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Inverness (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Famous for its freshwater lochs, rivers and rain, Scotland is seeing the impact of climate change with drier, warmer weather arriving ever earlier, prompting previously unthinkable warnings of water scarcity. At Loch Ness, famous for hosting a mythical monster in its murky depths, 84-year old harbour master and local since childhood Gordon Mangus says “it’s been this low for several months now and I have never, ever seen it this low.”

Fátima (Portugal) (AFP) – Around 200,000 pilgrims flood the shrine of Fatima in Portugal to attend a service held by Pope Francis at one of Catholicism’s most revered sites devoted to the Virgin Mary. Worshippers waved and called out “Viva!” as the 86-year-old pontiff slowly drove past on his popemobile.

Taipan (China) (AFP) – Thousands of raucous Chinese basketball fans pack tightly into a stadium filled with swirling fog, as spectators spur on the teams that have qualified for the crunch final. This is China’s village basketball phenomenon, a grassroots movement that has spiralled in recent years from a humble local tradition into a viral hit.

Beirut (AFP) – Lebanon marks three years since a massive blast rocked Beirut with hundreds of protesters marching alongside victims’ families to demand long-awaited justice.

Racha Region (Georgia) (AFP) – Search and rescue officials pull people out from under the mud and evacuate those in dangerous locations after a landslide in the western Georgian region of Racha killed at least seven people, according to Georgia’s interior ministry. It said in an earlier post that rescue efforts were under way and that 140 people had been evacuated while dozens remain missing.

Lisbon (AFP) – At World Youth Day in Lisbon, the Graca church hosts a mass for young pilgrims from Ukraine. One of the group of 500, Olena Shevchuk, says she is getting a welcome break from the pain of the war in her native Ukraine. “There is music everywhere here, cafes and restaurants are open, you can go wherever you want,” says the 24-year-old.

Bucharest (AFP) – A Romanian court has lifted a house arrest order on self-described misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and his brother as they await trial on human trafficking charges.

Bangkok (AFP) – An iced chocolate-mint concoction has won an unlikely publicity boost from political quarters in Thailand, winning it extra sales but also boycotts in the divided kingdom. The country is deadlocked after the Move Forward Party (MFP), buoyed to victory in May by promises to end nearly a decade of army-backed rule, failed to get its reformist candidate elected PM, forcing it to bow out and allow coalition partner Pheu Thai to try to form a government. But viral images of Pheu Thai leaders toasting the choc-mint drink with pro-army figures have seen it dubbed the “friend-betraying beverage” by local media.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Across Ukraine, a non-profit organisation is working to offer free treatment for civilians and military personnel with severe burns and scars sustained during the war. “Non-flammable” has treated around 150 people so far.

Tepic (Mexico) (AFP) – At least 18 people have been killed and at least 23 injured when a bus carrying foreign migrants and locals crashed in northwestern Mexico.