Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, June 13th

At the Paris Olympics, the men’s tournament will be held from July 24 to August 9

Rosoboronexport presented the latest light multirole 305E guided missile and the upgraded option of Ka-52 Alligator helicopter gunships

«We hope that in any case we will stick to partnership and alliance relations,» Dmitry Peskov noted

«In fulfilling their objectives, mobile formations of the Russian Defense Ministry’s 12th Main Department delivered practice nuclear munitions to field storage sites of a missile brigade’s positioning area and an attack aircraft operational airfield,» the statement says

A Grab driver was forced to call the police on a verbally abusive passenger, who swore at him for refusing to take a longer route to his destination.  The driver, surnamed Wu, told Shin Min Daily News that he picked up the male passenger from Block 626 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 at about 8am on June 7. He had booked a ride to the  SP Group building in MacPherson.  When the man boarded, he requested that Wu drive to his destination by going past Bishan, Braddell and Serangoon — a different route from what the GPS suggested.  «The original route was to go by CTE. My guess is that he wanted to avoid the ERP charges. But he suggested a roundabout route, which would take an extra 10 minutes,» said the 52-year-old driver. ERP rates along the CTE from 8am to 9am range from $4.50 to $5.  Since he became a private-hire driver in 2016, Wu said he would try to help passengers avoid ERP costs if possible.  «I'll help whenever I can, but I found his request too unreasonable, so I refused.»  When Wu informed the passenger that the route he wanted was too long, the latter told him it «didn't matter» and that he wanted to «kill time». 

SINGAPORE - Eligible families waiting for their Build-To-Order (BTO) units can apply to tap $300 a month in rental vouchers to offset rent for an HDB flat or bedroom on the open market from July 1. The voucher under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), which provides interim rental housing for families with an unfinished flat from HDB's sale exercises, will run from July 2024 to June 2025. To qualify for the full year of support, which amounts to $3,600, applicants' tenancies must start on or before July 31, 2024, and they must submit their application to HDB by Aug 31. «This gives eligible households who are planning to apply for the PPHS voucher sufficient time to secure a suitable tenancy and apply for the voucher,» HDB said on June 13. The initiative provides these families with more support as HDB works to double its supply of interim rental flats under the scheme from 2,000 units now to 4,000 by 2025.

Rhiannon, now 34, was an early victim of internet 'sextortion', where someone sets up a fake identity to trick, scam or exploit an innocent user into sending explicit photos of themselves.

Rishi Sunak has become a meme sensation after he left D-Day early to do an interview with ITV in which he claimed he understood what it is like to go without because his family didn't have Sky TV.

The Foreign Ministry in New Delhi says 40 Indians have been killed in a fire at a residential building in the Kuwaiti city of Mangaf Read Full Article at RT.com

China’s Embassy in New Delhi has stated it is willing to advance bilateral ties “in the right direction”  Read Full Article at RT.com

The opposition uMkhonto weSizwe party wants the country’s top court to address allegations of vote fraud before a president is elected Read Full Article at RT.com

A South African man has died after contracting monkeypox, the country’s health minister has reported Read Full Article at RT.com

Washington and Warsaw have opened a center to counter ‘Russian disinformation’ on the Ukraine conflict, the US State Department has said Read Full Article at RT.com

A Calgary father fighting through the courts to keep his 27-year-old daughter from accessing medical assistance in dying (MAID) has abandoned his appeal, 14 days after she stopped eating and drinking.

The new international bridge has taken shape over the last three years.

An NDP MP who frequently joins parliamentary proceedings remotely from her riding billed the House of Commons for a trip she took to reportedly meet with “stakeholders” over the Christmas holidays — travel that included bringing her husband and kids along at taxpayers’ expense.

A CBC Toronto investigation discovered three seemingly fabricated, or misrepresented, employees on the websites of marketing companies owned by Nadine Spencer, a member of the Toronto Police Service Board.

[New Times] The government last week promulgated a law governing forests and trees, which, among other provisions, forbids residents to harvest 'immature trees,' as the government counts on them to tap into the global carbon market by selling its forest capacity to absorb emissions.

[New Times] Safi Mukundwa, the sole survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in her family, is baffled by genocide denial.

[New Times] The statement this week by the Congolese Minister of Defence, threatening to annex Rwanda, is a stark reminder of the international community's troubling blind spot when it comes to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

G. Kishan Reddy assumed office as Union minister of coal and mines in the BJP-led NDA government, welcomed by Pralhad Joshi. Reddy, previously Minister of state for home affairs and tourism, won the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat. His political journey began in the Janata Party's youth wing, later joining the BJP in 1980.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels on Wednesday claimed an attack on a merchant ship in the Red Sea, part of an ongoing campaign they say is an act of solidarity with Palestinians. The Huthis, who are at war with a Saudi-led coalition after ousting the government from Sanaa in 2014, have launched scores of drone and missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November. They have said they are harassing the vital trade route in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. In a statement on Wednesday, the rebels said they had carried out a «military operation targeting the Tutor ship in the Red Sea, using a naval drone, aerial drones and ballistic missiles». The ship was hit about 68 nautical miles (126 kilometres) southwest of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, maritime security firm Ambrey had said earlier in the day. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is run by Britain's Royal Navy, said a vessel was «hit on the stern by a small craft» 66 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida. In a statement, UKMTO said the ship was taking on water and not under the crew's command. It added that the vessel was «hit for a second time by an unknown airborne projectile» and that military authorities were assisting. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later said the Tutor had been struck by a Huthi «unmanned surface vessel» that «caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room». CENTCOM -- which along with British forces has been conducting strikes in rebel-held Yemen in retaliation for the Red Sea attacks -- also said it had destroyed three anti-ship missile launchers and a Huthi drone over the past 24 hours. © Agence France-Presse

Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima was killed in a plane crash, the nation's president said on Tuesday, after searchers located the wreckage of the aircraft in a mist-shrouded forest. The military plane carrying Chilima, 51, and nine others disappeared on Monday, after it failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to bad weather and was told to return to the capital, Lilongwe. Photographs shared with AFP by a member of the military rescue team showed army personnel standing on a foggy slope near debris bearing the registration number of the Dornier 228-202K aircraft operated by the Malawi Army Air Wing «The search and rescue team have found the aircraft... completely destroyed with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact,» Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera said, addressing the nation. «Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is,» he said, describing the accident as a «terrible tragedy.» Rescuers had been combing a fog-cloaked forest south of Mzuzu on Tuesday, after authorities located the last tower it transmitted to before the plane disappeared. Earlier, army commander General Paul Valentino Phiri said other countries, including Malawi's neighbours, had been aiding the search effort, with support including helicopters and drones. The group departed just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) from Lilongwe on Monday to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister some 370 kilometres (230 miles) away in Mzuzu. Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, who was married to former president Bakili Muluzi, was also on board. - Widely loved - Chakwera said he had previously flown on the same aircraft for similar trips. The crew had successfully operated it just hours before the accident, he added. «And yet, despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down,» he said. First elected vice president in 2014, the charismatic yet stern-talking Chilima was a widely loved figure in Malawi, particularly among young people. «I am deeply shocked and I am mourning. Saulos was like a son to me,» former president Joyce Banda told AFP. «This country has lost a genius, we have lost a champion who an expert in commerce and industry and he is one who believed that the private sector is the engine for growth. »Unfortunately for me, I have to be personal as well, because he was like my son.« In the 2019 election, Chakwera had stood as presidential candidate for the Malawi Congress Party, and Chilima for the rival United Transformation Movement. Both lost, but the vote was annulled over polling irregularities and when a new election was held in June 2020, the pair campaigned and won as presidential and vice-presidential running mates. - Patriotic citizen - But, in 2022, Chilima was stripped of his powers after being arrested and charged with graft over a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman. Last month, a Malawian court dropped the charges and he resumed his official duties. »Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction and a formidable vice president,« Chakwera said. »I consider it one of the greatest honours of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years.« Condolences poured in from around the world with the African Union, the European Union, the United States and others expressing sadness at the news. »Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives and with the people of Malawi at this tragic time," the British High Commission in Lilongwe wrote. Chakwera said the military was in the process of taking the remains of those killed to the capital. Funeral arrangements would be announced later. © Agence France-Presse

The resumption of flights by Aeroflot to Seychelles in October was discussed earlier this week in a meeting between Antony Derjacques, Minister for Transport,  and a delegation of the airline led by the Ambassador of Russia to Seychelles, Artyom Kozhin. The airline, which ceased its operation to the island nation in May, will operate three weekly flights. According to the Ministry of Transport in a communique on Wednesday, during the meeting, Derjacques highlighted the important contributions made by Aeroflot in the economic recovery of Seychelles from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that since it resumed scheduled flights to Seychelles in 2021, Aeroflot has was consistent in its performance driving up tourist arrivals from Russia from under 15,000 in 2019 to more than 38,000 in 2023. «As a result, Russia now stands in the top five of our tourist arrivals week on week. We are very pleased with this achievement. It is in this spirit and in recognition of its contribution to our socio-economic development that we are rallying the support of all stakeholders to ensure the smooth resumption of Aeroflot in Winter 2024,» said Derjacques.  On his side, Ambassador Kozhin emphasised the achievements made by Aeroflot since it resumed flights to Seychelles. He said through this operation, the tourism profile of Seychelles has seen a significant hike in Russia, spurring demand for travel to the islands, and reiterated the remarkable numbers of tourist arrivals from Russia in 2023, which is the highest on record in over a decade. Kozhin expressed appreciation for all the support extended to the airline in ensuring it can conduct flights to Seychelles as a testament of the good bilateral relations between the two countries. The representatives from Aeroflot had an opportunity to brief the minister on some operational challenges they are facing. Derjacques reassured the Russian delegation that through a multi-stakeholder approach, the government will find meaningful solutions to address any hurdles that they are facing. He called for a cohesive and collaborative approach locally among key stakeholders to ensure the airline can resume the flights as planned later this year. «We need to recognise the domino effect of Aeroflot's operation to Seychelles. Everyone in the country benefits either directly or indirectly. Henceforth, it is important that we work towards ensuring that we can achieve year-round service from the airline by creating the right conditions to facilitate their operation,» he added.  According to the latest visitor arrivals figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday, there were 18,402 visitors from Russia in 2024, an increase of 3 percent from the figures of 2023. Russia is the third largest market for visitor arrivals.   Germany still leads with 29,149, a 40 percent increase from 2023, while France is second with 20,050, a decrease of 4 percent from last year. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, saw an increase of 3 percent in the total of visitors at 160,359 arrivals from January to June 12 in 2024 compared to 155,079 last year. However, for week 23 there has been a decrease of 15 percent compared to 2023. Only 4,267 visitors arrived in Seychelles in week 23 in 2024 compared to 5,001 last year. 

Seychelles has once again proven its allure as a premier travel destination by clinching eight awards at the World Travel Awards 2024 ceremony held in Dubai on May 6. SNA presents the 8 awards Seychelles won at the ceremony.   Indian Ocean's Leading Beach Destination  The award for Seychelles is a testament to the island nation's natural beauty and captivating landscapes. Seychelles has two beaches that have made world rankings in the past. Anse Source D'Agent, located in the southwest of La Digue, the third most populated island of Seychelles, and Anse Lazio, located on the northwest coast of Praslin Island, the second most populated island.   (Gerard Larose) Photo License: CC-BY     Indian Ocean's Leading Cruise Destination  The award shows the Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands is a destination with a commitment to innovation and excellence in hospitality. with its warm weather, tropical forests, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters is seen as the place to go on a cruise. For the cruise season 2023/2024, around 68,000 visitors came to the island nation. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY     Indian Ocean's Leading Cruise Port 2024 Port Victoria won the Indian Ocean's Leading Cruise Port once  again. For the cruise ship season 2023/2024, Port Victoria has welcomed around 38 vessels. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY     Indian Ocean's Leading Nature Destination With Seychelles' unique biodiversity both on land and at sea and its endemic flora and fauna, the archipelago is an ideal destination for visitors who love to explore the outdoors and get up close to some endemic species. (Gerard Larose) Photo License: CC-BY     Indian Ocean's Leading Cabin Crew 2024' and 'Indian Ocean's Leading Airline - Economy Class 2024'. The accomplishment caps off a period of growth for Air Seychelles, the national airline that recently signed a codeshare agreement with SriLankan Airlines, to give the airline more flexibility in its connections and destination offers. (Air Seychelles) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    Indian Ocean's Leading Conference Hotel 2024 Eden Bleu Hotel on the man-made Eden Island, next to the main island of Mahe,  was honoured as it combines an idyllic setting for business and leisure with the most advanced Seychelles conference and meetings facilities in the Indian Ocean.   Indian Ocean's Leading New Resort 2024,  The Waldorf Astoria Resort, part of the Hilton Group, located on Platte Island, blends elegant hospitality with an eco-conscious travel offering. The resort was also praised for showcasing Seychelles' commitment to innovation and excellence in hospitality.  (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  

In October 2023, the Commission submitted a proposal to revise Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 in order to strengthen the visa suspension mechanism. This mechanism allows the EU to temporarily suspend visa exemptions in the event of increased irregular migration or security risks from a visa free country. The proposal addresses three main challenges to the EU visa regime: the misalignment of visa policies of certain visa-free countries with the EU visa policy; the growing number of asylum seekers from visa-free countries; and the risks to the EU's internal security posed by investor citizenship schemes operated by certain visa-free countries. To enhance the visa suspension mechanism, the proposal expands the grounds for suspension of visa exemptions, makes procedures more flexible, and increases the Commission's monitoring and reporting obligations. The proposal is subject to the ordinary legislative procedure, where the European Parliament and the Council act as co-legislators. The Council adopted its negotiating mandate on the proposal in March 2024. In Parliament, a draft report was presented in February 2024. As discussions continued throughout the spring, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE), responsible for the file decided to postpone the vote on the report until after the June 2024 European elections. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Cyberbullying is a growing phenomenon and a significant issue for young people across Europe and indeed the world. Unlike 'real-world' bullying which ends when the victim's situation changes, such as when school ends, cyberbullying can continue for its victims at any time. Cyberbullying can reach victims through social media, text messages, false information or images spread through various methods, and can be relentless. The ubiquity of electronic devices means children and young people are more digitally connected than ever before. The scope for children to become victims of online aggression and indeed to engage in bullying behaviour is wide. In addition, an even more worrying aspect is the exposure of children and young people to harmful material or their coercion into providing sexual images of themselves. The increase in young people's connectivity corresponds with the rise in volume of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the growth in the number of cases of minors approached online in what is known as 'sextortion'. Victims often feel powerless, worthless and isolated and seldom report the abuse to parents or teachers. In some cases, it can lead the victim to substance abuse, self-harm and even suicide. Legislators are trying to keep pace with the ever-changing environment. While policies at European Union (EU) and international level are aimed at preventing cyberbullying, there have been calls for stronger EU action to prevent this form of online abuse. There are EU initiatives that address elements of the issue, but there is currently no EU-wide anti-online bullying law. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Minneapolis (HOL) — FBI agents raided several suburban homes again this week as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged attempt to bribe a juror in the high-profile Feeding Our Future fraud case. The investigation has already ensnared numerous individuals and revealed extensive corruption allegations against the non-profit organization.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Al-Shabaab militants clashed with government forces and the Jubbaland administration in the Bulo Haji area of the Lower Jubba region on Wednesday evening, following an attack on the town that had been seized from the group two days earlier.

[allAfrica] The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) department declared a national disaster for areas affected by severe weather in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and the Free State, reports News24.

Union minister Rajnath Singh, assuming his role as defence minister, emphasized developing a self-reliant defense sector aiming to boost exports to Rs 50,000 crore within five years. Singh, with extensive political experience, previously held the role in 2019 and prioritizes strengthening India’s defense capabilities and manufacturing independence.

Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh arrived in Kuwait to oversee aid for victims of a tragic apartment fire in Mangaf, which killed around 40 Indians. The Indian government, under PM Modi's direction, is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities for the repatriation of bodies and ensuring proper medical care for the injured.