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Lviv locals making 'Czech hedgehogs' to scupper Russian tanks

A group of men in the western Ukraine city of Lviv are helping the war effort against Russian invaders by producing home-made anti-tank obstacles, from tutorials found in the internet.

New US sanctions target Russia's pro-Putin oligarchs

The United States imposed sanctions on the ultra-wealthy Russian oligarchs at the heart of President Vladimir Putin's regime Thursday in the latest ratcheting up of pressure on the Kremlin to halt its invasion of Ukraine.

Saudi Crown prince says Israel 'potential ally'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Israel a "potential ally" and said in a wide-ranging interview published on Thursday that he wants to "work it out" with Iran

Top carmakers suspend operations at Russian plants

Toyota and Volkswagen, the world's two biggest auto manufacturers, said Thursday they would suspend operations at their production facilities in Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Behind closed doors, trial starts for Nicaragua opposition figure

Nicaraguan opposition figure Cristiana Chamorro, detained since June last year while planning an election challenge to President Daniel Ortega, went on trial behind closed doors Thursday, a rights group said.

Macron: an abrasive reformer in turbulent times

A short time after becoming France's youngest ever president in 2017, Emmanuel Macron made a boast about his temperament that made clear he was expecting trouble while in office

Macron confirms bid for second term

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that he will seek a second term in office at elections next month, with Russia's war in Ukraine likely to eclipse the campaign but boost his chances.

UN nuclear watchdog chief to travel to Iran on Saturday

The head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, will travel to Iran on Saturday "for meetings with senior Iranian officials", the IAEA said Thursday.

Biden, Asia-Pacific allies discuss Ukraine but no joint condemnation

US President Joe Biden on Thursday met virtually with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India over Ukraine, but the "Quad" group failed to agree on condemning Russia's invasion, with New Delhi hesitant to censure Moscow.

Key Russian liberal media close, suspend operations amid Kremlin war crackdown

Two of Russia's landmark liberal media outlets were dissolved or suspended operations on Thursday, amid an unprecedented Kremlin crackdown over its war with Ukraine.

Moldova fears being next target in Putin's crosshairs

For Moldovans, watching Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine brings back painful memories of the country's own conflict involving Moscow-backed separatists 30 years ago -- and is stirring fears that the country might become Russia's next target.

One million refugees flee Ukraine in first week of war

One million refugees have fled Ukraine in the week since Russia's invasion, the United Nations said Thursday, warning that unless the onslaught ended immediately, millions more were likely to flee.

'United for peace': MotoGP makes stand over Russian invasion of Ukraine

MotoGP riders posed for their traditional 'back-to-school' photo at the season-opening Qatar MotoGP on Thursday behind a banner proclaiming "United for Peace" in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mine warfare on Kyiv's eastern front

The Ukrainian army battalion commander is not sure who laid the mines scattered across fields on Kyiv's eastern front that his men hit while seeking intelligence on Russian forces.

European equities slide, as oil drops off peaks

European stocks lost early gains while oil fell back Thursday after briefly flirting with $120 per barrel while natural gas touched another record peak as war raged on in Ukraine.

Premier League chief welcomes Chelsea sale as fans thank Abramovich

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters welcomed Roman Abramovich's decision to put Chelsea up for sale on Thursday as fans thanked the Russian for the club's "unparalleled success" under his ownership.

Russian soprano Netrebko pulls out of Met Opera over Ukraine

Star Russian soprano Anna Netrebko will withdraw from her upcoming roles at the Metropolitan Opera after declining to "repudiate her public support for Vladimir Putin," the New York institution said Thursday.

Russia to appeal to sports court against World Cup ban

The Russian football federation (RFU) said on Thursday that it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against its expulsion from the 2022 World Cup and all international competitions.

Musk says he's open to union vote at California Tesla plant

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said Thursday he was open to a union vote at a California factory where the company has been sanctioned over its response to earlier union campaigns.

Sri Lanka ends widely condemned Muslim burial policy

Sri Lanka on Thursday ended a heavily criticised policy that required Muslim Covid-19 victims to be buried at a remote government-designated site in the absence of their families or final religious rites.

Ukraine war sends Western anxiety soaring on back of pandemic

Just as millions of people dared to hope a two-year pandemic was receding, war broke out in Ukraine, triggering a new surge of anxiety in Western Europe and fears about wider conflict -- or worse.

Sri Lanka sacks energy minister as economic crisis deepens

Sri Lanka's president sacked his energy minister on Thursday as fuel shortages left the near-bankrupt island facing its worst blackouts in 26 years and the nation's buses largely sidelined.

Protect Ukraine civilians 'for God's sake', pleads UN aid chief

The United Nations' aid chief pleaded Thursday for the protection of civilians in Ukraine and for unhindered humanitarian access amid the spiralling violence, in an interview with AFP.

Algeria journalist's jail sentence suspended on appeal

Algerian journalist and press freedom activist Khaled Drareni had a two-year jail term reduced on appeal to a six-month suspended sentence on Thursday, a detainees' rights group said.

Putin vows 'uncompromising fight' as Ukraine war enters second week

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed no let-up in his invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, even as the warring sides met for ceasefire talks and Kyiv appealed for relief supplies to reach shattered cities.

Kharkiv's grim fate recalls epic Soviet war movies

Explosions, sirens, ruined homes. Olena Ostaptchenko's only point of reference for what is happening in her home town of Kharkiv is Soviet-era movies about the horrors of World War II.

France seizes Russian oil supremo's yacht as EU sanctions bite

France said Thursday it had seized a superyacht owned by Russia's oil czar Igor Sechin, following through on threats to target sanctioned oligarchs close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Macron to unveil bid for second term

French President Emmanuel Macron will announce later Thursday that he will seek a second term in office at elections next month, aides said, with Russia's war in Ukraine likely to eclipse the campaign but boost his chances.

Turkey walks a diplomatic tightrope in Russia-Ukraine war

The signs of Russian presence have long been visible in Turkey, from rows of tourists on Antalya beaches to the Russian battleships ploughing their way through the Bosphorus.

Ukraine pounded as Russia seizes key city ahead of talks

Ukraine's leader vowed Thursday that Moscow would be made to pay to rebuild his shattered country, as the warring sides readied for ceasefire talks following the fall of the first major city to Russian forces.

'Not our war': Gulf states resist pressure to raise oil output

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent energy prices surging, but the oil-rich Gulf monarchies have so far resisted Western pressure to raise output, prioritising their own strategic and economic interests.

Japan plans $3 bn domestic relief package as oil prices surge

Japan plans to help residents and businesses facing difficulty due to a surge in oil prices fuelled by the Ukraine crisis with $3 billion in relief funds, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.

European equities fall, as oil flirts with $120

European stocks slid and oil flirted with $120 per barrel Thursday as conflict raged in Ukraine.

Punishing Russian judokas unjustified, says international federation

The International Olympic Committee's call for federations to bar Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine has been criticised as "not justified" by the International Judo Federation.

Molotovs and sandbags: Ukraine city braces for Russian attack

Shovelling sand into bags and collecting bottles to make Molotov cocktails, volunteers in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro are preparing for an onslaught from invading Russian troops.

Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from Winter Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian athletes were on Thursday banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics over the war in Ukraine, with organisers bowing to international pressure and threats of a boycott.

Over one million refugees on the move from Ukraine

More than one million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion just a week ago.

Russian missiles tear civilian lives apart

Oleg Rubak wept for love of his wife Katia, crushed in the rubble of his family home, and for hatred of Vladimir Putin, whom he blames for the missile strike that killed her.

'Welcome to Berlin': Ukrainian refugees pour into Germany

The loudspeaker announcement is nearly drowned out by the hubbub of passengers spilling out of the train from Warsaw, but it's a message many of them have been longing to hear: "Dear passengers from Ukraine, welcome to Berlin!"

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