Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and visiting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola have discussed Ukraine's European integration and security issues. At the talks, Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine has fulfilled all the necessary conditions for starting accession talks with the European Union next month, according to the Presidential press service. For her part, Metsola said she was optimistic that EU member states will adopt the negotiating framework for Ukraine in June, Xinhua news agency reported. The European Parliament will help Ukraine in "all possible ways" to move along the European path, Metsola stressed. Zelensky and Metsola also discussed the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the EU's defence support for Kiev, and the high-level conference on peace slated for mid-June in Switzerland. Metsola arrived in Kiev earlier on Thursday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 May,2024 04:45 PM IST | Kiev | IANSAir Vanuatu filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday a day after the South Pacific state-owned carrier cancelled all international flights. Ernst & Young Australia's Morgan Kelly, Justin Walsh and Andrew Hanson were appointed liquidators in a local equivalent of a U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the firm said in a statement. Thousands of travelers have been left stranded by the cancellations. The airline cancelled more than 20 flights to and from the Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane, and the New Zealand city of Auckland for the rest of the week on Wednesday. The airline said it was the result of "extended maintenance requirements" on their aircraft. EY said it would conduct safety and maintenance checks before the resumption of normal operations. Kelly said the airline's existing management team would remain in place throughout the process. "Air Vanuatu is critical to the people of the Republic of Vanuatu and a strategically important business to the nation," Kelly said. "Our team is working closely with management to ensure continuity of service to customers and to ensure services continue as seamlessly as possible." "The outlook for the airline is positive, despite pressures on the broader industry, and we will be focused on securing the future of this strategically vital national carrier," he added. Affected travelers would be informed of this disruption and re-booked on flights as soon as operations resumed, the statement said. Air Vanuatu operates four planes, including one Boeing 737 and three turboprop planes. The Vanuatu Tourism Office apologized to travelers for the disruption. "This is an evolving situation and we will continue to post updates," the office said in a statement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 May,2024 04:45 PM IST | Melbourne | AP | PTIPakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has refused to apologise for the unprecedented May 9 riots, a day after the military ruled out dialogue with his party unless they tendered a public apology over the unprecedented violence. Khan, who spoke to the media after the court proceedings in the 190 million pounds Al Qadir corruption case at Adiala jail on Wednesday, also said that he was ready to face an inquiry into the sit-in that his Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf party staged in 2014, Dawn newspaper reported. When asked whether he would apologise for the May 9 violent protest, 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician replied no, saying he was under detention at the time and was unaware of those protests, the report added. “I condemned the May 9 incidents in front of (former) chief justice Umar Ata Bandial,” he added. The ex-premier mentioned that he became aware of the protests when he appeared before the then-chief justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial. 2014Year the violent protests took place This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 May,2024 09:07 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesRussia on Thursday wrapped itself in patriotic pageantry for Victory Day, a celebration of its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II that President Vladimir Putin has turned into a pillar of his nearly quarter-century in power and a justification of his move into Ukraine. Even though few veterans of what Russia calls the Great Patriotic War are still alive 79 years after Berlin fell to the Red Army, the victory over Nazi Germany remains the most important and widely revered symbol of the country’s prowess and a key element of national identity. Thursday’s festivities across Russia, led by Putin who this week began his fifth term in office, recall that wartime sacrifice in what has become its most important secular holiday. “The Victory Day unites all generations,” Putin said in a speech at Red Square parade. “We are going forward relying on our centuries-old traditions and feel confident that together we will ensure a free and secure future of Russia.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 May,2024 09:07 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesIsraeli security forces on Thursday demolished the eastern Jerusalem home of Fadi Jamjoom, who killed two Israelis in a February terror attack. Jamjoom opened fire on Israelis at a bus stop on February 16. Killed in the attack were Yishai Gartner, 23, of Modiin Illit and 27-year-old reservist Sgt. First Class (res.) Ori Yaish of Modiin. Another four people were injured. Jamjoom was shot and killed by an off-duty reserve soldier at the scene. In the weeks after the attack, police detectives arrested the terrorist’s 39-year-old brother for illegally purchasing the gun and giving it to Fadi. Israeli security forces have arrested more than 4,000 Palestinian terror suspects in Judea and Samaria since October 7, of whom around 1,700 are affiliated with Hamas. Israel targets Hamas sites Israeli ground forces launched an operation in the Zeitoun area of central Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure and killing terrorists, the Israel Defence Forces said on Thursday morning. The operation began with a series of intelligence-based aerial strikes on approximately 25 terror targets, including military structures, terror tunnels, observation posts, sniper posts, and other terror infrastructure. Israeli soldiers huddle before a battle tank positioned in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday Overnight, the IDF detected numerous rocket launches from the area of Rafah towards the Kerem Shalom border crossing. All of the rockets fell in Gaza without reaching Israeli territory. On Sunday, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Kerem Shalom, killing four soldiers and forcing the crossing’s closure. Of all the Gaza crossings, Kerem Shalom is equipped to handle the most humanitarian aid. The crossing reopened on Wednesday. Sunak asks univs to fight antisemitism British PM Rishi Sunak on Thursday urged university chiefs to address the rise in antisemitic abuse on campus and disruption of learning in reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Sunak and his ministers will meet with university vice-chancellors next. ‘US won’t supply weapons to Israel’ President Joe Biden said the US would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah over concern for the well-being of the more than one million civilians sheltering there. Biden, in an interview, said the US was still committed to Israel’s defence and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 May,2024 09:07 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesA Boeing 737 plane carrying 85 people skidded off the runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, a statement from the country's transport minister said in a statement on Thursday. El Malick Ndiaye, the transport minister, said the Air Senegal flight operated by TransAir was headed to Bamako late on Wednesday carrying 79 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew. The injured were being treated in hospital, while the other survivors have been taken to a hotel to rest. No other details were immediately available. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 04:32 PM IST | Dakar (Senegal) | APTwo young siblings died after being swept away by a rapidly flowing creek in Southern California's San Bernardino Mountains, authorities said. The tragedy occurred Tuesday when a mother took her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son to spend the afternoon at Thurman Flat picnic area on Highway 38 near Mill Creek, the San Bernardino Count Sheriff's Department said in a news release. They were playing along the creek when at one point the mother was attending to her son and her daughter was taken downstream, the department said. "The mother searched for her but could not locate her," the department said. "When she returned, her son was missing and assumed to be down river as well." The mother frantically searched for both children and then hiked up to the picnic area and asked another family to help search, an effort that was unsuccessful. Rescue crews from multiple agencies arrived at the scene about 70 miles (113 kilometers) east of Los Angeles around 4 p.m. and eventually found both children. The siblings were taken to local hospitals and pronounced dead after extensive efforts to save their lives, the department said. The names of the children and their mother were not immediately released. Mill Creek is a major tributary of the Santa Ana River. Its waters plunge down a rocky bed from the towering peaks of the San Bernardino range, where ski resorts reported as much as 199 inches (505 centimeters) of snowfall this past season. California authorities regularly warn that the state's rivers and streams can become very dangerous when spring snowmelt fills them with fast-flowing, very cold water. Cold shock can quickly stun the strongest of swimmers and boulders, branches and other debris can lurk invisibly beneath the surface, according to the California Office of Emergency Services. "Swift water can be deadly, especially as the weather warms up following heavy winter snowfall in the mountains and higher-than-average flows in rivers and streams," said Amy Palmer, spokesperson for the California Office of Emergency Services, said in an email. "It's critical Californians understand and appreciate the dangers it can pose and take precautions wherever possible." Local public safety agencies also make pleas for people to be careful near waters. In the southern Sierra Nevada, the Kern County Sheriff's Office is blunt, updating a sign on the road to the notorious Kern River with the death toll since 1968. Last May, the sign was updated from 317 to 325, reflecting eight deaths between 2022 and 2023. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 03:52 PM IST | Mountain Home Village | AP | PTIChinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hungary late Wednesday, the final stop on his five-day European tour, where he's expected to finalize a number of agreements with Prime Minister Viktor Orban that will deepen China's economic footprint in the region. Xi is set to spend two nights in the Hungarian capital Budapest where he will meet with Orban and Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok. Talks will center on future Chinese investments in the Central European country, which has courted deep economic ties with Beijing even as mainstream European leaders have pursued more protectionist policies to limit its reach on the continent. Orban, a nationalist populist whose illiberal policies have pushed him to the fringes of the European Union, made his country the first in the 27-member bloc to participate in Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative. Hungary has straddled a middle ground between its membership in the EU and NaTO and a willingness to establish diplomatic and trade relationships with autocratic governments outside those groupings. Hungary's foreign minister, PEter Szijjarto, told a news conference on Monday that Xi and Hungarian officials would sign at least 16 bilateral agreements during the visit, Xi's first to the country as president. Szijjarto called the visit "historic," and pointed out that China had provided more foreign investment to Hungary than any other country in 2023. He added that some of the agreements to be signed would involve expansion of Belt and Road in Hungary, and could include investments in infrastructure and energy. Xi's arrival in Budapest came after a two-day visit to Serbia's capital Belgrade, where he signed an agreement on building a "shared future" with the Balkan country which, like Hungary, is considered friendly to Russia's Vladimir Putin. China has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia's military capacity. Hungary has condemned the Russian invasion but threatened to block EU sanctions against Moscow and refused to provide Kyiv with military support. Xi and Orban are likely to discuss the war in Ukraine, Hungary's neighbor to the east. Hungary's government has vocally urged China to take a leading role in brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and expressed its support for a China-proposed peace plan. Before Xi's arrival on Wednesday, a number of demonstrators gathered in central Budapest to protest his visit and call for autonomy for Tibet, which lies under Chinese control. Tibor Hendrey, a representative for the Tibet aid Society, said that doing business with China is important for Hungary's economy, but highlighted the dangers of a relationship with a country with a spotty democratic and human rights records. "We need a good relationship with a great empire, that's not a problem. The problem is that China has a completely different culture, a completely different approach to human rights," Hendrey said. "I feel that they want to export this kind of thinking here to Hungary, and that the Hungarian government is willing to accept that." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 03:39 PM IST | Budapest (Hungary) | APAmid the ongoing ground offensive in Rafah, United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Wednesday that the US is pausing a shipment of "high-payload munitions" to Israel, as the operation has no plan for the residing civilians in the region, reported CNN. "We're going to continue to do what's necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself, but that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah," Defence Secretary Austin said at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing. The remarks of Austin come amid mounting airstrikes, and at a time when the Israeli Prime Minister's Office has also reaffirmed the continuation of military operations in Rafah to "exert military pressure on Hamas." "We've been very clear ... that Israel shouldn't launch a major attack into Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battlespace," Austin said, according to CNN. Austin also stressed that the weapons shipment was not included in the supplemental budget package that Congress just approved, which contained lethal aid for both Israel and Ukraine. The US has not made "a final determination" about what will happen with the arms shipment, Austin stated. Meanwhile, protesters from Code Pink interrupted Austin in the middle of his response, shouting "Free Palestine" before they were taken from the room, as per CNN. Further, as the military operation by Israel in Rafah continues, the United Nations on Wednesday, too, voiced alarm Wednesday over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, in an operational update, according to CNN, has said that challenges persist because supplies for relief efforts are unable to pass through important crossings into the strip as fighting continues. Dujarric further stated that it is the need of the hour for incoming supplies, including fuel, to keep coming in for sustained humanitarian efforts. He added that the situation in Gaza remains fragile as key medical facilities are at risk of becoming totally inaccessible or inoperable amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Decrying Israel's ground offensive in Rafah, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has also said that the Rafah offensive would be a "strategic mistake." "An assault on Rafah would be a strategic mistake, a political calamity & a humanitarian nightmare," Guterres said in a video posted on X on Tuesday, as he made an appeal to the international community to help avert the ongoing conflict "I appeal to all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to help avert even more tragedy," Guterres had said, adding that it is high time for a deal to be secured and bring an end to the war. The tensions escalated with multiple airstrikes on Rafah early Tuesday, resulting in casualties and injuries, as reported by the Palestinian Civil Defence. Palestinian official news agency WAFA confirmed eight deaths in two separate attacks on Rafah, although the precise timeline remains unclear. Rafah's Kuwait hospital reported receiving 11 deceased individuals, according to a Facebook post in the early hours of Tuesday local time. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated their ongoing targeted strikes against Hamas terror targets in eastern Rafah. The crossing was one of the primary routes for supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip. In mid-December, Israeli authorities announced its reopening in response to rising US pressure and a severe humanitarian situation in Gaza. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 08:45 AM IST | Washington | ANIAuthorities in southern Brazil rushed on Wednesday to rescue survivors of massive flooding that has killed at least 100 people, but some residents refused to leave belongings behind while others returned to evacuated homes despite the risk of new storms. Heavy rains and flooding in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left 128 people missing, authorities said. More than 230,000 have been displaced, and much of the region has been isolated by the floodwaters. More storms are expected in the state, with lightning strikes and wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in the south, according to Catia Valente, the meteorologist in the state's situation room. Staffers of the state's civil defense agency told The Associated Press they have been struggling to persuade residents of the city of Eldorado do Sul, one of the hardest hit by the floods, to leave their homes. It is located beside Porto Alegre, near the center of the state's coastline. At least four people declined to evacuate. A flyover of Eldorado do Sul in a military helicopter showed hundreds of houses submerged, with only their roofs visible. Residents were using small boards, surfboards and personal watercraft to move around. Mayor Ernani de Freitas told local journalists that the city "will be totally evacuated." "It will take at least a year to recover," he said. Rio Grande do Sul's Gov. Eduardo Leite, speaking at a news conference late Tuesday, appealed to residents to stay out of harm's way, as the anticipated downpour may cause more severe flooding across the state. "It isn't the time to return home," he said. The civil defense agency's own urgent warning asking displaced residents not to return to flooded areas also stressed the risk of disease transmission. Army Gen. Marcelo Zucco, one of the coordinators of rescue operations, told the AP his team is working at full speed before heavy rains that are forecast to hit the Porto Alegre area this weekend. Moderate rain was falling Wednesday afternoon in the city. "We hope the next rains are not like those we saw, but there's no way to be sure there won't be trouble ahead of us," Zucco said. "At this moment we are focusing on finishing rescue operations and starting logistical support to the population. That's bringing water, medication, food and transportation for the sick to some hospital," the general added. He also said some improvement in conditions for the day helped his men finally access some areas by land. A report by the National Confederation of Municipalities estimates damages at 4.6 billion reais (USD 930 million) in nearly 80% of Rio Grande do Sul's municipalities. Gov. Leite has said that the enormous impact will require something akin to the Marshall Plan for Europe's post-WWII recovery. Already the state has asked the federal government to suspend debt payments and create a fund for the southern region. On Tuesday, Congress passed a decree declaring a state of calamity in Rio Grande do Sul until the end of the year, allowing the federal government to quickly allocate money to mitigate the catastrophe and rebuild regions affected by the floods, bypassing a spending cap. The vote united supporters and opponents of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government. "There is no limit to the public spending necessary to resolve the problem of the calamity that today is ravaging Rio Grande do Sul state," Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet told Radio Gaucho in an interview. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 08:34 AM IST | Porto Alegre | APUS President Joe Biden has threatened Israel with further restrictions on the supply of military equipment were Israel to carry out a major military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. "I made it clear that if they (Israel) go into Rafah... I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem," Biden told broadcaster CNN in an interview, stressing "they haven't gone in Rafah yet". On Wednesday, the US said it paused a large shipment of weapons to Israel amid ongoing concerns in Washington about military operations in the southern Gaza city. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said it had been clearly communicated to Israel that the US government did not support Israel's long-threatened all-out offensive in Rafah, the southern city in the Gaza Strip that is seen as the last place of refuge for civilians in the territory. He said the Israeli side has yet to present a credible plan that guarantees both the protection of the civilian population in Rafah and their access to humanitarian supplies. Israel describes Rafah as the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 May,2024 08:30 AM IST | Washington | IANSADVERTISEMENT
