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Peace talks rich in symbolism but fundamental differences between Russia and Ukraine remain
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Twelve women have been killed in one part of South Africa since July. Here's what we know so far
The talks in Kyiv were rich in symbolism. The sight of Donald Trump's envoys setting foot on Ukrainian soil for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion. The fact they had to travel by train because they could not risk flying and running the gauntlet of Russian drones - weapons launched on the orders of the man at whose table they sat in the Kremlin only hours ago. The symbolism of Ukrainian President Zelensky greeting Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral, not only an icon of Ukraine's ancient history, but also just a few yards from where Russian drones hit the headquarters of the country's security services on Friday. You did not have to join too many dots to work out the point Zelensky was making. Both sides held talks for several hours; they were later joined by some European national security advisers, including the UK's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell. And afterwards, all sides spoke warmly of having held substantive discussions. They spoke hopefully of reviving past "trilateral talks" involving both the US and Europe.
A 24-year-old zipline operator died after the ride he was operating at the Ranipuram Glass Bridge tourist destination met with an accident on Saturday evening. The deceased has been identified as Sanoop Krishnan, a native of Chamundikkunnu in Panathady. m. while tourists were being taken on the zipline. According to preliminary information, the cable became entangled, causing the zipline to lose control and plunge down. Sanoop sustained serious injuries in the accident and was rushed to a private hospital in Kasaragod, where he died while undergoing treatment. Sanoop had joined as a zipline operator at Ranipuram only on Friday, making Saturday his second day on the job. The Rajapuram police have launched an investigation into the accident. The police are examining whether a technical malfunction in the zipline system caused the incident and what led to the cable becoming entangled. Authorities are also examining the safety arrangements at the tourist destination as part of the investigation.
Palestinians have held a funeral procession for 100 people whose bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble of destroyed homes in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood. Thousands of Palestinians, including relatives of the victims, attended the procession on Sunday. The remains were laid out near the ruins of the homes and draped in Palestinian flags. The victims, from the Rahim, Balawi, Malaka, Qanbour and Salmi families, were killed when Israeli forces struck several residential homes around two and a half years ago, according to local authorities. Similar mass recovery operations in recent weeks have retrieved more than 100 bodies from the Abu Shariah and Hassaniya families killed in a single strike, and more than 500 from the al-Taj Tower site, officials and activists said. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 73,651 Palestinians have been killed and 174,592 injured since October 2023.
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