(AFP) – Former Ukrainian convicts of the special “Shkval” battalion receive military training before heading to the frontline. With Russia’s invasion dragging on into its third year, Ukraine is seeking to boost its critically stretched manpower, including allowing inmates to fight.
Paris (AFP) – Thousands of fans leave the Bercy Arena in Paris delighted to see US gymnast Simone Biles back at the Olympics. Biles withdrew from multiple events at the Tokyo Games as she battled the disorientating mental block that gymnasts call “twisties”.
Paris (AFP) – Organisers of the Paris Olympics say they are “really sorry” for any offence caused by their daring and quirky opening ceremony but denied “any intention to show disrespect to any religious group.” Some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned what they saw as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” in the parade choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly.
Majdal Shams (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows Israel will deliver a “severe” response to the rocket attack that killed 12 children upon his visit to the site of the deadly attack in the annexed Golan Heights in the Druze village of Majdal Shams.
Majdal Shams (AFP) – Mourners gather in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams after a deadly strike on 27 July killed 12 young people aged between 10 and 16. Israel has blamed the attack on Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, which has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the start of the Gaza war in early October. The Iran-backed group said it had “no connection” to the incident. TO COMPLETE VIDI36632E2_EN
Caracas (AFP) – Nicolas Maduro claims victory in Venezuela’s presidential election, but the opposition rejects the official results and vows to not rest until “the will of the people of Venezuela is respected”.
Caracas (AFP) – Venezuela’s opposition has accused authorities of preventing people from observing the vote count at polling stations. It rejects the official election results which saw Nicolas Maduro re-elected with 51.2 percent of the vote.
Caracas (AFP) – Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro won re-election with 51.2 percent of votes cast, the electoral council announced, after a campaign tainted by claims of opposition intimidation and fears of fraud.
Petare (Venezuela) (AFP) – A polling station in Petare, in the Metropolitan District of Caracas, starts to count the votes in Venezuela’s presidential election, after millions turned out to cast their ballots in a fraught presidential election with socialist incumbent Nicolas Maduro facing the biggest challenge yet to his party’s 25-year hold on power. IMAGES
Petare (Venezuela) (AFP) – Polling stations close in Venezuela’s presidential election after millions turned out to cast their ballots in a fraught presidential election with socialist incumbent Nicolas Maduro facing the biggest challenge yet to his party’s 25-year hold on power. IMAGES
