With Jamaica just concluding its observance of Child Month in May, a time dedicated to honouring and uplifting the nation’s youths, there is an urgent issue that needs attention, childhood eye diseases, particularly myopia. This condition is...

The University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) has partnered with the science, technology and sport faculties of two other regional universities for the second biennial staging of the Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (...

Caribbean-inspired innovations in technologies for the administration of justice in the courts were on show at UK Digital Week. Held last week (May 23-24), it was the staging of a special Justice Symposium hosted by the Commonwealth...

On the eve of Supreme Court Justice Andrea Thomas’ rejection of the habeas corpus application for incarcerated dancehall star Vybz Kartel and two of his three co-accused to be released on bail, Jamaican jurist Patrick Lipton Robinson argued that...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China on Sunday of working hard to stop countries from going to a peace summit, which Beijing has publicly criticised because Russia is not invited. Zelensky made the remarks at a security forum in Singapore as he sought to rally support for the conference and appealed for more military aid for Ukraine, which has been ceding ground to Russian troops. «China, unfortunately, is working hard today to prevent countries from coming to the peace summit,» Zelensky told reporters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, which draws defence officials from around the world. Beijing believes the conference «should have the recognition of Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all peace plans», foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news conference on Friday. «Otherwise, it is difficult for the conference to play a substantive role in restoring peace,» she said. Zelensky also expressed disappointment that «some world leaders» had not signed up to the conference, with China signalling Xi Jinping will not attend while US President Joe Biden is yet to commit. China said it would be «difficult» for it to attend if Russia did not participate, which Ukraine has rejected. Through the peace summit, Kyiv hopes to win broad international backing for its vision of the terms needed to end Russia's war. Zelensky said on Sunday that more than 100 countries and organisations had signed up to the conference, and he urged Asia-Pacific nations to join. The peace summit threatens to be overshadowed if key Ukraine backer Biden -- who is locked in an election campaign against Donald Trump and has given no sign he would participate -- ultimately stays away. Zelensky said China was «a tool in Putin's hands» and accused Russia of using Chinese influence and diplomats to do «everything to disrupt the peace summit.» While China says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticised for refusing to condemn Moscow for its offensive. - 'Unwavering US support' - Zelensky also met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday on the sidelines of the Singapore security forum. Zelensky told reporters they had a «very good» meeting. In a post on X, Zelensky said the pair discussed «the defense needs of our country, bolstering Ukraine's air defense system, the F-16 coalition, and drafting of a bilateral security agreement.» In a readout of the talks, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said Austin reiterated «unwavering US support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression». Austin also «reaffirmed the US commitment to maintaining the strong support of a coalition of over fifty countries to help Ukraine defend its freedom,» Ryder said. The meeting came after Washington decided to partially lift restrictions on using US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky has hailed as a «step forward». Zelensky and Austin last met face-to-face in December in Washington, where Zelensky made a last-ditch plea for US aid before it ran out. The US Congress approved in April a $61-billion aid package for Ukraine following months of political wrangling, unlocking much-needed arms for the country's outgunned troops. Chinese defence spokesman Wu Qian told AFP he was not aware of any plans for Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun to meet with Zelensky in Singapore. Ukraine is struggling to hold back a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, where Moscow recently made its largest territorial gains in 18 months. Zelensky has been touring European nations in recent days seeking more military aid for Ukrainian troops, and warning partners of the risks if they show any signs of fatigue over the war. «It is very important for Ukrainians that the world does not get tired... that the world understands that it cannot get tired of the war launched by the aggressor,» Zelensky said in Portugal on Tuesday. © Agence France-Presse

The main opposition party, United Seychelles, officially nominated Dr Patrick Herminie as its candidate for the 2025 presidential election at its 37th congress on Sunday. He becomes the first candidate announced to enter the race for the presidential election due to be held on September 27, 2025, in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Herminie, the president of the United Seychelles party, says he is confident of winning the presidential election, thanks to the work his party has done since he took over the party's leadership. «We are working very hard and today I am very satisfied with the results that we obtained by going in front of the people, in Anse aux Pins, it was a huge success thanks to the work that we have done over the last three years,» he said. Herminie's nomination as a presidential candidate comes as part of the activities marking the party's 60th anniversary. The party, then called the (SPUP) , was set up on June 2, 1964, by the late President France Albert Rene.   United Seychelles held its 37th Congress on Sunday.  (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  After 43 years in power under various names, the United Seychelles party lost the presidential election for the first time in October 2020 and became the main opposition party. «We need to review where we were and analyse where we want to go. Our principles based on social justice remain relevant, even 60 years later. We have also made mistakes, and we must learn from them to create a better Seychelles,» said Herminie. He also criticised the policies of the current President Wavel Ramkalawan's government. «It is clear to me that the new political reality is a threat to our gains. The 13th month salary has been abolished, the seniority bonus has been abolished, even the bonuses for students returning from university have been cut, the price of public transport has increased, social assistance has been cut, but on the other hand taxes for the richest have been reduced,» said Herminie. Herminie referred to the previous 13th month salary system that was introduced as an automatic measure in government, which has been changed to a 13th month salary with a performance-based review, where underperforming employees do not get the full amount of their wage, and those who perform well do. For the moment, the party has not yet named Herminie's running mate, nor the members who will be standing for election to the National Assembly.

Le parti United Seychelles a officiellement désigné, dimanche, le Dr Patrick Herminie comme candidat à l’élection présidentielle de 2025, lors du 37e congrès. Il devient le premier candidat à se lancer dans la course à l’élection présidentielle qui devrait se tenir le 27 septembre 2025 dans l’archipel. Le Dr Herminie qui est le président du parti United Seychelles se dit confiant de remporter l’élection présidentielle, grâce au travail que son parti a effectué depuis qu’il a pris la direction du parti. « Nous sommes en train de travailler très dure et aujourd’hui je suis très satisfait avec les résultats que nous obtenons en passant devant chez les gens, à Anse aux Pins, il s’agissait d’un énorme succès qui s’est traduit grâce au travail que nous avons effectué durant ces 3 dernières années » a dit le Dr Herminie.  La nomination du Dr Herminie, comme candidat à l’élection présidentielle a lieu dans le cadre des activités marquant le 60e anniversaire du parti. United Seychelles a tenu son 37e congrès dimanche.  (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY                       En 2020, pour la première fois le parti United Seychelles a perdu l’élection présidentielle, et s’est retrouvé dans l’opposition. « Nous devons revoir ou nous étions et analyser ou l’on veut aller, nos principes basés sur la justice sociale reste d’actualité, même soixante ans plus tard. Nous avons également commis des erreurs, et   nous devons en tirer les leçons pour créer des Seychelles meilleures » a dit Herminie. Il a également critiqué la politique du gouvernement du président Wavel Ramkalawan .  « Il est claire pour moi que la nouvelle réalité politique, est une menace pour nous nos acquis. Le 13e mois a été supprimé, la prime d’ancienneté a été aboli, même les primes pour les étudiants revenant de l’université ont été coupées, le prix des transports en commun a augmenté, les aides sociales ont été coupees, mais par contre les taxes pour les plus riches ont été réduits » a dit Herminie. Pour l’instant le parti n’a pas encore désigné le colistier du Dr Herminie, ni les membres qui seront candidats aux postes de député a l’Assemblée nationale.

The Maldives government will ban Israelis from the Indian Ocean archipelago known for white sand beaches and luxury resorts as public anger in the predominantly Muslim nation rises over the war in Gaza.

Mogadishu (HOL) — The Hajj committee of Somalia's Ministry of Religious Affairs met with Saudi Arabian officials in Makkah on Sunday.

Mogadishu (HOL) - A delegation led by Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre arrived in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday to participate in the 2024 South Korea-Africa Summit.

More young people than ever are getting cancer, with diagnosis rates rising by a quarter in two decades.

Andrey Marochko also noted that in May Russian servicemen repelled 153 attempts of the enemy to invade the territory of the LPR

Tensions persist on the northern border of Israel which has been sporadically shelled from Lebanon, with the Israeli military responding with fire toward Hezbollah targets

On May 31, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Biden had given Ukraine the go-ahead to use US-provided weapons for strikes inside Russia

“I haven’t slept much, but I feel incredibly good. My heart is full of gratitude and also a lot of humility towards the trust the people are showing me and maybe the fact that there was a record-breaking turnout and I feel like the people voted with their hearts,” Halla Tómasdóttir, Iceland’s newly-elected president, told mbl.is earlier today.

Sailor’s Day was celebrated around the country today. A large-scale celebration was held at the Reykjavík harbor, which drew a great deal of cheers from young and and old alike.

A man suffered an injury on his head after brawling with a fellow passenger on an MRT train last Saturday (June 1) morning. The scuffle broke out as the North East Line train was travelling from Kovan to Serangoon, reported Shin Min Daily News. An eyewitness surnamed Chen recounted: «It all happened so suddenly. There was no movement in the train carriage and no quarrelling sounds, but the two men suddenly started fighting.» In a 23-second clip of the altercation taken by her, a man in an orange T-shirt pushes another man dressed in grey and carrying a backpack against the train door. The latter retaliates with a punch and both men start throwing fists. As they stumble to the floor, another passenger in a black T-shirt steps in between the men to break up the melee, shouting for them to stop. He holds the man in grey in a headlock and drags him away. The man in orange gets up, blood trickling down the side of his head. Splatters of blood can also be seen on the carriage floor. Throughout the altercation, a girl can be heard crying in the background.

SINGAPORE — Could power plants on Jurong Island influence temperatures on the mainland? To what extent will electric vehicles and tree cover reduce urban heat in a neighbourhood like Tengah? These are some questions urban planners may have as they aim to cool down cramped, urban areas that can be up to 7 deg C hotter than less built-up areas — due to the urban heat island effect. Instead of doing time-consuming experiments or projects to get their answers, the authorities can soon test them through the virtual world, much like playing a video game. Over the last four years, more than 20 researchers have built a «digital twin» of Singapore that allows users to simulate scenarios to figure out how to make living spaces more thermally comfortable for people. This virtual system, known as the Digital Urban Climate Twin, is one of the flagship projects under the multi-institute Cooling Singapore 2.0 research initiative, which is developing solutions to address the urban heat problem in Singapore.

These men have taken on the noble duty of serving their country - and they're doing so in style. Netizens have gone ga-ga over some of the military delegates who attended the recent Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 and posed for the camera in a video uploaded to the Ministry of Defence's TikTok account last Saturday (June 1). The post has gone viral, earning over 1.1 million views and more than 104,500 likes. «I'm looking for a man in defence,» says a woman as the video begins - and those men in uniform certainly weren't sparse at the dialogue. The first military man, from Oman, simply smiles and nods at the camera. He dons a red beret with a light brown military dress tunic that also features a gold aiguillette - a braided loop hanging from his shoulder. Representing New Zealand, a military personnel dressed in a similar albeit dark blue outfit turns to face the camera, sporting a slight frown and quizzical look.

The Maldives have banned travelers from Israel on Sunday Read Full Article at RT.com

Ukraine will recognize the Palestinian state and work to make Israel stop the war in Gaza, Vladimir Zelensky said Read Full Article at RT.com

[New Times] Gabonese author and philanthropist Eudoxie Mbouguiengue Bridges has said that she would love to be with her husband and rapper Ludacris and their children when she comes back to visit Rwanda.

[New Times] Rwanda is looking to develop its own national Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the next two years, as part of the country's efforts to streamline its financial system and position itself as an important player in the future of the global economy.

[New Times] Fish production in Cyohoha Lake in the Mayange, Mareba, and Ngeruka sectors of Bugesera district, as well as Kibare Lake in Kayonza District, has significantly increased following extensive restoration efforts.

Asian countries should see Ukraine as a cautionary tale, the Global Times reported

The bodies were found a few days after Israeli forces ended a three-week operation in the area, Al Jazeera reported

Antony Blinken opined that «the proposal would advance Israel’s long-term security interests, including by unlocking the possibility of calm along Israel’s border with Lebanon that would allow Israelis to return to their homes»

The Chinese Foreign Ministry specified that Beijing holds Manila fully responsible for the recent escalation in the region

The yuan rate dropped by 1.6 kopecks, trading at 12.696 rubles

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the party would betray retirees as he warned of a repeat of 1997 when Gordon Brown targeted pensions.

A Portmore, St Catherine party promoter who the police are accusing of being a member of a gang has been charged for a gun attack in Old Braeton on two men, which left one of them dead. Charged with murder, shooting with intent, being a part of,...

The Ministry of Tourism is reporting that Jamaica recorded over two million visitors in the first five months of 2024, which it notes is a historic achievement. It says preliminary data reveal that the country saw 1,265,830 stopover visitors and...

The police in Clarendon have charged a 50-year-old man for allegedly raping a woman and stoning her while she was escaping from his home. Charged with false imprisonment, rape, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm is Delroy Buckley, otherwise...

A 15-year-old Homestead, Spanish Town, St Catherine boy has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 16-year-old during an altercation. The teen was charged on Saturday following a question and answer session in the...

The Centre has notified new regulations for dam safety, requiring owners of specified dams to install hydro-meteorological instrumentation networks. This is crucial as 'above normal' rainfall is expected, posing flood risks. The specified dams are listed in the National Register of Large Dams.