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Politics
Israel launches deadly strike near Beirut, widening Lebanon offensive
Israel pounded south Lebanon with deadly strikes and widened its offensive with the first raid near Beirut in weeks where authorities said a woman and two children were killed despite a ceasefire.
Economy
AI giant Anthropic reaches near-trillion dollar valuation
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the Claude maker at $965 billion, more than its archrival OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
Culture
Austrian jihadist jailed for 15 years for Taylor Swift concert attack plan
An Austrian court on Thursday sentenced a 21-year-old who admitted plotting a foiled jihadist attack on a Taylor Swift concert to 15 years in jail.
WHO chief lands in Ebola-hit DR Congo
The head of the UN health agency landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo late on Thursday, in a show of support for the African country as it battles its latest deadly Ebola outbreak.
Sports
Osaka says possible Serena Williams return would be 'entertaining'
Naomi Osaka said she would be "entertained" by a return to tennis from Serena Williams, after reports claimed the American great could play doubles at the Queen's tournament in London next month.
Politics
Israel strikes near Beirut, widening Lebanon offensive
Israel pounded south Lebanon and struck the Beirut area on Thursday, widening its offensive with the first strike near the country's capital in weeks despite a fragile ceasefire.
Politics
US, Iran agree deal but need Trump approval: sources
US and Iranian negotiators have agreed on a framework for a 60-day ceasefire extension deal but it still needs President Donald Trump's approval, US sources told AFP on Thursday.
Health
WHO chief heads to Ebola-hit DR Congo
The head of the UN health agency was heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, in a show of support for the African country as it battles its latest deadly Ebola outbreak.
Politics
Trump's face could appear on US $250 bill
President Donald Trump could soon appear on a new $250 bill, in the Republican's latest move to shatter US traditions by putting his personal stamp on national institutions.
Economy
Mistral says would not interfere if its AI is used by defence customers
French AI startup Mistral would not weigh in on choices about how its technology is used by defence customers, its chief executive told AFP Thursday, laying out a clear position in an ethical debate stirring up the sector.
Ailing Sinner crashes out of French Open, Sabalenka through
Jannik Sinner succumbed to illness and a remarkable Juan Manuel Cerundolo comeback to crash out of the French Open on Thursday, blowing the men's tournament wide open, as Aryna Sabalenka safely avoided a similar fate to progress.
Politics
Canada PM backs 'fortress North America' ahead of US trade talks
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed his country's importance to the US economy on Thursday, urging closer cooperation as talks on revising the North American free trade agreement face roadblocks.
Nature
Flooding in north and east Syria as Euphrates level rises
Syria's energy ministry warned on Thursday of rising water levels on the Euphrates River after flooding in the north and east following increased flows from neighbouring Turkey and recent rains.
Sports
Defending champion Gauff reaches French Open third round
Coco Gauff continued her French Open title defence with a straight-sets victory over Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif in the second round on Thursday.
Technology
Musk defends AI ambitions as IPO reveals trouble
Elon Musk insists that his artificial intelligence venture xAI remains a serious competitor, pushing back against mounting doubts after revelations that the supercomputing facilities built to power his own AI models are being rented out to a rival.
Nature
Five things to know about heatwaves in Europe
The scorching weather that has smashed temperature records across Europe this week shows the growing number and intensity of heatwaves on the continent.
Politics
Israel freezes out UN chief over sexual violence blacklist
Israel is breaking all contact with United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, the country's ambassador announced Thursday, saying it was "outrageous" Israel is being blacklisted over alleged sexual violence in conflict zones.
Politics
US, Iran agree deal framework but need Trump sign-off: sources
US and Iranian negotiators have agreed on a framework for a 60-day ceasefire extension deal in the Middle East war but were still waiting for President Donald Trump's approval, US sources told AFP on Thursday.
Weather
Italy on red alert as France, Portugal beat hottest May day record
Italy issued a red alert warning for the capital Rome on Thursday and Portugal and France reported their hottest days in May as Europe struggled with a heatwave that has smashed records across the continent.
Economy
Oil advances, stocks drift on fresh US-Iran strikes
Oil prices rose slightly and global stock markets drifted Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new strikes despite their purported ceasefire, rekindling uncertainty about an end to the Middle East war.
Politics
'Terrorist' knife attack wounds 3 at Swiss train station: official
A man reportedly shouting "Allahu akbar!" injured three people in a knife attack at a train station in Switzerland on Thursday before being arrested, in what officials said was "a terrorist act".
Politics
'You are not alone' in Ebola fight, vows DR Congo-bound WHO chief
The WHO's chief pledged to do "everything in my power" to help conquer a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as he headed to the African nation on Thursday.
Sinner 'hits wall' as French Open bid collapses
Jannik Sinner said he ran out of energy and "hit the wall" as his 30-match winning run came to an abrupt halt in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
Sports
France's Magnier sprints to Giro 18th stage win, Vingegaard in pink
Paul Magnier won the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday after a bunch sprint, as Jonas Vingegaard held the overall leader's pink jersey.
Economy
Top EU economies vow to speed up financial integration
The EU's six biggest economies vowed Thursday to set aside differences and speed up integration of their financial markets as the bloc seeks to catch up with the United States and China.
Politics
Israeli strike near Beirut as Lebanon says raids kill 14
Israel's military said it launched an airstrike in the Beirut area Thursday as a Lebanese source said an apartment was hit, the second such raid since an April ceasefire announcement.
Things to know
Mosquitoes can learn to love common repellent, scientists find
Mosquitoes can learn to associate the smell of the world's most common insect repellent with a tasty meal -- and after training can even prefer to bite people who have been sprayed with it, an experimental study said Thursday.
Politics
US revises first quarter growth down while inflation climbs
The US economy expanded less than initially estimated in the first quarter, government data showed Thursday, while a key inflation gauge separately hit a three-year high on fallout from the Middle East war.
Italy on red alert as Portugal beats record for hottest May day
Italy issued a red alert warning for the capital Rome on Thursday and Portugal recorded its hottest day in May as Europe struggled with a heatwave that has smashed records across the continent.
Politics
Latvia gets new centre-right govt after row over stray Ukraine drones
Latvia's parliament voted in a new centre-right government on Thursday, weeks after the previous coalition collapsed in a row over stray Ukrainian drones.
Sports
France's Kouame, 17, youngest man into Slam third round since Nadal
Home hope Moise Kouame became the youngest man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since Rafael Nadal 23 years ago, after an epic French Open win on Thursday.
Boulevard
Netflix criticises German plan to make streamers invest more locally
Netflix and other streaming services on Thursday criticised a German plan requiring platforms to reinvest a share of locally generated revenue as part of efforts to support domestic film production.