The Israeli-Palestinian war has forced Russia into a delicate balancing act, with Moscow urging a quick end to the fighting without apportioning blame

Defending heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has weighed in 5.6 kilograms (12.3 pounds) lighter than British challenger Daniel Dubois ahead of their title fight on Saturday

Ukraine claimed the first successes of its counter-offensive on Sunday as it recaptured three villages from Russian forces in the south-east of the country. Unverified footage showed Kyiv’s forces hoisting the Ukrainian flag at a building in the village of Blahodatne in Donetsk region and posing with their unit’s flag in the adjacent village of Neskuchne. The troops also reportedly retook Makarivka, the next village to the south, and advanced between 300 and 1,500 metres in two directions on the southern front, deputy defence Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement. “No positions were lost on the directions where our forces are on the defensive,” Maliar added. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Ukrainian “counteroffensive and defensive operations” were taking place. Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a Ukrainian military push was well underway, but that it had failed and had so far suffered “significant losses”. Kyiv has kept information of its counter-offensive secret and urged Ukrainians not to disclose any information that could compromise the operation. The video from Blahodatne showed Ukrainian troops inside a heavily damaged building as the sound of artillery rumbled in the distance. “We’re kicking the enemy out from our native lands. It’s the warmest feeling there is. Ukraine is going to win, Ukraine above everything,” an unidentified soldier said in the video on Facebook. Russia said at least twice this week that it had repelled Ukrainian attacks close by the nearby settlement of Velyka Novosilka. The occupied southeast is seen as a likely priority for Kyiv’s forces that may aim to sever Russia’s land bridge to the annexed peninsula of Crimea and split Russian forces in half. Makarikva is around 90km northwest of the city of Mariupol, which lies on the Sea of Azov on the southern rim of the land bridge. Russia captured the major city last year after besieging and bombarding it for several weeks. Russia has built vast fortifications across occupied territory to prepare for a Ukrainian counterattack using thousands of troops trained and equipped by the West. In her statement, Maliar also said Ukrainian forces were continuing assault operations in the east near the devastated city of Bakhmut and had advanced 250 metres near the Berkhivka Reservoir. Russia said it captured the city of Bakhmut last month after the bloodiest and longest battle of the February 2022 full-scale invasion, but Kyiv has said it has been regaining ground on the flanks of the city. The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said separately that a motorised infantry brigade had advanced on the front line around the eastern city Avdiivka in recent days and captured a Russian position, but it provided no further details. In other developments, the Ukranian president said on Sunday that work has already started on an investigation by the International Criminal Court of the breach of the Kakhovka dam. “Representatives of the International Criminal Court have visited Kherson region in recent days,” Mr Zelensksy said in his nightly video address. “On the very first day after the disaster, the general prosecutor’s office sent a corresponding request to the International Criminal Court concerning an investigation of this disaster and the work has already begun.” Mr Zelensky said it was important that international legal experts saw the aftermath of the disaster, including incidents of shelling of flooded areas. Officials said three people were killed on Sunday in Russian shelling of boats carrying evacuees. The president said Ukrainian rescue teams had evacuated about 4,000 residents from affected zones - including areas on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Ukraine-Russia war – latest: Kyiv says it has liberated first village in counter-offensive action Air Defender 23: Nato exercise will divert and delay hundreds of planes each day Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau for surprise Ukraine visit The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 15, 2023--

Check out which college football upset picks for Week 13 have these Top 25 ranked teams on upset alert in rivalry week.

Canberra cancelled Moscow's lease on a plot of land near parliament citing national security risks.

Ben Collins recently took to an X-like social media site to open up about his career as well as address the possibility of quitting journalism

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to begin his first full day of presidential campaigning with a four-stop blitz through Iowa, trying to prioritize personally connecting with voters while proving he has the mettle to take on former President Donald Trump

Carson Daly took a moment to reminisce his memories with his beloved friend, Steve Harwell, who died from acute liver failure at the age of 56

Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmar’s southern areas has displaced more than 14,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the country’s biggest cities

Fans of Subway’s sandwiches are up in arms after stores in Pakistan launched its first ever 3-inch mini sub as a budget-friendly option. The bite-size sandwich, which recently appeared on Pakistani menus and in social media posts, provides “value” to customers, a spokesperson for Subway told Bloomberg News last week. The new size is half the length of the company’s previous smallest sandwich, which is six inches. Its largest size, otherwise known as the “footlong” sub, is 12 inches. But the newer, cheaper, size is said to be a more bite-sized option to fulfil a “snack craving”. Announcing the launch, a post shared by Subway Pakistan’s Instagram account read: “Say hello to our NEW Mini Sub! The perfect treat for your snack cravings! Get ready to fall in love with its incredible flavors!” A second post added, “Our New Mini Sub is the cutest explosion of taste you’ll ever experience!”, followed by the slogan: “Unleash the mini magic”. The reduced size comes as Pakistan contends with Asia’s fastest rates of inflation, which has seen double-digit percentage increases in the price of fuel amid a cost of living crisis. The August data from Pakistan’s statistics bureau showed that food inflation was elevated at 38.5 per cent. Confronting rising prices, many restaurants have reportedly increased prices on their menus or reduced portion sizes. Pakistan was saved from debt default after securing a further $3bn bailout disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July. However, the deal has come with specific measures attached, including an increase in fuel and energy prices. These rising energy costs have sparked protests among citizens across the country. Meanwhile, Subway fans have been expressing their disappointment about the “tiny” size of the new sandwich. “No one is walking outta the shop after eating this and feeling full,” wrote one Twitter/X user. “That’s like 2-3 bites!” wrote one social media user, as another added: “This would barely feed a toddler.” While it seems that the mini sub has only been rolled out in Pakistan so far, it is unconfirmed whether the menu item will be available at other global stores. The Independent has contacted Subway for comment. Read More Tea enthusiasts stew over 60-second PG Tips teabag: ‘It’s a massive step backwards’ Dunkin’ fans appalled by amount of sugar in Ice Spice’s Munchkins Drink: ‘This should be illegal’ Millennial woman reveals everything Gen Z coworker has taught her: ‘Class was in session’ Three recipes from Michel Roux’s new fuss-free French cookbook How to cook to keep your gut healthy The symbolic foods that are eaten on the Jewish New Year

Megan Rapinoe's activism on such causes as gender equity, racial inequality and gay rights has ensured her iconic status as much as her US...