*) Evacuation calls as Russians advance in Ukraine's Donbass

Ukraine has called on civilians to urgently evacuate the Sloviansk city in the Donetsk region as Russian troops press towards it in their campaign to secure the Donbass region.

The governor of the Donetsk region said at least two people have been killed and seven others wounded in an attack on a marketplace in Sloviansk.
He told Ukrainian media that his "main advice is evacuate!"

Sloviansk has been subjected to "massive" Russian bombardment following Russia’s seizure of the Luhansk region.

*) Senior UK cabinet ministers resign, plunging govt into chaos

Two of the United Kingdoms’ most senior ministers have resigned in a move that could spell the end of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership after months of scandals.

Rishi Sunak resigned as finance minister and Sajid Javid as health secretary.
Both said they could no longer tolerate the culture of scandal that has stalked Johnson for months.

The resignations followed the allegations that the UK PM failed to come clean about a lawmaker who was appointed to a senior position despite claims of sexual misconduct.

*) Palestinian killed during Israeli raid in West Bank

A Palestinian man has been killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20-year-old Rafiq Riyad Ghannem was shot dead near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

Israel says it conducts military raids due to security risks, but rights groups argue that they have been deployed as a tool to suppress Palestinian resistance.

At least 70 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire since the beginning of this year.

*) South Korea warns of stern retaliation in case of provocation from North

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered the military to "promptly and sternly" retaliate in case of any North Korean provocation.

Yoon called for strong capabilities to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes after presiding over his first meeting with top military commanders.

North Korea has this year been conducting missile tests at an unprecedented pace and is believed to be preparing for its seventh nuclear test.

*) Muslim pilgrims begin largest Hajj since Covid pandemic

The largest Hajj pilgrimage since the pandemic took over the world has kicked off, with hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected to circle Islam's holiest site in Saudi Arabia's Mecca.

This year's Hajj will commence, with 1 million fully vaccinated Muslims expected to participate.

It is a major break from two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic.

The pilgrimage consists of a series of religious rites that are completed over five days in Islam's holiest city and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia.

*) Putin declares victory in eastern Ukraine region of Luhansk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared victory in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk.

Putin said that the military units “that took part in active hostilities and achieved victory” in Luhansk, “should rest, increase their combat capabilities.”

The declaration came as Russian forces tried to press their offensive deeper into eastern Ukraine after Kiev confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk.

*) Ukraine reconstruction estimated to cost $750B

Allies of Ukraine meeting in Switzerland have been set to adopt a declaration spelling out the principles and priorities of rebuilding the war-shattered country.

Kiev said the recovery "is already estimated at $750 billion", insisting that seized Russian assets should be used to pay for the recovery.

It also proposed that allied countries "adopt" specific regions of Ukraine, and lead the recovery there to render it more efficient.

*) July 4 mass shooting

Police have arrested a suspect after a mass shooting left six dead at a US Independence Day parade in a wealthy Chicago suburb.

Emergency officials said around two dozen people, including children, were treated for gunshot injuries, with some in critical condition.

In another July 4 shooting, two police officers were wounded when they came under fire during a fireworks display in Philadelphia.

The shootings are part of a wave of gun violence plaguing the US, where approximately 40,000 deaths a year are caused by firearms.

*) Italy declares state of emergency in drought-hit regions

Italy has declared a state of emergency in five northern regions over a worsening drought that has plagued the region in recent weeks.

The government said the state of emergency will last until December 31, announcing a 38 million dollar fund to help those affected.

Italy is facing an unusually early heatwave and a lack of rainfall, and has been hit by its worst drought in 70 years.

*) Joey Chestnut wins July 4 hot dog contest

Joey Chestnut has wolfed down 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win again the annual July 4 competitive eating contest.

Chestnut has now won 15 times, though the recent 63 hot dogs fell way short of the record he set in 2020 when he downed 76 hotdogs in just 10 minutes.

For that, Chestnut apologised to the crowd and said he would do better next year.

*) Russia claims Luhansk, Ukraine vows return

Russia has gained full control over Ukraine's Luhansk region after capturing the last major city, Lysychansk, following weeks of fierce fighting with Kiev’s forces.

The Ukrainian army said its soldiers had retreated from the strategic eastern city in order to preserve the lives of Ukrainian defenders.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to restore control over the area.

Ukrainian authorities said Russia would shift the main focus of its offensive to trying to seize all of the Donetsk region.

*) Ukraine recovery meet to open in Switzerland

Leaders from dozens of countries, international organisations and the private sector have gathered in Switzerland to hash out a plan to rebuild conflict-hit Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned that the work ahead in the areas that have been liberated alone was "colossal".

He added that over 2,000 villages and towns in the east and south of Ukraine still had to be freed.

The two-day conference had been planned well before Russia launched its full-scale offensive on February 24, originally slated to discuss reforms in Ukraine.

*) Copenhagen mall shooting

A gunman has opened fire in a Copenhagen shopping mall, killing three people and wounding several others.

The suspected gunman, a 22-year-old Danish man, is in custody.

Danish police believe the shooting was not terror-related.

They said the gunman acted alone and appears to have selected his victims at random.

*) Evacuations in Australia’s Sydney

Australia has ordered thousands of people in Sydney to evacuate as overflowing rivers have swamped swathes of land.

Australian authorities said about 32,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings in New South Wales.

On the third day of torrential rains on the east coast, rescuers said they had saved about 20 people in the past 12 hours, many trapped in cars on flood-swept roads.

And finally…

*) Biggest hajj pilgrimage since pandemic

Muslims from across the world have packed the streets of Mecca as Islam's holiest city prepares to host the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic.

One million people, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's Hajj after two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic.

Authorities say at least 650,000 overseas pilgrims have arrived so far to converge on the holy city to retrace the Prophet Muhammad's last pilgrimage.

*) Missile strikes leaves many dead in Ukraine's Odessa

Seventeen people have been killed in missile strikes on an apartment building and recreation centre in southern Ukraine's Odessa region, authorities said.

Fourteen were killed and 30 wounded in the strike on a nine-storey apartment block, the emergency services said on Telegram.

Odessa military administration spokesperson said the missiles were fired by aircraft that flew in from the Black Sea.

Greece says Türkiye has 'reasonable concerns' on terrorism

Türkiye has legitimate concerns about terrorism, the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, telling media at the NATO summit that Ankara "paid a heavy price".

He said Türkiye has some reasonable concerns when it comes to the issue of terrorism perpetrated by organisations like PKK or YPG.

“Türkiye has paid a heavy price for such terrorist acts," Mitsotakis told a press conference at the summit in Madrid.

*) China's Xi swears in new Hong Kong chief on its handover anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong's new leader John Lee as the city marked the 25th anniversary of its return from Britain to China.

Xi said Hong Kong's "true democracy" started after the city's handover to China from colonial Britain 25 years ago.

He said after reuniting with the motherland, Hong Kong's people became the masters of their own city.

*) Anti-coup protests turn deadly in Sudan as thousands take to streets

Four Sudanese demonstrators have been killed with thousands of anti-coup protesters taking to the streets demanding an end to the military rule.

Protesters urged the reversal of the October military coup by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan that prompted foreign governments to slash aid, deepening an economic crisis.

Security forces were reported to have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrations.

And finally…

*) N. Korea suggests balloons flown from South brought Covid-19

North Korea has suggested its Covid-19 outbreak began in people who had contact with balloons flown from South Korea.

Activists for years have flown balloons across the border to distribute hundreds of thousands of propaganda leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said there was no chance South Korean balloons might have spread the virus to North Korea.

*) Finland, Sweden get official invite to join NATO after Türkiye's consent

NATO has officially invited Finland and Sweden to become members of the alliance.

The announcement came as part of the Madrid summit declaration following the meeting of NATO heads of state and government.

NATO welcomed the conclusion of the trilateral memorandum between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden.

Israel lawmakers dissolve parliament, set election for November 1

Israel’s parliament has voted to dissolve itself and send the country to the polls in November for the fifth time in less than four years.

Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister and architect of the outgoing coalition government, will become the country’s caretaker prime minister just after midnight on Friday.

He will be the 14th person to hold that office, taking over from Naftali Bennett, Israel's shortest serving prime minister.

New elections will be held on November 1.

*) Amnesty accuses Russia of bombing Mariupol theatre

A theatre sheltering civilians destroyed in March in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was likely hit by a Russian air strike in a "war crime," says Amnesty International report.

Oksana Pokalchuk, head of Amnesty's Ukraine branch said "We were speaking about an alleged war crime. Now we can clearly say it was one, committed by the Russian armed forces,"

She dismissed the Russian claims that the theatre was hit in a false-flag attack by the city's Ukrainian defenders.

*) US govt 'supports' F-16 fighter jet sales to Türkiye

The Biden administration has thrown its support behind the potential sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye.

Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary for Defense for International Security Affairs at Pentagon, told media that strong Turkish defence capabilities would reinforce NATO's defences.

Wallander said that the US supports Türkiye's modernisation of its fighter fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security.

And finally…

*) First ever 'Africa Fashion' exhibition opens in UK

UK's most extensive exhibition of African fashion is set to open in London, showcasing designers past and present, as well as the continent's diverse heritage and cultures.

"Africa Fashion", at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is the country's first exhibition dedicated to the medium.

The exhibition includes objects, sketches, photos and film from across the continent, starting from the African liberation years to up-and-coming contemporary designers.

*) Türkiye's memorandum with Sweden, Finland

Turkiye has lifted its objection to the NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland, after a breakthrough in talks in Madrid.

Ankara had previously blocked the two countries from joining the military alliance over concerns about arms exports and terrorism.

In a memorandum, Finland and Sweden agreed to fully co-operate with Türkiye in the fight against terror groups, including the PKK, its offshoots and the FETO.

Sweden and Finland also agreed not to impose embargoes on the Turkish defence industry.

*) Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls for Russia's expulsion from UN

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Russia's expulsion from the United Nations.

Zelenskyy urged the UN to establish an international tribunal to investigate "the actions of Russian occupiers on Ukrainian soil" and to hold the country accountable.

"We need to act urgently to do everything to make Russia stop the killing spree," Zelenskyy said.

*) US, allies creating 'Asian NATO' – NK media

North Korea has said that joint drills by the United States, South Korea and Japan are part of a dangerous prelude to the creation of an "Asian version of NATO".

Pyongyang accused the US of having a "sinister aim" toward North Korea.

It also accused Washington of fomenting a new Cold War.

*) Inmates die in Colombia prison fire

At least 52 inmates have been killed and 26 more injured after a fire broke out during a prison riot in southwestern Colombia.

The tragedy occurred when rioting inmates set a fire, attempting to prevent police from entering their enclosure at the prison in the city of Tulua.

Authorities had initially said they were investigating whether the incident occurred as part of an escape attempt, but later said it was a riot.

And finally…

*) Hamilton, F1 condemn Nelson Piquet

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Formula One have condemned former world champion Nelson Piquet's racially offensive term against the British driver.

Piquet reportedly uttered the Portuguese version of the N-word against Hamilton.

Hamilton said that these archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in the sport.

Formula One backed Hamilton, stressing that discriminatory and racist type of language "has no part in society".

*) Russian missile strike hits crowded shopping mall in Ukraine

A Russian missile strike on a crowded mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has killed at least 16 people.

59 others were wounded in the strike, the head of Ukraine’s emergency services said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it fired missiles against a weapons depot, with the subsequent explosion of ammunition triggering a fire in a nearby shopping mall.

The Group of Seven leaders had condemned the attack as a “war crime", saying Russian President Putin and those responsible would be held to account.

*) G7 vows to stand with Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’

G7 leaders have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes" in the face of the Russian onslaught.

In a statement from the G7 summit in Germany, the group said they would continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

They also urged Moscow to allow grain shipments to leave Ukraine.

*) Dozens found dead in trailer in US state of Texas

At least 46 migrants have been found dead inside a tractor-trailer in the US state of Texas.

The cause of death was indicated as suffocation.

The incident appears to be one of the most deadly recent incidents of human smuggling along the US-Mexico border.

A local fire department official said 16 people, including 12 adults and four children, were transported to the hospital.

Police said three people were detained.

*) Toxic gas explosion at Jordan’s Aqaba port

A toxic gas explosion has killed at least 10 people and injured more than 250 in Jordan's Aqaba port.

A container of 30 tonnes of toxic gas plunged from a crane on a moored vessel as an iron rope that was carrying it broke, resulting in the escape of the poisonous substance.

Officials said specialists and the civil defence were dealing with the incident.

Nearby areas were evacuated and residents told to stay indoors.

*) Tokyo faces worst June heatwave since 1875

Japan’s capital Tokyo has faced the worst heatwave for June in more than 150 years.

The city saw three successive days of temperatures topping 35C, marking the worst streak of hot weather in June since records began in 1875.

At least two people are believed to have died from heatstroke, media said, as the number of hospitalisation cases from heat stroke rose.

Authorities asked residents in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity to avoid a looming power cut.

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