Category: World

Ukrainian drones target St Petersburg in attack Russia calls 'unprecedented'36 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleVitaly Shevchenko,KyivandNathan WilliamsX/ @ZelenskyyUaPresident Zelensky posted a video on social media of unknown locations showing drones and explosions Russia says Ukraine has launched an “unprecedented attack” on and around St Petersburg, as the city hosted the final day of an economic forum.
More than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said, while the city's governor, Alexander Beglov, urged residents to stay indoors for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had hit Russia's arsenals and a naval base, calling it a just response to Russian attacks.
It comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no point in meeting Zelensky, who had called for direct talks to end the wa..

US and Iran exchange strikes in Gulf in latest test of ceasefire6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTom McArthurandJaroslav LukivWatch: The US military released this video said to show strikes on Iranian sitesThe shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran has been tested further, with American forces targeting Iranian drones and radar sites, and Iran firing missiles at US bases in the Gulf.
The US military said the attacks were in response to four Iranian “one-way attack drones” launched towards the Strait of Hormuz, which it said “posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic”. The drones were shot down, US Central Command (Centcom) said.
Tehran called the US strikes a “flagrant” violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at two US air bases in Kuwait, and US Navy facilities in Bahrain, Iran's Irib news agency reported.
Bahrain and Kuwait both condemned the attacks, saying the drone and missile fire..

Putin says there is 'no point' meeting Zelensky over ending Ukraine war3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDan SalesReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not see any point in meeting Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader requested face-to-face talks over ending the war between the two nations.
Zelensky sent an open letter on Thursday calling for direct negotiations with Putin, writing that it was “wrong to simply wait” for the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, to become the focus of US attention once more.
The Ukrainian president also requested a ceasefire, while striking a defiant, at-times mocking tone.
Putin called the note “rude” and refused the request for a meeting, reiterating his position that peace talks should precede any ceasefire.
“I don't see any point for now,” he said when asked whether he would take up Zelensky's offer while speaking at Russia's annual economic forum ..

Ukraine strikes cargo ships and admits Romania drone blast6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKathryn ArmstrongWatch: Moment TV reporter runs for cover after naval drone explodes in RomaniaUkraine says it has struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and in coastal waters of Russian-occupied territories.
The Ukrainian drone forces commander said the vessels were involved in “stealing” Ukrainian grain, as well as transferring military cargo and fuel.
The strikes come a day after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky offered face-to-face talks with Vladimir Putin on ending the war, an offer the Russian leader rejected while visiting St Petersburg for an economic forum.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has confirmed one of its naval drones exploded off Romania's coast on Friday. No injuries were reported in the blast.
Zelensky wrote alongside his latest offer of peace talks that Russians had become tired of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks, petrol shortages an..

Hezbollah rejects renewed ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon48 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJohn Sudworth & Samantha Granville,BeirutandHenry MooreReutersSmoke billows from the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike on ThursdayThe Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has emphatically rejected the terms of a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Iran-backed group's leader Naim Qassem said negotiations had been “futile” and “humiliating” for Lebanon, and rejected categorically by “broad segments of the Lebanese people”.
It comes after Israel and Lebanon announced a renewal of their fragile ceasefire with the creation of “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon in which Hezbollah operatives would be banned.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday by the US State Department, the three countries said the deal was “contingent on a complete cessation” of fire by Hezbollah.
Watch: Lebanon-Israel ceasefire..