military foothold in the South Pacific.

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