Patryki (Poland) (AFP) – In just a few years, Poland has become one of the world’s leading caviar producers. But the market is haunted by the delicacy’s traditional association with Russia, blacklisted since its invasion of Ukraine. “The majority of caviar producers in the world fight against the myth of Russian caviar,” says Agata Lakomiak-Winnicka, director of Polish producer Antonius Caviar.
Paris (AFP) – Migrant workers make up 2.5 million of the gulf state’s 2.9 million population and labour rights were criticised in the run-up to the tournament. Last week, in a recent example, a worker died from a fall while fixing lights at a tournament training camp. Members of the French LFI Party hold a minute’s silence to honour the World Cup dead.
Ukraine (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian military servicemen after the latest prisoner swap with Russian forces. According to Andriy Yermak, the Presidency’s chief of staff, 64 Ukrainian servicemen and one US citizen, Suedi Murekezi, were turned over by Moscow.
Paris (AFP) – A fine blanket of snow covers Paris as parts of Europe go through a cold snap. Orange snow warnings have been put in place across northern France, advising residents to avoid going out if possible and to take blankets, food and drink with them if they do.
Dover (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Border force staff go about their day and boats navigate in and out at the port of Dover after at least four people died when a small boat apparently packed with migrants capsized in freezing temperatures in the Channel overnight, according to the UK government.
Punta Arenas (Chile) (AFP) – “Argentina scored that first goal from a made-up penalty” says Croatia’s president, Zoran Milanovic, after watching his country’s team lose their World Cup semi-final. Milanovic watches the game surrounded by Chilean-Croatians, as the South American country is home to one of the largest Croatian diasporas in the world.
Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lands in Turkmenistan for the trilateral summit. He will be joined in Turkmenbashi by Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. IMAGES
Ho Chi Minh City (AFP) – Phan Thi Nhieu has spent a decade assembling shoes for worldwide brands such as Timberland and K-Swiss, but she is now among tens of thousands of Vietnamese factory workers laid off as Western consumers cut spending. Almost half a million other workers in Vietnam have been forced to work fewer hours as orders fall in the Southeast Asian country, one of the world’s largest exporters of clothing, footwear and furniture.
Karachi (AFP) – In the neighbourhood of Lyari in Karachi, hundreds of Pakistani supporters gather to watch Argentina’s World Cup semi-final match, waving flags and setting off fireworks as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to book a spot in the World Cup finals.
Vienna (AFP) – In the gilded surroundings of Vienna’s Musikverein concert hall, famous around the world for its New Year’s concert, efforts are being made to reach out to a new audience with a unique, more relaxed concert series called “Souvenir”, specifically tailored to people living with dementia.”You can come in a wheelchair and people can get carried away, they can dance, sing which allows you to feel the music much more intensely,” says local resident Andreas Trubel, who lives with dementia.
