Venezuela's self-described socialist government is facing a serious electoral challenge in a presidential election for the first time in decades.

President Nicolás Maduro, now in his 11th year in office, is being challenged by former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia at the head of a resurgent opposition, as well as a field of eight other candidates. The official campaign period for the July 28 election kicked off Thursday.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Orbán's press chief said Friday, a rare visit to Russia by a European leader since it invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.

Orbán's visit comes only days after he made a similar unannounced trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and proposed that Ukraine consider agreeing to an immediate cease-fire with Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is worried about the outcome of the runoff elections in France.

Scholz, who is normally tightlipped when asked about domestic politics in other European countries, has in recent weeks more than once expressed concern that the far-right, nationalist National Rally may win a parliamentary majority in the second round of elections in neighboring France on Sunday, allowing the party to form a new government.

The European Championship, also known as Euro 2024, has reached the quarterfinals. Here's what to know about the tournament:

Where are the games being played?

Kylian Mbappé described Cristiano Ronaldo as a "footballing legend" and "one of a kind" as the superstars prepare to meet in the European Championship quarterfinals.

For many, the major subplot of the Portugal vs. France match in Hamburg on Friday is the head to head between their captains.

Spain plays host nation Germany on Friday in the quarterfinals of the European Championship in an eagerly-anticipated matchup between two of the best performing sides at the tournament. There is also a potential record on the line as Spain and Germany have each won three European Championships, better than any other nation. Two of the most exciting talents will be on show in Spain teenager Lamine Yamal and 21-year-old Germany forward Jamal Musiala. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) in Stuttgart. Here's what to know about the match:

Match facts

Hezbollah targeted Friday several Israeli posts while the Israeli army bombed several towns in south Lebanon.

Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of al-Hebbarieh and Rashaya al-Fokhar and warplanes raided the southern border town of Markaba injuring one person and the al-Rihan mountain in Iqlim al-Tuffah far away from the border.

Lebanon's national basketball team beat Angola 74-70 on Thursday to clinch a semifinal spot in the Olympic qualifying tournament that will be held in Valencia, Spain.

Omari Spellman scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Karim Zeinoun meanwhile added 15, including a personal 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter when he turned a game that was tied at 49 into one in which Lebanon led 56-49 — and it wouldn't trail again.

After advancing further than ever in World Cup qualifying, the Palestinian soccer team is determined to host a game for a change.

The football association has proposed playing games in the third stage of its Asian qualification campaign in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and already has support from a number of its opponents, starting against Jordan on Sept. 10.

Iranians began voting Friday in a runoff election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash last month, as public apathy has become pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes, mass protests and tensions in the Middle East.

Voters face a choice between the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime parliament member who has allied himself with moderates and reformists within Iran's Shiite theocracy.