ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) – President Vladimir Putin on Friday hailed Russia’s economic outlook, saying it has managed to curb inflation and ease its reliance on energy exports. His optimistic account in a speech contrasted with somber statements by some members of his government.
Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere – the summer solstice. Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It’s the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start.
CAIRO (AP) – A breakdown in communications networks in central and southern Gaza has cut many Palestinians off from the outside world for the past week, further straining aid efforts and emergency services amid continuing Israeli bombardment.
Israel and Iran exchanged strikes a week into their war Friday as new diplomatic efforts appeared to be underway. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared headed to Geneva for meetings with the European Union’s top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) – Aziza Melech felt her body relax for the first time in days when she settled onto her inflatable mattress in an underground station of Israel’s light rail system on a recent evening. For the next few hours, at least, the 34-year-old event planner wouldn’t need to run every time a siren warning of Iranian missiles sounded.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region.
BRUSSELS (AP) – The success of a key NATO summit hung in the balance on Friday, after Spain announced that it cannot raise the billions of dollars needed to meet a new defense investment pledge demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump.
LONDON (AP) - U.K. lawmakers on Friday approved a bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives. The vote backing what is generally termed "assisted dying" is potentially the biggest change to social policy in the U.K. since abortion was partially legalized in 1967.
