Bayern Munich and France midfielder Franck Ribery won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for the 2012-2013 season on Thursday, beating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by a big margin.

Ribery earned 36 votes in the poll of journalists from across Europe — 23 more than four-time reigning world player of the year Messi. Real Madrid forward Ronaldo won three votes.

Forward Alessandro Matri has transferred from Juventus to Serie A title rival AC Milan in an unpopular move among Rossoneri fans.

The move was announced on Milan's TV station late Thursday, with the transfer price reportedly 11 million euros ($14.6 million).

Barcelona will face seven-time winner AC Milan in the Champions League for the third straight season, while Bayern Munich begins the defense of its title in a group containing Manchester City.

Thursday's draw in Monaco put Barcelona in Group H with Milan, Ajax and Celtic — four teams who have been European champions 16 times between them.

Usain Bolt considered it his worst race of the season, yet he still won the 100 meters at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in 9.90 seconds.

The world and Olympic champion had the slowest reaction out of the starting blocks, and was led deep into the race Thursday by fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade.

Britain advised its citizens on Friday against all but essential travel to Lebanon, citing a recent uptick in violence and wider tensions in the region.

The Foreign Office said in the advice that British nationals already in the country should consider leaving if it is not essential for them to be here.

Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have traveling companions — space rocks that share the planets' orbits as they circle the sun.

Now scientists have discovered one that tags along with Uranus. About 38 miles (61 kilometers) wide, the icy rock runs ahead of the planet.

Being short on cash may make you a bit slower in the brain, a new study suggests.

People worrying about having enough money to pay their bills tend to lose temporarily the equivalent of 13 IQ points, scientists found when they gave intelligence tests to shoppers at a New Jersey mall and farmers in India.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both dispatched their opponents with ease on Thursday to remain on course for a clash in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

Nadal won the final 12 games of the match to breeze past Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, while Federer was only marginally more troubled in beating Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

International punitive strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime without a United Nations mandate will pose a "serious threat" to the security and stability across the Middle East, Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Thursday.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Mansour warned that a Western military strike would escalate tensions in Lebanon and may dramatically increase the number of Syrian refugees.

Samuel Eto'o has become the second player this week to join Chelsea from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

The Cameroon striker has signed a one-year deal to be reunited with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who he played under at Inter Milan.