Hollywood (United States) (AFP) – The iconic Japanese superstar Yoshiki takes part in a handprint ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard at the TCL Chinese Theatre. “My fans around the world supported me throughout the years so probably that’s why I’m here,” says the composer, drummer, and leader of the rock group X Japan.
Madrid (AFP) – Julio Pacheco Yepes will be the first victim of torture under the Franco regime to testify before a Spanish judge investigating allegations of torture, at a hearing that opens on Friday. In 1975, during the last years of the Spanish dictatorship, the 19-year-old student was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for several months. Together with his wife, who was also tortured, they hope their action will break down the “wall of impunity” that surrounds the abuses of the Franco regime.
Idlib (Syria) (AFP) – Syrians in rebel-held Idlib, in northwestern Syria, pray for victims of the devastating earthquake that has killed thousands and destroyed tens of thousands of homes in Morocco and victims of the tsunami-sized flash flood that swept the Libyan port city of Derna, killing more than 3,000. Syria was also hit by a devastating earthquake on February 6th that killed over 5,000 people.
Sweida (Syria) (AFP) – Thousands of Syrians protest in the southern city of Sweida, amidst a wave of anti-government demonstrations that have intensified over recent days. The demonstration takes place days after three protesters were wounded by gunfire while trying to weld shut a branch of the ruling Baath party. Peaceful protests in Sweida began last month after President Bashar al-Assad’s government ended fuel subsidies, dealing a heavy blow to Syrians reeling from war and economic woes.
Palembang (Indonesia) (AFP) – Firefighters on a western Indonesian island battle large peatland fires that have covered Palembang, a city of nearly two million people, in a haze for weeks. A prolonged dry season has caused higher risks of wildfires on the archipelago nation’s major islands, stoking fears of repeat haze-belching forest fires that have also affected neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore in recent years.
Guadalajara (Mexico) (AFP) – Dressed in colorful, traditional costumes, Mexicans parade on horseback through the streets of the western city of Guadalajara to mark Charro Day. In Mexico, a “charro” is a horse rider who wears an elaborate, traditional costume, and participates in cattle-ranching competitions using techniques that are recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. “It’s really wonderful, because dressing up as a charro represents an identity that people recognize as Mexican all over the world,” says 71-year-old Salvador Sanchez, President of the Jalisco Charro Association.
Torkham (Afghanistan) (AFP) – The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopens to pedestrians and vehicles, more than a week after it was closed following a gun battle between frontier guards. The altercation at the crossing, halfway between the two capitals Islamabad and Kabul, was in relation to a dispute over the construction of an Afghan outpost. Torkham is the busiest border post for trade and people between the two nations, and its closure had affected thousands of Afghans and Pakistanis. “We were stopped at Torkham. It’s been nine or ten days since we were stopped here […] Our grapes, tomatoes and cucumbers and other things were rotting,” says Hazrat Gul, a truck driver.
Havana (AFP) – President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro arrives in Havana for the G77+China summit, a group of developing and emerging countries representing 80 percent of the global population. IMAGES
People walk amid rubble and bulldozers clear streets of debris and sand following a tsunami-sized flash flood that swept the Libyan port city of Derna, killing almost 4,000. The surge of water burst two upstream dams on 10 September, turning Derna into an apocalyptic wasteland as entire city blocks and unknown numbers of people were washed into the Mediterranean. The floods were caused by Storm Daniel and were compounded by Libya’s poor infrastructure. The North African country was plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a military aviation plant in Russia’s Far East, following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the two countries seek deeper ties. Historic allies, Russia and North Korea are both under rafts of sanctions by the West, with Kim’s rare foreign visit sparking concern from Kyiv’s allies over a possible arms deal.
