The ban on the former president's candidacy for the newly formed MK party has been lifted despite a criminal conviction. The ruling ANC could lose its absolute majority for the first time since 1994 in May elections. A South African court on Tuesday overruled electoral authorities' decision to bar former President Jacob Zuma from running in the country's general elections next month. South Africans will on May 29 vote for a new parliament, which will in turn elect the president. What do we know about the decision? "The decision of the Electoral Commission... is set aside," the Electoral Court wrote in its ruling seen by AFP news agency.  The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decided last month to bar Zuma from running for a seat in Parliament on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK). The IEC disqualified Zuma over his 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court. He was sentenced to 15 months after he refused to testify to a panel investigating corruption under his government. However, the Electoral Court overturned the decision.  South Africa does not allow people sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of paying a fine to run in elections. Zuma's lawyers had argued that the sentence did not disqualify him as it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings and had been shortened by a remission. ANC struggling in polls MK is expected to cut into the vote share of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Opinion polls show that the ANC, which has been rocked by several corruption scandals, could lose its absolute majority in parliament for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. If it does not achieve an outright majority of seats, the ANC will be forced to seek the support of smaller parties to form government. MK is projected to receive substantial support in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, which is Zuma's home region.  

The Arabic word for fasting is called "sawm" in the Quran. The word sawm literally means "to abstain". Chapter Maryam of the Quran says that Mary the mother of Jesus said "I have vowed a "sawm" (fast) for the sake of the Merciful, so today I shall not speak to anyone." [Quran 19:26]. According to Shariyah, the word sawm means to abstain from all those things that are forbidden during fasting from the break of dawn to the sunset, and to do this with the intention of fasting. Purpose of Fasting In chapter 2 verse 183 the Quran says, "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, in order that you may learn taqwa (piety)". Taqwa is a very important spiritual and ethical term of the Quran. It is the sum total of all Islamic spirituality and ethics. It is a quality in a believer's life that keeps him or her aware of God all the time. A person who has taqwa loves to do good and avoid evil for the sake of God. Taqwa is piety, righteousness and consciousness of God. Taqwa requires patience and perseverance. Fasting teaches patience, and with patience one can rise to the high position of taqwa. The Prophet (SA) said that fasting is a shield. It protects a person from sin and lustful desires. When the disciples of Jesus asked him how to cast the evil spirits away, he is reported to have said, "But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21). According to Imam Al Ghazali, fasting produces a semblance of divine quality of samadiyyah (freedom from want) in a human being. Imam Ibn Al Qayyim, viewed fasting as a means of releasing the human spirit from the clutches of desire, thus allowing moderation to prevail in the carnal self. Imam Shah Waliullah Dahlawi (d. 1762 C.E.) viewed fasting as a means of weakening the bestial and reinforcing the angelic elements in human beings. Maulana Mawdudi (d. 1979 C.E.) emphasized that fasting for a full month every year trains a person individually, and the Muslim community as a whole, in piety and self restraint. Fasting Is Obligatory In the second year of Hijrah, Muslims were commanded to fast in the month of Ramadan every year as mentioned in the verse above [Al-Baqarah 2:183]. The Quran further says "The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran, wherein is guidance for humankind and the clear signs of guidance and distinction. Thus whosoever among you witness the month must fast..." [Al-Baqarah 2:184]. Prophet Muhammad (SA) explained this further in a number of his statements reported in the books of Hadith. It is reported by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim on the authority of Ibn Umar that the Messenger of God said, "Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no god except God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, performing Prayer, paying the zakah, making the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Hajj), and fasting during the month of Ramadan." The entire Muslim world is unanimous in the principal of fasting in the month of Ramadan and considers it obligatory upon every person who is physicaly capable (mukallaf). Who must fast? Muslims all over the world wait eagerly for Ramadan, as it is a time of increased inner peace and well-being. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory upon every adult Muslim, male or female, who has reached puberty, is sane and who is not sick or traveling. Sickness could be a temporary sickness from which a person expects to be cured soon. Such a person should not fast during the days of his or her sickness, but he or she must fast later after Ramadan to complete the missed days. Those who are sick with incurable illness and expect no better health are also allowed not to fast but they must pay the fidyah, which is giving a day's meals for each fast missed to a needy person. Instead of food for one day one can also give equivalent amount of money to a needy person. Women in their menses and post-natal bleeding are not allowed to fast, but they must make up the fast later after Ramadan. If pregnant women and mothers who are nursing babies can also postpone their fasting to a later time when they are able to do so. A travel according to the Shariah is any journey that takes you away from your city of residence, a minimum of 48 miles or 80 kilometers. The journey must be for a good cause. One must avoid frivolous travel during Ramadan which causes a person to miss fasting. If possible one should try to change their travel plans during Ramadan to be able to fast and should not travel unless it is necessary. The traveler who misses the fasts of Ramadan must make up those missed days later as soon as possible after Ramadan. Fasting According to the Sunnah 1 - Take sahur (pre-dawn meal). It is Sunnah and there is a great reward and blessing in taking sahur. The best time for sahur is the last half hour before dawn or the time for Fajr prayer. 2 - Take iftar (break-fast) immediately after sunset. Shariah considers sunset when the disk of the sun goes below the horizon and disappears completely. 3 - During the fast, abstain from all false talks and deeds. Do not quarrel, have disputes, indulge in arguments, use bad words, or do anything that is forbidden. You should try to discipline yourself morally and ethically, besides gaining physical training and discipline. You should also not make a show of your fasting by talking too much about it, or by showing dry lips and a hungry stomach, or by showing a bad temper. The fasting person must be a pleasant person with good spirits and good cheer. 4 - During the fast, do acts of charity and goodness to others and increase your worship and reading of the Quran. Every one should try to read the whole Quran at least once during the month of Ramadan. Things That Invalidate the Fast You must avoid doing anything that may render your fast invalid. Things that invalidate the fast and require qadaa' (making up for these days) are the following: 1 - Eating, drinking or smoking deliberately, including taking any non-nourishing items by mouth or nose. 2 - Deliberately causing yourself to vomit. 3 - The beginning of menstrual or post-childbirth bleeding even in the last moment before sunset. 4 - Sexual intercourse or other sexual contact (or masturbation) that results in ejaculation (in men) or vaginal secretions (orgasm) in women. 5 - Eating, drinking, smoking or having sexual intercourse after Fajr (dawn) on the mistaken assumption that it is not Fajr time yet. Similarly, engaging in these acts before Maghrib (sunset) on the mistaken assumption that it is already Maghrib time. Sexual intercourse during fasting is forbidden. Those who engage in it must make both qadaa' (make up the fasts) and kaffarah (expiation by fasting for 60 days after Ramadan or by feeding 60 poor people for each day of fast broken in this way). According to Imam Abu Hanifah, eating and/or drinking deliberately during fast also entail the same qadaa' and kaffarah. Things That Do Not Invalidate Fasting Using a miswak to clean your teeth does not invalidate fasting During fast, the following things are permissible: 1 - Taking a bath or shower. If water is swallowed involuntarily it will not invalidate the fast. According to most of the jurists, swimming is also allowed in fasting, but one should avoid diving, because that will cause the water to go from the mouth or nose into the stomach. 2 - Using perfumes, wearing contact lenses or using eye drops. 3 - Taking injections or having a blood test. 4 - Using miswak (tooth-stick) or toothbrush (even with tooth paste) and rinsing the mouth or nostrils with water, provided it is not overdone (so as to avoid swallowing water). 5 - Eating, drinking or smoking unintentionally, i.e., forgetting that one was fasting. But one must stop as soon as one remembers and should continue one's fast. 6 - Sleeping during the daytime and having a wet-dream does not break one's fast. Also, if one has intercourse during the night and was not able to make ghusl (bathe) before dawn, he or she can begin fast and make ghusl later. Women whose menstruation stops during the night may begin fasting even if they have not made ghusl yet. In all these cases, bathing (ghusl) is necessary but fast is valid even without bathing. 7 - Kissing between husband and wife is allowed in fasting, but one should try to avoid it so that one may not do anything further that is forbidden during the fast. Requirements for Fasting to Be Valid There are basically two main components of fasting: 1 - The intention (niyyah) for fasting. One should make a sincere intention to fast for the sake of God every day before dawn. The intention need not be in words, but must be with the sincerity of the heart and mind. Some jurists are of the opinion that the intention can be made once only for the whole month and does not have to be repeated every day. It is, however, better to make intention every day to take full benefit of fasting. 2 - Abstaining from dawn to dusk from everything that invalidates fasting as mentioned above.   Source: Internet

Biswa Ijatema is regarded as the as the second-largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has issued some directives for the devotees. The devotees are requested to stay in the designated tent areas. On the other hand GMP emphasized the importance of promptly notifying authorities upon encountering any suspicious activities, bags or objects.   The directives were issued on Tuesday (Jan 30) in a press release which was signed by AIG Enamul Haque Sagar.  "Devotees Should keep both money and valuables with themselves and they must inform law enforcement if they lose anything" the GMP also urged. Devotees were asked to take help from temporary hospitals designated for Ijtema if they feel sick.  

The Constitutional Court has said that over a third of the controversial bill was unconstitutional. The plans had sparked anger across France, with some calling them a gift to the far-right. France's Constitutional Council on Thursday rejected over a third of the articles included in the recent controversial immigration bill that passed through parliament with the help of the far-right. The highest court in the land, the Council ruled that parts of the law were unconstitutional. These included measures aimed at limiting access to social benefits for migrants and making family reunification more difficult. It also ruled against the introduction of immigrant quotas set by the French parliament.   Far-right calls court ruling a 'coup' In total, the Council threw out 32 of the 86 articles in the bill. But most of those were articles that had been added under pressure from the right and far-right in the French parliament. "The Constitutional Council has approved all the government's text," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the parts of the bill that had been introduced by President Emmanuel Macron's party, Renaissance. Macron had made the bill a key policy for his second term, but it also appeared that he would need far-right support to push it through, given that he lacks a working majority in parliament. But he also referred the legislation to the court. It's ruling could offer some relief from the embarrassment of having to depend on anti-immigration populists. The far-right party National Rally (RN) was less enthusiastic about the ruling. Party president Jordan Bardella called it a "coup by the judges, with the backing of the president." Why was the bill so controversial? The bill was passed by France's lower house in late December after sparking widespread protests and even threatening to unleash a rebellion within President Macron's own party. To win the far-right's support, the government included an article to introduce immigrant quotas which would have made it more difficult for the children of immigrants to become French. Despite being spearheaded by Darmanin, it was the support that it received from the far-right RN that drew the most anger and attention. Ultimately, the bill passed with a large enough majority that the government would not have needed RN support after all, but the far-right party's leader Marine Le Pen nevertheless called it a "great ideological victory."  

Lafarge allegedly paid millions to militants like the so-called "Islamic State" group in order to keep running its operations in Syria during the civil war. The company faces legal battles in France and the US. France's highest court ruled on Tuesday that cement maker Lafarge could be held liable for complicity in crimes against humanity in Syria. The company previously acknowledged that it paid nearly €13 million ($14.2 million) to middlemen to keep its Syrian cement factory running in 2013 and 2014, long after other French firms had pulled out of the country.   Lafarge was being investigated in France until an appeal was lodged by its Swiss parent company, Holcim. The ruling on Tuesday was a procedural hearing that upheld a decision by a lower court to throw out this appeal. It now clears the way for a multi-year investigation into the company's activity in Syria can continue. In the US, Lafarge pleaded guilty to charges that it paid millions to the so-called "Islamic State" group and Nusra Front. Campaigners hail 'partial victory' In a statement, Lafarge said the decision was a "legacy issue" and that it was addressing "through the legal process in France." As part of the same case, the court also ruled that investigations about Lafarge allegedly endangering its employees in Syria should be closed because French labor law did not apply abroad.   A lawyer for the French campaign group Sherpa, which has lodged a criminal complaint against Lafarge, characterized the ruling on Tuesday as a "partial victory." "The confirmation of the indictment for complicity in crimes against humanity is a key step towards Lafarge one day being tried for these acts," Anna Kiefer said. "However, the annulment of the indictment for endangering the lives of others is a major setback for the recognition of the risks that Lafarge posed to Syrian employees."

The German government failed at meeting emissions reduction targets in transportation and construction, the court ruled. A German court sided with environmental groups on Thursday, ruling that the federal government had failed to meet its own climate goals in the transport and building sectors. The ruling comes a day before Chancellor Olaf Scholz was due to travel to the COP28 climate summit. Deutsche Umwelthilfe and the BUND environmentalist groups had taken the German government to court, accusing it of violating Germany's Climate Protection Act, which currently stipulates annual targets for each sector to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. Specifically, the law requires individual ministries to implement an immediate action plan to reduce emissions if a sector misses the targets of the law, which are the reduction of 65% emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In Thursday's ruling, the court said Berlin must adopt an "immediate program" to reduce emissions in the transportation and construction sectors. Stefanie Langkamp, a spokeswoman for the Climate Alliance Germany network, said the verdict was a "severe reprimand" for the government. "It is internationally embarrassing and damaging that a court judgment is needed because the German government is not complying" with its own climate laws, she said. High emissions in transport and building The government was brought to court for not doing enough to get back on track with its climate goals, after missing emissions targets for transport and building in 2021.  That year, the transport sector exceeded its CO2 emissions target by 3.1 million tons, according to BUND, and in the construction sector, it exceeded emissions by 2.5 million tons. "The court has allowed the appeal. The Federal Government will examine the ruling and its justification in detail as soon as it is available in writing and then examine the next steps," Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said in response. The ruling comes as the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been under over its promises to tackle climate change after another court ruling reduced its ability to respond to the crisis. This month, Germany's Constitutional Court ruled that the government had acted illegally when it transferred €60 billion ($65 billion) of unused borrowing money from COVID-19 funds to a "climate and transformation fund." The ruling wiped out €60 billion from the climate fund, which had been worth €212 billion.  

War is the use of organized violence to achieve political goals. Constraining this violence within a framework of rules is the aim of international law. Things become complicated, however, when this idea meets the messy reality in Israel and Gaza. There is clarity about the brutal attack on October 7, when Hamas fighters entered Israel, killed more than 1,300 people and kidnapped almost 200 hostages. Stefan Talmon, a Germany-based international law expert, views this in the first instance as "mass murder." However, considering the long history between Israel and the Palestinians he also concludes: "Because of the scale and intensity of this attack on October 7, international law would consider that we are dealing with an armed conflict here." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accordingly declared a state of war. The day after the massacre in southern Israel, Netanyahu said explicitly that Israel would lay to ruin every place where Hamas was operating or hiding. Since then, Israel has been bombing Gaza. Around 6,000 bombs were dropped on Gaza — an area equivalent in size to the city of Detroit — in just six days, with the bombing campaign continuing unabated. Over 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza, though the actual death toll there is likely much higher. Four days after the attack, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that "hundreds of tons of bombs" had already been fired at Gaza, adding that "the emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy." Self-defense — within limits Israel's right to self-defense against armed attack according to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter is indisputable. This right, however, is restricted by international humanitarian law. Here, one of the most important principles is differentiation: The warring parties must differentiate between civilians and combatants, between civilian objects and military targets. That only means, however, that civilians or civilian facilities are not allowed to be knowingly targeted in attacks. So, the killing of civilians is only forbidden when there is proof that it was done deliberately. In practice, law professor Talmon explained, that means: "If Hamas positions a missile installation in a civilian neighborhood, Israel has the right to attack this missile installation — even at the expense of what is terribly called 'collateral damage' among the civilian population. And this collateral damage can, depending on the military goal and need, also be very high." It is almost impossible to differentiate between civilian and military targets according to international law in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2007 and is one of the most densely populated and built-up areas on Earth. Hamas tunnels run under apartment buildings; Hamas facilities are located in residential and office buildings. International law does not really account for this. "If Hamas stays and hides in schools, mosques, hospitals, and operates command centers from there, then they become legitimate military targets," Stefan Talmon said. At the same time, it applies that: If Hamas sets up military positions in civilian areas, that counts as a war crime. Collective punishment banned Israel has imposed a total and comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke of a total siege, in which Gaza would be cut off from electricity, water, food and fuel supplies. Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem accuses Israel of war crimes, due to the extent of the airstrikes and the blockade. Humanitarian aid organization Doctors Without Borders speaks of a collective punishment of Gaza that contravenes international law. According to Professor Talmon, most international law experts conclude that a total blockade – groceries, drinking water, fuel, medical products – is not in accord with international law. "In international law there is a ban on what is termed collective punishment, in this case the collective punishment of the entire Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip. Not all of them are members of Hamas and not all of them are responsible for this attack, but they are all being affected by this reaction from Israel just the same — indiscriminately." Moreover, international law explicitly forbids starving out a civilian population. "If I impose a total blockade, at some point the food supplies or drinking water will run out, and then it comes to the point of starving out the civilian population. That is forbidden under international law," Talmon said. Evacuation legal, expulsion illegal On October 13, Israel's military told more than a million civilians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip —  almost half the total population — to move to the southern part of the area. Because the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip is in ruins and there are not enough places for that many people to go to, the United Nations said such an evacuation was impossible. Jan Egeland, a former state secretary of Norway and current secretary general of the aid organization Norwegian Refugee Council, described the evacuation order as illegal. It is "not an evacuation opportunity, it's an order to relocate. Under humanitarian law, it's called forcible transfer of populations, and it's a war crime," he said. In principle, however, Stefan Talmon explains, the evacuation of a civilian population by an occupying power is allowed under international law. "For example, to ensure the protection and safety of the population and enable military operations." According to Talmon's estimation, Israel is not acting unlawfully in this case. "It would be against international law if Israel were to attempt to push out the population from the entire Gaza Strip. However, within the territory of an opponent, I can evacuate the population or force them to relocate for their own protection and security," the international law expert explained. International law "is made by countries, for countries," Stefan Talmon said. Countries who thereby assume that they themselves will wage war one day. In doing so, they do not want to put shackles on themselves or impose rules which they then cannot follow." 

New global rules for the safe handling of chemicals were adopted at a United Nations conference in the German city of Bonn on Saturday. The Global Framework on Chemicals sets out a roadmap for reducing environmental risks from chemicals and waste. "Everyone on this planet should be able to live and work without fear of falling sick or dying from chemical exposure," said Inger Andersen, executive director of  the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) who organized the conference. Participants also adopted the Bonn Declaration, in which they committed to ""prevent exposure to harmful chemicals, and phase out the most harmful ones, where appropriate, and enhance the safe management of such chemicals where they are needed." What does the roadmap envisage? The plan sets out 28 concrete targets and guidelines for key sectors from production to waste. These include preventing illegal trafficking of chemicals and waste, introducing national laws and phasing out highly dangerous pesticides in agriculture by 2035. It also calls for a transition to more sustainable chemical alternatives, responsible use of chemicals in industry,agriculture and healthcare sectors, and better access to information about the risks associated with different chemicals. In addition, a system for classifying and labeling chemicals is to be introduced in more countries and a fund is to be created to promote the safe use of chemicals.  Germany has pledged €20 million to implement the framework, which UNEP will manage. "The production of chemicals is increasing rapidly. It is therefore high time to curb global pollution," German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said. "We have succeeded in agreeing on progressive targets and effective steps for safe chemicals management worldwide."

Access to the widely-used abortion pill mifepristone must be restricted, a US appeals court ruled on Wednesday. Mail-order access to the drug is set to end under the federal appeals court ruling. However, the decision cannot take effect until the Supreme Court weighs in, which could occur in its upcoming term from October to June. It is the latest legal case in the battle over abortion access and women's rights in the United States.  What did the court rule? The New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals stopped short of ruling that the drug must be withdrawn from the market completely. A lower court was keen to do just that and revoke the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 23-year-old approval of mifepristone. But the court on Wednesday left intact part of the ruling that would end the availability of the drug by mail, allowing it to be used through only the seventh week of pregnancy rather than the tenth, and require that it be administered with a doctor's formal approval. FDA in the crosshairs The scope of the FDA's ability to make decisions concerning medications and their availability is also at the heart of the case. "In loosening mifepristone's safety restrictions, FDA failed to address several important concerns about whether the drug would be safe for the women who use it," Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod wrote. She was joined as a signatory by Judge Cory Wilson. Judge James Ho dissented, though, arguing to fully uphold a Texas- based federal judge's April ruling that would revoke the drug's approval entirely. Anti-abortion groups have sought to get the drug banned, claiming that the medication is unsafe despite its long track record in the US. Katie Daniel, state policy director of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, welcomed the ruling. "The FDA ignored science and its own rules when it rubber-stamped Democrats' reckless mail-order abortion scheme," Daniel said. Rights groups decry ruling US President Joe Biden's administration said it would appeal the latest ruling. Vice President Kamala Harris warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent not only for abortion rights, but for the availability of other medications. "It endangers our entire system of drug approval and regulation by undermining the independent, expert judgment of the FDA," Harris said in a statement. Reacting to Wednesday's decision, the Center for Reproductive Rights said there is "scientific CONSENSUS on the exemplary safety and efficacy of mifepristone. Medication abortion is used in over half of all abortions in the US and the imposition of outdated, unscientific restrictions will harm millions of the most vulnerable pregnant people in the US." The FDA estimates that some 5.6 million Americans have used mifepristone to terminate pregnancies after it was approved in the year 2000.

President Zelenskyy has rejected calls for peace talks with Russia while meeting with a delegation of African leaders. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin said nuclear warheads are now in Belarus.  A delegation of African leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday as part of a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy said after talks that he had invited African leaders to join a global peace summit. But he said he would not open peace talks with Moscow yet, saying that peace was reliant on a full withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory. "I clearly said several times at our meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering," he told reporters. Earlier in the day, air raid sirens sounded and at least two explosions shook Kyiv as the African leaders arrived in the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the explosions came from Ukrainian air defenses, which Ukraine says downed 12 missiles, including six Kalibr cruise missiles and six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, plus two drones. Images posted by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry showed damaged homes in the wider Kyiv region. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was visiting Ukraine for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country, will travel Saturday to St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Accompanying Ramaphosa are Senegalese President Macky Sall and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, plus representatives of Egypt and the Comoros. Ukraine's foreign minister said African leaders should take note of Friday's air raid on Kyiv just as they arrived. "Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital," Kuleba tweeted. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace." South African President Ramaphosa's office tweeted that the African leaders' mission was "proceeding well and as planned." "Today as we were here, we heard of missile strikes and those types of hostilities are not good for fostering peace," Ramaphosa said after talks with Zelenskyy. South African president calls on both sides to de-escalate Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president who was part of a delegation of African leaders to Kyiv, said following talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that both Russia and Ukraine needed to de-escalate. "This war must be settled and there should be peace through negotiations," he told reporters. "We argue that there must be de-escalation on both sides." South Africa has sought neutrality on the war in Ukraine, even hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin for an international summit, amid calls for the latter's arrest on charges of war crimes from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ramaphosa added that African countries would be ready to continue to be a part of any future peace deal in Ukraine. Putin announces first nuclear warheads have arrived in Belarus During a speech in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first Russian tactical nuclear warheads had already arrived in neighboring Belarus. "The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus... This is the first part. But by the end of summer, the end of the year, we will complete the process," he said. Despite the announcement of warheads in Belarus, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington would not change its stance. "We have no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture. We don't see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon," Blinken said. The storage of nuclear weapons in Belarus, a sovereign nation that is highly dependent on Russian support, brings the threat of a nuclear strike closer to the borders of the EU. Although Belarus has not directly supported Russia's invasion with soldiers, it allowed Russia to use its territory as a launching pad for its initial full-scale invasion last February. Russia placing nuclear weapons in Belarus doesn't make much difference: John Erath, Centre for Arms Control Non-Proliferation Putin gives wide-ranging speech in St Petersburg Russian President Vladimir Putin held a speech at the annual economic forum in St Petersburg on Friday. He discussed varied topics, from the economy, the Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russia's climate progress. The Russian president said the economy was set to grow by 1.5% and 2% despite massive sanctions from Western countries, including a reduction in fossil fuel purchases by EU members. He made no mention of the parts of Russian industry, such as the car industry, that have suffered heavily from sanctions. Touching on the Ukrainian counteroffensive, which he has previously said was already failing, Putin said that Ukraine was suffering "heavy losses." "I think that Ukraine's armed forces stand no chance here [around Zaporizhzhia], as well as in other directions — I have no doubt about that," he added. Putin also took a dig at European countries for restarting some of their coal power plants as they weaned themselves off Russian oil and gas. "Unlike many other states, we are fulfilling all the commitments we have taken on in this sphere. Even ahead of schedule," the Russian president said, ahead of the UN climate conference in Dubai. US to send $205 million in humanitarian aid Washington, one of Kyiv's biggest backers since Russia's full-scale invasion began last February, has pledged another $205 million (€187 million) in humanitarian aid. The aid "provides the people of Ukraine with critical support, including food, safe drinking water, protection services, education, livelihoods, legal assistance, accessible shelter, health care, and more," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday. The money would also be used to help displaced people keep in touch with their loved ones who they have been separated from. More than 6 million people have fled Ukraine since last year, with another 5 million being internally displaced. Blinken said that the US has provided Ukraine with over $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid and called for more donors to help out. Counteroffensive is 'positive' but 'difficult,' Zelenskyy tells NBC Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that success for Ukraine's counteroffensive would mean Russia ends up losing the war. Zelenskyy gave an interview to US broadcaster NBC, telling them that the state of the counteroffensive looks "not bad." "I would say it's generally positive, but it's difficult ... Our troops who are now at the front of the frontline are facing very tough resistance," he said. He said the strong resistance was understandable, "Because for Russia to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say, actually means losing the war." Russia committing 'horrifying' acts in Ukraine, climate activist Greta Thunberg tells DW Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg said the rest of the world must step up in raising awareness about the humanitarian and environmental damage caused by the Kakhovka dam breach. "This responsibility doesn't fall on Ukrainians. This responsibility falls on the rest of the world who are witnessing these horrifying events. And not the least on Russia who are the ones actually committing [it]," Thunberg told DW's Ukrainian service. Thunberg was speaking from the German city of Bonn while taking part in a protest against ecocide in Ukraine. The rally took place outside the UN headquarters in Germany and a conference center where preparatory talks for the COP28 climate summit in November are being held. "I think that the actions that Russia is doing now and has been doing for a long time are absolutely horrifying," Thunberg said. NATO working on creating Ukraine council — Stoltenberg NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined agreements reached at the end of a two-day defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on Friday. He told journalists that a framework needs to be in place for Ukraine's future security once Russia's war on the country ends. "We all agree that Ukraine has already moved closer to NATO over the past decade," Stoltenberg said. "We agree that NATO's door is open — that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance and that this is a decision for allies and Ukraine to make. Russia does not have a veto." Stoltenberg said the trans-Atlantic military alliance is also working on creating a Ukraine-NATO council, working to bring Ukraine closer to NATO "in practical terms." He also commented on Russia's "dangerous rhetoric" surrounding nuclear weapons, particularly Moscow's intention to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus, which neighbors Ukraine. Stoltenberg said NATO is taking Russia's announcement "seriously" and that they have "seen some preparations going on" towards following through on the deliveries to Belarus. He added, however, that while NATO remained vigilant, the military alliance does not yet see an imminent threat from Russia to deploy those weapons. "So far, we haven't seen any changes in the Russian nuclear posture [in terms of] deployments" which would require any changes in NATO's own posture, he said. 'Highly likely' Russia behind Ukraine dam collapse  A team of legal experts say it is "highly likely" that the breach of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was caused by explosives planted by Russians. Legal staff from international human rights law firm Global Rights Compliance, which is implementing efforts to support accountability for atrocities in Ukraine, visited the Kherson region from June 10-11.  They were accompanied by Ukraine's prosecutor general and a team from the International Criminal Court (ICC). "The evidence and analysis of the information available — which includes seismic sensors and discussions with top demolition experts — indicates that there is a high probability the destruction was caused by pre-emplaced explosives positioned at critical points within the dam's structure," a summary of preliminary findings seen by Reuters said. This was based "not only on seismic sensors, and one of the leading open source intelligence providers, but also based on patterns of attack and other attacks that we have documented," according to senior lawyer Yousuf Syed Khan.  He said the finding that the dam was blown up by the Russian side "is an 80% and above determination." The huge Soviet-era Kakhovka hydroelectric dam has been under Russian control since the invasion. It was breached in the early hours of June 6, unleashing floodwater across a swathe of southern Ukraine, destroying farmland and cutting off water supplies. Germany to provide Ukraine with 64 more guided air defense missiles German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced the "immediate" delivery of additional missiles for Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems. "The Federal Government has decided to immediately provide 64 further guided missiles," said Pistorius, speaking at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Friday. He said it was "an important signal" of support for Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russian air attacks "in this particular phase of the war" – even as Russian cruise missiles targeted Kyiv. The announcement came a day after the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands had pledged hundreds of additional air defense missiles to Ukraine, with actual logistics already underway and delivery set for the coming weeks. Earlier this year, Germany provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with one of its US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Russian troops promised bonuses for destroying Western tanks Meanwhile on the frontline, the Russian Defense Ministry has promised bonuses for Russian troops who have destroyed NATO-supplied armor, including German Leopard tanks and US Bradley fighting vehicles. "Payments are currently being made to servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who in the course of military operations destroyed Leopard tanks, as well as armored fighting vehicles made in the USA and other NATO countries," the ministry announced. The ministry claimed that, up until the end of May, a total of 10,257 Russian personnel had been rewarded for destroying 16,001 items of Ukrainian and Western military equipment, with armored vehicles valued at 50,000 rubles ($596; €546) and tanks at 100,000 rubles ($1,195; €1,091). On Sunday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded the "Hero of Russia gold star" medal to soldiers who the Kremlin said had destroyed NATO-supplied equipment being used by Ukraine in its burgeoning counteroffensive. Putin open to solutions to 'Ukrainian problem' – Kremlin "President Putin was and is open to any contacts to discuss possible scenarios for solving the Ukrainian problem," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday, quoted by Russian news agency Interfax as at least 12 Russian missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Russia has repeatedly said it is open to negotiations on the condition that Ukraine recognize "new realities" on the ground. Russian forces continue to illegally occupy some 18% of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory where they are alleged to have committed war crimes. Moscow claimed last autumn to have annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine as well as the Crimea peninsula, which it seized in 2014. Ukraine has its own peace plan which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian land as a basis for any settlement.