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Boulevard
France court orders release of Lebanese militant after 40 years in jail
A French appeals court Thursday ordered the release of pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, imprisoned for 40 years for the 1982 killings of two foreign diplomats.
Economy
Goodbye 'Downton Abbey' auction and UK exhibition announced
"Downton Abbey" fans will be able to bid on props, costumes and other items from the hit TV show and movies, with the announcement Thursday of a "farewell" auction and showcase starting next month.
Sports
Soaked Scheffler battles elements to make solid British Open start
World number one Scottie Scheffler blamed wild weather conditions for his wayward driving, but the American still shot a three-under-par first round at the British Open to sit one shot off the lead on Thursday.
Sports
Ons Jabeur announces break from tennis 'to rediscover joy of living'
Former world number two Ons Jabeur announced on Thursday she was going to "take a step back and finally put myself first", after two difficult years on the circuit.
Economy
UK, Germany vow to tackle people smuggling gangs
Britain and Germany signed landmark deals Wednesday to boost defence ties and crackdown on people smuggling gangs on the first official visit to the UK by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Politics
Zuckerberg settles lawsuit over Cambridge Analytica scandal
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and other company board members settled a shareholder lawsuit on Thursday concerning decisions made in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal.
Economy
Global markets rise as Trump weighs future of Fed boss
A jump in US retail sales boosted world markets Thursday even as investors mulled the US rates outlook, US President Donald Trump's tariffs and the future of Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell.
Politics
Syria troops quit Druze heartland after violence leaves over 500 dead
Syrian troops pulled out of the Druze heartland province of Sweida on orders from the Islamist-led government, following days of deadly clashes that killed more than 500 people, according to a war monitor.
Culture
TikTok Germany moderators raise alarm over layoff plans
Content moderators at the German branch of social media giant TikTok sounded the alarm Thursday about what they say is a plan to replace them with artificial intelligence, potentially putting platform users at risk.
Sports
Pogacar retakes Tour de France lead in crushing mountain win
Tadej Pogacar reclaimed the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France with an imperious stage 12 triumph on the Hautacam mountain in the Pyrenees on Thursday.
Sports
Women's marathon world record holder Chepngetich suspended for doping suspicions
Ruth Chepngetich, the Kenyan who shattered the women's marathon world record last year, has been provisionally suspended on suspicion of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Thursday.
Politics
EU readies retaliatory list targeting US services
The EU executive is preparing a list of proposed restrictions on US services companies -- including tech giants -- should Brussels fail to strike a trade deal with Washington, European diplomats said on Thursday.
Sports
'Back in love': MotoGP champion Martin stays with Aprilia
Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin said on Thursday he would stay with the Aprilia team for the 2026 season, dispelling doubts about his future.
Boulevard
Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church kills three
An Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed three people on Thursday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians.
Sports
'I'm not an old guy': Usyk says age won't matter in Dubois bout
Oleksandr Usyk has slammed claims that his age could be the decisive factor in Saturday's undisputed world heavyweight title clash with Daniel Dubois.
Sports
Fan energy key for Swiss in Euros clash with Spain, says Maritz
Noelle Maritz said Thursday that fervent home support will help Switzerland in their task of beating world champions Spain in the quarter-finals of Women's Euro 2025.
Politics
'Like a dream': Druze reunited across Golan Heights buffer zone
Dozens of Druze crowded the Israeli-controlled side of the armistice line in the occupied Golan Heights on Thursday, hoping to catch a glimpse of relatives on the Syrian-held side who might try to cross the barbed-wire frontier.
Health
US health experts to reassess hormone replacement therapy risks
US health authorities are set Thursday to reassess Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a treatment used by menopausal women around the world but long clouded by debate over its risks.
Sports
Scheffler makes bright British Open start before McIlroy takes centre stage
World number one Scottie Scheffler made a fine start to his quest for a first British Open with a three-under par round of 68 to sit one off the lead at a rain-swept Royal Portrush on Thursday.
Politics
El Salvador rights group says forced into exile by Bukele crackdown
A leading rights group investigating corruption in El Salvador has been forced into exile due to a crackdown by President Nayib Bukele's administration, two of its members said Thursday.
Culture
Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire
Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium Thursday, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames.
Sports
Napoli sign Dutch international forward Lang
Serie A champions Napoli announced Thursday the signing of Netherlands attacker Noa Lang from PSV Eindhoven.
Sports
Westwood rolls back years on British Open return
Lee Westwood said the fact Royal Portrush was the host course inspired him to enter qualifying for this week's British Open, after firing an impressive first-round 69 on Thursday.
Politics
UK to lower voting age to 16 in general elections
The British government said Thursday it would allow 16 year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide.
Things to know
Sri Lanka returns orphaned elephants to the jungle
Sri Lankan authorities returned six orphaned and injured elephants to the wild on Thursday after nursing them back to health under a long-running conservation project, officials said.
Economy
Russian deputies back fines for clicking on 'extremist' content
Russian lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill that would outlaw opening or searching for content online judged "extremist", such as songs glorifying Ukraine and material by feminist rock band Pussy Riot.
Politics
Ukraine's new PM: a deal-maker as head of wartime government
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's new prime minister, represents a generation of young Ukrainian politicians who have steered their country through the turmoil of war.
Economy
Britain seeks German help against people smuggling gangs on landmark Merz visit
Britain sought a firm commitment Thursday from Germany to change its law to help smash people smuggling gangs, as the two countries agreed to boost defence ties on the first official UK visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Economy
Fake AI videos of R. Kelly, pope spread cult of Burkina junta chief
If you believe the viral videos online, R. Kelly and Pope Leo XIV agree on one thing -- that Burkina Faso's junta chief, Captain Ibrahim Traore, is a fantastic leader.
Politics
Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church kills two
An Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed two people on Thursday, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians.
Things to know
Rare Gandhi portrait smashes estimate to sell for nearly £153,000
A rare painting of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only oil portrait that the Indian independence leader ever sat for, has sold at auction in the UK for £152,800 ($205,000).
French army leaves Senegal ending military presence in west Africa
France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent camps in either west or central Africa.