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Rees-Zammit returns to wing as Wales face Fiji
Louis Rees-Zammit is back on the wing for Wales's Nations Championship opener against Fiji in Cardiff on Saturday.
German ruling coalition agrees on major reform package
Germany's ruling coalition has agreed on sweeping tax, labour and pension reforms, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday, a breakthrough aimed at reviving the struggling economy and countering the rise of the far right.
Renovations on historic Paris Opera house extended by three years
The Paris Opera announced Thursday that it had been forced to extend planned renovations on its historic home in the French capital by three years because of lead contamination.
European stocks climb after Asia rout
Europe's main stock markets rose Thursday awaiting key US jobs data, brushing off a rout for Asian technology giants.
Thailand denies viral claim Macron knelt before king
Thailand's foreign ministry denied Thursday that French President Emmanuel Macron knelt before the country's king during his state visit to Paris this week, after an AI-generated picture circulated online.
Former Arsenal, Spain midfielder Cazorla retires
Former Arsenal and Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla retired from football at the age of 41 on Thursday after more than two decades in the game.
Spain, Portugal eye World Cup last 16
European champions Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal aim to book their places in the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday as Algeria look to salvage some pride for African football.
German drone maker raises $1.2 bn as investors pile into defence
German drone maker Quantum Systems said Thursday it has raised $1.2 billion (one billion euros) in a funding round and more than doubled its valuation, highlighting investor buzz surrounding defence tech firms.
Russian strikes kill 17 in biggest ever attack on Kyiv, mayor says
Russia launched its largest ever barrage on Kyiv early on Thursday, according to the city's mayor, tearing open apartment buildings in a hours-long drone and missile attack that killed at least 17 people.
French scramble to find air conditioners before next heatwave
Hundreds of people were besieging Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris Thursday, with scuffles and shouting matches breaking out as residents scrambled to get their hands on bargain air-cooling units before the next heatwave hits the French capital.
Uruguay veteran Cavani quits Boca Juniors
Veteran Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has announced his departure from Boca Juniors after three years.
Japan deploys bear cameras in moutains as attacks surge
Japan has begun installing hundreds of cameras in its northern mountains as part of a nationwide survey of the bear population following a surge in maulings, an official told AFP on Thursday.
West Ham's Fernandes joins Spurs
West Ham's Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes has joined Spurs after the Hammers' relegation from the Premier League, the clubs announced on Thursday.
Germany's Infineon opens major chip plant as EU seeks tech autonomy
German semiconductor giant Infineon opened a five-billion-euro ($5.7 billion) microchip plant Thursday, at a time Europe seeks to bolster its high-tech autonomy.
Bones of contention: More research needed on 'd'Artagnan corpse'
More research is needed to determine whether bones buried beneath a Dutch church belong to d'Artagnan, the swashbuckling French soldier who inspired the novel The Three Musketeers, officials said Thursday.
Biggest ever Russian barrage on Kyiv kills at least 13
Russia launched its largest ever barrage on Kyiv early on Thursday, tearing open apartment buildings and leaving at least 13 people dead, Ukrainian officials said.
Coffee with a view: tourists flock to Starbucks overlooking North Korea
The contrast cannot be starker: selfie-taking tourists sipping coffee at Starbucks -- an icon of globalisation and capitalism -- while looking out over reclusive, communist North Korea.
EU top court upholds record 4.1 bn euro Google fine
The EU's top court upheld Thursday a record 4.1 billion euro ($4.7 billion) fine the bloc slapped on Google for anti-competitive practices related to its Android operating system.
German coalition agrees on reform package in key breakthrough
Germany's ruling coalition has agreed on sweeping tax, labour and pension reforms, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday, a breakthrough aimed at reviving the struggling economy and countering the rise of the far right.
Italy name two debutants to face Japan in Nations Championship opener
Italy on Thursday named debutants Alessandro Ortombina and Malik Faissal to start against Japan in their Nations Championship opener in Tokyo as they look to build on their Six Nations success.
France recall record try scorer Penaud for All Blacks Test
France recalled their record try scorer Damian Penaud on Thursday for their Nations Championship clash with New Zealand in a starting side stacked with Bordeaux-Begles players.
Wallabies' Schmidt rules out another coaching job
Outgoing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt Thursday said he had no ambition to do the same job for another national side once he hands over to Les Kiss after the opening round of the Nations Championship.
Seoul's Kospi tanks as Asia tech firms suffer another blow
South Korean stocks plunged nearly eight percent Thursday in tech stock rout that led losses across much of Asia as investors unwound huge bets on the sector that have propelled markets to record highs.
India asks Meta to hold WhatsApp username rollout over fraud fears
India has asked Meta to hold off launching its username feature on WhatsApp in the world's most populous country, citing concerns over fraud and impersonation, media reports said Thursday.
'Outstanding' Love to start at fly-half for All Blacks against France
Ruben Love was given the nod on Thursday to start at fly-half against France as new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie named his first New Zealand side for the Nations Championship opener in Christchurch.
Deadly Russian barrage on Kyiv kills at least 13
Russian missile and drone strikes tore open apartment buildings in Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow was preparing a "massive attack".
Campbell back from four years in Wallabies wilderness to face Ireland
Australia coach Joe Schmidt Thursday praised Jock Campbell's resilience after he was recalled from four years in the Test wilderness while backing a fresh halves combination for their season-opener against Ireland.
Next indirect US-Iran talks after Khamenei funeral: mediators
The next indirect US-Iran talks will come after the late Iranian supreme leader's funeral, mediators said Thursday, as diplomacy inches ahead on ending the Middle East war.
Migrants pick up pieces back home after fleeing South Africa
Back in his village in rural Malawi, Ahamadi Assani recalled his terror during an attack by anti-foreigner vigilantes in South Africa that led him to flee the country with just a few bags.
Reviving Montenegro's 'ancient' olive tree
At the edge of rugged Montenegrin foothills, a years-long effort to save one of the country's oldest olive trees, which locals say dates back millennia, is finally bearing fruit -- literally.
Farrell names Leinster-heavy Ireland side to face Wallabies
Ireland coach Andy Farrell rewarded Sam Prendergast for his stellar club form by picking him as playmaker for their Nations Championship opener against Australia in a starting XV dominated by Leinster players.
Resource rich PNG leaving its Pacific people behind: World Bank
Gold and gas-driven economic growth in Papua New Guinea, the South Pacific's largest nation, is leaving its people behind, the World Bank said on Thursday.