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The French government vowed on Thursday to push through pension reform by the end of the winter despite opposition from unions which launched a first major day of strikes.

Ireland centre Bundee Aki is set to miss home Tests against world champions South Africa and Fiji after being handed an eight-week ban following his red card for Connacht last weekend.

Vivian Bjorkenstamn brought pink roses and condolence cards for her visit to Windsor Castle, as it reopened to the public on Thursday after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss defended her tax-slashing plans Thursday but vowed to "get borrowing back on track", after nearly a week of silence when markets tanked and the Bank of England was forced into an emergency intervention.

Polish authorities on Thursday said toxic algae was to blame for mass fish deaths in the Oder river, ruling out industrial pollution as the cause.

Russia will annex four regions of Ukraine that its troops occupy at a grand ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday, Moscow said, after President Vladimir Putin threatened he could use nuclear weapons to defend the territories.

Brazil's deeply polarized election campaign entered the home stretch Thursday with incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva squaring off in what could be a bellicose final debate.

World number two Casper Ruud secured a place at the ATP Finals for the second straight year after battling into the Korea Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

Paris has given operators of electric kick scooter fleets one month to come up with measures to limit reckless riding, pell-mell parking and other "misuses" or risk a loss of their licenscs, city hall said Thursday.

The James Webb and Hubble telescopes on Thursday revealed their first images of a spacecraft deliberately smashing into an asteroid, as astronomers indicated that the impact looks to have been much greater than expected.

European and US equities sank Thursday on fears that rising interest rates will spark a global recession, while the pound clawed back ground one day after emergency bond-market intervention from the Bank of England.

Hurricane Ian inundated cities, turned out the lights on millions of residents and left migrants from an overturned boat missing Thursday as Florida assessed damage from what the state governor described as a "500-year flood event."

Swedish authorities said Thursday a fourth leak was detected on undersea pipelines linking Russia to Europe following what NATO described as an act of sabotage.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin was elected Thursday as the first woman to lead the UN's telecoms agency in its 157-year history, with the US contender beating a Russian rival to the post.

Queen Elizabeth II died of "old age" at 3:10 pm (1410 GMT) on September 8, according to her death certificate released on Thursday, or nearly three-and-a-half hours before the news was announced to the world.

Germany on Thursday extended a 200-billion-euro ($194-billion) shield to protect households and businesses from skyrocketing power costs, as Europe's biggest economy found itself in an "energy war over prosperity and freedom" against Russia.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he feels for the fans with Max Verstappen on the cusp of wrapping up the world championship early at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

The EU on Friday will seek urgent ways to bring down skyrocketing energy prices as winter looms, with "sabotage" of gas pipelines from Russia this week injecting drama into the effort.

India's Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the remaining two matches against South Africa due to a back injury and remains doubtful for the T20 World Cup starting next month.

The James Webb and Hubble telescopes on Thursday revealed their initial images of a spacecraft deliberately crashing into an asteroid, marking the first time the two most powerful space telescopes have observed the same celestial object.

Finland said Thursday it will bar Russians with Schengen tourist visas from entering the country at midnight (2100 GMT) following a surge in arrivals after Moscow's mobilisation order.

Max Verstappen said Thursday he thinks he is "quite a long shot" to retain his Formula One world championship at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, even though it is mathematically possible.

Iran stepped up pressure on celebrities and journalists Thursday over the wave of women-led protests sparked by outrage over the death of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by the Islamic republic's morality police.

The Swiss franc is breaking records against the euro, giving the Swiss economy a temporary boost as central banks battle inflation -- although experts remain cautious about the months ahead.

Nearly 400 staff at BBC World Service will lose their jobs as part of a cost-cutting programme and move to digital platforms, the broadcaster announced on Thursday, paring down its Iranian-language service among others.

An "extraordinary and resilient" African elephant who defied all odds to give birth despite being shot five times by poachers has died in Kenya's drought-ravaged north, conservationists said on Thursday.

The French government vowed on Thursday to push through pension reform by the end of the winter despite fierce opposition from unions whose first major day of strikes failed to have much impact.

Hurricane Ian flooded cities, turned out the lights on millions, and left migrants from an overturned boat missing on Thursday as Florida assessed damage from one of the most intense US storms in years.

European equities sank Thursday on fears that rising interest rates will spark a global recession, while the pound clawed back ground one day after emergency bond-market intervention from the Bank of England.

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas nailed 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as the United States close in on an 11th title after setting up a women's basketball World Cup semi-final against Canada Thursday.

Williams driver Alex Albon said Thursday he was surprised to be able to race in Singapore this weekend after missing the Italian Grand Prix because of complications after surgery.

Coronavirus vaccinations will not be mandatory for the million-plus fans going to the World Cup in Qatar this year, the Gulf state said Thursday.