Penghu Islands (Taiwan) (AFP) – In the Penghu islands, a strategically important archipelago about 50 kilometres off the coast of Taiwan, the lull of waves and seabirds is punctuated daily by the roar of fighter jets speeding through the air. The islands’ location out in the Taiwan Strait means they are likely to be on the frontline of any potential invasion by China.
Bernau bei Berlin (Germany) (AFP) – The drastic rise in energy prices is affecting many Germans, to the point that some of them have no other recourse than food banks. Driven by the war in Ukraine, inflation in Germany soared to 7.9 percent in May — its highest level since reunification in 1990, with food prices among those worst affected. “Sometimes I come home from the shop with tears in my eyes, because there are lots of things I can’t afford to buy any more,” says pensioner Gabriele Washah. of consumers and of the director of a food bank
Miami (AFP) – Miami-Dade County and Miami mayors join football fans at a bar to celebrate as FIFA selects the city as a World Cup 2026 host city.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – After meeting with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says “we are expecting new deliveries” of weapons to aid his country’s defence against Russia. In response to a question from a French journalist on President Macron’s phone calls with Vladimir Putin, Zelensky says “I’m not sure there are leaders in the world today who could individually force Russia to stop the war”.
Tbilisi (AFP) – When Russia sent troops into Ukraine in late February, Georgian lawmaker Aleko Elisashvili did not hesitate to rush to the country’s defence, and within days was fighting in the battle for Irpin.
Baldomar (Spain) (AFP) – Emergency services battle several wildfires in Catalonia as Spain remains in the grip of an exceptional heatwave that has seen temperatures reach 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Farenheit). The most alarming blaze, near Baldomar in Catalonia, has already destroyed more than 500 hectares of forest.
Chamonix (France) (AFP) – Matthias Giraud, also known as “Super Frenchie” because of his thrill-seeking stunts, performs a Ski-BASE jump from the Aiguille du Goûter, a 4000 metre-high mountain in the Mont Blanc Massif in the French Alps. In his latest exploit, 10 years in the planning, Super Frenchie is seen enjoying an impressive descent and deploying his parachute while free-falling.
Manaus (Brazil) (AFP) – Brazil’s federal police announce that one of two men arrested over the disappearance of a British journalist and an indigenous expert in the Brazilian Amazon has confessed to having buried the pair in the jungle after human remains were found. ++ COMPLETES WITH VIDI_32CK8TT++
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – From a Ukrainian flag being rethreaded to a portrait of a famous demining dog who received a medal of courage from President Volodymyr Zelensky – in Kyiv and its suburbs, artists and art collectives have been painting murals inspired by the war against Russia.
Islamabad (AFP) – Pakistanis drink tea, known locally as “chai”, in a restaurant in Islamabad as a minister urges citizens to cut back on the popular drink in order to preserve foreign currency that pays to import the leaves used in brewing the beverage.
