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Wimbledon finalist Linda Noskova said her strong run of grass-court form has "come out of nowhere" after she beat Marta Kostyuk in the biggest match of her career on Thursday.

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will put their friendship on hold when they fight for the Wimbledon title on Saturday after the Czech pair took contrasting paths to their first All England Club final.

A fire that tore through a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday killed at least 28 people, state media said, with more than 500 fire and rescue personnel racing against time to extinguish the blaze.

The medieval Bayeux Tapestry began a hugely complicated journey from northern France to London on Thursday where the 11th-century artwork is set to go on display at the British Museum.

In line with Dubai’s vision to lead in security, sustainability and smart mobility, Dubai Police, in partnership with Al-Futtaim, the exclusive distributor of BYD in the UAE, has launched the second generation of its ‘Ghiath’ smart patrol vehicles.The launch ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company, Omar Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Al-Futtaim, Major General Hareb Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Affairs, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs, Major General Rashid Al Falasi, Director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue, along with senior officers and representatives from both organisations.The launch coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Dubai Police and Al-Futtaim, the exclusive distributor of BYD in the UAE. The agreement was signed by Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei on behalf of Dubai Police and Yousuf AlRaeesi, Director of Government Affairs at Al-Futtaim, on behalf of the company. The partnership aims to develop the second generation of ‘Ghiath’ smart patrol vehicles using the plug in hybrid DENZA B8, combining advanced security technologies, high performance and environmental sustainability. The new patrols will support police operations with more advanced smart vehicles that improve response times, enhance field operations and meet the evolving demands of future policing.Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri said Dubai Police remains committed to maintaining its position among the world’s leading police organisations by equipping its operations with the latest technologies and advanced equipment to enhance community safety and security. He noted that the partnership with Al-Futtaim and BYD represents an important step in developing the second generation of ‘Ghiath’ smart patrols and expanding Dubai Police’s fleet with highly advanced vehicles designed to deliver optimal performance across policing and security operations.

Britain's head of state King Charles III on Thursday donned sunglasses as he braved a heatwave to visit penguins and a giant tortoise at London Zoo.

Novak Djokovic faces his biggest obstacle to a record 25th Grand Slam title when he takes on reigning champion Jannik Sinner in their blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

Coco Gauff said she was expecting to receive hate messages online after missing a match point in an agonising Wimbledon last-four loss to Karolina Muchova on Thursday.

Linda Noskova swept into her first Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk on Thursday, setting up an all-Czech title match against Karolina Muchova.

Star forward Christian Pulisic fractured his leg during the United States' crushing 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium, the team said Thursday.

England defender Jarell Quansah will miss Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway, and the last four should the Three Lions progress, after being handed a two-game ban by FIFA.

Tour de France patron Tadej Pogacar is like basketball great Michael Jordan, according to his team principal Mauro Gianetti.

The UK on Thursday experienced its eighth day in 2026 with the mercury climbing above 34C, the Met Office said, breaking the previous record by one day.

Veteran former Argentina fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta will come out of a retirement for a second time after signing a one-year contract extension with Perpignan, a source close to the French Top 14 club told AFP on Thursday.

Erling Haaland said facing England, the land of his birth, in the World Cup quarter-finals is extra special as the aims to extend Norway's historic run into the last four.

Faith Kipyegon will have the unlikely figure of French triathlete Cassandre Beaugrand in the field for the women's 3,000m at Monaco's Diamond League meet on Friday.

FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina has hit out at "unfounded allegations" against World Cup match officials in the wake of Argentina's controversial last 16 victory over Egypt.

Through more than four years of the Russian invasion, 27-year-old Oleksiy Virskovsky largely hasn't bothered going to to the underground shelter in the building next door -- despite almost nightly missile and drone attacks.

Calling for revenge and rejecting any compromise with the West, Iranians loyal to the Islamic republic braved sweltering heat on Thursday to mass for the burial of supreme leader Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad.

Tributes flooded in Thursday to Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for her powerful, haunting love song "Total Eclipse of the Heart", after she died in hospital in Portugal. She was 75.

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar stamped his authority on the Tour de France on Thursday, winning the mountainous sixth stage and reclaiming the race leader's yellow jersey.

Serial world record setter Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis has spent countless hours batting away questions about how he stays motivated in the men's pole vault.

Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova saved a match point to reach her first Wimbledon final with a pulsating three-set win against Coco Gauff on Thursday.

Around 1.6 million young Ukrainians are being forced by Russia into a system of military indoctrination that could amount to a crime against humanity, according to OSCE-mandated independent experts.

What does a world leader do with a gun and six bullets? That was the conundrum NATO leaders faced after the Turkish president offered them each a revolver after the Ankara summit.

The El Nino weather pattern picked up strength over the past month and is highly likely to "rank among the largest" ever recorded when it peaks between October and December, US forecasters said Thursday.

The World Cup has sparked a surge of interest in football -- or soccer as most New Yorkers call it -- but exposed a shortage of pitches in the city for both established players and converts to the beautiful game.

Jorge Jesus is set to be appointed Portugal coach after Roberto Martinez stepped down in the wake of their World Cup exit, a source told AFP on Thursday.

Fendi celebrates the first haute couture show by newly seated designer Maria Grazia Chiuri in its home city of Rome on Thursday, along with a homage to longtime couturier Karl Lagerfeld.

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is the "fastest growing" ever, African health authorities said Thursday, as the World Health Organization said it had killed 600 people.

Olympic sprint champions Gabrielle Thomas and Julien Alfred hope to bring the best out of each other in the 200m at Friday's Monaco Diamond League in a season during which the emphasis is on finding a good work-life balance.

Stock markets were steadier Thursday as investors rediscovered their appetite for tech stocks and largely ignored sabre-rattling between the United States and Iran.

What does a world leader do with a gun and six bullets? That was the conundrum NATO leaders faced after the Turkish president offered them each a revolver after the Ankara summit.

Hong Kong resident Joe Lam was finally able to sit with his pet poodle Glutinous Rice inside an air-conditioned cafe on Thursday, as the city allowed dogs to enter restaurants for the first time in decades.

Volkswagen workers staged protests nationwide Thursday as unions warned of "major conflict" if the struggling German car giant pushes ahead with what could be the global auto industry's biggest restructuring.

England have recalled Henry Slade for their crucial Nations Championship clash against Fiji in Liverpool on Saturday as coach Steve Borthwick bids to avoid a sixth straight defeat.

New fighting erupted between the United States and Iran hours ahead of the burial of longtime supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday, with Tehran targeting US allies in the region and American strikes hitting the perimeter of an Iranian nuclear power plant.

The world's chemical weapons watchdog reinstated Syria on Thursday, noting a "significant change in circumstances" since the fall of Bashar al-Assad and "concrete steps" to dismantle his deadly stockpile of banned substances.

Harlequins lock Guido Petti will become the sixth Argentina player to reach 100 caps when he starts against Wales in the Nations Championship this weekend in San Juan, the Argentine Rugby Union announced on Thursday.