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The United States said Thursday that Russia is on the verge of unleashing a massive military attack against Ukraine, dismissing Moscow's claim to be pulling forces back, as artillery fire hit a Ukrainian kindergarten.

The United States said Thursday that Russia is on the verge of unleashing a massive military attack against Ukraine, dismissing Moscow's claim to be pulling forces back, as artillery fire hit a Ukrainian kindergarten.

Simona Halep continued her excellent start to the year by powering past Ons Jabeur and into the semi-finals of the WTA event in Dubai on Thursday, while Jelena Ostapenko saved a match point to edge out Petra Kvitova.

Standing on the heap of mud and rubble that used to be his sister's house, Anderson Mota Barreiros joins the small army of volunteers shoveling through the muck for their missing loved ones after deadly landslides hit the scenic Brazilian city of Petropolis.

Asserting that McDonald's had not lived up to prior commitments on animal welfare, billionaire investor Carl Icahn said he planned to offer alternative candidates for the company's board of directors.

Formula One outfit Alpine on Thursday appointed American Otmar Szafnauer as team principal with Frenchman Bruno Famin taking up the post of executive director.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken challenged Russia Thursday to make an unequivocal statement that it would not invade Ukraine and to back it up by pulling back troops.

Teenager Kamila Valieva finished fourth in the women's figure skating at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday as a doping scandal engulfing the pre-Games favourite appeared to take its toll.

Ten-time major winner Annika Sorenstam will compete in the 77th US Women's Open in June, the US Golf Association said Thursday.

The United States on Thursday shipped nearly 5.2 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to Egypt and Nigeria, a White House official told AFP.

Rescuers raced against the clock Thursday to find survivors among the mud and wreckage caused by devastating flash floods and landslides that killed 104 people in the picturesque Brazilian city of Petropolis.

Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur hit back at allegations he is being investigated over the purchase of false Covid passes, insisting Thursday: "I have a completely valid, accurate and true vaccination record."

Stock markets moved lower Thursday as investors assessed the latest twists in the Ukraine crisis, while oil prices retreated on further signs of a breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks, analysts said.

Kindergarten worker Natalia Slesareva's ears were ringing after she was thrown against a door by a shell blast during an attack that has sent tensions soaring, amid fears that Russia will invade Ukraine.

Kamila Valieva's notoriously demanding coach appeared to have little sympathy after the teenage Russian's hopes of Beijing Olympic figure skating gold evaporated Thursday in a disastrous performance.

France announced Thursday that it was withdrawing its troops from Mali after a breakdown in relations with the country's ruling junta, ending a near 10-year deployment against jihadist groups that pose a growing threat in West Africa.

Canadian police massed in the capital Thursday, readying to clear a trucker-led protest that has choked Ottawa's streets and provoked the government to call on rarely-used emergency powers.

World number one Novak Djokovic said he has missed playing tennis on Thursday as he prepares for his comeback in Dubai after the coronavirus vaccine row that kept him from defending his Australian Open title.

Swiss food giant Nestle was cautious Thursday about its 2022 targets in the face of rising costs, despite robust results thanks to its shift towards the booming vegetarian market.

Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur is among those being investigated over the purchase of false Covid passes, Spanish police sources told AFP on Thursday.

The United States stepped up warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, despite Moscow's continued denials and announcements of troop withdrawals from near the border.

Teenager Kamila Valieva finished fourth in the women's figure skating at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday as a doping scandal engulfing the pre-Games favourite appeared to take its toll.

Gail Halvorsen, the former US pilot who thought up the idea of dropping tiny improvised parachutes loaded with sweets for children into Berlin during the Soviet blockade, has died at the age of 101.

Charles Leclerc said "expectations are very high" as Ferrari on Thursday unveiled their new F1-75 car which they hope can challenge Mercedes and Red Bull for the Formula One world title this year.

At least four people were killed as severe storms lashed central Europe on Thursday, with winds of up to 181 kilometres per hour causing widespread travel disruption.

Steve Dickson, the top US air safety regulator, whose tenure overlapped a period of extreme upheaval in aviation, will step down next month, citing family reasons, authorities said Thursday.

Belgium's Princess Esmeralda has repeated her call for Belgium to "apologise" for its colonial past and not simply express regret.

Pre-Games favourite Kamila Valieva finished fourth in the women's figure skating Thursday at the Beijing Olympics after a major doping scandal.

Kamila Valieva finished fourth in the Olympic women’s figure skating final on Thursday after her error-strewn performance handed Russian teammate Anna Shcherbakova gold, as a doping scandal took its toll on the 15-year-old.

Belgium on Thursday gave the DR Congo an inventory of tens of thousands of art objects from the former Belgian Congo held in its colonial era museum, the latest step in the restitution of looted artefacts.

Michael Masi has been removed as Formula One race director over his management of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year which led to Max Verstappen being controversially crowned world champion.

The world must slash $1.8 trillion in annual subsidies that destroy the environment, according to a study Thursday from business groups including one founded by tycoon Richard Branson.