Monday, June 28, 2021

*) US air strikes near Iraq-Syria border leave four dead We start at the border of Iraq and Syria, where Iran-backed militias say four fighters died in US air strikes as Syrian regime media report that a child was also killed. American forces targeted facilities used by Iran-backed factions near the Al Qaim border crossing with Syria. It's the second time President Joe Biden has ordered attacks on the Iraqi-Syrian border. This time, it's thought to be in response to drone attacks by militias against US personnel and facilities. *) Exit polls show French far-right party defeat Exit polls in France's regional elections show a defeat for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party amid a low voter turnout. President Emmanuel Macron's Republic on the Move party also fared poorly and is on course to lose in all of France's 13 mainland regions. Xavier Bertrand, of the northern region, has emerged as the conservatives' favourite to represent the party in next year's presidential election. *) South Africa hardens lockdown curbs to combat Delta variant surge South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a tightening of Covid-19 restrictions for 2 weeks from Monday. South Africa has seen a surge in infections in recent days, reporting 15 thousand new cases on Sunday. Under the new measures, all gatherings will be prohibited, a curfew will be in place from 9 pm to 4 am, and the sale of alcohol will be banned. *) At least seven killed, dozens of others wounded in Dhaka In Bangladesh, at least seven people have been killed and dozens of others injured in an explosion in the capital Dhaka. That’s according to authorities who also say the blast took place on the ground floor of a three-storey building in central Dhaka. Police are investigating the cause of the blast but say it was likely caused by a gas line. And finally ... *) Belgium edges Portugal to reach Euro 2020 quarterfinals Belgium held Cristiano Ronaldo scoreless and kept a first-half lead to beat Portugal 1-0 to advance to th