Author: AFP

Russian strikes killed at least two people in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, the acting mayor said Friday. “Several massive explosions occurred in Sumy,” Artem Kobzar said in a video message on Telegram, adding that at least two people had died. He said air defences were still working as of just before 6:00 am local time (0400 GMT) and warned residents to stay away from windows. The Sumy regional military administration said a residential neighbourhood had been struck by a Russian UAV, adding that rescue operations were underway. Sumy lies across the border from Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian…

Moscow on Thursday launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for the first time, Kyiv said, marking the latest escalation of the conflict after Ukraine fired Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russia. The Ukrainian air force said Russian forces had used the missile in an early morning attack on the city of Dnipro, while a source confirmed to AFP it was the first such use of the weapon by Moscow since the invasion in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday during which they discussed the OPEC+ oil agreement and the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.

A resolution tabled by Western countries to censure Iran’s nuclear program at the International Atomic Energy Agency “will weaken and disrupt” interactions between the UN body and Tehran, it warned ahead of the vote on Thursday. Paris, Berlin, London and Washington have formally submitted a text condemning Iran for alleged lack of cooperation with the agency and its nuclear observers. A formal vote is scheduled for later on Thursday at the UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors meeting at its Vienna headquarters. The tabling of the resolution comes a week after a visit to Iran by the head of the…

Russia on Wednesday accused the US of prolonging the “war in Ukraine” by stepping up weapons deliveries to Kyiv ahead of Donald Trump entering the White House. The US will soon provide Ukraine with antipersonnel land mines to shore up its defences against Russian forces, a US official said late Tuesday, the latest step-up in military supplies announced by the administration of US President Joe Biden following Trump’s election victory. “If you look at the trends of the outgoing US administration, they are fully committed to continuing the war in Ukraine and are doing everything they can to do so,”…

Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday of a “proportionate” response from Tehran if a Western-backed resolution critical of Iran is passed at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Araghchi said in a phone conversation with IAEA chief Rafel Grossi that if the parties “ignore Iran’s goodwill and interactive approach and put non-constructive measures on the agenda in the Board of Governors meeting through the issuance of a resolution, Iran will respond in a proportionate and appropriate manner.”

Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that it shot down 56 out of 122 drones and two out of six missiles launched by Russia overnight. Ukraine’s air force said it lost track of 58 Russia-launched drones on its radars, five drones returned to Russia and one headed to Belarus.

Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur was Monday given a seven-match domestic ban by the Football Association over an alleged racist remark made about teammate Son Heung-min in a TV interview. The midfielder was charged by the FA in September in connection with an alleged breach of its rules during an interview in his home country of Uruguay. The former Juventus player, who has also been fined £100,000 ($126,000), had been asked in June by a presenter for a Spurs player’s shirt. He replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.” Bentancur, 27, apologised to the South…

Australia, Japan and the US on Sunday committed to closer military cooperation in training their forces as the countries deepened their ties in a bid to counter China’s military strength. Australia’s Minister of Defence Richard Marles hosted the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, Sunday for the trilateral ministers’ meeting — the first to be held in Australia. Under the new agreement, Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade — an elite marine unit — will be deployed to Darwin to regularly work and train alongside Australian and US forces. “It is a very important statement to…

Australia, Japan and the US on Sunday committed to closer military cooperation in training their forces as the countries deepened their ties in a bid to counter China’s military strength. Australia’s Minister of Defence Richard Marles hosted the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, Sunday for the trilateral ministers’ meeting — the first to be held in Australia. Under the new agreement, Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade — an elite marine unit — will be deployed to Darwin to regularly work and train alongside Australian and US forces. “It is a very important statement to…