Briefly 2025-07-04    

RUSSIA

Navy deputy head killed in Ukrainian attack

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy and a former commander of a marine brigade fighting against Ukraine, has been killed in action, depriving Moscow of one of its most senior officers, the Russian military said on Thursday. Gudkov, who was handed a top military honor in the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February, was killed on Wednesday "during combat work in one of the border districts of Kursk region", the Defense Ministry said in a statement. At least 10 other senior Russian commanders have been killed in action or assassinated by Kyiv since the start of the conflict.

UNITED STATES

Drive-by shooting in Chicago leaves 4 dead

Four people have died from gunshot wounds and 14 others have been hospitalized following a drive-by shooting in Chicago, police said on Thursday. At least three were in a critical condition. The shooting happened late on Wednesday in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Several media outlets said it happened outside a restaurant and lounge that had hosted an album release party for a rapper. Someone opened fire into a crowd standing outside, police said, and the vehicle immediately drove away. No one is in custody yet, police said. As per preliminary information from police, 13 women and five men ranging in age from 21 to 32 were shot.

SOUTH KOREA

PM nomination gets Parliament approval

South Korea's parliament approved the appointment of prime minister nominee Kim Minseok on Thursday. The motion to appoint Kim, the ruling Democratic Party's four-term lawmaker, was approved with 173 votes in favor, three against and three invalid. Of the 300 members of the ruling party-controlled National Assembly, lawmakers of the conservative opposition People Power Party refused to vote on it, calling for Kim's voluntary resignation. Kim was nominated as prime minister on June 4 when President Lee Jaemyung took office.