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Below is a summary of the current world news briefing.
Ukraine says Russia engaged in ‘desperate resistance’ near Bakhmut
Advancing Ukrainian troops face “desperate resistance” from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut, a senior Ukrainian commander said on Friday. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is in charge of Ukraine’s ground forces, said that tensions in the east and Russia were sending its best divisions to the Bakhmut area with artillery and aircraft support.
Blinken heads to Beijing hoping to quell fears of U.S.-China breakup
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken heads to Beijing this weekend amid low expectations that he will make progress in a long string of disputes between the U.S. and China. But analysts say he and his Chinese counterparts can achieve at least one thing — showing that the world’s most important bilateral relationship is not derailed. Blinken will meet in China on June 18-19 and may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, the sources said. He will be the highest-level U.S. government official to visit China since Biden took office in January 2021.
Early warnings and timely evacuations help India avoid cyclone casualties
Early warnings, accurate identification of vulnerable areas and timely evacuations helped India avoid heavy casualties from Cyclone Bipajoy, which hit the west coast late Thursday, authorities said. Biparjoy, which means “disaster” in Bengali, hit Gujarat at speeds of up to 125 km/h (78 mph), ripping off roofs and uprooting trees and utility poles.
NATO may remove some hurdles for Ukraine to join NATO – Germany
NATO allies may be ready to remove some hurdles in Ukraine’s path to a military alliance, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday, a few days before a NATO summit aimed at bridging differences over Kiev’s accession. several weeks. “There are more and more indications that everyone can agree on this,” Pistorius told reporters in Brussels when asked about reports that the United States was willing to allow Kiev to forego a formal candidacy process that some other countries have required in the past. .
African leaders begin peace mission in Ukraine in defiance of Russian missile attack
A delegation of African leaders began a peaceful mission in Kiev on Friday, with Ukraine saying a salvo of Russian missiles aimed at meeting them in the capital had not been deterred. At least two explosions rocked the capital, but Mayor Vitali Klitschko said they were caused by air defense systems. He reported no fatalities or major damage in the city, but emergency services said four people were injured in the Kiev region, including a child.
NATO meeting fails to approve first defense plan since Cold War – sources
A meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels failed to agree on the alliance’s first defense plan since the end of the Cold War, two officials told Reuters on Friday. “While the regional plans have not been formally approved today, we expect them to be part of a set of deliverables from the Vilnius summit in July,” a senior U.S. official said.
Putin praises Russia’s economic performance, defends military spending
President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised the health of Russia’s public finances and said additional defense spending was needed to bolster national security as Moscow conducts what it called a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Speaking at a plenary session of Russia’s flagship St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said public finances were generally in balance and that the $42 billion budget deficit so far this year was largely attributable to delays in some planned spending.
Climate and Ukraine loom over tight Paris airshow
Global aerospace and defense companies will tackle pressing supply bottlenecks at next week’s Paris Air Show, held in the shadow of climate fears and a war economy, while touting a future of cleaner transportation and robotic weapons. The world’s largest aviation trade show, which alternates with Farnborough, UK, returned to Le Bourget for the first time in four years after the pandemic forced the cancellation of its 2021 edition.
Pope Francis discharged from hospital ‘in better health than ever’
Pope Francis was released from hospital on Friday morning, nine days after abdominal hernia repair surgery, his doctors said he was stronger than ever. The 86-year-old pope left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in a wheelchair, smiling and waving to reporters and well-wishers at the main entrance as he was led to waiting cars.
Greece searches for shipwreck survivors, emotional reunion amid despair
A Syrian teenager who survived a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people was emotionally reunited with his older brother on Friday, but other relatives gathered in the southern Greek city of Kalamata looking for loved ones with no news. Witnesses said 400 to 750 people packed the 20-30-meter-long (65-100 feet) fishing boat, which capsized and sank early Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.
(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and was automatically generated from a syndicate feed.)
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