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Stock markets were mixed on Thursday, on the eve of a long Easter holiday and key US jobs data that could provide clues about whether the world's biggest economy is headed towards recession.

Norway's Viktor Hovland and Spain's Jon Rahm shared the early clubhouse in the first round of the Masters on Thursday after taking advantages of easier-than-usual conditions at Augusta National to card seven-under par rounds of 65.

Tiger Woods battled through constant leg pain to fire a two-over par 74 in Thursday's opening round of the 87th Masters, his worst 18-hole start at Augusta National since 2005.

A supertanker bought by the United Nations to remove oil from a ship abandoned off war-ravaged Yemen's coast departed China on Thursday, the UN announced, calling it a "significant" step in efforts to prevent a major spill.

Israel accused Palestinian groups of firing a barrage of cross-border rockets from Lebanon Thursday, just over a day after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site.

Thomas Pieters never expected he might be banned from playing his home-nation DP World Tour event when he jumped to the LIV Golf League, but fears that's what could now happen.

The White House on Thursday released a long-awaited review of the US exit from Afghanistan, laying blame on Donald Trump and a huge intelligence failure, but defending overall US conduct of the traumatic operation.

The families of four children killed at a Brazilian preschool held emotional funerals for them Thursday, a day after an attacker murdered them with a hatchet in a crime that has shocked the nation.

Fred Couples reeled off four birdies in six holes on the back nine at age 63 to make a thrilling run up the leaderboard in Thursday's opening round of the Masters.

The White House on Thursday released a long-awaited review of the traumatic US exit from Afghanistan, admitting there had been a massive intelligence failure in not predicting rapid Taliban victory, but defending overall US conduct.

All-rounder Shardul Thakur blitzed a half-century off 20 balls to rally the Kolkata Knight Riders in Thursday's 81-run Indian Premier League win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Central banks around the world should keep battling inflation by hiking interest rates despite ongoing concerns about financial stability, the head of the International Monetary Fund told AFP on Thursday.

Two astronauts from Saudi Arabia, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 8 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Space and NASA officials said Thursday.

Israel accused Palestinian groups of firing a barrage of rockets from Lebanon on the Jewish Passover holiday Thursday, just over a day after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site.

Americans Kevin Na and Will Zalatoris withdrew from the 87th Masters during the opening round on Thursday.

Norway's Viktor Hovland set the early pace at the 87th Masters on Thursday, reaching the turn at five-under par while five-time champion Tiger Woods toiled with three early bogeys.

Walmart announced Thursday plans to add electric vehicle (EV) chargers to thousands of US stores in a sign of further mainstreaming of emission-free autos.

Protesters started a fire at one of French President Emmanuel Macron's favourite restaurants in Paris on Thursday during clashes with riot police at the upmarket left-bank brasserie.

Radical protesters clashed with French security forces as hundreds of thousands hit the streets Thursday in a new show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms.

Italian former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is currently in intensive care, is suffering from leukaemia and a lung infection, doctors said Thursday.

Stock markets wavered on Thursday on the eve of a long Easter holiday and key US jobs data that could provide clues about whether the economy is heading towards recession.

A Russian prosecutor on Thursday requested 25 years of imprisonment for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is being tried on several charges including treason over comments critical of the Ukraine offensive, his lawyer said.

Protected Indigenous reservations in the Amazon rainforest absorb thousands of tonnes of airborne pollution each year, saving around $2 billion annually in healthcare costs for treating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published Thursday.

Cristian Stellini has defended Harry Kane after the Tottenham striker's controversial role in Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure's red card.

Rainforests on Indigenous lands in Brazil's Amazon protect millions of people from heart and lung diseases by absorbing pollution and save $2 billion a year in healthcare costs, researchers said in a study published Thursday, urging increased protection against deforestation.

Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods got his round under way at Augusta National on Thursday as the 87th edition of the tournament started in warm conditions.

A Russian girl taken away from her father after she drew a picture in support of Ukraine at school has been handed by authorities to her estranged mother, an official said.

Kevin Na withdrew from the 87th Masters due to illness on Thursday after playing the first nine holes at 4-over par 40 at Augusta National.

A barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon targeted Israel Thursday, a day after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site drew warnings of retaliation from around the region.

Jack Nicklaus recalled his 1968 days as a breakaway rebel who helped create the PGA Tour on Thursday at the Masters but said that split wasn't comparable to today's LIV Golf-PGA dispute.

Italian former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is currently in intensive care, is suffering from leukaemia and a lung infection, doctors said Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe on Thursday complained about Paris Saint-Germain's use of video and images of him for their season-ticket advertising campaign.