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
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”.
