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Europe's top court dealt football governing body UEFA a scything legal tackle on Thursday, but an attempt by rival Super League promoters to kick off a new competition met a solid defensive wall of clubs and fans.

Turkey's top court on Thursday ordered the release of jailed lawmaker Can Atalay, ruling for the second time that his rights had been violated.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said lifting the Club World Cup on Friday would be something his players can cherish forever as he played down the importance of the English champions' patchy Premier League form.

A strike by workers operating the Channel tunnel blocked train travel Thursday between Britain and France, leaving thousands of pre-Christmas travellers as well as freight traffic stranded.

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo extended into Thursday, after general elections that began the day before saw some polling stations never open due to logistical problems.

Britain and Switzerland unveiled a post-Brexit financial services agreement on Thursday, aimed at making it easier for corporate and wealthy people in both countries to do business together.

Sanju Samson hit a maiden international century for India in the series-deciding third one-day international against South Africa at Boland Park in Paarl on Thursday.

Crude prices slumped on Thursday after Angola quit the OPEC oil cartel, while Wall Street stocks rebounded after a streak of records was snapped.

Struggling Bundesliga side Cologne have parted ways with manager Steffen Baumgart, the club announced on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday hailed a deal with the European Union to delay post-Brexit tariffs on electric vehicle sales that were due to kick in from January.

US director Martin Scorsese will collect a lifetime achievement award at next year's Berlinale film festival for his contributions to global cinema, organisers said Thursday.

A French appeals court on Thursday jailed a Chilean man for the murder of his Japanese ex-girlfriend in 2016.

A wildcat strike by workers operating the Channel tunnel has blocked train travel between France and Britain since midday Thursday, train operator Eurostar said.

Europe's top court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), ruled on Thursday that UEFA broke EU law in blocking the rival Super League competition.

Angola said on Thursday it would leave OPEC over a disagreement on production quotas following the oil cartel's decision last month to further slash output next year.

There are no longer any functional hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization said Thursday, describing "unbearable" scenes of largely abandoned patients begging for food and water.

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said Thursday a European Super League would be "an attack on the importance of national leagues", while reaffirming "the door to the Super League remains closed at Bayern".

The Israeli army said Thursday it bombed scores of targets in the Gaza Strip as diplomats pressed on with efforts to halt the fighting that Hamas says has killed 20,000 people in the Palestinian territory.

Italy's lower house of parliament, including members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, rejected an opposition motion to approve a reform of the eurozone's bailout fund on Thursday.

In the damp December cold, a blue bus stops near Weymouth town centre in southwest England. A few men get off, relieved to be spending a few hours away from what they call their "prison" -- a barge housing asylum seekers.

Luton captain Tom Lockyer has been discharged from hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match, the club announced on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday faced accusations of siding with sexual aggressors after saying film icon Gerard Depardieu, charged with rape and facing a litany of sexual assault claims, was the target of "a manhunt".

Benin President Patrice Talon on Thursday called for relations to be swiftly re-established between his country and neighbouring Niger, which is now controlled by military rulers after a coup.

Turkey's central bank announced a smaller interest rate hike than in previous months on Thursday, signalling it is nearing the end of its monetary tightening as it battles double-digit inflation.

The promoters of a Super League announced plans for a new breakaway competition on Thursday after the EU's top court ruled that UEFA had used illegal tactics to stifle a previous project.

Stock markets faltered Thursday following an early pre-Christmas rally that was fuelled by expectations the US Federal Reserve will slash interest rates next year as inflation cools in the world's biggest economy.

UEFA said Thursday's ruling by Europe's top court that it and FIFA had broken EU law to stifle the creation of a rival Super League "does not signify an endorsement or validation of" the breakaway competition.

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo extended into Thursday a day after a general election marred by widespread logistical problems that saw some polling stations never open.

The Israeli army said Thursday it bombed scores of targets in the Gaza Strip as diplomats pressed on with efforts to halt the fighting that Hamas says has killed 20,000 people in the Palestinian territory.

Storm clouds are finally gathering over Zimbabwe's biggest animal reserve, but it has come too late for more than 110 elephants that have died in a searing, extended drought.

On the Caspian Sea coast in Turkmenistan -- one of the world's most secretive states -- Batyr Yusupov can no longer ferry his passengers between two ports. There is not enough water.

Chinese authorities are facing a "race against time" to ensure victims of the deadliest earthquake in years can be sheltered from freezing winter temperatures, a local official told AFP on Thursday.

Stock markets were mixed Thursday as investors took their foot off the gas after an extended rally fuelled by expectations the Federal Reserve will slash interest rates next year.

South Korea's highest court dismissed claims for compensation from the initiator of the country's #MeToo movement on Thursday, after she had filed suit against a boss over alleged sexual abuse.

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as investors took their foot off the gas after an extended rally fuelled by expectations the Federal Reserve will slash interest rates next year.

An 18-year-old recruit in one of Myanmar's pro-democracy fighting units prepares to launch a drone strike on junta troops, driven by anger and her mother’s call for revolution.

Sales of Sony's PlayStation 5 have crossed 50 million units, the Japanese electronics giant said, pointing to "strong momentum" this year for its flagship gaming console.

Spain kicks off its festive period on Friday with the world's richest lottery, splashing prize money and festive cheer across the country.

Joe Gallagher is one of Ireland's last traditional faith healers, whose pub is visited by believers from across the country hoping for a cure for aches and pains, warts and rashes.