Morning Post / 2 lines: What mattered to the world yesterday

Good morning! Politiko.al based on reports of American newspapers, brings you a flash of news from the world in 'Morning Post'. To receive 'Post' every morning by email write us at  [email protected]

. A Russian official visited the occupied parts of southeastern Ukraine and described plans to take control of vital infrastructure there, as part of a push to Russify the occupied territory.

. Strong resistance has forced Russian troops to fight in smaller formations in eastern Ukraine, a Pentagon official said.

■ Putin appears to be punishing top commanders for military mistakes, says a British report.

. The US Senate approved a $ 40 billion aid package for Ukraine.

. War is causing famine in Africa. Russia's blockade of Ukraine's southern coastline has hampered the export of millions of tons of grain.

. The Kremlin has used the mass surrender of soldiers to a steel plant in Mariupol for propaganda, portraying them as terrorists and Nazi war criminals.

. Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the proposed EU embargo on Russian oil would destroy his country's economy. In part, it is a financial consideration: Hungary has made huge profits from cheap oil. Keeping pipelines open ensures energy prices remain low, a promise Orban made to his voters.

Gerhard Schröder - a former German chancellor, Putin ally, and well-paid lobbyist for Russian energy - will be stripped of the 400,000-euro privileges belonging to his former office.

. Juan Carlos, the former monarch, has returned to Spain for the first time since leaving the country almost two years ago amid fraud investigations. His brief return from Abu Dhabi, where he now lives, comes after prosecutors in Spain and Switzerland dropped fraud charges over a $ 100 million bribe for a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.

■ The US has exceeded one million deaths recorded by Covid, the highest known total in the world.

State-sponsored Chinese hackers sought to steal Russian defense data, according to a new report.

. Israel could face its fifth election in three years: The opposition now has a two-seat majority in Parliament.

. Global stocks fell on Thursday, following Wall Street's worst day in nearly two years.

Oklahoma may soon ban almost all abortions.

■ Australia will hold national elections on Saturday. About 25 independent candidates, most of them women preaching pragmatic reforms, are pushing to renew the country's democracy.