Barranquilla (Colombia) (AFP) – Colombians begin voting in a presidential election that will determine the nation’s response to rising violence by drug-running guerrillas, either staying left and opting for dialogue or tacking right towards all-out war. IMAGES
Galati (Romania) (AFP) – Residents of the Romanian city of Galati say they are “angry” and “afraid” after a drone hit an apartment building, wounding two people and drawing condemnation from NATO and the European Union, which has blamed Russia and warned against further incursions. “We were expecting certain things, but not this, right here in the city centre,” says pensioner Jenica.
Geneva (AFP) – The World Health Organization announces the first recovery of a confirmed Ebola patient since a deadly outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We are expecting more people to recover,” Anais Legand, WHO technical officer on viral haemorrhagic fevers, tells a media briefing in Geneva.
Budapest (AFP) – Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) supporters gather in Budapest on the eve of the Champions League final in the Hungarian capital. “We’re obviously fired up to win back-to-back titles – we’re expecting a win,” says PSG fan Florian Gilbert. “We’re champions of England, I think we can do it,” says Arsenal fan Thomas Withey. Arsenal are hoping to beat previous champions PSF, after winning the Premier League this month.
Bhubaneswar (India) (AFP) – As soon as he put on his glasses, Indian vegetable seller Tofan Jena knew daily life would never be the same. For the first time, the 49-year-old could see the world around him in sharp detail. Jena is one of thousands of people in India who have been helped by the charity GoodVision which provides affordable eye care services across the world. “Now I can see the messages on my mobile phone clearly. I can read the newspaper too,” he tells AFP.
Zurich (AFP) – A knife attack by a man reportedly shouting “Allahu akbar” that wounded three people at a Swiss train station was an “act of terrorism”, says a regional security official. “A terrible act of terrorism, which the police handled very well. It was a situation where it was possible to prevent even greater harm,” says Mario Fehr, in charge of security in the Swiss canton of Zurich, adding, “We take this very seriously indeed”.
Seoul (AFP) – Humanoid robots wearing designer outfits join models on the catwalk at a physical AI fashion show in Seoul, which was hosted by the South Korean entertainment company Galaxy Corporation. South Korea is one of the world leaders in robot production. With 1,012 robots per 10,000 workers, Korea boasts one of the world’s highest robot densities.
Gilgil (Kenya) (AFP) – Kenya reels in shock after a deadly fire in a girls’ school kills at least 16 and leaves a further 79 hospitalised. The blaze broke out shortly before 1:00am local time at the Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Nakuru County, southwestern Kenya, officials have said. “We are currently handling lots of anxiety and tension from parents,” says Anthony Muchiri, of the Kenyan Red Cross, adding that medical teams are “doing lots of counselling.” Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Paris (France) (AFP) – Parisians cool off in the city’s Saint-Martin canal amid an early heatwave despite a ban on swimming. “The police came by, but there wasn’t much of a crackdown, which was what was nice, just a few reminders. No one was detained, and I thought that was pretty nice,” says Paris resident, Ira.
Dhaka (AFP) – A buffalo in Bangladesh nicknamed “Donald Trump” for its flowing blonde hair has been spared from sacrifice after shooting to online fame, and will instead be cared for at the national zoo. The 700-kilogramme (1,500-pound) bull, a rare albino buffalo with a flowing helmet of light hair resembling the signature look of the US president, was due to be slaughtered to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
Washington (United States) (AFP) – US President Donald Trump says he is not yet satisfied with Iran’s offers to make a deal, after Iranian state television reported details of what it claimed was a draft agreement. Speaking at a cabinet meeting in the White House, Trump adds that he is in no rush to reach an accord to end the Middle East war, despite saying at the weekend that one was close. “Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be,” Trump says.
Bunia (DR Congo) (AFP) – The Muslim community of Bunia, celebrates Eid al-Adha under health restrictions due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region. “Yes, it penalises us greatly, because usually the holiday is a celebration that should be full of joy, that should bring together many people,” says Alex Shabdina, spokesperson for the Islamic community in Bunia. According to the World Health Organization, the current outbreak has a fatality rate of 25 percent, significally lower than previous outbreaks in DR Congo.
