June 13, 2022

*) Ukrainian, Russian forces fight for 'every metre' in Sievierodonetsk Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting for "literally every metre" in Sievierodonetsk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, as fighting intensified in an eastern region where the country's top commander said the land "is covered in blood". Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk have been targeted for weeks as the last areas in the Luhansk region still under Ukrainian control. Russia's massed artillery in that region gave it a tenfold advantage, said Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military. But, "despite everything, we continue to hold positions", he said. *) Amnesty alleges Russia killed hundreds in Kharkiv 'war crimes' Amnesty International has accused Russia of "war crimes" in Ukraine, saying attacks on Kharkiv, many using banned cluster bombs, had killed hundreds of civilians. The rights group said in a report on Ukraine's second biggest city: “The repeated bombardments of residential neighbourhoods in Kharkiv are indiscriminate, which killed and injured hundreds of civilians, and as such constitute war crimes." *) US Senators announce tentative deal on gun control A bipartisan group of US Senators has announced the outline of a deal on gun control. The plan for legislation includes support for tougher criminal background checks for gun buyers -- but only those younger than 21 -- and a crackdown on illegal gun purchases. Senators also want to see more funding for mental health care and school security. Calls for stricter gun control have grown after a recent string of mass shootings. *) Macron party neck and neck with leftists in parliamentary vote French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance appears to be slightly ahead in the first round of parliamentary elections. The Left has been gaining on him, throwing into serious doubt whether Macron will be able to secure a majority in parliament. If not, that would make it virtually impossible to drive through his reform agenda. And, voter abste