Six In The Morning Wednesday 9 November 2022

 

Russian military reporters say troops are withdrawing from Kherson border with Mykolaiv

From CNN's Tim Lister and Julia Kesaieva

Russian military reporters in the northern part of the Kherson region said there has been a withdrawal in some areas after what was described as "massive enemy strikes."

A prominent Russian Telegram channel reported "there was a withdrawal to back up positions," near the town of Snihurivka, which is in neighboring Mykolaiv region.

"A bridge was also blown up by our forces in this area today," according to the channel RVVoenkor, which has more than 1 million subscribers.

"Ukrainian sources published a photo with the raising of their flag at the Snihurivka railway station. The settlement is under their control," it said.

China’s top climate official urges US to ‘clear barriers’ to talks

US-China relations hit new low this year after Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, over which China claims sovereignty

Fiona Harvey in Sharm el-Sheikh

China’s top climate official has said the US must take responsibility for any reconciliation between the two countries at the UN Cop27 climate summit, calling on the US to “clear the barriers” to talks.

Xie Zhenhua, the climate envoy for China, said he had met his US counterpart John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, in Sharm el-Sheikh, in Egypt, where governments and world leaders have gathered for a fortnight of talks on the climate crisis.

He said: “It is the responsibility of the US. We hope the US will take the initiative, to clear the barriers. I think the door was absolutely closed by them. We in China are trying to open it.”

Adidas' breakup with Ye drives lower earnings outlook

Adidas has lowered its earnings forecast for the full year to account for losses from ending its partnership with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West over his antisemitic remarks

David McHugh

Adidas on Wednesday lowered its earnings forecast for the year to account for losses from ending its partnership with the rapper formerly known as Kanye West over his antisemitic remarks.

The German shoe and sportswear maker cut its sales and profit outlook for the year as part of its third-quarter earnings statement, even as the company's chief financial officer said the profitability of the Yeezy shoe collaboration with Ye had been “overstated." The company would largely offset the impact of the breakup next year by no longer having to pay royalties and marketing fees for the brand, CFO Harm Ohlmeyer said.

Islamabad rents rise amid influx of Afghan refugees

Tenants in Pakistan's capital are complaining that Afghan refugees are pushing up rents. Many of the Afghans say they can't move on because of delays getting visas to Western nations.

With his lease expiring in almost three weeks' time, Qamarul Islam is hunting for a new house to rent in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

That's because he can't afford the massive rent hike sought by his landlord, he says.

This story is commonplace in Islamabad. The capital is experiencing an increased demand for lodging that many say is due to of the tens of thousands of Afghan nationals who fled to Pakistan from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover last year. 

Why are Russian elite soldiers serving in Ukraine angry?

Soldiers from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, an elite corps of the Russian army, published an open letter on Sunday denouncing their superiors for using them as cannon fodder in Ukraine. The criticism dominated Russian media so much that it provoked a response – the first since the beginning of hostilities – from the ministry of defence.

This is yet another sign of growing discontent in Russia with the way the war in Ukraine is going. This time, the criticism comes directly from the front. The elite Russian soldiers expressed their anger in an open letter published on Sunday, prompting the ministry of defence's response about the human cost for Russia of the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Police in fix on applying gun law for weapon used to kill Abe in July

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

November 9, 2022 at 19:00 JST

A legal loophole has prefectural police scrambling in their efforts to pile on an additional charge of illegal use of a weapon in the slaying here of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early July.

Although Japan tightly regulates making and possessing firearms, the swords and firearms control law has no provisions for the use of a homemade gun in a murder.

The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, was apprehended at the scene with a homemade gun immediately after Abe was shot July 8 while giving a campaign speech.