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Russia’s Taman Port Damaged by Ukrainian Drone Strike

This photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Services on February 15, 2026 shows firefighters extinguishing a fire after a Russian drone strike in Odessa, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Emergency Service / AFP)
This photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Services on February 15, 2026 shows firefighters extinguishing a fire after a Russian drone strike in Odessa, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Emergency Service / AFP)
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Russia’s Taman Port Damaged by Ukrainian Drone Strike

This photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Services on February 15, 2026 shows firefighters extinguishing a fire after a Russian drone strike in Odessa, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Emergency Service / AFP)
This photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Services on February 15, 2026 shows firefighters extinguishing a fire after a Russian drone strike in Odessa, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Emergency Service / AFP)

Russia's Black Sea port of Taman, which handles oil products, grain, coal and commodities, has been damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region said on Sunday. 

Two people were injured as an oil storage tank, warehouse and terminals ‌took damage ‌in Volna village, the ‌site ⁠of Taman port, Veniamin ⁠Kondratyev said in a post on Telegram. 

Kondratyev said that more than 100 people were working to put out several fires at the port. 

Separate strikes on the ⁠resort city of Sochi ‌and the ‌village of Yurovka, close to the seaside town ‌of Anapa, had caused less significant ‌damage, he added. 

Ukraine's general staff said on Sunday that it had struck the port complex. Kyiv has resumed ‌attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent days after a ⁠US-brokered ⁠moratorium on such strikes expired. 

Russia has repeatedly targeted energy and utility infrastructure in Ukraine, cutting off heating and electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in the midst of an unusually cold winter. 

Industry sources said that about 4.16 million metric tons of oil products were shipped through Taman last year. 

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World

Somaliland President Makes 'Historic' Visit to Israel

Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (L) is welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, 14 June 2026, during his first visit to Israel. EPA/ABIR SULTAN
Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (L) is welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, 14 June 2026, during his first visit to Israel. EPA/ABIR SULTAN
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Somaliland President Makes 'Historic' Visit to Israel

Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (L) is welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, 14 June 2026, during his first visit to Israel. EPA/ABIR SULTAN
Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (L) is welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog (R) at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, 14 June 2026, during his first visit to Israel. EPA/ABIR SULTAN

Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi met his Israeli counterpart on Sunday in Jerusalem in his first-ever state visit, which comes months after Israel officially recognized the breakaway African state.

In December, Israel became the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland since it declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.

"The visit carries special significance," said Abdullahi, according to a statement issued by the office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

"It is the first state visit by a president of the Republic of Somaliland to another country, and we are deeply appreciative that the State of Israel has chosen to receive us with such an honor on this historic occasion," AFP quoted Abdullahi as saying.

"Somaliland has been talking, has been reaching out to the world leaders for the last 35 years. They were asking only one question: to see us. Only one country desired to see us and recognize Somaliland, and that's the government of Israel and its people."

Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport and army, but has struggled to win international recognition amid concerns in many capitals that this would provoke Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa.

Herzog said that Abdullahi's visit "symbolizes the great potential of this wonderful new partnership", according to the statement, adding that he hoped for increased bilateral "cooperation in a range of fields".

"We both face the threat of radical extremism. We both seek security and stability in the region and in the Horn of Africa. We both see the importance of protecting maritime freedom," Herzog said.

The visit comes just weeks after Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, a reciprocal move after Somaliland named its own envoy to Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had travelled to Somaliland in January -- a trip that drew sharp condemnation from Somalia, which described it as an "unauthorized incursion".

World

UK Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Believed to be Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
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UK Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Believed to be Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and his wife Victoria (R) attend the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Toby Shepheard / AFP)

Britain is investigating a sanctioned tanker that is suspected of being part of the Russian “shadow fleet,” shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday.

British armed forces boarded and detained the vessel, the Smyrtos, on Sunday in the English Channel, in what the country’s Defense Ministry called “the first UK-led operation of its kind.”

The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast of England for investigation, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry.

The operation was carried out “in close coordination” with French authorities, who have previously intercepted a number of vessels linked to the “shadow fleet.”

Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” The Associated Press quoted Starmer as saying.

UK authorities said that such operations were “directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond."

World

Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Middle East War Talks

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
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Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Middle East War Talks

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a banner with a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran June 7, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media and a diplomat said, as part of the mediation process to end the war between Iran and the United States.

Iran's ISNA news agency reported an adviser to Qatar's foreign minister had been dispatched to Iran.

Another Iranian news agency Tasnim said the purpose of the visit was to "go over the latest developments regarding the diplomatic process.”

A diplomat with knowledge of the situation told AFP on Sunday that "Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran this morning.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, the diplomat said the delegation travelled "to help facilitate the finalization of the agreement.”

Pakistan, which has led mediation to end the months-long Middle East war, and the US have indicated an agreement to end the fighting would be signed on Sunday.

But Tehran has cast doubt on that timing, and Iranian media has reported a final decision on the framework is yet to be made.