AFP UK

Venice (AFP) – Jude Law and the cast of “The Order,” directed by Justin Kurzel, walk the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival to present the film in contention for the Golden Lion.

Tokār (Sudan) (AFP) – People wade through floodwaters in the Tokar commune near the Red Sea in northeastern Sudan, as heavy rains swept through the locality over the past days. The war-torn country has experienced an intense rainy season since last month, with intermittent torrential flooding mainly in the country’s north and east.

Quito (AFP) – A sprawling Ecuadorian forest reserve in the Choco Andino Biosphere Reserve, home to some 600 species of birds and 270 species of mammals, is at the center of a tug-of-war between environmentalists and miners who see it as a way out of poverty. A year ago, residents and environmentalists won a hard-fought victory in a referendum that banned all metal mining in the forest.

Putrajaya (Malaysia) (AFP) – Malaysia celebrates its 67th Independence Day in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, where King Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim watch parades and military processions involving over 17,000 people. Malayan independence from the British Empire was declared on 31 August 1957.

Sydney (AFP) – Hundreds of endangered Green and Golden Bell frogs huddle inside a sauna, protected from Sydney’s winter chill. The sauna -– a small greenhouse containing ten black-painted bricks — may offer a pleasant warmth, but it also protects the frogs from a deadly fungus called chytrid that would otherwise drive them to extinction.

Lagos (AFP) – Nigeria’s megapolis Lagos is looking at waterways as a “potential jewel in the crown” of its plan to ease road congestion woes that add hours to commutes for millions. The state government has ambitious plans for more integrated public transport as Lagos barrels towards becoming the world’s most populated city by the end of the century.

Abs (AFP) – At least 24 people have been killed in flash floods in western Yemen, a United Nations agency says, as search efforts continue for those still missing. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of seasonal rains in the Yemeni highlands, much of which are controlled by the Huthi rebels. A decade of war with the internationally recognised government propped up by a Saudi-led coalition has ravaged healthcare infrastructure and left millions dependent on international aid.

Aleppo (AFP) – In northern Syria, four souks in old Aleppo have reopened after being badly damaged in the fighting that ravaged Syria’s commercial centre between 2012-16. Carpet weaver Omar al-Rawas says business is getting better as people return to Aleppo, adding that he felt his “spirit return” when he reopened his shop.

Al-Fara refugee camp (AFP) – Palestinians mourn in the occupied West Bank as Israel’s large-scale military operation enters a third day, with both sides reporting at least 19 Palestinians killed. Israel has described its raids on towns and refugee camps across the northern West Bank as “counter-terrorism” operations. Violence has surged in the West Bank since Hamas’s unprecedented 7 October attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.

Venedig (AFP) – Film stars such as Cate Blanchett, Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman arrive and walk the red carpet at the 81st International Venice Film Festival.

Vólos (Greece) (AFP) – Authorities in central Greece are racing to deal with an inundation of dead fish that locals say could threaten their livelihoods. It is the second recent environmental catastrophe to hit the port of Volos, a three-and-a-half-hour drive north of Athens, after floods hit the Thessaly region last year.

Paris (AFP) – The 2024 Paralympics opened in Paris in a colourful and hope-filled ceremony, starting 11 days of competition in a city still riding the wave of the successful Olympics. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open during a ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris — the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium.