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Ukraine

THE Kremlin said that Russia’s withdrawal of forces from around Ukraine’s borders would take place over an extended period, after reports of Moscow’s drawdown drew scepticism from Kyiv’s allies.

“This is a process that will take some time,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said this week, after Moscow had announced two separate pull-backs following drills that raised fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Western countries have warned of crippling sanctions if Moscow escalates the separatist conflict there by moving in troops. The Kremlin denies planning to invade and has said the troops are taking part in drills.

RESCUE workers are racing against the clock searching for any remaining survivors among mud and wreckage after devastating flash floods and landslides hit the scenic tourist town Brazilian city of Petropolis this week, as authorities said the death toll had risen to more than 100.

Streets were turned into torrential rivers and houses swept away when heavy storms dumped a month’s worth of rain in three hours on the hills north of Rio de Janeiro.

With dozens still reported missing, fears that the death toll could climb sent firefighters and volunteers scrambling through the hillside slums. |

Britain

BRITAIN’S meteorological service issued a rare “red weather” warning with Storm Eunice packing wind gusts of 160km/h and expected to cause “danger to life” this weekend.

The storm barrelled its way across the Atlantic yesterday, and is expected to cause “significant disruption and dangerous conditions due to extremely strong winds”, the Met Office said.

Ireland’s meteorological office also issued an alert for Storm Eunice, warning of “severe and damaging winds” and the possibility of coastal flooding.

Another storm, Dudley, caused transport disruption when it hit Britain earlier this week, although damage was not widespread. |

AFP

Australia

Brazil