Russian military news outlet publishes a second video of Viktor Sokolov after Ukraine claimed to have killed him

• Russia-Ukraine war at a glance

Germany has welcomed a decision by Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine.

Germany had asked Switzerland in February to sell back some of the 96 Leopard II tanks it has in storage to manufacturer Rheinmetall, Reuters reports.

Progressive Slovakia polls at 18% against controversial former prime minister Robert Fico’s Smer party at 17.7%

• ‘A huge storm’: polarised Slovakia on a knife edge ahead of elections

The American ambassador in Bratislava, Gautam Rana, said this week that he has “been very clear” with Robert Fico about the importance of continuing support for Ukraine.

In an interview with Peter Dlhopolec, the editor-in-chief of the Slovak Spectator, the American diplomat said: “Fico as prime minister took his role as a NATO ally seriously, and maintained a relationship with the EU.”

Manasseh Sogavare hits out at US after skipping Biden summit as $200m in funding for Pacific nations draws criticism for ‘trying to play catch up’

• China’s rising power in the Pacific explained in 30 seconds

The prime minister of Solomon Islands has criticised Washington, saying the US must respect Pacific leaders, after Joe Biden pledged $200m for the region in an effort widely seen as a push against China’s growing presence.

Biden hosted a group of Pacific leaders at a summit in Washington this week, after a similar meeting a year earlier.

Giorgia Meloni sets sights on foreigners who lie about their age to benefit from protection scheme for unaccompanied minors

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Foreigners who lie about their age to benefit from a protection scheme reserved for unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy will be deported under a security decree expected to be approved by Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet on Wednesday as part of her far-right government’s crackdown on irregular immigration.

The draft decree, parts of which were published by the Italian press, includes a measure stipulating that foreigners living legally in Italy will be deported if they are considered to be a threat to public order or national security.

Women make up 51% of the population, and Afro-Brazilians 56%, but no Black woman has ever sat on the highest court

A young Black Brazilian girl dreams of being a pop star, a writer or a world champion in gymnastics, dressing up like the Afro-Brazilian women who have achieved that before her.

But when her mother suggests that she aspire to become a judge on the supreme court, the girl looks incredulous and asks: “Like who?”

Another missed bond payment raises doubts over future of world’s most indebted property developer

The chair of China’s Evergrande Group has reportedly been put under police surveillance as another missed bond payment casts further doubt over the future of the world’s most indebted property developer.

Hui Ka Yan, who founded Evergrande in 1996, was taken away earlier this month and is being monitored at a designated location, according to Bloomberg.

‘World’s most beautiful avenue’ in French capital will undergo urgent cosmetic changes after years of decline

The brasserie, cafe and restaurant terraces of the Champs-Élysées are to be given a makeover before next year’s Olympic Games to polish up its image as the world’s most beautiful avenue.

While awaiting a planned transformation to turn the area into what Paris’s city hall has called an “extraordinary garden”, the Champs-Élysées’ traders have agreed to carry out urgent cosmetic changes.

Claimants say European countries are breaching their human rights by failing to take adequate action to tackle global heating

An 11-year-old girl from Portugal sat inside the grand chamber of the European court of human rights on Wednesday to face 86 lawyers from 32 nations in the world’s largest climate legal action.

Mariana Agostinho was alongside her brother and sister, and her cousins, two rows back from 17 human rights judges.

Children to be given extra protection but rejection of right for adults to opt out of targeted ads likely to disappoint consumer rights advocates

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Australians will gain a right to sue for “serious” breaches of privacy under reforms that would also require small businesses to comply with privacy laws for the first time.

Children will also gain extra privacy protection, but a broader right for adults to opt out of targeted advertising recommended by the attorney general’s department has been rejected by the Albanese government, a decision likely to disappoint consumer rights advocates.

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Travis King harboured ill feelings over inhumane treatment and racial discrimination within US army, says North Korea

North Korea has decided to expel the American soldier Travis King who, according to the state news agency KCNA, has confessed to illegally entering the country.

Releasing the results of an investigation into King’s border crossing in July, KCNA said the soldier harboured ill feelings over inhumane treatment and racial discrimination within the US army.

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Andrews’ handling of pandemic ‘a legacy of his strength’, Bill Shorten says

NDIS minister and former Labor leader Bill Shorten has spoken highly of outgoing Victorian premier Daniel Andrews while speaking to ABC RN this morning.

I think the pandemic was the most unusual period in Victoria … and I think that we were learning a lot as we went along during that.

When I think back to those first few days, in March 2020, I think the aim was to ensure that we had enough hospital space to be able to treat people if they got very sick, and that required, I think, a high degree of central leadership.

Police will continue to monitor the situation as there are a large number of batteries on site … Nearby residents are urged to monitor [social media] and be prepared for police to door-knock homes in the area if the situation worsens.

Cuts to global supply coinciding with school holidays sends prices up to $2.38 a litre

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The price of petrol has hit record highs in Brisbane, with Sydney and Melbourne warned of price spikes to come, as cuts to global supply coincide with school holidays.

RACQ principal economic and affordability specialist, Ian Jeffreys, said Brisbane’s new peak price of $2.38 cents for a litre of regular fuel was the highest ever seen in the city, and outstripping current high prices of $2.29 a litre in Sydney and Melbourne.

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Government minister Murray Watt points to ‘nasty elements’ joining no rallies, and calls for ‘positive, respectful debate’

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The no campaign leader Warren Mundine has been accused of “promoting division and violence”, after saying he would want to see the former world boxing champion Anthony Mundine fight against leading yes advocate Thomas Mayo.

Anthony Mundine recently came out in favour of a no vote, voicing a number of baseless claims including that the referendum was an attempt to “take our sovereignty so we fall under their jurisdiction as British subjects”, and part of a “New World Order” plan.

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Silvia Macías was celebrating 15th birthday of son Santiago when bear appeared and gulped down tacos

A woman in Mexico shielded her son after a bear leaped on to a picnic table, inches from his face, and devoured the tacos and enchiladas meant for his birthday dinner.

Silvia Macías of Mexico City had travelled to the Chipinque Park on the outskirts of the northern city of Monterrey to celebrate the 15th birthday of her son, Santiago, who has Down’s syndrome.

NSW premier ‘burying his head in the sand’ about the risks to party-goers who can’t access pill testing, say testing advocates

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Drug reform advocates are calling for action to press ahead with pill testing in New South Wales after the state’s health authorities issued an urgent warning about high-dose ecstasy tablets stamped with the word ‘Gucci’.

NSW Health issued the warning about the square, pinky-orange, high-dose MDMA tablets that were found to contain more than four times the average dose of other tablets in recent circulation.

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Qantas bosses face inquiry after Qatar Airways says it was ‘surprised and shocked’ Albanese government blocked requests for more flights

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Embattled Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has dismissed calls to step down, as the airline’s CEO Vanessa Hudson claimed it was “an important part of democracy” that its plea to the government to block extra air rights for Qatar Airways be kept private.

Appearing before a Senate inquiry on Wednesday, Hudson also reiterated former Qantas boss Alan Joyce’s claims that Qatar Airways’ proposed expansion would have distorted the aviation market when it was requested in October 2022.

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Increased frequency of Chinese drills has raised the risk of events ‘getting out of hand’, the island’s defence minister said

China’s government has said that recent drills near Taiwan were aimed at combating the “arrogance” of separatist forces, after Taipei reported a rise in military activity in recent weeks, including exercises on land facing the island.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory – a claim Taipei rejects – has said this month that it had observed dozens of fighters, drones, bombers and other aircraft, as well as warships and the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, operating nearby.

Anthony Rota steps down after meeting with party leaders in Ottawa having invited Yaroslav Hunka to special session

The speaker of Canada’s parliament has resigned after inviting a Ukrainian Nazi veteran to attend a special session of parliament, and then calling the man a “hero” amid two standing ovations.

Anthony Rota stepped down as speaker on Tuesday after meeting with party leaders in Ottawa amid growing cross-party calls for his resignation.

Trilateral discussions to resume in response to Beijing’s fears over growing US influence in region

The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea will hold three-way talks “as soon as possible” after a meeting intended to ease Chinese concerns over Washington’s stronger security presence in the region.

Official said on Tuesday that the three countries’ deputy foreign ministers had agreed to revive trilateral talks after a four-year hiatus during which tensions have risen over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and Chinese military activity.

Experts blame rising sea temperatures caused by climate crisis for cub deaths at Unesco heritage site

As many as eight in 10 brown bear cubs born this year in a remote part of northern Japan have died amid a shortage of salmon, with experts blaming rising sea temperatures caused by the climate crisis.

Along with acorns, pink salmon are an important source of food for the estimated 500 brown bears living along Hokkaido’s Shiretoko peninsula, a Unesco world heritage site known for its dramatic coastline and wild animals.

Opposition politicians and activists arrested since President Emmerson Mnangagwa won second term

Barely a week after being sworn in as an opposition MP following elections in Zimbabwe last month, Gift Siziba found himself in police custody facing several charges, including inciting violence at a football match and defacing posters of an opponent in Bulawayo.

While other legislators debate in parliament, Siziba, from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been in and out of court defending his innocence.

Operation Dudula changes tactics from evictions and violence, with plans to fight elections on platform of expelling foreigners

An anti-migrant vigilante organisation in South Africa has registered as a political party and plans to contest seats in next year’s general elections.

Operation Dudula, whose name means “to force out” in Zulu, wants all foreign nationals who are in the country unofficially to be deported.

Advisers of detained Mohamed Bazoum say French withdrawal removes coup leaders’ pretext for power grab

Aides and supporters of Niger’s deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, have welcomed the decision of France to withdraw its diplomatic staff and military from the country, saying it will deny the military junta a “scapegoat” to disguise its failings.

Bazoum, a French ally whose election in 2021 had boosted hopes of stability in the unstable Sahel state, was detained on 26 July by members of his guard. Senior soldiers took power in the unstable Sahel state shortly afterwards.

Morning runs by Edgar Lungu and party supporters amount to ‘activism’ that requires clearance, police say

A former president of Zambia has been warned that his morning jog is turning into “political activism” for which he must seek police approval.

The police said the runs by Edgar Lungu and some of his party supporters requires their clearance to ensure the safety of the man who lost power in 2021.

Eight questioned over claims that negligence and mistakes contributed to disaster in which thousands died

Libya’s chief prosecutor has ordered the detention of eight current and former officials pending a full inquiry into the collapse of two dams during torrential rain that left thousands dead in the port city of Derna this month.

There have been widespread claims that local officials knew the dams were too weak to withstand flooding but for various reasons no structural repairs were undertaken. The Libyan State Audit Bureau has submitted evidence that funds were made available for repair work that was never undertaken.

Officials react defensively to Heroico, which has been compared to Full Metal Jacket for its scenes of physical and psychological abuse

Mexico’s national guard has been urging its troops to go to see Héroes, a rousingly patriotic film about a 19th-century US invasion, in an apparent attempt to drown out the similarly named Heroico – a film which paints a much less flattering picture of the armed forces.

Héroes tells the story of the Battle of Chapultepec during the 1846-48 Mexican-American war and the “Child Heroes” – six cadets who refused to retreat and instead fought to the death. The last of them supposedly leapt from the ramparts holding the Mexican flag, to prevent its capture.

Asylum seekers who arrived before the end of July – about 472,000 – will now be able to legally live and work in the US

Venezuelan asylum seekers in the United States have welcomed the news of temporary permission to live and work in the country as a vital “helping hand” after the Biden administration announced that it would extend temporary protected status (TPS) to nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that the TPS extension now includes those who arrived in the US by the end of July, whereas the previous cutoff date was 8 March 2021.

UK law firm Leigh Day says money given to 77 workers for murders and rapes ‘sidesteps’ multinational’s responsibility over attack

Unilever is to make payments to 77 tea pickers who worked on one of its plantations in Kenya that was targeted during post-election violence in 2007.

The UK law firm Leigh Day, representing the workers, said the London-based consumer goods multinational had agreed to make voluntary, or ex-gratia, payments to former workers at its subsidiary Unilever Tea Kenya, who were attacked by armed assailants at its plantation in Kericho.

Secretary of state says US takes ‘very, very seriously’ incidents of transnational repression amid dispute over killing of Sikh separatist in British Columbia

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has called on India to cooperate with Canada and ensure “accountability” over the killing of a Sikh separatist, after Ottawa accused Delhi of involvement.

Blinken said the United States has been in touch with both India, with which it has warming ties, and Canada, a close ally, after the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.