While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 22, 2025
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for greater momentum in negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
PHOTO: AFP
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Zelensky says new peace talks in Turkey on July 23
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia - the first in seven weeks - are planned for July 23 in Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quoted a senior Kyiv official as saying on July 21.
Mr Zelensky appealed earlier in the day for greater momentum in negotiations.
Russia’s state Tass news agency quoted a source in Turkey as saying the talks would take place on July 23. The RIA news agency, also quoting a source, said they would take place over two days, July 24 and 25.
The Kremlin said it was waiting for confirmation of the date of the talks but said the two sides were “diametrically opposed” in their positions on how to end the war.
UK, France and 23 other nations condemn Israel
PHOTO: AFP
A group of 25 Western countries including Britain, France, and Canada said on July 21 Israel must immediately end its war in Gaza and criticised what they called the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians, including hundreds near food distribution sites.
The countries in a joint statement condemned what they called the “drip feeding of aid” to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was “horrifying” that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid.
The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, which the United States and Israel backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations.
Italy cancels concert with pro-Putin conductor
PHOTO: AFP
Italian authorities have cancelled a classical concert scheduled for July 27 following criticism over the attendance of a top Russian conductor shunned in the West since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Valery Gergiev, who is widely regarded as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been expected to lead an Italian orchestra and soloists from St Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, which he heads, on July 27.
The Reggia di Caserta, a grand 18th-century palace near Naples which had been due to host the concert, said in a short statement on July 21 that the event had been called off. It gave no reason.
Arsenal’s Martinelli welcomes new signings
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
In a summer where transfer speculation has circled largely over Arsenal’s front three and what it may look like come the start of the season in August, winger Gabriel Martinelli has instead extended a warm welcome to the club’s new signings and vows to do his best for the team.
The Gunners are in town for this week’s Singapore Festival of Football where they will play friendlies against AC Milan on July 23 and Newcastle United on July 27 at the National Stadium.
Arsenal have been busy in the ongoing summer transfer window. Noni Madueke, their fourth and most recent acquisition from city rivals Chelsea, will offer star player Bukayo Saka some much-needed competition on the right wing.
Star of The Cosby Show dies by drowning at 54
PHOTO: REUTERS
American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Bill Cosby’s son Theo Huxtable on the 1980s groundbreaking television hit The Cosby Show, died at age 54 on July 21 by drowning, a law enforcement source confirmed to Reuters.
Warner was vacationing in Costa Rica with his family, media reported.
The Central American nation’s judicial investigation department (OIJ) confirmed that a US citizen with the last name Warner had drowned after being pulled out to sea by a rip current.
