"If it weren't for the cow I wouldn't do it," Hanna Plishchynska tells Reuters, as she combs her pasture for unexploded munitions with a metal detector. The 67-year-old's village used to be on the Ukraine war's front line, and now she's doing what she can to make it safe again. 

Stepova Dolyna

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

The Ukrainian retiree sweeping landmines for her cow

Combing her fields for mines and other war detritus has become a ritual for a Ukrainian retiree. Hanna Ploshchinska is 67 years old, recently returned to her small village in southwestern Ukraine and now wants to make it safe enough to put her cow out to pasture and plant vegetables. HANNA PLOSHCHINSKA, Retiree, Ukraine If it were not for the cow, I would not do it. Everybody laughs at me that I go around the garden and check, but on the pastures over there the cows are being killed. And I walk around here, check, watch, and only then let the cow out. What if my cow was killed by an explosion? What would I do? Ploshchinska had never wanted to leave Stepovo, Delina, which sits near the border of the Mikolaev and Kherson regions. But the village found itself on the front lines, and heavy shelling from both sides forced Ploshchinska to flee with her cow, chickens and ducks. When she returned after fighting moved away, she found the area in ruins. Her house was still standing, but its windows were blown out. As soon as her metal detector beeps, she takes a stick, marks the area and calls the police. Once the police collected an item with wings, she says. Other times, if she's sure the item is no longer dangerous, she will remove the fragments herself. Of course I am scared. I am scared, but I go on. When I hear a beep, I stop and look at what it is, and that's it.

Wait times for elective surgery and emergency treatment are at dangerous new highs according to figures from the Australian Medical Association. The revelation coincides with a meeting of the nation's health ministers to negotiate a new hospitals funding agreement.

Canberra

Elective surgery wait times longest on record

Russian night-time strikes killed eight people, including two children, and injured 18 in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, the interior ministry said.

Dnipro

Ukraine says eight killed in Russian strikes

Israeli media cited foreign reports of an Israeli strike on Iran in the absence of official public comment, while Iranian television reports played down the attack - many not even mentioning the "Zionist entity," Iran's term for Israel. Muted responses suggested neither side wanted to escalate the conflict.

Tehran

Israel-Gaza War

Israel, Iran both muted in response to Isfahan attack

At least 69 people across Pakistan died in the past week after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Apart from those killed, dozens have suffered injuries from lightning strikes and buildings collapsing, local media reported.

Chaman

Dozens killed in Pakistan as heavy rain causes flooding

South Korea's government has announced a compromise in its medical reform plans in a bid to end a two-month walkout by doctors, and also said President Yoon Suk Yeol would meet the opposition leader for the first time after two years in office.

Seoul

South Korea government to compromise on medical reforms

Ukraine says it has shot down a Russian strategic bomber 185 miles from its border on Friday (April 19) after the warplane took part in an airstrike that killed at least eight people in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.

Stavropol

Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after strike

Explosions echoed over an Iranian city in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

Iran signals no retaliation against Israel after drone attack

The United States voted against a Palestinian request to the United Nations Security Council for full UN membership, blocking the world body's recognition of a Palestinian state. The draft resolution received 12 votes in favour, two abstentions from the UK and Switzerland, and one vote against.

New York

U.S. vetoes Palestinian request for U.N. membership

Indonesian authorities closed an airport and residents left homes near an erupting volcano due to the dangers of spreading ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami.

Sulawesi

Tsunami warning after Indonesia volcano erupts

Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter said, as Iranian state media reported that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

Israel strikes targets in Iran: Sources

Police have interviewed the sixteen-year-old accused of stabbing a Western Sydney Bishop during an alleged terror attack last Sunday. He's now facing terrorism charges that carry lengthy jail terms.

Council of the City of Sydney

Teen facing life behind bars after terror charges

Kenya's military chief, General Francis Ogolla, was among 10 people killed in a military helicopter crash shortly after take-off, President William Ruto announced. The helicopter was visiting troops combating cattle rustling when it crashed minutes after takeoff, Ruto said.

Nairobi

Kenya's military chief killed in helicopter crash

After a few setbacks, 12 jurors and one alternate have been selected for Donald Trump's hush-money trial. The former U.S. president is lashing out, calling the trial 'unfair' even after he was accused of violating a gag order.

12 jurors picked for Trump's hush money trial

Indonesian rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people Thursday after a volcano erupted five times, forcing authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning that the crater collapsing into the sea could cause a tsunami.

North Sulawesi

Indonesian volcano's multiple eruptions prompt evacuations

The U.S. has reinstated oil sanctions against Venezuela's government, arguing it has not met conditions to hold fair and competitive elections as negotiated with U.S. envoys and the opposition last year. However, the U.S. oil company Chevron will be allowed to continue a joint venture with the Venezuelan state oil company.

Caracas

U.S. reimposes sanctions on Venezuela’s oil, gas sectors

Friday sees the start of the general election in India. Voting in the world's largest democracy will last nearly six weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term. But the ruling BJP is criticized for promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda and cracking down on the opposition.

New Delhi

Voting set to begin in India's national election

The U.S. House of Representatives will have its long-awaited vote on aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific as soon as Saturday, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said, paving the way for its possible passage despite fierce objections from the right wing of his conference.

Washington

U.S. House to vote on Ukraine and Israel aid

The E.U. and U.S. have pledged to impose new sanctions on Iran following its attack on Israel. The E.U.'s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, says these further sanctions will be discussed by European leaders at their summit in Brussels, which is now under way.

Brussels

E.U., U.S. pledge to impose new sanctions on Iran

A Sydney bishop stabbed by a teenager in an alleged terrorism incident has spoken from hospital, saying he forgives his attacker.

Doonside

Bishop forgives attacker as rioters granted bail

An alleged ringleader behind a major drug importation syndicate has been arrested, after a number of 'cocaine bricks' washed up on Sydney and Central Coast beaches late last year.

Manly

Smuggler behind beach 'cocaine bricks' arrested

The Democratic-majority U.S. Senate dismissed impeachment charges against President Joe Biden's top border official, bringing a swift end to an effort that House of Representatives Republicans launched months ago.

U.S. Senate ends impeachment bid against Mayorkas

The owner of a wellness retreat near Ballarat has shared her 'deep sorrow and shock' following the death of a 53-year-old woman. It's understood Rachael Dixon consumed a drink made with mushrooms before she died.

Clunes

Wellness retreat 'shock' at mushroom death

The dry desert countries of Oman and the U.A.E. are dealing with the aftermath of deadly flash floods caused by more than one year's worth of rain falling in just 24 hours, which some are attributing to climate change.

Dubai

Climate Crisis

Record rainfall causes deadly floods in U.A.E., Oman

Germany has urged the European Union and NATO member states to bolster Ukraine's air defenses as quickly as possible as Russian missiles pounded Ukrainian cities and its president repeated urgent calls for support. The Netherlands, Czechia and Denmark quickly rallied behind the proposal.

NATO looks to bolster Ukraine air defenses

Bondi Junction shopping centre will reopen today for a community reflection day before resuming normal trading hours from Friday. Meanwhile, six victims from the stabbing attack remain in hospital, with two women in ICU.

Bondi

Shopping centre to reopen for community reflection

Israel will make its own decisions about how to defend itself, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, as Western countries pleaded for restraint in responding to a volley of attacks from Iran.

Jerusalem

Netanyahu says Israel will do 'everything necessary' for defense

Three Russian missiles have crashed into Ukraine's historic city of Chernigiv, killing 17 people, as officials pleaded for more air defense systems from allies.

Chernihiv

More than a dozen killed in Russian missile strike in Ukraine

Iran's president says his country's forces are ready to face any threat. Ebrahim Raisi says any further move by Israel will be met with another attack by Iran. He made the comments during Iran's National Army Day.

Iran’s Raisi reiterates warnings as Israel mulls response to attack

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned of further sanctions targeting Iran following its unprecedented weekend attack on Israel, saying she expects Washington will take added action "in the coming days." The EU is also weighing new sanctions against Iran according to foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

U.S., E.U. weigh new sanctions targetting Iran

The first seven jurors for Donald Trump's hush money trial were seated after lawyers grilled the jury pool about their social media posts, political views and personal lives to decide who can sit in fair judgment of the former president. Eleven more people still must be sworn in before opening statements begin as early as next week in the first criminal trial of a former US president.

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Ukraine Invasion