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The United Nations voted overwhelmingly Thursday to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine, marking the one-year anniversary of the war with a call for a "just and lasting" peace.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas urged the West to "discredit" Russia's tool of aggression in Ukraine to prevent further attacks, in an AFP interview ahead of the invasion anniversary.

Michael Olunga produced a second-half brace as Qatar's Al Duhail knocked out Al Shabab 2-1 to prevent an all-Saudi clash in the last four of the AFC Champions League on Thursday.

A nine-year-old Syrian girl whose fate captured the tragedy, hope and heartbreak of this month's earthquake after spending 40 hours under the rubble was taken to Turkey Thursday for treatment.

Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for the rape of a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel room a decade ago.

A US judge on Thursday handed disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly a 20-year prison term for child pornography and other charges -- but he will serve most of it simultaneously with a previous sentence.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's move to strip more than 300 critics and political opponents of citizenship, and Chile's forceful condemnation, have shone a spotlight on a deep ideological divide between leftist Latin American leaders.

Cricket's law-makers have issued a "call for calm" as controversy swirls over the legitimacy of the "Mankad" dismissal -- when the non-striking batsman is run out by a bowler.

The European Union said Thursday it is temporarily easing sanctions on Syria to speed up aid deliveries to the country two weeks after a devastating earthquake.

TikTok's breakneck rise from niche video-sharing app to global social media behemoth has brought plenty of scrutiny, particularly over its links to China.

French police on Thursday detained for questioning the husband of a woman whose dismembered body was found in plastic bags at different locations in a popular Paris park, a source close to the investigation told AFP.

US, European and other governments on Thursday urged Nigeria to ensure a peaceful presidential election this weekend as skirmishes broke out in a key city on the last day of campaigning.

Ministers on Thursday published plans to create an independent football regulator to oversee the financial sustainability of the men's game in England, with powers to prevent clubs from joining breakaway leagues.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday there should be "no illusions" over China, which has been seeking to position itself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, almost a year after Moscow's invasion.

The Eiffel Tower was lit in the colours of Ukraine's flag on Thursday in a mark of support for Kyiv on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg voiced regret Thursday over his muted response to a toxic train derailment and pushed for safety reforms as he addressed resident's fears over possible contamination of their air and water.

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka saw her 13-0 undefeated start to the season come to an end as she squandered a 6-0, 3-1 lead in a Dubai quarter-final defeat to Barbora Krejcikova on Thursday.

Battle-hardened former world number one Andy Murray staged a defiant new fightback Thursday to beat French qualifier Alexandre Muller to a place in the Qatar Open semi-finals and declared himself ready to win another title before he retires.

World champion Max Verstappen set the pace as pre-season Formula 1 testing got underway in Bahrain on Thursday.

Pop superstar Rihanna will perform at the Oscars next month, organizers said Thursday, just weeks after she made her long-awaited -- and visibly pregnant -- return at the Super Bowl.

The owners of the world's last dedicated Meccano toy factory have said it will close by next year after more than half a century in France because of rising costs.

France's leading rolling news channel BFMTV on Thursday said it has sacked an anchor after a probe into alleged external influence in his work, according to a company message seen by AFP.

Sergio Ramos retired from international duty with Spain on Thursday, saying new coach Luis de la Fuente told him he did not count on him.

Australia captain Meg Lanning described it as "one of the best games I have played in" after her team gained a five-run win over India in a thrilling Women's T20 World Cup semi-final at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday.

From pandas to sea lions to tigers, hundreds of wildlife species across the globe are contaminated by potentially harmful "forever chemicals", according to a review of hundreds of peer-reviewed studies.

Prince William on Thursday hailed British football commentator John Motson as "a legend whose voice was football" following the broadcaster's death at the age of 77.

The main EU governing institutions on Thursday banned their staff from installing TikTok on devices used for work amid concerns over data protection, in a move that provoked an angry response from the company.

US and European stocks turned in mixed performances on Thursday, while oil bounced higher on Chinese demand expectations.

Australia reached their seventh successive Women's T20 World Cup final when a thrilling Indian run chase fell agonisingly short at Newlands on Thursday.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has agreed a new contract with Everton to end speculation over a move to a Premier League rival.

Former tennis world number one Andy Murray staged another defiant fightback Thursday to beat French qualifier Alexandre Muller and reach the Qatar Open semi-finals.

The Joan Mitchell Foundation has sent a cease and desist letter to Louis Vuitton alleging the luxury brand is using reproductions of the artist's paintings in handbag advertisements without authorization.