Russia has launched a counter-offensive in its Kursk region to dislodge Ukraine’s forces who stormed across the border five weeks ago and put Russian territory under foreign occupation for the first time since World War II.

Xi’s visit to Russia will be his second since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has become increasingly dependent economically on China as Western sanctions cut its access to much of the international trading system.

Slightly more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at historically low levels despite two years of elevated interest rates.

128 are missing as flash floods and landslides take their toll. The death count spiked earlier in the week as a flash flood swept away the entire hamlet of Lang Nu in northern Vietnam’s Lao Cai province Tuesday.

Francine made landfall Wednesday evening with 100 mph winds, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in Louisiana. It’s expected to slow down as it moves across Mississippi.

Military veterans, first responders and civilians will compete Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Swim for SOF, a 3.3 mile open-water swim from Coronado Island to the USS Midway Museum to raise awareness and funds to support special operations forces veterans transitioning to civilian life.

The vehicle registration office at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach relaunched its online appointment scheduler and revamped hours as it transitions to a hybrid system of walk-ins and appointments.

Authorities thwarted an attempted attack last year on anniversary at the Vienna central station, and the risk remains high on the date around the world, authorities said.

Benin, Ivory Coast and Ghana are some of the countries involved as AFRICOM begins to “reset and recalibrate some of our assets,” AFRICOM commander Michael Langley said.

As part of the AUKUS pact the U.S. has pledged to arm Australia with at least three Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032, before Australia can build as many as five new nuclear-powered AUKUS vessels.