KYIV, UKRAINE (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that the war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month, has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children.
Zelenskyy provided the number hours after rescue workers found the body of a two-year-old girl who died in one of the latest strikes.
Zelenskyy said it was impossible to establish the exact number of children who were casualties due to the ongoing hostilities. Rescuers found the two-year-old’s body early yesterday while combing through the rubble of an apartment building in the suburbs of the central city of Dnipro.
The regional governor, Serhiy Lysak, said five children were among 22 people injured by Saturday’s attack, which damaged two residential buildings.
The Russians launched more strikes with drones and cruise missiles yesterday, targetting multiple areas of the country, including the capital, Kyiv.
The Ukrainian air force said the country’s air defences downed three of the five Shahed self-exploding drones and four of the six cruise missiles fired.
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said two missiles struck a military air base in Kropyvnytskyi, a city in central Ukraine’s Kyrovohrad province. He did not report what damage they caused.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the military destroyed Ukrainian warplanes and ammunition depots in strikes on Ukrainian airfields, but didn’t give further specifics. The Russian military has reported a series of strikes in recent days on Ukrainian air defence batteries, air bases and troops depots.
CNA – Singapore and other ASEAN member states are not “disinterested bystanders” in ongoing tensions between the United States (US) and China, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen (CNA, pic below) yesterday.
Speaking to reporters on the third and final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Dr Ng added that Singapore and ASEAN have “a vested interest” in making sure that communication lines between the two superpowers are good.
The US and China do not want physical conflict but recognise they are a long way from an acceptable state of affairs, he noted.
Reiterating comments he had made to the media on Saturday after a ministerial lunch, Dr Ng said that lines of communication are especially vital between potential adversaries. “I think it’s like Formula 1 drivers on the same circuit, driving blindfolded. You better be careful – and bystanders, too,” he cautioned.
Dr Ng described US-China relations as being the “elephant in the room” at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue – Asia’s top defence summit which is in its 20th edition this year. He said that Singapore’s bilateral meetings were “very warm” but there were concerns about where the US-China relationship was headed, as well as the Ukraine conflict.
“So there is no shortage of insight or will that some problems are just too big – even for many countries to come together, without the US and China coming together,” Dr Ng pointed out.
“They’re the first and second largest economies. You can’t solve any problem without both of them coming into solution-making or finding a path forward.”
He noted that Singapore’s neighbours – including Malaysia and Indonesia – have found ways to deconflict with Singapore.
But all countries, as well as American and Chinese leaders, are concerned about the deactivation of “guardrails” to keep the US and China from conflict, he added.
“And when you talk about the two largest economic and military powers, that’s not a good position,” Dr Ng said.
In a plenary speech yesterday, Dr Ng listed examples of how American and Chinese officials had conducted regular exchanges at all levels “as recent as a decade ago”. The US’ and China’s defence ministers last visited each other countries in 2018.
Dr Ng told reporters: “People can forget that they were at that, and I think that’s something that you can aspire to.
“I can assure you, if you put soldiers of two militaries together, they will click… it takes time. That’s the building of relationships. So we want (the US and China) to have that kind of relationship and we are confident that over time they will establish that.”
“We’re just observers, but we’re not disinterested bystanders as I said. We have a vested interest to make sure that the US-China communication lines are good.”
The road to fitness is never easy. The struggle is real and one needs total dedication along with strong willpower to succeed. Just ask fitness instructor Richard Chua, who said there are no short cuts to achieving the ultimate health goal.
Known to his peers as ‘Strive with Richard’, this civil engineer by profession realised he wasn’t as fit as he thought. It would be impossible for him to use the stairs without feeling any pain in his knees as his joints felt like it was giving up on him. Considering he was in his mid 40s, he felt it was too soon for him to suffer from any bone ailments.
He signed up for a gym membership but that did not do much as he found himself feeling lost in a sea of bodybuilders. Instead of losing weight, he gained some.
Life took a different turn for him when he met a French fitness instructor, who was interested in buying his motorcycle. He offered Chua one hour of personal training for free, to see if he was up for the challenge. Chua went along with the suggestion and that proved to be his wake-up call. The workout was gruelling.
After realising he needed the adrenaline rush that he had been craving for all these time, he signed up with the new coach.
The first few classes were quite an ordeal. Although his coach was very patient, Chua was feeling frustrated for not being able to accomplish some of the set goals for the day and realised he needed to put in extra effort.
Certified fitness instructor Richard Chua. PHOTO: RICHARD CHUA
“The hardest thing for me was to give up on my favourite snacks. I had to control myself from consuming unhealthy food and to control my diet intake,” he said.
He felt more motivated when he noticed that he actually had made some progress – shedding 15 kilogrammes in three months.
“Considering I workout three times a week (cheat day every Sunday) I felt proud of my personal achievement. I have my French fitness coach to thank for who was extremely pleased with my accomplishment,” he said.
Apart from the personal training, Chua also attended fitness classes conducted by his coach such as indoor cycling, circuit training, strength training and yoga.
“I was surprised when he called on me to run one of his circuit training classes as he had to attend to an urgent matter. Although I had little confidence, my coach’s faith in me gave me the push to step up and lead the class. It turned out a success which gave me the encouragement to try and become a fitness instructor. I signed up for a few training courses on health and fitness and succeeded in becoming a certified instructor,” he explained.
For the first time, he felt his life has a purpose. With a full-time job, he has to plan his time well to cater to his clients’ workout classes. Having been a body workout and indoor cycling instructor for five years, he said it is rewarding to see positive changes in his clients, seeing them reach their weight goals.
“It is also self-gratifying to know that I have played a significant part in their fitness journey and contributed to their success,” he said.
One of the highlights in his fitness journeys was his involvement in the Ministry of Health’s Workplace and Health (WAH) Programme in 2019 ,where he was assigned to be one of the leading instructors. The WAH programme is an initiative aimed at encouraging the workplace to provide supportive environments and action for employees to be active, eat healthy, be smoke-free and have a good mental well-being.
“It was quite an experience to lead groups of people from the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Royal Flight in a light workout. Most were enthusiastic and it was very encouraging to see the overwhelming response,” he said.
Most of Chua’s clients had weight issues.
“The obesity rate in Brunei is quite alarming with an expected average increase of 4.2 per cent a year, according to the Ministry of Health. It doesn’t do much to go for a five-kilometre brisk walk only to have roti telur and Teh Tarik right after the workout,” he said.
“There is no age limit when it comes to fitness. But you have to start somewhere. My advice for beginners is to ask around for gym recommendations. Sign up for your preferred class and make sure to inform the instructor that you are a beginner.
“You also need to enjoy your workout and not to see it as a form of torture. If you enjoy cycling, sign up for a spinning class or if you prefer movements, join a Zumba session,” he said.
Chua also suggested brisk walking for those who are too lazy for workouts. They can start slowly by aiming for five kilometres (KM).
Once they are comfortable enough, they can go for seven to even 10KM.
“It’s never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. Your body can do anything. It’s your brain that you need to convince!”
The speakers during the event . PHOTOS. IZAH AZAHARI
Izah Azahari
The Putra Seni Group in cooperation with the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) organised the first Semarak Pusat Masyarakat Bestari Perpustakaan DBP on Saturday at the Bestari Community Centre in STKRJ Rimba, Mukim Gadong A.
Legislative Council member and Penghulu of Mukim Lumapas Yang Berhormat Amran bin Haji Maidin was the guest of honour.
Head of Putra Seni Group Mohammed Zefri Ariff bin Mohammed Zain Ariff in his capacity as the chairman said the event was held to introduce Bestari Community Centre to the public, preserve the art of Brunei while enriching the strength of language, literature and culture of the Sultanate.
The main event was the Pantaran Sastera DBP, where literary figures who have received recognition in the Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award) – Professor Apuan Dr Haji Brahim bin Ampuan Haji Tengah, Pengiran Haji Aji bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Tahir, and Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Tuah served as the panel. Two other sessions featured established and young writers including Haji Mohd Firdaus bin Orang Kaya Haji Noordin, Hajah Aminah binti Haji Momin, Dr Shahrin bin Haji Metussin, Mohammad Khairol Nazwan bin Haji Karim, and Mohamad Fathullah bin Haji Rashid.
Performances such as Mari Bercerita and Berpantun were held.
There was also a presentation of prizes to winners of the recent DBP Ramadhan Poetry Recitation Competition.
The speakers during the event . PHOTOS. IZAH AZAHARIAttendees visit a booth during the event
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad with Ruzaini Mahadi. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
Local runner Ruzaini Mahadi emerged winner in the 11 kilometre Men’s Open of the Volt Run: Apex after clocking a time of 39:18.47s at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital on Sunday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad with Ruzaini Mahadi. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
The event, in its sixth iteration, attracted over 300 runners. It was held in tandem with Bandarku Ceria.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema during a Spanish La Liga football match against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. PHOTO: AP
MADRID (AP) – Karim Benzema will not stay with Real Madrid next season, the club said on Sunday.
Real Madrid said it reached an agreement with the French striker to “to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close”.
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema during a Spanish La Liga football match against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. PHOTO: AP
Madrid said Benzema “has represented the values” of Madrid and “has earned the right to decide his future”.
The announcement comes amid reports that Benzema will play in Saudi Arabia.
“Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends,” the club said. “Fans all over the world alike have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football.”
The 35-year-old Benzema had been with Madrid since 2009, playing 14 seasons with the club. He helped Madrid win 25 titles, a record for any player with the Spanish powerhouse.
Among his titles were five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four Spanish leagues.
Benzema is the current Ballon d’Or winner and UEFA’s player of the year. He had a memorable season in 2021-22, leading Madrid to the Champions League title with a competition-best 15 goals.
Benzema has made 647 appearances for Madrid, fifth most by any player. He is the club’s second all-time leading scorer with 353 goals. The Frenchman is the fourth top scorer in the history of the Champions League and the fourth top scorer in the history of the Spanish league.
“Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism,” Madrid said.
The club said it will organise an “act of homage and farewell” for Benzema.
“Real Madrid is and always will be his home, and we wish him and all his family all the best in this new stage of his life,” Madrid said.
Three other players are also leaving Madrid this summer: Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio and Mariano Díaz.
A family member seen breaking into tears while bidding farewell to a pilgrim. PHOTO: KHAYR ZAKARIYYA
The first flight out carrying 251 on a haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia left Brunei International Airport on Sunday morning.
The flight is expected to arrive in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at 1.40pm local time.
Four haj affairs administration and medical officials accompanied the pilgrims, who are also accompanied by various representatives from travel agents.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Culture Youth and Sports and Acting Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad as well as other senior officials bade the pilgrims farewell.
The logo of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is seen outside of OPEC's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on March 3, 2022. PHOTO: AP
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – The major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia are wrestling with whether to make another cut in supply to the global economy as the OPEC+ alliance struggles to prop up sagging oil prices that have been a boon to US drivers and helped ease inflation worldwide.
The 23-member group is meeting Sunday at the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) headquarters in Vienna after sending mixed signals about possible moves. Saudi Arabia, dominant among the oil cartel’s members, has warned speculators that they might get burned by betting on lower prices. Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC allies, has indicated no change to output is expected.
The decision comes amid uncertainty about when the slow-growing global economy will regain its thirst for fuel for travel and industry, and with producers counting on oil profits to bolster their coffers.
Oil prices have fallen even after OPEC+ slashed two million barrels per day in October, angering US President Joe Biden by threatening higher gasoline prices a month before the midterm elections. Then, several OPEC members led by the Saudis made a surprise cut of 1.16 million barrels a day in April.
International benchmark Brent crude climbed as high as USD87 per barrel but has given up its post-cut gains and been loitering below USD75 per barrel in recent days. US crude has dipped below USD70.
Those lower prices have helped US drivers as the summer travel season kicks off, with prices at the pump averaging USD3.55, down USD1.02 from a year ago, according to auto club AAA. Falling energy prices also helped inflation in the 20 European countries that use the euro drop to the lowest level since before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The US recently replenished its Strategic Petroleum Reserve — after Biden announced the largest release from the national reserve in American history last year — in an indicator that US officials may be less worried about OPEC cuts than in months past.
The Saudis, on the other hand, need sustained high oil revenue to fund ambitious development projects aimed at diversifying the country’s economy. The International Monetary Fund estimates the kingdom needs USD80.90 per barrel to meet its envisioned spending commitments, which include a planned USD500 billion futuristic desert city project called Neom.
That may have been one motivation behind Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman’s warning to speculators that they will be “ouching” if they keep betting on lower oil prices.
Bin Salman’s pointed comment isn’t necessarily a prelude to a cut at Sunday’s meeting, said James Swanston, Middle East and North Africa economist at Capital Economics.
“Our expectation is that OPEC+ will stick with current output quotas,” he said, adding that “there have been signs that the government may be readying to live with lower oil prices and running budget deficits.”
On top of that, Russia may find current prices to its liking because its oil is finding eager new customers in India, China and Turkey. Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine have forced Russian oil to sell at discounts of around USD53 to USD57 per barrel.
At those prices, Moscow’s shipments avoid triggering the USD60 price cap imposed by the Group of Seven major democracies to try to limit oil profits flowing into Russia’s war chest. The price ceiling allows the world’s Number 3 oil producer to keep supplying non-Western customers to avoid a global shortage that would drive up prices for everyone.
Insurers and shipping companies largely based in Western countries are barred from handling Russian oil if it is priced above the cap. Russia has found ways to evade the limits through “dark fleet” tankers, which tamper with transponders showing their locations or transfer oil from ship to ship to disguise its origin.
The logo of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is seen outside of OPEC’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on March 3, 2022. PHOTO: AP
An OPEC+ “production cut could push the price of Russian oil above the G7 price cap of USD60 per barrel, which would make it difficult to transport and thus to sell the oil,” commodity analyst Carsten Fritsch at Commerzbank wrote in a research note. “Russia appears to be doing good business at the current price level.”
The International Energy Agency said in its April oil market report that Russia has not completely followed through on its announcement to extend a voluntary cut of 500,000 barrels per day through the end of the year.
In fact, Russia’s total exports of oil and refined products such as diesel fuel rose in April to a post-invasion high of 8.3 million barrels per day. That is in spite of a near-total boycott from the European Union, formerly Russia’s biggest customer.
Analysts say OPEC+ faces conflicting pressures. A cut could support prices or send them higher, with demand expected to pick up later this year.
“The impact of higher oil prices on the global economy will weigh heavily on the ministers’ minds,” said Jorge Leon, senior vice president of oil market research at Rystad Energy. “High oil prices would fuel inflation in the West right when central banks are starting to see inflation gradually recede.”
“This could prompt central banks to continue increasing interest rates, a detrimental move for the global economy and oil demand,” Leon wrote in a research note.
Britain's Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts Of Justice in London on Thursday. PHOTO: AP
LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry is going where other British royals haven’t for over a century: to a courtroom witness stand.
The Duke of Sussex is set to testify in the first of his five pending legal cases largely centred around battles with British tabloids. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in his case.
Harry said in court documents that the royal family had assiduously avoided the courts to prevent testifying about matters that might be embarrassing.
His frustration and anger at the press, however, impelled him to buck convention by suing newspaper owners — allegedly against the wishes of his father, now King Charles III.
If Harry testifies as scheduled Tuesday in his lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, he’ll be the first member of the royal family to do so since the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, testified twice in court.
The man who would go on to become King Edward VII testified in the divorce proceedings of a woman he was accused of having an affair with (he denied it) and in a slander case involving a man who cheated at cards. Edward VII was the great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother.
Britain’s Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts Of Justice in London on March 30. PHOTO: AP
A look at Prince Harry’s legal battles:
Harry’s history with phone hacking and paparazzi
The Daily Mirror case is one of three Harry has brought alleging phone hacking and other invasions of his privacy, dating back to when he was a boy.
In court documents, he described his relationship with the press as “uneasy” in court documents, but it runs much deeper than that. The prince blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, the late Princess Diana.
He also cites harassment and intrusion by the British Press and “vicious, persistent attacks” on his wife, Meghan, including racist articles, as the reason the couple left royal life and fled to the US in 2020. Reforming the news media has become one of his life’s missions.
News that British journalists hacked phones for scoops first emerged in 2006 with the arrest of a private investigator and the royals reporter at the now-defunct News of the World. The two were jailed, and the reporter apologized for hacking phones used by aides of Harry, his older brother, Prince William, and their father.
A full-blown hacking scandal erupted five years later when it was revealed that the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid eavesdropped on voicemails on the phone of a slain girl, forcing the paper to close and launching a public inquiry.
Since that time, other newspapers have been accused of illegal intrusions that extended to tapping phones, bugging homes and using deception to obtain phone, bank and medical records.
Who is Harry suing?
The duke is taking on three of Britain’s best-known tabloid publishers.
In addition to Mirror Group Newspapers, he is suing Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and Associated Newspapers Ltd., which owns the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.
The claims are similar: that journalists and people they employed listened to phone messages and committed other unlawful acts to snoop on Harry and invade his privacy.
In a sign of how much the cases matter to him, Harry attended several days of hearings in March in the case against the Mail publisher.
Several celebrities with similar allegations have also filed claims being heard alongside Harry’s, including Hugh Grant in the News Group case, and Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley in the Associated Newspapers case.
Associated Newspapers “vigorously denies” the claims. News Group has apologized for News of the World’s hacking but The Sun does not accept liability or admit to any of the allegations, according to spokespeople.
Both publishers argued during High Court hearings this spring that the lawsuits should be thrown out because Harry and the others failed to bring them within a six-year time limit.
Attorney David Sherborne, who represents Britain’s Prince Harry in the phone hacking lawsuit against the publisher of The Daily Mail, arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on March 29. PHOTO: AP
The lawyer representing Harry and other claimants said they should be granted an exception because the publishers lied and concealed evidence that prevented them from learning of the covert acts in time to meet the deadlines.
What’s the current trial about?
At the outset of the proceedings, Mirror Group appeared to fall on its sword, acknowledging instances when its newspapers unlawfully gathered information. It apologized in court papers and said Harry and two of the other three claimants in the case were due compensation.
But the admission involving Harry — the hiring of a private eye to dig up unspecified dirt for an article about his nightclubbing — wasn’t among the nearly 150 articles between 1995 and 2011 for which he claimed Mirror Group reporters used phone hacking and other illegal methods to gather material. The trial is focusing on 33 of those stories.
Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, said unlawful acts by reporters and editors at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People were “widespread and habitual” and carried out on “an industrial scale.” He pointed the finger at management, in particular TV personality Piers Morgan, a former Daily Mirror editor.
Honoree Piers Morgan is interviewed at The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 2013 Los Angeles Benefit Event at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 7, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. PHOTO: AP
Morgan has publicly denied involvement in phone hacking, as has Mirror Group in its court submissions. Mirror lawyer Andrew Green said a substantial proportion of the articles at issue involved a “breathtaking level of triviality” and that with the exception of a few instances of unlawful information gathering, the company’s reporters had used public records and sources to legally obtain information.
The trial is a test case involving four claimants, including two members of Britain’s longest-running soap opera, “Coronation Street.” But the verdict could determine the outcome of hacking claims also made against Mirror Group by the estate of the late singer George Michael, former Girls Aloud member Cheryl and former soccer player Ian Wright.
The case is broken into two parts: a generic case that lasted nearly three weeks in which Harry’s lawyer laid out evidence of alleged skullduggery at the newspapers; the second part, starting Monday, with the four claimants testifying about specific acts targeting them.
What are the other lawsuits about?
Harry’s fear and loathing of the press intersects with two active cases that center around the government’s decision to stop protecting him after he abandoned royal duties.
Harry argued his security is compromised when he visits the UK, saying that aggressive paparazzi chased him after a charity event in 2021. He sued the British government for withdrawing his security detail.
With that lawsuit pending, he unsuccessfully tried to challenge the government’s subsequent rejection of his offer to pay for his own police protection.
A judge is weighing whether Harry’s libel suit against Associated Newspapers for reporting that he tried to hide his legal efforts to get the British government to provide security should go to trial.
“How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over police bodyguards a secret… then — just minutes after the story broke — his PR machine tried to put a positive spin on the dispute,” the Mail on Sunday wrote in its headline.
In past cases, Meghan won an invasion of privacy case in 2021 against the Mail on Sunday for printing a private letter she wrote to her father. That led to a GBP1 settlement for violating her privacy and an undisclosed sum for copyright infringement.
The couple has also settled lawsuits against photo agencies for flying a drone over their California home and a helicopter over a home where they were living in England.
