What we know about Andrey Troshev, the man Putin proposed as the new Wagner boss
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to Wagner Group fighters that a senior mercenary named Andrey Troshev now command the private military group, according to comments the Russian leader made to the Kommersant newspaper.
Putin appears to have created a split between senior fighters from the Wagner mercenary group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin since its failed uprising last month – at least in terms of the narrative emerging from his comments to the Kommersant.
The paper was reporting on a meeting held by the Russian president five days after the Wagner rebellion collapsed at the end of June – a meeting attended by Prigozhin and several dozen senior Wagner combatants.
European heatwave: red alerts issued for 16 cities in Italy
Rome, Florence and Bologna among areas affected as forecasters say Sicily and Sardinia could face record 49C temperatures
Sixteen cities across Italy have been issued with red alerts as southern Europe continues to experience fierce heat and faces the possibility of record-breaking temperatures.
Rome, Florence and Bologna are among the areas affected by the heatwave, with forecasters suggesting that Sicily and Sardinia could see temperatures climb as high as 49C (120F), which would be the hottest ever recorded in Europe.
The red alerts mean that even healthy people could be at risk from the heat, and the Italian government has advised those in the alert areas to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm.
Pakistan: Imran Khan complains of ‘total crackdown’ on party
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan faces almost 180 cases of wrongdoing, he told DW’s Conflict Zone. He said the upcoming elections could be delayed, and refuted claims he had been too friendly with the Taliban.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he faces scores of legal cases after being ousted from office last year and fears he’ll soon be back in jail.
“Till the age of 70, I didn’t have one criminal case. And in the last few months, I have almost 180,” he told DW’s Conflict Zone with Tim Sebastian.
Khan has previously said the cases against him are politically motivated, aimed at sidelining his leadership and dismantling his party before the country’s next election, due in October or November.
More than 20 people killed as heavy rains cause flooding, landslides in South Korea
At least 22 people have died and 14 are missing after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in South Korea, officials said Saturday, with thousands more ordered to evacuate their homes.
South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season and there has been heavy rainfall for the last three days, triggering widespread flooding and landslides, and causing a major dam to overflow.
The interior ministry reported that 22 people had been killed and another 14 were missing in the heavy downpours, mostly buried by landslides or after falling into a flooded reservoir.
The majority of the casualties — including 16 dead and nine missing — were from North Gyeongsang province, largely due to massive landslides in the mountainous area that engulfed houses with people inside.
In the most severely affected areas, “entire houses were swept away whole”, one emergency responder told the Yonhap News Agency.
Ministry issues warning after oilfield closures in Libya
The fields were shut in protest over the kidnapping of former finance minister Faraj Bumatari.
A day after three Libyan oilfields were shut in protest against the abduction of a former finance minister, the oil ministry has said that the closures could lead to a declaration of force majeure.
A ministry statement late on Friday called on all parties not to let their disputes affect energy production and exports.
Such closures could severely affect the North African country’s vital oil sector, including marketing and demand, and undermine the ministry’s efforts to stabilise crude production, the ministry said.
US heatwave: A third of Americans under extreme heat advisories
A “dangerous” US heatwave is forecast to intensify this weekend, with warnings issued across the south-west.
“Do not underestimate the impact of heat”, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Saturday.
Nearly a third of Americans – about 113 million people – are under heat advisories: from Florida to California and up to Washington state.
Phoenix, Arizona, is likely to hit 110F (43C) on Saturday for the 16th day running – nearing a record.
Death Valley in California – one of the hottest places on Earth – is forecast to reach 128F (53C).
The NWS tweeted that “a sweltering and extremely dangerous heatwave will plague the West this weekend, along with spots of the Southern US.
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