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Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – A Los Angeles jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman because of an addictive design of their social media platforms, ordering the companies to pay $6 million in damages, including $3 million in punitive damages. Campaigners for greater online safety for children welcome the decision outside court. “I feel like we’re about something that is incredibly socially important and responsible. And I feel like we’ve made a great step forward,” says plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier.

Caracas (AFP) – People in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, home to the Venezuelan’ capital’s financial district, watch in intrigue as they observe two new characters on the street: Turbo and Voltio, state-of-the-art robotic dogs that will carry out patrol operations as part of a trial by local police. These autonomous units are equipped with high-precision sensors and real-time surveillance cameras.

Moskau (AFP) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters at the Kremlin that Europe is acting against its own interests by continuing to reject Russian oil despite the war in the Middle East, which has led to turmoil in the global energy markets. “They are paying a very high price for it. I don’t think they have changed their minds,” Peskov says.

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says the Middle East war presents a “far worse” scenario than Iraq in 2003, in a speech to the Spanish Parliament. The Socialist premier has refused Washington’s requests to use Madrid’s military bases against Iran, despite US President Donald Trump’s threat to sever trade with Spain as a result.

Ropoto (AFP) – Sitting at a 17 degree angle, a church in the unassuming Greek village of Ropoto has become a tourist magnet for curious visitors keen to test their balancing skills. “The tilt is unimaginable, it’s incredible, it makes you feel dizzy,” says primary school teacher Yiorgos Giorgoulas. “You just can’t comprehend it,” he adds. After a landslide carried the church from its original position, it has been left at a tilt which far exceeds that of the world-famous Tower of Pisa.

Bogor (AFP) – Indonesians fire wooden cannons as part of post-Eid celebrations in Bogor, West Java province. Two villages separated by a river compete to create the loudest battle fire by packing the cannons made from kapok trees with carbide stones.

Tyrus (AFP) – As Israeli strikes take out bridges and pound Lebanon’s largest southern city, residents in Tyre say they worry they may be soon be cut off from the rest of the country. Israel says that its military will take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, as deadly strikes hit across the country.

Tokio (AFP) – As Tokyo’s cherry blossom season nears its peak, locals and tourists alike flock to see the dazzling floral displays across the Japanese capital. A key touristy attraction, this year’s blooms came five days earlier than the average due to unusually warm weather since mid-February, according to the country’s weather agency.

Pishin (AFP) – Hundreds of Pashtun Pakistanis take part in traditional games in the mountainous regions of Balochistan province. The games — such as chicken catching, tug-of-war and running — draw spectators from across the region which has seen years-long insurgency and separatist conflicts. “Our area is in dire need of such a festival. The district of Pishin used to be peaceful, but for some time now, unrest has been rising here,” says a local resident.

Teheran (AFP) – First responders and heavy machinery clear the rubble after a strike on Tehran destroyed a building. Iran and Israel are continuing to trade strikes, as the Middle East war shows no sign of de-escalation despite US President Donald Trump signalling “very good talks” to end the three-week conflict.

Pjöngjang (AFP) – Images from North Korean state media KCTV show President Kim Jong Un attending an artistic performance in Pyongyang. The show celebrates the outcome of the First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, during which the rubber stamp parliament re-elected Kim as president of state affairs.

(AFP) – Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says that the military is “maneuvring into Lebanese territory to seize a forward line of defence” by destroying Hezbollah infrastructure and houses in border villages, saying they serve as “terror outposts”. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli-US attack. Israel has since launched strikes across Lebanon, killing at least 1,039 people, and sent ground troops into the country’s south.