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Hundreds evacuated as Greece wildfire rages on Crete
A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of locals and tourists, officials said on Thursday.

Strike by French air traffic controllers disrupts summer travel
French air traffic controllers launched a two-day strike on Thursday to demand better working conditions, disrupting travel for tens of thousands of people at the start of a summer holiday season.

Liverpool football star Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain: police
Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in northwestern Spain on Thursday, police said, weeks after the star got married.

Japan plans 'world first' deep-sea mineral extraction
Japan will from January attempt to extract rare earth minerals from the ocean floor in the deepest trial of its kind, the director of a government innovation programme said Thursday.
Stocks rise, dollar dips ahead of US jobs data
Stocks mostly rose Thursday and the dollar fell as investors eye US jobs data that could play a key role in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy, while investors gave a lukewarm reception to the US-Vietnam trade deal.

Thailand gets third leader this week as new cabinet sworn in
Thailand saw its third person helming the prime minister's office in a week on Thursday, as the king swore in a new cabinet after a court decision plunged the nation's top office into turmoil.

US House sets make-or-break final vote on Trump tax bill
US lawmakers teed up a final vote on Donald Trump's marquee tax and spending bill for early Thursday after a bruising day of Republican infighting that threatened to derail the centerpiece of the president's domestic agenda.

Top China official says US defence chief 'inciting conflict'
A senior Chinese official accused the United States defence chief on Thursday of "inciting confrontation and conflict" after he urged American allies to bolster their militaries to counter Beijing.

Wales look to end 17-game losing streak with 'massive' Japan win
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt said Thursday that beating Japan this weekend would be "massive" for his struggling side as they look to end a record losing streak.

Chinese carrier Shandong moors in Hong Kong on 'great power' visit
China's first domestically built aircraft carrier sailed into Hong Kong on Thursday, just days after the city marked 28 years under Chinese rule.

Wounded Wales looking for 'massive' win over Japan
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt said Thursday that beating Japan this weekend would be "massive" for his struggling side as they look to end a record losing streak.

Japan PM sweats for majority in upper house election
Campaigning for Japan's upper house election started Thursday, with unpopular Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba fighting to maintain the ruling coalition's majority.

'Happy suffering': the Brazilian gold rush that spawned iconic pictures
Four decades after Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado shot a human anthill of mud-spattered miners digging for gold in the middle of the Amazon, some of the "garimpeiros," now into their 70s, are still hoping to get lucky.

Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus
An Australian man has died from an "extremely rare" rabies-like infection transmitted by a bat bite, health officials said Thursday.

Free-scoring Lions can be beaten insists Waratahs coach McKellar
NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Thursday that beating the British and Irish Lions was "doable", but admitted the scale of the challenge for his under-strength team was daunting.

4 dead, 30 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali
At least four people were dead and dozens unaccounted for Thursday after a ferry sank in rough seas on its way to Indonesian resort island Bali, according to rescue authorities who said 31 survivors had been plucked from the water so far.

Facing climate change, Swiss trees get mist before they're missed
In a Swiss pine forest, the treetops are being sprayed with mist in a bid to discover the effect that drier or wetter air has on their ability to survive.

Australian man dies from bat bite
An Australian man has died from an "extremely rare" rabies-like infection transmitted by a bat bite, health officials said Thursday.

US-Vietnam trade deal sows new China uncertainty
Vietnam's trade deal with the United States averts the most punishing of Donald Trump's "reciprocal" levies but analysts warned it could provoke a fresh standoff between Washington and Beijing.

India Hindu pilgrimage begins in contested Kashmir
Hindus began a vast month-long pilgrimage in contested Indian Kashmir on Thursday, with many of the faithful starting from near the site where a deadly April attack triggered conflict with Pakistan.

Jones places faith in Japan youth movement to sink Wales
Japan head coach Eddie Jones said "inexperience can sometimes be a blessing" as he named a young team Thursday to face struggling Wales in the first of two home Tests.

All Black wing Ioane warns 'dangerous' France are no B-team
All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane said Thursday he expects French players to have a chip on their shoulder after being dubbed a B-team ahead of the three match series against New Zealand.

'Significant declines' in some species after deep-sea mining: research
Deep-sea mining could impact marine life stretching from the tiniest bottom dwellers to apex predators like swordfish and sharks, a major piece of industry-funded research found Thursday.

Indonesia free meal plan stunted by delays, protests, poisonings
When an Indonesian mother dropped off her daughter at school in May, she did not expect her to become violently sick after eating lunch from the government's new billion-dollar free meal programme.

Russell heads into home British GP haunted by Verstappen rumours
George Russell heads into his home British Grand Prix this weekend haunted by rumours, and unconfirmed reports, that fierce rival and four-time world champion Max Verstappen has accepted an offer to replace him next year.

Djokovic wary of Evans threat, Krejcikova worships at 'temple of tennis'
Novak Djokovic goes into his Wimbledon second-round match against Dan Evans on Thursday with an unlikely losing record against the British wildcard... even though they have met only once before.

Drought-hit Morocco turns to desalination to save vegetable bounty
On the drought-stricken plains of Morocco's Chtouka region, cherry tomato farms stretch as far as the eye can see, clinging to life through a single, environmentally contentious lifeline: desalination.

Steve Smith back for second West Indies Test after dislocated finger
Steve Smith has recovered from a nasty dislocated finger and will return for Australia's second Test against the West Indies this week at the expense of Josh Inglis, skipper Pat Cummins said.

Asian stocks mixed as traders shrug at US-Vietnam trade deal
Stocks struggled in Asia on Thursday as investors gave a lukewarm reception to the US-Vietnam trade deal, while the dollar eased ahead of key US jobs data that could impact Federal Reserve interest rates plans.

Holland completes All Blacks 'great story' to debut against France
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson on Thursday hailed the "great story" of lock Fabian Holland after he was named as one of four uncapped players to face France in the first Test in Dunedin.

China, EU should not 'seek confrontation': FM Wang
China's top diplomat warned his EU counterpart against "confrontation", his foreign ministry said Thursday, after she urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security.

'Big Comrade': Former defence chief takes reins as Thai PM
Thailand's former defence chief is set to be appointed acting prime minister on Thursday, capping a colourful career for the political heavyweight once nicknamed "Big Comrade".