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| - Duty Editor: Yana Dlugy Contact: Engdeskers@afp.com -- TOP STORIES -- + Russia's main cities hit fresh virus death records + US building collapse toll climbs to 9, with more than 150 missing + US air strikes target Iran-backed militia groups + Wimbledon returns as Djokovic chases sixth title, 20th Grand Slam + World champions France face Swiss in Euro knockout game Health-virus,WRAP MOSCOW Russia's two main cities again post record Covid-19 deaths as the vaccine-sceptic country tries to contain a deadly wave fuelled by the Delta variant, while several Asian nations also tighten curbs. 700 words 1100 GMT. Picture. Video. Graphic US-accident-construction,WRAP SURFSIDE, Florida The death toll after the collapse of a Florida apartment tower climbs to nine, with more than 150 people still missing and their weary families waiting more than three days afterwards for information as to their fate. 750 words moved by Cyril Julien. Picture. Video. Graphic Syria-Iraq-conflict-US,WRAP BEIRUT US air strikes against Iran-backed armed groups on the Syrian-Iraqi border kill at least seven fighters overnight, sparking immediate calls for revenge and fears of a new escalation between Washington and Tehran. 700 words 1200 GMT by Tony Gamal-Gabriel with Becca Milfeld in Washington Tennis-GBR-Wimbledon,WRAP LONDON Novak Djokovic begins his bid for a sixth Wimbledon title and 20th Grand Slam as the grass court showpiece returns following its cancellation in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 600 words 1000 GMT by Pirate Irwin. Picture. Graphic Fbl-Euro-2020-2021,WRAP PARIS World Cup holders France face Switzerland in a risky Euro 2020 knockout game looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals, while Luka Modric leads Croatia into battle against Spain. 650 words 1200 GMT by Andy Scott with Terry Daley in Copenhagen. Picture. Video. Graphic -- SPOTLIGHT -- Health-virus-Brazil-India-vaccine-politics-corruption,FOCUS RIO DE JANEIRO There was something fishy about the invoice: why was a company in Singapore billing Brazil $45 million for an Indian Covid-19 vaccine that hadn't been delivered? That question has put Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the hot seat -- and has opponents hoping the scandal might cost the far-right leader his job. 850 words moved by Joshua Howat Berger. File picture UN-rights-racism,WRAP GENEVA The UN rights chief calls for systemic racism against black people to be immediately dismantled around the world to avoid repeating outrages like the killing of George Floyd. 650 words moved by Robin Millard. Picture. Live video -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-Bangladesh DHAKA, Bangladesh Thousands of people are stranded in Bangladesh's capital as authorities halt almost all public transport ahead of a sweeping lockdown imposed to combat a deadly resurgence of Covid-19 infections. 400 words moved Health-virus-Australia BRISBANE, Australia New coronavirus cases pop up in cities across Australia, prompting local authorities to impose restrictions in areas not used to living under strict Covid-19 rules. 500 words moved Health-virus-Australia-politics-economy MELBOURNE Australia faces stalled population growth and budget deficits until at least 2060 as a result of emergency Covid-19 measures, the government warns. 450 words moved -- EUROPE -- Sweden-politics STOCKHOLM Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven resigns one week after he became the country's first premier to lose a confidence vote. 550 words 1000 GMT by Johannes Ledel. Video. France-politics,FOCUS PARIS The parties of President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen suffered setbacks in the final round of regional polls, the last electoral test before French presidential elections next year. AFP looks at the five key questions raised by the results. 650 words 1100 GMT by Adam Plowright. Picture. Video. France-vote-politics,PROFILE PARIS The outcome of France's regional elections has led some observers to suggest that the 2022 presidential race is now wide open and a duel between President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen no longer a foregone conclusion. AFP looks at the potential challengers. 700 words 1200 GMT by Stuart Williams. Picture. -- AFRICA -- DRCongo unrest,WRAP BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo The eastern DR Congo city of Beni wakes up to a curfew after being rocked by three bombs, as authorities warn of reports that more attacks are being planned. 550 words moved. Picture. Graphic SAfrica-politics-apartheid,FACTS JOHANNESBURG Thirty years ago, South Africa abolished the last vestiges of apartheid, bringing the curtain down on a brutally oppressive system of racial segregation. 600 words 0930 GMT. File picture -- MIDDLE EAST -- Sudan-unrest-army,FOCUS KHARTOUM Integrating a powerful paramilitary force into the army has emerged as the latest stumbling block in Sudan's transition to civilian rule following three decades under ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir. 750 words moved by Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali and Menna Zaki. File Picture Cyprus-botany-tourism-leisure,VIDEOESSAY AGROS, Cyprus Lavender, basil and roses: aromatic plants are being cultivated in Cyprus to broaden the island's sun-and-sea appeal and regain a lofty botanical status dating back to Roman times. 400 words moved by Valentine Graveleau. Picture. Video -- ASIA -- China-politics-party-anniversary,ADVANCER CHANGSHA, China Hair windswept, handsome and 32-metres high, a statue of Mao Zedong presides over a crowd of millennials alternating between selfies and bubble teas -- drawing a thread through the past, present and future of China's Communist Party (CCP) in its red heartland. 900 words moved by Laurie Chen. Picture. Video China-social-economy-politics,FOCUS HUAXI, China It was a gilt-edged gift to Communist propaganda: a village led by a Party visionary who transformed farmers into millionaires while tacking close to China's collectivist ideals. But Huaxi's success story has soured. 900 words moved by Sebastien Ricci. Picture. Video China-environment-energy-dams BEIJING China begins operating the world's second-largest hydropower station in what officials hail as a milestone towards Beijing's carbon neutrality goals, despite warnings of environmental damage. 400 words moved. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- US-Canada-weather,2ndlead OTTAWA Swathes of the United States and Canada endure record-setting heat, forcing school closures and the suspension of an Olympic athletics qualifying event, with forecasters warning of worse to come. 550 words 0930 GMT US-LGBTQ-retirement-senior-citizens,FOCUS HOUSTON Life has thrown a lot of roadblocks at Dina Jacobs, a transgender woman, for trying to live authentically. But now, she can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel in the modest one-bedroom apartment she rents for less than $500 a month in the first residence in the southern United States exclusively for LGBTQ people. 750 words moved by Francois Picard. Picture. Video -- TECHNOLOGY -- Spain-IT-telecommunication-lifestyle,WRAP BARCELONA A scaled-back version of the world's biggest mobile fair gets underway in Spain under tight virus controls, with top firms avoiding an in-person presence after the pandemic derailed last year's edition. 600 words 1200 GMT. Picture. Video -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Entertainment-US-film-TomorrowWar,FOCUS LOS ANGELES With a top Hollywood star, a dark "Terminator"-esque sci-fi premise and a reported $200 million price tag, "The Tomorrow War" would ordinarily be shaping up as one of the summer's biggest and smartest blockbusters, but the movie won't be troubling box offices at all, having been sold to Amazon for a whopping fee back in January. 600 words moved by Andrew Marszal. File picture afp
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