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British energy giant Shell and Norway's Equinor announced plans Thursday to merge their UK offshore oil and gas assets to create a new jointly owned company.

Georgia's prime minister vowed Thursday to "eradicate" the country's "liberal-fascist" opposition, escalating the government's bitter campaign against its rivals as mass pro-EU protests enter their second week.

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a five-year non-harassment order and fined after breaching bail conditions.

Bitcoin burst past $100,000 for the first time on Thursday, while global stock markets diverged as traders tracked political crises in France and South Korea.

A European mission launched from India on Thursday, aiming to catch a rare glimpse of the Sun's mysterious atmosphere by imitating a solar eclipse using two satellites flying with millimetre-level precision.

Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin was Thursday banned for a year following a horse-whipping controversy that led to her withdrawal from the Paris Games.

Bitcoin broke $100,000 for the first time Thursday after Donald Trump nominated cryptocurrency backer Paul Atkins to head the US securities regulator, reinforcing optimism the incoming president will deregulate the sector.

Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin was Thursday banned for a year following a horse-whipping controversy that led to her withdrawal from the Paris Games.

Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a war monitor said.

The fall of Syria's second city, Aleppo, to Islamist-led rebels has brought flight and displacement for some, but for others like Bahria Bakkur, it has led to long-awaited reunions.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday was meeting Emmanuel Macron to submit his resignation after losing a vote of no confidence in parliament, with the president urgently seeking ways to halt growing political and financial chaos.

President Yoon Suk Yeol faces an impeachment vote this Saturday after briefly imposing martial law in South Korea.

The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers were due to attend an OSCE summit in Malta on Thursday, with Sergei Lavrov making his first visit to an EU state since his country's 2022 invasion of its neighbour.

Shopping app Temu has been forced to suspend its services in Vietnam after it failed to register with authorities, state media said on Thursday.

President Emmanuel Macron was on Thursday seeking urgent ways to halt growing political and financial chaos after a no-confidence vote left France without a functioning government, a budget or an obvious path out of the quagmire.

Vodafone and Three, the UK division of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, are set to create Britain's biggest mobile phone operator after the country's competition regulator backed the deal Thursday.

Bitcoin broke $100,000 for the first time Thursday as traders cheered Donald Trump's decision to pick a crypto fan to head the US securities regulator, reinforcing optimism the new president will push through measures to deregulate the sector.

The OPEC oil cartel and its allies are expected Thursday to extend their supply cuts to avoid a sharp drop in prices in a global market awash in crude.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is now facing impeachment after a shock bid to suspend civilian rule.

Bitcoin burst past $100,000 for the first time Thursday, while Seoul stocks slipped as South Korea's president faced impeachment after his brief imposition of martial law this week.

Romania's far-right presidential front-runner Calin Georgescu has put his most controversial statements aside as he goes for a single slogan echoing Donald Trump before Sunday's run-off vote -- "Romania first".

The radio was playing and summer sun was streaming through the car windows when Natalya Sadykova and her husband Aydos pulled into their leafy courtyard in Kyiv where a gunman was waiting.

Serving their last year in prison, David Hejny and Marek Kolar have their work cut out as they train puppies Zeus and Zirkon to be assistance dogs for the visually impaired.

Chinese shopping app Temu has been forced to suspend its services in Vietnam after it failed to register with authorities, state media said on Thursday.

Australia head into the second Test against India in Adelaide fired up by pride, captain Pat Cummins said Thursday, as his team seek to bounce back from a crushing loss in Perth.

Japanese tipples sake and shochu -- and the knowledge and skills honed over centuries to make them -- have been added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was still clinging to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an impeachment motion after his short-lived imposition of martial law stunned the world.

Australian seamer Scott Boland will replace injured pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood for the second Test against India starting Friday while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was declared fit to bowl.

Bitcoin burst past $100,000 for the first time Thursday as traders welcomed Donald Trump's pick to head the US securities commission, while Seoul stocks slipped as South Korea's president faced impeachment after his brief imposition of martial law this week.

Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka ended the November internationals on a high having started all three of France's victories to cement his place as his country's first-choice number two.

Atalanta take on AC Milan on Friday night with Serie A's top spot in their sights and a growing belief that this could be their year for unprecedented Scudetto glory.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te spoke to Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Lai's office told AFP Thursday, as he visits the American territory Guam during a Pacific tour that has angered China.