May 14 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has not been seen in public since Tuesday, did not appear on Sunday at a ceremony in the capital, Minsk, triggering speculation that the veteran leader is seriously ill.

The BelTA state news agency reported that Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko read a message from Lukashenko during an annual ceremony at which young people swear allegiance to the ex-Soviet state's flag.

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (APP)::UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed Saturday night’s ceasefire agreement in Israel and Gaza and reiterated that only a negotiated political solution will lead to lasting peace and end the devastating cycles of violence “once and for all.”

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Sunday evening, the UN chief welcomed the truce that had been reached between the sides on Saturday and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the violence.

CANBERRA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced funding to establish a national and reliable flood warning network.

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, and Murray Watt, Minister for Emergency Management, on Monday said 236 million Australian dollars (157.2 million U.S. dollars) will be spent over the next decade on the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network to protect communities from disasters.

SEVASTOPOL, May 15. /TASS/: Sberbank has opened its first regional branch in Sevastopol, which is the second decision of the bank on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, a TASS correspondent reported from the opening ceremony on Monday.

A modular office has been installed near the Musson department store, with a parking lot nearby.

The beginning of operation of the country’s largest financial institution in the city will positively influence the quality of banking services provided to clients, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said at the ceremony.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration wants to put conserving vast government-owned lands on equal footing with oil drilling, livestock grazing and other interests, according to a top administration official who defended the idea against criticism that it would interfere with industry.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.

Yoon has met twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in recent weeks, demonstrating their intent to overcome historical grievances that have strained ties for years and to strengthen cooperation in response to shared challenges, including a nuclear-armed North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

KIEV, May 15 (NNN-UNIAN) – At least 21 people were injured, in a drone attack on the outskirts of Khmelnytskyi city, in western Ukraine, local media reported yesterday, citing authorities.

The Khmelnytskyi regional military administration, confirmed that a combat drone, fired by the Russian forces, hit a critical infrastructure facility outside the settlements, causing explosions.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Rescuers early Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet ) deep along western Myanmar’s coast after a powerful cyclone injured hundreds and cut off communications. Damage and six deaths have been reported, but the true impact was not yet clear in one of Asia’s least developed countries.

14 May 2023; MEMO: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the main opposition candidate's policy goals toward Syrian refugees as "inhuman" and "un-Islamic", days before the landmark presidential elections are set to proceed.

BEIJING, May 14 (APP):Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque has advised Pakistani students studying in Chinese universities to focus on their studies and learn from China’s high-quality development and progress.

Speaking at ‘Students Forum’ held at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing on Sunday, the Ambassador briefed the students about the significance of China-Pakistan bilateral relations and ongoing cooperation in diverse fields.

HANOI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The mid-term session of the 13th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) opened in Hanoi on Monday, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Chaired by General Secretary of the CPVCC Nguyen Phu Trong, the session was scheduled to review the leadership of the 13th CPVCC's Political Bureau and Secretariat and to conduct a vote of confidence on the members.

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/: Moscow has categorially refuted the opinion recently voiced by Paris that Russia is purportedly in a state of so-called vassal dependence on China, stating that such rhetoric exudes a complete misunderstanding of the nature of Russian-Chinese relations, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.