Moscow (AFP) – In March 2022, Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova publicly denounced the Russian military intervention in Ukraine on state-owned Channel One Russia. She now faces the constant threat of being arrested, but is still continuing to criticise President Putin.
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs arrives at court facing charges of attacking and coercively controlling his ex-girlfriend, in a case that has upended his managerial career. The 48-year-old, who until recently served as coach of the Wales national team, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum jail term of five years.
Bogota (AFP) – Gustavo Petro is sworn in as the first left-wing president of Colombia, before a crowd of hundreds of thousands at his inauguration in Bogota.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Images of sunrise over Gaza City after an Egypt-brokered truce between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants appeared to be holding early Monday. The truce raises hopes that the recent intense conflict that has left at least 44 Palestinians dead, including 15 children, has ended. IMAGES
Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Flames and smoke rise from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip shortly before a ceasefire. Israel and Islamic Jihad militants on Sunday began a precarious truce aiming to end three days of intense conflict in Gaza that has left at least 44 Palestinians dead, including 15 children.
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis hails the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports by sea as “a sign of hope” , viewing it as proof that dialogue is “possible” as a way to end the war.
Rafah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians hold the funeral for top Islamic Jihad commander, Khaled Mansour, who was reportedly targeted by an Israeli strike. Israel bombarded Islamic Jihad positions in the Gaza Strip for a third day Sunday as violence escalated, with 31 Palestinians killed and militants firing rockets at Jerusalem.
Galtür (Austria) (AFP) – Near the Austrian-Swiss border, scientists are studying how global warming is causing the Jamtalferner glacier to melt at an unprecedented rate. “We are now at the beginning of the melting season, and there is already no more snow,” glaciologist Andrea Fischer observes.
Bogota (AFP) – During his speech to Indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians, gypsies and peasants on the eve of his official inauguration on 7 August, Colombia’s president-elect Gustavo Petro vows to fight for social justice and to form a government that will work with social movements.
Fagradalsfjall (Iceland) (AFP) – Lava flows out of a fissure in a valley near Mount Fagradalsfjall in Iceland. Noxious gases from the volcano threaten to pollute the air of a nearby village and risk spreading to the capital Reykjavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said.
