World War

Ukraine on Thursday claimed fresh advances in its offensive into Russia, saying it had seized over 1,100 square kilometres in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.

The United States hailed a "promising start" to Gaza ceasefire talks Thursday, as pressure mounted for a deal to halt the spread of a war that the Hamas-run territory's health ministry said has killed 40,005.

A new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday afternoon, an offical briefed on the meeting told Reuters.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that the death toll has crossed 40,000 in the more than 10-month war between Israel and Palestinian operatives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Thursday a report that he had spoken the previous day with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump about Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a warning against any form of retreat or compromise, invoking the concept of "divine wrath".

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned on Wednesday, nearly four months after the Ivy League university's handling of campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza was criticized by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian sides alike.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Axios reported, citing two US sources.

Israel's spy chiefs will attend talks in Doha on Thursday seeking a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal after more than 10 months of war, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.

Gaza ceasefire talks will be held in the Qatari capital today, two sources close to the negotiations said, while it remains unclear if Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas will participate.

Israeli air strikes targeted Gaza on Wednesday ahead of ceasefire talks that the United States hopes will stop Iran striking Israel in retaliation for the killing of a Hamas leader.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said Ukraine's army was advancing in the Russian region of Kursk where it launched a surprise offensive last week.

The Russian government announced Wednesday that it was reintroducing a ban on petrol exports for another six months to "maintain a stable situation" on the domestic fuel market after major price hikes.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers celebrated three years in power on Wednesday with a military parade paying homage to their homemade bombs used in war, fighter aircraft and goose-stepping security forces.

Starbucks has come under fire for its alleged connection with Israel. The calls for a boycott intensified, especially after Israel's ongoing war in Gaza killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and left about 100,000 injured.

Ukraine on Thursday claimed fresh advances in its offensive into Russia, saying it had seized over 1,100 square kilometres in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.

The United States hailed a "promising start" to Gaza ceasefire talks Thursday, as pressure mounted for a deal to halt the spread of a war that the Hamas-run territory's health ministry said has killed 40,005.

A new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday afternoon, an offical briefed on the meeting told Reuters.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that the death toll has crossed 40,000 in the more than 10-month war between Israel and Palestinian operatives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Thursday a report that he had spoken the previous day with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump about Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a warning against any form of retreat or compromise, invoking the concept of "divine wrath".

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned on Wednesday, nearly four months after the Ivy League university's handling of campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza was criticized by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian sides alike.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Axios reported, citing two US sources.

Israel's spy chiefs will attend talks in Doha on Thursday seeking a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal after more than 10 months of war, the prime minister's office said on Wednesday.

Gaza ceasefire talks will be held in the Qatari capital today, two sources close to the negotiations said, while it remains unclear if Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas will participate.

Israeli air strikes targeted Gaza on Wednesday ahead of ceasefire talks that the United States hopes will stop Iran striking Israel in retaliation for the killing of a Hamas leader.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said Ukraine's army was advancing in the Russian region of Kursk where it launched a surprise offensive last week.

The Russian government announced Wednesday that it was reintroducing a ban on petrol exports for another six months to "maintain a stable situation" on the domestic fuel market after major price hikes.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers celebrated three years in power on Wednesday with a military parade paying homage to their homemade bombs used in war, fighter aircraft and goose-stepping security forces.

Starbucks has come under fire for its alleged connection with Israel. The calls for a boycott intensified, especially after Israel's ongoing war in Gaza killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and left about 100,000 injured.