In Tajikistan, only the president is permitted to enjoy an unfettered public profile. An intriguing exception to this norm is emerging, however, with another figure amassing huge levels of apparent popularity and prominence. This person too is a member of the ruling family.
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Puerto Rico holds historic general election
Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins. Jessika Padilla, the commission’s alternate president, said in a press conference that some 40% of those votes had been counted as of Monday.
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Hilary storm begins battering southern California
The US National Hurricane Center says the centre of tropical storm Hilary has now moved into southern California. The storm has winds up to 50mph (85km/h), warning that catastrophic and life-threatening flooding is likely in parts of the south-western US and Mexico’s Baja California peninsula through Monday.
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Ukrainian soldiers are being pummelled on three sides by Russian forces
Ukrainian soldiers are being pummelled on three sides by Russian forces who are trying to capture Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region that has become the focus of the longest and one of the bloodiest battles since the war began. Ukraine’s authorities insist they will continue to try to hold the city despite them suffering an estimated 100-200 casualties a day.
