Gorenka (Ukraine) (AFP) – In a wooden toy factory outside Kyiv, production has started again after the withdrawal of Russian troops. Now, each online purchase on the company website includes a 5-euro donation to the war effort. Customers in 85 countries on five continents have already made their donations.
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – “Kill me or sentence me to death instead of sending me to Rwanda.” In his late twenties, Hadi (name changed for his protection) fled Iraq for the UK after he faced persecution for being gay. Under a controversial law, the UK plans to send asylum seekers who arrived illegally on British soil to Rwanda, 6,000 kilometres from London. The East African country is “not a tolerant place for LGBTIQ people” according to Aderonke Apata, director and founder of the NGO ‘The African Rainbow Family’ which helps LGBT asylum seekers integrate into British society.
Buenos Aires (AFP) – Tens of thousands of members of left-wing social organisations protest in Buenos Aires to demand greater assistance from the Argentine government to soup kitchens and an increase in subsidies, in a country with an inflation that is close to 60% per year.
Washington (AFP) – Previously unseen graphic footage of protesters clashing with police during last year’s riot at the United States Capitol building is aired by a congressional panel investigating the deadly attack.
Los Angeles (AFP) – Drag queens dressed as Marilyn Monroe sing “Happy Summit, Mr President” to life-sized cardboard figures of US President Joe Biden and other leaders attending the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, calling them to take action on climate change. “We want to also bring other presidents as well into the spotlight, such as President Bolsonaro of Brazil, who has an anti-Amazon, anti-indigenous agenda,” says Oscar Soria, campaign director of the activism nonprofit Avaaz.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Denys Monastyrsky, Ukrainian minister of internal affairs, says that there is no danger of an attack on Kyiv in recent days but adds that any place in Ukraine can be a target of Russian shellings. “Any scenarios are possible tomorrow,” he tells AFP during an exclusive interview in the capital, during which he also talks about potential war crime prosecutions.
Atalaia do Norte (Brazil) (AFP) – The Brazilian federal police and military continue their search for British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira by flying over and visiting communities they had visited prior to disappearing.
Blackpool (United Kingdom) (AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that any attempts to impose a “bad peace” on Ukraine, through granting territorial concessions to Russia, would be “morally repugnant”.
Chonburi (Thailand) (AFP) – Thai authorities present 200 kilograms of crystal meth they say was seized after being hidden inside a replica Easter Island statue that was awaiting shipment to Taiwan. Southeast Asia’s so-called Golden Triangle — the notorious border region of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand — has long been an infamous hotspot for drug trafficking.
Paris (AFP) – “There was no other way” to push back the crowd, explains Paris police prefect Didier Lallement during a Senate hearing, as he apologises for tear-gassing supporters as they tried to enter the Stade de France ahead of the Champions League final.
