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Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russian “terrorist actions” can only be stopped with modern weapons.

Namur (Belgium) (AFP) – As if cycling competitions weren’t hard enough, Belgium has launched its first competition of waterbiking: pitting competitors pedalling afloat bikes atop catamarans. The first Belgian Waterbiking Championships, held in the central city of Namur, saw a couple of hundred competitors on the river Meuse. The first Belgian Waterbike Championships in the central city of Namur, are an entree to the European Waterbike Championships to be hosted by the city November 4-5.

Tokyo (AFP) – Polls opened Sunday in Japan’s upper house elections, just two days after former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while on the campaign trail. The election, which is expected to see Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party increase its majority, has been overshadowed by the murder. But Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other politicians have insisted the shock killing would not halt the democratic process. DURATION: 01:09

Washington (AFP) – The Women’s March returns to Washington, DC with hundreds protesting in favour of abortion rights in the US capital, two weeks after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision that enshrined a nationwide right to abortion.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – “Adults should remember that children see, experience and feel everything”, says Olena Sotnik, who organised an exhibition with more than 300 children’s drawings from all over Ukraine, specifically from Russia controlled territories. The exhibition, titled “Children. War. Future” is located in a central Kyiv metro station that has been closed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24.

Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence shortly before protesters, angered by an unprecedented economic crisis, overran the compound and stormed his nearby office. Hundreds of thousands of people massed on the streets around the leader’s home, according to police estimates, to demand he step down over the government’s mismanagement of the unprecedented downturn. Earlier troops guarding the residence fired in the air to hold the crowd back until Rajapaksa was safely removed.

Berlin (AFP) – Thousands come out for the “Rave the Planet” techno-parade in Berlin, organised by the founder of the former “Love Parade”. Twenty-five thousand people are expected to participate in the event. IMAGES

Snake Island (Ukraine) (AFP) – Images published by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry on July 8 show Ukrainian troops landing and raising the national flag on Snake Island, a rocky outcrop in the Black Sea in the Odessa Region. Ukraine forced Russian troops from Snake Island last week after a spate of heavy bombardments.

Colombo (AFP) – Protesters storm the official residence of Gotabaya Rajapaksa shortly after the Sri Lankan president fled the Colombo compound. Huge crowds had surrounded the leader’s home to demand his resignation, blaming government mismanagement for a painful economic downturn. IMAGES

Nara (Japan) (AFP) – Mourners in Japan’s Nara place flowers in honour of former prime minister Shinzo Abe at the place where he was gunned down while campaigning. The murder of Japan’s best-known politician rattled the country and sent shockwaves around the world, particularly given the nation’s low levels of violent crime and strict gun laws. 

Tokyo (AFP) – A car carrying the body of assassinated former PM Shinzo Abe arrives at his home in Japan’s capital Tokyo.

Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin warns of “catastrophic consequences” of Western sanctions on the global energy market. “Sanctions restrictions on Russia will bring far bigger losses for the countries that impose them,” Putin tells a televised government meeting.