ELECTION CAMPAIGNING - The countdown has officially started for the national election in October. The official electoral campaign starts today and will go on for five weeks. Electoral posters already went up at the weekend, adhering to strict guidelines while navigating the challenges of visual messaging and voter engagement.
BRADERIE SALES - The capital will once again transform into an open-air market today. Visitors to the Braderie, the end of season sales, will not only be able to browse wares from the 241 shops participating in the market, but also visit a number of museums for free, as well as partake in selected activities to keep little ones happy.
UKRAINE WAR - Ukraine says its troops have made significant progress in their counter-offensive against the occupying Russian army. The general in charge said its forces have breached the 1st line in Russian defences, near the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and they now face weaker defences ahead of them. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the departure of defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov. He said he believed the ministry needed new approaches and has nominated Rustern Umerov.
ERDOGAN PUTIN - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin today in a long-shot bid to revive a Ukrainian grain export agreement in time for the autumn harvest. It is Erdogan’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin since October.
GABON COUP - The general who came to power in Gabon’s coup last week is to be sworn in as “transitional president” today, taking control for an unspecified period after overthrowing the country’s 55-year Bongo dynasty. General Nguema led officers in a military coup against President Ali Bongo Ondimba, scion of a family that had ruled for more than five decades.
BELGIUM TERROR TRIAL - The trial surrounding the terrorist attacks in Brussels in 2016 is entering its final phase from today. The Brussels bombings killed 15 men and 17 women and injured more than 300 people. Starting this morning, the public prosecutor’s office will announce its demands. Six men risk a life sentence, including murder and attempted murder. Two accomplices face up to 10 years in prison. Eight of the accused, including the main suspect in the Paris trial, Salah Abdelslam have already been found guilty. and are awaiting sentence.
BURNING MAN FESTIVAL - Tens of thousands of festivalgoers are stranded in deep, sticky mud in the Nevada desert after torrential rain turned the annual Burning Man gathering into a quagmire. Video footage shows the attendees struggling across the wet gray-brown site, some using rubbish bags as makeshift boots, while many cars stuck in sludge up to the top of their wheels. All events at the arts and music festival, have been cancelled and one person has died at the event, according to authorities on Sunday. An investigation is underway.
FORMULA 1 - Max Verstappen wrote his name in Formula One’s history books on Sunday after winning a record-breaking 10th straight race, coming out on top at the Italian Grand Prix in another show of force from Red Bull. 2nd and 3rd place went to Sergio Perez, also Red Bull, and Charles Leclerc for Ferrari. Red Bull has now won all 14 races this season. In 74 years of Formula 1, no team has ever accomplished this.
CYCLING - The 9th stage of the Vuelta was won by the German Lennard Kämna yesterday. The American cyclist Sepp Kuss remains the general leader. Today is the first rest day.
FOOTBALL RESULTS - In the Bundesliga Leipzig won 3-0 against Union Berlin. It was a 1-1 draw between Frankfurt and Cologne. In the Premier League, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-1. And in Ligue 1, PSG beat Lyon 4-1.
The weather promises to be sunny today, with occasional high-altitude clouds - and no chance of rain. The morning will be similar to what we’ve seen the past few days, with temperatures around 10-14°C. Afternoon temperatures will rise sharply to 21-24ºC, a little less balmy than yesterday.
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