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Jannik Sinner marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 as Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China's Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women's final.

Australian Cam Davis and American Ryan Gerard each fired a five-under-par 66 to share the lead late in Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship, but late bogeys dimmed both their efforts.

Austria's operatic JJ, Israel's competitor Yuval Raphael and Finland's leather-clad lust queen made it through to the Eurovision Song Contest final after wowing TV viewers with their performances on Thursday.

Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs on Thursday tried to chip away at the credibility of Casandra Ventura, the music mogul's former girlfriend, after two days of her grueling testimony in his trial on sex trafficking charges.

Barcelona clinched the Spanish title on Thursday for the 28th time in the club's history, but only the second occasion in the last six years.

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Oil prices fell Thursday while global equities were mixed after President Donald Trump said the United States was close to making a deal on Iran's nuclear program.

European delegates staged a walkout at FIFA's Congress in Paraguay on Thursday after world football chief Gianni Infantino jetted in late for the session following meetings in Saudi Arabia and Qatar with US President Donald Trump.

The 26 countries taking part in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest grand final, are now known, with 20 now having qualified from this week's semi-finals.

A stunning Lamine Yamal strike helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win at local rivals Espanyol on Thursday, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he had little hope that Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul would produce a peace breakthrough after the two sides traded insults during a tense buildup to negotiations.

The 16 countries competing in the Eurovision Song Contest's second semi-final were at the mercy of TV voters across the continent and beyond as they awaited their fate on Thursday.

A day after US President Donald Trump's administration announced it was scrapping existing limits on several toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water, a top official said new standards would be drawn up -- and may end up even stricter.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Xander Schauffele blasted PGA Championship rules preventing players from cleaning balls that land on the fairway at rain-soaked Quail Hollow on Thursday after struggling through their opening rounds.

US President Donald Trump's son Eric on Thursday assured the world's leading crypto conference that Washington would hoard "a tremendous amount of bitcoin," aided by his father's policies of slashing environmental protections to ramp up energy production.

The US government rested its case against Facebook-owner Meta on Thursday, as it tries to persuade a US judge that the tech giant bought Instagram and WhatsApp to neutralize them as rivals.

Former Spain international Jordi Alba has agreed a two-year contract extension with Inter Miami which will run through the 2027 Major League Soccer season, the club announced on Thursday.

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio said Thursday a presumption of innocence "must continue to prevail" after he was indicted in a case involving the viewing and distribution of a sexual video involving a minor.

Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hailed Uruguay's former president Jose "Pepe" Mujica as "a superior human being" Thursday as politicians joined citizens at a memorial for the famously humble ex-leader.

Palestinian rescuers reported 120 people killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

Ryder Cup captains Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley are in contention after their opening rounds at the PGA Championship, sparking talk of playing captains in September's showdown at Bethpage Black.

Sixteen countries ramped up the drama and kitsch in a bid for the last 10 places in the Eurovision Song Contest final at the second semi-final on Thursday.

Casper Ruud was left bewildered by the straight sets hammering dished out to him by Jannik Sinner on Thursday, as the world number seven exited the Italian Open on the end of a fearful beating.

Coinbase on Thursday said criminals bribed and duped their way to stealing cryptocurrency from its users, then tried to blackmail the exchange to keep the crime quiet.

Ryan Gerard reeled off four birdies and chipped in for eagle from nearly 60 feet on the back nine to seize a one-stroke clubhouse lead in Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship.

England great James Anderson is in line to make his comeback for Lancashire on Friday, nearly a year on from his emotional Test farewell at Lord's.

Jannik Sinner marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 and sending a warning that the world number one is officially back.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Thursday downplayed expectations for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, after Moscow sent a low-profile delegation and both sides traded insults ahead of the negotiations.

NFL team owners will meet next week to vote on a resolution that would allow league players to compete at the 2028 Olympics, when the sport's non-contact version will be part of the games, the league said Thursday.

Jannik Sinner marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 and sending a warning that the world number one is officially back.

Marcus Rashford will miss the rest of Aston Villa's season after being ruled out of Friday's match against Tottenham Hotspur.

The 16 competitors in the Eurovision Song Contest's second semi-final went through a last dress rehearsal marked by protests Thursday ahead of a show when six of them will crash out.

Rwanda's biggest national park announced on Thursday it will be receiving 70 white rhinos from South Africa later this month, in the country's largest such transfer ever.

Cricket West Indies have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to give Caribbean nations a chance to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games and avoid the region being "shut out of history".

Palestinian rescuers reported more than 100 people killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza, where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month.

The Cannes film festival barred an actor in a prominent French film from the red carpet on Thursday because of sexual assault allegations, unveiling a new policy under pressure from lawmakers and activists.

French Ligue 1 side Nantes will fine their Egyptian international striker Mostafa Mohamed over his refusal to play in Saturday's vital game against Montpellier which will also see the clubs mark the international day against homophobia, a source told AFP on Thursday.

Lewis Hamilton admitted Thursday that he had underestimated how difficult it would be for him to adapt to life with Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes.

The 16 competitors in the Eurovision Song Contest's second semi-final went through a last dress rehearsal on Thursday, just hours before showtime -- when six of them will crash out.