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Indian screen and stage star Surekha Sikri has been described as a "top-class actor" and a "force of nature" following her death at the age of 75. The veteran, known for such films as Badhaai Ho, TV shows like Balika Vadhu and many Hindi theatre productions, suffered a cardiac arrest in Mumbai. Sikri won three National Film Awards between 1988 and 2018 and starred in hit soap Balika Vadhu for eight years. She had been ill for some time, having had two strokes in the past four years.

Source: bbc.com

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday alleged that deadly violence and looting that have shaken the country over the past week were planned, as he arrived in the epicentre of the unrest. "It is quite clear that all these incidents of unrest and looting were instigated, there were people who planned it and coordinated it," Ramaphosa said. "We are going after them, we have identified a good number of them and, we will not allow anarchy and mayhem to just unfold in our country," he told reporters.

Source: france24.com

Journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan, an Afghan commander said. Afghan special forces had been fighting to retake the main market area of Spin Boldak when Siddiqui and a senior Afghan officer were killed in what they described as Taliban crossfire, the official told Reuters.

Source: reuters.com

The Eiffel Tower is to reopen to visitors on Friday for the first time in nine months following its longest closure since World War II. The lifts of the "Iron Lady" are set to whir back into life, transporting tourists to its 300-metre (1,000-foot) summit, ending a long period of inactivity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Daily capacity is set to be restricted to 13,000 people, however, about half of the normal level, in order to respect social distancing. And from Wednesday next week, visitors will need to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test, in line with recent government-imposed requirements.

Source: france24.com

A pair of large vases bearing soccer balls stand at the entrance to Mexico's first Maradonian church and an image of Diego Maradona wearing a charro hat welcomes worshippers. Inside the church, the Catholic Stations of the Cross are recreated with photos of Maradona from his childhood to emblematic meetings with the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Pope Francis. The church in the central Mexican city of Puebla, which opened on July 7, celebrates the "religion" created in Argentina in 1998 by the admirers of the late soccer player Maradona.

Source: reuters.com

The accident happened early Wednesday in waters off the coast of West Kalimantan where waves as high as five metres (16 feet) swamped a dozen fishing vessels and pair of tugboats. It was first reported by search-and-rescue authorities on Friday. Nine people have been confirmed dead with another 46 still missing, said Yopi Haryadi, head of the Pontianak rescue agency, who added that 81 people on the vessels had been rescued alive. The storm inundated nearly 50 villages on land, destroying homes and other buildings with nearly 15,000 residents affected.

Source: france24.com

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says Amazon is selling hazardous products to its customers. The federal safety watchdog is suing Amazon to stop. Among the products cited in the suit are carbon monoxide detectors that fail to alarm, numerous children's pajamas that could catch fire and nearly 400,000 hair dryers that could electrocute people if dropped in water.

Source: cnn.com

The United States is preparing to impose sanctions on Friday on a number of Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, as well as a warning to international businesses operating there about deteriorating conditions, two people with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. The sources said the financial sanctions would target seven officials from China's Hong Kong liaison office, the official platform which projects Beijing's influence into the Chinese territory.

Source: reuters.com

Thousands of farmers have descended on dozens of towns and cities across New Zealand in their tractors in a nationwide protest against a swathe of new environmental regulations. The Howl of a Protest event was tipped to be the largest of its kind for the rural sector, with motorcades expected in 51 towns and cities. The protest was organised by Groundswell NZ, a grassroots organisation made up of farmers, growers, contractors and tradespeople, who say they are frustrated with the interference in private property rights, unworkable climate-change policies and unfair costs.

Source: theguardian.com

An 18-year-old is to become the youngest person to fly to space when he joins Jeff Bezos on the first human flight by his space company on 20 July. Oliver Daemen will fly in place of an anonymous $28m (£20m) winning bidder of a public auction. The winner of the auction could not fly on the mission "due to scheduling conflicts", Mr Bezos' space venture Blue Origin said. The teenager is the son of Somerset Capital Partners CEO Joes Daemen.

Source: bbc.com

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will let people message without using their phone for the first time. At present, WhatsApp is linked to a user's phone. Its desktop and web apps need that device to be connected and receiving messages. But the new feature will let users send and receive messages "even if your phone battery is dead". Up to four other devices - like PCs and tablets - can be used together, WhatsApp said.

Source: bbc.com

Dutch football great Arjen Robben announced his retirement from his youth club FC Groningen on Thursday, ending an illustrious career spanning two decades. Considered to be one of the best wingers of his generation, Robben rejoined FC Groningen last year after stints that saw him win accolades at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, in later years. "I've decided to stop with my active football career," Robben said in a Tweet. "It was a difficult choice," said the 37-year-old of his decision, which was also confirmed by FC Groningen.

Source: france24.com

The worst of the flooding has been in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, where buildings and cars have been washed away. At least six others have died in neighbouring Belgium, and the city of Liège has urged all residents to leave. It follows record rainfall in parts of western Europe that has caused major rivers to burst their banks.

Source: bbc.com

Chancellor Angela Merkel visits the White House in her diplomatic swan song Thursday, underlining how important the veteran German leader has been to the transatlantic relationship, but also highlighting the unanswered questions she leaves behind. Merkel, who has dealt with four US presidents and is stepping down later this year, was meeting President Joe Biden for an official working visit.

Source: france24.com

Celebrity Dutch crime reporter Peter R. De Vries has died after being shot last week. The attack last week on De Vries, 64, had drawn outrage across Europe. De Vries was a celebrity in the Netherlands, as both a frequent commentator on television crime programs and an expert crime reporter with sources in both law enforcement and the underworld.

Source: reuters.com

Cuba says it will allow travellers arriving in the country to bring in food, medicine and other essentials without paying import duties. The announcement was made following the biggest anti-government protests on the Communist-run island in decades.

Source: bbc.com

The star lot of the Sotheby’s auction in Paris is a bicorne which, it is thought, travelled with Napoleon throughout his triumphant campaign of 1807. It is believed to have been worn by him as he signed the peace treaties of Tilsit that carved up continental Europe into different zones of French and Russian influence. The sale, from 15-22 September, will have about 100 lots and includes visual art, sculpture, silverware, furniture, porcelain, jewellery, photography as well as memorabilia.

Source: theguardian.com

Police in Paris clashed with protesters railing against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to require a COVID-19 vaccine certificate or negative PCR test to gain entry to bars, restaurants and cinemas from next month. Macron this week announced sweeping measures to fight a rapid surge in new coronavirus infections, including the mandatory vaccination of health workers and new health pass rules for the wider public.

Source: reuters.com