Russia has returned the bodies of 1,200 more Ukrainians killed in the war, according to Ukrainian authorities, bringing the total number of bodies repatriated to over 4,800, while the push for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict now in its fourth year remain elusive.
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Ukrainian government body that oversees affairs regarding prisoners of war (POW), announced the news on Telegram, saying the handover was part of an agreement struck in talks in Istanbul earlier this month.
“I am grateful to everyone involved in this humanitarian mission,” said Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. “Ahead is an important and responsible stage of identification. This is a complex and delicate work that will give each family the opportunity to receive answers.”
In a series of exchanges this week, Ukraine has repatriated more than 4,800 bodies returned by Russia, in accordance with the Istanbul agreement, Ukrainian officials said. This marks one of the largest returns of war dead since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia says Ukraine ‘hasn’t reciprocated’
Russian state media confirmed the latest handover of 1,200 Ukrainians, but said Moscow had not received a single Russian corpse in return.
“Russia says Ukraine hasn’t stuck to its side [of the deal], that it hasn’t reciprocated” reported Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig from Kyiv.
Ukraine has yet to comment.
As per their agreement in Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow are to each hand over as many as 6,000 bodies and to exchange sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war and those aged under 25.
But Russia has so far reported only receiving a total of 27 Russian servicemen.
The latest handover of Ukrainians came as Russia claimed to seize the village of Malynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region and also appeared to close in on the northeastern Sumy region.
The Love Island villa erupts tonight after the girls get to watch the boys unknowingly talk about them and date three new bombshells, with Helena stating she is ‘raging about the disrespect’
Love Island villa erupts as islander ‘raging’ over ‘disrespect’ of new bombshells(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Love Island series 12 has already surprised islanders and viewers with twists and turns, including already dumping two islanders, but the villa is about to explode in a new teaser for the upcoming episode. After seeing three new bombshells enter the ‘boys night out’, the girls are fuming and it could be the last bump in the road for some couples.
The boys left the villa earlier in the day for drinks, but what they didn’t know was that the girls would be watching their every move on a giant TV back in the main villa. Shortly after they all established where they stood in their relationship, three new bombshells entered and caused a stir for the girls watching.
The three bombshells include 24-year-old teaching assistant Malisha from Broxbourne, Commercial Banking Executive Yasmin, 24, and Insurance Development Executive Emily, 24, from Aberdeen.
After the girls watched the other half of their couple flirt with the new bombshells, Helena was not best pleased (Image: ITV/Love Island)
After the girls watched the other half of their couple flirt with the new bombshells, Helena was not best pleased and said: “My man basically saying I’m a massive red flag because of something I’ve done in the past and I’m a big party girl…?” Alima responds: “Double standards”. Helena continues and says, “I’m raging about the disrespect.”
But they don’t have long to debrief about the boys as suddenly their one-on-one dates start playing on the big screen and they rush back to secretly listen in to more chats.
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Opening up to the new bombshell on what he is looking for, Harry said: “The main thing is ambition; someone that wants a family, I’m 30 and ready for it, I’ve got my s*** together.” Discussing Shakira, Harry adds: “Potentially there’s unfinished business, I think she knows that as well, it’s just not the right time. She has pride, she’s only 22, but she’s ahead of her years and has a lot of self-respect.”
Malisha from Broxbourne, Commercial Banking Executive Yasmin, and Insurance Development Executive Emily(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Yasmin eagerly asks Harry, “Are you open to getting to know other people, or do you like what you’ve got with Helena?
The islanders then get a sneak peek into Conor’s date with bombshell Emily. Conor tells Emily: “Whatever I do, I wanna be respectful, I’m definitely going to get to know you…” Unknowing to Conor, this comment goes down well with the girls watching, with the other half of his couple, Toni, labelling him “My respectful king.”
Later, the boys and bombshells return to the Villa and spot the huge screen and quickly realise what’s been happening. The boys aren’t happy, to say the least, about the girls being a fly on the wall during their chats, as Dejon says, “boys chat stays in the boys chat!”
Love Island villa erupts after girls get to watch the boys unknowingly talk about them and date three new bombshells(Image: ITV/Love Island)
But it is too late for that as Helena has some beef with Harry about what he said during the boys chat, and Meg tells Dejon exactly how she’s feeling about watching his date, telling him: “You failed the test.”
Harry and Helena head to the terrace and she tells him: “I dunno where we go from here…I don’t know how we can move forward…” Meanwhile, Conor chats to Emily in the snug, as he tells her: “The vibe I’ve got, we’re on the same wavelength, everything you said – I want someone to look after me and listen to me – I feel like that’s me”.
*Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Moscow, Ankara and Beijing have condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran.
It is a conflict that has the potential to ignite the entire Middle East. Israel has been attacking Iran, saying Tehran’s nuclear programme poses an existential threat.
Iran, for its part, has responded with a barrage of retaliatory attacks.
But now, what role can the global community play?
China, Russia and Turkiye have condemned Israel’s actions.
Beijing and Moscow maintain economic and political ties with both Iran and Israel.
So, what, if anything, can these powers do to end the conflict?
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Greenland with a “message of solidarity and friendship” from Europe and castigated United States President Donald Trump’s repeated threats that he intends to take control of the strategic autonomous Danish territory as not “something to be done between allies”.
Macron reiterated his condemnation on Sunday at the Arctic island’s Nuuk airport, where he was greeted by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“It’s important to show that Denmark and Europe are committed to this territory, which has very high strategic stakes and whose territorial integrity must be respected,” Macron added.
“It means a lot to me … to convey a message of friendship and solidarity from France and the European Union to help this territory face the different challenges: economic development, education, as well as the consequences of climate change,” he continued.
‘Not for sale’
Since returning to the office in January, Trump has repeatedly said the US needs Greenland, a strategically located territory at the crossroads of the Atlantic and the Arctic, for security reasons and has not ruled out taking the territory by force.
However, Denmark has vehemently stressed that Greenland “is not for sale”.
Macron, who is the first foreign head of state to visit Greenland since Trump’s threats, said in a speech last week at the United Nations Ocean Conference that Greenland and the deep seas were not “up for grabs”.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon had developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force, if necessary, last week.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that several high-ranking officials under the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had been ordered to investigate Greenland’s independence movement and US resource extraction in the territory.
But in Greenland, polls indicate that the vast majority of the country’s 57,000 inhabitants may want to become independent from Denmark, but they do not want to join the US.
While Greenland is not part of the EU, it is on the bloc’s list of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).
During Macron’s six-hour visit before he travels to Canada for a Group of Seven meeting that Trump is also expected to attend, he plans to discuss Arctic security and ways to include Greenland in “European action” to contribute to its development while “respecting its sovereignty”, his office said.
Tatjana Maria reflects on her inspiring run from qualifying to Queen’s Club champion after the 37-year-old beat Amanda Anisimova in the women’s singles final.
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Fans were quick to point out a surprising detail in Cristiano Ronaldo’s new post as he posted a Father’s Day picture of him and his son showing off their toned physiques
Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his son for Father’s Day(Image: Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo posed alongside his son, showing off his impressively toned body as a tribute to Father’s Day. And while at first glance many of his social media followers were enamoured by his amazing physique, other eagle-eyed fans noticed that he had painted his toenail black.
The Father’s Day post showed the iconic footballer dressed in nothing but a pair of red shorts as he flexed his muscles alongside his son.
He captioned the X post with a message in Portuguese that read: “Like Father, like son.”
However, it was soon noticed that his toenails were panted black, which created a huge discussion thread. Posting a picture of his feet one person wrote: “Why is he painting his toenails?” Another person said: “Painted your toe nails goat??” And a third person added: “Tf is this @cristiano?”
Explaining the reason behind his choice of painting his nails black, one follower on the social media platform said: “Cristiano Ronaldo paints his toenails, particularly with black polish, for practical, health-related reasons, not for fashion.”
Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his son for Father’s Day(Image: @Cristiano/X)
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They added: “The practice is inspired by combat sports athletes like MMA fighters who use it to protect their nails from cracking, splitting, or fungal infections.”
Last month, Cristiano praised his son Ronaldo Jnr after the 14 year old made his international debut playing for the under 15s in Croatia.
Taking to social media, the legendary footballer, who has played for a string of high profile clubs including Manchester United, wrote: “Congratulations on your debut by @selecaoportugal, son. Very proud of you!”
Following three series of the reality TV show which gave fans an insight into her luxurious life, model Georgina Rodriguez had earned an estimated eye-watering sum of £22million.
Speaking to Vogue Arabia confirming the cancellation of her show, she said: “The reality show has been one of the most important professional experiences and the one that has made me the most excited. It has been a lot of work and requires so much effort.”
She added: “I think that it has given me the opportunity to show the real ‘me’ to the world. “
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She went on to say: “It has been the most important and large-scale project that I have done so far. However, at the moment, I do not plan to continue with the reality show.”
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