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NASA's massive new rocket is poised to make its first journey to a launchpad on Thursday ahead of a battery of tests that will clear it to blast off to the Moon this summer.

Amazon has closed its $8.45 billion deal to buy the storied MGM studios, the online giant said Thursday, boosting its streaming ambitions with a catalog including the James Bond and Rocky film franchises.

Ben Stokes belted 89 off 92 balls to lead the charge as England sped to 369 for three at lunch on the second day of the second Test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.

A Russian editor who protested Moscow's military action in Ukraine during a state TV news broadcast said Thursday she is quitting her job but not accepting France's asylum offer, calling herself "a patriot".

England coach Eddie Jones sprang a surprise by naming George Furbank at full-back and Freddie Steward on the wing for his side's bid to deny France a Grand Slam in their Six Nations finale in Paris on Saturday.

President Joe Biden and Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin canceled plans to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day together in the White House on Thursday and switched to a virtual meeting after Martin tested positive for Covid-19, although the US president was said to be in no danger.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Thursday to secure a formal presence in Afghanistan, whose Taliban government remains unrecognized by the international community.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called on Germany to help destroy a new "Wall" Russia was erecting in Europe, as he appealed directly to Chancellor Olaf Scholz to bolster his tentative response to the invasion.

"Terminator" star Arnold Schwarzenegger appealed to Vladimir Putin on Thursday to end the "senseless" war in Ukraine and praised Russians protesting the conflict as his "new heroes."

Fleeing Ukrainian families describe the "hell" they left behind in the besieged city of Mariupol, of seeing corpses in the streets and of sleeping in sub-zero temperatures, hiding in cellars.

Ukraine's leader on Thursdaycharged Moscow with building a new Cold War wall across Europe "between freedom and bondage", as his government said Russian shelling had killed 21 civilians near one city.

Pakistan named two surprise inclusions to their limited-overs squads on Thursday for the one-day international and T20 matches against Australia later this month.

Dubai-owned P&O Ferries on Thursday suspended sailings as it axed 800 jobs, or more than a quarter of staff, to keep the company afloat.

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has been dropped to the bench for Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin, with Edinburgh stand-off Blair Kinghorn picked to start.

The BBC has paid a "substantial sum" and apologised to Princess Diana's former private secretary over a 1995 interview found to have been obtained using deception, the UK broadcaster said on Thursday.

Athletics chiefs are not expecting any disruption to the World Indoor Championships when they kick off Friday in Serbia, a nation which has openly supported Russian President Vladimir Putin and his decision to invade Ukraine.

Tom Cruise is headed for the Cannes Film Festival in May for the long-delayed world premiere of the "Top Gun" sequel, the organisers said on Thursday.

Manchester United forwards Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were left out Thursday of Gareth Southgate's England squad for next month's friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Oil prices soared Thursday on tensions surrounding key producer Russia, as equities diverged with traders tracking interest rate decisions, the Ukraine conflict and China's pledge to support volatile markets.

Mack Hansen has been restored to the wing by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland where victory would keep alive Irish hopes of the title.

The Bank of England on Thursday hiked its main interest rate to its pre-pandemic level to combat runaway inflation that risks soaring far higher as the Ukraine conflict fuels energy costs.

RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku was one of two new faces included in the France squad by coach Didier Deschamps as the World Cup holders prepare for two friendly matches against African opposition later this month.

Juventus will dust themselves down for the Serie A title race with Sunday's visit of Salernitana after a devastating Champions League last-16 exit which left Italy on the fringe of European football with the 2022 World Cup play-offs looming.

Thai driver Alex Albon said he was hungry for success before his return to Formula One with Williams after the hurt of being let go by Red Bull at the end of his first full season in 2020.

A planned Saint Patrick's Day meeting at the White House between Joe Biden and Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin was canceled Thursday after Martin tested positive for Covid-19, although the US president was said to be in no danger.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs caused many a jaw to drop when he streaked to victory in the 100m at last year's Tokyo Olympics.

Ukraine's leader on Thursday said Russia was building a new Cold War wall across Europe "between freedom and bondage", after his government accused invading forces of bombing a theatre sheltering many civilians and marked with the word "children".

Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin tested positive for Covid-19, forcing him to leave a gala event attended by President Joe Biden and upending plans for the two leaders to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day at the White House on Thursday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday the country will "stick with" its zero-Covid strategy, state TV reported, as the world's most populous nation battles its largest outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.

France coach Fabien Galthie said Thursday his team had learned from its past disappointments as they prepare to face England on Saturday hoping to win their first Six Nations title since 2010.

Soaring bread prices sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have bitten into the purchasing power of consumers in Egypt, a leading importer of wheat from the former Soviet states.

South Korea's Hyundai has launched the first electric car assembly plant in Indonesia, as the Southeast Asian archipelago looks to exploit an abundance of resources used in EV production.