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Talks that had been planned for today between the United States and Iran at the Burgenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland will not take place, according to a Swiss foreign ministry statement. The announcement came after a White House spokesperson said overnight that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had pulled out of a planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators in Switzerland on Friday to begin talks on implementing an agreement struck Source link
Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery following what the authorities say is a Ukrainian drone strike, in Moscow, Thursday. (Reuters) Ukraine Thursday launched its largest drone attack on Moscow in years, sparking fires, hitting a major oil refinery and forcing evacuations at the country’s largest airport.Russia vowed to retaliate for the attack as AFP reporters saw dramatic scenes of black smoke billowing over the capital’s southern skyline and drops of black rain mixed with soot falling from the sky.At least 17 people were wounded in the strikes, which also set a shopping centre and apartment building ablaze, authorities said.The attack came as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders at a summit in the central city of Kazan, about 700 kilometres (435 miles) east of Moscow.The Russian leader was yet to comment on the strikes, despite issuing delivering press statements through the day, though his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed Moscow would retaliate with its own “massive” strikes on Ukraine.Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack was an “absolutely justified response” to deadly strikes on Kyiv — including one earlier this week on a landmark cathedral and a Unesco-protected 11th-century monastery.He said he wanted Russians to put pressure on Putin for the consequences of Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.”The main thing is that the people of Russia begin to feel that it is one man, Putin, who is waging this war, while ordinary people pay the price for everything,” Zelensky told reporters, including AFP.”If Ukraine is going to burn, your Moscow will burn too,” he added.Moscow has hit Ukraine with daily barrages of missiles and drones.Airport closures It was the second time this month that Kyiv launched a major attack during an international summit, after striking Saint Petersburg at the start of a landmark economic forum near the city.Moscow’s airports were shut for hours, leading to hundreds of flight delays.The country’s busiest — Sheremetyevo — announced it had evacuated passengers to “safe locations” during the barrage, before it re-opened at around 11:00am (0800 GMT).Konstantin, walking near the refinery in the southeastern Kapotnya district, told AFP he had “never seen anything like it”.Valentina, a 29-year-old manager said she was woken up by the noise.”It’s really scary,” she told AFP, walking in the park with her daughter, the huge column of smoke behind them.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that “several drones” had reached the Moscow oil refinery, without specifying damage to the facility.Authorities announced they had closed traffic on streets nearby.Another drone crashed into an apartment building, while drone debris sparked a fire at a shopping centre near the capital’s suburbs.One social media video showed smoke pouring from the upper floors of an apartment block, while a woman behind the camera could be heard weeping in distress.’Long-range sanctions’ Russian air defences shot down around 180 drones on approach to Moscow, Sobyanin said, while the defence ministry reported it had intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones across the entire country overnight.Kyiv has stepped up its drone strikes on Russia in recent months — calling them “long-range sanctions” and hitting oil refineries that fund Moscow’s war chest.It was the second Ukrainian strike on the Moscow refinery this week.Diplomatic talks on ending the more than four-year conflict remain stalled.”It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy,” Zelensky said after the strike.Russia also launched more than 200 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at Ukraine between late Wednesday and early Thursday, according to the Ukrainian air force.AFP reporters in Kyiv saw people rushing to shelters in the early hours after air defence blasts rocked over the Ukrainian capital.Putin in Kazan In the hours following the attack, Putin posed for a photo with leaders at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Kazan and made no mention of the strike in his opening remarks to the forum.Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore sent their prime ministers to Kazan, while the Philippines sent President Ferdinand Marcos.Putin has long sought to project stability in Russia, despite the economic and social effects of his four-year offensive on Ukraine.But a recent spate of attacks has forced the Kremlin to respond.After Kyiv launched similar attacks on Saint Petersburg earlier this month, the Russian leader promised to bolster air defences.US leader Donald Trump this week said Moscow should “make a deal” to end the Ukraine war. …
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher stated that the Gaza Strip continues to face a severe crisis six months after the ceasefire, with Palestinians in the Strip suffering from insecurity and lack of access to clean water, healthcare, and education.Fletcher added, during a UN Security Council session today, that the agreement between the United States and Iran and the hopes for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon should bring renewed attention to Gaza. He explained that the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to deliver aid, recalling the killing of nearly sixty aid workers during the three years of war.The UN Under-Secretary-General further explained that 70 percent of Gaza's population is in need of adequate shelter, that not a single hospital is fully operational, and that the sanitation situation is deteriorating. He also noted that the Israeli occupation forces are obstructing the entry of generators, engine oil, and spare parts.The UN official urged the opening of all border crossings and the removal of Israeli restrictions on essential supplies. He also called for exempting humanitarian aid from border restrictions, granting long-term visas to humanitarian workers, resuming the convoys coordinated by the Jordanian and Palestinian governments, and expanding medical evacuations.The UN official noted that since the ceasefire, Gaza is no longer classified as a state of famine (Phase 5), although it remains in a severe crisis (Phase 4). He added that 21,000 truckloads of aid have been collected, water and health services have been expanded, tens of thousands of children have been vaccinated, 100 classrooms have been rehabilitated, and shelter has been provided for more than 600,000 people.Fletcher explained that this was not enough, adding that Gaza was holding on thanks to temporary humanitarian solutions and the resilience of the Palestinians, ‘and this is an unsustainable situation.’ He emphasized that the population remained deprived of basic necessities such as security, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education, adding that civilians continued to be killed and injured, noting that nearly 1,000 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire.Fletcher concluded his briefing with three key demands for the Security Council: the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, ensuring safe, sustained, and unimpeded access for aid, and providing sufficient funding. Source link
US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Iran will invite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its nuclear facilities and begin work on identifying and disclosing the locations of enriched materials possessed by Tehran.This came during a special briefing by Witkoff to congressional leaders and members of the committees concerned with national security.Witkopf explained that a side letter from Tehran to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, extending this invitation and allowing him to bring US nuclear inspectors to Tehran, has been drafted.It is worth noting that the head of the UN’s IAEA agency welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States earlier today.Referring to the published text of the memorandum, he said that recognizing the indispensable role of the IAEA is a sound starting point, stressing that the time has come to sit down with the Americans and Iranians to begin formulating the concrete steps that need to be taken, as well as to begin the technical work. Related Story Source link
US President Donald Trump said this evening that his country expects a complete ceasefire on all fronts, calling on all parties in the Middle East to fulfill their commitments.The US president added in a post on the Truth Social platform: “The United States is committed to peace, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East region to maintain their commitment to allow our negotiations to beautifully unfold… We expect a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.”The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last night, beginning with a 60-day negotiation period. It stipulates an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including the Lebanese front. However, the Israeli entity continues its aggression against Lebanon and has renewed its pledge not to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Source link
President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai and Turkish Automobile Sports Federation President Eren Uclertopragı pose after signing…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 25 touches against Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston on Wednesday were his fewest in a game at a major tournament for Portugal when…
New Zealand seized the upper hand in the second Test after extending their first innings to 391 on Thursday before working through England's top order to leave the hosts on 222-6 at stumps on the second day at The Oval.Glenn Phillips helped himself to his first Test century before lunch as England's ragged bowling allowed New Zealand to add 100 vital runs to their overnight 291-7.In reply, Ben Duckett was run out after a rapid 36 and fellow opener Emilio Gay made a half century but New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry trapped both England dangermen Joe Root and Harry Brook lbw to leave the hosts reeling.Debutants James Rew and Jordan Cox steadied the ship but Rew became Will O'Rourke's second victim just before the close to make it emphatically New Zealand's day.England will return on Friday still 169 runs behind with just the tailenders to come and facing a big deficit.Phillips, who withstood a ferocious spell of bowling by Jofra Archer the previous night, said his milestone moment came the day before the anniversary of his dad's passing.’That made it pretty special,’ he said. ‘That was one for him. The bowlers did a fantastic job today. They brought it back really well, especially after tea.’We need to keep England out in the dirt as long as possible (in our second innings) but we have four wickets to take first.’New Zealand, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after a chaotic defeat at Lord's, began the day still some way off posting a healthy first-innings total on a good pitch.They were helped, though, by some mystifying bowling as England's non-stop barrage of bouncers backfired.Phillips, 49 not out overnight, needed no second invitation to tuck in as England completely lost control with the new ball being wasted. He shared an 87-run partnership with Kyle Jamieson who made 41 having been reprieved on 15 when Duckett dropped a simple catch on the boundary.Jamieson was eventually bowled by part-time spinner Jacob Bethell who ended with figures of three for 26.Archer was surprisingly held back in the morning despite England's toil although he finally appeared and removed Matt Henry before Phillips was last man out, caught at deep mid-wicket after a heave at Matthew Fisher.Duckett looked dangerous and accelerated to 36 from 25 balls but was run out as Gay called for a single that was never on and Nathan Smith swooped to throw down the stumps. DISCIPLINED ATTACKNew Zealand's disciplined pace quartet plugged away and Smith had Bethell caught behind by Tom Blundell.Gay ground out his second half century, following his debut knock at Lord's, from 112 balls, the slowest 50 by an England player since Brendon McCullum became head coach and Ben Stokes captain in 2022 – the so-called Bazball era.He was out for 53 as he turned his head away from a rising delivery by O'Rourke but failed to lower his bat and was given out, caught behind, after a review.Root, leading the test side for a record-extending 65th time after Stokes was left out following an investigation into a nightclub incident after the first test, looked serene but fell four short of his half century as Henry jagged one back.Two more runs would have taken Root to 14,000 test runs.Brook carved one remarkable back-foot six off O'Rourke but with wicket keeper Blundell standing up, he was trapped in his crease as Henry again found some movement.Rew made a confident 24 before attempting to hook O'Rourke for six but only gloving a looping catch to Daryl Mitchell. BRIEF SCORES: England 222 for 6 (Gay 53, Henry 2-57) trail New Zealand 391 (Phillips 100, Blundell 51, Bethell 3-26) by 169 runs. Source link
FIA President Ben Sulayem Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, says the federation’s Extraordinary General Assembly and annual conference in Macau next week has an important part to play in guiding the future of motorsport and mobility.Hosted in partnership with the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) and Galaxy Entertainment Group, and held at the Galaxy International Convention Centre, the three-day event starting on Tuesday will welcome over 450 senior FIA delegates across mobility and motorsport from 149 countries.It offers opportunities for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, to address key initiatives in regional sporting growth, road safety, sustainable mobility, and innovation in transport.Macau is an iconic location for motorsport fans, playing host to the Macau Grand Prix at the Guia Circuit since 1954. Now, the event welcomes competitors across four FIA categories and is notorious for its demanding course, combining fast straights and tight corners.Speaking ahead of his return to Macau, Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “This conference provides a valuable opportunity to bring together our community and help shape the future of global motorsport and mobility. As we continue to grow participation, advance innovation and improve road safety worldwide, these discussions are more important than ever.“I am delighted to be returning to Macau, a truly iconic location for motorsport fans and a fitting location for the FIA to host one of the most important weeks of our calendar. My thanks to our hosts, the AAMC, Chairman Chong Coc Veng, and President Roberto Carlos Osorio.”Chong Coc Veng, Chairman of the AAMC, said: “We are honoured to welcome the FIA and our fellow Members from across the world back to Macau. The Annual Conference provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made together over the past year and shape the priorities that will drive our Federation forward. We look forward to welcoming delegates for what promises to be a productive few days.”The conference will be attended by representatives from the 245 FIA Member Clubs who represent motorsport and mobility at a global scale. This structure forms the backbone of the federation’s governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA’s elections and regulatory decisions. Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles. Mobility Clubs provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility. National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations. Related Story Source link
World number two Elena Rybakina crashed out of the Wimbledon warm-up WTA tournament in Berlin on Thursday losing 7-5, 6-4 to Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala.”I’m a little foggy now. I’m still shaking. I was shaking on the match point,” said an emotional Eala after booking her ticket to the quarter-finals of the grass-court tournament.”She’s an amazing player … she’s the one to beat. I’m happy to have been able to share the court with her again,” added the 21-year-old Eala who lost to Rybakina on clay at the Italian Open in May.Rybakina — the 2022 Wimbledon champion and reigning Australian Open winner — had burst out of the blocks to take a 4-1 lead but Eala fought back, breaking the Kazakh’s usually strong serve twice to take the opening set.World number 35 Eala stayed in control during the second, breaking her heavily favoured opponent once to storm to an upset victory.Eala, the first Filipino player to break into the top 50, is in fine form, having beaten newly minted Queen’s Club champion Donna Vekic in the opening match in Berlin.Eala will face world number eight Elina Svitolina, who beat German Eva Lys in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 earlier on Thursday, in the quarter-finals.In the other quarter-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on Nikola Bartunkova, world number four Jessica Pegula faces Madison Keys and Linda Noskova is up against Paula Badosa. Related Story Source link