Europe

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, as part of an apparent effort to disrupt supply lines and weapons shipments. On the other end of the southern coast, they hammered a steel plant where Ukrainian fighters are denying Moscow full control of another critical port.

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/: More than 19,800 people, including 970 children, were evacuated from dangerous regions in Ukraine, and from the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics to Russia during the day, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, said on Sunday.

TSKHINVAL, May 8. /TASS/: Alan Gagloyev, leader of the Nykhas political party and candidate for South Ossetia’s president, is leading Sunday’s runoff polls with 59.21% of the vote, the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) said after counting 18% of protocols from district election commissions.

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/: Russia’s coronavirus cases rose by 5,030 to 18,232,696 in the past 24 hours, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday.

Russia’s coronavirus growth rate was 0.03%.

As many as 1,218 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 1,308 the day before. Hospitalizations declined in 42 regions of the country and rose in 34 regions.

Moscow’s COVID-19 cases surged by 268 to 2,763,989 in the day, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center. St. Petersburg’s coronavirus cases increased by 312 to 1,522,591.

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/: Ukraine’s General Staff with direct participation of advisers from the US and the UK plotted provocation to seize Snake Island, but it was foiled by Russia’s forces, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on Monday.

ROME, May 9 (Reuters) - Italy's parliament has extended Rome's special vetting powers to protect its key national assets by including the hydroelectric sector and new companies that plan to operate in industries deemed strategic, lawmakers said on Monday.

The 15-month old government lead by Prime Minister Mario Draghi has used its so-called "golden powers" to set conditions on scores of mergers and has blocked several attempts by China to extend its presence in the euro zone's third-largest economy.

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said on Monday he would resign if police decide he broke COVID-19 rules, putting pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has refused to step down after he was fined over a lockdown-busting party.

After months of Johnson being criticised for attending parties at his Downing Street residence when Britain was in a strict coronavirus lockdown, attention has turned to a gathering Starmer attended last year in the northeast of England.

PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) - Europe must learn from its past mistakes and make sure no side is humiliated when Russia and Ukraine negotiate for peace, France's president said after describing Vladimir Putin's World War Two anniversary speech as "intimidation" and "warlike".

Addressing massed ranks of service personnel on Red Square on the 77th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Putin on Monday condemned what he called external threats to weaken and divide Russia. 

KYIV, May 9 (Reuters) - Russian forces on Monday used tanks and artillery in "storming operations" at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol where the city's last defenders are holed up, Ukraine's defence ministry said.

Russia has declared victory in Mariupol, a strategic city on the Sea of Azov, but the sprawling steel works remains in the hands of Ukrainian fighters. 

Defence Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk gave few details and it was not clear whether Russian forces had launched a new operation at Azovstal. Reuters could not verify the situation at the plant.

May 9 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the creation of a working group on international payments whose tasks will include figuring out terms for transactions with "unfriendly" states.

Putin said in March that Russia, the world's largest natural gas producer, would require countries it deems hostile to pay for fuel in roubles by opening accounts at Gazprombank and making payments in euros or dollars, to be converted into Russian currency.