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Ukraine denies Russian takeover of Kostiantynivka, a key eastern city
Ukraine's 'general staff' rejected Russian claims on Saturday that Moscow's forces captured the key eastern city of 'Kostiantynivka. "We ?deny this. "These are fake claims," said a member of the general staff. The General Staff stated that Kostiantynivka remains under Ukrainian control. It said that "military units and subunits of 19th Army Corps" continue to conduct offensive operations on designated lines in the town as well as its approach. The Russian military informed President Vladimir Putin, on Friday, that it had taken control of Kostiantynivka. This strategic target has been sought by Moscow for a long time in its advance across the Donetsk Region. Kostiantynivka, the southernmost settlement of the four that make up the defensive line in Ukraine's attempt to keep the heavily industrialised Donetsk Region. Analysts believe that capturing Kostiantynivka would 'give Russian forces an advantage to push north on the 'defensive belt. This is now the main axis of the campaign. The Russian military has been claiming to control parts of Kostiantynivka for some time. This is one of the heavily fortified cities in Ukraine's "fortress belt", which includes Donetsk. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk. Mark Potter (Editing)
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Russian officials claim that a major drone attack on St Petersburg has been carried out by Ukraine.
St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city and the surrounding Leningrad area were hit by a major Ukrainian drone attack over night. A Baltic Sea port which handles oil exports was also reported to have been affected. Alexander Beglov, the governor of St Petersburg, said that the city's?6-million population had been subjected to a "large scale" drone attack. He did not give any details about specific targets but the local media outlet Bumaga reported that there was a fire in the oil terminal of St Petersburg. Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad region, said that drones struck the port of Vysotsk located about 170 kilometers (105 miles), northwest of St Petersburg in the Gulf of Finland. The port is used to handle oil, grain and coal. Drozdenko said 72 drones had been shot down in the Leningrad area. Ukraine has intensified its?strikes against Russian energy infrastructure in the past year, causing fuel shortages throughout Russia. St Petersburg is about 900km (560miles) from Ukrainian-held territory. Drones have occasionally attacked St Petersburg. The?city's?oil terminal and a moored?warship were among the targets during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum held in June. Reporting by Felix Light. Felix Light is the author. Mark Potter (editing by Felix Light)
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Officials say that a Russian bombing attack in Ukraine's Sumy killed at least four people, but other areas were also affected
According to Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov, the massive Russian glide bomb strike in the middle of Sumy, northern Ukraine, killed at least four people on Friday, including a child. Six people were killed in other areas of the Sumy region, and southeastern Ukraine. Hryhorov, who was at the epicenter of the strike in Sumy, wrote on Telegram: "A high-rise apartment block, a store and a road." There were many people. Children." Hryhorov confirmed that the dead included both a five-year-old girl and her mother. He said that the injured, including a child aged 13 in a'serious condition, were being treated at hospitals. Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared pictures of the aftermath, showing medics treating the wounded, a blood-stained strip of pavement, two abandoned sandals, and a building that was reduced to rubble. He urged Ukraine's allies to intensify their pressure on Russia in order to stop the terror. The border with Russia is the Sumy region. This area, which is under constant attack by Russian forces, lies on that border. In recent months, Moscow has tried to extend what it calls a buffer zone within the region. One person was killed earlier in the day when Russian forces fired glide?bombs close to the city of Sumy. In the Dnipropetrovsk Region, over 50 strikes using drones, artillery, and bombs resulted in the deaths of three people. Two of these were near Nikopol, which is a town located on the other side Dnipro River to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Oleksandr Hanzha, regional governor, said via Telegram that 12 people were injured. Ivan Fedorov, regional governor, said that two people were killed during a recent attack in Zaporizhzhia. The city has been the target of many deadly attacks in recent years. Total of 21 people have been injured. Fedorov claimed that new attacks on the city were launched late at night. Could not independently verify the accounts. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, observed a "day of mourning" a day after the Russian missile and drone strike that killed at least thirty people. This was the deadliest attack on the city in this year. (Reporting and editing by Philippa Fetcher, Rod Nickel; Oleksandr Kozoukhar)
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Sources: FIFA is considering changing the kickoff times for Mexico-England, Brazil-Norway and Mexico-England.
FIFA may change the kickoff time of two World Cup matches on Sunday due to severe weather in Mexico City, which includes a 'risk of flooding', that threatens to disrupt the schedule. One source stated that the weather forecast could cause the Estadio Azteca match between Mexico and England to be moved forward. Mexican media reported the match will start at noon local time, instead of its original 6 p.m. (0000 GMT) scheduled start. Another source stated that any change in the fixture would affect Brazil's match with Norway in New York. The match is currently scheduled to begin at?4 pm local time (2000 GMT). The Brazilian Football Confederation's (CBF) spokesperson said the match between the five-times champions of the world could be "delayed" by one hour. FIFA didn't confirm immediately the Mexican media reports after being contacted by. Rain delayed Mexico's match against Ecuador in the last 32 earlier this week. The conditions of the game could change if the proposed changes to the Mexico-England match are confirmed. The teams may not be able to enjoy the relative cooler temperatures of a night kick-off but instead face the hottest sun and hottest temperatures of the day. The forecast for Sunday is for temperatures between?23 and 25 degrees Celsius in the midday hours, with a high UV Index. This is despite the fact that the altitude of the capital keeps it cooler than other World Cup venues. A NEW PHYSICAL CHALLENGE A stadium at 2,200 meters in altitude would require a start earlier, which would increase the physical importance of energy management. The thinner air can reduce oxygen availability and accelerate fatigue, making it more difficult to perform high-intensity runs for athletes who have not been acclimatised. Mexico, which has played three of its four 2026 World Cup games at the Azteca?sofar, and is accustomed to training and living at altitude, may benefit from this switch. Thomas Tuchel, England's manager, has acknowledged that the hosts have "a huge edge" and said his team does not have time to adapt physically before the knockout match. When asked about reports of a time-change, England forward Marcus Rashford replied that the team will be prepared for whatever the circumstances. He told reporters in Kansas, "I think it's the exact same for us, you know how we prepare for games." It must remain the same. We have to remain focused and ready to face anything. I believe this is a strength of the team and all the staff, as well as the players. "We are ready to face any challenges that come our way, so... obviously, it is not ideal but also,?it does not matter." Morgan Rogers, England's midfielder, added: "I don't believe it affects us. I believe we'll be ready regardless of time. The earlier the better because you want to enjoy it. We'll be prepared for whatever time comes. (Writing and reporting by Ossian Shines; additional reporting by Mexico City Bureau; editing by Ken Ferris, Daina Beth Solon, and Ken Ferris)
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Officials say that six people have been killed in three different areas by Russian attacks
Regional officials reported that six people were killed in three different regions of Ukraine by Russian attacks on Friday. Three people were killed in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk Region by more than 50 strikes, including bombings and artillery. Two of these attacks took place near Nikopol, which is a town located on the other side of the Dnipro River, opposite the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, held by Russia. Oleksandr Hanzha, regional governor of the region, said on Telegram that 12 people were injured. Ivan Fedorov, regional governor, said that two people were killed by a strike in the northeast, on the city Zaporizhzhia. This is a target of deadly attacks which has been frequented recently. Seventeen people were ?hurt. Oleh Hryhorov, regional governor, said that in Sumy, a city near the Russian border where Russian forces have launched glide bombs on the city, a person has been killed. Russian forces have been trying to create a buffer zone for a long time. Prosecutors said earlier that a Russian drone attack overnight on a home?in the northern part of Sumy Region killed four. Could not independently verify the accounts. Kyiv observed a national day of mourning a day after the Russian'missile and drone attacks? killed at least 30 people in the city. This was the deadliest attack on the capital this year. (Reporting and editing by PhilippaFletcher; OleksandrKozhukhar, Ron Popeski)
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Keiko Fujimori declared winner of Peru presidential race
The country's electoral office declared Keiko Fujimori the winner of the Peruvian presidential race on Friday, after weeks of contests, protests, and allegations of fraud. Fujimori, in her fourth attempt at the presidency, won the runoff on June 7, with 50.135%. This was just 50,000 votes ahead of Senator Roberto Sanchez, who received 49.865%. This narrow margin reverses the narrow defeat Fujimori experienced in 2021 when she was defeated by former leftist president Pedro Castillo. Castillo, who tried to dissolve Congress in the year 2022, was impeached by Congress and sent to jail. Sanchez, seen as Castillo’s political successor, has said that he won't recognize Fujimori’s government, despite claiming electoral fraud without evidence. Sanchez was boosted by rural voters in Peru and won the race by a small margin. He led protest marches and filed a complaint with the Inter-American commission on Human Rights challenging the election. Fujimori, on the other hand, was boosted by the voters of Lima's capital and she also won the overseas votes by a large margin. This helped her win. The long, tight race highlighted the deep polarization of the country and the political turmoil which has led to the oustings of several presidents in the past decade. The right-wing leaders have praised the victory of Fujimori. When she takes office on July 28th, Fujimori will be the 10th President to assume power since 2016. She will replace interim president Jose Balcazar who was appointed in February following a series dismissals of presidents over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Fujimori's victory reaffirms Latin America’s shift to the right. Other conservative leaders from the region, including Argentina's Javier Milei and Chile's Jose Antonio Kast, as well as El Salvador's Nayib Bukele, have congratulated her. In a Tuesday statement, U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio congratulated Fujimori, saying the Trump administration is looking forward to enhancing cooperation in security, trade, and investment. The markets were also pleased with her victory, as they had been shaken by the prospect that Sanchez would win. Moody's released a report on Thursday stating that a Fujimori-led government would preserve policy continuity, boost investor confidence and help sustain the country's growth. This could be a way to unlock mining projects that have been delayed in Peru. Peru is the world's third largest copper producer. A DIVISIVE DYNASTY Fujimori is 51 years old and the daughter of the late President Alberto Fujimori. Alberto Fujimori ruled Peru with an iron hand from 1990 to 2000, and was credited for defeating Maoist rebels and taming hyperinflation. The Fujimoris remain a controversial family in Peru. Alberto spent 16 years behind bars for human rights violations?and Keiko was investigated over allegations of campaign financing, which were dropped in the last year. She spent nearly a year-and-a-half in prison during two pretrial detentions between 2018 and 2020. Fujimori will now have to unite a polarized nation with a Congress that is prone of removing presidents. The country is also faced with a 'vast economic divide' between Lima, the capital city, and rural areas where protests and clashes occurred after Castillo left office. Over 60 people died in these areas. These areas were also the bastion of Sanchez's support, and his party, Together for Peru holds the second largest bloc in Congress, with Fujimori party having the most seats.
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Fermi CEO Neugebauer suspends proxy campaign after judge's recusal
Toby Neugebauer is the co-founder of Fermi and the largest shareholder. He announced on Friday that he had'suspended' his proxy campaign to call a special general meeting. This was after a Texas Business Court Judge recused himself just before an upcoming hearing disrupted the schedule for a strategic review. Neugebauer stated that more than 70% of votes cast to date supported a special meeting. However, the judicial delays made it impossible for new directors to be seated in time to oversee "a true dual-track process" to meet the financial and leasing requirements of the company. Please see below for more details. Neugebauer has said that he will continue to press the court for a ruling on Fermi’s supermajority of 70% bylaw. He has criticised this measure as an entrenchment measure. He said that Glass Lewis and Egan Jones had both endorsed the?proxy campaign. * He said that he was confident Fermi - which supplies power to data centers amid a boom in artificial intelligence - could secure the tenant 'group', provided talks were held with the same parties as before he left. (Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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Portugal seeks support from the EU, Spain and Morocco as wildfire risks rise
Luis Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal, said on Friday that Portugal had asked the EU and Morocco for extra firefighting aircraft in case wildfires grew during the current heatwave. He explained that the unusual decision was not prompted by a lack of resources but rather by an "exceptional" situation in the near future, when "the entire country faces a high risk of wildfires." He told a press conference that it was better to have support from our EU allies, and neighbours, than divert resources away from the parts of the country they were currently deployed in. This is why Lisbon activated EU Civil Protection Mechanism as well as bilateral agreements with Spain. IPMA has issued a red weather warning for parts of Portugal, where temperatures are exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Portugal's mainland is in a state-of-alert until Monday evening. Authorities have restricted access to some forest areas and banned forestry work with machinery. Farmers are also prohibited from carrying out controlled burns. Civil protection authorities reported that more than 2,800 firefighters were fighting six wildfires in?Portugal, with 864 vehicles, 32 aircraft and other support. The?largest fire was burning in Viseu district, central Portugal. (Reporting and editing by William Maclean; Sergio Goncalves)
Trump will mark the 250th anniversary of US with a rally in campaign style on National Mall
U.S. president?Donald Trump is set to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States on Saturday, with a political event on a fenced off National Mall in Washington. The rally will cap a celebration lasting weeks that has been described as divisive. Washington's annual?celebration of July 4?usually draws hundreds of thousands. This year, visitors will have to deal with increased security and possible thunderstorms as well as a record-breaking temperature wave.
The crowds were sparse initially, but they have grown in recent days. Visitors are now forced to wait for entrance lines that stretch several blocks. Frank DiGiovine said that gift shops and restaurants near the Smithsonian Institution near the event had reported sales nearing records on Friday.
The temperature reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday afternoon (39 degrees Celsius) and people near the National Mall waited in line at security checkpoints for prime viewing spots of a fireworks show that wasn't due to begin for several hours.
It's part of my contract," Glen Solander said, 60, a visiting software engineer from Sioux Falls in South Dakota.
WHITE NATIONALISTIC GROUP ARRIVES Patriot Front, a white nationalist group, was also among the visitors. The group announced on social media its arrival in the capital. Hundreds of people dressed as members of the group traveled to the city by D.C. Metro train. Local police claimed that they had not received any violence reports.
Trump has billed his 10:10 p.m. ET (0200 Sunday GMT) appearance at the Lincoln Memorial as "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all." The Lincoln Memorial appearance at 10 p.m. ET (0200 GMT Sunday) was billed as "the most spectacular Trump rally of all time."
The past presidents of the United States have avoided making in-person public appearances during July 4 celebrations. But Trump has blurred that line between official commemoration, and campaign-style politics. Freedom 250, a Trump administration group, has largely ignored a nonpartisan organization set up in 2016, which was responsible for handling the 250th anniversary. It has also fenced off a large portion of the National Mall (1.5 miles / 2.4 km) to host a "Great American State Fair", featuring attractions like a Ferris?wheel and displays by conservative groups.
Freedom 250 claims the fair's goal is to show the innovations and people that make America "the greatest nation in the world." Many Democratic-led state delegations declined to attend, and performers who were scheduled to appear canceled their appearances due to concerns over partisanship.
Trump kicked off the event on June 24, with a rally. The?Freedom 250 brand is also used for a 'faith rally with mostly conservative Christian speakers and a number of sports events. One such event was a mixed martial arts card on the White House grounds to celebrate Trump's 80th Birthday. IndyCar racing in Washington is scheduled for August. Freedom 250 also sponsors "Freedom Trucks", which critics claim paint an overly-religious?version of American?history and gloss over issues like slavery and racial justice.
A /Ipsos survey found that the majority of Americans, including the three quarters of Democrats and the half of Republicans, believe the events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States have become too political. Trump's efforts to transform large swaths in the capital city before the 250th anniversary celebration have had mixed results. Many statues and fountains have been renovated. However, the much-touted 15 million dollar renovation of Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool has had problems. The pool's algae-covered waters and peeling paint are now under the watchful eye of soldiers and security cameras. Andy Sullivan, Jana Winter, Alistair Bell and David Gregorio edited the story.
(source: Reuters)