Nairobi (AFP) – Kenya’s president-elect William Ruto promises to “work with the opposition” moments after police force back fighting crowds. Ruto becomes the fifth president of Kenya, and the first member of the Kalenjin ethnic group to be elected head of state in twenty years, succeeding two presidents from the Kikuyu community – including the outgoing Uhuru Kenyatta.
Berlin (AFP) – Berlin is switching off the lights of 200 buildings to save energy in a bid to offset a looming Russian gas crisis. As of the end of July, six monuments and landmarks are no longer illuminated at night, according to the Senate’s environmental administration. The State Opera House and Berlin’s town hall remain lit currently, but will soon have their lights removed too. “In view of the war against Ukraine and Russia’s threats to energy policy, it is important that we use our energy as carefully as possible”, said environmental senator Bettina Jarasch.
Giza (Egypt) (AFP) – Funerals are held for 41 victims of a fire that ripped through a Coptic Christian church during mass, forcing worshippers to jump out of windows. Hundreds gather to pay their respects in and around the two Giza churches where clergymen pray for the victims.
London (AFP) – London-based yoga instructor Stacie Graham is on a mission to make the ancient practice, now a $30 billion-a-year industry according to the Global Wellness Institute, more racially and socially diverse.
Kabul (AFP) – Taliban fighters chant victory slogans next to the US embassy in Kabul as they mark the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan, following a turbulent 12 months that has seen women’s rights crushed and a humanitarian crisis worsen.
London (AFP) – ‘For me, it’s not a big deal,’ Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says after he and Tottenham coach Antonio Conte were shown red cards for clashing twice during a heated 2-2 draw. Conte’s overexuberant celebrations of Spurs’ first equaliser resulted in the two coaches being booked for squaring up. Tuchel then responded by running down the touchline in celebration when Chelsea retook the lead through Reece James 13 minutes from time.
Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentine grill masters fire up their spits for the fourth annual Federal Asado Championship in Buenos Aires, where thousands of people crowded July 9 Avenue to get a taste of the barbecued meat.
Kabul (AFP) – A crowd consisting of mostly Taliban militants attend a spontaneous rally at Kabul’s Shah Massoud square as the hardline Islamists marked the first anniversary of their return to power in the country with a national holiday. Exactly a year ago, the hardline Islamists captured Kabul after their nationwide lightning offensive against government forces ended 20 years of US-led military intervention. IMAGES
Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) (AFP) – A new support centre for internally displaced persons from the Kherson region in southern Ukraine opens in Zaporizhzhia, about 300 km northeast from Kherson. The centre, called “Ya – Kherson” (I am Kherson, in Ukrainian), has already received hundreds of people during the past week. In total, nearly 750 people have been evacuated from the Kherson region, seized by Moscow early on in their invasion, to Zaporizhzhia in the past 24 hours.
Yerevan (AFP) – Rescue workers clear debris on the scene of a deadly explosion at a retail market in the Armenian capital Yerevan. The explosion sparked a fire, killing one person and injuring 20, according to the emergency situations ministry.
