Berlin (AFP) – “There are no shortcuts on the way to the EU,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says, adding that an exception for Ukraine would be unfair to the Western Balkan countries also seeking membership. Back in April, Scholz had called for Western Balkan countries’ efforts to join the EU to be accelerated amid a “new era” in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. of Olaf Scholz
Amsterdam (AFP) – Russian prima ballerina Olga Smirnova starts a new life at the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam after leaving Russia to protest its invasion of Ukraine.
Beverly Hills (United States) (AFP) – We all know someone with a rubbish fashion sense, but Rob Greenfield is proud to be wearing garbage — it’s all part of a plan to show just how much trash we unthinkingly throw away every month. The campaigner is wandering the streets of Los Angeles and surrounding cities in a specially designed suit that holds all of the junk he has produced over the last few weeks. With just a few days left to go in his challenge, Greenfield is wearing around 62 pounds (28 kilograms) of rubbish generated from the drinks, snacks and meals he has consumed. “I want to create a visual that helps people to really see how much our trash adds up,” he says.
San Salvador (AFP) – Hundreds of people have been camping out for days outside a San Salvador prison where their relatives are imprisoned. El Salvador has arrested more than 30,000 suspected gang members since President Nayib Bukele in March launched his “war” on criminal groups terrorizing the country.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – The first war crimes trial since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, against a Russian soldier accused of killing an unarmed civilian, gets underway in Kyiv.
Frankfurt (AFP) – Some 50,000 Frankfurt fans celebrate their team’s victory against Rangers in the Europa League final. The match was broadcast via Seville on a giant screen in Frankfurt. Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Rangers 5-4 on penalties to win the Europa League on Wednesday after the final in Seville finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. DURATION: 01:11
Yerevan (AFP) – Police in Armenia arrest hundreds of protesters as opposition supporters seek to spread their month-long anti-government demonstrations throughout Yerevan. Yerevan has been gripped by anti-government protests since mid-April, with opposition parties demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation over his handling of a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan.
Mîmess (Lebanon) (AFP) – Migrating storks stopover at a pine forest in the southern Lebanese village of Mimess as they make their way north towards Europe. Flocks of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) travel through Lebanon in the spring on their way to breed in eastern Europe. According to the Association for Bird Conservation in Lebanon (ABCL), thousands of these birds are illegally shot down in Lebanon every migration season.
Washington (AFP) – A missile test or nuclear test by North Korea is a “genuine possibility” during US President Joe Biden’s upcoming trip to Asia, says US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Washington (AFP) – “We’re confident that at the end of the day, Finland and Sweden will have an effective and efficient accession process, that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says during a press briefing at the White House, in reference to Finland and Sweden’s bid to join NATO.
