- Germany enters Section 2 of emergency fuel plan
- Russia launching assaults on Kharkiv in diversion try, says Ukraine
- EU leaders grant Ukraine candidate standing
- Cruise missiles hit Mykolaiv
This text was final up to date at 20:41 UTC/GMT
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Large help for becoming a member of EU in Ukraine
DW’s Nick Connolly in Kyiv mentioned that though there was elation and reduction in Ukraine over the information that the nation had been granted EU candidate standing, “Celebrating on the streets isn’t an possibility as a result of there is a curfew right here.”
Connolly mentioned the announcement was “positively an enormous deal.”
“Polls present that there’s big help for EU membership, throughout all ages, throughout all areas of Ukraine,” he mentioned. “It is mainly the query that unites this nation greater than the rest. Even within the east you may discover upwards of 85% of individuals in favor of EU membership.”
Connolly known as the information a “morale enhance” after the “disappointment” of weapons coming solely slowly from European nations. He mentioned the impression in Kyiv is that there have been “numerous visits and declarations of solidarity, however nothing very concrete up to now, so that is actually step one the place Ukrainians say, ‘that is one thing we will construct on … that is one thing … we will think about our future in Europe.'”
US to ship additional $450 million in protection assist to Ukraine
Washington will ship one other $450 million (€428 million) in navy assist to Ukraine, mentioned US officers Thursday. The bundle, which comes on the heels of a $1 billion navy assist bundle introduced final week, will embody extra HIMAR medium-range missile programs.
An preliminary supply of HIMARS arrived in Ukraine earlier within the day. The brand new bundle may even embody ammunition and different materiel.
Ukraine has constantly requested for such assist from Western companions as Russia’s invasion grinds on. Kyiv says the arrival of HIMARS will enable its troops to assault Russian forces a lot farther afield. At the moment, it has primarily been confined to preventing the invaders in shut quarters whereas on the identical time being subjected to everlasting long-range Russian shelling.
US officers say Ukraine’s forces underwent three weeks of coaching earlier than the brand new weaponry may very well be moved into the theater.
General, the US has supplied over $6 billion in navy assist to Ukraine. The weapons promised on this newest bundle can be taken from the US’ personal stockpile of arms.
Cruise missiles hit Mykolaiv
As preventing in Luhansk continues, the southern port cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa got here below assault as properly. Three cruise missiles are reported to have struck Mykolaiv, whereas Ukraine says it shot down two extra missiles close to Odesa.
The Russian navy claims the strikes in Mykolaiv hit military gas tanks and navy gear.
Ukrainian troops could retreat to keep away from encirclement in Luhansk
Regional Governor Serhiy Haidai on Thursday mentioned Ukrainian troops in the important thing metropolis of Lysychansk could also be compelled to retreat. Lysychansk and neighboring Sievierodonetsk are the final cities within the Luhansk area nonetheless below Ukrainian management.
Gaidai mentioned troops had been below risk of encirclement by invading Russian forces after these captured two close by villages. Ought to each Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk fall, Moscow could be nearer to taking the whole area — one among its major aims within the battle.
The Normal Employees of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed the state of affairs, although didn’t say whether or not troops would in actual fact be retreating.
Talking on nationwide tv, Governor Haidai mentioned, “So as to keep away from encirclement, our command might order that the troops retreat to new positions. All of Lysychansk is inside attain of their [the Russian army’s] fireplace. It is vitally harmful within the metropolis.”
Russia has pummeled the japanese industrial area in an try and wrest complete management of it for separatists it has supported there since 2014.
In what has grow to be a brutal battle of attrition, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian military’s commander-in-chief, say his troops have been, “compelled to conduct a cell protection to occupy extra advantageous traces and positions.”
Ukraine & Moldova made EU candidate members
Leaders of the European Union have determined to make Ukraine and Moldova official candidates for membership of the bloc.
European Council President Charles Michel made announcement after discussions amongst leaders of the EU’s 27 member states.
The EU’s 27 nations have been largely united in backing Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, adopting unprecedented financial sanctions in opposition to Moscow. Simply 4 days after Russia launched its battle, Ukraine utilized to grow to be a member of the EU.
Earlier on Thursday, the European Parliament voted in favor of granting Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate standing.
Member states had been initially divided on how shortly the bloc ought to settle for Ukraine as a member, with the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark among the many most skeptical.
However Ukraine’s bid acquired a lift final week when the European Fee gave its endorsement based mostly on Kyiv’s solutions to a questionnaire.
Ukraine information symbolic European courtroom case in opposition to Russia
In a symbolic transfer, Kyiv has formally filed a courtroom case in opposition to Russia on the European Courtroom of Human Rights.
Ukraine says it’s demanding an finish to “gross human rights violations” by Moscow’s forces.
The trouble has no actual likelihood of success. The Russian parliament having authorized two payments earlier in June to finish the courtroom’s jurisdiction in Russia.
“The Courtroom can be invited to seek out that Russia has been responsible of essentially the most flagrant, critical and sustained violations of the Conference ever positioned earlier than the Courtroom, and to award simply satisfaction on an equally unprecedented scale,” a Ukrainian Justice Ministry assertion mentioned.
The submitting covers the primary interval of the battle, from February 24 till April 7, when Russia successfully withdrew its floor forces from round Kyiv and different northern cities.
The ministry mentioned there could be subsequent filings to cowl later occasions.
PM Johnson says UK might assist demine, insure shipments of grain on Black Sea
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday supplied his nation’s help in demining waters within the Black Sea with a view to facilitate grain transport. He additionally mentioned the UK might present maritime insurance coverage for vessels touring these waters.
Talking in Rwanda, Johnson instructed reporters, “What the UK presumably has to supply, most of all, is experience relating to maritime insurance coverage, and plenty of experience in shifting items by ought to we are saying contested areas of the ocean.”
Russian sea blockades have prevented the cargo of greater than 20 million tons of grain at the moment saved in silos. Ukraine is among the world’s largest grain exporters and the blockade has pushed meals costs to document highs.
Furthermore, the state of affairs, which the EU labeled a “battle crime” this week, has left thousands and thousands in poorer international locations struggling to eat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, earlier this month, mentioned the blockade of his nation’s ports had put the world, “on the point of a horrible meals disaster.”
Johnson known as the Russian blockade, “completely unconscionable,” including, “That provide might assist folks all over the world, it might assist a number of the poorest international locations on this planet.”
London’s insurers have labelled the whole area “high-risk.”
2023 Eurovision can’t be staged in Ukraine say organizers
Organizers of the Eurovision Tune Contest (ESC), a preferred worldwide music competitors, have confirmed that subsequent 12 months’s installment can’t be hosted by Ukraine attributable to security considerations arising from the continuing battle in that nation.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra received the 2022 installment, which might historically imply that Ukraine routinely host subsequent 12 months’s occasion.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes what’s the world’s largest reside music occasion, mentioned it, “totally understands the frustration that greeted the [June 17] announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Tune Contest can’t be staged in Ukraine, this 12 months’s profitable nation.”
“The choice was guided by the EBU’s accountability to make sure the situations are met to ensure the protection and safety of everybody working and collaborating within the occasion, the planning of which wants to start instantly,” learn an announcement launched Thursday.
Attendance for the occasion would come with 10,000 accredited crew, employees and journalists, in addition to as much as 30,000 followers.
The EBU mentioned, “Their welfare is our prime concern.”
Russian Finance Ministry makes debt funds in rubles
Russia’s Finance Ministry on Thursday introduced that it had made funds on dollar-denominated debt curiosity in rubles with a view to keep away from default.
“Funds for the fee of coupons on exterior bonds of the Russian Federation maturing in 2027 and 2047 within the complete quantity of 12.51 billion rubles [the equivalent $274.06 million / €274 million] have been obtained by the Nationwide Settlement Depository (NSD) eurobond fee company. Thus, the obligations of the Russian Federation are fulfilled in full by Russia’s Finance Ministry,” learn an announcement.
The NSD is a brand new mechanism by which collectors are reimbursed at Central Financial institution trade charges, “to make sure the utmost equal in funds.”
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov mentioned the nation isn’t susceptible to defaulting on its worldwide debt. He mentioned the the problem of creating the funds was attributable to Western sanctions and known as Washington’s insistence that Moscow not be allowed to make funds in {dollars} “a farce.”
The brand new non permanent fee mechanism got here into drive on June 22. The NSD is at the moment below EU sanctions. Specialists say ruble funds are invalid except particularly stipulated in bond fee choices.
Although Russia says it’s keen and capable of service its debt, Western sanctions have made that more and more unattainable. Ought to Russia be discovered to have defaulted on its funds it may very well be compelled out of business.
Norway agrees to offer EU with extra fuel as Russian provides reduce
Norway and the European Union on Thursday introduced an settlement by which the Scandinavian nation — Western Europe’s largest fuel producer — will improve fuel exports to its companions within the EU.
After a gathering between the EU’s Frans Timmermans and Norwegian Power Minister Terje Aasland in Brussels, the 2 introduced they’d, “step up cooperation with a view to guarantee extra short-term and long-term fuel provides from Norway.”
The information comes as a number of EU international locations face fuel shortages because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier than Moscow’s February 24 invasion, the EU was importing about 20% of its fuel from Norway as in comparison with 40% from Russia.
The EU says it expects demand for fuel to drop 30% by the 12 months 2030 because it seeks to attain its local weather change targets as specified by the 2015 Paris Local weather Settlement. The bloc says Norway will stay a “giant provider” after that date.
Norway has additionally pledged cooperation on renewable vitality and inexperienced applied sciences like hydrogen.
Moscow has already halted fuel exports to Poland and the Netherlands because of the battle. Germany on Thursday introduced that it had formally entered Section 2 of its Emergency Power Plan, which might set off larger costs in addition to elevated dependency on the nation’s coal business.
UK commerce sec in Dubai urges extra Russia sanctions as oligarch’s yacht sighted
UK Worldwide Commerce Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan on Thursday known as for extra international locations to hitch in sanctioning Russia’s, “outrageous, unprovoked and unlawful battle” in Ukraine. The secretary made the feedback throughout an interview within the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Dubai, the UAE’s monetary middle, has grow to be a haven for rich Russians searching for to guard their property in opposition to seizure by Western nations.
“We encourage all international locations to face alongside us in making that very clear and bringing within the kinds of sanctions and limitations to those that select to help [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” mentioned Trevelyan.
Her assertion comes because it was reported that the $156 million (€148 million) superyacht Madame Gu, belonging to billionaire Russian parliamentarian Andrei Skoch is at the moment moored at Dubai’s Port Rashid, highlighting the tense relationship between the Emirates and Western buying and selling companions.
Skoch, who Forbes journal says is value $6.6 billion, was first placed on US sanctions lists in 2018, for his position in authorities and his, “longstanding ties to Russian organized legal teams, together with time spent main one such enterprise.” Skoch can be below EU sanctions.
Although satellite tv for pc pictures present the 98-meter (324-foot) yacht has been moored at Port Rashid since a minimum of March 24, journalists from information company AP on Thursday reported the Cayman Islands-registered vessel flying an Emirati flag.
The UAE has welcomed an enormous inflow of Russian money as oligarchs bunker non-public jets and yachts there, in addition to shopping for up luxurious inns and beachfront villas.
Madame Gu is only one of many high-dollar property Russian oligarchs have hurried to the UAE to guard in opposition to seizure
Ukraine receives precision US arms
Ukraine Protection Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Thursday mentioned that his nation had simply obtained a cargo of high-tech US arms.
“HIMARs have arrived to Ukraine. Thanks to my colleague and pal @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III for these highly effective instruments! Summer season can be scorching for Russian occupiers. And the final one for a few of them,” he wrote on Twitter.
Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (HIMARS) are mild, truck-mounted, a number of rocket launchers with a spread of 480 kilometers (299 miles). These weapons have better vary and precision than howitzers, which have additionally been equipped by the US and NATO allies.
Kyiv has been pleading for Western companions to produce it with extra superior weaponry because the nation seeks to fend off Russian invaders. So far, it has solely obtained a fraction of the weapons it has requested for since neighboring Russia attacked on February 24.
Nike to completely go away Russian market
US sportswear big Nike on Thursday introduced that it’s going to completely withdraw its enterprise from the Russian market in opposition to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Nike, which had briefly halted its enterprise in Russia on March 3, says its web site and apps may even be pulled from the market.
“Nike Inc. decided to depart the Russian market … The Nike shops had been briefly closed lately and won’t reopen,” the Oregon-based firm mentioned in an announcement.
Final month, the corporate introduced that it will not renew licensing contracts with Russian retailers.
The corporate’s transfer was largely symbolic in mild of the truth that gross sales in Russia and Ukraine make up lower than 1% of its revenues. However, Nike joins a rising variety of Western companies — corresponding to McDonald’s, Starbucks and Google — which have withdrawn from Russia because of its February 24 invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Russia captures two villages in Donbas: Ukraine’s Normal Employees
The Russian navy has taken extra territory in japanese Ukraine as Moscow focuses its invasion on the industrial Donbas area, the place Russian-backed separatists have already been preventing the Kyiv authorities since 2014.
Ukraine’s Normal Employees mentioned Russian forces have taken over the villages of Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka and had been attempting to seize Syrotyne exterior Sievierodonetsk, the executive middle of the Luhansk area.
Russian forces are additionally attacking Lysychansk, which is positioned southwest of Sievierodonetsk throughout the Siverskyi Donets river.
“The enemy is burning all the things out in a bid to encircle the Ukrainian group of forces,” Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk area the place Sievierodonetsk is positioned, instructed The Related Press.
“The Russians are advancing with out attempting to spare the ammunition or troops, they usually aren’t working out of both,” Haidai mentioned. “They’ve an edge in heavy artillery and the variety of troops.”
The UK Ministry of Defence mentioned Thursday that Russian forces have probably superior greater than 5 kilometers (3 miles) towards Lysychansk since Sunday.
In Donbas, Russian forces at the moment maintain nearly the whole Luhansk area and about 50% of the neighboring Donetsk area.
First listening to anticipated in trial of Russian soldier for rape, homicide
A preliminary listening to within the trial of a Russian soldier accused of raping a Ukrainian lady after murdering her husband is anticipated to happen in absentia in Ukraine on Thursday.
The crimes, by which a second Russian soldier was additionally concerned, are alleged to have taken place within the Kyiv capital area on March 9.
Ukraine says it’s investigating hundreds of potential battle crimes dedicated throughout the Russian invasion, which started on February 24. Moscow has denied all allegations that its troops could have dedicated battle crimes.
Greater than 150 Ukrainian cultural websites broken or destroyed in battle: UNESCO
Thus far, 152 cultural and historic heritage websites in Ukraine have been totally or partially destroyed since Russia started its invasion on February 24, consultants from the UN’s cultural company, UNESCO, say.
Among the many broken or destroyed websites are museums and monuments, church buildings and different non secular buildings, and libraries and different distinctive buildings, UNESCO mentioned in an up to date evaluation on Thursday.
Russian troops or officers who’re discovered to have knowingly broken Ukraine heritage websites may very well be prosecuted below worldwide regulation, UNESCO has warned.
Each Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the 1954 Hague conference on tradition in armed conflicts, which goals to forestall cultural property being the goal of navy actions.
Among the many ruinedsites is the musem devoted to thinker Hyrhoriy Skovoroda
Enchantment in opposition to demise sentence for non-Ukrainian fighters in preparation: TASS
Legal professionals for 2 British residents and one Moroccan who’ve been sentenced to demise by a courtroom within the self-proclaimed Donetsk Folks’s Republic (DPR) after being captured whereas preventing for Ukraine are getting ready to attraction, Russia’s TASS information company mentioned on Thursday.
The three males had been convicted of “mercenary actions and committing actions geared toward seizing energy and overthrowing the constitutional order of the DPR.”
The boys’s households deny that the trio, who had been contracted to the Ukrainian armed forces, had been mercenaries. As members of an everyday military, they’d be protected below the Geneva Conventions.
12 EU states affected by Russian cuts to fuel provide: Local weather coverage chief
A dozen EU member states have suffered reductions in fuel provide from Russia, based on Frans Timmermans, the bloc’s local weather coverage chief.
He mentioned 10 international locations had issued an “early warning” on fuel provide, the primary within the three ranges of disaster specified by EU laws on safety of provide.
On Thursday, Germany moved to the second, “alarm” stage of its emergency plan. All EU member states are required to have such a three-stage plan.
Germany enters Section 2 of emergency fuel plan
Germany’s Financial system Minister Robert Habeck on Thursday introduced that the nation will enter the “alarm” stage of its three-stage emergency fuel plan.
The transfer to Section 2 of the plan comes amid the risk that Russia, Germany’s prime fuel provider, might cease supplying the gas amid tensions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
In Section 2, utilities are theoretically permitted to cross on excessive costs to prospects, thus serving to decrease demand in a bid to forestall long-term provide shortages. Nevertheless, this could not occur routinely, requiring the official say-so of the Federal Community Company (Bundesnetzagentur), which is the regulatory authority for fuel and electrical energy.
The transfer to Section 2 can be a prerequisite for approval of the federal government’s plan to revive coal-fired electrical energy crops in a bid to keep away from utilizing fuel for electrical energy manufacturing.
Russia on Thursday once more denied that the discount within the fuel provide to Germany was in retaliation for Berlin’s opposition to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, calling such complaints “unusual” and saying that the drop in movement was all the way down to technical causes.
“If a turbine must be serviced or returned to its place after repairs nevertheless it’s not returned … all the things is obvious right here, there is no such thing as a double which means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters.
Peskov mentioned that Russia remained a “dependable” provider of pure fuel.
Zelenskyy renews requires arms deliveries to assist cease Russia’s ‘diabolical armada’
In a video handle launched early on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused invading Russian forces of eager to utterly destroy the japanese Donbas area and known as as soon as extra for sooner arms deliveries to assist repel their assault.
“We should free our land and obtain victory, however extra shortly, much more shortly,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
“There have been large air and artillery strikes in Donbas. The occupier’s objective right here is unchanged; they wish to destroy the whole Donbas step-by-step,” he mentioned.
“For this reason we repeatedly emphasize the accelerationof arm deliveries to Ukraine. What’s shortly wanted is parity on the battlefield with a view to halt this diabolical armada and push it past Ukraine’s borders.”
Sievierodonetsk within the Donbas area has grow to be a spotlight for invading Russian troops
Russian forces pressuring Lysychansk-Sievierodonetsk pocket: UK Ministry of Defence
Invading Russian forces have “extremely probably” superior greater than 5 km (3 miles) towards the southern outskirts of the Ukrainian metropolis of Lysychansk within the japanese Donbas area since June 19, based on a UK navy intelligence replace.
The advance comes because the Russian navy steps up stress on the Lysychansk-Sievierodonetsk space, it says.
“Nevertheless, its efforts to attain a deeper encirclement to take western Donetsk Oblast stay stalled,” says the replace.
It attributed Russia’s larger success within the area to “current unit reinforcement and heavy focus of fireplace.”
The replace says some Ukrainian models have pulled out, in all probability for worry of changing into surrounded.
Czech PM says Russia waging financial battle on Europe
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala mentioned Russia is launching an financial battle on Europe, based on German information company dpa.
In a televised handle, Fiala mentioned Russia might quickly reduce off Europe’s fuel provide. He mentioned the Kremlin’s objective is to destabilize democratic states.
Fiala introduced a plan to wean the Czech Republic off Russian fuel over a 5-year interval throughout the speech. The plan consists of bringing vital Czech energy crops below the management of the state.
China’s Xi says battle sounded ‘alarm for humanity’
Chinese language President Xi Jinping on Wednesday characterised Russia’s battle on Ukraine as having “sounded an alarm for humanity,” based on the state-run Xinhua information company.
“The Ukraine disaster has sounded the alarm for humanity,” Xi mentioned on the digital enterprise discussion board of the BRICS nations. “Nations will certainly find yourself in safety hardships in the event that they place blind religion of their positions of power, increase navy alliances and search their very own security on the expense of others.”
Xi additionally mentioned sanctions on Russia may very well be a “double-edged sword.”
The EU has beforehand criticized China for having an “ambiguous place” on the battle.
Russia strikes Kharkiv in doable diversion try
Russia has launched recent rocket assaults on the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv in current days, signaling a doable shift in techniques by Moscow.
Ukraine mentioned a minimum of 20 folks had been killed on Tuesday and Wednesday within the nation’s second-largest metropolis, which lies close to the Russian border.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych mentioned in a video handle that the purpose of the strikes is to “terrorize the inhabitants” of the town. He additionally claimed the assaults are an try by Russia to divert Ukrainian troops from the important thing Donbas area.
“The concept is to create one large downside to distract us and drive us to divert troops,” Arestovych mentioned. “I believe there can be an escalation.”
G7, NATO leaders to debate new punitive measures on Russia
Leaders attending the upcoming G7 and NATO summits in Europe will focus on new proposals to stress Russia amid its ongoing assault on Ukraine.
“We’ll roll out a concrete set of proposals to extend stress on Russia,” a senior US official instructed reporters.
US President Joe Biden will attend the G7 summit within the German area of Bavaria this weekend, together with the leaders of UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Biden will later attend a NATO summit in Madrid on the following leg of his European tour.
Zelenskyy calls European leaders forward of EU candidacy standing resolution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with 11 European leaders forward of a key resolution on granting the nation EU candidate standing.
Zelenskyy mentioned he spoke with the leaders of Belgium, Austria, Greece and the Czech Republic, amongst others. He additionally spoke with President Maia Sandu of Moldova, one other Japanese European nation aspiring to candidate standing.
“Tomorrow I’ll proceed this marathon — we should present most help to our state,” Zelenskyy mentioned. “We count on a key European resolution tomorrow night time.”
What occurred in Russia’s battle in Ukraine on Wednesday
Throughout an handle to the Bundestag, the decrease home of German parliament, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned Ukraine wants an enormous quantity of assist to rebuild, calling it a “job for generations.” He additionally mentioned NATO allies can depend on Berlin.
On the identical time, Scholz mentioned it will be “unwise” for NATO to tug out of a 1997 settlement that bolsters cooperation between the alliance and Russia. The German chief mentioned such a transfer would feed into Kremlin narratives.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, expressed remorse for calling Scholz the equal of a “snowflake” in Might. The Ukrainian envoy mentioned he’ll apologize to Scholz personally.
Tech big Microsoft mentioned Russian state-sponsored hackers launched assaults on 42 international locations exterior Ukraine because the starting of the invasion on February 24.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov fumed over “unlawful EU sanctions” which led to Lithuania imposing a rail blockade on items to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Peskov mentioned Russia is within the means of getting ready retaliatory measures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned Moscow is redirecting its exports to BRICS nations amid western sanctions. BRICS consists of Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai mentioned the state of affairs within the japanese Ukrainian metropolis of Sievierodonetsk is “hell” amid weeks of heavy Russian assaults.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged extra sanctions on Moscow amid entrenched preventing within the Donbas.
Reporters With out Borders (RSF) mentioned a Ukrainian journalist and a soldier accompanying him had been “coldly executed” by Russian forces close to Kyiv in March.
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js,wd/sms (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)