EUROPEAN UNION: The bloc announced a €7.4 billion (£6.3bn) aid package for cash-strapped Egypt today, amid concerns that economic pressure and conflicts and chaos in neighbouring countries could drive more refugees to European shores.

The deal is due to be signed during a visit by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus and Greece, according to Egyptian officials.

AFGHANISTAN: A traffic accident in the southern province of Helmand left at least 21 people dead and 38 others injured this morning.

The accident occurred in Gerashk district on the main highway between the province of Kandahar in the south and Herat in the west, said a statement by the Helmand traffic department.

UNITED STATES: Two people were killed and five others injured by a gunman in Washington DC in the early hours of this morning.

Police were looking for a single suspect after the shooting in the US capital’s Shaw district.

Police did not immediately provide details of the circumstances surrounding the incident or the condition of those injured.

The city is struggling with a sharp increase in violent crime, which went up by 39 per cent last year.

VENEZUELA: President Nicolas Maduro has become his party’s official nominee for July’s presidential election.

Mr Maduro accepted the nomination as the ruling United Socialist Party’s candidate for the July 28 election during a party gathering in Caracas on Saturday, saying he had “the support of the people.”

According to the party, the decision was backed by over four million members when its candidate was chosen last week.