International Committee of the Red Cross

Questions remained Thursday over the military plane crash that Russia said had killed dozens of captured Ukrainian soldiers ahead of a planned prisoner exchange, with Moscow and Kiev trading accusations at the U.N. Security Council.

Russia has blamed Ukrainian forces for downing the IL-76 transport plane over the southern Belgorod region on Wednesday.

A deal to allow the delivery of medicines to hostages in Gaza and aid into the territory has been agreed following mediation by Doha and Paris, Qatar and Israel announced on Tuesday.

A record 183 regional and local armed conflicts are being waged in 2023, which is the highest number recorded in the last three decades.
The IISS study particularly highlights the role of non-state armed groups, such as Hamas in Gaza, and the support they receive from major powers such as Russia and Iran.

Over 1,000 unmarked graves have been found along migrant routes in the EU, the Guardian writes.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) held talks with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing the "critical need" to protect civilians and to separate them from Hamas terrorists, including through corridors.

The two leaders discussed developments in Gaza, with Biden stressing the importance of the "continuous and sustained flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza".

The second phase of the release of Hamas hostages has been successfully completed after some delays due to disagreements over the admission of aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip.

Four hostages have already been released by Hamas. Two elderly women were returned to Tel Aviv after being abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. Two other female American citizens were released on Friday. However, dozens of people remain captive to Hamas amid growing calls for their release.

The Bulgarian government decided at its meeting today that Bulgaria will provide new humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the amount of 293,376 leva due to Russia's ongoing aggression. The funds come from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

BELGRADE - The director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met on Monday with the head of the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jelena Stijacic, and the organisation's coordinator for protection and head of the working group for missing persons, Aurelie Gautier.

Sudan's army and its rival paramilitary said Sunday they will extend a humanitarian cease-fire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes.