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US President Donald Trump withdrew his threat to launch a more devastating wave of bombings against Iran on Thursday and promised instead that he would soon be able to announce the signing of a deal with Tehran to end the war.

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.

Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid with club president Florentino Perez gambling his traits of discipline and a fierce competitive drive will revive the Spanish giants after a turbulent spell.

After two seasons without major silverware, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez activated the nuclear option.

Real Madrid appointed Jose Mourinho as their coach on Thursday on a three-year deal, with the Portuguese veteran making a sensational return to the Spanish capital after 13 years away.

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.

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.

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.

A leather bag made from Tyrannosaurus rex cells will be auctioned off on Thursday by Paris auction house Giquello, estimating the "one-of-a-kind" piece could sell for more than $500,000.

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.