Kano / AFP Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abubakar Shekau broke his silence on Thursday to insist he was “still around” following reports IS had replaced him, but his message fuelled talk of a split within the extremist group. For months, speculation has been rife over the fate of Shekau, who has led the Nigeria-based rebel group since 2009 but …

  Herat / AFP Taliban militants attacked a group of 12 American and European tourists escorted by an Afghan army convoy in western Herat province on Thursday, leaving at least seven people wounded as the insurgents step up nationwide attacks. The tourists — eight British, three Americans and one German national — were ambushed by Taliban gunmen in the restive …

  Paris / AFP France’s top diplomat has told his Egyptian counterpart that the French families who lost loved ones in the May 19 EgyptAir crash are impatient for answers, the foreign ministry said Thursday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, “reminded” his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Choukri “of the difficult situation of the families waiting …