Popocatepetl volcano (Mexico) (AFP) – Ash blankets towns in central Mexico near Popocatepetl volcano as it continues to spew smoke and ash into the sky, a day after Mexican authorities raised the warning level to “yellow phase three”, which means “remain alert and prepare for a possible evacuation”.
La Paz (AFP) – Bolivian authorities seize 9.2 tons of Peruvian coca leaves, which had illicit purposes according to the Ministry of Interior.
Washington (AFP) – Republican US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Monday crisis talks with Democratic President Joe Biden to avert a looming debt default have been “productive” — but reveals no deal has been struck. SOUNDBITE
Cannes (France) (AFP) – Actress Salma Hayek attends the Women in Motion Awards, which honor female talent, during the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Dubai (AFP) – An exhibition in Dubai is showing off two rare precious stones ahead of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York.
Tarkwa Bay (Nigeria) (AFP) – Running into the waves and towards the oil tankers lined up on the horizon, young Nigerian surfers take part in a national competition off the Lagos coast. Many of those competing were plunged further into poverty by mass evictions carried out by the Nigerian army in January 2020, and the event’s organisers say the sport can steer them clear of criminality and drug abuse. “It gives them the opportunity to showcase their talent” says Adewale Fawe, the President of the Nigerian Surfing Federation, “it becomes something positive in life.”
Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain) (AFP) – Spain has a “problem” with racism, the head of the country’s football federation says a day after Real Madrid’s forward Vinicius Junior was again the target of racist chants during a match. “As long as there is just one fan, a single undesirable, or a group of undesirables who hurl insults” says Luis Rubiales, “we have a serious problem.”
Hiroshima (Japan) (AFP) – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, compares the total destruction of Bakhmut to that of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which was hit by a US atomic bomb in 1945. “Now Hiroshima is a rebuilt city” he says, “and we dream of rebuilding all our cities that are now in ruins.”
Tunis (AFP) – Tunisian architect-turned-cartoonist known only by the initial Z still believes in the “magical power” of satire to decipher the perils of a “fascist turn” in Tunisia under the leadership of President Kais Saied. Following Saied’s power grab, “anonymity became vital” says Z, adding that “some people are being arrested just for expressing their opinion on Facebook”.
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – “To be considered one of the greatest teams we have to win Europe, we have to win the Champions League” says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as his team celebrate their third consecutive Premier League title. Looking forward to his side’s two upcoming finals — against city rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup and Inter Milan in the Champions League — Guardiola says he has told his players to enjoy the title but to “be careful” and avoid being distracted from their chance to win a historic treble.
