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Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A year after winning the Euros, England head to Australia as one of the favourites in the women’s World Cup, despite missing some key players to injury. “Everyone knows now what it takes to win,” says forward Lauren Hemp, adding, “obviously there’s going to be a lot of pressure on us going into the tournament.” The squad has the backing of the men’s team, with star Phil Foden admitting he thinks “it’s coming home”.

Brussels (AFP) – President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says Brazil wants the war in Ukraine to stop, saying that a group of countries is needed to convince Moscow and Kyiv. Lula was speaking the day after the end of the EU-CELAC Summit, which brings together the countries of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean which failed to agree on a statement holding Russia to account for the war in Ukraine.

Kabul (AFP) – A group of Afghan women protest against an order by Taliban authorities to shut beauty parlours across the country, the latest curb to squeeze them out of public life.

Agios Sotiras (Greece) (AFP) – Drone footage shows hills scorched by wildfires near the town of Agios Sotiras, northwest of Athens, as Greece faces a new a wave of heat after days of scorching temperatures.

Moscow (AFP) – Russia says it hit military facilities overnight near Ukraine’s port of Odesa, where Kyiv accused Moscow of targeting sites used to export grain. “At night, Russia’s armed forces carried out a group strike with long-range precision-guided air and sea-launched weapons against military industrial facilities, infrastructure for fuel and ammunition depots of the Ukrainian armed forces near the city of Odesa,” army spokesperson Igor Konashenkov says, adding that Russian forces have advanced one kilometre (less than one mile) along the frontline in Ukraine’s northeastern region of Kharkiv.

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A year after winning the Euros, England head to Australia as one of the favourites in the women’s World Cup, despite missing some key players to injury. “Everyone knows now what it takes to win,” says forward Lauren Hemp, adding, “obviously there’s going to be a lot of pressure on us going into the tournament.” The squad has the backing of the men’s team, with star Phil Foden admitting he thinks “it’s coming home”.

Bangkok (AFP) – Images of Pita Limjaroenrat in the parliament as Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended prime minister candidate while it hears a case that could see him disqualified as an MP. IMAGES

Manzanillo (Mexico) (AFP) – In an unlikely rescue reminiscent of the Tom Hanks movie “Cast Away,” Australian sailor Timothy Shaddock and his dog “Bella” were rescued by a tuna vessel after more than two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

Buenaventura (Colombia) (AFP) – Young members of the Shottas gang, responsible for dozens of deaths in Colombia’s impoverished port city of Buenaventura, are working on a state-sponsored project to renovate the football pitch, during a lull in fighting with their archrivals. While projects like these are welcome, the gangs say much more is needed for a permanent truce to become a realistic prospect in the city which has a poverty rate of 40 percent.

Agra (India) (AFP) – Floodwaters from the Yamuna River have reached the walls of the 17th century mausoleum as water levels in the river cross 150 metres – the highest since 1978.