Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the people of four Moscow-occupied Ukraine regions are becoming “Russian citizens forever”, during his address at the annexation treaty signing ceremony for the regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after so-called referendums that Moscow organised. He also claims the West wants to see Russia as a “colony”.
London (AFP) – New 50p coins and a commemorative £5 featuring a portrait of King Charles are unveiled by the Royal Mint following his accession to the throne. The effigy is the work of British sculptor Martin Jennings and was personally approved by the new king.
Unknown (AFP) – Brazilian Communications Minister Fabio Faria releases a video of Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker Neymar dancing to a campaign song by President Jair Bolsonaro. In the video, the Paris SG striker, who has more than eight million followers on TikTok and nearly 180 million on Instagram, smilingly mimes a song that calls for voting Bolsonaro.
Turkey (Turkey) (AFP) – Kneeling before a chalk star outside his tumbledown house, an old man performs a ritual to rid himself of evil spirits — which many superstitious Turks believe exist. Perched behind the camera, director Metin Kuru tries to encourage the actor to convey the sheer agony of being possessed by a genie. But there won’t be many takes, because Kuru needs to finish his film fast to feed Turkey’s voracious appetite for low-budget horror flicks, with a new supernatural chiller released every week.
Kuwait City (AFP) – Polling stations close in Kuwait after the country held its most inclusive elections in a decade with some opposition groups ending a boycott after the oil-rich country’s royal rulers pledged not to interfere with parliament. The polls are the sixth in 10 years, reflecting the repeated political crises that have gripped the only Gulf Arab state with a fully elected parliament.
Fort Myers (United States) (AFP) – Aerial images above Fort Myers in southwest Florida show the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, showing flooded landscapes and damaged buildings, cars, and boats.
Havana (AFP) – Women in Havana demand electricity to be restored in the city, which like the rest of Cuba was left without power after the violent passage of Hurricane Ian over the island.
Cairo (AFP) – Volunteers collect plastic and garbage from the Nile River in the Egyptian capital of Cairo as part of Nile clean-up campaign, ahead of the next global climate summit, COP27 in November.
Tallahassee (United States) (AFP) – Fort Myers city has been devastated by the “historic” Hurricane Ian, as the monster storm sent surges of ocean water into homes and businesses and left some nearby coastal communities cut off, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says.
Fort Myers (United States) (AFP) – Hurricane Ian has left a trail of devastation across Florida, with whole neighborhoods reduced to shattered ruins and millions left without power.
