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| - Duty Editor: Anita Beattie Email: washengdesk@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Delta variant forces new lockdowns as Europe eases curbs + Still 'hope' as rescuers race fire to find Florida collapse survivors + J&J to stop selling opioids in US, reaches settlement with New York + Alaphilippe leads Tour de France as crashes mar Grand Depart + Denmark roll into quarter-finals as Italy face Austria at Euro 2020 Health-virus,WRAP SAINT PETERSBURG Australia's largest city Sydney enters a two-week lockdown to contain a sudden coronavirus surge and Russia's Saint Petersburg announces a record death toll, as several European nations lift restrictions despite the worrying spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. 800 words 1930 GMT by Marina Koreneva with Andrew Leeson in Sydney. Picture. Video. Graphic US-accident-construction,WRAP SURFSIDE, United States Florida rescuers continue to hold out hope for survivors two days after a high-rise apartment building partially collapsed with scores of people trapped inside, three years after an engineer had warned of "major structural damage." 750 words 2100 GMT by Cyril Julien. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moved: US-accident-construction,SCENE US-health-opioids-J&J,WRAP WASHINGTON Johnson & Johnson, one of the pharmaceutical giants accused of fueling the deadly opioid crisis in the United States, reaches a settlement with the state of New York for $230 million and confirms it will stop making or selling opioids in the US. 650 words moved by Delphine Touitou Fbl-Euro-2020-2021,WRAP LONDON Denmark ease into the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 with a 4-0 win over Wales, while Italy could break an 82-year national record when they take on Austria at Wembley. 600 words 2130 GMT by John Weaver. Picture. Graphic. Video Cycling-Tour-FRA-2021,WRAP BREST, FRANCE Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe dusts himself off from a fall to claim the first yellow jersey of the Tour de France, winning stage one by a clear margin on a crash-marred opening day. 550 words moved by Damian McCall. Picture. Graphic -- SPOTLIGHT -- China-animal-environment-elephant,FOCUS BEIJING The mammoth trek across southern China of a herd of elephants that has captivated the world with their playful antics has thrown a spotlight on the loss of their habitat and conservation challenges. 650 words moved by Poornima Weersaekara. File picture. Video -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-SAfrica,lead JOHANNESBURG The highly contagious Delta variant is driving a surge in South African Covid-19 infections that is testing the capacity of hospitals and forcing authorities to mull tighter restrictions, the government and scientists say. 400 words moved Health-virus-Britain-demonstration LONDON Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters march through central London, with the prime minister's Downing Street residence and parliament both pelted with tennis balls. 200 words moved. Picture Health-virus-Spain-mask MADRID A few smiles are visible in Madrid but most keep their faces covered as Spain drops its requirement for people to wear masks in the street. 470 words moved -- AMERICAS -- Colombia-Venezuela-attack BOGOTA The Colombian government says it is offering a reward of nearly $800,000 for information leading to the capture of those behind a gun attack on a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque near the Venezuela border. 500 words moved US-politics-Trump WELLINGTON, United States Donald Trump returns to an Ohio stage for his first big campaign-style rally since leaving the White House, launching a series of appearances before cheering supporters ahead of next year's midterm elections. 600 words 1930 GMT by Fabian Erik Schluter. Picture -- EUROPE -- Britain-politics-health-Hancock,WRAP LONDON UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigns following revelations that he broke the government's own coronavirus restrictions during an affair with a close aide. 600 words moved. File picture Germany-crime-knife,WRAP WUERZBURG, Germany Investigators are examining whether radicalisation or psychiatric problems drove a 24-year-old man to go on a knife rampage in the German city of Wuerzburg, stabbing three women to death and leaving six other people seriously injured. 680 words moved by Pauline Curtet with Hui Min Neo in Berlin. Picture. Video. Live video Poland-Vatican-religion-cardinal-abuse WARSAW The Vatican says it is investigating an influential aide to late pope John Paul II, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, following allegations of abuse cover-ups. 350 words moved US-France-Germany-Italy-diplomacy-Blinken,FOCUS PARIS After four turbulent years with president Donald Trump, European allies are barely concealing their joy as they welcome Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his more collaborative approach. 550 words moved by Shaun Tandon. Picture. Video -- AFRICA -- Ethiopia-politics-vote ADDIS ABABA The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission says that while there was some violence recorded during the country's elections, it did not observe "massive, widespread and systematic human rights abuses". 350 words moved -- MIDDLE EAST -- Iraq-conflict-US-drones ARBIL, Iraq Three explosives-laden drones hit near the northern Iraqi city of Arbil, where the United States has a consulate, Iraqi Kurdish officials say. 450 words moved. Picture. Video -- ASIA -- Afghanistan-conflict-Taliban-Kunduz KUNDUZ, Afghanistan About 5,000 Afghan families have fled their homes in Kunduz after days of fighting between the Taliban and government forces, officials say, with the insurgents continuing to surround the key northern city. 400 words moved. Video Indonesia-culture-religion PROBOLINGGO, Indonesia Thousands of worshippers trudge up an active Indonesian volcano to cast livestock and other offerings down its smouldering crater in a centuries-old religious ceremony. 350 words moved. Photos. Video -- SPORT -- Auto-Prix-AUT-Styrian,WRAP SPIELBERG World Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull claims pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix as Mercedes driver Valterri Bottas complains of getting "screwed over". 600 words moved. Picture RugbyU-GBR-IRL-Lions-Jones,WRAP EDINBURGH British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones is ruled out of the tour of South Africa after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a 28-10 warm-up win over Japan at Murrayfield. 600 words moved. Picture afp
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