Briefly

RUSSIA

Duma adopts report on US-funded biolabs

The State Duma on Wednesday adopted the outcome report of the Parliamentary Commission on Investigation into Circumstances Related to the Creation of Biological Laboratories by American Specialists on the Territory of Ukraine. The report consists of 200 pages and contains facts of the US criminal activity in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry is investigating 240 pathogens of dangerous diseases found in four laboratories in Ukraine, including cholera and anthrax, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported. In February 2022, the ministry discovered the existence of 30 United States-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine. According to Moscow, Washington has spent over $200 million on the laboratories in Ukraine, which were part of the US military biological program. In June 2022, the US admitted funding 46 such biolabs in Ukraine.

SAUDI ARABIA

Iranian embassy gates open after years

Iran's embassy in Saudi Arabia reopened its gates on Wednesday for the first time in seven years, Reuters reported, under a deal to reestablish ties that could ease a long-standing rivalry that has fueled conflicts around the Middle East. The heavy gates of the embassy's compound were opened in Riyadh with a team inspecting its premises, the report said. "The Iranian delegation will take the necessary measures in Riyadh and Jeddah to set up the embassy and consulate general," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement.

SOUTH KOREA

Newspaper: Artillery shells to be lent to US

South Korea reached an agreement last month to lend the United States 500,000 rounds of 155mm artillery shells that could give Washington greater flexibility to supply Ukraine with ammunition, a South Korean newspaper reported on Wednesday. The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper cited unnamed government sources as saying South Korea decided to "lend" the ammunition instead of selling, to minimize the possibility of South Korean shells being used in the Ukraine conflict. It said the shells would be used primarily by the US to fill its stockpile. Both Seoul and Washington have confirmed they were negotiating an artillery supply deal, but there was no official word on whether an agreement has been finalized.

UNITED STATES

Trump vows to 'never' drop presidential bid

Former US president Donald Trump, having been criminally charged in New York, pledged on Tuesday to "never drop out" of the 2024 race for the White House, and insisted Joe Biden is not fit to run again. The Republican real estate magnate, who is facing 34 felony counts in New York over alleged hush money paid to an adult film actress, told Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson that nothing would prevent him from running — even a conviction.

ITALY

State of emergency declared over migrants

Italy's right-wing government on Tuesday declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the country's southern shores. State TV said a special commissioner was expected to be named. Since the start of this year, nearly 31,000 migrants, either rescued by Italian military boats or charity ships or reaching Italy without assistance, have disembarked, according to Interior Ministry figures. That's nearly four times the roughly 8,000 during the same period in each of the two previous years.

INDIA

4 soldiers killed in army station firing

A firing incident inside a military station in northern India killed at least four soldiers on Wednesday, an army statement said. Indian media reports quoted state police officers as saying that the incident in the army camp in Bhatinda in Punjab state bordering Pakistan did not appear to be a terror attack. The shooting took place as the state was on a high security alert a day ahead of Baisakhi, a major Sikh and Hindu festival marking the start of the harvest season.

China Daily - Agencies - Xinhua