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In open letter to Putin, Zelensky calls for meeting and ceasefire

5, June 2026

In open letter to Putin, Zelensky calls for meeting and ceasefire 0

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a face-to-face meeting and a full ceasefire to finally end the war.

The proposal, released Thursday by the Ukrainian presidential office, comes as Russian forces continue advances and Moscow reiterates its long-standing readiness for serious negotiations.

Zelensky wrote, “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting.”

He added that Ukraine is prepared for a complete ceasefire during negotiations and suggested a bilateral summit in a neutral country, along with full prisoner exchanges and broader security arrangements involving Europe and the United States.

The letter arrives amid Ukrainian long-range drone attempts near St. Petersburg, where Russia was hosting a major international economic forum.

Yet President Putin responded measuredly earlier in the day, confirming that Russia’s air defense systems “must be strengthened” while emphasizing battlefield progress.

“We are advancing along the entire line of contact,” Putin told journalists, underscoring Russia’s consistent military achievements even as it keeps the door open to diplomacy.

Russia has never closed the path to peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Zelensky “can come at any time to Moscow,” a straightforward invitation that highlights Moscow’s pragmatic approach.

President Putin has made clear he would meet to finalize an already-reached agreement, rejecting staged talks but affirmed repeatedly: “We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means.”

Putin’s stance aligns with Russia’s core demands since the 2022 special military operation began, protecting the people of Donbas and ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality and demilitarization.

Zelensky’s letter acknowledges the heavy costs of prolonged fighting, citing Russian casualties and domestic pressures, yet it also reflects growing recognition in Kiev that time is not on Ukraine’s side.

Russian forces maintain the initiative, and Moscow’s economy has proven resilient despite external pressures.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who has consistently called for a quick end to the war, welcomed the overture.

“I think it would be great if they met. They should – get it done,” Trump told reporters. He noted that both sides will need to make compromises and credited US diplomacy for helping bring the parties closer.

Battlefield realities favor resolution

Recent weeks have seen Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, which Kiev describes as retaliation. Russia, however, continues to push forward methodically.

Russian forces have sustained momentum overall since late 2025, with Russian industry and public resolve intact.

Zelensky’s direct appeal, rare from the Ukrainian leader, frames the conflict as needing personal leadership to resolve.

Putin, with more than a quarter-century of experience guiding Russia through challenges, has questioned the legal status of Ukraine’s leadership after 2024, a point grounded in Ukraine’s own martial law rules. Still, Russia has expressed openness to a referendum on any final deal once a ceasefire holds.

The world has grown weary of endless conflict. Zelensky’s proposal for a neutral-hosted summit, prisoner swaps, and security guarantees offers a practical route forward.

Russia has always sought a just and lasting peace that addresses the root causes, NATO’s eastward push, the rights of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine, and reliable security guarantees.

As Putin put it, Russia stands ready for peaceful agreement. Zelensky’s letter may mark the beginning of the serious talks both nations have long needed.

With Russia’s strength evident and its peace overtures consistent, a meeting could finally turn the page toward stability, reconstruction, and a safer future for all.

Source: Press TV

Iran Navy targets ‘command center’ aboard US destroyer

4, June 2026

Iran Navy targets ‘command center’ aboard US destroyer 0

The Iranian Navy announces targeting the “command-and-control center” behind recent US violations, saying the facility was located aboard an American destroyer operating in the Sea of Oman.

The development was announced in a statement released by the Army’s Public Relations Office on Wednesday.

The strike came in response to aggressive US measures against Iranian commercial shipping and violations related to the Strait of Hormuz, the statement read.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out after Iranian forces detected and identified the source of the atrocities.

“A few hours ago, following aggressive actions, violations of the regulations governing the Strait of Hormuz, and hostile acts against Iranian commercial vessels in the Sea of Oman by the terrorist and aggressive US military, the Navy, immediately upon detecting and identifying the source of those actions, targeted the command-and-control center responsible for them,” it added.

According to the statement, the command-and-control center was located aboard a US destroyer “that was attempting to approach the waters of the Islamic Republic.”

Iran confronted the latest bout of unprovoked aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime, which began on February 28, with at least 100 waves of decisive and successful retaliatory strikes. The reprisal hit sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region. The Islamic Republic also shut down the Strait of Hormuz to enemies and their allies.

Faced with the response, US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire on April 7.

The Islamic Republic began applying far stricter controls over the strait after Trump announced continuation of an illegal naval blockade of Iranian vessels and ports on April 13 in violation of the terms of the ceasefire.

Amid the developments, Iran introduced the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new institutional mechanism to regulate and oversee vessel traffic through the chokepoint.

Source: Presstv

Israel: Senior Mossad official quits after Gofman appointed as head

2, June 2026

Israel: Senior Mossad official quits after Gofman appointed as head 0

A senior Mossad official has resigned from his position after the appointment of Roman Gofman as head of the Israeli spy agency, a move that pundits say is a clear sign of tensions within the Tel Aviv regime’s intelligence service.

According to the Israeli Hebrew-language Channel 12, the official, known by the letter “D”, used to serve as the head of the Teifel department, which is responsible for foreign intelligence relations in Mossad.

He announced his resignation on Monday, just a few hours after the Supreme Court issued a ruling confirming Gofman’s appointment as head of the organization.

The report added that “D” was among the most serious options for the position of the head of Mossad and, before resigning, held the highest position among the heads of the organization’s departments.

According to the Israeli channel, the “Teifel” (meaning “world”) department is responsible for managing Mossad’s foreign intelligence relations and coordinating with intelligence agencies around the world. It is also responsible for developing and managing communication channels and diplomatic relations with countries with which Israel does not have formal relations.

The public Israeli broadcaster KAN also noted that more senior Mossad officials are expected to resign shortly.

Source: Presstv

Cameroon gold scandal: 2,000 billion fcfa lost as 44 tonnes traced abroad

2, June 2026

Cameroon gold scandal: 2,000 billion fcfa lost as 44 tonnes traced abroad 0

New disclosures from Cameroon’s National Mining Corporation (Sonamines) have revealed the staggering scale of illegal gold exports, with billions of dollars believed to have escaped state control.

‎According to Sonamines Director General Serge Hervé Boyogueno, 44 tonnes of gold were traced in Dubai as originating from Cameroon between 2021 and 2025. Over the same period, officially declared exports stood at just 148 kilograms.

‎The undeclared volume is estimated to represent a loss of approximately $3.4 billion (over 2,000 billion FCFA) to the state.

‎The gap is even more alarming in recent data. In 2025, Cameroon recorded zero official gold exports, yet external trade figures indicate that at least 8.4 tonnes linked to the country transited through Dubai. In 2024, only a few kilograms were declared locally, compared to more than 12 tonnes recorded abroad.

‎These discrepancies confirm that illicit export channels remain deeply entrenched, with the United Arab Emirates continuing to serve as a major destination for undeclared Cameroonian gold.

‎The latest revelations come months after another gold-related scandal had already raised alarm at the highest level of the state.

‎Earlier this year, President Paul Biya ordered a probe into suspected gold trafficking networks following reports of significant inconsistencies in export data. At the time, Cameroon had declared just 22.3 kilograms of gold exports in 2023, while importing countries reported receiving about 15.2 tonnes.

‎That gap alone was estimated to represent losses of up to 165 billion FCFA, prompting the creation of a commission of inquiry tasked with identifying those involved and clarifying responsibilities.

‎The new figures released by Sonamines suggest the problem is far more extensive than previously thought, pointing to a system where large volumes of gold continue to leave the country outside official channels.

‎With billions in revenue at stake, pressure is mounting on authorities to dismantle the networks behind the trade and restore control over a sector long plagued by weak oversight and informal practices.

Source: Lebledparle.com

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Three Cameroon government soldiers killed in Bafut

2, June 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Three Cameroon government soldiers killed in Bafut 0

At least three Cameroonian security personnel have been killed in Bafut, North West Region, following an ambush reportedly carried out by armed separatist fighters.

Details surrounding the attack remain limited, but the incident adds to a growing list of similar assaults targeting security forces in the region in recent weeks, underlining the persistent insecurity in the area.

The latest killings come amid a conflict that has now stretched close to a decade. What began in 2016 as protests by lawyers and teachers in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions has since evolved into an armed separatist insurgency.

Over the years, the violence has taken a heavy toll on both civilians and combatants. According to international monitoring groups and humanitarian organisations, more than 6,500 people have been killed since the crisis began, with the real figure believed to be higher.

Civilian populations have borne a significant share of the impact. Reports indicate that at least 6,000 civilians have lost their lives as a result of abuses committed by both separatist fighters and government forces.

On the military side, while exact figures are difficult to independently verify, estimates suggest that hundreds of Cameroonian soldiers and security personnel have been killed since the escalation of armed confrontations in 2017.

The conflict has also triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands displaced and entire communities affected by repeated clashes, raids and retaliatory operations.

Source: Lebledparle.com

Iran to respond more forcefully to any fresh enemy aggression

31, May 2026

Iran to respond more forcefully to any fresh enemy aggression 0

A senior Iranian Army commander strongly warns the Islamic Republic’s adversaries against attempting fresh aggression against the country, asserting that such miscalculation will receive a response more forceful than previous retaliation.

Deputy Army Commander for Coordination, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari made the remarks on Saturday.

“The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” he stated.

“Today, the Army of the Islamic Republic stands firmly and resolutely against any hostile move by the enemy,” the commander added.

Sayyari underlined that the country’s military forces, including all the branches of the Army, were equipped with the most advanced defense systems and equipment outfitted with modern technologies.

The comments echoed verification by American officials, themselves, that Iran retains significant firepower, despite the latest bout of unprovoked aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime that targeted the country between February 28 and April 7.

Source: Presstv

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Fon of Ndzerem Nyam arrested in Bamenda ‎

30, May 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Fon of Ndzerem Nyam arrested in Bamenda ‎ 0

A traditional ruler in Cameroon’s conflict-affected North West region has been arrested and is currently being questioned by security forces in Bamenda as he suspected to be aiding the separatist fighters.

Fon Mormah III of Ndzerem Nyam was reportedly taken into custody and initially held at the Gendarmerie Legion before being transferred to the Mendakwe Gendarmerie Brigade, where he remains under interrogation. His phone was also said to have been confiscated.

Although authorities have not issued an official statement, the arrest comes weeks after a deadly military operation in the village on April 26, during which several people were killed. The victims were presented by the army as separatist fighters, an account that has continued to fuel debate locally.

‎Security sources are said to suspect the presence of armed separatist elements in Ndzerem Nyam and are questioning whether local complicity may have facilitated their activities. The Fon is reportedly being investigated on allegations of allowing or maintaining links with fighters operating in the area.

However, a statement released by the Ndzerem Nyam Development Association expressed concern over the monarch’s detention, describing his continued questioning as troubling for the community. The group insisted that the ruler has long been regarded as neutral and committed to maintaining peace.

“Many people who know him can testify to his peaceful, neutral, and responsible character,” the statement noted, adding that his presence in the palace during the crisis should not be interpreted as alignment with any armed group.

‎Complicating matters further, the Fon is also reportedly facing accusations from separatist factions, who allegedly suspect him of cooperating with government forces. This dual suspicion places the traditional leader in a precarious position, caught between opposing sides in a protracted conflict.

Across the North West and South West regions, traditional rulers have increasingly found themselves at the centre of the crisis. Some have been targeted by armed groups, while others have faced pressure or scrutiny from state authorities.

The absence of an official government position on the latest arrest leaves several questions unanswered, including the precise nature of the allegations and the legal steps that may follow.‎

Source: Lebledparle.com

Ex-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda reveals years-long Mossad intimidation

29, May 2026

Ex-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda reveals years-long Mossad intimidation 0

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda says she was subjected to a nearly decade-long intimidation campaign by Israel’s Mossad aimed at forcing her to abandon an investigation into Israeli war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Bensouda revealed in a speech in The Hague that she faced sustained coercion and intimidation, including threats, surveillance, and pressure targeting her family. Mossad sought to obstruct the ICC’s Palestine investigation through these measures.

Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen personally led parts of the operation, acting as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “unofficial messenger” in an effort to pressure the former prosecutor to drop the case.

Despite the pressure campaign, the ICC formally authorized a criminal investigation into the occupied Palestinian territories in 2021.

The reported intimidation effort began in 2015, after Bensouda opened a preliminary examination into violence in Palestine.

In one incident, unidentified individuals delivered an envelope containing $500 to her home, which she said was intended as a signal that she was under surveillance.

“They came directly to my house,” Bensouda told Al Jazeera. “I got the message that they’re sending.”

She later said the pressure escalated, including a secret meeting in New York where Cohen confronted her and warned that continuing the investigation could endanger her and her family.

Mossad is also reported to have conducted a smear campaign targeting Bensouda’s husband using transcripts of intercepted recordings in an unsuccessful attempt to discredit her.

Bensouda said she felt “left alone” and “unsupported” throughout the process, urging the European Union to strengthen protections for the ICC against foreign intimidation and sanctions.

The revelations come amid increased pressure on the court following requests for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Israeli war minister Yoav Gallant.

The intimidation campaign coincided with US sanctions imposed on Bensouda in 2020, followed by later measures targeting current ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and several judges, including asset freezes and restrictions on personal bank accounts.

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Yaoundé losing CFA 162.8bn a year to timber export mispricing

28, May 2026

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Yaoundé losing CFA 162.8bn a year to timber export mispricing 0

Cameroon is losing an estimated 162.8 billion CFA francs annually through illicit financial flows linked to timber export mispricing, according to a report released on May 26 by the Financial Transparency Coalition in Financial Secrets of the Forests: How Secrecy Fuels Deforestation in Brazil and Cameroon.

The report found that between 2013 and 2023, illicit financial flows in Cameroon’s timber sector averaged $289 million per year, nearly five times the $59 million annual loss estimated by the National Agency for Financial Investigation. The discrepancy stems from undervaluation of timber exports, where declared export values differ from import records reported by destination countries.

The analysis focused on Cameroon because of its position as Africa’s largest timber exporter. In 2025, the country recorded 105,000 hectares of primary forest loss, the highest on record.

Timber trade losses widen

The report identifies China, Vietnam, European Union countries and the United States among the main destinations where pricing discrepancies were recorded. According to the coalition, the losses represent foregone customs duties, taxes and other public revenues.

Cameroon has tightened forestry export policies in recent years, increasing duties on raw log exports from 17.5% in 2017 to 75% under the 2024 Finance Act, while preparing a ban on exports of 76 wood species from 2028 to encourage local processing. The report says illicit financial flows continue to undermine these efforts by allowing timber products to leave the country at under-declared values.

Matti Kohonen, Executive Director of the Financial Transparency Coalition, said:

“This report shows that billions of dollars are illicitly channelled each year from Global South countries through illegal deforestation and financial secrecy. The lack of public data on land ownership and beneficial ownership makes it difficult to trace who profits directly from forest destruction.”

Transparency gaps complicate enforcement

Researchers said financial and land ownership secrecy prevents authorities from identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of logging concessions.

Using Geographic Information Systems data, the coalition mapped forest concessions and ownership structures but said beneficial ownership information remains inaccessible, complicating enforcement efforts.

Jean Mballa Mballa, Executive Director of CRADEC in Cameroon, said:

“This report confirms that although Cameroon can map forest loss and identify the legal owners of concessions, beneficial ownership records remain closed. Without transparency, efforts to sanction illegal operators and enforce international anti-deforestation regulations will face serious limits.”

The report also states that Cameroon has continued granting logging licences to companies previously sanctioned for illicit trade, allowing some operators to continue exporting to markets that prohibit illegally sourced timber.

Trade rules and market access implications

The findings come as international market requirements tighten ahead of the European Union Deforestation Regulation, due to take effect in December 2026, prohibiting products linked to deforested land from entering EU markets.

Victor Galaz, associate professor at the Stockholm Resilience Centre and contributor to the report, said stronger transparency measures are increasingly tied to market competitiveness.

“Crimes linked to deforestation often thrive in opaque financial systems. Making ownership and concession data more accessible is essential not only for accountability but also for preserving long-term access to export markets.”

The Financial Transparency Coalition is calling for the creation of public beneficial ownership registries, improved access to land ownership records and publication of sanctions data related to environmental offences.

The report warns that unresolved transparency gaps could continue draining billions of francs from public revenues while exposing timber exports to compliance risks in international markets.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Kenya: Fire in girls’ school dorm kills 16

28, May 2026

Kenya: Fire in girls’ school dorm kills 16 0

The fire broke out shortly before 1:00 am local time at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, around 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of the capital Nairobi, officials said.

There have been many devastating school fires in Kenya, where boarding schools are common as a colonial legacy of missionaries and the British.

“We have 16 fatalities. It’s an unfortunate incident,” education minister Julius Migos Ogamba told reporters at the scene, without giving ages for the victims.

The affected dormitory had shattered windows, blackened walls and a crumpled corrugated iron roof, an AFP journalist saw.

Parents of the victims were in the process of being informed by health workers at the site mid-afternoon as bodies were identified.

A distraught mother, Leila Matura, 52, said her 18-year-old daughter was still missing.

“We went to the hospital to see if she is there, she is not there. So they are telling us, she is not around, she is among the missing,” she told AFP.

“Whether she is dead or alive, we do not know. I’m hopeless,” she added.

Another mother, who did not wish to be named, said her 17-year-old daughter was in hospital.

“She broke both her legs jumping from the window. Thank God she is strong. It is every mother’s nightmare,” she said.

The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers.

“When we arrived, the fire was still blazing. It was so big… It took about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames because of the mattresses inside,” a firefighter, who identified himself only as Fred because he was not authorised to speak to the press, told AFP.

–‘Unimaginable tragedy’-

Authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the fire.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters,” President William Ruto said on X, describing it as an “unimaginable tragedy”.

Children have been accused of deliberately starting school fires in Kenya in the past. One report found there were 63 arson cases at schools in 2018 alone.

Pupils were accused after a 2001 dormitory fire in the southern county of Machakos killed 67.

On Thursday the education minister said the ministry had closed around 350 schools since 2024 for failing to comply with safety standards.

“We will continue inspections to ensure that our schools meet the safety standards” in force, he pledged.

Source: AFP

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