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South American football's governing body CONMEBOL on Thursday welcomed the withdrawal of FIFA's private investor plan, but expressed "its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken".

Spain midfield talisman Rodri has authorised Barcelona to start talks with Manchester City for a potential transfer, a source from the reigning La Liga champions told AFP on Thursday.

Official figures show that over 6,000 people died in the horrific earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June, but authorities are keeping their lips sealed about how many more are missing.

Mauritian rider Kim Le Court overcame an early fall and mechanical problems on Thursday to win a sprint finish for stage six of the Tour de France Femmes as Swiss rival Marlen Reusser retained the leader's yellow jersey.

Oil prices barrelled ahead again Thursday, extending their volatile run, while global stock markets were stuck as investors assessed corporate earnings, with tech firms back under pressure.

Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has been cleared to return to the ring after serving a three-month drugs ban that authorities said was down to his nutritionist.

The British Grand Prix will remain on the MotoGP World Championship calendar until at least 2028.

European football's governing body UEFA said they would maintain their boycott of the men's and women's World Cups on Thursday despite FIFA withdrawing the plan to open up their competitions to private investment.

German weapons maker Rheinmetall said Thursday it expects to lose around 300 million euros ($346 million) on Berlin's surprise decision to scrap a major naval frigate programme, but hopes to offset the losses with new partnerships.

Real Madrid on Thursday announced the signing of 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from Leipzig for what Spanish media reported was a club-record fee of 140 million euros ($161 million) including bonuses.

Young Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro was rewarded with a new UAE contract on Thursday after finishing third in the Tour de France won by superstar teammate Tadej Pogacar.

A wave of disinformation on social media drove the deadly rush of tens of thousands of migrants into Spain's north African territory of Ceuta last week, analysts told AFP.

 Inevitable AI Group (IAIG), an AI-native venture studio founded by veteran technology entrepreneurs, today announced a $6 million pre-seed funding round led by Aleph. The company is building and launching dozens of AI-native software businesses designed to capitalize on the rapidly changing economics of software development.

Forex Expo Dubai has announced a Gold Lucky Draw for its 9th Edition, offering eligible Verified Traders, Introducing Brokers (IBs), and Affiliates the opportunity to win a share of 150 grams of 24K gold during the event.

A suspected Ebola death has been reported on a boat heading for Kinshasa, which has so far avoided the outbreak raging in DR Congo's east and northeast, authorities said Thursday.

Former striker Diego Forlan has been appointed head coach of the Uruguay national team following their disastrous World Cup campaign, the country's football association (AUF) announced Thursday.

England selector Marcus North said he would not get "hung up" on the retirement of captain and talisman Ben Stokes as the team prepare for their first series since the end of the "Bazball" era.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says one of his mantras is to "choose your battles", but European football's governing body is now locked in a bitter fight with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker has been cleared to return to the ring after serving a three-month drugs ban.

Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on Thursday signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor after leaving the Premier League giants at the end of his contract.

Brushing his hand over crackling vine leaves, French winemaker Gregory Guibergia was relieved a wildfire only scorched the edge of his vineyard but he feared its smoke would ruin this year's vintage.

Britain on Thursday gave the green light to Paramount Skydance's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, as the entertainment and media mega-deal still faces a key hurdle in the United States.

Global stock markets diverged on Thursday as investors assessed the latest corporate earnings with tech firms back under pressure, while awaiting developments over a potential US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Seoul's military said, with the launch coming after Pyongyang lambasted Japan's military build-up in the Pacific.

England have recalled Dan Lawrence from two years of Test exile to face Pakistan, with the batsman pencilled in to fill the middle-order vacancy created by the retirement of captain Ben Stokes.

Next to a mound of black earth, Myanmar refugees feed soil and rice seed into a clacking conveyor machine that arranges them into ready-made planting trays for Thai farms.

German industrial giant Siemens on Thursday raised its profit outlook for the second time this year after a quarter boosted by AI spending, but its shares plunged after the forecast fell short of investors' hopes.

Most Asian markets were mixed Thursday with tech firms back under pressure after a four-day rebound amid lingering AI worries, while oil rose even as Iran said it was finalising a deal with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.

Les Kiss handed lock Miles Amatosero and prop Aidan Ross their first starts for Australia as the new coach named his first team Thursday since taking over from Joe Schmidt.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell believes his standing up to the stumps in England -- a move that helped kill off the "Bazball" era -- was a case of New Zealand shelving their egos for the good of the team.

At the weekly market in the southern Romanian town of Calarasi, Florica Vasile goes from vendor to vendor loading her shopping trolley with vegetables the locals say are cheaper than anywhere else in the city.

Israel reported on Thursday its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, after carrying out fresh strikes despite ongoing US-backed talks in Rome aimed at ending hostilities.

Iran and Oman have agreed a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and were finalising arrangements for jointly managing the strategic waterway, Tehran said Wednesday, even as fresh security incidents highlighted continued risks for regional shipping.

Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff all advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi scored twice on Wednesday to become the Leagues Cup's record goalscorer as Inter Miami beat Atletico San Luis 4-2 at home in the 2026 edition's opening group matches.

Police raided South Korea's football association on Thursday as part of an investigation into the appointment of the coach in charge during their dismal World Cup campaign.

Most Asian markets sank on Thursday with tech firms back under pressure after a four-day rebound amid lingering AI worries, while oil rose even as Iran said it was finalising a deal with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.

Dwindling water levels on some of Germany's major rivers worsened by heat and drought are raising fears that badly constrained riverboat cargo traffic may deal yet another blow to the struggling economy.

Hosts South Africa and visitors New Zealand are going back to the future with a rugby tour that begins in Cape Town on Friday and ends 12,700 kilometres away in the United States.