July 07, 2023

*) Tens of thousands at flooding risk after Ukraine dam collapse About 42,000 people are at risk from flooding in Russian and Ukrainian controlled areas along the Dnipro River after a dam collapsed. Ukraine said Russia committed a deliberate war crime in blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam, which powered a hydroelectric station. Meanwhile, the Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive Moscow says is faltering. *) Blinken meets Mohammed Bin Salman in bid to restore strained Saudi-US ties Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have met to discuss bilateral relations, Saudi state news agency (SPA) says. They also discussed "aspects of cooperation in various fields and developments in regional and international situations", the agency added. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washington's relationship with Riyadh after years of deepening disagreements. *) Khartoum islanders 'under siege' as Sudan fighting rages Battles have continued to rage in Sudan's capital of Khartoum and residents of an island in the Nile reported being "under siege". A number of broken ceasefires offered brief lulls but no respite for residents who again reported "the sound of heavy artillery fire" in the city's north. Witnesses also said there were "clashes with various types of weapons" in south Khartoum, where "the sound of explosions shook our walls". *) Erdogan: We will build 'Century of Türkiye' together Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held the first meeting of his new Cabinet in Ankara. Erdogan said Turkish democracy has become a point of reference for the world after record participation in both the May 14 and May 28 elections. He also vowed to embrace all 85 million Turkish citizens and to build the "Century of Türkiye" all together. *) 'A new tiger will roar': Saudi champions Al Ittihad sign Karim Benzema Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed a three-year