AFP UK

Abuja (AFP) – Nigerian hiking enthusiasts are defying fears of violence and kidnappings and a lack of public footpaths to explore the hills and countryside around the capital Abuja. Many join group hikes organised by companies like Naija Adventurers, who say they use an array of methods to prioritise hiker safety, including being joined by armed security. “We usually make sure that we have armed persons, you know, on the hike with us,” says Esesua Adeyemi, Brand partner for Naija Adventurers. “If anything happens now, you’ll be amazed the guns that will come out.”

Nangahale (Indonesia) (AFP) – A volcano in eastern Indonesia spews a colossal ash tower 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the sky. Dozens of flights to and from Bali have been cancelled as a result. The aviation disruption comes just weeks after the same rumbling volcano caused dozens of flight cancellations to and from the popular resort island.

Paramaribo (Surinam) (AFP) – Jennifer Geerlings-Simons leaves Parliament to greet a crowd of jubilant supporters after being officially elected Suriname’s first female president. The 71-year-old former opposition leader secured the presidency after her party won the most seats in May’s legislative elections, and her path was cleared when rival parties chose not to put forward a candidate. Her historic election marks a significant political milestone for the small South American nation. IMAGES

McLeod Ganj (India) (AFP) – Tibetan exiles, monks, officials and Hollywood star Richard Gere join the Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj, northwest India, to celebrate his 90th birthday, while devotees celebrate in cities around the world including Taipei and London.

Nairobi (AFP) – An armed gang attacks the headquarters of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission as it hosts a press conference calling for an end to state violence ahead of “Saba Saba Day”, an annual commemoration of pro-democracy protests in the 1990s. Protesters marching against police violence on June 17 were attacked by hundreds of men on motorbikes armed with whips and clubs, while at least 19 people died on June 25 as another day of protests turned violent.

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians mourn their loved ones after an Israeli airstrike in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City. 10 were killed in the pre-dawn strike, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to resume in Doha for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions told AFP a US-backed proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.

Hunt (United States) (AFP) – At the flood-ravaged site of Camp Mystic, on the Guadalupe River in Texas, Michael sifts through the debris in search of his eight-year-old daughter, who is among the 27 girls yet to be found after powerful waves of water rushed through the riverside camp after torrential rainfall.

Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Leo offers condolences to the families of the victims of devastating floods in Texas which have left at least 50 people dead and nearly 30 more missing, many of them children who were attending a summer camp. “We pray for them,” says the US-born pontiff following Angelus prayers.

Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) – In Tijuana, 58 couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony, officially formalizing their unions under Mexican law. “It seeks to give visibility to the community and guarantee their right and access to marriage equality,” says Belinda Rodriguez, a Tijuana Civil Registry representative.

McLeod Ganj (India) (AFP) – Dressed in traditional robes and a flowing yellow wrap, the Dalai Lama marks his 90th birthday at a ceremony in McLeod Ganj, India, where he prayed for peace. Sunday’s celebrations are the culmination of days of long-life prayers for Tenzin Gyatso, who followers believe is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. This week he announced that the spiritual institution will continue after his death while China insisted it would have final say on who succeeded the Tibetan spiritual leader. IMAGES

Shanghai (AFP) – Urban exploration, or “urbex” for short, is growing in popularity in China, where a years-long property sector crisis has left many cities dotted with empty buildings. Xu Pengcheng, a 29-year-old tech worker from the eastern city of Qingdao, has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers for his photos of rundown schools and vacant cinemas.

Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Ahead of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders from Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to deepen diplomatic ties and explore new avenues for cooperation. IMAGES