Author: Daily Sabah With DPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin must “get serious” about engaging in peace talks, David Lammy said on Monday. The British foreign secretary commended Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for his “willingness to engage in talks” as European foreign ministers gathered in London for discussions about the continent’s security. Zelensky has challenged his Russian counterpart to meet him face-to-face for negotiations to end the war in his country on Thursday in Turkey. Putin faces the challenge after he said he wanted to hold direct talks with Kiev. Urging the Russian leader to step up to the table, Lammy said: “This is the time…
France has strongly rejected rumours about an alleged bag of cocaine belonging to President Emmanuel Macron on the train on the way to Kyiv before the weekend. “This is a tissue. For blowing your nose,” the Élysée Palace wrote on its official X account overnight, showing a close-up of the crinkled white item on Macron’s table. Any suggestion that it was something more suspicious was wrong, the post said, blaming “France’s enemies.” “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs. This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both…
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated the nation for its “victory” over India, expressing hope for meaningful dialogue with its arch-rival and for the resolution of all outstanding issues. “This is a victory not just for the armed forces, but for the whole nation,” Sharif said in his address to the nation, hours after a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump came into effect. “History will always remember how Pakistan’s armed forces and jets silenced the Indian military in a matter of hours,” he added. Sharif expressed hope that all outstanding issues between the two countries,…
Russia has attacked Ukraine with drones following the end of its supposed three-day ceasefire, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. Sirens sounded in Kiev as Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on civilians to seek shelter in bunkers, while drone attacks were also reported over the regions of Odessa, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. The unilateral ceasefire ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin during commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II came to an end at midnight (2100 GMT Saturday). Both sides repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. The renewed attacks came as Putin proposed direct negotiations…
Türkiye is ready to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, an aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday. The president’s communications director said Erdoğan told Macron that Türkiye would be ready to make any contribution to achieving a ceasefire and lasting peace, including hosting negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier proposed direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul, after Ukraine offered a full 30-day ceasefire beginning on Monday.
Pope Leo XIV will appear in public again this Sunday in St Peter’s Square. From the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the first pontiff from the United States, former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will recite his first Sunday midday Regina Coeli prayer as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend to see him in person for the first time. The 69-year-old former missionary and head of the Augustinian Order was elected on Thursday as the successor to Francis, becoming the 267th pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. The…
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated the nation for its “victory” over India, expressing hope for meaningful dialogue with its arch-rival and for the resolution of all outstanding issues. “This is a victory not just for the armed forces, but for the whole nation,” Sharif said in his address to the nation, hours after a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump came into effect. “History will always remember how Pakistan’s armed forces and jets silenced the Indian military in a matter of hours,” he added. Sharif expressed hope that all outstanding issues between the two countries,…
Manchester City missed the chance to pile the pressure on second-placed Arsenal after being held to a goalless draw at Southampton, who ensured they would not become the equal worst team in Premier League history. The draw left City, with an inferior goal difference, two points behind the Gunners, who head to champions Liverpool on Sunday, and two ahead of Newcastle and Chelsea, who play each other on Sunday. However, bottom side Southampton’s 12th point of the season meant they moved ahead of Derby’s 2008 tally, sparking wild celebrations among fans. Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer…
Ireland’s national broadcaster has been called on to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s inclusion in the competition. Irish actor Stephen Rea read the poem “If I Must Die” by Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, as he joined scores of protesters gathered at the main entrance to RTE’s campus in the Donnybrook area of Dublin on Friday evening. The demonstrators, some wearing keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags and held up banners with slogans including “you can’t culturewash genocide” and “you need to boycott Israel now”. Organisers staged a mini-concert featuring short…
Thousands of people protested in Israel Saturday against the new military offensive against Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. At the central rally in Tel Aviv, which was called by The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, relatives who have been fearing for their loved ones for 581 days now also spoke. According to official Israeli figures, 59 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, but only 24 of them are believed to be alive. Ilan Dalal, the father of an Israeli man who was abducted on October 7, 2023 after the Hamas attack said that his…