Hong Kong (AFP) – The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society holds its first-ever bird call contest with people taking to the stage to mimic the calls of birds including the koel, brown fish owl, and Asian barred owlet. The event aims to raise awareness around conservation of bird habitats in and around the city.
Colombo (AFP) – Colourful kites fill the skies as participants from around the world gather in Sri Lanka’s capital for the Colombo International Kite Festival. More than 55 international kite flyers representing 25 countries joined local enthusiasts at Galle Face Green park for a day of vibrant kite displays.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Speaking alongside Zelensky in front of the Ukrainian capital’s St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Canadian PM Mark Carney says that Canada understands the lessons of history. “We know that Putin can never be trusted,” he says. “We know that true peace and security requires security guarantees for Ukraine”. Carney is visiting Kyiv as Ukraine marks its Independence Day.
Igueña (Spain) (AFP) – Firefighters continue to tackle wildfires in northwestern Spain. The country has been battling wildfires that have killed four people this month and ravaged huge swathes of land, the head of its civil protection and emergencies service has said.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Smoke rises from Gaza City as Israeli forces press ahead with an offensive on the city, saying it is key to capturing Hamas’s last major strongholds. It comes after a UN-backed report by the IPC officially declared that famine is affecting 500,000 people in the Palestinian territory – accusing Israel of a “systemic obstruction of aid”.
Porto (Spain) (AFP) – “Even for us, who are experienced, accustomed to natual disasters, this work is abnormal,” says Lieutenant Colonel Vianney Labbe, a French firefighter, describing the situation in Spain, where international teams are helping efforts against historic wildfires. More than 60 firefighters with trucks and two planes have been sent from France to help their overwhelmed counterparts in Spain’s northwestern Zamora province.
Caracas (AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro hits out at the US deployment of three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, calling the operation an “illegal” attempt at regime change. TO COMPLETE 72A36CV_EN
Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Iconic British actor Gary Oldman is honoured in Hollywood with a ceremony in which he has marked his hand and footprints on the Walk of Fame. Known for his villainous roles, as well as his performances in films ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, this year the actor is up for an Emmy for his role in Apple TV show ‘Slow Horses’.
Bogotá (AFP) – Colombian President Gustavo Petro, along with his Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Luis Arce, meet with representatives of the Indigenous community in Bogota at the beginning of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) summit. IMAGES
Sarajevo (AFP) – American actor Willem Dafoe, who has starred in over 100 films since the late 1970s including “Platoon” and “Finding Nemo”, receives the “Heart of Sarajevo” award at the Sarajevo Film Festival for his “outstanding contribution to the art of cinema”. The festival, a major annual gathering for the film industry in Southeast Europe, aims to promote regional productions while also regularly attracts global stars.
Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai Zoo prepares ice blocks and watermelons to help animals cope with extreme heat, and sprays water and mist to create a rain-like environment for them. Shanghai continues to issue high-temperature alerts as temperatures reach 38°C. The heatwave, which began on August 6, has now persisted for 16 consecutive days.
Kiew (AFP) – During a visit in Kyiv, the head of NATO calls for “robust” security guarantees for Ukraine to ensure Russia will uphold any potential peace deal and “will never again attempt to take one square kilometre of Ukraine”.
