Zelenskyy says Ukraine sent Russia offer of new peace talks

Following a month-long stalemate, Ukraine has suggested holding a new round of peace talks with Russia.

Rustem Umerov, the head of the Defense Council, made the offer to meet with Russian negotiators for the following week, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s confirmation on Saturday.

In his evening address to the people, Zelenskyy said, “Everything should be done to bring about a ceasefire.” Russian President Vladimir Putin should stop avoiding decisions.

The leader of Ukraine also reiterated that he was prepared to meet with Putin in person. He argued that “peace at the leadership level is necessary to truly ensure lasting peace.”

Russia didn’t respond right away.

Former defense minister Umerov was appointed last week as the leader of the National Security and Defence Council, and his job will be to give the negotiations more vigor.

In two earlier discussions in Turkiye earlier this year, he led the delegation of his country, which ended with a deal to exchange prisoners’ and soldiers’ remains.

In earlier rounds, Russia had outlined a list of unacceptable demands for Ukraine that demanded that it cede four of its own Ukrainian regions and reject Western military support.

However, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated on Friday that Moscow agreed with Zelenskyy’s statement that peace efforts needed “more momentum.”

After initially displaying a cordial attitude toward Russia after taking office, American President Donald Trump increased the pressure on Moscow.

Trump set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to conclude its nuclear agreement with Ukraine this week, which would mean additional sanctions could be put in place for nations that purchase Russian oil.

He also promised to increase arms shipments to the nation at the height of the conflict.

The decision to resume weapons deliveries was a sign to Ukraine to “abandon the peace process,” according to Maria Zakharova, a ministry spokesperson, who stated on Thursday that Russia would not accept the “blackmail” of Washington’s sanctions ultimatum.

ongoing fire exchange

After Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa early on Saturday, killing at least one resident and injuring six others, Kyiv extended its invitation to discuss further talks with Moscow.

The Ukrainian president claimed that during its overnight assault, which affected 10 of the nation’s ten regions, Russia launched more than 30 missiles and 300 drones.

In the southern Rostov region, Russia was forced to halt trains for about four hours overnight after a Ukrainian drone attack seriously injured a railway worker.

Russian air defense systems shot down three drones en route to Moscow, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, on Saturday, according to a Telegram post.

According to Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia, two Moscow airports, Vnukovo and Domodedovo, temporarily suspended arrivals and departures for safety-related reasons before returning to normal operations.

Between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense systems (GMT) between 3 p.m. and 16 p.m.

Dozens dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam’s Halong Bay

A tourist boat capsized in Halong Bay, Vietnam, in the choppy conditions that caused at least 27 casualties.

As Storm Wipha approached the nation across the South China Sea on Saturday, the boat carrying 53 people tipped over around 2 p.m. local time (07:00 GMT). In the area, heavy rain, and lightning have been reported.

According to local authorities, rescue teams cited local authorities to find 11 survivors and recover 27 bodies, eight of which are children.

There hasn’t been a formal announcement about the tourists’ nationalities. More than 20 children were among the passengers, according to the news agency VNExpress, and the majority of those on board were families from Hanoi, according to the news outlet VNExpress.

A 10-year-old boy from one of the rescued children, who was then rescued, described the experience as “deep breath, swam through a gap, dived, and then swam up.” I even yelled for assistance before being pulled over by a boat full of soldiers.

People who were still missing remained undiscovered throughout the night.

Pham Minh Chinh, the prime minister of Vietnam, condoled the deceased’s families.

Authorities will “investigate, clarify the cause of the incident, and strictly handle violations,” according to a statement posted on the government’s website.

Millions of visitors to Halong Bay’s blue-green waters and limestone islands annually visit one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations.

After Typhoon Yagi brought strong winds and waves, 30 vessels sank in coastal Quang Ninh province along Halong Bay last year.

Hanoi, located 175 kilometers (110 miles) away from Halong Bay, was also impacted by the weather that was related to Storm Wipha, which also caused damage to several trees.

Starvation is killing my nieces and I cannot do anything to save them

My family is large and Palestinian. We are eight brothers and sisters, and we are all from a large family. Our family grew even bigger as my older siblings started getting married and having kids. Our family’s room would be filled with children’s laughter every weekend.

My married sisters would visit us with their children on Thursday, and I used to wait patiently for that day. My mother would be busy making her daughters’ favorite dishes, my father would be out shopping, and I would play with the kids. I have nine nieces and nephews total, and each of them is lovely to play with and cuddle me. Because a family without children is like a tree without leaves, they are my family’s treasure.

My sisters and brothers made the best effort to provide for their children and give them the best chance to study and pursue their dreams despite the challenging occupation and siege of Gaza.

The genocide then began. The constant displacement, hunger, and constant bombing.

Although I don’t have any own children, my sisters experience agonizing pain when they hear their children’s cries.

“I can no longer bear it,” I said. I’m sick of thinking about filling my kids’ empty stomachs. What can I do to prepare?” recently shared by my sister Samah.

Abdulaziz is the mother of seven children: Tasneem, 3, Sondos, 17, Raghad, 15, Ali, 11, and Mahmoud and Lana, 8, respectively. They have lost most of their belongings due to the number of times they have been displaced, just like the majority of other Palestinian families. The walls of their home in the Shujayea neighborhood were completely destroyed when they last saw it, but the roof remained attached to the pillars. Bulldozed, with olive and lemon trees, the plot of land in front of their home.

Since Samah’s family first started the war, they have relied on canned food. Since Israel halted aid in early March and stopped distribution, they have been unable to locate canned beans or chickpeas. They are fortunate to find a loaf of bread or a bowl of lentil soup at this point.

Samah has watched her children struggle, losing weight, and becoming ill day after day.

The most painful situation is Lana. She is 110cm (3 feet 7 inches), but weighs just 13kg (28.7 pounds). Her parents took her to a clinic where severe malnutrition was found to be her. She was enrolled in a program that distributed nutritional supplements, but she hasn’t yet received anything. None are present.

In the event that they are suddenly forced to flee, Lana’s yellow body is so weak that she is unable to stand for extended periods of time or walk. She only wants to sleep and sit incessantly with her brother. She used to be a bright, energetic girl who used to play with her siblings constantly, and I can’t believe what has happened to her.

Samah’s worst worry is that she could lose her daughter because of the news about children dying from malnutrition.

Samah refuses to let Mohammed travel to one of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution points despite having to struggle to feed her family. She is aware that this is a fatal trap. He might not even be able to get a package of food, but she wouldn’t risk his life for it.

My other sister, Asma, gave birth to Wateen, her second child amid the starvation. She is now two months old, and she has jaundice as a result of a lack of nutrition. Wateen is the only image I can find. When she was born, she weighed two and a half kilograms (5. 5 pounds). In all of her photos, she appeared sleepy and yellow.

The doctors claimed that because she herself is undernourished, her mother, who is breastfeeding, is unable to provide her with the nutrients she requires. Because Israel has been preventing Gaza from receiving all baby formula, Watineen needs to be fed with highly saturated formula milk, which is unavailable.

Asmaa is now concerned that Wateen’s mother is unable to give her nutritious milk, leading to her developing malnutrition. “I’m melting, like a candle!” What will come to an end to this suffering? she recently told me.

When I talk to my sisters about their suffering and the hunger that are ravaging their children, my heart is tearing apart.

Since committing the genocide, the Israeli occupation forces have already killed more than 18, 000 children. 1.1 million people still live in total. Israel wants to ensure that no one has a future.

This is a war strategy, not a tragic outcome of war.

Malnutrition is more than just a significant weight loss. The liver, kidneys, and stomach, which are essential internal organs in the body, are affected by this devastating condition. It has an impact on children’s growth and development, leading to a higher prevalence of disease, learning difficulties, cognitive impairment, and psychological issues.

The occupier has one goal: creating a fragile generation, weak in mind and constitution, unable to think, and with no other options besides searching for food, drink, and shelter by starving Palestinian children and denying them access to education and health care. This leaves a generation without the ability to fight the occupier and defend their land. a generation that is unable to comprehend the people’s existential struggle.

Israeli officials have publicly stated the war plan, and the objectives have been made clear. Will the rest of the world permit Israel to systematically destroy the children of Gaza?

South Korea ex-leader Yoon indicted as martial law probe continues

As investigators expanded their insurrection investigation, disgraced former South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol was charged with violating the terms of his declaration of martial law last year.

Yoon is facing charges of abuse of power and obstructing special official duties, according to prosecutor Park Ji-young’s report to reporters on Saturday.

Yoon, according to Park, did not convene with all members of the government’s cabinet, which is required for declaring martial law.

Additionally, he was accused of “drafting and discarding a false document” in which the prime minister and defense minister endorsed martial law.

Yoon has denied any wrongdoing.

In December, he sent troops to parliament to avert lawmakers from rejecting his declaration of martial law, which sparked a political crisis in South Korea.

After resisting arrest for several weeks, Yoon used his presidential security detail to thwart investigators, becoming the first sitting president in the nation to be taken into custody.

Even as his trial on insurrection charges continued, he was freed on procedural grounds in March.

He was detained once more last week after a false arrest warrant was issued over fears he might destroy the case’s evidence.

Yoon made an oral argument in court on Friday to have his arrest warrant revoked.

Yoon’s legal team, according to the ex-president’s lawyer, noted his “limited physical mobility and the challenges he was facing” and continued to defend himself for more than 30 minutes.

The request was turned down by the court.

Yoon has already been charged with other criminal offenses, including conspiracy to organize a rebellion, a crime that can be overturned by a judge and carries the death penalty or life in prison.

In addition to protests against the policies of current President Lee Jae-myung, thousands of people showed up in the South Korean capital, Seoul, as well as other parts of the nation.

After Yoon was ousted, Lee won a resumption of the election in June.

Protests held across UK supporting banned Palestine Action despite arrests

In response to police’s warnings that those who show support for the proscribed activist group face arrest, protests are taking place all over the UK.

As part of a Defend Our Juries campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries, demonstrations have been taking place on Saturday in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Truro, and London.

According to London’s Metropolitan Police, 55 people were detained on Saturday in Parliament Square after displaying placards in their support for the group.

At the same time last weekend, 70 people were detained at similar demonstrations in Parliament Square, according to the Met police, and 120 have been detained nationwide, according to Defend Our Juries.

After a ban against the organization was announced on Saturday, July 12, 2025, police officers removed a person from Parliament Square, London, to demand that the organization be called off. (James Manning/PA via AP)

The cofounder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to challenge the home secretary’s decision to outlaw the organization under “anti-terror” laws at a High Court hearing on Monday.

According to the Terrorism Act of 2000, supporting or collaborating with the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, placing the organization on par with armed organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).

Following the rallies, Westminster authorities increased their police presence.

On Saturday, a counterprotest by Stop the Hate, an anti-Israel organization, will also take place in London.

Those who support Palestine Action are likely to be committing an offence, according to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is also likely to be detained.

Five people showed up in court on Saturday over a Palestinian Action protest at the site of an Israeli-linked defense company.

According to “counter-terrorism” police, members of the organization are accused of breaking into the Elbit Systems site near Patchway, Bristol, on August 6, 2024, allegedly with sledgehammers and whips.

Police officers and a security guard were assaulted, according to the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and more than $2 million in damages were caused ($2.68 million).

The alleged crimes have a “terrorist connection,” according to the prosecution. The five defendants face violent disorder, criminal damage, and aggravated burglary.

Palestine Action describes itself as a “pro-Palestinian organization that directly disrupts the British arms industry.”

It has organized hundreds of protests all over the UK since its founding in July 2020, with a particular focus on Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer, to challenge the operations of businesses they claim profit from Israeli military operations.

The group’s typical methods include destroying equipment, chopping themselves to machinery, and painting buildings with red paint.

The Epstein Crisis: A MAGA mess of Trump’s making

Within the MAGA movement, the Epstein saga has completely changed the script. Many right-wing influencers are now turning their back on President Trump, who has been resisting requests to release the files after years of accusing the Democrats of an establishment cover-up.

Contributors:
Director, CriticalNet, Joan Donovan
Zeteo News’ Editor-in-Chief, Mehdi Hasan
Miles Klee, a writer for Rolling Stone about culture
The host of The Danielle Moodie Show is Danielle Moodie.

On our radar:

The Israeli attack on Gaza has been characterized as a genocide by mainstream media outlets for 21 months. However, a notable change occurred this week, which was prompted by an Israeli scholar rather than Palestinian voices. The breaking of a media taboo, according to Tariq Nafi, and why it’s too little, too late for many, are covered in The New York Times.

Pro-Palestinian voices are being silenced in Germany due to mass surveillance, a media crackdown, and a media unwilling to question power.

Berlin’s Nicholas Muirhead reports on the growing assault on free speech.