Ukraine

Unveiling Eurovision: Secrets Behind the Rules You Didn't Know

The Eurovision Song Contest evokes a world of intrigue with its song rules, and system of semi-finals, juries and votes that draw out the drama until a winner is crowned. Here is a look at how the competition is put together, how artists are chosen and how the voting system works: Organizers The competition is organized by the European ...

Putin’s Order for Three-Day Truce With Ukraine Enters Force

Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for a three-day truce with Ukraine took effect Thursday, a move the Kremlin said would "test" Kyiv's readiness for peace but that Ukraine has slammed as a farce. It was not immediately clear whether either side was observing the ceasefire, even with world leaders -- including China's ...

Ukraine-Russia: Ceasefire Shattered as Drones Keep Falling

Beyond the rhetoric of victory, the war has now reached Moscow’s skies. In a dramatic escalation, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike overnight, from Monday to Tuesday, targeting Russian territory. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 105 drones were intercepted or neutralized by air defense systems, with 19 aimed directly at the ...

Major Ukraine Drone Attack Restricts Russia's Airport Traffic

Russian airports restricted traffic after Ukraine launched more than 100 drones overnight, including in Moscow just days before its World War II victory parade, officials said Tuesday. A total of 105 drones targeted Russia overnight, the defense ministry said, ahead of the May 9 Moscow parade, presided by President Vladimir Putin and attended by ...

Putin Gears up for 'Grandest' Victory Day Amid Ukraine Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the "grandest" ever annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, evoking the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine. Russia marks the event more than three years into its offensive, and after it pummelled Ukraine with a string of ...

Far-Right Candidate Leads Romania’s Presidential Rerun

Romania's far-right candidate George Simion was leading in Sunday's first round of presidential elections according to exit polls for the rerun of last year's annulled ballot that plunged the country into political turmoil. The stakes are high for the NATO country of 19 million, which has become a key pillar of the defence alliance since Russia's ...

Xi Jinping in Russia from May 7 to 10: A Significant Visit to Strengthen the Sino-Russian Alliance

Russia announced on Sunday the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping from May 7 to 10 for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory against Nazi Germany alongside his counterpart Vladimir Putin, with Moscow proposing a brief ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict on this occasion. This visit, which highlights the alliance between Russia ...

Hamas Releaes Video of Israeli Hostage as 11 Killed in Strikes on Gaza

Hamas on Saturday released footage of an apparently injured Israeli-Russian hostage held in Gaza as 11 Palestinians, including three infants, were killed in a strike on the territory, its civil defense agency said. Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that had largely ...

US Approves $3.5 bn Missile Sale to Saudis

The United States on Friday approved a $3.5 billion sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia, ahead of a visit to the kingdom by President Donald Trump. The State Department said it notified Congress of the deal that will include Saudi Arabia's purchase of 1,000 medium-range air-to-air missiles. The AIM-120 missiles, whose principal contractor is ...

Zelenskyy Describes the Mining Agreement with the United States as “Truly Fair”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday a landmark minerals deal with the United States offered "equal" benefits for both sides even though the accord offered no concrete security guarantees for Kyiv. Russia later launched a large-scale drone attack on the central industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, ripping open a Soviet-era ...