Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Images released by Ukraine’s Armed Forces show the country’s commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny consult and look over maps with other military officials. Fixed to the general’s tactical vest is a patch featuring wide-eyed and big-eared creature, clearly identifiable as Grogu, colloquially known as “Baby Yoda”, a character for Disney’s Star Wars series “The Mandalorian”.
Austin (AFP) – Amanda Zurawski almost died waiting for an abortion she desperately didn’t want nearly a year ago. After the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to a termination, doctors in Texas said they could not carry out the procedure she needed.
Turku (Finland) (AFP) – In Finland’s Turku shipyard, a luxurious cruise ship known as The Icon of the Seas is nearing its maiden voyage. The vessel commissioned by Royal Caribbean is intended to sail the scenic waters of the Caribbean Sea, docking in Miami.
Stonehenge (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Crowds gather to celebrate the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice at the ancient British monument of Stonehenge, built some 5,000 years ago to align with the rising of the sun on midsummer’s day.
Bucharest (AFP) – Controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, arrive at the Bucharest tribunal on Wednesday, a day after being indicted in Romania for human trafficking and rape. Surrounded by bodyguards, who try to keep the media away, Andrew tells reporters “I believe in god and I believe in the justice system and we are all going to be ok”. Along with Andrew and Tristan Tate, two women were also charged in the case, with Romania’s anti-organised crime prosecution unit alleging that the defendents set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several women. IMAGES
London (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vows that Russia will eventually pay financially for its invasion of Ukraine, telling a reconstruction conference in London that Washington will stand with the country’s people until then.
Bandli, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan) (AFP) – Last week, a trawler carrying migrants sank near Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, killing at least 78. There are reports that hundreds of Pakistanis were aboard and that the number of victims could rise sharply.
London (AFP) – Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces $1.3 billion in fresh US economic assistance for Ukraine, focused on energy and infrastructure needs. SOUNDBITE
La Jolla (United States) (AFP) – US research oceanographer at University of San Diego, Jules Jaffe, says it is “practically impossible” to find the OceanGate sub “in a mangled wreck”, within the next 36 hours. Jaffe was part of the team that found the Titanic wreck in 1985. All communication was lost with the 21-foot (6.5-meter) craft, named Titan, during its descent Sunday to see the remains of the British passenger liner.
Tamara (Honduras) (AFP) – Relatives of prisoners stand in wait of information about their loved ones after clashes between rival gangs led to 41 women dying.
