Ukraine spends over $28 bn on defence this year: PM

Kiev (IANS) As Russia continues its war against Kiev, the Ukrainian government spent more than $28 billion to cover the country's defence needs this year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

Out of the sum, $18.66 billion was used to pay…

US 'very much involved' in release of American hostages, says WH

Washington (IANS) A senior White House official has said that the US was "very much involved" in securing the release of two American hostages who were held by the Hamas militant group for 14 days.

On Friday, the Hamas released US citizens…

Gaza hospitals on brink of collapse: UN

Gaza (IANS) Amid the raging Israel-Hamas conflict, hospitals in the Gaza Strip are "on the brink of collapse" as the number of patients treated or waiting to be receive treatment is at 150 per cent of the hospitals' capacity, the UN Office for…

Israeli Defence Minister tells troops to get ready for ground offensive in Gaza

Jerusalem (IANS) Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has asked infantry soldiers along the border with the Gaza Strip to get prepared for entering the Palestinian enclave, without specifying the time of the offensive.

Gallant on Thursday…

Israel withdraws all diplomatic personnel from Turkey

Ankara (IANS) Israel has reportedly withdrawn all of its diplomatic personnel from Turkey for "security reasons" against the backdrop of the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict.

"All Israeli personnel from diplomatic missions in Turkey have been withdrawn…

Large number of Canadian diplomats left India overnight: Report

New Delhi (IANS) A large number of Canadian diplomats have left India overnight, a media report said on Thursday.

The departures followed two weeks of negotiations between India and Canada after India issued a demand for "parity" in the number…

US pushing Israel not to initiate war with Hezbollah

Tel Aviv (IANS) The Biden administration has privately been urging Israel not to launch a military campaign against Hezbollah, as Washington works to keep the current war from spreading beyond Gaza, media reports said.

The US recognises that…

Jordanian King travels to Cairo, to meet Egyptian President

Amman (IANS) After a four-way summit between the US, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt was cancelled in the wake of the Gaza hospital bombing, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Thursday embarked on a visit to Cairo where he will meet President Abdel Fattah…

Hamas-Israel conflict death toll nearing 5,000

Gaza/Jerusalem, (IANS) The death toll in the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict is nearing 5,000, with thousands of others injured and displaced as a result of the violence which continued for the 13th day on Thursday.

In its latest situation update,…

Gaza hospital bombing 'appears to be done by the other team', Biden tells Netanyahu

Tel Aviv (IANS) Visiting US President Joe Biden on Wednesday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the deadly bombing of a hospital in Gaza City "appears" that it was "done by the other team".

Biden, who arrived in Tel Aviv earlier…