Istanbul (AFP) – First appearing on the streets over a century ago, Istanbul’s famous red and white tram cars are due for a modern overhaul. The tramway is loved by locals and tourists and has become a symbol of the city’s most popular shopping street, Istiklal Avenue. New battery-power cars will take over, with the rearview mirrors – held onto by many a passenger – being replaced by cameras.
Geneva (AFP) – More than 14,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, says the World Health Organization representative in Kyiv Dr Jarno Habicht. On 10 May, Russia launched a ground offensive in the region that has seen Moscow’s forces achieve their largest territorial gains in Ukraine in the last 18 months.
Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labels the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against himself and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a “moral outrage of historic proportions”. On Monday 20 May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant and top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Tabriz (Iran) (AFP) – The streets of Tabiz, northern Iran, are filled with tens of thousands of mourners as the coffin holding late president Ebrahim Raisi passes by. The 63-year-old ultraconservative was killed when his helicopter crashed in foggy mountainous terrain in the country’s northwest on 19 May.
New York (AFP) – Stylish canines show off their outfits at the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York, wearing the 2024 Met Gala looks of celebrities like Bad Bunny, Gigi Hadid and Shakira, recreated especially for them by fashion designer Anthony Rubio.
Maravatío (Mexico) (AFP) – To the west of Mexico City, the town of Maravatio has seen the murder of three mayoral candidates since November, as criminal groups use violence to ensure their preferred officials are elected. Despite the risks, 34-year-old dentist Mario Perez has continued his campaign as one of just five remaining candidates. The violence comes ahead of nationwide elections in June which will include the selection of a new president. Since campaigning began in September, 28 of those seeking office have been killed by criminal gangs, according to the NGO Data Civica.
The Hague (AFP) – The ICC prosecutor Karim Khan says he is seeking warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and senior Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Among the charges laid against the Israeli leadership are the “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare” and “wilful killing”. Khan accuses Hamas of “extermination” and “sexual violence during captivity” among a host of other charges.
Tehran (AFP) – Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, express their sadness at the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, who was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash. The ultraconservative leader’s death was confirmed on Monday 20 May after rescue crews located the wreckage of his aircraft in a foggy mountainous region. Five days of mourning have been declared in Iran, with condolences flooding in from Palestinian militant group Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and from Syria.
San Jacinto del Cauca (Colombia) (AFP) – Water covers thousands of hectares of agricultural land in Colombia’s northern Sucre department following the collapse of an artificial dike. According to the government’s National Disaster Risk Management Unit, 7,928 hectares of rice, corn, yucca and plantain crops have been affected, with 7,806 people forced to evacuate.
Beijing (AFP) – The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is “a great loss” says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Raisi was declared dead on Monday after rescue teams found his crashed helicopter in a mountainous western region, trigerring condolences from Iran’s allies at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
