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Jannik Sinner drove Italy into the Davis Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Thursday, the world number four triumphing in both his singles rubber and in the decisive doubles.

Dutch Muslim community leaders voiced anger, fear, and defiance after the election victory of anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders, but on the ground the picture seemed more nuanced, with many even expressing support because of his economic policies.

Josh Inglis hit his maiden international century to power Australia to 208-3 against India in the opening Twenty20 international of a five-match series on Thursday.

Paris will set a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour (30 mph) on the French capital's congested ring road and add a car-sharing lane after next year's Olympic Games, city hall said Thursday.

The recently concluded Cricket World Cup in India was the "most watched" edition in the country ever, broadcaster Disney+ Hotstar said in a statement Thursday.

A pause in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza will start on Friday morning with the first hostages to be released hours later, mediator Qatar said, after nearly seven weeks of fighting.

Max Verstappen on Thursday rejected the notion, rumoured and reported in recent days, that his Red Bull team were considering approaching Lewis Hamilton to partner him in a dream line-up.

Far-right firebrand Geert Wilders urged his shaken political rivals on Thursday to find common ground to govern the country, after a bombshell election win that reverberated around the Netherlands and Europe.

More than 15 train cars have derailed in the southern US state of Kentucky, spilling molten sulfur, sparking a fire, and prompting authorities to encourage nearby communities to evacuate on the eve of a major national holiday.

Growing numbers of asylum-seeking migrants have in recent weeks been crossing the once quiet border from Russia into Finland in freezing temperatures, a move Helsinki has labelled a hybrid attack.

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will announce Thursday a major investment in a French production site to expand capacity for a blockbuster anti-obesity drug, the French presidency said.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and Ferrari's Fred Vasseur were summoned to see the Formula One race stewards at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Thursday for comments made during a news conference at last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Russia was throwing "waves" of soldiers towards the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, suffering massive losses in their attempt to capture strategically important territory on the eastern front lines, Ukrainian soldiers say.

England star Ben Stokes has opted out of next year's Indian Premier League to manage his "workload and fitness", his franchise Chennai Super Kings said Thursday.

Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and of Palestinians detained by Israel waited Thursday for at least one more day after a breakthrough four-day truce deal was put on hold.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on Thursday hit out at the crowded fixture list, saying it was "not for the good of the game and not for the good of the players".

Francesco Bagnaia goes into the final weekend of a thrilling MotoGP season in Valencia with the defence of his crown still in the balance though sole rival Jorge Martin appears to have given up hope, claiming "they stole it (title) from me."

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha has been ruled out until 2024 with a hip injury, coach Edin Terzic confirmed on Thursday.

Oil prices sank further Thursday after the shock decision by OPEC+ to delay a key policy meeting, suggesting fresh discord in the bloc.

Ambulances were on standby Thursday as Indian rescuers dug through the final metres of debris separating them from 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for nearly two weeks.

Polish transport companies Thursday expanded their protests against what they call unfair competition from Ukrainian truckers by blocking another border checkpoint.

Turkey's central bank on Thursday surprised the market with a larger-than-expected interest hike as it ramped up its fight against inflation and efforts to support the slumping lira.

Many traumatised Israelis have compared the bloody Hamas onslaught of October 7 to the horrors of the Holocaust, but the head of the national memorial to the genocide disagrees.

UK leader Rishi Sunak's hopes of turning around his beleaguered Conservative party's fortunes before a likely general election next year hinge on a British economic recovery, observers say.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk broke his silence Thursday on a strike against his company in Sweden, saying it was "insane" that it may block new car deliveries.

Argentina dropped out of a race for a key UNESCO post after libertarian outsider Javier Milei's election as the South American country's president created controversy, and Brazil has now jumped into the fray.

Oil and gas firms will face a crucial choice at UN climate talks next week between contributing to the climate crisis or embracing the clean energy transition, the International Energy Agency said Thursday.

The transport system in Paris will not be ready in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in the French capital, its mayor said, sparking anger Thursday from political opponents.

Israel said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday, delaying a breakthrough deal to pause the brutal war with Hamas.

Oil extended losses Thursday after OPEC announced the shock delay of a key policy meeting, suggesting fresh upheaval in the bloc, while equities were mixed after two US reports dented recent euphoria over the future of interest rates.

Former West Indies star Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years for breaching an anti-corruption code, the sport's world body said on Thursday.

Spaniard Joel Moscatel Nachshon fired a remarkable eight-under-par 63 on his DP World Tour debut Thursday to lead the Australian PGA Championship, but defending champion Cameron Smith had a round to forget.