Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar are not expected attend the gathering in Switzerland Read Full Article at RT.com

US President Joe Biden will not attend the conference in Switzerland and is sending VP Kamala Harris instead Read Full Article at RT.com

Washington may further loosen restrictions on the use of American weapons to hit targets in Russia depending on the battlefield situation Read Full Article at RT.com

Congratulations poured in from around the world Monday after Claudia Sheinbaum was elected Mexico's first woman president, sparking hope for change in a country where gender-based violence has long been rife. Flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music late into the night after the former Mexico City mayor won Sunday's election by a landslide, the magnitude of which spooked financial markets. Addressing cheering crowds, the 61-year-old ruling party candidate thanked the «millions of Mexican women and men who decided to vote for us on this historic day.» Maria Fernanda Vela, 27, said it was «an inspiration that in such a male chauvinist country, a woman has taken the top job. It fills your heart with pride.» US President Joe Biden welcomed Sheinbaum's «historic election» and said he looked forward to working with her «in the spirit of partnership and friendship.» Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, another key North American ally, also offered congratulations and said he was ready to work closely with Sheinbaum to further strengthen relations. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a fellow leftist, hailed a «victory for democracy» and vowed to deepen economic ties between Latin America's two biggest economies. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky were among other leaders offering congratulations. - Opposition complains - Sheinbaum, a scientist by training, won around 59 percent of votes with more than 93 percent of ballots counted, according to the National Electoral Institute. That was more than 30 percentage points ahead of her main opposition rival Xochitl Galvez, and nearly 50 percentage points ahead of the only man who ran, centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez. Galvez, who conceded defeat after initial results were announced, complained Monday that the opposition had faced «unequal competition against the entire state apparatus dedicated to favoring its candidate.» She expressed confidence in the official results but vowed to challenge the outcome, without specifying how, declaring: «This doesn't end here.» Mexican women cheered the breaking of the highest political glass ceiling in a nation where around 10 women or girls are murdered every day. «Our society is violent, sexist, misogynistic -- and Dr Sheinbaum as president will really be able to help change not only the laws but society,» said Lol-Kin Castaneda, 48, who waited late into the night to hear the winner speak. Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote in the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people. Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a fellow leftist and mentor who has an approval rating of more than 60 percent but is only allowed to serve one term. Lopez Obrador, who will hand over the presidency in October, hailed his protege's victory as a «historic event.» - Election violence - But this year's election season was particularly violent, with more than two dozen aspiring local politicians murdered. The bloodshed continued after polls closed, with a local mayoral candidate killed in the country's south late Sunday, authorities said. More than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have gone missing since the government deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. Sheinbaum will also have to manage delicate relations with the neighboring United States, in particular trade and the vexed issues of cross-border drug smuggling and migration. Financial markets reacted nervously to the size of Sheinbaum's win and the potential for a supermajority for her ruling Morena party in Congress that would make radical reforms easier. «Morena's landslide victory means fewer checks and balances, increasing institutional and regulatory risks,» said Arantza Alonso, an analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. The Mexican stock market closed down around six percent Monday, while the peso fell sharply against the dollar, giving back some of the gains that in recent years saw it nicknamed the «super peso.» Investors were worried the new administration would change the constitution and also undermine the central bank's autonomy, said Gabriela Siller, head of economic analysis at the financial group BASE. In an apparent attempt to calm the jitters, Sheinbaum announced that Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O had agreed to stay on in the key position to ensure «good financial and economic management.» «We're going to act with dialogue, harmony and great responsibility,» she said in a video published on social media. © Agence France-Presse

The United States on Monday announced a draft Security Council resolution supporting the Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan outlined by Joe Biden last week, urging Hamas to accept it. «Numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan,» said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The draft text, seen by AFP, «welcomes the new deal announced on May 31, and calls upon Hamas to accept it fully and implement its terms without delay and without condition.» Biden outlined on Friday what he called an Israeli plan that in three phases would end the bloody conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power. However fissures between the two allies emerged when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stressed that the ongoing war in Gaza would continue until all of Israel's «goals are achieved,» including the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities. Israeli media have questioned to what extent Biden's ceasefire speech and some crucial details were coordinated with Netanyahu's team, including how long any truce would hold and how many captives would be freed and when. Earlier Monday, the White House said Biden told the emir of mediator Qatar that he saw Hamas as «the only obstacle to a complete ceasefire» in Gaza, and urged him to press the group to accept it. Hamas last week said it viewed Biden's outline «positively,» but has since made no official comment on the stalled negotiations, while mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have not announced any new talks. Before Biden had made his Friday announcement, Algeria had last week circulated a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and a halt of the Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing the recent order to that effect from the International Court of Justice. Washington at the time had said that the text wouldn't be helpful, saying instead direct, on-the-ground negotiations were necessary for a truce. No vote is scheduled for either draft resolution. The council has struggled to find a unified voice since the war broke out with the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, followed by Israel's retaliatory campaign. After passing two resolutions centered on the need for humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, in March the council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire -- an appeal that had been blocked several times before by the United States. Washington, increasingly frustrated with the mounting civilian death toll, finally allowed that resolution to pass by abstaining from voting. © Agence France-Presse

Live updates from the 2024 campaign trail, with the latest news on presidential candidates, polls, primaries and more.

The nation’s political divisions were also laid bare as six men and six women were chosen to decide the guilt or innocence of the president’s son.

During a dramatic 60 minutes, the Prime Minister suffered a double blow as Nigel Farage entered the fray and a new poll predicted a Tory wipeout.

The much-anticipated State Visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan later this month will go ahead.

Trina McGee, one of the stars of the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World, revealed she was pregnant on Monday - at the age of 54. It's her first child with husband Marcello Thedford.

Nigel Farage argued that Britons are 'furious' at how both Labour and the Tories have approached the immigration crisis, alleging there is 'deep anger' at how public services are 'disintegrating'.

Schoolchildren have expressed their agony as the GCSE maths paper complete with answers has apparently leaked online after they sat the test.

SINGAPORE – A traction power fault disrupted commutes along the northern stretch of the North-South MRT Line for more than two hours during peak traffic on June 3. Transport operator SMRT said the fault, which occurred at about 5.50pm, meant that no trains could travel from Choa Chu Kang to Woodlands. Preliminary investigations so far found that a lightning strike caused traction power to trip, and a small fire had broken out in a power control box next to the train track, about 20m from the platform of Kranji station. The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the fire had burned itself out before its officers arrived. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire and root cause of the traction power fault is under investigation, said SMRT. As the operator’s staff and engineers worked to get the system back up, commuters were told to take free regular bus and bridging bus services between the affected stops. The operator also advised passengers to take the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Circle Line. However, those who spoke to The Straits Times reported confusion on the ground.

St Gabriel's Secondary School student Syed Adam Rizq does not get to kick ball or hang out after school like his friends. He heads home because the 14-year-old has a great responsibility – caring for his mother, 48-year-old amputee Suriatini Abdul, who has gone blind since early April. An infection in 2017 had claimed her left eye before spreading to her right eye. Her left leg had to be amputated in 2020 because of an infection from a burn. «I can no longer see. I now live in darkness,» Madam Suriatini, who used to operate a cafe, told Berita Harian. «These are my life challenges and I have to accept them no matter how tough. »I've been a total recluse for two years now, I've not answered anyone who asked after me. I feel defeated and I cannot work.« When she was hospitalised for treatment, Adam would visit her daily, commuting by bus. At home, the young boy is also responsible for the upkeep of the rental flat and their meals. »I take care of my mum every day, cook our meals under her guidance and clean up," said Adam.

Parents of boomers, in a fit of anger, would back in the day utter all sorts of deprecating words to lash out at their imps. «Saang gau caa siu hou gwo saang nei,» was such a phrase in Cantonese, which means «it is better to give birth to barbecued pork than to give birth to you». But parents have over the years ditched such toxic behaviour as they adopt a more nurturing style of parenting. Famous Chinese restaurant Crystal Jade, however, does not seem to have received the memo. The chain, which boasts scoring the Michelin star and Bib Gourmand among its accolades, is offering free barbecued pork to parents who would utter the Cantonese phrase to their child.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the Security Council «must insist that Hamas accept the deal»

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ambassador Ali Al-Yousef received the recently appointed Ambassador of China to the Kingdom Chang Hua on Monday in Riyadh. Al-Yousef welcomed the ambassador and wished him success in his new duties, the Foreign Ministry reported on X. The two sides also reviewed consular issues of common interest.

Dr. Ahmad Alsinan has been head of strategic opportunities at NEOM’s deputy CEO’s office since September 2023.

DHAHRAN: When celebrated Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho landed in Dhahran last month for the Saudi Film Festival, it was his first time in the Kingdom. But the surroundings felt instantly familiar. He slipped back in time to the early days of his career when the world around him felt ripe with ample stories to pick from.

RIYADH: Nestled in the heart of the Bani Hassan governorate, the newly-built Jadar Park has become one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Baha, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Khaled Al-Ghamdi, head of the Bani Hassan Municipality, said that its location within the lush Khairah Forest complements the nearby Waterfall Park. Jadar Park was constructed carefully to preserve the site’s natural terrain, he said.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Brazil signed on Monday in Riyadh a cooperation agreement in the defense field. The deal was signed during a meeting between Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services Geraldo Alckmin. The meeting discussed bilateral relations and ways of strengthening cooperation in defense industries, research and development, and technology transfer and localization, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

A university student woke up one morning to find her car had been towed away without warning. She finally got answers - just not the ones she expected.

Newfoundland and Labrador has floated an eyebrow-raising trial balloon in a bid to further the public health fight against tobacco and nicotine.

Mounties in Kelowna nabbed a would-be burglar with an apparent sweet tooth over the weekend.

The president of the University of Manitoba offered an apology to Indigenous communities Monday for the hurt the university has caused by keeping Indigenous remains.

Former US Marine Corps Intelligence Officer and UN weapons inspector told TASS that he was not let board a flight from New York to Istanbul, a stopover on his way to Russia to take part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

It was specified that the order must be completed by May 31, 2028

United States had allowed «the limited use of some US supplied weapons to be used as counter fire, particularly right now in the area around Kharkov,» John Kirby said

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief recently concluded the Noor Saudi Volunteer Program in Kabul, Afghanistan, in collaboration with the Al-Basar International Foundation. As part of the program, KSrelief’s eye health team examined 4,500 people in one week, provided 1,008 pairs of glasses, administered medication to 5,600 patients and performed 408 eye surgeries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The center is also implementing the same program in Herat province to combat blindness and its causes, ending on June 4.

RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait chaired the second Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council meeting on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported. During a speech, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the council reflected the interest of King Salman and Sheikh Meshal in deepening the relations between their countries further. Prince Faisal also stressed the importance of the council and its committees as an effective platform and institutional tool that shapes the work of the two countries.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to congratulate him on his recent appointment, Saudi News Agency reported on Monday. Sheikh Sabah was appointed as crown prince of Kuwait on Saturday. Prince Mohammed wished Sheikh Sabah success in his new role and said he looked forward to strengthening cooperation between their countries.

RIYADH: King Salman received written messages from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported. The message from El-Sisi concerned Saudi-Egyptian relations and was delivered by Egypt’s ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmed Farouk. The message from King Abdullah concerned Saudi-Jordanian relations and was delivered by Jordan’s ambassador to the Kingdom Haitham Abu Al-Foul.