London (AFP) – One goat, two elephants, three monkeys — Banksy’s latest artworks, emerging across London these past six days, have prompted a range of interpretations, from commentary on Gaza, or the recent UK riots, even the Olympics. One of the pieces, a howling wolf painted on a satellite dish, is believed to have been stolen within hours. “The symbolism of it is really powerful,” says Jason Tomkins, one Banksy fan.
Vlora (AFP) – Once a Cold War military base, Albania’s Sazan island is anticipating a makeover after Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US president Donald Trump, unveiled plans alongside his wife Ivanka Trump to revamp it with a touch of luxury. Excitement is palpable in some quarters: “Kushner’s project will revive the island of Sazan. It will protect it and develop it,” says sailor Baci Dyrmishaj.
Shanghai (AFP) – Work stress, property crises, memories of the pandemic — these all help explain the recent boom in China’s wellness sector, particularly among young people. Many associate the rising popularity of herbal teas, supplements and lifestyle classes with the traditional Chinese concept of “yangsheng” — meaning “cultivating one’s life force” — but the importance of social media is hard to ignore here too. “I think because social media is now flooded with wellness bloggers, so it has become a trend,” says Zhang Shiyu, after attending a Chinese medicine class.
Vinhedo (Brazil) (AFP) – Emergency services work at the scene after an airplane carrying 58 passengers and four crew crashed in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, killing everyone on board. IMAGES
Vinhedo (Brazil) (AFP) – Emergency services surround the scene of an airplane crash in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, killing everyone on board. The aircraft, an ATR 72-500 operated by the airline Voepass, was traveling from Cascavel in southern Parana state to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport when it crashed in the city of Vinhedo. IMAGES TO COMPLETE VIDI36DG2T9_EN
Vinhedo (Brazil) (AFP) – A funeral parlor vehicle arrives at the scene after an airplane carrying 58 passengers and four crew crashed in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, killing everyone on board. IMAGES
London (AFP) – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that authorities “have to stay on high alert going into this weekend”, amid fears of further far-right riots in English towns and cities. Speaking at a visit to a Metropolitan Police control room in London, Starmer says the online sphere “is not a law-free zone”, after misinformation spread on social media further fuelled unrest in recent days.
Palm Beach (United States) (AFP) – Former US President Donald Trump describes his opponent Kamala Harris as “barely competent” after confirming three TV debates will go ahead in September. Trump, the Republican Party’s candidate in November’s presidential election, says “it’s very important to have debates,” during an address from Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Undisclosed (Ukraine) (AFP) – Stealthy and agile, robot dogs could soon become an invaluable ally on Ukrainian’s front lines by relieving soldiers of dangerous missions, ranging from inspecting Russian trenches to detecting mines. It’s hoped that the sophisticated robots will save lives and offer some respite to Kyiv’s forces, which have been suffering from severe manpower shortages. The dogs are manufactured by Brit Alliance, a British security and risk management company providing military equipment.
Paris (AFP) – United States basketball fans celebrate after their Olympic men’s team reached the tournament final, beating Serbia in a nail-biting semi-final. US icon Steph Curry scored 36 points as his team came back from a losing position to win by just four points. The victory sets up a gold medal showdown with Olympic hosts France on 10 August.
