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Pomas (France) (AFP) – Roofs were torn apart and buildings were damaged after a tornado tore through the village of Pomas, in the south of France, injuring at least 39 people. “Right now, people are in a state of shock,” says Herve Gine, the mayor of Pomas. “Some people have lost everything,” he adds. French authorities had placed large parts of the country’s southwest on an orange weather alert due to severe storms, with numerous areas experiencing power outages and disruptions to transport.

Pflugdorf (Germany) (AFP) – Spectators cheer as grimacing competitors, using just their middle finger, heave a small leather loop with all their might at the German finger wrestling championships in the southern village of Pflugdorf-Stadl. In these contests, which last from a few seconds to nearly a minute, two opponents try to pull each other across the table. This traditional Alpine sport popular in Bavaria and Austria, is now organised with various weight and age categories. “It’s excruciating. The pain in the fingers,” says Ferdinand Seitz.

Deir el-Balah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians inspect damage at a mosque in the city of Deir el-Balah, described as one of the oldest in the Gaza Strip, after an airstrike targeted the building. “This mosque is an ancient monument and is used only for prayer and worship,” says mosque imam Saher Joudah. It comes a day after a strike in the same area killed at least five people, including two children, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence Rescue Service.

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea’s KOSPI Index fell 3% after the US Treasury Secretary announced more sanctions to punish Iran. While late August is typically a slow news period for markets, the US-Iran war, a trade battle between the United States and Canada and results from artificial intelligence bellwether Nvidia are keeping markets engaged. IMAGES

Beihai (China) (AFP) – Clasping her hands together in prayer, four-year-old Huanle tells God she misses her mum, whom she hasn’t seen since Chinese authorities raided their home last year in a crackdown on their unregistered church. Last October, Chinese authorities cracked down on the Zion Church, one of the largest underground churches in China, detaining more than 20 of its members, including 43-year-old Wang, Huanle’s mother.

London (AFP) – Capybaras, monkeys and penguins are just some of the animals stepping onto the scales as London Zoo carries out its annual weigh-in, part of the keepers’ regular checks of the health and well-being of the site’s inhabitants. “It’s a very busy day,” says head keeper Dan Simmonds, who explains that keepers will be weighing and recording data from early in the morning until late in the evening, with “thousands and thousands of animals across nearly 400 species” to get through.

Reno (United States) (AFP) – Authorities in Nevada urge tens of thousands of people to evacuate and order schools to remain closed as a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bears down on the western US city of Reno. Local governor Joe Lombardo has declared a state of emergency in Washoe County. Around 800 people are supporting firefighting efforts, says a local fire rescue service, including crews from Australia and New Zealand.

Kyiv residents mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, saying the holiday has taken on a deeper meaning after more than four years of war. “We’ve adapted to living in these conditions,” says Denys Yasyuk, who adds that Ukrainians need to “make time to celebrate” as a relief from Russia’s invasion. It comes as Kyiv hosts a meeting of its key European backers, pressing for critical air defence supplies and more pressure on Moscow, as the civilian death toll reaches its highest levels since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Every morning Harka Man Gharti slices into the blue water of a swimming pool in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, chasing a dream that stretches far beyond its 25 metres. The 21-year-old is training with three other disabled swimmers who will represent Nepal in the Asian Para Games in Japan in October, chasing medals despite limited resources in the Himalayan country. “I want to give everything, every possible thing for that medal,” says Gharti.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers an address marking the country’s Independence Day, saying the United States has “shed all illusions” about Russia’s willingness to end the war, and calling for sanctions that would make Moscow “howl”. It comes as Ukraine’s European allies gather in Kyiv for a Coalition of the Willing meeting, as escalating Russian attacks kill more civilians than at any time since the first months of the invasion.

Fort Erie (Canada) (AFP) – At the border between the United States and Canada, Canadians react as Prime Minister Mark Carney announces he will slap retaliatory tariffs on the United States after walking away from a “bad deal” on trade, deepening the rift between the longtime allies. “We have a bully in Washington, and he’s just hitting us all with the big stick all the time,” says Stuart Edwards, a Canadian.

Beijing (AFP) – The second World Humanoid Robot Games open in Beijing, bringing together over 2,000 robots from 16 countries showcasing advances in humanoid robotics. The five-day event features over 1,000 competitions, blending athletic sports, artistic performances, and practical real-world challenges.