Masked assailants ransack Venezuela opposition’s headquarters

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Half a dozen masked assailants have ransacked the headquarters of Venezuela’s opposition in an escalation of violence against President Nicolás Maduro’s opponents after the disputed presidential election. The stakes have grown higher for Venezuela’s electoral authority to prove that Maduro won after the United States recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the victor. The U.S. announcement follows a flurry of diplomatic activity from multiple governments, including Maduro’s close regional allies, to force Venezuelan authorities to release precinct-level results. The opposition says it has enough of the printed vote tally sheets from electronic voting machines that prove Maduro lost the election.

Rights group says security forces have killed 9 as Nigeria protests over hardship enter a second day

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A rights group says at least nine people were killed by security forces in Nigeria during mass protests against the economic crisis gripping the country. Amnesty International’s Nigeria office cited accounts from witnesses in its statement Friday. Authorities said a police officer was also killed and others injured, while four protesters were killed by a bomb. Hundreds were arrested in the protests that triggered curfews in several states. The protests that continued on Friday were mainly over food shortages and alleged bad governance in Africa’s most populous country whose citizens are some of the world’s poorest and hungriest people, despite being one of the continent’s top oil producers.

Rain-related disasters have killed more than 250 in a deadly week across Asia

(AP) — In India and China, torrential rains have killed more than 250 people in the past week. Three others died in Pakistan. Widespread flooding also has been reported in North Korea near the border with China with no word on whether anyone died. This is monsoon and typhoon season in Asia, and climate change has intensified such storms. Heavy rains have triggered landslides and flooding, devastating crops, destroying homes and taking lives. Governments have launched disaster prevention plans to try to mitigate the damage. Sometimes it isn’t enough, as the tragic consequences playing out in Asia show.

UK police brace for more far-right protests as government warns of tough response

LONDON (AP) — Several suspects arrested in violent protests that erupted after the fatal stabbing of three children in northwest England appeared in court as officials brace for more clashes over the weekend. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the unrest and blamed it on “far-right hatred.” Starmer has vowed to end the mayhem and says police across the U.K. will be given more resources to stop “a breakdown in law and order on our streets.” Demonstrations over the coming days are being promoted online in Sunderland, Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester and other places using phrases including “enough is enough,” “save our kids” and “stop the boats.”