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Fernando Alonso on Thursday celebrated the surprise news that technical guru Adrian Newey will be Aston Martin's team chief next year, and admitted he was just as surprised as the rest of the Formula One paddock by the announcement.

The only wild specimens of a rare blue parrot which had only recently been returned to its natural habitat in Brazil have been diagnosed with a lethal, incurable virus, the government said in a statement sent to AFP Thursday.

Max Verstappen on Thursday welcomed McLaren's decision not to implement team orders in support of Lando Norris ahead of the three-way fight for the drivers' title at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix.

Military forces ousted Guinea-Bissau's president and halted the country's electoral process this week before installing a general on Thursday to lead the country.

The European Space Agency announced Thursday it had secured a record budget of 22.1 billion euros to fund its programmes for the next three years, as the continent seeks greater independence in space.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement Thursday with the western energy-producing Alberta province to advance a new oil pipeline, a divisive move raising concern about Ottawa's commitment to confronting climate change.

A Colombian army general and an intelligence chief were suspended on Thursday following allegations they leaked sensitive information to a guerrilla leader, the attorney general's office told AFP.

Lewis Hamilton on Thursday declared he had no regrets about joining Ferrari this year and dismissed his earlier comments, in which he said he was not looking forward to next year, as having been said in the "heat of frustration".

France will introduce a voluntary military service of 10 months beginning next year, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, in the face of what it views as a growing threat posed by Russia.

Lando Norris insisted Thursday he was feeling calm and composed ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix where he could win his first drivers' world championship title.

Venezuela's decision to ban foreign airlines that stopped flying to the Caribbean country over concerns about US military activity was branded "disproportionate" on Thursday as thousands of passengers scrambled to save their travel plans.

The FBI said Thursday it had launched an international terrorism investigation after a gunman -- identified as an Afghan national who served with US troops in Afghanistan -- shot and critically injured two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington.

The Winter Egg, one of Faberge's most dazzling creations, is due to be auctioned in London next week and set another sales price record for the legendary jeweller of Imperial Russia.

Hong Kong authorities said on Friday the death toll from the city's worst fire in decades had risen to at least 83, as firefighters scoured torched high-rise buildings for scores of people still listed as missing.

India's cricket World Cup-winning star Deepti Sharma became the joint second-most expensive player in the Women's Premier League history after a winning bid of $358,000 by UP Warriorz on Thursday.

The European Space Agency announced Thursday it had secured a record budget of 22.1 billion euros to fund its programmes for the next three years, as the continent seeks greater independence in space.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims at its own -- otherwise his army would take it by force.

Arne Slot vowed Thursday to "keep fighting", saying his conversations with Liverpool's owners have not changed despite his team's deep slump.

Johnny Depp's life with former French partner Vanessa Paradis and their two children was "bliss", the US actor told AFP in an interview on Thursday.

Hong Kong authorities said on Thursday the death toll from the city's worst fire in decades had risen to at least 75, as firefighters scoured torched high-rise buildings in an apartment complex for scores of people listed as missing.

Hard-right British lawmaker Nigel Farage faced growing scrutiny Thursday over allegations he made racist and antisemitic comments while a youngster at an elite English school.

A middle-aged woman emerged, weeping and clinging to her companion, from a community hall now used as a victim identification station in the shadow of smouldering apartment towers that mark Hong Kong's worst fire in decades.

France captain Antoine Dupont is set to return for Toulouse this weekend after more than eight months out injured, a source told AFP on Thursday.

Pope Leo XIV began a four-day visit to Turkey on Thursday, urging Ankara to embrace its role as a mediator in a world gripped by conflict, he said after talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

DNA pulled from the dung of African forest elephants has given experts a more accurate -- and higher -- population estimate for the elusive animal, but the species remains critically endangered, a study showed Thursday.

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out for the next two weeks with a calf injury, the club announced on Thursday.

Two prisoners escaped from a French jail using bed sheets after sawing through the bars of their cell, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Italian alpine skiing World Cup holder Federica Brignone said on Thursday her return to snow was a "starting point" with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics a little more than two months away.

Hong Kong authorities said on Thursday the death toll from the city's worst fire in decades had risen to 65, as firefighters scoured scorched high-rise buildings in an apartment complex for more than 250 people listed as missing.

The world's top wildlife trade body voted Thursday to effectively ban all international trade in the critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark but rejected a proposal to protect more species of eel.

Hong Kong's worst fire in almost 80 years killed at least 65 people in an eight-building apartment complex, with more than 250 people still missing.

Kenyan long-distance runner Evans Kibet said he came to Russia for a sporting event but was instead spirited away to a military training camp and sent to fight in Ukraine.