The National Times - News around the clock from Sydney, Australia and around the world

Two crew on the USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world's largest aircraft carrier currently deployed for the war against Iran -- were injured Thursday in a laundry room fire, the US Navy said.

Boubacar Ould Messaoud, a rights activist who fought incessantly to wipe out slavery in his native Mauritania, died on Thursday in the capital Nouakchott aged 80, a representative of his NGO told AFP.

Broken computer monitors in bombed-out offices, scattered fake police uniforms and phoney hundred-dollar bills: these were the vestiges of a frantic escape of suspected cyberscammers fleeing a resort on the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Chile's Smiljan Radic Clarke, whose modern buildings can sometimes appear "deliberately unfinished," is the recipient of this year's Pritzker Prize, considered the Nobel of architecture, organizers announced Thursday.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said on Thursday the destination of the Six Nations title was "out of their hands" as his team chase glory in Ireland.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell has recalled stalwarts Dan Sheehan and Josh van der Flier to the starting XV for the Six Nations Triple Crown decider with Scotland on Saturday.

Chelsea's Pedro Neto is set to be punished by UEFA for pushing a ball boy during his team's 5-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after European football's governing body announced on Thursday it had opened disciplinary proceedings.

Men and women sit on the graves of their loved ones at a Shia Muslim cemetery in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, reciting verses from the Quran.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was snapped up by Sunrisers Leeds -- a Hundred franchise with links to the Indian Premier League -- on Thursday despite fears Pakistani players would be frozen out due to political tensions.

Iran's new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump said stopping the Islamic republic's "evil empire" was more important than crude prices.

Lufthansa said about half its flights were cancelled Thursday as pilots from the German airline kicked off a two-day strike over pensions.

Turkey is talking to both Washington and Tehran in a bid to end the Middle East war, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday as the conflict raged for a 13th day.

Oil prices soared Thursday, briefly trading above $100, and stock markets extended losses as fresh attacks against Gulf energy targets offset the release of crude reserves by major economies.

The escalating Middle East war has raised concerns over the safety of masterpieces on loan from France to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, sparking questions about the security of the famed museum's only foreign branch.

The US military is currently "not ready" to escort tankers through the critical Strait of Hormuz because all its assets are focused on striking Iran, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday.

When an air strike hit their Beirut neighbourhood, people were angry with Israel, but they reserved their deepest rage for Hezbollah, for dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting side for a potentially title-deciding Six Nations clash in Ireland on Saturday.

A Russian court on Thursday handed life sentences to four gunmen from Tajikistan, and 11 others it said were their accomplices, for the 2024 Crocus concert hall attack that left 150 people dead.

World War II leader Winston Churchill is to be dropped from the UK £5 banknote in favour of a nature scene, sparking outrage from some lawmakers who said he should not be replaced by an otter or badger.

The EU executive on Thursday vowed to "respond firmly" to any violation of a key tariff deal by the United States after President Donald Trump's administration announced new trade probes.

Spain endured its wettest January and February in almost half a century, with a string of deadly storms lashing the country, national weather agency AEMET said Thursday.

Graduate Gina Tindale, 22, left university £90,000 ($120,000) in the red, a common experience across the UK where young people saddled with huge debts are calling for a reform of the student loan system.

An Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed eight people on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said, as Israel threatened to expand operations and seize territory if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks.

Oil prices soared Thursday, briefly trading above $100, and stock markets extended losses as Iran's attempts to hit supplies in the Middle East offset the release of crude reserves by major economies.

The surge in energy prices triggered by the Middle East war will slow the struggling German economy's recovery, an economic institute warned Thursday.

German carmaker BMW said Thursday it expected tariff wars to ease in 2026 saw a tentative turnaround in China after posting results dampened by both trade tensions and competition from Chinese rivals.

Federico Valverde's sensational hat-trick against Manchester City helped Real Madrid put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals, but his words after the game may prove more crucial still.

The Middle East war is creating the biggest oil supply shock in history, the International Energy Agency warned Thursday, as Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets that sent prices spiking above $100 a barrel.

Wales coach Steve Tandy urged his players to "go up another level" after naming an unchanged team for their Six Nations finale against Italy as they seek to end a painful losing streak.

The Middle East war has caused the biggest oil supply shock in history, the International Energy Agency warned Thursday, as Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets that sent prices spiking above $100 a barrel.

France coach Fabien Galthie has opted for a sturdier second row against England in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, bringing in Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.

A passenger train from China arrived in the North Korean capital on Thursday, state media said, after a six-year hiatus since the service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Danish chef Rene Redzepi, co-founder of the world renowned Noma restaurant, said on Thursday he was quitting following allegations of abuse of staff.

China's leaders wrapped up nine days of annual legislative meetings in Beijing on Thursday, projecting an image of domestic stability seemingly unaffected by the war in key trading partner Iran.

An Israeli strike on central Beirut's seafront killed eight people early on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said, another attack in the heart of the capital, as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel.

Wales coach Steve Tandy has urged his players to "go up another level" after naming an unchanged starting side for their Six Nations finale against Italy as they seek to end a painful losing streak.

Tens of thousands have fled the Gulf to escape the Middle East war, but Bangladeshi migrant workers say they have little choice but to return to earn a living.

Russia on Thursday sentenced 15 men -- including four gunmen -- to life in prison over the Crocus concert hall attack which left 150 people dead, the deadliest onslaught in Russia in more than two decades.

Reeling from their six-goal mauling at the hands of Champions League heavyweights Bayern Munich, Atalanta take the short trip to Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Saturday trying to boost their waning top-four hopes.