. REUTERS (CANADA)
Putin says peace talks with Ukraine are at dead end
President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday peace talks with Ukraine had hit a dead end, using his first public comments on the conflict in more than a week to vow his troops would win
. AP (USA)
South Africa’s Durban Area Hit By Heavy Floods, 45 Dead
Prolonged rains and flooding in the Durban area of South Africa have claimed the lives of at least 45 people, damaging the port, major highways and surrounding areas in KwaZulu-Natal province, according to local officials.
. THE RIO TIMES (BRAZIL)
Chile will ration water use
The plan features a four-level alert system that goes from green to red and begins with public service announcements, moves to restricting water pressure, and ends with rotating outages of up to 24 hours for approximately 1.7 million customers.
. NIKKEI ASIA (JAPAN)
Hong Kong’s John Lee locks in backing for top job
Hong Kong’s former security chief John Lee on Wednesday threw his hat in the ring to become the city’s next chief executive, after winning strong backing from a Beijing-controlled election committee that all but guarantees him the job.
. TASS (RUSSIA)
Kiev refusing to ensure safe passage of foreign ships from its ports — defense ministry
Ukraine’s authorities demonstratively refuse to discuss issues of safe passage of foreign ships from Ukrainian ports, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, said on Tuesday.
