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Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 510

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Netanyahu says Biden invited him to White House

US President Joe Biden on Monday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington for an official visit at a date to be determined, the Israeli prime minister's office announced

Russian military aircraft crashes into Sea of Azov, pilot killed

A Russian Su-25 military aircraft crashed into the Sea of Azov on Monday, local officials have confirmed. The pilot managed to eject to safety and was recovered by a search and rescue team, but succumbed to his injuries.

Erdogan says open to meeting Assad but not to withdrawal from Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is open to talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but would not meet him if a withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian soil were set as a precondition. Assad had stated that there was no point in a meeting with Erdogan until Turkey’s “illegal occupation” ended.

Iran says formally protested Russia’s stance on 3 Persian Gulf islands

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani says that Tehran has formally protested to Moscow about its recent joint statement with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) regarding three Iranian islands.

Syria calls on European Parliament to condemn “US looting of its resources”

The Syrian Parliament has dismissed the latest report by the European Parliament on the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country as false. Damascus has urged the bloc to be “objective” and condemn “Washington’s plundering of Syrian energy and crops.”

Iraqi PM meets Syria’s president in Damascus

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus during the first trip of its kind to the war-torn country since the 12-year conflict began in 2011. The two leaders discussed fighting drugs, return of refugees and lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Syria.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 509: Russia says Black Sea grain deal “has been terminated”

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

China, Russia to hold joint air and sea drills in Sea of Japan

A Chinese naval flotilla set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise aimed at “safeguarding the security of strategic waterways”, according to China’s defence ministry.

Putin: US delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine “a crime”

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday if Ukraine uses US-supplied cluster munitions on the battlefield, Moscow reserves the right to retaliate in kind. He added that Washington itself considers any use of the weaponry illegal.

Azerbaijan accuses Russia, Armenia of failing to fulfill Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire deal

Azerbaijan Republic has accused Russia and Armenia of failing to fulfill a ceasefire deal in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. While Moscow has offered to host new peace talks between Baku and Yerevan, the European Union is urging the two sides to refrain from “violence and harsh rhetoric”.

Iran Parliament chief warns Russia ‘not to promote West plot to destabilize Persian Gulf’

The Iranian Parliament Speaker cautions Russia not to promote a Western agenda to destabilize the Persian Gulf region, Moscow joined voice with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to question Iranian sovereignty over three islands in the region.

Russia says foiled Ukrainian plot to assassinate RT editor-in-chief

Russian law enforcement has thwarted assassination plans targeting RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan and journalist Ksenia Sobchak, which were prepared by Ukrainian intelligence, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has confirmed.

Pentagon says considering ‘military options’ against Russia in Syria

The US is weighing a military response to Russia’s presence in the skies over Syria, a Pentagon official has confirmed. Damascus says the US presence in Syria is a violation of its sovereignty.

Israelis continue protests as PM advances judicial plans

Tens of thousands of Israeli demonstrators took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities on Saturday protesting against reforms advanced by the ruling coalition. The rallies marked the 28th straight week of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans and come days after his government gave initial approval to a key bill which is part of the overhaul.

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 508: Putin says Ukrainian counter offensive ‘not succeeding’

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

More US lawmakers join boycott of Israeli president’s speech to Congress

Three more US lawmakers have announced their intentions to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to a joint session of Congress next week. It comes after Congresswoman Ilhan Omar announced there would be "no way in hell" she would be in attendance.

EU extends humanitarian exemption for Syria for another six months

The Council of the European Union has announced that it was extending humanitarian exemption from sanctions against Syria, which was introduced in February after the devastating earthquake hit the war-torn country.

UNICEF says 11 children die every week attempting to cross Mediterranean migration route

During the first half of the current year, 289 boys and girls died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, or double the number compared to the same period in 2022, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced.

Iraq ramps up deployment of guards on Kurdistan region after Iran’s warning about terrorists

Iraq has ramped up the deployment of its guards on the Kurdistan region’s border with Iran. It comes after Tehran warned that Baghdad government’s failure to deal with anti-Iran terrorists will prompt fresh attacks.

US plans to send F-16 jets to Persian Gulf

A senior US defence official has confirmed that Washington is deploying additional fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz "to protect ships from Iranian seizures". The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iranian naval forces have so far seized 35 ships for violating maritime laws in the waters off the Persian Gulf.

South Africa should follow intl. law if Putin visits Johannesburg: ICC chief prosecutor

South Africa should do "the right thing" and follow international law if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the BRICS bloc summit in Johannesburg next month in person, International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan told CNN. In mid-March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian presidential commissioner for children’s rights over the Ukraine war.

Israel sets record for illegal settler units approvals: Rights group

Israel’s far-right government has approved record construction in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank in its first six months in power, Al-Jazeera reported quoting an Israeli rights group.

Wagner was never a legal entity: Kremlin

The Kremlin has announced that the Wagner private mercenary group, which led a "failed insurrection against Russian President Vladimir Putin" last month, was never a legal entity and that its legal status needs further consideration.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 507

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

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