War, latest news. Ukraine, Hungary's no blocks new EU sanctions package on Russia

'There was no polemic, one must not exaggerate'. With Giorgia Meloni 'we know our disagreements, which do exist. I did not put them on the table, I answered honestly to one of your Italian colleagues. After all, I answered in the same way as Biden and Trudeau when they were questioned by Italian journalists'. This is how French President Macron responded to journalists in tow on yesterday's accusation by Meloni of campaigning at the G7. "Meloni was elected by the Italian people, I by the French people. Our daily work is to work together,' he added, thanking the premier and Mattarella for organising the summit.

Ukraine: another postponement of the 27 on the new sanctions package

Brussels, 14 June (LaPresse) - The EU ambassadors meeting in Coreper failed to reach agreement on the 14th sanctions package against Russia due to opposition reiterated by Hungary, which asked for more time to analyse the measures. This was reported by EU diplomatic sources, who added: "The item has been postponed and we will come back to it as soon as possible".

The US sanctions 'Tzav 9', an Israeli organisation whose militants have on several occasions blocked humanitarian aid convoys to the Gaza Strip in the crosshairs of Israeli military operations against Hamas since the 7 October attack in Israel. The State Department "today designated 'Tzav 9,' a violent Israeli extremist group that has been blocking, attacking and damaging convoys with life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza," spokesman Matthew Miller announced. "For months, people from Tzav 9 have repeatedly attempted to obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blocking roads, sometimes with violence, along the route from Jordan to Gaza, including in the West Bank," he continued. "On 13 May 2024, members of Tzav 9 looted and then set fire to two trucks near Hebron, West Bank, carrying humanitarian aid destined for men, women and children in Gaza. The State Department emphasises that humanitarian assistance is "crucial to preventing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from escalating and to reducing the risk of famine" and that the Israeli government has "a responsibility to ensure the security of humanitarian convoys passing through Israel and the West Bank on their way to Gaza". "We will not tolerate acts of sabotage and violence against humanitarian assistance," the spokesperson concludes, "We will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability by those who attempt or engage in heinous acts, and we expect and urge the Israeli authorities to do likewise.

"President Vladimir Putin's peace proposals should not be treated as an ultimatum". This was said by the Kremlin spokesman, adding that 'the conditions for peace talks set by the president are open, but the conditions at the front change rapidly'. The same spokesman went on to say that 'Zelensky's illegitimacy does not hinder the talks' and that 'his reaction, like Stoltenberg's to Putin's proposal was predictable'. According to the same source, 'the illegitimate Zelensky has the possibility of considering Putin's proposal and ending the conflict'. Tass writes that.

"I am able to reassure" the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky that "our support for Kiev will continue. I can make this commitment to him because I have taken the decision to increase defence spending'. This was stated by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a press conference at the end of the G7 in response to a journalist's question on whether the UK would continue to support Kiev regardless of the election result.

"The idea that having a common European defence means spending more on weapons is wrong, it means having a more European and cohesive system, and more able to ensure the defence of our continent". Thus European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni to La Repubblica delle Idee.

The G7 leaders said they were ''deeply concerned about the consequences on the civilian population of the ongoing ground operations in Rafah and the possibility of a large-scale military offensive that would have further disastrous consequences for civilians''. Therefore, as stated in the draft final declaration of the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, the G7 leaders asked ''the Israeli government to refrain from such an offensive''.

The G7 expressed full and unanimous support for the agreement drawn up by US President Joe Biden for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza and a lasting end to the conflict. This was stated in the draft final declaration of the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, explaining that the ''security interests of Israel and the safety of Palestinian civilians in Gaza must be guaranteed''. The G7 leaders then called on Hamas to ''accept and implement fully and unequivocally the ceasefire proposal, as outlined in resolution 2735'', asking ''countries with influence over Hamas'' to ''help ensure that it does so''. The draft conclusion welcomes the fact that Israel has accepted the proposal drafted by the US Administration and the willingness to move forward with it.

The G7 countries condemned the attacks conducted by the Houthis against commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, calling for their cessation. This is stated in the draft conclusions of the summit being held in Puglia, according to which the attacks by rebels controlling large parts of Yemen "risk destabilising the region" and "jeopardise" the UN-led road map for peace in the Arab country. "These illegal attacks must stop. We call for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew," the draft continues, in which it stresses the "essential role" played by the EU's maritime operation 'Aspides' and the US-led operation 'Prosperity Guardian' "to protect crucial sea lanes that are critical to global trade". "We call on the Houthis to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and cease their attacks in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters," the G7 countries declared.

"We look forward to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and urge all countries to observe the Olympic Truce individually and collectively, as stipulated in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 'Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal', adopted on 15 November 2023." This is what is stated in a draft of the final declaration of the G7 taking place in Borgo Egnazia viewed by Adnkronos.

Bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 between the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The two, Ottawa reports, discussed the relationship between Canada and the EU and said they were "delighted" to continue working together "to promote their common priorities, such as collaboration in Ia and research and innovation, particularly in Horizon Europe. Trudeau and von der Leyen also discussed the importance of Canada and the EU working closely together on "their economic interests, in particular to make progress on the issue of critical minerals and to address concerns related to industrial overcapacity and other anti-market policies and practices". Trudeau also spoke of the EU's efforts to address these issues, and in particular the plans to impose new tariffs on auto vehicles on China. Trudeau congratulated von der Leyen on the 'smooth running' of the European elections and emphasised the importance of such a large election that must also address 'the challenges of foreign interference'. The two reiterated 'their commitment to support Ukraine' and emphasised 'the importance of global solidarity to foster a just and lasting peace. They said they looked forward to participating in the Ukrainian Peace Summit to be held on 15-16 June in Switzerland'. Trudeau and von der Leyen 'agreed to stay in close contact and said they were happy about the prospect of seeing each other again soon'.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "it is important for the Islamic world to be united against the genocidal policies implemented by Israel in the Palestinian territories". This was reported by the Ankara Presidency of the Republic, citing the Turkish leader's words during a meeting with UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Italy, where he is attending the G7. "President Erdogan said that securing an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid sent to the region for the Palestinians should be considered priorities on the agenda and efforts to achieve these goals should be put into practice," the note states. During the meeting, Erdogan and Mohammed Bin Zayed also discussed Turkish-Emirati relations as well as regional and global issues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the proposal arrived at by Vladimir Putin to end the war 'an ultimatum': 'What can I say? These messages are ultimatums, they are no different from other ultimatums he has made before," Zelensky said during an interview with Sky TG24 director Giuseppe De Bellis. "We currently see that it is a revival of Nazism that he is doing. It is a new wave of this Nazism, which is a Russian Nazism. It wants us to give part of our occupied territories, but it also wants the unoccupied ones. He talks about regions of our country, and he will not stop. There will be no frozen conflict'.

''There are no new 'peace proposals' from Russia'', only the use of the ''aggressor standard'' and a ''content highly offensive to international law''. This was written in 'X' by the advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Podolyak, stressing that ''there is nothing new'' in Vladimir Putin's announcements, ''no real peace proposal and no desire to end the war''. On the contrary, he argued, ''there is a desire not to pay for this war and to continue it in new forms. It is all a complete farce''.

"The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, including initiatives such as the EU Global Gateway, provides a framework that we will use to promote our vision of sustainable, resilient and economically viable infrastructure in Africa, supported by transparent project selection, procurement, and finance. In this sense, we welcome the Mattei Plan for Africa launched by Italy". This is what we read in the G7 statement, which ANSA has seen.

'We reiterate our condemnation of the complicity of the Belarusian regime in Russia's war against Ukraine'. This is stated in the final communiqué of the G7, which ANSA has seen. "We express our concern about the regime's continued repression of independent media, civil society, opposition and citizens peacefully expressing their views," the communiqué further reads, which then expresses "condemnation" also for Minsk's treatment "of political detainees, calling for their immediate and unconditional release".

NATO will play a greater role in coordinating arms supplies to Ukraine. Secretary General Jens Stolteberg said this. "These efforts do not make Nato a party to the conflict, but our support for Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defence will be strengthened." "Nato will supervise the training of the Ukrainian armed forces at training facilities in allied countries." It will 'support Ukraine through planning and coordination of donations, manage the transfer and repair of equipment provide support for the long-term development of the Ukrainian armed forces.

"We do not yet have an agreement" on a "long-term financial commitment" for Ukraine. This was said by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the end of the Defence Ministerial, who in recent days had assumed an effort of 40 billion a year for Kiev.

The G7 calls on "Iran to stop supporting Russia's war in Ukraine" and "not to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology" to Moscow. "We are ready to respond in a rapid and coordinated manner, including with significant new measures". This was stated in the final communiqué of the G7, which ANSA has seen. The Grandees also demanded that "Iran cease its harmful activities and destabilising actions in the Middle East", saying they were "ready to adopt further sanctions"

- "President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the G7 leaders' unanimous commitment to provide $50 billion in additional financial support to Ukraine using proceeds from Russia's stranded sovereign assets. They also agreed to continue to pursue all available options to impose additional costs on Russia and those who support the Russian war machine." So says the White House in the note released at the end of the meeting, on the sidelines of the G7, between President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni. The meeting served to "deepen the partnership between the United States and Italy on a range of vital security, economic and regional issues". In addition, Biden 'commended Prime Minister Meloni for Italy's steadfast support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia's brutal war of aggression, including Italy's important security assistance'. In addition, the two leaders 'discussed their respective efforts to strengthen mutual economic security and respond to economic coercion'. Meloni and Biden, the White House further reports, 'discussed the importance of bilateral trade and investment in enhancing economic prosperity. President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni also emphasised the urgent need to secure a hostage agreement and ceasefire in Gaza, and stressed the importance of Hamas taking a constructive approach to this process'.

The G7 leaders, as stated in the summit's final communiqué, which ANSA has seen, express "strong concern about the diminishing rights of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people around the world, particularly in times of crisis". "We strongly condemn", the text further reads, "all violations and abuses of their human rights and fundamental freedoms". The G7 reaffirms its "commitment to gender equality".

Russia must end its illegal war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused Ukraine. According to the World Bank, this damage now exceeds USD 486 billion. It is not right for Russia to decide if and when it will pay for the damage caused in Ukraine. Russia's obligations under international law to pay for the damage it is causing are clear, and we therefore continue to consider all possible legal avenues through which Russia is obliged to meet these obligations'. This is stated in the final statement of the G7 leaders which ANSA has seen.

"There are no new 'peace proposals' from Russia". This was stated on X by Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak commenting on the conditions proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war. "Of course there is nothing new, no real peace proposal and no desire to end the war. But there is a desire not to pay for this war and to continue it in new forms. It is all a farce. So - once again - get rid of illusions and stop taking seriously the 'proposals of Russia' that offend common sense,' he said.

"I can tell you that the G7 communiqué will be approved with the consensus of all seven countries," was how a senior White House official responded to those who asked him about abortion in the final G7 declaration, according to the pool following US President Joe Biden.

"Still alive". This is how Francis replied smiling to the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who, welcoming him on his arrival at the G7, asked him how he was. "Still alive," retorted the premier and the Pontiff, still in an amused tone, added: "There are two of us." "Welcome," Bergoglio said as he stepped off the helicopter ladder and turned to Meloni, who thanked him: "It gives me great, great pleasure to have you here. It is a great gift this presence of yours. Thank you'. Climbing into the golfcart at Borgo Egnazia, the Pope let out a laugh: 'A good laugh,' he noted. "But you and I always," replied Meloni.

Not optimistic but 'confident' about the future of the EU at a time of great change. So said Mario Draghi, replying to ANSA after receiving the Charles V prize in the Monastery of Yuste. "Optimistic is not the right word," he noted, "I am confident that we will find the energy, the solidarity, the responsibility to act all together and face these years that are ahead with decisions that are urgent, significant from a financial point of view and from a political point of view even more so," he noted. "Because it is a period of great change that lies ahead," he added.

China's Ministry of Commerce expressed 'strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition' to Turkey's decision to impose an additional 40% tariff on all vehicles imported from China. Ankara's move 'is contrary to WTO rules and China urges Turkey to remove the discriminatory tariffs immediately', a note said. The ministry promised 'necessary measures' to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies'. The Turkish government's decision is based on the desire to protect the domestic automotive industry and reduce the current account deficit with Beijing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised the peace conference on Ukraine scheduled to start tomorrow in Switzerland, calling it 'another trick aimed at diverting everyone's attention from the causes of the Ukrainian crisis' and 'to once again give an appearance of legitimacy to the current Ukrainian authorities'. The Interfax news agency reports. "Evidently, the West has not abandoned the idea of forming a kind of international anti-Russian coalition and giving the impression of exerting pressure on Russia," Putin said again.

"While fighting a just war, defending our people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel. In doing so, France ignores the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli children, women and men. Israel will not participate in the trilateral framework proposed by France'. This was written on X by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in the aftermath of Emmanuel Macron's statements at the G7 summit in Bari in which he evoked "a trilateral Israel-USA-France framework to carry out the Paris road map" to ease tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ANSA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

The G7 'will take measures, including sanctions' and other innovative measures, 'to combat Russia's use of deceptive alternative shipping practices to circumvent our sanctions through its shadow fleet' for oil trading. This is according to a draft of the G7 final communiqué as reported by Bloomberg. The G7 also pledged to do more to hinder 'the development of future energy projects and disrupt access to goods and services on which such projects are based', and will continue to reduce Russia's revenues from metals. (

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet after a bilateral meeting at the Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

"Today we are making a real proposal for peace, we are talking not about freezing the conflict but about its complete cessation". President Vladimir Putin said this about the proposal for negotiations on the condition that the Ukrainians withdraw from four regions and renounce joining Nato. "We urge to turn the tragic page of history and gradually restore relations with Ukraine and Europe," he added. If the West and Ukraine refuse, Putin warned, they will bear the "responsibility for the continuation of bloodshed".

Russia is ready for a cease-fire and the start of negotiations if Ukrainian troops completely withdraw from the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and Kiev commits not to join NATO. This was said by Russian President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin EPA/STRINGER

The G7 calls on China to stop its aid to Russia, according to a draft of the summit's final communiqué, Bloomberg reports. The statement goes on to point out that Beijing's trade policies 'are leading to market distortions and overcapacity in growth rates, undermining our workers, industries, resilience and economic security'.

The South Korean Presidential Office reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin will make his first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years "in a few days" to strengthen bilateral military and security cooperation in the context of the war in Ukraine and inter-Korean tensions. "The mission to North Korea will take place in a few days," a senior Seoul official said during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Kazakhstan, according to South Korean media. Indiscretions circulated in Beijing have pointed to the visit as possible over the weekend, when the peace conference on Ukraine will be held in Switzerland

- The hypothesis that 'Russia will attack Europe' is 'utter nonsense', it is 'just a justification for an arms race', Russian President Vladimir Putin said, reported by the Interfax news agency.

The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Joe Biden has ended. The meeting, on the sidelines of the G7 proceedings, lasted over half an hour.

Pope Francis landed in a helicopter at Borgo Egnazia, the venue for the G7 Italian presidency, the first to host a pontiff. Bergoglio was welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He will attend a working session devoted to artificial intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, which will be open to the countries and international outreach organisations invited to the summit in Puglia.

The world is 'unacceptably close to the point of no return' and risks a 'tragedy' due to the 'selfishness and arrogance of Western countries', who speak of the need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia without considering that it 'possesses one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world'. This was said by Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at the Foreign Ministry.

Bilateral talks between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Joe Biden are underway on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Puglia

Yet another shock poll for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, lame duck number one among other lame ducks present at the G7 summit being held in Borgo Egnazia, Italy. For the first time, twenty days before the 4th of July elections, the Tories are in fact indicated by a survey not only far behind Keir Strarmer's Labour favourites, but also behind the populists of Reform UK, rivals on the right front of the electorate led by the rediscovered former Brexit tribune, Nigel Farage. According to the updated data released in recent hours by YouGov, Labour does indeed appear to be in decline, at 37%, but Sunak's party does not take advantage of this if only marginally, dropping from 20 to 19 points and remaining at its negative peak of 18%; while it is overtaken by Reform, which is clearly up at 19%. An indication that is not really reflected in the forecasts for the allocation of the majority uninominal seats - a key element of the British system - where the Tory parish is traditionally better able to concentrate votes. Nor is it confirmed by two other polls published at the same time by Techne and Redfield & Wilton: which - while suggesting in turn a slight backwardness of Labour and a progressive increase in consensus for Reform UK - continue to credit Sunak's party with second place even at the proportional level, albeit relegating it to over 20 points from Starmer. Meanwhile, pressed on these numbers by British journalists on the sidelines of the G7 in Puglia, Sunak nevertheless insisted that he still believed in a victory that even several of his ministers seemed to admit they no longer hoped for. 'The only poll that counts will be the one on 4 July,' he cut it short, limiting himself to adding that if the polls were right, 'it would be a blank cheque from the British people to Labour to tax everyone, their homes, their pensions and their families.

The right-wing Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has narrowed the gap to the centrist party of former cabinet minister Benny Gantz. Two polls published today reveal this, Reuters writes on its website. The polls by the left-wing daily Ma'ariv and the right-wing daily Israel Hayom give Likud 21 seats, behind the National Unity Party with 24. Last week's Ma'ariv poll gave Gantz's party 27 seats, while at the beginning of the year, polls regularly put it around 30. The Ma'ariv poll shows the current governing coalition with 52 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 58 for the main opposition parties. Both polls showed that a majority of voters would prefer Gantz as prime minister in a head-to-head choice with Netanyahu.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticised the US-Ukraine security agreement stating that it is 'just pieces of paper'. "These agreements are not about anything, they have no legal value," Zakharova said according to Russian state news agency Tass.

Marine Le Pen promises a ''government of national union'' should the Rassemblement National win the early parliamentary elections on 30 June and 7 July. Le Pen declared this this morning in the fiefdom of Hénin-Beaumont, in the Nord Pas-de-Calais

Raphael Glucksmann, who will take the field with the Popular Front of the French left, attacked Emmanuel Macron for the 'huge mistake' of having 'plunged France into chaos' by calling for early legislative elections. "The truth," Glucksmann told France Inter's microphones, "is that he has opened the road to power, in our country, to the extreme right. This president,' he added, 'plays with the institutions like one plays poker'.

France's left Socialist Party (PS) and Place Publique party’s leading European Parliament election candidate and MEP Raphael Glucksmann (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

The Argentine Ministry of Security has informed that it will prosecute for damage the demonstrators who protested on Wednesday in front of the Senate during the debate on the Basic Law, the reform package of Javier Milei's government. The ministry specified in a statement that 33 people have been detained so far and that it is estimated that there will be more 'as the attackers are identified'. "Terrorist groups committed an act of destruction with the intention of disrupting the sessions of the Senate," continued the ministry note, which called the actions of the demonstrators an 'attempted coup d'état'. The portfolio headed by Patricia Bullrich added that the prosecutor Carlos Stornelli attributes the arrestees with crimes such as attacks and resistance to authority, public intimidation, attacks against the constitutional order, and defamation.

Raphael Glucksmann, who at the European elections relaunched the Socialist Party with his Place Publique movement, coming third behind the extreme right of Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance, announced this morning to France Inter that he supports 'the union of the left': 'For me,' he said, 'the only thing that matters is that the Rassemblement National (RN) does not win these elections and does not govern this country. The only way to do that is for there to be a union of the left'. Glucksmann states that 'Jean-Luc Mélenchon will not be the premier candidate of the left', which on the contrary needs 'a consensual and non-divisive figure'.

A bilateral meeting between Joe Biden and Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 in Borgo Egnazia is scheduled for 10.45am. This is what is stated on the White House agenda. The meeting will take place after the first session of the summit, which starts at 9.30 a.m. and is dedicated to migration. The bilateral between the US president and Pope Francis, who arrives in Borgo Egnazia at around 1.30 p.m. to attend the session on artificial intelligence, is instead scheduled to take place at 6.15 p.m. Biden will depart from Brindisi airport tonight at 11.40pm.

Neo-colonialism has long since approached Russia's borders. Dmitry Medvedev said this in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazetta. According to the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Ukraine has indeed completely lost its political independence and the special operation will help free it from the neo-colonial shackles of the West. "Following the February 2014 coup," he says, "the country has completely lost its political subjectivity and external control has been established over the republic. The deputy head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation noted that for many years it was generally accepted that neo-colonialism existed somewhere far away, for example in Asia, Africa or Latin America. In reality, he continued, the ambitions know no economic or political limits and the neo-colonialists themselves do not want to respect the strategic borders of other countries.

Trade between Russia and China is conducted openly and in accordance with World Trade Organisation rules, as Beijing exercises strict control over the export of its goods. Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the US, told Tass. "China is not a party to the Ukrainian crisis. We are committed to promoting peace talks. China does not supply weapons to the parties in the conflict and strictly controls the export of its goods, which is widely appreciated by the international community,' the diplomat said. Our normal trade with Russia is lawful. It is consistent with World Trade Organisation rules and market principles, and does not target anyone,' the diplomat added.

Two women were killed and 14 other people were injured, some seriously, in an attack by the Israeli Air Force late last night that targeted a building in the town of Jennata, near the city of Tyre, in southern Lebanon. This was reported by the Al Mayadeen satellite channel, specifying that the death toll is not final. Rescue teams and paramedics are still on the scene searching for any survivors in the rubble of the building that was hit.

China's leading activist of the #MeToo movement, Sophia Huang Xueqin, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of 'inciting subversion of state powers' by the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court. Huang, a 35-year-old freelance journalist, anticipated she would appeal against the sentence, according to her supporters. Labour activist Wang Jianbing, 40, who was also tried with Huang, was sentenced to three years and six months.

Air defence systems shot down 87 drones over Russian regions overnight, 70 of them over the Rostov region. This was reported by the Russian Defence Ministry, Tass reports. "Air defence systems," a note reads, "intercepted and destroyed seventy drones in the Rostov region, two in the Belgorod region, two in the Volgograd region, six in the Voronezh region, as many over Kursk, and one over the Crimean Republic.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, says no one knows how many of the 116 hostages kidnapped on 7 October are still alive. "I have no idea," the official tells CNN from Beirut. "No one has an idea about that." Hamdan blames Israel for the mental state of four recently rescued hostages, after a doctor said they were subjected to constant physical and emotional abuse while in captivity. "I believe that if they have mental problems, it is because of what Israel did in Gaza," he says according to reports in the Times of Israel, adding that the abductees looked better when they left Gaza than when they were kidnapped.

An Iranian-backed Iraqi militia claims to have launched drones on the Ramat David airbase in northern Israel. But there are no reports of drone attacks on the base or warning sirens reported by the Israel Defence Forces Home Front Command. The Times of Israel reports. The group, called Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claims attacks against Israeli targets almost every night, although actual attacks are much rarer.

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched two anti-ship cruise missiles and hit a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen. The ship, the M/V Verbena, caught fire and one sailor was seriously injured. The seaman, a civilian, was flown by a US helicopter based on the USS Philippine Sea to another nearby ship for medical treatment, US Army Central Command said.

In a statement, the Central Command said that the Verbena was a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and operated commercial vessel that had docked in Malaysia and was bound for Italy carrying timber. "The M/V Verbena suffered damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire," the note reads.

The attack is the latest of its kind in the Houthi campaign during the war between Israel and Hamas.

I sostenitori degli Houthi cantano slogan durante una protesta contro gli Stati Uniti e Israele, e in solidarietà con il popolo palestinese, a Sana’a EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

- "The Argentine government assures that it will not transfer French-made Super Etendard attack planes to Ukraine". This was stated, Tass reports, by Russian Ambassador to Argentina Dmitry Feoktistov. 'We understand that the negotiations in question have indeed taken place and that the possibility of transferring the planes through France, which would repair them, has been discussed. Based on the findings, he continues, the planes will not be transferred: there are assurances from the Argentine administration in this regard'. According to Feoktistov, Russia has informed Argentina that the transfer of military equipment to Ukraine via third countries would be considered a hostile step.

"Today (yesterday Thursday, ndr) the US and Ukraine took a step forward to strengthen Kiev's defence in the war for its independence". Joe Biden wrote this on X after the first day of the G7 in Italy and the joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky. "By signing an agreement to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself and deter future aggression, we are showing Putin that we stand together - now and in the decades ahead," the US president insisted.

"Iran continues to take steps in the wrong direction with respect to its nuclear programme". The US State Department said this in a note after the IEA warned that Tehean is further expanding its arsenal. "Iran must cooperate with the IEA without further delay to fully implement its legally binding obligations. We remain in close coordination with our partners and allies," department spokesman Matthew Miller stressed.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund approved a disbursement of nearly $800 million to Argentina as it continues a programme of drastic economic reforms launched by President Javier Milei, who has promised to halt the country's economic decline and reduce the budget deficit to zero. "The Executive Board assessed that the programme is firmly on track," the IMF said in a note. "The Board stressed that sustaining strong progress requires improving the quality of fiscal adjustment, initiating steps towards a strengthening of the monetary and exchange rate policy framework, and implementing the structural agenda," the institute further said.

"Concluding this important day, I would like to thank Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and all of Italy for organising and hosting such an outstanding G7 summit. Today's substantive discussions will undoubtedly have tangible positive results - not only political, but also economic and social - when all the agreements reached by the leaders are put into practice. Strong, principled policies improve people's security, create new jobs and provide certainty for the future'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky writes this on X. "We appreciate our reliable partnership with the G7. We appreciate -adds Zelensky- that Ukraine was at the centre of today's discussions. Together we bring just peace closer and strengthen our positions. We signed the security agreements with all G7 countries after signing them today with the United States and Japan. This forms the basis of a new security architecture for Ukraine. I am grateful to the G7 nations for their constant and consistent support'.