As world leaders lined up to offer their support at summit for peace in Ukraine Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced hope of garnering international agreement around a proposal to end the war that he could present to Moscow. More than two years after Russia invaded, leaders and senior officials from more than 90 states gathered in a Swiss mountainside resort for a two-day summit dedicated to Kyiv's plan to end the largest European conflict since World War II. Most voiced strong support for Ukraine, demanding a «just peace». Others, however, criticised Moscow's exclusion and warned Kyiv it would need to compromise if it wanted to end the war. In his opening remarks, Zelensky told the assembly: «We must decide together what a just peace means for the world and how it can be achieved in a lasting way. »Then it will be communicated to the representatives of Russia, so that at the second peace summit we can fix the real end of the war.« Kyiv has previously said Russia would be invited to a second summit -- a position many countries backed Saturday. - 'Capitulation' - The summit comes as Ukraine is struggling on the battlefield, where it is outmanned and outgunned. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine's effectively surrender if it wanted to even begin peace talks. Putin's call for Ukraine to withdraw from the south and east of the country -- already rejected by Zelensky as an »ultimatum« -- were widely dismissed. »He is not calling for negotiations, he is calling for surrender,« US Vice President Kamala Harris said. »All us are committed to build a sustainable peace... Such a peace cannot be a Ukrainian capitulation,« French President Macron said. »There is one aggressor and a victim,« he added. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that any ceasefire without »serious negotiations with a roadmap towards a lasting peace... would only legitimise Russia's illegal land grab«. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen took a similar line, arguing: »Freezing the conflict today with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land is not an answer. «In fact, it is a recipe for future wars of aggression.» - 'Difficult compromise' - It was a more mixed message, however, from outside Ukraine's traditional circle of backers. Saudi Arabia, an energy ally of Russia, told Kyiv it would have to make a «difficult compromise» if it wanted to end the conflict. «And here it is essential to emphasise that any credible process will need Russia's participation,» Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said. China, which struck a «no-limits» strategic partnership with Moscow days before the February 2022 invasion, did not send a delegation to the conference in protest at Russia's exclusion. And Kenya's President William Ruto criticised the latest Western measures against Russia, this week's G7 deal to offer a $50-billion loan to Ukraine secured against profits of frozen Russian assets. «Just as Russia's invasion of Ukraine was unlawful and unacceptable, the unilateral appropriation of Russian assets is equally unlawful,» Ruto said. The range of positions on display hints at the difficulty Kyiv faces in securing agreement for any settlement that it would be happy to send to Russia. Turkey, a potential mediator, issued a stark assessment of the need for action, warning the war risked spilling outside Ukraine or ending in the use of nuclear weapons. «This conference ... might be the last exit before the bridge,» Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned. - Gaza comparisons - Attendees at Saturday's summit were wrangling over a possible final joint declaration, according to sources close to the discussions cited by Swiss public news agency Keystone-ATS. Kyiv has insisted that terms like «Russian aggression» and references to its «territorial integrity» appear in any joint communique. It was not clear, however, if more than 90 countries could get behind such wording. And as Zelensky lent heavily on the UN Charter and international law to criticise Russia's invasion, some world leaders drew parallels with the Israel-Hamas war. «Only the respect of international law and human rights can guarantee peace. The same applies to the conflict in Gaza,» said Chile's President Gabriel Boric. Zelensky did not say whether he was prepared to engage with Putin directly in talks to end the conflict, though he has in the past ruled out direct talks with him. On Sunday, delegates will focus on three areas: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian issues. That includes prisoners of war and the issue of Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine. G7 leaders this week agreed its $50-billion loan for Ukraine, and Kyiv also inked a 10-year security agreement with Washington for military aid and training. On Friday, the European Union's 27 member states agreed «in principle» on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine. © Agence France-Presse

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it will introduce a tactical pause in combat operations from 08:00 to 19:00 (Moscow time) daily

The senator noted that the countries participating in the conference know the statements that Russian President Vladimir Putin made on June 14 at a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry and they are discussing them

Vessels are advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO

According to the department, negotiations are underway to release the hostages

As the court found, being followers of a radical ideology, Akiyev, Gireyev and Tsitskiyev voluntarily united to commit terrorist crimes

ARAFAT: The Arafat sermon delivered on Saturday at Namira Mosque in Makkah was projected to reach a staggering 1 billion listeners around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The sermon was translated live into 20 languages as part of the groundbreaking initiative launched by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in 2018. There were also non-simultaneous translations into 17 other languages.

JEDDAH: Muslims from around the world congregated on Saturday at a sacred hill in Saudi Arabia for worship and reflection amid sweltering heat. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand together asking God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health.

ARAFAT, Makkah: Some 225 cases of pilgrims suffering from heat stress and fatigue had been treated at the Medical Center for Heat Exhaustion and Sunstroke in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency said early Sunday. The cases were reported on Saturday, the second day of Hajj, when pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat to ask God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the Hill of Mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. 

MINA, Saudi Arabia: Masses of pilgrims on Sunday embarked on a symbolic stoning of the devil in Saudi Arabia. The ritual marks the final days of Hajj pilgrimage and the start of the Eid Al-Adha celebrations for Muslims around the world. The stoning is among the final rites of the Hajj, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It came a day after more than 1.8 million pilgrims congregated on a sacred hill in Mount Ararat outside the holy city of Makkah, which Muslim pilgrims visit to perform the annual five-day rituals of Hajj.

Russian law enforcement officers have been taken hostage in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don by inmates reportedly charged with terrorism Read Full Article at RT.com

Xi Jinping reportedly told Ursula von der Leyen that the US tried to goad Beijing into invading Taiwan, but it did not take the bait Read Full Article at RT.com

Israeli has pledged a “tactical pause” in its operation in southern Gaza to facilitate increased volumes of humanitarian aid deliveries Read Full Article at RT.com

Baidoa (HOL) - The commander of the 8th battalion of the 60th division of the Somali National Army (SNA), Major Mohamed Nur Sheegow, also known as Mohamed Dheere, and seven SNA soldiers were killed in a roadside explosion in the Bay region of southwest Somalia on Saturday.

Masses of pilgrims have embarked on a symbolic stoning of the devil in Saudi Arabia, marking the final days of Hajj pilgrimage and the start of the Eid al-Adha celebrations for Muslims around the world

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali leaders, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, have sent congratulatory messages to the Muslim people, particularly Somalis, on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

A Singaporean woman was found dead inside an apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday (June 13).  Her «desiccated» body was discovered inside a unit at The Goldview apartment complex by the owner who'd informed the building's management, reported Vietnamese news outlet VN Express.  The woman was reportedly last seen on Jan 31. However, it is not known when she died.  The management then called the police, who went down to the unit to conduct investigations.  According to Vietnamese news reports, the owner claimed he did not rent out the unit to anyone, and the apartment's key card was last used to access the lifts at 10.20pm on Jan 31.  An official police investigation is ongoing, reported Vietnamese media. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told CNA that its Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City has been in contact with the local authorities regarding the case. MFA and the Consulate-General have been providing assistance to the woman's family.  «We express our deepest condolences to the family,» said an MFA spokesperson. 

A 53-year-old male cyclist who was on his way to work was killed in an accident involving a lorry and a pedestrian near Woodlands Avenue 9 last Tuesday (June 11) morning.  Wang Baohai (transliteration) was taken to the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital after the accident, where he succumbed to his injuries, The Straits Times reported.  He and his wife were both employees of Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing, and would cycle to work daily, Wang's eldest daughter, Jingyi (transliteration), told Shin Min Daily News.  However, her father would usually leave the house an hour earlier than her mother.   Wang's daughter, 28, added that the accident occurred a mere 10 minutes away from her home.  "My mother left the house at about 8am that morning, when she rode past the [accident scene] she noticed a bicycle that looked like my father's. She also saw a broken basket and a water bottle.  According to her mother, there was a lorry parked at the scene. Two police officers were conducting investigations then. She also saw two pairs of shoes — one of which she recognised as belonging to her husband. 

Do you expect to see lemon in your iced lemon tea? A man was upset that a coffee shop raised the price of its iced lemon tea and took away the lemon. Stomp contributor Raven was having lunch at Cafe Link on Sixth Avenue in Bukit Timah on June 13 when he discovered the missing citrus fruit in his drink. «Not only the price increased by another 10 cents to $1.90, to my horror, the drink that was served to me was without lemon,» railed the Stomp contributor. PHOTO: Stomp «My goodness! The price has went up! They took away the lemon as well. It was previously given in the past. This had never happened before. Inflation is here.» It was only after a few sips when he realised the lemon was not there. Neither was the coffee shop staff for him to complain to as she was already serving another customer.

The former president has vowed to introduce policies aimed at ending the LGBTQ agenda Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian law enforcement officers have been taken hostage in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don by inmates reportedly charged with terrorism Read Full Article at RT.com

FATHER’S DAY is an important day to recognise how special fathers and father figures are in the society. Whether Father’s Day is celebrated by gift giving, frolicking with dad, enjoying beer and snacks like the Germans, or even spending quality...

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For the past eight years, Kingsley Bennett* has endured an emotional rollercoaster due to his daughter’s mother, who he alleges has consistently defied visitation orders from the Family Court, striving relentlessly to undermine his relationship...

Visitors to Seychelles and locals had the chance during the weekend to appreciate the Creole culture during a cultural tourism event called the «Rendez-Vous Praslinois» on Praslin, the second most populated island. The initiative, called «Creole Rendez-Vous, that was launched by the Department of Tourism last year, is also held on La Digue Island to give the local community a place to market and sell their locally made products. Artisans and entrepreneurs on Praslin mounted their stalls all around the Berjaya Praslin Beach Hotel's beachfront area while various local handicrafts, drinks and dishes were also on sale. Bernadette Sofola, a well-known entrepreneur from Anse Kerlan, in the district of Grand Anse, showcased her products in her stall that day. »Kot Dadette« - the name of her business, produces an assortment of jams made with various fruits, coconut nougat (coconut fudge), cassava cake, pickles and curry powder. »I acquired these skills from my great grandparents so I decided to put into practice what I have learned,« she said. Bernadette Sofola, a well-known entrepreneur from Anse Kerlan, in the district of Grand Anse. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: CC-BY   Mikaela Marie, owner of Chaquell tailoring, sold her locally-made products but decided not to stick to only tailoring but to venture into another avenue. For the past two years, the young artisan has been working with resin, a semi-solid natural and synthetic compound that can be hardened into a durable plastic material. She uses resin to make a selection of jewellery items such as necklaces and earrings and the main attraction at her stall was the handbag she has sewn with the map of Praslin on it. There were also various stalls selling scrumptious dishes such as the fruit bat curry, cooked in coconut milk and the much-loved salted fish chutney. Another stall that attracted a lot of visitors was one belonging to Florette Barbe and her 89-year-old mother Eloise Barbe. Both artisans were weaving dried up leaves of a type of palm tree called Latanier or Seychelles stilt palm. Aside from Latanier, they also use coconut leaf sheath, which is known as tanmi koko in the local language. With latanier leaves, handbags, table mats in the form of the famous coco de mer nut and the giant tortoises of Aldabra are made. An artisans were weaving dried up leaves of a type of palm tree called Latanier or Seychelles stilt palm. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License:  CC-BY  Handmade coconut soy wax candles, coconut wax melts and coconut vegan reed diffusers were also on sale by Sey Glow, a local business owned by Beverley and Craig Green. Sey Glow focuses on natural, clean and sustainable handmade products that bear Creole names such as Moutya, kanmtole, Dan Marmit and Fanm Kreol. The cultural experience would not be complete without the traditional Moutya dance, which has been added to UNESCO's list of intangible heritage, and this is exactly what was on the programme to close the curtains on this event. Speaking to SNA, the director general for Destination Planning and Development in the Tourism Department, Paul Lebon, said the event falls under the Creole Rendez-Vous umbrella that the Tourism Department is promoting, to enhance visitor experience in terms of cultural tourism activities. »Many visitors have voiced out that there is a lack of cultural experience and activities that will enable them to enjoy and learn about the Seychellois culture, so we have taken the lead through these series of events," he said.

The number of Americans who don’t like both Trump and Biden is historically high, a new survey has found Read Full Article at RT.com

An eight-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being shot in the head by a rampaging gunman at a family splashpad as seven others were also gunned down. 

It was certainly a birthday to remember for King Charles as he attended his first Trooping the Colour since his cancer diagnosis.

The excitement of moving into a new home quickly died down for one family, as they fell sick one after another.  Song Hongjun, 52, told Lianhe Zaobao that he purchased a 1,615 sq ft condo unit at Normanton Park in June 2023, and hired Far East Service Centre to handle the unit's renovations and furnishing.  The Songs moved into the apartment on March 13 this year, after renovations were completed.  Trouble began that very day, as Song's eight-year-old daughter developed dry eyes and a sore throat. The 52-year-old businessman and his wife didn't think too much of their child's discomfort, until they also developed similar symptoms.  After losing her voice for two weeks, Song's wife visited the doctor and was told that she might be suffering from formaldehyde poisoning. Formaldehyde is a colourless, pungent chemical that is found in adhesives, composite wood and paint, which are used in furniture such as cabinets. High levels of exposure to formaldehyde can irritate the skin, throat, lungs and eyes, while long-term exposure can potentially lead to cancer.

We, therefore, decided to undertake concrete steps in the future in the above-mentioned areas with further engagement of the representatives of all parties," agency said, citing the draft document

«I believe they are in a state of war with Russia,» Sergey Tsekov said

Ex-US President repeatedly stated earlier that he would be able to stop the conflict in Ukraine in case of his return to the White House

«They are fully under external control of the collective West,» Viktor Medvedchuk said