LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologized Friday for leaving D-Day commemorations in France early to return to the election campaign trail — a decision slammed as disgraceful by his political rivals.
Sunak, who is fighting to keep his job in Britain’s July 4 election, said that, “on reflection” the decision was a mistake.
Sunak was not alongside leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for the major memorial event at Omaha Beach in Normandy on Thursday.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who is now foreign minister, represented the UK
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, the current favorite to win the election, attended and was pictured meeting Zelensky and other leaders.
Sunak had earlier attended a ceremony at the British memorial in Normandy alongside King Charles III and surviving World War II veterans. He also attended a commemoration in Portsmouth, England, the day before.
Sunak wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion that helped free Europe from the Nazis “should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics.”
He added: “On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer — and I apologize,” he wrote.
The prime minister recorded an interview with broadcaster ITV on Thursday after returning from France, though he said that was not the reason he cut short his trip.
Sunak insisted he “stuck to the itinerary” that had been laid out for him for D-Day weeks before he called the election.
“On reflection it was a mistake not to stay longer and I’ve apologized for that, but I also don’t think it’s right to be political in the midst of D-Day commemorations,” he said. “The focus should rightly be on the veterans and their service and sacrifice for our country.”
A clip released from the interview by ITV showed Sunak denying opposition allegations that he lied by making inaccurate statements about the opposition Labour Party’s tax plans.
Starmer said “Rishi Sunak will have to answer for his choice” to skip the D-Day event.
“For me there was only one choice. ... There was nowhere else I was going to be,” Starmer told broadcasters.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said it was “a total dereliction of duty” for Sunak to skip the ceremony.
Nigel Farage, leader of the populist Reform UK party, said “patriotic people who love their country” should not vote for Sunak. Farage is seeking to siphon off Conservative voters with his populist, anti-immigration positions. He is sure to raise the D-Day episode in a seven-party televised debate later Friday. All the main parties will be represented, though Sunak and Starmer are not due to take part.
Craig Oliver, who was communications director to Cameron’s Conservative government, said “the problem for Rishi Sunak this morning is he’s accused of not getting what it is to be a prime minister and what his duties are as a prime minister.”
All 650 seats in the House of Commons are up for grabs on July 4. The leader of the party that can command a majority — either alone or in coalition — will become prime minister.
D-Day veteran Ken Hay, 98, said Sunak’s decision to “bail out” had let the country down.
“I don’t have a great regard for politicians,” Hay told Sky News.
Rishi Sunak apologizes for skipping a D-Day ceremony to return to the election campaign trail
https://arab.news/yah2p
Rishi Sunak apologizes for skipping a D-Day ceremony to return to the election campaign trail
- Sunak, who is fighting to keep his job in Britain’s July 4 election, said that, “on reflection” the decision was a mistake
- Sunak had earlier attended a ceremony at the British memorial in Normandy alongside King Charles III and surviving World War II veterans
Unilever’s Ben & Jerry’s calls war in Gaza a ‘genocide’
- We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza: statement
NEW YORK: The independent board of Ben & Jerry’s said the ongoing conflict in Gaza is a genocide, setting up the ice cream maker for another tussle with its London-based corporate parent Unilever.
“Ben & Jerry’s believes in human rights and advocates for peace, and we join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza,” the board said in a statement viewed by Reuters. “We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza-from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest.”
Russia accuses ally Serbia of betrayal for supplying arms to Ukraine
- Serbian arms exports to Ukraine have long been known since 2023, but it’s not clear why the Russian foreign security service decided to react now
- Serbia denied it exported arms to Ukraine after Moscow demanded to know if it had delivered rockets for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion
BELGRADE, Serbia: Russia on Thursday accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it’s a stab in the back by its longtime Slavic Balkan ally.
“Serbian defense enterprises, contrary to the ‘neutrality’ declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, SVR, said in a statement.
The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine are going through NATO intermediaries, “primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria. Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose.”
Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic told the state RTS television that he has recently discussed the issue of the arm exports to Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that it was agreed that the two countries form a “working group” to establish how Serbian-made weapons reach the Ukrainian frontlines.
Serbian arms exports to Ukraine, mostly the Soviet-era-caliber ammunition still used by Ukraine’s defense forces, have long been known since 2023, but it’s not clear why the Russian foreign security service decided to react now.
In March, Serbia denied it exported arms to Ukraine after Moscow demanded to know if it had delivered thousands of rockets for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
The SVR statement said the arms sales are being carried out through a “simple scheme using fake end-user certificates and intermediary countries” serving as “a cover for anti-Russian actions.”
It added: “The contribution of Serbian defense industry workers to the war unleashed by the West, the outcome of which Europe would like to see as a ‘strategic defeat’ of Russia, amounts to hundreds of thousands of shells ... as well as a million rounds of ammunition for small arms.
“It is unlikely that such supplies can be justified by ‘humanitarian considerations.’ They have one obvious purpose — to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population of Russia.
“It seems that the desire of Serbian defense industry workers and their patrons to profit from the blood of fraternal Slavic peoples has made them completely forget who their real friends are and who their enemies are.”
The attacks on Serbia from the East and West “are frequent because it leads autonomous and independent policies,” Vucic said.
Although claiming he wants Serbia to join the European Union, Vucic has maintained close relations with Russia. He defied EU warnings and attended Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. EU officials said that it was inappropriate for Vucic to stand side by side with Putin, considering Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vucic has said his decision to attend the parade, which marked the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, was part of efforts to maintain “traditional friendships” — Russia is a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian nation — while seeking EU entry.
Serbia, which relies almost fully on Russia for its energy supplies, has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hasn’t supported most EU statements condemning the aggression.
Russia-Ukraine talks ‘barely’ alive, says United Nations official
- “Cautious hope” for truce diminished in face of recent “brutal surge in largescale Russian attack, says official
- Russia launched its largest drone attack Monday on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion
UNITED NATIONS: Hope is “just barely” alive in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, a senior UN official said Thursday, denouncing the recent “brutal surge in largescale Russian attacks” against Ukraine.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the “cautious hope” she expressed a month ago has diminished in the face of recent aggressions.
“According to Ukrainian officials, with 355 drones, Monday’s attack was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” DiCarlo said, adding: “This topped the previous record from the night before.”
Despite no declaration of a ceasefire, DiCarlo praised diplomatic efforts in Istanbul on May 16 when Ukrainian and Russian delegations met, saying “it is encouraging that the sides have reportedly agreed to continue the process.”
Russia’s deadly invasion began in February 2022.
“The massive wave of attacks over the weekend is a stark warning of how quickly this war can reach new destructive levels. Further escalation would not only aggravate the devastating toll on civilians but also endanger the already challenging peace efforts,” DiCarlo said.
“The hope that the parties will be able to sit down and negotiate is still alive, but just barely,” DiCarlo said.
The US representative added that prolonging the war was not in anyone’s best interest.
“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict,” said John Kelley, acting US alternate representative.
“Additional sanctions on Russia are still on the table.”
The Kremlin said Thursday that it was awaiting Kiev’s response to its proposal for new talks in Istanbul next Monday.
Ukraine, which accuses Russia of buying time, seeks Moscow’s conditions before any meeting.
“Serious, demonstrable and good faith efforts are needed — now — to get back on the road that could lead to a just peace. A full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is such an effort, if only an initial one,” DiCarlo said.
According to the UN, a “just peace” respects sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“A peace process will not be easy, and it will take time. But it must not wait. The people of Ukraine, especially, cannot wait.”
Macron decorates Indonesia leader, announces cultural partnership
- Says partnership would be based on cinema and fashion, video games, design and gastronomy
- Macron’s trip to Indonesia is the second stop of a three-nation, six-day tour of Southeast Asia
MAGELANG, Indonesia: French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed Indonesia’s leader with France’s top award on Thursday, before announcing a new cultural partnership with Jakarta on a visit to the world’s largest Buddhist temple.
Macron’s trip to Indonesia is the second stop of a three-nation, six-day tour of Southeast Asia that began with Vietnam and concludes in Singapore.
After meeting for talks in the capital Jakarta, Macron and his counterpart Prabowo Subianto flew by helicopter on Thursday from Javan city Yogyakarta to a military academy in Magelang, a city surrounded by mountains in Central Java.
The pair attended a military parade and Macron gave Prabowo the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest military or civil award.
Prabowo is an ex-general accused of rights abuses under dictator Suharto’s rule in the late 1990s. He was discharged from the military over his role in the abductions of democracy activists but denied the allegations and was never charged.
Macron rode in a jeep driven by Prabowo with the pair welcomed by a marching band and hundreds of students waving Indonesian flags.
Macron then visited Borobudur, a Buddhist temple built in the 9th century that is the world’s largest, where the pair announced they were boosting cultural ties.
“In front of this temple, we are taking an important step by launching a new cultural partnership,” said Macron.
“The first pillar is heritage and museum cooperation. The second pillar is cultural and creative industries,” he said.
Macron said the basis of the new partnership would be cinema and fashion, as well as video games, design and gastronomy.
The French leader will now depart for Singapore where he will deliver the opening address Friday at the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum.
On Wednesday, the pair called for progress on “mutual recognition” between Israel and the Palestinians at a key meeting next month as Macron brought the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation into his diplomatic efforts.
“Indonesia has stated that once Israel recognizes Palestine, Indonesia is ready to recognize Israel and open the diplomatic relationship,” said Prabowo.
Indonesia has no formal ties with Israel and support for the Palestinian cause among Indonesians runs high.
The nations also signed a series of agreements on cooperation in a range of fields including defense, trade, agriculture, disaster management, culture and transport.
Torrential rains kill 25 in Nigerian city: rescuers
- Flooding after a rainstorm late Wednesday washed away or submerged at least 50 homes
- 10 people remained missing on top of the confirmed dead
KANO: Torrential rains devastated the central Nigerian city of Mokwa and killed at least 25 people, emergency services said Thursday amid a search for more bodies.
Flooding after a rainstorm late Wednesday washed away or submerged at least 50 homes in the city and 10 people remained missing on top of the confirmed dead, an emergency management official said.
“The surging flood water submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants,” said Abdullahi Baba-Arah, director general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Divers and volunteers one woman and her two children, who were being treated in hospital for “wounds and shock.”
Nigeria is hit by flooding every rainy season, which runs between May and September.
The floods are largely caused by inadequate drainage, the construction of homes on waterways, and the dumping of waste in drains and water channels.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Niger state, between Wednesday and Friday.
In 2024, more than 1,200 people were killed and 1.2 million displaced in one of the country’s worst floods in decades.
