*) Moscow 'ready to ensure' safe passage of ships leaving Ukrainian ports

Moscow is ready to ensure the safe passage of vessels from Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said amid concerns over grain stuck in Ukrainian ports.

Lavrov also said Moscow would not use the situation surrounding grain shipments in and around the Black Sea to advance its military operation in Ukraine.

He was addressing a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.

Cavusoglu said a United Nations plan to restart Ukrainian grain exports along a sea corridor was "reasonable" and requires more talks.

*) In a first, China and Russia defend North Korea vetoes at UN

China and Russia have defended their vetoes of a strongly backed US resolution that would have imposed tough new sanctions on North Korea.

China and Russia reiterated their opposition to more sanctions, blaming the US for tensions on the Korean peninsula while backing dialogue with North Korea.

Their defence came at a debate held under new rules requiring the UN General Assembly to examine any veto wielded in the Security Council by one of its five permanent members.

*) Algeria suspends 2002 friendship pact with Spain, bans imports

Algeria has announced it will suspend a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain and ban all imports from the European country.

Algeria alleged that Spain was abusing its role as an "administrating power" in Western Sahara and "contributing directly to the degradation of the situation" in the region.

Spain's government said it regretted Algeria's decision and reaffirmed its commitment to the friendship treaty.

*) IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution

The International Atomic Energy Agency has adopted a resolution criticising Iran for refusing to provide answers about uranium traces at three undeclared sites.

The 35-member IAEA Board of Governors passed the resolution with 30 votes in favour. Russia and China voted against it, while India, Libya and Pakistan abstained.

Meanwhile, Iran turned off two surveillance devices used by UN inspectors to monitor its uranium enrichment, as talks between Tehran and world powers on a nuclear deal remain stalled.

And, finally…

*) 'Unburnable' copy of Handmaid's Tale auctioned for $130,000

A specially commissioned, unburnable edition of Margaret Atwood's “The Handmaid's Tale" has been auctioned for $130,000, Sotheby's has announced.

Proceeds will be donated to PEN America, which advocates for free expression worldwide.

The 384-page book consists mainly of Cinefoil, a specially treated aluminium product, and was announced last month at PEN's annual fundraising gala.

*) Russia draws closer to capture of Ukraine's Donbass region

Russia is drawing closer to its goal of fully capturing Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories.

The Kremlin has claimed to have taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up the eastern Donbass region.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says that Moscow’s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province. Russia is also believed to be occupying roughly half of Donetsk province.

*) World Bank slashes 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9%

The World Bank has slashed its growth estimate for the global economy to 2.9 percent, 1.2 percentage points below the January forecast.

The world is expected to experience its sharpest deceleration following an initial recovery from global recession in more than 80 years, the bank has said in a report.

Growth recovered to 5.7 percent in 2021 following disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Russian offensive against Ukraine has caused a severe downturn.

*) Ending Israel's occupation key to halting violence: UN report

UN investigators have blamed Israel's continued occupation and discrimination against Palestinians for the endless cycles of violence in the decades-long conflict.

A team of investigators, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe "all underlying root causes" in the conflict, has pointed the finger squarely at Israel.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the report "a waste of money and effort" that amounted to a witch hunt.

*) US stresses allied cooperation in face of North Korea threats

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has met with her counterparts from South Korea and Japan.

Sherman has emphasised the US commitment to defend its allies and trilateral security cooperation.

The top-level meeting comes amid apprehensions that North Korea is pressing ahead with preparations for its first nuclear test explosion in nearly five years.

And, finally…

*) Ice skating governing body raises minimum age to 17

Ice skaters will have to be at least 17 to take part in senior competitions after the governing body voted to raise the minimum age from 15.

The decision by the International Skating Union came months after a drugs scandal at the Beijing Winter Olympics involving then 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.

A hundred countries voted to support the new measure, while only 16 opposed. Jan Dijkema, the skating union's president, called the decision historic.

*) Russia sanctions dozens of US citizens

Russia's Foreign Ministry has said that it is imposing sanctions on 61 US nationals.

It said the move was being taken "in response to the ever-expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, as well as representatives of domestic business."

The list includes US officials and former and current top managers of large American companies, such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

*) UK providing Kiev with 'exactly' the right weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United Kingdom has been providing weapons Kiev needs to fight Russia.

Britain, in coordination with the United States, will supply Ukraine with multiple-launch rocket systems that can strike targets up to 80 kilometres away as part of a new UK military aid for Kiev.

*) Johnson survives no-confidence vote

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has narrowly survived a confidence vote instigated by members of his own party.

Johnson wins backing of 211 out of 359 Conservative lawmakers, more than simple majority needed to remain in power, but still sees a significant rebellion of 148 MPs.

The simmering discontent with Johnson is a result of his participation in illegal parties during the coronavirus lockdown. The so-called Partygate scandal led to a daming report and Johnson becoming the first serving British Prime Minister to have broken the law.

*) Iran close to making nuclear bomb

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran is "very close" to enriching nuclear material to required levels for nuclear weapons.

He stressed the need to work with the country to combat its "very ambitious nuclear programme".

The IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told journalists in Vienna that there is evidence that suggests Iran is continuing to develop new centrifuges.

And, finally…

*) Türkiye’s Cappadocia hosts 1M tourists

Türkiye’s globally renowned Cappadocia region in the central Nevsehir province has attracted one million tourists in the first five months of this year.

A total of 1.03 million domestic and international visitors came to explore the charming touristic hub, famed for its distinctive fairy chimneys, underground cities, cave hotels, and hot air balloon rides.

While it hosted over 1.1 million visitors in the same period of 2019, the number of tourists who visited Cappadocia decreased drastically in 2020, to around 323,000, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

*) Putin warns the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West against sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine.

His warning came as Russian forces claimed to have destroyed Western military supplies in their first such air strikes on Ukraine's capital in more than a month.

Putin said all this fuss around additional deliveries of weapons to Ukraine has only one goal, that is, to drag out the armed conflict as much as possible.

*) UK to give Ukraine long-range missile systems

Britain says it will mirror the United States and send long-range missile systems to Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence said London has coordinated closely with Washington over its gift of the multiple-launch rocket systems to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

*) Dozens dead in Nigeria attack

Nigerian officials say at least 50 people are dead, and dozens of others are injured in Nigeria's southwestern Ondo State after gunmen opened fire inside a church.

The attackers entered the church as the service got under way, firing live rounds on congregants before detonating explosives that were already planted inside.

People who managed to escape were also shot by attackers waiting outside. Authorities have accused nomadic herdsmen of carrying out the attack as a warning to the local governor.

*) Deadly fire in Bangladesh

A massive fire swept through an inland container depot in southeastern Bangladesh, killing at least 49 people and injuring more than 300, local officials say.

The fire broke out at a container facility early on Saturday at Sitakunda, 40 kilometres from the port city of Chittagong, triggering multiple container explosions after a huge blast at the site.

The death toll could rise as some of the injured are in critical condition, according to civil service officials.

And, finally…

*) Zendaya's 'Euphoria' and 'Spider-Man' win at MTV awards

Zendaya dominated the MTV Movie and TV Awards as her teen drama "Euphoria" and big-screen superhero blockbuster "Spider-Man: No Way Home" were voted best show and best movie respectively.

Zendaya won best performance in a show for "Euphoria," HBO's often bleak and hard-hitting look at modern teen life, which also won offbeat awards for "best fight".

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" - by far the biggest box office hit since the pandemic - won best movie. The film has earned almost $1.9 billion worldwide, and is the third -biggest hit for domestic theaters ever.

*) Russia's offensive in Ukraine enters 100th day as fighting rages

Ukraine has marked 100 days of Russia's offensive as fighting rages across the east of the country and Moscow's forces tighten their grip on Donbass.

The sombre milestone came on Friday as Kiev announced Moscow was now in control of a fifth of Ukrainian territory. This includes Crimea and parts of Donbass seized in 2014.

Following White House talks with US President Joe Biden, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that Ukraine's allies needed to brace for a gruelling "war of attrition".

*) Biden makes emotional appeal for action on gun violence

US President Joe Biden has made a fervent appeal for lawmakers to pass tougher gun control laws, including a ban on assault weapons.

Biden made the address with 56 lighted candles arrayed along a corridor behind him, representing US states and territories suffering from gun violence.

After a spate of deadly attacks, Biden condemned the refusal of a majority of Republican senators to support tougher laws.

*) Yemen’s warring parties agree to renew two-month truce

Yemen’s warring parties have agreed to renew a nationwide truce for another two months, a rare bright spot for a country plagued by eight years of war.

The ceasefire between Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthi rebels first came into effect on April 2nd.

The new announcement came just a few hours before the original truce was set to expire. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the move.

*) Four Kenyans shot dead in protest against dangerous wildlife

Four protesters have been shot dead during a demonstration in Kenya against threats posed by wildlife.

Protesters blocked a highway and clashed with security forces, resulting in Thursday's fatal shootings, authorities said. Police are set to investigate the incident.

Residents have repeatedly called on the Kenya Wildlife Service to find a solution to conflicts between people and animals. Farmers are upset that elephants destroy their crops and at times kill people.

*) Rolex worn by prisoner during WWII 'Great Escape' up for auction

A Rolex watch worn by a British prisoner during a daring escape from a Nazi concentration camp is going on sale in New York.

The watch was worn by RAF Flight Lieutenant Gerald Imeson on March 24, 1944, when a group of Allied soldiers undertook the escape.

Christie's said the steel watch with a black luminous dial and hands was "instrumental in the planning and execution" of their bid for freedom.

The company expects the timepiece to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000 at the June 9 auction.

*) Zelenskyy: Russia forcefully took 200,000 Ukrainian children

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that 200,000 children are among the Ukrainians who have been forcefully taken to Russia.

They include children from orphanages, children taken with their parents and those separated from their families, he said.

In a video address, Zelenskyy called it a "criminal policy". He alleged that the purpose of the move "is not just to steal people but to make those who are deported forget about Ukraine and unable to return".

*) Gunman kills four at Tulsa hospital in new US mass shooting: Police

A gunman has killed at least four people at a hospital campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma, police said. It was the latest in a string of deadly assaults by gunmen in America.

The suspect, who was armed with a rifle and a handgun, was killed in Wednesday’s attack at the St. Francis Health System hospital campus.

The incident comes close on the heels of an 18-year-old gunman killing 21 people, including 19 young children, at an elementary school in the small Texas town of Uvalde.

*) Erdogan: Türkiye, Pakistan to boost cooperation at all levels

Türkiye and Pakistan are determined to increase bilateral cooperation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

He said the two sides have comprehensively discussed relations as well as regional and global issues. He was addressing a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Ankara.

Türkiye and Pakistan are ready to further strengthen ties "with a strategic perspective in line with the history, friendship and potential of the two countries", Erdogan added.

*) Tunisia's Saied sacks 57 judges

Tunisia's president has sacked 57 judges, accusing them of corruption and protecting terrorists in a purge of the judiciary.

In a televised address, President Kais Saied said on Wednesday he had "given opportunity after opportunity and warning after warning to the judiciary to purify itself".

Last summer, Saied dismissed the government and seized executive power in a move his critics called a coup.

And, finally…

*) Depp jubilant, Heard 'heartbroken' after split defamation verdict

A US jury has found both Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard liable for defamation, but sided more strongly with Depp following an intense trial.

The seven-member jury in Virginia awarded the 58-year-old actor $15 million in damages after finding that a 2018 article penned by Heard was defamatory to Depp.

The jury also found that Depp had made defamatory claims against the 36-year-old Heard and awarded her compensatory damages — but a much lower amount of $2 million.

*) US to send Ukraine advanced weapons

President Joe Biden has said the United States will send more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to help it fight off Russia's forces.

A US official said the weapons being sent are High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which have precision-guided munitions and a longer range than those currently deployed by Ukraine.

While some analysts suggest they could be a "game-changer", others say they should not be expected to suddenly turn the tables for Ukrainian forces facing heavy Russian fire in the east.

*) Cavusoglu: Lavrov to visit Türkiye for talks on Ukraine exports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Türkiye for talks on unblocking grain exports from Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said.

Cavusoglu said Lavrov — accompanied by a military delegation — will arrive in Türkiye on June 8 "for talks on the issue of opening a security corridor" in the Black Sea.

Dozens of ships are blocked in Ukrainian ports that are surrounded by Russian forces, choking off exports of wheat, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs.

*) Australia PM Albanese gets a diverse cabinet

Australia's new ministry has been sworn into office with a record 13 women. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet also includes religious minorities and Indigenous Aboriginals.

Youth Minister Anne Aly is Australia’s first female Muslim minister, while Industry Minister Ed Husic is another Muslim face in the government.

Linda Burney became the first Aboriginal woman to hold the Indigenous Australians ministry.

*) Hurricane kills 11, leaves 20 missing in south Mexico

Hurricane Agatha has caused flooding and mudslides that have killed at least 11 people and left 20 missing in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca.

Officials said rivers overflowed their banks and swept away people in homes, while other victims were buried under mud and rocks.

Agatha was the strongest hurricane ever recorded to come ashore in May during the eastern Pacific hurricane season. It made landfall on Monday, but quickly lost power as it moved inland.

*) Nadal downs Djokovic to reach 15th French Open semi-final

Rafael Nadal has edged a classic against old rival Novak Djokovic in four sets to reach his 15th French Open semi-final.

The 13-time Roland Garros champion won the pair's 59th career meeting 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) after a four-hour-and-12-minute quarter-final.

"I'm very emotional. For me it's incredible to play here," the 35-year-old said, sealing his eighth victory in 10 French Open matches against last year's winner, Djokovic.

*) Russian forces face stiff resistance in Ukraine's Donbass

A Moscow-backed separatist leader has said that Russian forces had not advanced as rapidly as they had hoped in the battle for Sievierodonetsk.

Russia has been seeking to seize the entire Donbass region, consisting of Luhansk and Donetsk, which Moscow claims on behalf of separatist proxies.

Capturing the easternmost city of Sievierodonetsk would give Moscow effective control of Luhansk and allow the Kremlin to declare some form of victory after more than three months of the conflict.

*) EU agrees ban on 'more than 2/3' of Russian oil imports

European Union leaders have reached a compromise to impose a partial oil embargo on Russia at a summit focused on helping Ukraine with a delayed package of sanctions that was blocked by Hungary.

The watered-down embargo covers only Russian oil brought in by sea, allowing a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline.

EU Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter the agreement covers more than two-thirds of oil imports from Russia, "cutting a huge source of financing for its war machine…”

*) Nepal recovers all bodies from site of plane crash

Civil aviation authorities in Nepal have said they recovered the last body from the wreckage site of a small passenger plane carrying 22 people that went missing over the weekend.

"We have found the last missing body," Deo Chandra Lal, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said.

Lal also said preliminary investigations have found that the cause of the crash could be "adverse weather conditions."

*) Biden to meet Fed chair as inflation bites pocketbooks

President Joe Biden is set to meet with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as soaring inflation takes a bite out of Americans' pocketbooks.

The meeting will be the first since Biden renominated Powell to lead the central bank and comes weeks after his confirmation for a second term by the Senate.

The White House said the pair would discuss the state of the US and global economy and especially inflation, described as Biden's “top economic priority."

And, finally…

*) 3,400-year-old city discovered in northern Iraq

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient city dating back to the Mittani Empire around 3,400 years ago in the Tigris River in Duhok province, Iraq.

Bekes Birifkani, director of historical artifacts and culture in the province explained that the area was inhabited until 1985, before the Mosul Dam was built in 1990, leaving the area submerged under water.

Noting that more than 2,000 historical sites have been discovered in the city so far, Birifkani said this year's excavations also yielded important results.

*) Russia damaged 1997 Founding Act by attacking Ukraine – NATO

NATO is no longer bound by past commitments to hold back from deploying its forces in eastern Europe, the US-led alliance's deputy secretary general has said.

Moscow itself has "voided of any content" the NATO-Russia Founding Act, by attacking Ukraine and halting dialogue with the alliance, Mircea Geoana said.

"Now we have no restrictions to have robust posture in the eastern flank and to ensure that every square inch of NATO's territory is protected by Article 5 and our allies,” Geoana said.

*) European Union leaders to reiterate support for Ukraine

European Union leaders will meet to reiterate support for Ukraine as Russian forces intensified attacks to capture Sievierodonetsk, a key city in the Donbass region that Moscow has prioritised taking full control over.

Incessant shelling has left Ukrainian forces defending ruins in the city, but their refusal to withdraw is stalling a massive Russian offensive across the Donbass.

"Some 90 percent of buildings are damaged. More than two-thirds of the city's housing stock has been completely destroyed. There is no telecommunication," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a televised speech.

*) 14 bodies retrieved from Nepal plane crash site: aviation authority

Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far from the wreckage of a plane that crashed into a mountainside in Nepal with 22 people on board, the country's Civil Aviation Authority has said.

"...Search continues for the remaining. The weather is very bad but we were able to take a team to the crash site…." the Authortity’s spokesperson told reporters.

*) China looks for security pact in Pacific Island summit

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with leaders and top officials from ten Pacific Island nations, stirring deep Western concern.

The virtual summit is expected to discuss proposals for China to increase its involvement in the security, economy and politics of the South Pacific.

Wang is in the Fijian capital Suva, where he will co-host a virtual meeting with regional foreign ministers.

And, finally...

*) Thousands celebrate Real Madrid's Champions League win in Spain

About 400,000 Real Madrid fans flocked to the Spanish capital to join the players for a celebration of their record-extending 14th European Cup triumph.

Traffic restrictions had been in place all over Madrid since the weekend as supporters started celebrations for the team's fifth Champions League crown in nine years.

The winning team paid their traditional visit to the Almudena Cathedral to offer the trophy to the Virgin of Almudena, patroness of Madrid.

*) Ukraine's Zelenskyy accuses Russia of 'genocide' in Donbass

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of carrying out a "genocide" in the eastern region of Donbass.

In a televised address, Zelenskyy said Moscow's bombardment could leave the entire region "uninhabited".

Pro-Moscow separatist groups have since 2014 controlled parts of Donbass, but Russia now appears set on taking the whole region.

*) Palestine: Israeli troops deliberately killed Al Jazeera reporter

Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by a bullet fired directly at her by an Israeli sniper, Palestinian attorney general Akram Al-Khatib has said.

Al-Khatib shared the details based on the Public Prosecution’s report in Ramallah city. He said an Israeli sniper fired the bullet at Abu Akleh’s head while she was trying to escape.

Fifty-one-year-old Abu Akleh was shot and killed on May 11 while she was covering an Israeli military raid near the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

*) Blinken says US doesn't seek 'conflict or new Cold War' with China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for vigorous competition with China to preserve the existing global order, but said his country doesn't seek a "new Cold War".

Blinken also said that Beijing posed "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order" despite months of US focus on Russia's assault on Ukraine.

The long-awaited speech on Thursday is being seen as the most comprehensive statement to date on China by President Joe Biden's administration.

*) Türkiye: Military ops on southern border necessary for national security

The Turkish National Security Council has said operations across Türkiye's southern borders do not target neighbours' territorial integrity, but are necessary for its national security.

In a statement after a meeting on Thursday, the council also urged countries violating international law by supporting terrorism to "put an end to this attitude".

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would take steps to complete the remainder of a 30-kilometre safe zone along its southern border.

And, finally...

*) 'Goodfellas' actor Ray Liotta dead at 67

Actor Ray Liotta, who starred in Martin Scorsese's gangster classic "Goodfellas," has died in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67.

Liotta, whose portrayal of mobster Henry Hill in Scorsese's crime masterpiece won universal admiration, was shooting a new film in the country when he died.

Police said emergency services were called early on Thursday morning to a hotel in Santo Domingo where they found Liotta already dead.