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Ethiopia claimed Thursday that forces in the northern Tigray region were preparing an offensive against the federal government in the coming days, raising fears of a return to war.

Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy had the spectators out of their seats in the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in the Estadio Azteca on Thursday ahead of the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.

Still hurting after the worst collapse in NBA Finals history, the San Antonio Spurs vow the New York Knicks will not win their first title in 53 years without a fight.

Thousands of football fans attempted to shove their way into Mexico City's official World Cup fan zone on Thursday, creating chaotic scenes shortly before kick-off in the opening game.

US President Donald Trump said he was calling off strikes on Iran that he had planned for Thursday, and flagged the signing of a possible deal with Tehran after top-level talks.

Ivory Coast and Senegal home-based fans have been denied visas to the United States, dashing their hopes of following their teams at the World Cup.

Tom Willis is adamant he has "no regrets" over rejoining Bordeaux-Begles, even though a return to France means his England career is on hold.

Iran warned Washington on Thursday that it risked wading into an "endless quagmire" of war and soaring energy prices, after US President Donald Trump vowed to launch a new round of airstrikes and to seize an island oil terminal.

Spain stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams took part in training on Thursday, allaying fears over their fitness ahead of La Roja's World Cup opener against Cape Verde.

Police arrested 16 people during a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland sparked by a brutal Belfast stabbing, a senior minister said Thursday, condemning rioters for "racist thuggery".

The phenomenon El Nino has arrived, the US weather agency said Thursday, and scientists expect the pattern synonymous with droughts, floods and soaring temperatures will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday the return of El Nino: the warm phase of a natural climate cycle linked to higher global temperatures and wild weather.

Visma's Wout Van Aert won a fiercely contested bunch sprint on stage five of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes on Thursday ahead of an inconsolable Hugo Hofstetter, with Bahrain's Phil Bauhaus in third.

The World Bank on Thursday lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the pandemic, warning of the expanding economic impacts of the war in the Middle East on countries around the globe.

Towhid Hridoy hit an unbeaten 40 as Bangladesh won the second one-day international by five wickets on Thursday to clinch their first-ever series win against Australia in the 50-over format.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.

Greenland's glaciers are releasing four times more icebergs than 25 years ago as a result of climate change, with implications extending to maritime traffic and marine ecosystems, researchers said Thursday.

Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli said his rise to the top of Formula One seems "crazy" on Thursday as the Mercedes driver bids to win a sixth consecutive race this weekend in the Catalunya Grand Prix.

A first group of more than 260 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday.

Renowned French yachtsman Charlie Dalin, who won the non-stop round-the-world Vendee Globe race last year, has died aged 42 after a long battle with cancer, his family announced on Thursday.

Home favourite and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said Thursday this weekend's Catalunya Grand Prix might be his final Formula One race in Barcelona.

The weather phenomenon El Nino has arrived, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday, and scientists expect it will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength.

England cricket chief Rob Key is considering imposing a total alcohol ban on the squad following a nightclub incident involving Ben Stokes but said "no rash decisions" will be made on the all-rounder's long-term future as Test captain.

European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.

US President Donald Trump vowed "very hard" strikes on Iran Thursday and promised to take the country's key oil infrastructure, in what would be a major escalation in the war with the Islamic republic.

Military-run Niger has enacted a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations with heavy jail sentences, following several other west African countries which have recently adopted tough anti-LGBTQ legislation.

British Defence Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.

Police arrested 16 people during a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland sparked by a brutal Belfast stabbing, a senior minister said Thursday, condemning rioters for "racist thuggery".

Mongolia has recovered a rare dinosaur skeleton and a trove of fossils illegally exported two decades ago, authorities said Wednesday, concluding years of efforts to return the palaeontological treasures.

US President Donald Trump vowed fresh attacks against Iran on Thursday, saying American forces would also soon seize the country's key oil infrastructure after the two sides exchanged strikes overnight.

The first group of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday, AFP journalists saw.

France and Switzerland are imposing tight security for a looming G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, with a demonstration to be held Sunday in Geneva serving as their first test.

The European Central Bank on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 as the Middle East war stokes inflation, despite concerns the move could hit the struggling eurozone economy.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned "indifference" towards migrants during a visit to Spain's Canary Islands that symbolised the perils of deadly irregular routes to Europe.

British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, in a shock move which he blamed on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry failing to commit sufficient resources to defence investment.

European stocks rose Thursday after losses in Asia as oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with investors also assessing the outlook for US and European interest rates as inflation rises.

New Zealand expect Devon Conway to be available for next week's second Test against England at the Oval despite a 23,000-mile (37,000 kilometre) round trip to Wellington to attend the birth of his second child.

World record holder Kaylee McKeown powered through a scorching 200m backstroke Thursday to complete the 50-100-200 sweep at the Australian trials, while Kyle Chalmers blazed to victory in the 100m freestyle.