African Union president urges Russia to end naval blockade

Russia and Ukraine account for more than 40% of Africa’s total wheat imports. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following African Union president urges Russia to end naval blockade [Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Senegalese President and the chairman of the African Union Macky Sall during their meeting in Sochi, Russia, June 3, 2022.] Credit: Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP African Union The head of the African Union, Senegalese President Macky Sall, is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Friday. He’s urging Putin to [lift Russia’s blockade]( on cereals and fertilizer from Ukraine. It comes as many of the world’s poorest countries face hunger and starvation amid grain export interruptions because of the war in Ukraine. The UN has also warned that the naval blockade could [cause famines around the world](. Russia and Ukraine provide more than 40% of Africa’s total wheat imports. For some African nations, they account for the majority, if not all, of their imported supplies. Yemen The warring sides in Yemen have [agreed to renew their truce]( for another two months. The initial agreement in April between the Yemeni government and the country’s Houthi rebels was the first since 2016. It called on all parties to halt military operations inside the country and across its borders. It also required them to operate two commercial flights a week from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to Jordan and Egypt, as well as allow a number of vessels into the port of Hodeidah and open the roads to some governorates. The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that the number of civilians killed and injured [dropped by more than 50%]( in the first month of the truce. United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee after [70 years on the throne](. As part of the four-day occasion, the Queen appeared on Buckingham Palace's balcony to watch the RAF flypast with other senior royals. A religious service was held at St. Paul's Cathedral in central London, which the Queen was unable to attend herself. [More than 400 people]( from the four nations of the United Kingdom were invited to the event, including key workers, teachers and public servants, as well as London Mayor Sadiq Khan. During her decades-long reign, the monarch has witnessed a wide range of history, from the twilight years of the British empire and the effects of its colonization across the globe — including the crown’s relationship with current members of the Commonwealth — to Brexit and the UK’s relations with Europe. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Ukrainian doctors train for the possibility of a chemical attack from Russia]( [A man walks next to heavily damaged buildings and destroyed cars following Russian attacks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, May 24, 2022.]( Credit: Francisco Seco/AP Since the start of the war in Ukraine, medical workers have been concerned about the possibility of Russia using [chemical agents]( against civilians. That hasn’t happened yet (none on official record) but a Syrian American nongovernmental organization is helping Ukrainian medical workers prepare for the worst. [Biomass energy may soon lose its green label in the EU]( [Wood pellets are a successful but controversial type of biomass (plant and wood residue are burned for energy).]( Credit: Gerry Hadden/The World In Europe, wood pellets fire power plants and home furnaces in what’s become a [multibillion-dollar-a-year industry](. It’s expanded because the European Union labels pellets as renewable. But environmentalists say that the label is misguided. --------------------------------------------------------------- Can we count on you? We live in uncertain times and the news has been especially heavy lately, but our team of talented and curious reporters, producers and editors who are dedicated to bringing you human-centered stories every day does not waver. This team is fueled by the community and financial support we receive from you, our listeners. We have a goal of raising $25,000 by June 30. [Will you donate today]( to support reporting from our nonprofit newsroom? --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Harini Logan, an eighth grader from San Antonio, Texas, is the champion of this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. Harini spelled 21 out of 26 words correctly during the spell-off that tested the contestants on how many words they could spell correctly in 90 seconds. It was her fourth time competing in the bee, and her prize was a trophy and a check for $50,000. [Harini Logan, 14, from San Antonio, Texas, and President and CEO of Scripps Company Adam Symson, hold Logan's Scripps National Spelling Bee winning trophy, June 2, 2022.] Credit: Jose Luis Magana/AP In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.