Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stormed out of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday as European Council President Charles Michel addressed the 15-member body and accused Moscow of fueling the global food crisis with its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking directly to Nebenzia as he walked out, Michel said: “You may leave the room, maybe it’s easier not to listen to the truth.”
Michel had also accused Russian troops of war crimes and crimes against humanity, specifically citing reports of sexual violence – the focus of the Security Council meeting – and describing it as “a tactic of torture, terror and repression.”
During his own statement earlier in the meeting, Nebenzia had “categorically refuted” any accusations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers, condemning what he said was a “lie.”
Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has fueled a global food crisis with prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer soaring. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while Russia is also a fertilizer exporter and Ukraine is an exporter of corn and sunflower oil.
“Mr Ambassador of the Russian Federation, let’s be honest, the Kremlin is using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries,” Michel said in the Security Council. “Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is trying to broker what he calls a “package deal” to resume Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Turkey on Wednesday to discuss unlocking grain exports from Ukraine.
A suspect reportedly linked to the murder of the Dominican Republic’s environment minister, Orlando Jorge Mera, was taken into police custody on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Mera was shot dead in his office on Monday, authorities reported.
A spokesman for the president’s office, Homero Figueroa, reported that a suspect identified as Miguel Cruz, was arrested.
Figueroa said Cruz was a childhood friend of the minister, without giving a potential motive for the attack.
Employees at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources told journalists that they heard at least seven shots from within the building. Police units arrived on the scene shortly after.
Mera, a 55-year-old lawyer, was the son of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, who was in office from 2002 to 2006.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Selma Villegas, and his two children. His son, Orlando Jorge Villegas, is a federal legislator and member of the Modern Revolutionary Party.
The president and the government have made themselves available to the minister’s family, Figueroa said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summarized the outcome of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s official visit to Japan on May 26-27 to attend the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia (Nikkei Forum).
The delegation comprised the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Minister of Finance, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, as well as high-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat of the Prime Minister.
The outcomes of the visit include the followings:
1. The 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia (Nikkei Forum) (May 26)
The Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech under the theme of “Redefining Asia’s role in a divided world,” highlighting the importance of resilience, sustainability, and inclusiveness in Asia amidst the current challenges and disruption across the region and the world. Furthermore, economic recovery must be implemented in parallel with efforts to balance all things and achieve sustainability. In this regard, Prime Minister Prayut proposed three points, which Asia can do collectively to transcend current challenges, namely: (1) regenerating economic growth, (2) supporting the multilateralism as no single country can tackle current challenges alone, and (3) promoting economic recovery in complement with sustainability. Thailand’s BCG concept can help to support this approach.
2. Bilateral meeting between Prime Minister of Thailand and Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan at the Prime Minister’s Office (May 26)
Prime Minister Prayut reiterated Thailand’s proposal to elevate Thailand – Japan relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, so as to reflect the developments in the close and comprehensive relations between Thailand and Japan and issues of cooperation in the future. Both Prime Ministers agreed to implement the Five-Year Joint Action Plan on Japan-Thailand Strategic Economic Partnership to serve as a guideline for future economic cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Prayut also welcomed interested Japanese companies to invest in the targeted industries for the future in Thailand in such areas as electric vehicles (EV), chemicals, BCG economy, medical, digital and smart agriculture industries, as well as to participate in the infrastructure development projects in the EEC, such as U-Tapao Airport and the High-Speed Railway linking three airports. On this part, Prime Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s readiness to support these projects. Furthermore, Prime Minister Prayut expressed Thailand’s readiness to work with Japan to create a decarbonised society under Japan’s “Asia Zero-Emissions Community” concept.
On people-to-people cooperation, Prime Minister Prayut welcomed Japan’s consideration on Thailand’s proposal to expand the number of KOSEN institutes and establish the KOSEN Education Center in Thailand as a hub for human resources development in the Mekong sub-region and ASEAN. Moreover, Prime Minister Prayut expressed appreciation to the government of Japan for choosing Thailand as one of the four targeted countries in the temporary scheme to allow small groups of tourists to enter Japan, in addition to business travelers, students, and skilled labour from Thailand who were permitted to enter Japan earlier. The Thai Prime Minister also extended invitation to Japanese people to travel to Thailand.
On regional and multilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Prayut informed the Japanese side of ASEAN’s decision to select Thailand as the location for establishing the Secretariat of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and the facility in the field of response and risk management. Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the support to ASEAN’s decision and Thailand’s hosting of APEC this year. The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on cooperation under Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), as well as on the situation in Myanmar and the situation in Ukraine, regarding which both leaders reiterated the importance on rendering humanitarian assistance for civilians in these two countries.
3. Meeting with the key private sector and financial institution of Japan (May 27)
Prime Minister Prayut had a meeting with Tokura Masakazu, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), and Suzuki Yoshihisa, Chairman of the Japan-Thailand Trade and Economic Committee under Keidanren. Both sides shared the view on enhancing economic relations through cooperation in technology, industry, and human resources development to attract investment from Japan in new and value-added industries for the future. Prime Minister Prayut also urged Japanese companies to increase their investment in Thailand to diversify the supply chain network and connect to Thailand’s neighbouring countries, while the Chairman of Keidanren reaffirmed the importance of Thailand as an important production base of Japan in ASEAN and informed the Prime Minister of the plan by the Japan – Thailand Trade and Economic Committee under Keidanren to lead around 70 member companies to visit Thailand either at the end of this year or the beginning of 2023 to meet with Thai private sector.
Prime Minister Prayut also had a meeting with Maeda Tadashi, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). They discussed JBIC’s support for the sustainability-related projects and the high-speed railway linking three airports with the EEC to serve as an example of a successful trilateral cooperation among Thailand, China, and Japan and enhance Thailand’s capacity as a base for Japan’s investment in ASEAN.
4. Study visit to Haneda Innovation City (May 27)
Prime Minister Prayut visited Haneda Innovation City (HI City) to exchange experiences and best practices on the organization of smart cities projects under Japan’s national policy. HI City features research and development centres on advanced technology in the fields of smart transportation and logistics, smart robotics technology, medical technology, and hydrogen refueling stations, as well as modern commercial shops, hotels, offices, and convention centres.
Queen Elizabeth, flanked by son and heir Prince Charles and two other future kings, waved to cheering crowds massed outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday as nationwide celebrations to mark her 70 years on the British throne came to an end.
The 96-year-old monarch had withdrawn from several events during the Platinum Jubilee due to “episodic mobility issues.” On Sunday afternoon she was greeted by huge cheers, trumpets and a rendition of the national anthem before retreating inside.
Wearing bright green, the queen smiled and waved as she appeared alongside Charles, grandson William and his eldest child, George. Charles’ wife Camilla, William’s wife Kate and their two younger children made up the unusually small family group on the balcony.
The appearance capped the final day of a four-day celebration which was marked on Sunday by a colourful and eccentric London pageant where military bands, vintage cars, dancers and celebrities paraded through the streets.
The queen said on Sunday she had been “humbled and deeply touched” by the number of people coming out to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee at the conclusion of four days of festivities to mark her 70 years on the British throne.
Tens of thousands of people have attended street parties or cheered on parades through central London, while millions watched a pop concert outside Buckingham Palace which was broadcast on live television.
In her message to the nation, she thanked the public for their good wishes and the role they had played.
“When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee,” she said in a statement.
The queen herself has been forced to miss a number of the major events due to mobility problems but was able to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to cheering crowds at the finale of celebrations on Sunday.
“While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family,” she said.
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.”
South Korea and the United States fired eight surface-to-surface missiles early on Monday off South Korea’s east coast after North Korea launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles the day before, a South Korea defence ministry official said.
The action is a demonstration of “the capability and readiness to carry out precision strike” against the source of North Korea’s missile launches or the command and support centres, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency cited the South Korean military as saying.
The militaries of South Korea and the United States fired eight surface-to-surface missiles over about 10 minutes starting at 4:45 a.m. on Monday (1945 GMT Sunday) in response to the eight missiles fired by the North on Sunday (June 5), Yonhap reported.
An official from South Korea’s Defence Ministry confirmed eight Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) had been fired.
At least three people died and 11 others were injured after a shooting in the U.S. city of Philadelphia late Saturday night.
Police said “several active shooters” opened fire at a crowd in a popular nightlife area in Philadelphia, the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania.
Fourteen people were taken to hospital, where two men and a woman were pronounced dead, according to police.
Two automatic handguns were recovered from the scene, including one with an extended magazine. There have been no arrests made so far.
The shooting is the latest in a rash of deadly attacks that have shocked the United States over the past few weeks.
Last month, an 18-year-old gunman fatally shot 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
The three Chinese astronauts onboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship entered the country’s space station core module Tianhe on Sunday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
After Shenzhou-14 successfully completed a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the combination of the Tianhe module, the Tianzhou-3 cargo craft and the Tianzhou-4 cargo craft, the Shenzhou-14 crew entered the orbital capsule from the return capsule of the spaceship.
After a series of preparations, Chen Dong opened the hatch of the Tianhe core module. By 8:50 p.m. (Beijing Time), Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe had entered Tianhe one by one.
The trio will carry out relevant work as planned, the CMSA said.
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows three Chinese astronauts, Chen Dong (C), Liu Yang (R) and Cai Xuzhe, waving after entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows Chinese astronaut Chen Dong opening the hatch door of the space station core module Tianhe.(Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows three Chinese astronauts entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows Chinese astronaut Chen Dong entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Sunday, likely its largest single test, a day after South Korea and the United States wrapped up their first combined military exercises involving an American aircraft carrier in more than four years.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that at least eight missiles were fired from the Sunan area of the North Korean capital Pyongyang and they flew at between 110 km and 600 km (70-370 miles) at altitudes between 25 km and 90 km.
In response, South Korea’s National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han held a National Security Council meeting and President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered “expanded deterrence of South Korea and the United States and continued reinforcement of united defense posture.”
Later in the day, South Korean nuclear envoy Kim Gunn met U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, in Seoul and held a telephone conference with their Japanese counterpart Funakoshi Takehiro. The envoys said North Korea’s missile launch is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions and strongly condemned it, according to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry.
On Saturday Germany’s railway stations were frequented by more travelers than usual: a few days ago a new low-fare ticket was launched by a state initiative. Local trains and public transport can be used across the country for the ticket price of nine Euros per month.
Many took to popular routes, such as the Baltic sea or the Island Sylt. While some travelers were disappointed by the high number of passengers, others took the opportunity to travel these routes for the first time.
Only long-distance and high-speed trains, or services operated by private providers such as FlixTrain or FlixBus are excluded from the “9-Euro-Ticket”. The offer is going on from June to August.
Alongside a Germany wide fuel discount, the 9-euro ticket is intended to provide financial relief for consumers given further increases in the cost of living and energy. In addition, transport politicians hope that more commuters will switch to buses and trains. According to Deutsche Bahn, the company had already sold 2.7 million 9-euro tickets by June 1.
Meanwhile, customer associations and consumer advocates have warned that there will be a rush, especially in the summer and vacation months, on regional trains to the coast or the Alps, for example, which the companies will not be able to cope with. A heavy accident of a local train in southern Germany, claiming at least five dead on Friday, overshadowed the public enthusiasm on the initiative. The cause of the accident, however, was not yet known.
Musical acts from around the world performed to excited fans outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday evening as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The pop concert opened with a recorded comic sketch of the 96-year-old monarch having tea with Paddington Bear and tapping out the tune to the Queen anthem “We Will Rock You” on her china teacup.
Military drummers then picked up the beat as the concert transferred to the live event outside the queen’s official residence.
Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers, Queen, and Diana Ross were among those to perform in front of tens of thousands of people crammed around the palace, down the Mall grand boulevard, and in a nearby park.
The queen’s heir, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla were joined at the event by Charles’ son, Prince William, his wife, Kate, and their two eldest children.
The royals sang along with the crowd before an aerial drone light show projected images into the sky, including the monarch on a stamp and the outline of her dogs.
In the concert Britain’s Prince Charles paid an emotional personal tribute to his mother, praising the monarch for uniting the nation and continuing to make history during her 70-year reign.
The heir-to-the-throne appeared towards the end of the concert. As images of Elizabeth’s reign were displayed on the walls, Charles, 73, said the Jubilee had given the country the chance to say thank you.
“Your majesty, you have been with us in our difficult times. And you bring us together to celebrate moments of pride, joy, and happiness,” Charles told the crowd of 22,000 people, with millions more watching on television.
“You have met us and talked with us. You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us, for these 70 years. You pledged to serve your whole life – you continue to deliver. That is why we are here,” he added, referring to the queen as “mummy”.
Charles praised his mother, adding: “You continue to make history.”
The Queen’s grandson Prince William also addressed the crowds saying that his grandmother was an optimist as he spoke about the need to protect the planet.
William said “environmental issues are now at the top of the global agenda. More and more businesses and politicians are answering the call” adding that the younger generation was uniting across the world to protect the planet.
The Queen herself was not present, having missed several Jubilee events because of “episodic mobility problems” that have caused her to cancel engagements recently
The four days of celebrations to mark the monarch’s seven decades as queen began on Thursday with a military parade and a Royal Air Force flypast, with a National Service of Thanksgiving on Friday.
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows three Chinese astronauts, Chen Dong (C), Liu Yang (R) and Cai Xuzhe, waving after entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows Chinese astronaut Chen Dong opening the hatch door of the space station core module Tianhe.(Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows three Chinese astronauts entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on June 5, 2022 shows Chinese astronaut Chen Dong entering the space station core module Tianhe. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
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