Kiev often relied on unreliable foreign contractors, and widespread graft also played a role, the report claims Read Full Article at RT.com

Sergey Lavrov has emphasized the group’s growing role, its appeal to the Global South, and the central role of women in driving innovation Read Full Article at RT.com

Representatives of Kiev and Moscow are holding their first direct negotiations since 2022 Read Full Article at RT.com

The push is reportedly inspired by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who proposed slapping 500% tariffs on Russian exports Read Full Article at RT.com

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday accused opposition politicians, lawmakers, regional leaders, and former heads of state of obstructing the country’s transition to a one-person, one-vote electoral system, warning that reverting to indirect elections could lead to renewed instability.

Mogadishu (HOL) – The Chairman of Somalia's National Electoral Commission, Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, announced on Thursday a one-month extension of the voter registration period for local council elections in the Banadir region.

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 16th

Russia has never been the first to escalate things, Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov stressed

According to Dmitry Peskov, the president receives all information online

The US president suggested that the world would become much safer within two or three weeks

Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that Russia, much like the former Soviet Union, has always been an extremely attractive destination for Indian businesses

To many in the U.S., thinking of Donald Trump evokes an automatic rage-filled response, some call this 'Trump Derangement Syndrome,' and now Congress wants it studied.

Torben Hersborg, 63, was arrested and charged in December last year after being caught recording female university students as they got undressed.

Roman Lavrynovych, 21, from Sydenham in south London, had been charged last night by Scotland Yard with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

ALISON BOSHOFF: The much-hyped launch of With Love, Meghan on Netflix was quickly followed by confusion over which friends, exactly, the Duchess was inviting over to share the love.

In an update this morning, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were 'mourning the loss' of two colleagues killed in the blaze.

Libya’s DSA has reported that its deputy commander was targeted while engaging with protesters in the capital amid deadly clashes Read Full Article at RT.com

Sen. John Fetterman increasingly goes it alone, worrying some fellow Democrats as they struggle to push back against Trump and retake the majority.

President Donald Trump’s first major international trip of his second term winds down with events in the United Arab Emirates.

Arab foreign ministers outlined the agenda for the 34th Arab League Summit set for Saturday in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, placing the Palestinian cause at the forefront of key issues and initiatives, Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi said Thursday.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to depart for Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday to participate in the 34th Arab League Summit, scheduled to begin on May 17.

More than 17,900 people were caught for possession and use of e-vaporisers between January 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Friday (May 16). HSA seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and components and conducted 50 successful operations against large-scale e-vaporiser syndicates within the period. Sixty people aged between 17 and 43 were also prosecuted for selling e-vaporisers. Two persons who were part of an e-vaporiser syndicate involving over $5 million worth of e-vaporisers were also among the prosecuted, while another key figure in a $6.5 million case was arrested in October last year. The two, Ivan Sin Poh Meng and Toh Wee Leong, were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $16,000, and 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $14,000 respectively, which are the highest sentences to date for the smuggling of vapes. Investigations on the third individual are ongoing. Twenty men and seven women aged between 20 and 46 failed to pay composition fines and were prosecuted.

The Blackbird SG, a live music bar and restaurant in Gillman Barracks, was fined $850 in court on Wednesday (May 14) for lapses in food safety and hygiene regulations, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said. This came after 40 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in December 2023 after patrons consumed food prepared by the establishment. None of them were hospitalised, SFA said. The Ministry of Health and SFA later conducted a joint investigation at the premises and found multiple food safety breaches, including a dirty chiller, which increases the risk of cross-contamination. In addition, ready-to-eat sandwiches that were collected as food samples for the investigation failed SFA's food safety tests. The agency reminded food operators to ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained to ensure proper food hygiene and safety requirements are met. It added it would not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators found to violate the Environmental Public Health Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that Asean economic ministers are committed to deepening their partnership and will soon conclude negotiations for an upgrade to Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).   At a media doorstop on Friday (May 16), DPM Gan, chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (Sert), provided an update on the taskforce's focus areas, reiterating its three-pronged approach to help businesses and workers cope with the current uncertainty caused by sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Singapore's partnership with key trading partners, particularly within Asean, to bolster the economy. While Singapore and its trading partners may face heightened tariffs from the US, it has stepped up collaboration with Asean and is close to completing negotiations for ATIGA by the end of this month, he said. ATIGA is a free trade agreement (FTA) started in 2009 between Asean members that aims to reduce trade barriers and deepen economic links between member states.

Kiev said “an emergency occurred” on board the US-designed jet Read Full Article at RT.com

The US president had earlier stated that the South Asian nation had agreed to basically eliminate tariffs on American goods Read Full Article at RT.com

Moscow won’t be tricked into giving Kiev time to regroup, Rodion Miroshnik has said Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he is ready to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as soon as it can be set up Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica]

Old Mutual (Malawi) Limited says it is committed to contributing to human capital development by providing opportunities to fresh graduates to experience the practical nature of their training through internship programs. The company has recently onboarded 10 young graduates who have been deployed within the company’s IT space for a period of 6 months. The […] The post Old Mutual champions human capital growth through ICT internship initiative appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Punggol Town Council, NParks and animal welfare groups will work in tandem to raise awareness on treating animals with kindness, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 15). In his post, DPM Gan, who is also an MP of Punggol GRC, stated that «a beloved community cat in Punggol» named Shere Khan was found severely injured, and residents have written in to share feedback on animal welfare. «NParks has assured us that they are looking into the matter,» DPM Gan said, adding that the Town Council will work with NParks and animal welfare groups to put up posters to raise awareness on animal welfare. «Let us be a gracious society, and show kindness and compassion to animals,» he added.

Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat said that Singapore must remain a «key node» in the global supply chain amid ongoing uncertainty. Speaking to media at PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal on Friday (May 16), Chee said that despite greater turbulence, uncertainty and shifts in the world, Singapore's container volumes have grown by 6.1 per cent during the first four months of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Singapore handled 14.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) – which is a measure of cargo capacity – from January to April this year. «Container (throughput) has remained strong despite what's happening,» he said, adding that this is something he hopes can continue. Chee added that companies have boosted trade activity in recent months due to the pause in higher tariff rates and this increase in activity has benefitted Singapore.  «There is actually a boost in terms of companies trying to do some front loading and catching up, trying to make full use of this window,» he said.

  The political temperature is rising as Malawi heads towards the September 16 General Election, with former president Peter Mutharika and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda locked in a fiery war of words over a surge in political violence. Speaking at a press briefing from his Mangochi beachside residence on Wednesday, […] The post Chimwendo, Mutharika Trade Blows Over Political Violence Ahead of 2025 Polls appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Former Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, has been appointed as a 'distinguished professor' at National Law University (NLU), Delhi, marking a significant advancement for legal education. NLU Delhi will establish a Centre for Constitutional Studies under his leadership. Starting July 2025, a lecture series will explore Justice Chandrachud's landmark judgments on privacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and judicial reforms.