The US will send cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on Friday, following months of debate within the Biden administration about whether to provide Kyiv with the controversial weapons banned by over 100 countries including key US allies.

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New satellite images depict “white objects” on the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, days after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Russia had planted explosives there. Russian troops seized Europe’s largest nuclear facility on 5 March, shortly after its invasion began in February. The new photos were captured by satellite imagery company Planet Labs on Wednesday (5 July), showing five white shapes topping the plant at 7.51am UTC (8.51am BST). Notably, an image captured earlier at 5.27am UTC (6.27am BST) shows none. However, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has expressed that whilst unexplained, the “white objects” are “not conclusive” of Russian military activity at the plant. "Based on the imagery available, some changes can be observed at the ZNPP power plant on 5 July, with white objects observed on the roof of one of the buildings”, Joe Byrne, a research fellow on Open Source Intelligence and Analysis at the RUSI told The Independent. “However, this is not conclusive evidence of any Russian military activity designed to damage the plant,” he added. “More evidence, including and on the site access by IAEA monitors is needed to fully assess the situation." Darya Dolzikova, a research fellow in Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, noted the changes are “hard to judge” from the images. "It’s hard to judge from the imagery what the changes on the roofs show - including whether these are in any way related to the explosive devices that Ukrainian intelligence said may be present on reactor roofs at the ZNPP. “But the sourcing of independent, reliable imagery is important and can help in verifying claims of what is happening at the ZNPP”, Ms Dolzikova said. “However, the images - including the challenges related to verifying what they actually show - also once again stress the importance of granting the IAEA all the access that it is asking for at the ZNPP - including to the roofs of reactors 3 and 4 - so it can verify the presence or absence of explosives at the facility." On Tuesday), Mr Zelensky alleged that Russia has planted explosives on the nuclear power plant to simulate an attack, accusing Russian forces of planning to commit a “new evil” following the alleged attack on Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in June 2023. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and dam triggered mass flooding and environmental havoc, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes. Ukraine blames the explosion on Russia. “Now we have information from our intelligence that the Russian military has placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Tuesday. “Perhaps to simulate an attack on the plant. Perhaps they have some other scenario. But in any case, the world sees – can’t but see – that the only source of danger to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is Russia and no one else.” Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s troops ‘suffer new losses near Bakhmut’ as counteroffensive continues Preparing for an attack by Russia, Zaporizhzhia’s residents cannot escape the threat of nuclear disaster Zelensky says Russia has planted explosives on Ukraine nuclear plant Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of imminent attack on Europe's largest nuclear plant. After the flood: The nightmare is just beginning for those left to rebuild after the Ukraine dam explosion Russia reducing military presence and personnel at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, says Ukraine The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

The US economy added 209,000 jobs in the month of June, far lower than expectations, though wage growth remained resilient, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The number comes a day after ADP said that the economy added 497,000 jobs last month, far higher than the actual number reported by the US government. In addition, the BLS revised the jobs report from April from 294,000 jobs added down to 217,000 jobs and 339,000 jobs added in May down to 306,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticked down from 3.7 per cent in May to 3.6 per cent in June. At the same time, hourly earnings remained robust, increasing 0.4 per cent in June and 4.4 per cent in the past 12 months. Unemployment for white people ticked down slightly from 3.3 per cent in May to 3.1 per cent in June. But jobless rates for other major groups including adult men, adult women, teenagers, Black, Asian and Hispanic workers remained unchanged. President Joe Biden, who has in recent days been touting his economic record with a series of appearances across the US, said in a statement that the continued job growth represents “Bidenomics in action” and pointed out that the 13.2 million jobs added to the US economy since the start of his term is more than any president has overseen in a full four-year term. “The unemployment rate has now remained below 4 percent for 17 months in a row—the longest stretch since the 1960s. The share of working-age Americans who have jobs is at the highest level in over 20 years. Inflation has come down by more than half. We are seeing stable and steady growth,” he said. “That’s Bidenomics—growing the economy by creating jobs, lowering costs for hardworking families, and making smart investments in America”. The news comes despite the fact that the Federal Reserve paused raising interest rates last month after it had consistently done so to cool down a hot labour market as a way to ease inflation. Increased jobs typically coincide with higher inflation given that employed consumers have more demand in the economy. Employment in government led the job increases, adding 60,000 jobs during June followed by health care, which added 41,000 jobs and social assistance, which added 24,000 jobs. But retail trade employment shed 11,000 jobs, while building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers lost 10,000 jobs. Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers lost 5,000 jobs. The decidedly mixed jobs report comes as Mr Biden has attempted to tout his economic record, adopting the term “Bidenomics” to describe his policies such as the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed last year. On Thursday, he visited South Carolina to talk about his record and tout the fact that the United States attracted almost half a billion dollar private investment in manufacturing. “It’s historic, and it’s Bidenomics in action,” he said. “Instead of exporting jobs to cheaper labor costs -- what we did for decades -- we’re creating jobs here and exporting American product.” Read More Biden touts his economic record in fiery speech: ‘Guess what – Bidenomics is working’ Watch: Antony Blinken visits China for high-stakes meeting after ‘spy balloon’ Biden administration says judge's social media order could cause 'grave harm' Trump’s ex-press sec’y says there’s ‘no way’ White House cocaine is Hunter Biden’s NATO leaders set to offer Ukraine major support package but membership is off the table for now The US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package: AP sources

A solid employment report with stronger-than-expected wage growth for June keeps the Federal Reserve on track to raise

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