News in Brief 2024-06-13

Macron urges moderate politicians to regroup
to defeat the far right in elections
PARIS, June 12: French President Emmanuel Macron urged Wednesday moderate politicians from the left and the right to regroup to defeat the far right in the upcoming national legislative elections he had called for after his party's crushing defeat in the European parliamentary vote. A somber-looking Macron addressed French voters for the first time since his stunning decision on Sunday to dissolve the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament. His move triggered an early legislative election that will take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, three weeks after the far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen triumphed at the election for the European Union Parliament. — AP
Indian police blame Pakistan for Jammu
and Kashmir strife that killed 12
NEW DELHI, June 12: Police in India's territory of Jammu and Kashmir blamed arch rival Pakistan on Wednesday for a spurt in militant attacks that killed 12 people and injured dozens over the last three days, just weeks after a large turnout for general elections. Pakistan claims the Himalayan region, which has been roiled by militant violence since the start of an anti-Indian insurgency in 1989 that killed tens of thousands, although violence has waned in recent years. "Our hostile neighbour wants to damage our peaceful environment," Anand Jain, police chief of Jammu, told reporters in a reference to Pakistan, which India has accused of stoking violence in the region for decades. — Reuters
Putin will visit Pyongyang imminently
SEOUL, June 12: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday hailed his country's ties with Russia, saying the two nations were "invincible comrades-in-arms", amid reports President Vladimir Putin will visit Pyongyang imminently. Kim made a rare overseas trip to meet Putin in Russia's far east last year, with Seoul and Washington subsequently claiming Pyongyang was shipping weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine, violating UN sanctions, in return for technical help with its satellite program. Putin was expected to pay a return visit to North Korea in the coming days, after the Kremlin told Russian media in May that the trip was "being prepared". — AFP
Quake in South Korea cracks walls
SEOUL, June 12: A magnitude 4.8 earthquake cracked walls, spilled items from store shelves and caused other minor damage in a fishing community in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday, but no injuries have been reported. The earthquake in Buan, which had an estimated depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), was the strongest detected in South Korea this year. The National Fire Agency said it so far confirmed eight minor cases of property damage in Buan and the nearby city of Iksan, including cracked walls at homes and a warehouse, at least two broken wall tiles and at least one broken window. It was also strong enough to knock items off store shelves. — AP
One dies of mpox in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, June 12: An outbreak of mpox has killed one person and infected four more in South Africa, the government said on Wednesday, adding it was trying to secure more treatment drugs as a precaution. The five cases, reported between May 8 and June 7, were the first recorded in the country since 2022, Health Minister Joe Phaahla told reporters. "One death is too many, especially from a preventable and manageable disease," Phaahla said, urging those with suspected symptoms to seek medical attention and help trace contacts. Previously known as monkeypox, mpox is a viral illness transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as via materials such as contaminated sheets. — AFP