Rory McIlroy reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to fire a five-under par 67 and seize a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler lurking two adrift.
US First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, or that she herself was a victim of the convicted sex offender.
Boston star Jayson Tatum will try to set aside the emotions of his Madison Square Garden return on Thursday and help the Celtics lock up the NBA Eastern Conference second seed with a win over the New York Knicks.
- Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire
- Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse
Sports
Meg Jones is confident England will give supporters value for money when she leads the all-conquering world champions for the first time in their Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Thousands of Iranians rallied Thursday in a tribute to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the war with the United States and Israel, expressing criticism of talks expected in Pakistan this week.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his ministers on Thursday to seek direct talks with Lebanon, pushing for Hezbollah's disarmament amid mounting concern that its ongoing strikes could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel and plunge the region back into all-out war.
April 09, 2026
Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday raided the offices of the Novaya Gazeta independent media outlet, the paper said, adding that a reporter was being questioned by the police.
April 09, 2026
Henry Crow and Barton Snow made light of the Grand National fences to cruise to victory in the amateur riders' Foxhunters Chase and complete the Cheltenham Festival/Aintree double on Thursday.
April 09, 2026
Economy
The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts due to the Middle East war, its chief said Thursday, warning of the conflict's "scarring effects" despite a fragile ceasefire.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Jihadists in northeast Nigeria killed several troops including a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, local government and intelligence sources told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Local boy Alex Aranburu sprinted to victory in the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country on Thursday as French youngster Paul Seixas stretched his overall lead.
Russia's Supreme Court labelled the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial "extremist" on Thursday, making it easier for authorities to prosecute its supporters and those who work with it.
England's final two World Cup warm-up friendlies will likely take place in sweltering Florida heat after the Three Lions' schedule was finalised on Thursday.
April 09, 2026
Sports
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday pulled out of next week's Stuttgart Open citing an injury sustained at the Miami Open in March.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Tens of thousands of fans filled a rainswept stadium in South Korea on Thursday to watch BTS kick off their world tour, as the K-pop megastars ride the momentum of a chart-topping comeback album and a landmark performance in the heart of Seoul.
An animal welfare charity has revealed it rescued more than 250 dogs from one UK home, with a photo of the scene prompting "disbelief" and false claims that the image was generated by artificial intelligence.
Henry Crow and Barton Snow made light of the Grand National fences to cruise to victory in the amateur riders 'National' The Foxhunters Chase and complete the Cheltenham Festival/Aintree double on Thursday.
Reigning champion Nick Rockett is out of Saturday's Grand National horse race in Liverpool after being declared a non-runner on Thursday.
April 09, 2026
- 'Free' McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid
- US envoy warns EU won't win AI race 'bringing others down'
- Trump, Vance not 'meddling' in Hungary vote, says US envoy to EU
- Jihadists kill 18 Nigerian troops including senior brigadier general
- Mideast war threatens Africa's supply of humanitarian medicine
- Seven World Cup winners start for England in Women's Six Nations opener
- China FM vows deeper ties with North Korea on trip to Pyongyang
- Sinner survives energy dip, end of streak to see off Machac