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Sports
Willis has no regrets risking England career with Bordeaux return
Tom Willis is adamant he has "no regrets" over rejoining Bordeaux-Begles, even though a return to France means his England career is on hold.
Iran warns of 'endless quagmire' as Trump orders new strikes
Iran warned Washington on Thursday that it risked wading into an "endless quagmire" of war and soaring energy prices, after US President Donald Trump vowed to launch a new round of airstrikes and to seize an island oil terminal.
Sports
Yamal, Williams train ahead of Spain's World Cup opener
Spain stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams took part in training on Thursday, allaying fears over their fitness ahead of La Roja's World Cup opener against Cape Verde.
'Racist thuggery' slammed after second night of N.Ireland unrest
Police arrested 16 people during a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland sparked by a brutal Belfast stabbing, a senior minister said Thursday, condemning rioters for "racist thuggery".
Weather pattern El Nino is here and could reach historic intensity
The phenomenon El Nino has arrived, the US weather agency said Thursday, and scientists expect the pattern synonymous with droughts, floods and soaring temperatures will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength.
Weather
El Nino is back, but its effects vary widely
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday the return of El Nino: the warm phase of a natural climate cycle linked to higher global temperatures and wild weather.
Economy
Stocks rebound, oil wobbles as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook
European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.
Sports
Van Aert dominates sprint on Tour de France warm-up race
Visma's Wout Van Aert won a fiercely contested bunch sprint on stage five of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes on Thursday ahead of an inconsolable Hugo Hofstetter, with Bahrain's Phil Bauhaus in third.
Politics
World Bank lowers global growth forecast on Iran war impacts
The World Bank on Thursday lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the pandemic, warning of the expanding economic impacts of the war in the Middle East on countries around the globe.
Sports
Bangladesh clinch first-ever ODI series win over Australia
Towhid Hridoy hit an unbeaten 40 as Bangladesh won the second one-day international by five wickets on Thursday to clinch their first-ever series win against Australia in the 50-over format.
Economy
First leather bag from T-Rex cells to be auctioned in Paris
A leather bag made from Tyrannosaurus rex cells will be auctioned off on Thursday by Paris auction house Giquello, estimating the "one-of-a-kind" piece could sell for more than $500,000.
Somali referee banned by US to officiate UEFA Super Cup
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.
Weather
Four times as many icebergs calved from Greenland glaciers: study
Greenland's glaciers are releasing four times more icebergs than 25 years ago as a result of climate change, with implications extending to maritime traffic and marine ecosystems, researchers said Thursday.
Sports
Unstoppable Antonelli admits rise to F1 summit seems 'crazy'
Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli said his rise to the top of Formula One seems "crazy" on Thursday as the Mercedes driver bids to win a sixth consecutive race this weekend in the Catalunya Grand Prix.
Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa return home
A first group of more than 260 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday.
Sports
Renowned French solo yachtsman Charlie Dalin dies aged 42
Renowned French yachtsman Charlie Dalin, who won the non-stop round-the-world Vendee Globe race last year, has died aged 42 after a long battle with cancer, his family announced on Thursday.
Sports
'Probably' my last F1 race in Barcelona, says Alonso
Home favourite and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said Thursday this weekend's Catalunya Grand Prix might be his final Formula One race in Barcelona.
Nature
Weather pattern El Nino has begun, says US agency NOAA
The weather phenomenon El Nino has arrived, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday, and scientists expect it will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength.
Sports
England cricket chief ponders booze ban after Stokes's nightclub incident
England cricket chief Rob Key is considering imposing a total alcohol ban on the squad following a nightclub incident involving Ben Stokes but said "no rash decisions" will be made on the all-rounder's long-term future as Test captain.
Stocks rebound, oil wavers as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook
European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.
Politics
Trump vows to take Iran oil terminals, launch new strikes
US President Donald Trump vowed "very hard" strikes on Iran Thursday and promised to take the country's key oil infrastructure, in what would be a major escalation in the war with the Islamic republic.
Economy
Niger criminalises same-sex relations with jail terms
Military-run Niger has enacted a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations with heavy jail sentences, following several other west African countries which have recently adopted tough anti-LGBTQ legislation.
UK defence minister quits with stinging rebuke of PM Starmer
British Defence Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country.
Sports
Somali referee banned by US to officiate European Super Cup - UEFA
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.
'Racist thuggery' slammed after second N.Ireland night of disorder
Police arrested 16 people during a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland sparked by a brutal Belfast stabbing, a senior minister said Thursday, condemning rioters for "racist thuggery".
Technology
Smuggled dinosaur fossils return to Mongolia after two decades
Mongolia has recovered a rare dinosaur skeleton and a trove of fossils illegally exported two decades ago, authorities said Wednesday, concluding years of efforts to return the palaeontological treasures.
Trump vows fresh Iran strikes and seizure of oil terminals
US President Donald Trump vowed fresh attacks against Iran on Thursday, saying American forces would also soon seize the country's key oil infrastructure after the two sides exchanged strikes overnight.
Economy
Over 260 Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in S. Africa return home
The first group of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday, AFP journalists saw.
Politics
Tight security for G7 summit at Lake Geneva resort
France and Switzerland are imposing tight security for a looming G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, with a demonstration to be held Sunday in Geneva serving as their first test.
Economy
ECB makes first rate hike since 2023 to tame Iran war inflation
The European Central Bank on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 as the Middle East war stokes inflation, despite concerns the move could hit the struggling eurozone economy.
Economy
Pope condemns 'indifference' towards migrants on Canaries trip
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned "indifference" towards migrants during a visit to Spain's Canary Islands that symbolised the perils of deadly irregular routes to Europe.
Politics
UK defence minister John Healey announces shock resignation in funding row
British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, in a shock move which he blamed on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry failing to commit sufficient resources to defence investment.