The former president, who was convicted in May on 34 felony counts, received dispensation to hold the meeting virtually and was allowed to have a lawyer present.

President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he was confident French voters would make the «right choice» in snap elections he called after the far right crushed his centrist alliance in Sunday's EU ballot. His surprise move came after mainstream centrist parties kept an overall majority in the European Parliament in Sunday's elections, but the far right notched up a string of high-profile victories in Italy, Austria and France. Analysts say Macron has taken the risky gamble of dissolving the national parliament in a bid to keep the far-right National Rally (RN) out of power when his second term ends in 2027. «I am confident in the capacity of the French people to make the right choice for themselves and for future generations,» Macron wrote on X on Monday. His announcement of elections for a new National Assembly on June 30, with a second round on July 7, has sparked widespread alarm, even from within the ranks of his party. «By playing with fire, the head of state could end up by burning himself and dragging the entire country into the fire,» Le Monde wrote in an editorial. Despite the storm of criticism, Macron appeared unfazed on Monday as he visited the southwestern French village of Oradour-sur-Glane, site of a massacre by Nazi soldiers during World War II, together with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Steinmeier said: «Let us never forget the damage done in Europe by nationalism and hate.» - A far-right premier? - Meanwhile, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a Socialist, described the prospect of elections just weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics as «extremely unsettling». But International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach played down any direct impact on the event. Uncertainty around the election also sapped market confidence, with Paris's CAC 40 index closing 1.35 percent lower and the interest rate on French government debt gaining 10 basis points, to 3.22 percent. In a televised address late Sunday, Macron warned of the danger of «the rise of nationalists and demagogues» for France and its place in Europe. He noted that, including the RN, far-right parties in France had managed to take almost 40 percent of the EU Parliament vote. Macron is hoping to win back the majority he lost in France's lower house in 2022 legislative elections after winning a second term. But some fear the anti-immigration RN could instead win, forcing Macron to work in an uncomfortable coalition with a far-right prime minister. RN co-leader Marine Le Pen said the party's fellow leader and her protege, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, would be its contender for prime minister. Le Pen, who was runner-up in the last two presidential elections, is largely expected to tilt for the top job again in 2027. However, it will not be plain sailing for the RN as the party still provokes widespread hostility. Demonstrators took to the streets of Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Lyon and several other large cities on Monday evening to show their opposition to the far right. Five labour unions also called for mass protests this weekend, warning that «our republic and our democracy are in danger» if the far right wins again at the end of the month. - 'Admiration for Putin' - The RN came in first in the French EU parliament voting with more than 31 percent, a score more than double that of Macron's list with 14 percent. The Socialists and hard-left France Unbowed trailed behind with 13 and nine percent each. The Socialists and three other left-wing parties -- France Unbowed, the Communists and the Ecologists -- announced late Monday that they would unite for the legislative elections as part of a «popular front... to fight the far-right's racist project». On the far right, Marion Marechal, deputy head of the Reconquest party founded by pundit Eric Zemmour and seen as even further to the right of the RN, was meeting Marine Le Pen -- who is her aunt -- and Bardella at the RN headquarters. Bardella said he had also «stretched out his hand» to the mainstream conservative Republicans party and had spoken with senior members. Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, said Macron appeared to believe he could defy the polls by confronting France with a choice between the pro-European status quo and a far right that has «a history of admiration for -- and funding by -- Vladimir Putin». The RN appears to be going into the snap parliament voting from a position of force, garnering 33-34 percent of voter intentions according to separate polls by Harris Interactive-Toluna and Opinionway published Monday -- more than 15 points above its score in the 2022 legislative election. That would place them well ahead of any united left-wing grouping (22 percent) and Macron's centrist camp (19 percent), according to the Harris Interactive-Toluna poll. © Agence France-Presse

Malawi's president on Monday said he was sparing no resources in a search operation for a missing military aircraft carrying the country's vice president Saulos Chilima. «I know that this is a heartbreaking situation... but I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane and I am holding on to every fibre of hope that we will find survivors,» president Lazarus Chakwera said. The plane, which took off just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT), was carrying 51-year-old Chilima and nine others when it failed to land due to bad weather, according to the leader who was speaking in a televised address to the nation. Malawi's former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri (Muluzi) was also on board. The group was travelling from the capital Lilongwe over 370 kilometres (230 miles) to the city of Mzuzu for the funeral of a former cabinet minister. «Upon arrival in Mzuzu the pilot was unable to land the plane due to poor visibility occasioned by bad weather, and aviation authorities advised their aircraft to return to Lilongwe, but the authorities soon lost contact with the aircraft,» Chakwera said. The head of state dismissed claims published by local media that search operations had been discontinued for the night. Soldiers are «still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found», he said, adding that the army would give the public regular updates. Chakwera ordered regional and national forces to conduct an «immediate search and rescue operation» earlier in the day. - International support - He said he had already contacted the governments of  various countries including the US, Britain, Norway and Israel, who had all offered support «in different capacities». «Including the use of specialised technologies that will enhance capacity to find the plane sooner.» Chakwera said that a telecommunication signal located the plane within a 10 kilometre radius of Riaply, a timber milling company in the poor southern African nation located south of Mzuzu. Soldiers are said to be looking for the missing aircraft with torches and on foot, according to local media reports. Various unconfirmed reports have circulated that eye witnesses saw a plane crashing into the forest earlier on Monday. Chakwera has cancelled a visit to the Bahamas. First elected vice-president in 2014, the charismatic yet stern-talking Chilima is widely loved in Malawi, particularly among the youth. But in 2022 during his second stint in the job, 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. © Agence France-Presse

The jury began deliberating on Monday whether Hunter Biden is guilty of violating federal gun laws Read Full Article at RT.com

The US has removed a Ukrainian neo-Nazi unit from its blacklist Read Full Article at RT.com

Vanuatu is a country that is small in land mass, but the oceans occupy a substantial portion, and the government has recognised its importance by establishing a department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle maritime boundary issues.

As recently reported on the Australian media, P&O Cruises Australia brand will retire as on March 2025, and fold into Carnival Cruises Line, the most popular cruise line in the region and Top 5 in the world.

Finance Minister John Salong has condemned the Opposition’s demands for the Prime Minister’s (PM) resignation, labelling them as “irresponsible” and “unwarranted.”

The Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) has lodged a complaint to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) against the Vanuatu Government for violations of freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively.

On the 8th of March 2024, Abbie Johnathan Samson was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment for one count of sexual intercourse without consent by Judge Vincent Lunabek.

President Lazarus Chakwera has admitted that the plane carrying veep Saulos Chilima and nine others is still missing and, contrary to social media reports, that the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) hasn’t recoiled from the search and rescue mission. Speaking during the late-night address, Chakwera said he held an emergency Cabinet Meeting and has given details […] The post Chakwera admits plane still missing: Says MDF still on the search, rescue mission, sends international SOS    appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

President Lazarus Chakwera has admitted that the plane carrying veep Saulos Chilima and nine others is still missing and, contrary to social media reports, that the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) hasn’t recoiled from the search and rescue mission and he is sparing no available resource to find that plane. Chakwera has also added that he […] The post Chakwera vows he is sparing no available resource to find the missing plane carrying Chilima appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Former president Aand leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Peter Mutharika, says he abd his wife Getrude are “profoundly concerned by the events of the last hours. We join all Malawians in prayer for the safety of the Vice President, Rt Hon Saulos Klaus Chilima as well as the crew and other passengers on […] The post APM calls on Malawians to pray for the safety of the missing Chilima and nine others appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The masked boy is seen wearing a grey hooded jumper with the black handle of the blade within touching distance of his chin.

RIYADH: A 69 years old Chinese pilgrim had a second chance at life when he received the world’s smallest and most advanced wireless pacemaker at Makkah’s King Abdullah Medical City. The medical team decided to implant the device using the latest technology available after the patient presented with severe dizziness as a result of heart arrhythmia. The Makkah Health Cluster said the small capsule-like and 2.8 grams pacemaker abolishes the need for traditional surgery, and therefore sparing the patient from incisions or scars on the chest. 

SINGAPORE – Six months before she was killed in Spain, Singaporean Audrey Fang deposited nearly $200,000 into her Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts for investment-linked products, and also nominated a beneficiary. The sole beneficiary is Mitchell Ong, who is currently being held in custody in south-eastern Spain in connection with her murder. He is also the insurance agent who sold her two investment-linked policies in 2015. Ms Fang was found dead in April with more than 30 stab wounds while travelling alone. It is not clear how the pair knew each other, but they both attended the National University of Singapore at around the same time. Ms Fang, 39, studied architecture, while Ong did a course in economics. Ms Fang’s brother, Mr Benjamin Fang, 34, told The Straits Times that he was informed by the CPF Board that the nomination was done in person on Oct 4, 2023, at a CPF service centre. He noticed that at around the same time, Ms Fang had deposited money into her CPF accounts for investment purposes.

SINGAPORE - Mr Kong Fook Seng may be turning 70 in October, but his kidney is 98 years old and counting. It used to belong to his late father Kong Wing Hing. “Having received a kidney from my father was God’s blessing, rather than having to lie down in bed to do dialysis,” said Mr Kong, who works in design project management at a semiconductor company. Mr Kong was diagnosed in 1975 with chronic glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidney’s tiny filters that remove excess fluid and waste from the bloodstream. “Before that, I was playing football as a sport. Then I gradually lost the strength to kick the ball. After the game, I had to lie down on the field for an hour before I could get up to go home,” he said. Mr Kong said he became very lethargic and got exhausted easily – climbing the steps to an overhead bridge took him 15 minutes. “I even had to sit up while sleeping, otherwise I would have difficulty breathing,” he added.

According to the Yemeni official, the arrested individuals were working in the US embassy in Sana’a

Dressed in a navy blue suit, Kane Carter stood tall in the prisoner’s box and calmly entered not guilty pleas to the three charges against him in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver Monday.

Sister for incarcerated entertainer Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell has submitted that widespread discussions about the murder case on popular YouTube programmes like Politricks Watch will result in her brother and his co-accused not...

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says it will soon be implementing an improved streetlight billing system in a move to assure local authorities they are only paying for electricity that is consumed. The JPS says the new system will do...

Group added that they «remain ready to cooperate with the mediators in indirect talks aimed at implementing the aforementioned provisions.»

Since the beginning of the escalation in Gaza, the Council has already adopted three resolutions, Vasily Nebenzya noted

The authors have not informed the UN Security Council about the details of the deal, Vasily Nebenzya noted

The Ukranian forces fired 129 munitions

This measure will also be applied to migrants from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

According to the Icelandic Met Office’s deformation measurement director, Benedikt Gunnar Ófeigsson, there are signs that inflation has resumed under Svartsengi.

The Prime Minister, who has been rocked by a huge row over his decision to skip a D-Day event, confirmed he was 'going to keep cutting people's taxes'.

Socialite Rebecca Grossman was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for killing two young brothers in a 2020 hit and run.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey committed to several radical plans including cannabis shops on high streets, gender self-ID and a 500 per cent increase of council tax on second homes.

The dance pro's absence from this year's line-up was finally revealed today when the BBC1 show announced which dancers would be competing.

Celebrities gathered to pay their respects on Monday at a service for Sir Martin Amis. Actor Bill Nighy delivered readings from his works.

Both Hamas and Israel have reportedly agreed to start implementing a US-backed truce endorsed by the UN Security Council Read Full Article at RT.com

Joe Biden’s strange behavior on D-Day quickly gave rise to speculation – some crude, some brutally honest Read Full Article at RT.com

The EU reportedly wants to keep using Ukraine’s infrastructure to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan, while stopping deliveries from Russia Read Full Article at RT.com