US recognizes Maduro's opponent as winner in Venezuela election (www.reuters.com)
Israel’s January 6 moment (www.vox.com)
Olympic triathletes swim in Seine River after days of concerns about water quality (apnews.com)
After days of water-quality concerns caused by heavy rains last week put the swimming portion of the Olympic triathlons in doubt, the women dove into the Seine River on Wednesday under gray skies that lingered following an early-morning drizzle, followed by the men a few hours later....
Somalia beach attack kills 32 civilians, police say (www.reuters.com)
Severe drought has returned to the Amazon. And it's happening earlier than expected (apnews.com)
Holder of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, the Amazon is beginning the dry season with many of its rivers already at critically low levels, prompting governments to anticipate contingency measures to address issues ranging from disrupted navigation to increasing forest fires....
Vietnam: To Lam confirmed as country's top leader (www.dw.com)
To Lam, who already served as Vietnam’s president, has been confirmed as the general secretary of the Communist Party. The former security officer vowed to continue a sweeping crackdown on corruption....
Mysterious $10m withdrawal fueled ‘secret probe’ into whether Egypt gave Trump campaign cash (www.independent.co.uk)
China hit by second bridge collapse in a month (www.dw.com)
Flooding and landslides struck a village and caused the collapse of a highway bridge in southwestern Sichuan province. At least two people were killed and around a dozen are missing....
Brussels asks Hungary to explain the easing of visa rules for Russians (www.euronews.com)
Hungary’s National Card scheme simplifies visa procedures and security screenings for “guest workers” coming from Russia and Belarus....
Guinea: Dadis Camara convicted, trial closes leaving questions. (www.justiceinfo.net)
Giant pangolin rediscovered in Senegal. (theconversation.com)
Russian prisoner swap deal was to have included Alexei Navalny (www.theguardian.com)
Russia's Gazprom net losses nearly double year on year (kyivindependent.com)
Venezuela: An Attempted Coup By Any Other Name (www.counterpunch.org)
cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/18217536...
Venezuela says US 'at the forefront of coup attempt' (www.reuters.com)
CARACAS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on Friday that the United States is “at the forefront of a coup attempt” against the South American country amid a dispute over presidential election results that sparked protests.
How the EU elections pushed Germany’s far right to new extremes (www.semafor.com)
Putin greeted children of freed sleeper agents in Spanish as they had only discovered they were Russian on the flight to Moscow, Kremlin says (www.businessinsider.com)
Putin greeted the children of Russian sleeper agents in Spanish as they landed in Moscow as part of a prisoner exchange....
US warns a famine in Sudan is on pace to be the deadliest in decades as the world looks elsewhere (apnews.com)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The newly confirmed famine at one of the sprawling camps for war-displaced people in Sudan’s Darfur region is growing uncontrolled as the country’s combatants block aid, and it threatens to grow bigger and deadlier than the world’s last major famine 13 years ago, U.S. officials warned on Friday....
Explosion and gunfire rock hotel at popular beach in Somalia's capital, witnesses say (abcnews.go.com)
Eight Indians killed while fighting against Ukraine in Russian army (euromaidanpress.com)
Kremlin admits Vadim Krasikov is a Russian state assassin (www.theguardian.com)
Spokesperson hints killer exchanged in prisoner swap was linked to Putin’s personal guard...
Face of British army recruitment drive wins payout for racist and sexist abuse (www.theguardian.com)
A former soldier who appeared on recruitment posters for the British army has received a settlement and an apology after taking it to an employment tribunal over the racist and sexist abuse she was subjected to during her career....
Venezuelan opposition says headquarters invaded as government alleges coup attempt (www.reuters.com)
opposition movement on Friday said its headquarters had been vandalized amid ongoing tensions over a disputed presidential election, as the country’s foreign minister said the U.S. was at the forefront of what the government calls a coup attempt....