If you've ever wanted to feel extra safe at home, this may be the room for you. A user purportedly posted on Facebook group Room Rental Singapore to advertise a room at Balestier Road for $750 a month. The problem? The room looks suspiciously like a bomb shelter, Shin Min Daily News reported on Sunday (May 12).  According to the now-deleted post, the unit is a two-minute walk from supermarkets and food courts, 500m from 13 bus stops, and near Boon Keng and Novena MRT stations. Additionally, the landlord isn't residing in the unit and there are no agency fees. Tenants are allowed to cook, use the pool and gym facilities and have visitors in the day. In the fully furnished four-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, tenants will have access to a washing machine, dryer and refrigerator. Utility expenses are shared between tenants. Netizens commented that the photo of the room that is for rent resembles a bomb shelter with air-conditioning installed, with little space left after the bed frame — which is pictured — is placed.

The number of people killed by flash floods and cold lava flow from a volcano in western Indonesia over the weekend has risen to 41 with 17 more missing, a local disaster agency official told AFP Monday. Hours of heavy rain caused large volcanic rocks to roll down one of Indonesia's most active volcanos into two districts on Sumatra island Saturday evening, while flooding inundated roads, homes and mosques. «Data as of last night, we recorded 37 dead victims... But from this morning it has grown again, the figure reached 41 (dead),» Ilham Wahab, West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency official, told AFP. Rescuers were searching for 17 still missing, three in Agam district and 14 in Tanah Datar, both the worst-hit areas of the flood and home to hundreds of thousands of people, he said. Ilham could not confirm the number of locals evacuated because officials had encouraged «people to evacuate to relatives' places, which are safer» than tent shelters in heavy rains. «We are focused on first, searching and rescuing the victims, second, protecting the evacuees, protecting the vulnerable people,» he said. Roads in the districts were turned into rivers, with mosques and houses damaged. Heavy rains inundated neighbourhoods with muddy flood waters and swept vehicles into a nearby river, while volcanic ash and large rocks rumbled down Mount Marapi. Cold lava, also known as lahar, is volcanic material such as ash, sand and pebbles carried down a volcano's slopes by rain. - 'Have mercy' - Authorities sent a team of rescuers and rubber boats to look for the missing victims and to transport people to shelters. The local government set up evacuation centres and emergency posts in several areas of Agam and Tanah Datar. The national disaster mitigation agency, or BNPB, said 84 homes, 16 bridges and two mosques were damaged in Tanah Datar, as were 20 hectares (50 acres) of rice fields. Survivors recounted their horror when the flooding and rockfall began. «I heard the thunder and the sound similar to boiling water. It was the sound of big rocks falling,» housewife Rina Devina told AFP, adding that three of her neighbours were killed. «It was pitch black, so I used my cellphone as a flashlight. The road was muddy, so I chanted 'God, have mercy!' over and over again,» she said of her evacuation to a local official's office. Indonesia is prone to landslides and floods during the rainy season. In 2022, about 24,000 people were evacuated and two children were killed in floods on Sumatra island, with environmental campaigners blaming deforestation caused by logging for worsening the disaster. © Agence France-Presse

Russia said Sunday it had captured four more villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as thousands of residents were evacuated from the offensive in an area where Russian troops were repelled in 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky said «fierce fighting» was under way and governor Oleg Synegubov said «all areas» of the regional border with Russia were now «under enemy fire almost around the clock». In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to replace defence minister Sergei Shoigu, in what would be a major shake-up of the military leadership. Across the border in the Russian city of Belgorod, emergency services said 15 people were killed when a residential building was hit by a Ukrainian missile after it was intercepted by air defences. In Ukraine, local prosecutors said four civilians had been killed in the Kharkiv region in the Russian ground offensive, which was launched on Friday. The Ukrainian army's top commander said that although the situation was «complicated», his forces were managing to hold back further Russian advances. But Russia's defence ministry said its forces had «advanced deeply into the enemy defences», a day after claiming the capture of five villages in Kharkiv region. At an evacuation point near the front line in the Kharkiv region, AFP reporters on Sunday saw groups of people evacuated from around the border town of Vovchansk, most of them elderly and disoriented. «We weren't going to leave. Home is home,» said 72-year-old Lyuda Zelenskaya, hugging a trembling cat named Zhora. Liuba Konovalova, 70, said she had endured a «really terrifying» night before her evacuation. Volunteers assisted evacuees to a few wooden benches where they registered and received food before being evacuated towards Kharkiv, the regional capital. In the last few days, nearly 6,000 residents in and around Vovchansk have been evacuated, said Kharkiv governor Synegubov. «Defensive battles and fierce fighting continue on a large part of our border,» Zelensky said in his evening address. «There are villages that have actually turned from a 'grey zone' into a combat zone, and the occupier is trying to gain a foothold in some of them, or simply use them for further advancement,» he said. A «grey zone» is territory not fully controlled by either side. Zelensky added the situation was «extremely difficult» around Vovchansk. - 'Everything is being destroyed' - Speaking at an evacuation point near Vovchansk, Oleksiy Kharkivsky, a senior police officer helping to coordinate evacuations, said the area was «constantly under fire». «Everything in the city is being destroyed... You hear constant explosions, artillery, mortars. The enemy is hitting the city with everything they have,» he said. Officials estimated there were still around 500 civilians left in Vovchansk as Russian troops close in. Volodymyr Tymoshko, head of police in the Kharkiv region, said the town was being attacked on three sides and Russian troops were on the outskirts. «Despite active fighting, the police are still taking out people who live some 300, 500 metres from the contact line at the moment,» he told AFP at the evacuation point. Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on social media that his army's defences were holding but conceded the situation in the Kharkiv region had «deteriorated significantly». - 'Return the initiative to Ukraine' - In Kharkiv itself, mayor Igor Terekhov was quoted by the city council as saying there was no reason for people to leave the city despite the offensive. «Despite all the events that are taking place in the region, Kharkiv is calm. We do not see people leaving,» he was quoted as saying. On Saturday, AFP saw groups of people fleeing the border area arriving in vans and cars loaded with bags at a reception centre for evacuees near Kharkiv. Evacuees -- most of them elderly -- received food and medical assistance. Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian troops had been carrying out counterattacks in the border villages. «Disrupting Russian offensive plans is now our number one task,» he said. Troops must «return the initiative to Ukraine», the president insisted, again urging Western allies to speed up arms deliveries. Ukrainian officials had warned for weeks that Moscow might try to attack its northeastern border regions, pressing its advantage as Ukraine struggles with delays in Western aid and manpower shortages. Putin's announcement that Shoigu was being removed as defence minister is expected to be approved by Russia's parliament on Tuesday. His replacement, Andrey Belousov, has no military background. He has been one of Putin's most influential economic advisers over the last decade. Shoigu has been named as secretary of the Security Council, replacing long-standing Putin ally Nikolai Patrushev. © Agence France-Presse

IndiGo, one of the fastest growing air carriers from India, intends to launch flights to Seychelles in October 2024, according to the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA). The authority announced on Friday that this follows bilateral aviation talks between Seychelles and India last week. The airline is expected to conduct three weekly flights to the archipelago and is currently in final discussions with its authority in India, to secure all necessary approvals. IndiGo is also in discussion with the authorities in Seychelles. The discussion aims to focus on the further liberalisation of the air transport arrangement between the two countries to introduce fresh provisions. It will also create more opportunities for airlines of both countries to enjoy greater operational flexibility.   The chief executive of SCAA, Garry Albert, said that the launch of these flights by IndiGO is a direct result of the modern air services framework between our two countries. «These arrangements negotiated by the government yield tangible results and it is the people of Seychelles who reap the ultimate benefits,» he added. Group photo of Seychelles and Indian delegation. During the discussion, Albert noted the importance of such engagement, highlighting that the «sustenance of our excellent bilateral relations hinges on our two sides regularly engaging in dialogue to find new avenues to strengthen our partnership. India's growth in the aviation sector has been impressive and the rest of the world watches in awe as the country becomes an important international hub in the region, supporting global economic growth». On his part, Shri Asangba Chuba Ao, joint jecretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, who headed the Indian delegation, emphasised the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries for many decades. As a result, Seychelles is becoming an up and coming destination of choice for Indian tourists. He said that there has been an increasing interest by Indian carriers to operate direct flights to Seychelles. The demand for travel to Seychelles is increasing significantly, as such, making these talks important to create the space to facilitate commercial air operations, for the mutual benefits of the two countries. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, and India signed an Air Services Agreement in 2015 that airlines of both countries have been using as the basis for their operations. The two countries are currently connected by a direct Air Seychelles flight to Mumbai once a week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline was conducting five weekly flights to India. Despite the dip in frequency on the route, there has been a growth of over 50 percent in Indian visitors to Seychelles from 2022 to 2023. During the talks, Seychelles was also informed of the interest of a second Indian carrier to start flights to Seychelles, in the near future. India is the world's fifth largest economy leapfrogging France and the UK. Having undergone tremendous transformation over the years, India has positioned itself among the most chosen destinations by many tourists and as a medical tourism destination for Seychellois. Other travellers seek educational opportunities and other professional development options. 

[DW] Officials have described the rescue as a «miracle.» Dozens of people are still missing after the collapse of the apartment building.

[RFI] More than 300 books collected by the first president of independent Senegal, Léopold Sédar Senghor, will be transferred to Dakar after the Senegalese government stepped in to stop them being auctioned off in France.

[SAnews.gov.za] As rescue and recovery efforts continue into the sixth day at the site of the collapsed building at Victoria Street in George, the number of deaths has risen to 16.

Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have been complaining about poor connectivity as service providers across East Africa acknowledge there has been a problem.

NAIROBI, KENYA — Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of her life because of the Kenyan government's response to floods that devastated her poor community in the capital, Nairobi.

Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially inaugurated the new LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Storage Center in Mogadishu on Sunday, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against deforestation and environmental degradation in Somalia.

Braving the odds, senior citizens, some in wheelchairs and a few others using walking sticks defied age and arrived at polling stations to cast their franchise for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a service at the Patna Sahib Gurdwara in Bihar on Monday. The Gurudwara is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, who was born in the city in 1666. Takhat Sri Patna Sahib, also recognized as Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib, is among the five takhats of the Sikhs and is situated in the state capital.

CBSE declared class 12 results with 87.98% passing rate. 24,000 scored above 95%, 1.16 lakh above 90%. Over 1.22 lakh in compartment. Girls excelled. Check scores on CBSE websites or UMANG app.

Louise Thompson speaks about her health battles, including suffering from a chronic bowel disease, in an interview with You Magazine. Read on for an exclusive extract from her memoir Lucky.

The yuan rate gained 0.05 kopecks trading at 12.693 rubles

The military noted that the drone posed an imminent threat to US and allied warships and commercial vessel's

«Russian air defense forces on duty destroyed 12 Olkha rockets and 12 UAVs over the Belgorod Region, eight UAVs over the Kursk Region, four Storm Shadow missiles and seven UAVs over Crimea,» the ministry noted

Bilateral exchanges between Russia and North Korea have intensified since the second half of 2012

«The Secretary reaffirmed the US opposition to a major military ground operation in Rafah, where over one million people have taken shelter,» according to the US Department of State

The Vanuatu Financial Service Commission (VFSC) shared two new video clips. These videos are meant to help the people who own businesses in Vanuatu, especially those who are Ni-Vanuatu.

L'équipage de Fa'afaite a quitté Tahiti vers 16 heures, dimanche 12 mai, pour l'île de Oahu. C’est là-bas que se tiendra, du 6 au 16 juin, le 13ème festival des arts et culture du Pacifique.

The Russian Ambassador insists that Washington is ready to do everything to absolve Kiev of accountability for their atrocities Read Full Article at RT.com

An Ang Mo Kio resident was left frustrated at the state of her home after a pipe clog left it flooded and damaged some items she was preparing to sell. In a video posted to Facebook last Thursday (May 9), Lydia Lee Nakamura shows how the bathroom, kitchen and living room of her rental flat were flooded with water from a drain. The flooding started late at night on Wednesday, which prompted her to call the Essential Maintenance Services Unit (EMSU) at Ang Mo Kio Town Council for assistance, she wrote. When she mentioned that her flat was rented from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), however, she was told to contact HDB's EMSU hotline instead, she said.

He was given a written warning. A woman alleged she was sexually harassed by a man who did pull-ups over her head in the 24XFitness gym at SingPost Centre in Paya Lebar on May 3. What made it worse for Stomp contributor Zenn was that after she reported the incident to the gym staff, she felt victim-blamed. In response to a Stomp query, the police confirmed that a report was lodged and said they are looking into the matter. The Stomp contributor shared a 22-second video of the incident at the squat and pull-up rack, which is for both exercises, though probably not at the same time. She took the video of herself in the wall mirror sitting on the floor and resting between her squat sets as the man stood over her and started to do pull-ups near her head. The Stomp contributor said in the video: «I'm using the squat rack and there's another one there.» She panned the camera to show another squat and pull-up rack beside the one she was using. «But he's insisting on doing this here,» she said of the man doing pull-ups right above her.

Some commuters who were on their way to Johor Bahru (JB) found themselves trapped inside bus service 178 after the driver locked the doors and refused to drive.  He had done so after some passengers refused to pay their fare, reported Shin Min Daily News.  The incident occurred last Friday (May 10) at about 5pm at the bus stop opposite Kranji MRT station.  Service 178 is managed by SMRT Corporation and runs between Boon Lay and Woodlands terminals. It stops at Woodlands Train Checkpoint on the route from Boon Lay to Woodlands. A passenger surnamed Liang told the Chinese daily that the bus captain had opened both doors to make it easier for passengers to board and alight.  The 56-year-old, who works as a purchaser in Singapore, was heading back to JB that evening.  «Some passengers boarded the bus via the rear door, and some of them didn't pay the fare. The bus captain reminded everyone to pay, but no one listened to him,» she recounted.  The driver's threat to call the police also fell on deaf ears. 

Supporters of Andrew Malkinson who was wrongly jailed for rape have joined calls for a review into the conviction of White House Farm murderer Jeremy Bamber.

A 29-year-old man, said to be of unsound mind, is suspected to have drowned in the Rio Minho in Clarendon on Sunday, leaving his mother to lament a tragic Mother's Day. 

Belgorod and its suburbs came under massive shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces earlier on May 12

«The reaction of American officials to the deadly strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on residential areas, or rather the absence of even a hint of condolences, is very telling,» Anatoly Antonov said

La commune de Paea organisait sa deuxième action Paea to'u oire ma samedi 11 mai. Des bénévoles ont sillonné le secteur de Papehue jusqu'à Maraa pour ramasser les déchets en bord de route et sur les plages. Mama Natura et «Mamie Propre» étaient évidemment au rendez-vous...

Israel must do whatever needs to be done to win its existential war with Hamas, Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed. Read Full Article at RT.com