/KHOICHAS, 14 August 2026 - Namibia’s independence was a collective victory. The southern regions of Hardap and ||Karas were central to the struggle, anchored by local churches that risked everything to shelter PLAN fighters and educate the future leaders of our nation. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

HOACHANAS, 12 August 2026 - Historian and liberation struggle icon Markus Kooper, in collaboration with the Hoachanas community, has established a community library to preserve the history of the southern region, including the Red Clan history and past freedom struggle events. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

GIBEON, 13 August 2026 - The African Methodist Episcopal Private Community School (AMEPS) in Gibeon was a significant community-operated institution founded by the AME Church and local leaders, including Hendrik Witbooi, during the fight for freedom. It ceased operations and was integrated into the state school system in 2007. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

/KHOICHAS, 14 August 2026 - Jacqueline Juliana Rukamba, a former principal at Khoichas Primary School in the Karas region, significantly contributed to Namibia's independence, particularly in education, during the 1970s and 1980s. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

GIBEON, 13 August 2026 – The African Methodist Episcopal Private Community School (AMEPS) in Gibeon was a significant community-operated institution founded by the AME Church and local leaders, including Hendrik Witbooi, during the fight for freedom. It ceased operations and was integrated into the state school system in 2007. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

GIBEON, 13 August 2026 – The African Methodist Episcopal Private Community School (AMEPS) in Gibeon was a significant community-operated institution founded by the AME Church and local leaders, including Hendrik Witbooi, during the fight for freedom. It ceased operations and was integrated into the state school system in 2007. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

GIBEON, 13 August 2026 – Gaob Salomon Josephat Witbooi, former Namibian ambassador to Zambia, reflected on the southern region's contribution to Namibia's struggle for independence during a discussion with Nampa's team. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

WINDHOEK, 15 August 2026 - South Africa’s Kelsey Jade van Schoor (in green) during the 2026 Pupkewitz Megabuild Tour de Windhoek. She was crowned the overall champion of the 2026 women’s category. (Photo by: Hesron Kapanga) NAMPA

18 August 2026, Bremen, Bremerhaven: Workers stand together during a Verdi rally held in conjunction with the warning strike at the Port of Bremerhaven. The union is currently negotiating with the employers' association ZDS over the wages of port workers. The employers' latest offer was rejected by the workers. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa

18 August 2026, Bremen, Bremerhaven: Workers at the Port of Bremerhaven stand together at a Verdi rally held in conjunction with the warning strike. The union is currently negotiating with the employers' association ZDS over the wages of port workers. The employers' latest offer was rejected by the workers. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa

(260818) -- SEOUL, Aug. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo released by the Everland theme park on Aug. 18, 2026 shows a female cub born to giant panda Ai Bao in South Korea. Ai Bao, a female giant panda on loan from China, gave birth to a female cub on June 3. The giant panda pair Ai Bao and Le Bao arrived in South Korea in 2016 and have since lived at Panda World at Everland, located in Gyeonggi Province. (Everland/Handout via Xinhua)

(260818) -- SEOUL, Aug. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo released by the Everland theme park on Aug. 18, 2026 shows a female cub born to giant panda Ai Bao in South Korea. Ai Bao, a female giant panda on loan from China, gave birth to a female cub on June 3. The giant panda pair Ai Bao and Le Bao arrived in South Korea in 2016 and have since lived at Panda World at Everland, located in Gyeonggi Province. (Everland/Handout via Xinhua)

(260818) -- SEOUL, Aug. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo released by the Everland theme park on Aug. 18, 2026 shows a female cub born to giant panda Ai Bao in South Korea. Ai Bao, a female giant panda on loan from China, gave birth to a female cub on June 3. The giant panda pair Ai Bao and Le Bao arrived in South Korea in 2016 and have since lived at Panda World at Everland, located in Gyeonggi Province. (Everland/Handout via Xinhua)

India's Devdutt Padikkal (L) walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and India at the Galle International Stadium in Galle on August 18, 2026. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

AFP presents a reportage of 45 pictures by photographer Jean-Christophe Verhaegen taken between May 27 and July 8, 2026 showing Metz' mine-clearing centre, Civil Protection Mine Clearance Task Force (Groupement d’Intervention du Dйminage / GID) recovering shells in northeastern France. The Metz mine-clearing centre collects around 40 tons of munitions from the wars of 1870, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945 within its operational area. The vast majority of these are found in the Meuse department and relate to the First World War. The Mine Clearance Intervention Group has been attached to the Sub-Directorate for National Resources (sous-direction des moyens nationaux / SDMN) of the Directorate-General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (direction gйnйrale de la Sйcuritй civile et de la gestion des crises / DGSCGC) within the Ministry of the Interior since 2011. It currently comprises 389 staff members, including 343 trained and certified deminers, based at 28 sites. (Photo by Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP)

Members of Metz' mine-clearing centre, Civil Protection Mine Clearance Task Force (Groupement d’Intervention du Dйminage / GID) recover WWI shells reported by the ONF (Office National des Forкts) in the area of Douaumont, northeastern France on July 8, 2026. The Metz mine-clearing centre collects around 40 tons of munitions from the wars of 1870, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945 within its operational area. The vast majority of these are found in the Meuse department and relate to the First World War. The Mine Clearance Intervention Group has been attached to the Sub-Directorate for National Resources (sous-direction des moyens nationaux / SDMN) of the Directorate-General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (direction gйnйrale de la Sйcuritй civile et de la gestion des crises / DGSCGC) within the Ministry of the Interior since 2011. It currently comprises 389 staff members, including 343 trained and certified deminers, based at 28 sites. (Photo by Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP)