Deadly attacks on Dagestan synagogue and churches
By Henri Astier,
BBC News
Gunmen in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have killed six police officers in a series of attacks, security officials say.
Twelve other officers were also wounded in the attacks.
A synagogue, two churches and a police checkpoint were targeted in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala.
A Russian Orthodox priest has also been killed and at least two attackers shot dead, state media report, quoting the local Interior Ministry.
The hunt for more gunmen is still ongoing.
The assailants have not been identified, but Dagestan has in the past been the scene of Islamist attacks.
Footage on social media shows buildings on fire in both cities.
In another video, people wearing dark clothes are seen shooting at police cars, before a convoy of emergency service vehicles, sirens blaring, arrive at the scene in Makhachkala, Dagestan's largest city.
An unofficial channel on the Telegram messaging app, Mash, said gunmen were barricaded in a building in Derbent.
Russia's Investigative Committee said it had launched an investigation over "acts of terror", AFP news agency reported.
In April Russia's FSB security service arrested four people in Dagestan suspected of involvement in the attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall venue the previous month.
More than 140 people were killed in that attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
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Woman attacked by wolves in safari park near Paris
By Henri Astier,
BBC News
The Thoiry park is home to Arctic wolves (file photo)
A woman is in intensive care after being attacked by wolves while jogging in an animal park near Paris, French media report.
They say that early on Sunday the 36-year-old victim - who was staying at a lodge within Thoiry park - strayed into the main safari zone, which is reserved for cars.
She was set upon by three arctic wolves and suffered severe bites to her neck, back and a leg.
Thoiry, about 40km (25 miles) west of Paris, is one of France's most popular wildlife parks. Some 800 animals kept there are allowed to roam free while visitors watch them from the safety of vehicles.
The park offers accommodation near the wolf and bear enclosures, with the lodge area protected by electric fences and ditches, the France Info news site reports.
It is not clear why the woman entered the car-only safari zone. Park authorities have made no comment so far.
"We do not know at this stage whether the guest made a mistake or whether there was a problem with the signposts," an unnamed police source told Le Parisien newspaper.
The woman was rescued after park attendants heard her screams as she was being attacked, and was taken to a nearby hospital.
An investigation is underway.
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Trump and Biden prepare ahead of their first 2024 debate
By Nadine Yousif,
BBC News
Joe Biden and Donald Trump both spent the weekend sharpening their lines in preparation for their first 2024 debate - in very different ways.
Mr Biden spent his time hunkered down with aides at the Camp David presidential retreat, engaging in mock debates.
Donald Trump spent Saturday on the campaign trail, where he publicly workshopped attack lines and tactics.
Thursday’s CNN-hosted debate will mark the third time - though the first in this election cycle - that the Democrat and Republican candidates face-off on stage.
They ran against each other in 2020 and debated twice that year.
The Democratic president is preparing with Ron Klain, his former chief of staff, who also helped him with get ready for his State of the Union speech in March.
BBC’s US partner CBS News reported that Bob Bauer, who served as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, is playing the role of Donald Trump in the mock debates with Joe Biden.
On Sunday, the Biden campaign also said it plans to host hundreds of watch parties and events in battleground US states across to mark the upcoming debate.
Along with 1,600 events, the campaign said it will run a new batch of TV and digital advertisements in a bid to connect with voters.
The events will target groups seen crucial to Mr Biden’s re-election, including members of the LGBT community and college students.
As for the debate itself, Mr Biden’s campaign co-chair hinted on Sunday that one of the strategies will be to attack the Republican rival on his legal troubles and character.
“It really doesn’t matter how Donald Trump shows up if he comes in unhinged, like he is most of the time, or he sits there and is quiet,” Mitch Landrieu told NBC on Sunday.
Mr Landrieu said people will know that he’s a "convicted felon" - referring to Trump's recent conviction in the New York hush-money trial - who has been found to have "defamed somebody, sexually abused somebody" - referring to his defeat in a civil defamation lawsuit brought against him by writer E Jean Carroll.
Meanwhile, the Republican has forgone traditional debate preparations and has instead been holding a series of meetings in recent weeks with US senators and advisors.
Trump has been reviewing with them at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida the policy points he would like to make during Thursday's showdown.
“He is thinking about how to translate these really, really important topics into a message that works,” said Republican Senator JD Vance in an interview with Fox News earlier this week.
Mr Vance is one of the senators that have met with Trump in recent days, along with Marco Rubio and Eric Schmitt.
According to The Hill newspaper, Trump is also discussing how to approach topics like the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, which Mr Biden has called attack on American democracy.
On Saturday, the former president held a rally in Philadelphia, where he took aim at Mr Biden, mocking him for his Camp David debate preparations.
At one point, he asked the crowd if he should be “tough and nasty” towards his rival during the debate, or “be nice and calm”.
When is the first debate between Biden and Trump?
Who will be Donald Trump's pick for vice-president?
Also on Saturday, Trump said he has decided who his vice-presidential running mate will be, though he did not reveal a name.
In an interview with NBC following the Philadelphia rally, Trump said the running mate will “most likely” be at the debate, which will be in Atlanta.
He said that no one knows who his pick is, adding: “I think we have a lot of people coming.”
The presumptive Republican nominee has said he will unveil his vice-presidential pick at the party's convention next month.
Both Mr Vance and Mr Rubio are said to be strong contenders, as well as North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
Recent national polls indicate the presidential race is neck-and-neck so far.
A YouGov poll conducted between 17 and 21 June for CBS News of nearly 2,000 likely voters suggests Trump is slightly ahead with one percentage point.
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At least 1,301 people died during Hajj - Saudi Arabia
At least 1,301 people died during Hajj, Saudi Arabia says, mostly unauthorised pilgrims who walked long distances in intense heat.
This year's pilgrimage took place during a heatwave, with temperatures at times exceeding 50 C.
More than three-quarters of those who died did not have official permits to be there and walked under direct sunlight without adequate shelter, the official Saudi news agency SPA said.
Some of those who died were elderly or chronically ill, the agency added.
Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel said efforts had been made to raise awareness about the dangers of heat stress and how pilgrims could mitigate this.
"May Allah forgive and have mercy on the deceased. Our heartfelt condolences go to their families," he said.
Health facilities treated nearly half a million pilgrims, he said, and some were still in hospital for heat exhaustion.
Saudi Arabia has been criticised for not doing more to make the hajj safer, especially for unregistered pilgrims who have no access to facilities such as air conditioned tents and official hajj transport.
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