ST. PETERSBURG, June 16. /TASS/: The United Arab Emirates is ready to assist in any way possible the efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday.

"Regarding Ukraine, thank you for your words. You can be certain that if the UAE can play any role in stabilizing the situation, in humanitarian issues, we are ready to assist in any way possible," the UAE president said.

NAIROBI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenya borrowed 504.37 billion shillings (about 3.61 billion U.S. dollars) from external lenders in the financial year 2022/2023, the National Treasury said Friday.

The loans were taken from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and through syndicated facilities and projects, noted the Treasury in a statement released in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

The total disbursements from project loans as of June 12 stood at 1.21 billion dollars, said the institution.

KALAMATA, Greece, June 16 (Reuters) - A Syrian teenager who survived a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people off Greece was emotionally reunited with his elder brother on Friday, but there was no news for other relatives searching for loved ones.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed the 20- to 30 metre-long (65- to 100-foot) fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

OTTAWA, June 15 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed in the Canadian prairie province of Manitoba on Thursday after a semi-trailer truck hit a small bus that was carrying a group of mainly elderly people, police said.

The crash is one of the most lethal road accidents in recent Canadian history.

The crash occurred at the junction of two major roads near the town of Carberry in southwestern Manitoba, 170 km (105 miles) west of Winnipeg. The bus passengers had been on their way to a casino in Carberry, CBC News reported, citing a casino spokesperson.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic extremist rebels killed at least seven farmers in northeast Nigeria, an attack that further threatens food security in the hard-hit region, local authorities told The Associated Press on Friday.

The militants attacked the farmers on Thursday as they worked on their crop fields near Borno state’s Molai area, the authorities said.

14 June 2023; MEMO: The administration of US President, Joe Biden, has quietly recommenced negotiations with Iran to secure the release of American prisoners and curb Tehran's nuclear program, according to a report Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the US approved the release of €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) held by Iraq for Iranian electricity and gas imports, citing those close to the discussions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI investigators who searched Harold Martin’s Maryland property in the fall of 2016 found classified documents — including material at the top secret level — strewn about his home, car and storage shed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Moments after Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he hoarded classified documents and then conspired to obstruct an investigation about it, the Republicans in Congress had his back.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy dashed off a fundraising email decrying the “witch hunt” against the former president and urging donors to sign up and “stand with Trump.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell steered clear of criticizing the former president, refusing to engage in questions about the unprecedented indictment.

14 June 2023; MEMO: Parliament delivered a surprise blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition on Wednesday by electing an opposition member to sit on a committee that appoints judges, a panel at the heart of a political battle over Israel's justice system, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday preserved the system that gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children, rejecting a broad attack from some Republican-led states and white families who argued it is based on race.

The court left in place the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which was enacted to address concerns that Native children were being separated from their families and, too frequently, placed in non-Native homes.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 15 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Thursday called on countries to phase out coal and other fossil fuels to avert climate “catastrophe”, saying the world’s response to deal with the impending disaster was “inadequate”.

“We are hurtling towards disaster, eyes wide open”, he said. “It’s time to wake up and step up.”

14 June 2023; MEMO: China is willing to play a positive role to help the Palestinians achieve internal reconciliation and promote peace talks with Israel, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Palestinian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

"The fundamental solution to the Palestinian issue lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," Xi said, according to Chinese state media.