live Vessel hit in Hormuz as Iran and U.S. clashes intensify after peace deal
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain's maritime security agency said, after the United States a...
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated Sunday that it is still awaiting official confirmation from Ukraine regarding a planned exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, which was scheduled to begin Saturday.
Deputy Defense Minister Col.-Gen. Aleksandr Fomin said Ukrainian representatives had not arrived at the designated meeting point, and no formal explanation had been provided for the delay. “The reason for the delay in conducting these activities remains unclear to us,” Fomin said in a statement.
He noted that the agreement stemmed from two rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul in May and June, during which both sides agreed to a framework for humanitarian exchanges. These included the repatriation of deceased servicemen, the return of severely wounded individuals, and a youth-specific prisoner swap under the “1000 for 1000” formula.
Fomin emphasized that Moscow had promptly prepared for the transfers and had notified Kyiv in advance. Russian liaison officials were deployed to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to coordinate technical aspects on-site.
“We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling all existing agreements, as the Russian side has always done,” he said, urging Ukrainian authorities to respond through the designated communication channel.
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner Exchange, meanwhile, confirmed an agreement existed but said no specific date had yet been finalized for the operation. It also accused Russia of submitting prisoner lists that did not conform to previously agreed terms.
While Ukraine acknowledged that it had provided its own list of prisoners, it said it was still waiting for compliance from Moscow before proceeding. Ukrainian officials have yet to respond formally via official channels, according to Russia.
The disagreement highlights ongoing difficulties in implementing humanitarian agreements amid the broader conflict, despite earlier successful exchanges.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
Japan remained on high alert Saturday as Typhoon Mekkhala approached the eastern coast after Typhoon Higos weakened into a tropical depression. Authorities warned of continued heavy rain, flooding, and landslides, according to media reports.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
ANEWZ can exclusively report that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Azerbaijan on 1 July.
Venezuela’s government said on Saturday that 1,600 foreign rescue personnel have arrived to assist in the search for survivors of the devastating twin earthquakes that killed more than 900 people this week.
Australia said it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
Ukrainian-made Flamingo missiles hit a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launch systems in Russia's Volgograd region overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.
A light aircraft crash into a high-rise building in Beijing's Chaoyang district on Friday killed one person and injured 13, the district government said on Saturday in a statement posted on its social media account.
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