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US lawmakers take break as catastrophic default looms
US lawmakers were set to embark on a 10-day break Thursday, despite failing to agree on raising the nation's borrowing limit to avert a looming default that could blow up the economy while they are away.
Beirut's restored Sursock Museum set to reopen after port blast
Lebanon's gracious Sursock Museum is set to reopen on Friday, more than two years after a catastrophic explosion at Beirut port devastated the architectural gem and its modern and contemporary art collection.
France charges five military personnel over 2021 Channel migrant boat tragedy
French prosecutors Thursday charged five military personnel over failing to come to the resue of dozens of people aboard a stricken migrant boat crossing the Channel to Britain in 2021, a judicial source said.
Man arrested after car crashes into Downing Street gates: police
Armed police arrested one man after a car crashed into the gates of the UK prime minister's Downing Street office and residence in central London on Thursday, Scotland Yard said.
Police end search at Portugal dam in Madeleine McCann case
Police scouring a reservoir in southern Portugal hoping to shed light on the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann said Thursday they had finished their three-day search.
Protecting India's tigers also good for climate: study
India's efforts to protect its endangered tigers have inadvertently helped avoid a large amount of climate change-causing carbon emissions by preventing deforestation, a study said on Thursday.
France star Cascarino to miss Women's World Cup with injury
France star Delphine Cascarino will miss the upcoming Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after her club Lyon announced on Thursday that she would be out of action "for several months" with a knee injury.
Two police, one woman killed in Japan gun and knife attack
A woman and two male police officers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack at a farm in central Japan on Thursday, police said.
Macron pays tribute to slain AFP reporter Arman Soldin
France's President Emmanuel Macron Thursday hailed the "bravery" of slain AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in a condolence letter to his colleagues after his death earlier this month in war-torn Ukraine.
Animal rights activists 'rescue' lambs from farm on royal estate
Animal rights campaigners said on Thursday they had "rescued" three lambs from slaughter on a farm on King Charles III's Sandringham estate in eastern England.
Championship leader Verstappen plays down importance of Monaco win
Max Verstappen shrugged off the prestige of the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday and said he lamented engine suppliers Honda’s decision to switch from his Red Bull team to Aston Martin in 2026.
Birthday boy Thomas resists Roglic assault to stay in Giro pink
Filippo Zana edged Thibaut Pinot to take the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday while Primoz Roglic went on the attack and shook off all his main rivals except race leader Geraint Thomas, who was celebrating his 37th birthday.
Star conductor Dudamel resigns from Paris Opera
Venezuela's acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel on Thursday said he was stepping down from his role as musical director of the Paris Opera.
Three killed, including two police, in Japan gun and knife attack
A woman and two male police officers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack at a farm in central Japan on Thursday, media reported.
Ivory Coast imposes fishing bans in bid to conserve stocks
West African fish exporter Ivory Coast on Thursday announced temporary bans on trawling for tuna and other species in a bid to protect dwindling stocks.
Wu, Zhang and Shang end China's 86-year French Open wait
Twelve months ago, a despondent Wu Yibing was retiring with injury from a low-level clay court tournament in Italy, earning a meagre 530 euros ($570) for his troubles.
Erasmus backs Springboks talisman Kolisi to be fit for World Cup
Siya Kolisi is on track to captain the Springboks in their defence of the Rugby World Cup, said Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's director of rugby, on Thursday.
US lawmakers head home as catastrophic default looms
US lawmakers were set to embark on a 10-day break Thursday, despite failing to agree on raising the nation's borrowing limit to avert a looming default that could come while they are away.
Romanian teachers strike for better pay, working conditions
Thousands of Romanian teachers took to the streets on Thursday to demand higher pay and better working conditions, as the first such strike in 18 years forced the closure of most schools.
Dark, lustful and complex: It's a woman's world at Cannes
From a sex offender to far-from-perfect mothers and girls unabashedly exploring their sexuality, this year's Cannes Film Festival has thrown out the stereotype of the one-dimensional female character.
Meandering along the river Seine: France's roving plastic rubbish
The scrap of red plastic in among the waterside reeds in northern France could be any fragment of the throwaway consumerism piling up across the planet, flowing into rivers, choking animals, even seeping into our bloodstreams.
French Olympic movement must 'focus' on Paris Games: IOC
The French Olympic movement must "focus" on the preparations for the 2024 Games in Paris, an IOC spokesperson told AFP on Thursday hours after Brigitte Henriques' surprise resignation as National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) president.
Markets struggle but tech shares soar over AI
Global stock markets struggled Thursday as the US debt standoff dragged on and Germany entered recession, but tech shares surged after US chip firm Nvidia reported bumper earnings thanks to the AI boom.
El Salvador club, stadium officials arrested after deadly stampede
Officials of El Salvador's Alianza Football Club and the Cuscatlan stadium were arrested Thursday and the remainder of the season-ending playoffs were cancelled after a weekend stampede killed 12.
Slot commits to Feyenoord as Spurs' manager search goes on
Arne Slot has committed to staying at Feyenoord, ruling himself out of contention for the vacant Tottenham manager's job.
Djokovic and Alcaraz in same half of French Open draw
Novak Djokovic could face world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the French Open after both players were placed in the same half of the draw on Thursday.
Sierra Leone's symbolic 'Cotton Tree' destroyed in rain storm
A centuries-old, towering tree that served as a historic symbol in Sierra Leone has been felled during a wind and rain storm in the capital Freetown, the government said on Thursday.
Japan central bank chief admits 'big gap' on women officials
A "big gap" exists between female representation at Japan's central bank and its overseas counterparts, the bank's new governor Kazuo Ueda acknowledged Thursday.
PSG's Qatari owners in talks over Sampdoria investment - source
Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of French champions Paris Saint-Germain, are in negotiations over acquiring a stake in Italian club Sampdoria, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Thursday.
Police Scotland is 'institutionally racist': chief constable
Police Scotland is "institutionally racist" and "discriminatory", the force's chief constable said on Thursday, after a review into its culture.
EU defends split with UK on Microsoft, Activision Blizzard bid
The EU anti-trust chief on Thursday defended the bloc's decision to approve Microsoft's $69-billion takeover bid for US video game giant Activision Blizzard despite the UK's block on it.
Graft case MEP Kaili allowed to remove electronic tag
Greek MEP Eva Kaili, the face of the "Qatargate" corruption scandal, has been allowed to remove an electronic ankle tag and freed from house arrest pending trial, prosecutors said Thursday.