Russia and Ukraine Ratchet Up War While Trying to Show Trump They Want Peace
After Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian air bases, the two sides talked for less than an hour in Istanbul and a halt to the fighting seems out of reach for now.
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Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 5, 2025
Fans standing next to abandoned shoes and a fallen barrier, following a stampede outside a stadium in Bengaluru, India, on June 4. PHOTO: AFP While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 5, 2025 Stampede at India cricket celebrations leaves 11 dead Packed crowds in India celebrating their cricket team's victory ended in a deadly stampede on June 4 with 11 mainly young fans crushed to death, the local state's chief minister said. Joyous cricket fans had come out to celebrate and welcome home their heroes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after they beat Punjab Kings in a roller-coaster Indian Premier League cricket final on the night of June 3. But the euphoria of the vast crowds in the southern tech city of Bengaluru ended in disaster, with Prime Minister Narendra calling it 'absolutely heartrending'. Karnataka state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said most of the deceased are young, with 11 dead and 47 injured in the crush. READ MORE HERE Trump says Putin plans to retaliate over Ukraine drone attack Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin warned him 'very strongly' in a call on June 4 that he would respond to Ukraine's stunning attack on Russian airfields, adding that any immediate prospect of peace remained far off. Kyiv's daring mass drone strikes on June 1 destroyed several nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars, and dominated the third call between the Russian and US presidents since Mr Trump returned to power. Earlier, Mr Putin had appeared to rule out a ceasefire or any direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. READ MORE HERE Israel's opposition moves to dissolve Parliament A member of Israel's right-wing coalition threatened to quit the Cabinet on June 4 and support an opposition motion to dissolve Parliament tabled for next week, piling pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Latest opinion polls suggest that Mr Netanyahu's coalition would lose power if an election was held today, with many voters unhappy over the continued war in Gaza prompted by the attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel in October 2023. United Torah Judaism, one of two ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, said it would withdraw from the government unless it secured last-minute concessions formalising an exemption for ultra-Orthodox men from military service. READ MORE HERE Djokovic downs Zverev to set up Sinner semi-final Three-time champion Novak Djokovic kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 on June 4, to set up a French Open semi-final against top seed Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland Garros - site of his Olympic gold medal victory in 2024 at the Paris Games - after three hours and 17 minutes. Former world number one Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies. READ MORE HERE A-ha's Morten Harket diagnosed with Parkinson's disease Morten Harket, the lead singer of Norwegian band A-ha, whose Take On Me track remains one of the most popular songs from the 1980s, said on June 4 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a statement on the band's website, and confirmed by record label Sony Music, Harket, 65, said he had undergone several rounds of brain surgery and that he was managing the symptoms of the disease. Parkinson's causes deterioration in the brain's nervous system, leading to tremors and other symptoms that can become progressively worse over time. The disease can be treated with surgery and medication, but there is no cure. READ MORE HERE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
13 minutes ago
- The Star
North Korea's Kim vows unconditional support for Russia in meeting with Shoigu
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leads a party meeting on strengthening the military in this handout picture released on May 30, 2025, by the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Russia's Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday, state media KCNA reported. Kim pledged unconditional support for Russia's position on Ukraine and other international issues, the report said on Thursday. "Kim Jong Un affirmed that the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, in the future, too, unconditionally support the stand of Russia and its foreign policies," it said, using the North's official name. North Korea will responsibly observe the articles of the treaty between the two countries, Kim was quoted as saying. The two men also discussed strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership and mutual cooperation in different fields. The treaty was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang last year and a summit with North Korea's Kim, and includes a mutual defence pact for immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Rod Nickel)
Boston Globe
20 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Iran's supreme leader criticizes US proposal in nuclear talks but doesn't reject the idea of a deal
But what Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He didn't reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift some the crushing economic sanctions it faces. Advertisement Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with Witkoff, said Tehran soon will offer its response to the U.S. Khamenei's speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini may serve as a preview. 'If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us,' Khamenei said. 'If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the U.S.' Later, Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that the pair had discussed 'the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!' Advertisement Trump said in a post on his social media site Truth Social that he told Russia's president 'that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.' He said that Putin suggested 'that he will participate in the discussions with Iran' and could perhaps 'be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.' Trump also said he thought Iran has been slow-walking their decision 'and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!' Khamenei touched on previous remarks The 86-year-old Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in Iran, often balances his remarks over the demands of reformists within the country who want the talks against hard-line elements within Iran's theocracy, including the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Late in August, Khamenei in a speech opened the door to possible talks with the U.S., saying there is 'no harm' in engaging with the 'enemy.' The supreme leader later tempered that, saying that negotiations with America 'are not intelligent, wise or honorable,' after Trump floated nuclear talks with Tehran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini at his shrine just outside Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Uncredited/Associated Press Khamenei's speech on Wednesday, marking the anniversary of Khomeini's death, offered an opportunity to discuss Witkoff's proposal. He described it as '100% against the idea of 'we can,'' borrowing from an Iranian government slogan. He described the U.S. as having long sought the dismantling of Iran's entire nuclear industry. 'The impolite and insolent American leaders keep repeating this demand with different wordings,' Khamenei said. He added, using a slogan he's said before: 'Those currently in power, Zionist or American, should be aware that they can't do a damn thing about this.' Advertisement Some nuclear power nations do get uranium from outside suppliers, however. Experts long have viewed Iran as using its nuclear program as a chip in negotiations with the West to get sanctions relief. Details of American proposal are still murky The details of the American proposal remain unclear after five rounds of talks between Iran and the U.S. A report by the news website Axios on the American proposal, the details of which a U.S. official separately confirmed, include a possible nuclear consortium that would enrich uranium for Iran and surrounding nations. Whether Iran would have to entirely give up its enrichment program remains unclear, as Axios reported that Iran would be able to enrich uranium up to 3% purity for some time. A failure to get a deal could see tensions further spike in a Middle East already on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Iran's long-ailing economy could enter a free fall that could worsen the simmering unrest at home. Israel or the U.S. might carry out long-threatened airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. And Tehran may decide to fully end its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and rush toward a bomb. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
