Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – President Volodymyr Zelensky hails Brussels’ support for Ukraine’s European Union bid a historic achievement, as his country’s eastern Donas region faced intense Russian shelling. Brussels has spearheaded a powerful show of European solidarity by backing Kyiv’s bid for EU candidate status, an endorsement that could add Ukraine to the list of countries vying for membership as early as next week.
Samawah (Iraq) (AFP) – Gazelles at an Iraqi wildlife reserve are dropping dead from hunger, making them the latest victims in a country where climate change is compounding hardships after years of war.
Mykolaiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the war-damaged southern city of Mykolaiv for the first time since the Russian invasion in a rare trip outside Kyiv.
Sylhet (Bangladesh) (AFP) – Monsoon storms in Bangladesh have killed dozens of people and unleashed devastating floods that have left millions of others stranded, according to officials.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – A group of volunteers in Kyiv are providing free vegan meals to soldiers during the war. “There are many vegans in the army and some of them want to stay vegan no matter what. We want to be their support as much as possible,” says volunteer Tamara Human, as she packages up food parcels destined for the frontline.
Spycimierz (Poland) (AFP) – For two centuries, the inhabitants of Spycimierz, of all generations, have been carpeting the streets of this central Polish village with flowers for the Corpus Christi procession, a tradition that was added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage list last year. “This tradition is 200 years old and according to what the village elders say it has only happened once that there was no carpet of flowers for the procession because a storm broke out and swept everything away in the afternoon,” says resident Grzegorz Gorka.
Santa Ponça (Spain) (AFP) – Tennis player Rafael Nadal trains on grass as he announces that he intends to play at Wimbledon, but his final decision rests on how his troublesome left foot feels after training in London next week.
Moscow (AFP) – Russia claims close to 2,000 foreign “mercenaries” have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s military intervention, according to Russia’s defence ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov.
Oakland (United States) (AFP) – Golden State Warriors fans celebrate after their team were crowned NBA champions on Thursday thanks to their victory away in Boston in the NBA Finals. The San Francisco-based team has reclaimed the title four years after their last championship.
Secunderabad (India) (AFP) – An angry mob set at least four trains on fire and damaged a railway station in India’s southern city of Secunderabad. The protest, one of many, was sparked after the Indian government announced a temporary recruitment plan to induct young adults into the armed forces for four years — a major break from the past, as non-commissioned ranks are seen as lifetime jobs. IMAGES
