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Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds more prisoners Saturday as part of a major swap that amounted to a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire. The exchange came hours after Kyiv came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack that left at least 15 people injured. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s defense ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. Further releases expected over the weekend are set to make the swap the largest in more than three years of war. “We expect more to come tomorrow,” Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defense ministry also said it expected the exchange to be continued, though it did not give details. Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight. In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion — Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. ‘A difficult night’ Officials said Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralized 245 drones — 128 drones were shot down and 117 were thwarted using electronic warfare. The Kyiv City Military Administration said it was one of the biggest combined missile and drone attacks on the capital. “A difficult night for all of us,” the administration said in a statement. Posting on X, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it “clear evidence that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process." Posting on X, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke of “another night of terror for Ukrainian civilians.” “These are not the actions of a country seeking peace,” Lammy said of the Russian strike. Katarina Mathernová, the European Union's ambassador to Kyiv, described the attack as “horrific." “If anyone still doubts Russia wants war to continue — read the news,” Katarina Mathernová wrote on the social network. Air raid alert in Kyiv The debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six Kyiv city districts. According to the acting head of the city's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, six people required medical care after the attack and two fires were sparked in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district. The Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged in the attack, was the hardest hit with at least five wounded in the area, the administration said. Kyiv hit by massive Russian missile and drone attack Yurii Bondarchuk, a local resident, said the air raid siren “started as usual, then the drones started to fly around as they constantly do.” Moments later, he heard a boom and saw shattered glass fly through the air. “The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,” he said as he stood in the dark, smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours, warning of incoming missiles and drones. Kyiv's mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, warned residents ahead of the attack that more than 20 Russian strike drones were heading toward the city. As the attack continued, he said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in Obolon. Emergency services were headed to the site, Klitschko said. Separately, 13 civilians were killed on Friday and overnight into Saturday in Russian attacks in Ukraine's south, east and north, regional authorities said. Three people died after a Russian ballistic missile targeted port infrastructure in Odesa on the Black Sea, local Gov. Oleh Kiper reported. Russia later said the strike Friday targeted a cargo ship carrying military equipment. Russia’s defense ministry on Saturday claimed its forces overnight struck various military targets across Ukraine, including missile and drone-producing plants, a reconnaissance center and a launching site for anti-aircraft missiles. A complex deal The prisoner swap on Friday was the first phase of a complicated deal involving the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. It took place at the border with Belarus, in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defense Ministry said. POWs arrived at the medical facility in the Chernihiv region for a second day on Saturday. But for many their arrival was bittersweet. Those who were not reunited with their loved ones took solace in the released POWs providing some information about when their relatives were last seen. Anna Marchenko, the daughter of a missing Ukrainian serviceman, was elated when a released POW said they had seen her father. “This is such a big news. It’s like a fresh breath of air,” she said. “I didn’t see him, but at least it’s some news. At least it’s news that gives us the opportunity to continue to breathe and live in peace." However, the exchange — the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians so far — did not herald a halt in the fighting. What to know about the battle for Russia's Kursk region Battles continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. After the May 16 Istanbul meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic maneuvering continued. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would give Ukraine a draft document outlining its conditions for a “sustainable, long-term, comprehensive” peace agreement, once the ongoing prisoner exchange had finished. Far apart on key conditions European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger army’s battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. The Istanbul meeting revealed that both sides remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. Putin visits Russia’s Kursk for first time since Moscow claims to oust Ukrainian forces Russia’s Defense Ministry said that overnight and early on Saturday its forces shot down over 100 Ukrainian drones over six provinces in western and southern Russia. The drone strikes injured three people in the Tula region south of Moscow, local Gov. Dmitriy Milyaev said, and sparked a fire at an industrial site there. Andriy Kovalenko, of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Saturday the drones hit a plant in Tula that makes chemicals used in explosives and rocket fuel.

The bodies of 79 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, Gaza 's Health Ministry said Saturday, a toll that doesn't include hospitals in the battered north that it said are now inaccessible. Nine of a doctor's 10 children were among those killed in Israel’s renewed military offensive, colleagues and the Health Ministry said. Alaa Najjar, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, was on duty at the time and ran home to find her family's house on fire, Ahmad al-Farra, head of the hospital's pediatric department, told The Associated Press. Najjar's husband was severely wounded and their only surviving child, an 11-year-old son, was in critical condition after Friday's strike in the southern city of Khan Younis, Farra said. The dead children ranged in age from 7 months to 12 years old. Khalil Al-Dokran, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, told the AP that two of the children remained under the rubble. Israel's military in a statement said it struck suspects operating from a structure next to its forces, and described the area of Khan Younis as a “dangerous war zone.” It said it had evacuated civilians from the area, and “the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review.” Earlier on Saturday, a statement said Israel's air force struck over 100 targets throughout Gaza over the past day. The Health Ministry said the new deaths brought the war's toll to 53,901 since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that sparked the 19 months of fighting. The ministry said 3,747 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel resumed the war on March 18 in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept different ceasefire terms. Its count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel's pressure on Hamas has included a blockade of Gaza and its over 2 million people since early March. This week, the first aid trucks entered the territory and began reaching Palestinians since the blockade began. Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing aid for Gaza, said 388 trucks had entered since Monday. About 600 trucks a day had entered during the ceasefire. Warnings of famine by food security experts, and images of desperate Palestinians jostling for bowls of food at the ever-shrinking number of charity kitchens, led Israel's allies to press the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow some aid to return. Netanyahu's government has sought a new aid delivery and distribution system by a newly established U.S.-backed group, but the United Nations and partners have rejected it, saying it allows Israel to use food as a weapon and violates humanitarian principles. Israel may now be changing its approach to let aid groups remain in charge of non-food assistance, according to a letter obtained by the AP. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid but the U.N. and aid groups deny there is significant diversion. Hospitals in Gaza are again reporting attacks and other Israeli pressure. The Health Ministry said 11 security personnel have been trapped at the European Hospital in southern Gaza following heavy gunfire and airstrikes since at least Tuesday. Dr. Saleh Hams, director of the nursing department, said patients were evacuated after an Israeli strike on May 13. Hams said the security staff stayed behind to protect from looting, and that it was the only hospital in Gaza offering neurosurgery, cardiac care and cancer treatment. Israel said it will continue to strike Gaza until Hamas releases all of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages and disarms. Fewer than half of the hostages are believed to be alive since the Oct. 7 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others. Israel becoming ‘pariah state’, kills children ‘as hobby’: opposition leader Golan Hamas has said it will only return the remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from the territory. Netanyahu has rejected those terms and has vowed to maintain control over Gaza and facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its Palestinian population. “The Israeli government and its leader have a clear choice: deal or war, saving lives or abandonment,” Liran Berman, brother of hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, told a weekly rally in Tel Aviv as families and supporters again demanded an agreement that would bring everyone home.

Cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will unlock immense potential for multilateral cooperation across sectors and inject stability into the world economy, analysts said ahead of an inaugural joint summit for the three parties. At the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, to be held in the Malaysian capital next week, the three parties are expected to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, such as trade, investment and supply chain, creating new opportunities in clean and renewable energy, digital economy, electric vehicles, financial markets and infrastructure development among other areas. The trilateral gathering of the leaders of 17 countries also marks an innovative step in cross-regional South-South cooperation among complementary economies to ride out trade disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs. "GOLDEN TRIANGLE" ASEAN, a group of 10 Southeast Asian countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is the fifth-largest economy after the United States, China, the EU and Japan. With a large, youthful population driving digital transformation, abundant natural resources, and a skilled labor force, ASEAN has positioned itself as a major engine powering the global supply chain and industrial development. The GCC economies, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are expected to double its economic growth rate from 2.1 percent in 2024 to 4.2 percent in 2025, the First Abu Dhabi Bank, the largest bank in the UAE, said in a report released in February. According to the report, the GCC's economic resilience will be supported by strategic investments, diversification and robust expansion in the non-oil sector, as the Middle East undergoes a shift from a major oil exporter to a global green energy hub. Julia Roknifard, a senior lecturer at Taylor's University in Malaysia, said China is an anchor for ASEAN-GCC cooperation. "China has already had a transformative effect on ASEAN and the wider Middle East, including GCC states, through its various infrastructure, trade and development initiatives, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative guided by the Global Development Initiative," she said. "But the relationship goes deeper than that, as China is increasingly engaged in technology sharing and shared industrialization, besides tourism, cultural exchange and longstanding people-to-people relationships," Roknifard added. The expert called the trilateral cooperation platform a "Golden Triangle" of resources, manufacturing and consumers, which will continue to power the global economy despite severe trade disruptions due to recent U.S. tariff policy. PROTECTING GLOBAL TRADE The trilateral event comes amid heightened uncertainty in world economy. In its April World Economic Outlook (WEO), the IMF downgraded its global growth forecast for 2025 to 2.8 percent, a hefty 0.5 percentage points decrease from its January estimate. "Since the release of the January WEO Update, a series of new tariff measures by the United States and countermeasures by trading partners have been announced and implemented," the report said, calling the U.S. reciprocal tariffs "near-universal" and "not seen in a century." "The unprecedented imposition of tariffs by the U.S. will disrupt regional and global trade and investment flows, as well as supply chains, affecting businesses and consumers worldwide, including those of the U.S.," ASEAN economic ministers said in a joint statement issued following a special virtual meeting held on April 10. U.S. tariffs are also endangering 22 billion U.S. dollars worth of non-oil exports of GCC economies, according to a recent policy brief by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. The UN agency said Bahrain is flagged due to its heavy dependence on aluminum and chemical exports to the U.S. market, while the UAE could see disruptions to roughly 10 billion dollars in U.S.-bound re-exports, a result of U.S. tariffs on goods originally produced in third countries. Facing trade disruption, China, ASEAN and GCC members -- as part of the Global South, can jointly catalyze more cooperation across other Global South countries by inspiring similar initiatives, said Bunn Nagara, director and senior fellow at the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific (BRICAP), an independent non-governmental think tank based in Kuala Lumpur. "Our success in cooperation is also a success for the Global South," the expert said. "Countries in Africa and Latin America share our aspirations." "Part of our interests lies in protecting global trade, on which our respective national development programs depend. This will also benefit other countries and regions around the world," he added. SOLID FOUNDATION Cooperation among China, ASEAN and GCC countries has witnessed fruitful results in recent years. In October 2023, the first ASEAN-GCC summit was held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, marking a significant milestone in the relations between the two regional organizations, which forged ties in 1990. The ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation (2024-2028) was presented at the conclusion of the summit, which outlines measures and cooperation activities in such sectors as security, trade and investment, cultural exchanges and tourism. In December 2022, the first China-GCC summit was held in Riyadh. China pledged to work with GCC countries to prioritize cooperation in energy, finance and investment, innovation, science and technology, aerospace, as well as language and cultural fields. China and GCC countries are natural partners of cooperation with strong economic complementarities, Chinese leaders have said, as China has a vast consumer market and a complete industrial system, while the GCC, with rich energy resources, is embracing diversified economic development. Meanwhile, China and ASEAN countries have fully completed negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), and will strive to formally sign the CAFTA 3.0 upgrade protocol before the end of this year, economic and trade ministers from China and ASEAN said at a special online meeting on Tuesday. "Over the past decade, economic ties between ASEAN and China have strengthened significantly, bolstered by shared participation in regional production networks and the rapid economic growth of both sides," Abdul Mui'zz Morhalim, chief economist at MIDF Amanah Investment Bank, told Xinhua. The upcoming ASEAN-China-GCC summit is expected to establish an important mechanism for trilateral cooperation across the board. The three sides will be able to synergize their economic and industrial policies, and have the potential to upgrade their cooperation in many fields, including clean energy and the digital economy, analysts said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China and Indonesia have become a model for major developing countries to collaborate on solidarity, development, and mutual benefit. Li made the remarks in a written statement upon arriving in Jakarta for an official visit to Indonesia at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. China and Indonesia are friends and neighbors across the sea and close partners with a shared future, Li said, adding that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties, which have maintained steady growth. Ready to work with Germany to open new chapter in all-round strategic partnership: Xi The traditional friendship has grown stronger over time and practical cooperation has yielded rich fruits, Li said. Li recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo met twice last year, reached an important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence, lifted bilateral ties to new heights, and opened new opportunities for both sides to deepen cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work with Indonesia to keep consolidating cooperation in the "five pillars" of politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, maritime affairs and security, Li said. He urged both sides to enrich the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, join hands to pursue modernization, and make greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability and development. China criticizes US ban on Harvard's international students Li noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Over the past 70 years, the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation has provided guidance for the independent and self-reliant development of Asian and African countries, injected impetus into the unity and cooperation of the Global South countries, and become an important norm of international relations, he added. At present, the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and all countries face many common challenges in their development, he said, stressing that as major developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and Indonesia should further carry forward the Bandung Spirit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, promote the practice of true multilateralism, work together to address challenges, so as to boost and share prosperity. During his visit, Li will hold talks with Indonesian leaders and attend events of the business community. Premier Li Qiang to visit Indonesia, attend ASEAN-GCC Summit to boost regional cooperation

The European Union has called for mutual respect in trade relations after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all EU goods entering the United States. Speaking after a call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said, “The EU's fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both.” "EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests." Earlier on Friday, Trump expressed impatience with the pace of ongoing EU-US trade negotiations, saying his plan to raise tariffs on June 1 was set. Writing on social media, Trump said, "Our discussions with [the EU] are going nowhere," adding that there would be no tariffs for products built or manufactured in the US. "I'm not looking for a deal - we've set the deal," he told reporters later, before immediately adding that a big investment in the US by a European company might make him open to a delay. Judge halts Trump administration’s attempt to ban foreign student at Harvard The EU is one of the Washington's largest trading partners, sending more than $600bn (€528bn; £443bn) in goods last year and buying $370bn worth, US government figures show. Reacting to Trump's threats, European governments warned that higher tariffs would be damaging to both sides. "We do not need to go down this road," said Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. "Negotiations are the best and only sustainable way forward." France's Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, said: "We are maintaining the same line: de-escalation, but we are ready to respond." German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the bloc "must do everything" to reach a solution with the US. While Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told reporters that he backed the EU's strategy in trade talks and "we have seen before that tariffs can go up and down in talks with the US." With inputs from BBC

Syria welcomed Saturday the move by the Trump administration to ease sanctions imposed on the war-torn country, calling it a “positive step” to ease humanitarian and economic suffering. A statement by the foreign ministry said Syria “extends its hand” to anyone that wants to cooperate with Damascus, on the condition that there is no intervention in the country’s internal affairs, reports AP. Saturday’s statement came a day after the Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions in a major first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 14 years of civil war. A measure by the State Department waived for six months a tough set of sanctions imposed by Congress in 2019. A Treasury Department action suspended enforcement of sanctions against anyone doing business with a range of Syrian individuals and entities, including Syria’s central bank. Over 60 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as aid remains scarce The congressional sanctions, known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, had aimed to isolate Syria’s previous rulers by effectively expelling those doing business with them from the global financial system. They specifically block postwar reconstruction, so while they can be waived for 180 days by executive order, investors are likely to be wary of reconstruction projects when sanctions could be reinstated after six months. The Trump administration said Friday’s actions were “just one part of a broader US government effort to remove the full architecture of sanctions.” Those penalties had been imposed on the Assad family for their support of Iranian-backed militias, their chemical weapons program and abuses of civilians. Trump said during a visit to the region earlier this month that the US would roll back the heavy financial penalties in a bid to give the interim government a better chance of survival. Syria’s foreign ministry said dialogue and diplomacy are the best way to build “balanced relations that achieve the interest of the people and strengthen security and stability in the region.” It added that the coming period in Syria will be reconstruction and restoring “Syria’s natural status” in the region and around the world.

A female has died after being shot by police in Melbourne, the capital city of southeast Australia's state of Victoria, on Saturday evening. The Victorian Police said in a statement on Friday evening that officers were called to Cecil Street in south Melbourne following reports of a male with a machete at around 5 p.m. local time.  Record floodwaters in eastern Australia 4 dead, 1 missing The police located the male and whilst he was being arrested, a vehicle was driven at a police officer. The officer shot at the offending vehicle, striking a female driver and her male passenger. The 34-year-old female has died at the scene, while the 26-year-old male has been taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The male senior constable has been taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  Record floodwaters in eastern Australia, 1 dead and 3 missing The matter will be investigated with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is standard procedure for a fatal police shooting, said the statement.  

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s move to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students—a measure Harvard condemned as unconstitutional retaliation for resisting the White House’s political pressure. Harvard filed a lawsuit earlier the same day in Boston federal court, arguing that the government's action violates the First Amendment and would cause immediate and severe harm to the university and its over 7,000 international students. “The government is trying to erase a quarter of our student body with a single decision,” the university stated in its complaint, emphasizing that Harvard’s identity and mission are closely tied to its global student body. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued an order pausing the government’s action while the legal process continues. Harvard said the administration’s decision had created chaos just days before graduation. The affected students include those managing research labs, teaching, supporting faculty, and taking part in athletics. They now face the choice of transferring to other institutions or risking their legal status in the U.S. The move would be especially damaging to graduate programs such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where about half the students are from abroad, and Harvard Business School, where international students make up a third of the enrollment. It would also prevent thousands of new students from joining summer and fall programs. Harvard warned the policy could deter top international talent in the future, with applicants possibly avoiding the university out of fear of future government retaliation. If the policy were enforced, Harvard said it wouldn’t be able to admit new international students for at least two academic years, as schools whose certification is revoked must wait a year before reapplying. The university currently hosts about 6,800 foreign students, mostly in graduate programs, from over 100 countries. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified its action by claiming Harvard fostered an unsafe campus environment, citing incidents involving “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” targeting Jewish students. DHS also accused Harvard of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party and training Chinese paramilitary members as recently as 2024. Harvard President Alan Garber responded earlier this month, saying the school had implemented governance reforms and was actively addressing antisemitism. However, he reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to its “core, legally-protected principles,” regardless of political pressure. The university has pledged to respond separately to allegations raised by House Republicans concerning ties with the Chinese government. Former Harvard president and ex-U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers criticized the administration’s move on social media, warning that it could alienate future global leaders and calling the policy “madness.” The enrollment threat stems from an April 16 request by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded data on foreign students potentially involved in protests or violence. Harvard said it submitted thousands of data points in response, but DHS claimed the university did not comply—without offering specifics. Harvard’s lawsuit alleges the administration failed to follow its own rules for revoking a school’s certification under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, which typically occurs for administrative failures like loss of accreditation or inadequate facilities—not for political reasons. Noem has said Harvard could regain its certification if it submits extensive records within 72 hours, including audio or video of international students involved in protests or hazardous behavior. This lawsuit is separate from another legal battle in which Harvard is challenging more than $2 billion in federal funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration.   

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, faced a large-scale Russian attack early Saturday, with both drones and missiles. Explosions and bursts of machine gun fire echoed across the city, prompting many residents to seek shelter in subway stations. The overnight attack coincided with a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine—the first phase of a deal reached in Istanbul last week—marking a rare instance of cooperation during the ongoing three-year conflict. According to Tymur Tkachenko, acting head of Kyiv's military administration, debris from intercepted drones and missiles fell across at least four districts of the city. Six people required medical treatment, and fires were reported in the Solomianskyi district. Greece deploys record firefighters and drones for wildfire season Local resident Yurii Bondarchuk recounted the experience, noting that the air raid siren began as usual, followed by the sound of drones overhead. A sudden explosion shattered glass in his apartment. “The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,” he said, standing outside in the darkness while firefighters worked nearby. To steady his nerves, he smoked a cigarette. The air raid alert lasted over seven hours through the night, with repeated warnings of incoming threats. Prior to the strike, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko warned that more than 20 Russian strike drones were en route. As the attack unfolded, he reported that drone debris struck a shopping mall and a residential building in Kyiv’s Obolon district, with emergency crews dispatched to the scene. The missile and drone attack came just hours after Ukraine and Russia began executing a prisoner exchange deal involving 1,000 captives from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 390 Ukrainians were returned in the initial phase, with more expected over the weekend—making it the largest exchange of the war to date. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it received an equal number of Russian nationals. A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, said the handover took place at the Belarus border in northern Ukraine. The Russian prisoners were transported to Belarus for medical care. At the medical facility, relatives of the released men gathered, holding signs and shouting names or brigade numbers in hopes of finding loved ones. “Vanya!” cried Nataliia Mosych, calling out for her husband. Despite the large-scale exchange, fighting has not abated along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have already died. Both sides continue their deep-strike operations. Following the May 16 meeting in Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the prisoner swap as a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that no venue has been finalized for further negotiations. UK net migration expected to halve in 2024: ONS Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow plans to present Ukraine with a draft document detailing its terms for a “sustainable, long-term, comprehensive” peace agreement once the ongoing exchange concludes. Yet, significant gaps remain in the positions of both sides. One of Ukraine’s key demands—backed by Western allies—is the implementation of a temporary ceasefire as a starting point for peace talks. European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling negotiations while seeking to gain more territory through military advances. In the days leading up to the latest attack, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported it had shot down 788 Ukrainian drones between May 20 and May 23. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched 175 Shahed and decoy drones, along with a ballistic missile, since late Thursday.  

At least 60 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as Israel continued its military campaign and allowed only limited humanitarian aid into the area. The fatalities included 10 in Khan Younis in the south, four in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to reports from Nasser, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Ahli hospitals. Israel is facing increasing global condemnation over its continued offensive and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has been under near-total blockade for almost three months. Experts warn that many of the two million residents face imminent famine. Even the United States, Israel’s key ally, has voiced alarm about the hunger crisis. Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military The latest airstrikes extended into Friday, just a day after Israeli forces targeted a hospital in northern Gaza with tanks and drones, causing fires and widespread destruction, according to Palestinian health officials. Video from Al-Awda Hospital showed destroyed walls and thick black smoke. Israel has pledged to continue its operations until Hamas surrenders and releases the remaining 58 Israeli hostages. Fewer than half of those hostages are believed to still be alive. Washington Attack Linked to Gaza Conflict The Gaza violence coincides with a deadly incident in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot after attending an event. The suspect, who claimed the act was "for Palestine," has been charged with murder. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and criticized France, the UK, and Canada for backing the idea of a Palestinian state, arguing their stance implicitly supports Hamas. Minimal Aid Flows In, U.N. Says It's Not Enough In response to growing pressure, Israel allowed over 100 aid trucks into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Friday, carrying essentials like flour, food, and medical supplies. However, the U.N. called the volume inadequate compared to the 600 daily trucks needed during previous ceasefires. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres criticized Israel for offering only “a teaspoon of aid when a flood is needed,” noting that no aid has yet reached northern Gaza. Distribution is hampered by Israeli military restrictions and security issues within Gaza. At a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, desperate residents lined up with empty containers, hoping for a portion of lentil soup. Displaced mother Halima Abu Amra said her injured daughter survives on discarded, soaked bread, while her younger children eat only soup. The World Food Program reported that 15 of its aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza on Thursday night, citing growing desperation and lawlessness. Israel says the current aid is temporary until a new U.S.-backed initiative begins. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization, is expected to manage future aid efforts, using armed contractors for security. Israel claims the move is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid. The U.N. has rejected this plan, arguing that it undermines international law and humanitarian standards. Guterres stated that the U.N. already has the capacity to deliver aid via 9,000 trucks. Meanwhile, a Geneva-based advocacy group has initiated legal proceedings to push Swiss authorities to oversee the GHF, which is registered in Switzerland. The foundation insists it operates independently and within humanitarian guidelines. Ceasefire Talks Stalled Ceasefire negotiations in Doha have hit a deadlock. Prime Minister Netanyahu withdrew his top negotiating team, citing lack of progress. A smaller team remains in place. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the two sides remain far apart. Hamas accused Netanyahu of pretending to negotiate in bad faith. The war began with a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251. In response, Israel launched a devastating campaign in Gaza, which has since claimed over 53,000 Palestinian lives, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Rising West Bank Violence The conflict has also escalated violence in the occupied West Bank. In Bruqin, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian residents on Thursday, torching vehicles and damaging homes. The U.N. confirmed that eight people were injured, mostly while trying to put out fires. Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as limited aid begins to arrive Mustafa Khater, a local resident, said settler violence had been ongoing for days. He evacuated his family out of fear but stayed behind to protect their home. The West Bank has seen an upsurge in both settler and military violence since the Gaza war began, with large Israeli operations targeting militants, killing hundreds and displacing many, while also triggering Palestinian attacks on Israelis.