Briefly

UNITED STATES

Russia in G7 makes sense, Trump says

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it is "common sense" to bring Russia back into the G7. Speaking to Fox News radio, Trump said that the G7 countries－Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States－need Russian President Vladimir Putin back in a G8 format."It's a question of common sense. So we have a G7: He's not there, half of the meeting's devoted to Russia, and if he was there, it would be much easier to solve," Trump said. Moscow was suspended indefinitely from the G8 over the Crimea crisis in 2014. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier that he opposes Moscow re-entering the fold.

INDIA

Modi, Morrison seal military, trade pacts

India and Australia upgraded their relationship with a raft of deals on Thursday, including strengthening military ties and cooperation on Indo-Pacific maritime issues. The pacts were signed during a virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison. The mutual logistic support deal gives the partners access to each other's military bases. India and Australia see military cooperation as a key pillar of the bilateral engagement and have recently conducted several military exercises. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a statement said a maritime declaration with India marks "a major step forward in the security and defense relationship as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" between the countries.

RUSSIA

Riyadh, Moscow back oil cuts extension

OPEC leader Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC member Russia have agreed on a preliminary deal to extend existing record oil output cuts by one month while raising pressure on countries with poor compliance to deepen their cuts, OPEC+ sources said. However, there was no agreement yet on whether to hold an OPEC+ output policy meeting with the main obstacle being how to deal with countries that have failed to make the deep supply cuts required under the existing pact, the sources said. OPEC+ agreed to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, or about 10 percent of global output, in May and June to lift prices battered by plunging demand linked to lockdown measures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Rather than easing output cuts in July, OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, were discussing keeping those cuts beyond June.

LIBYA

GNA forces regain control of Tripoli

Forces fighting for Libya's United Nations-backed government said on Thursday they had regained control over Tripoli, and a military source with the east-based militia forces that have been attacking the capital said they were withdrawing. The Government of National Accord, or GNA, said in a statement it had control over the whole Tripoli city administrative area. Separately, a military source in the Libyan National Army, or LNA, said it would complete its withdrawal on Thursday from several districts in the capital.

UNITED KINGDOM

Child among four shot in London

Four people, including a child, were shot in north London late on Wednesday and an investigation has been launched into the incident, British Police said. All four of the wounded were taken to hospital, the police said in a statement, adding there has been no arrest at this stage. Shots were fired in Energen Close, Harlesden, Brent, at 9:45 pm, the statement said. The police have appealed for witnesses to come forward, and said additional patrols will go out overnight.

Agencies - Xinhua