Fire in Pavao-Pavaozinho favela in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Images of a fire in the Pavao-Pavaozinho favela in Copacabana, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. IMAGES

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Images of a fire in the Pavao-Pavaozinho favela in Copacabana, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. IMAGES

Copenhagen (AFP) – A Danish court has handed a four-month prison sentence to a man who punched Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and ordered him deported following the term’s completion. The 39-year-old Polish man, who has lived in Denmark for five years, assaulted Frederiksen in a Copenhagen square in June, following a spate of attacks on politicians across the spectrum ahead of EU Parliament elections.

Balkhash (Kazakhstan) (AFP) – One of the world’s most unique waterways, Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash is home to an abundance of rare aquatic species. Increasingly, however, the “pearl of Kazakhstan” is facing the combined threat of climate change and pollution.

Undisclosed (Ukraine) (AFP) – Vitaliy Asinenko keeps a watchful eye on the sky as his team fixes overhead powerlines in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a constant target for Russian attacks. The head of the regional branch of a power company says his team is always on high alert and ready to jump into action despite the very real dangers of a war zone.

La Estrella (Spain) (AFP) – Working through the night, firefighters in the central Spanish province of Toledo tackle a blaze that regional authorities say has already swept through more than 700 hectares. As of yet, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and several local municipalities have been placed under lockdown, with a high level of alert in place.

Pointe-à-Pitre (AFP) – Crowds pack the streets of Point-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe’s main city, to welcome French judo legend Teddy Riner. who has won his fourth and fifth gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The 35-year-old 11-time world champion, who is the world’s most decorated judoka, claimed individual heavyweight and mixed team gold medals.

Annapolis (United States) (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns both Iran and Israel to avoid actions that “raise the risk of dangerous outcomes” in the Middle East. Iran has vowed a response after Israel’s suspected killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an assassination at which US President Joe Biden has hinted at frustration.

Philadelphia (AFP) – Hours after being announced on the Democratic ticket, Minnesota governor Tim Walz hit the campaign trail with presidential hopeful Kamala Harris in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania.

Paris (AFP) – Supporters of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has been embroiled in a major gender controversy at the Paris Olympics, celebrate after she won her semi-final.

London (AFP) – The UK government says 6,000 specialist police are ready to deal with any further unrest in Britain following far-right riots. Almost 400 people have been arrested and 100 charged over the week-long disturbances.

Venezuela (AFP) – A Russian training ship of the Baltic Fleet Smolniy arrives in Venezuela and is received with honors at the port of La Guaira, near the capital, as part of a working visit to the Caribbean nation amid a climate of tension after the last presidential election. IMAGES

Tokyo (AFP) – Halloween may not be for months, but it’s already peak haunted house season in Japan, where seeking a bone-chilling fright is a long-established summer tradition. Summer is closely associated with the dead in Japan, because it is believed that ancestral souls return to their household altars during the mid-August “obon” holiday.
