This comes as Washington called for tougher international sanctions at the UN Security Council

Taal volcano exploded with a ‘short-lived’ burst at 7.22am 

The move by hardline Islamist rulers comes just hours after reopening them

French president has accused Moscow of trying to sidestep sanctions over its war on Ukraine

US Ambassador to the United Nations says Washington will be introducing a an updated resolution to strengthen 2017 regime

Kyrylo Budanov also says ‘very large number of people’ have been mobilised to engage in guerrilla warfare behind Russian lines 

Turkish president says he will speak to Russian leader over weekend or early next week

English daily The Island, Sinhalese version Divaina to move completely online

Top advisory group approves shot for vulnerable groups

World’s largest coral system showing effects of heat, says authority

Measures part of efforts to impede advancement of missile programme, says State Dept

Ramzan Kadyrov says on his Telegram that Ukrainian ‘bandits who remained alive did not risk it and abandoned their positions...and fled’

Swedish island of Gotland a target, says Ukrainian president