Russie (AFP) – Shouting into a phone, Olga Shkuratova is speaking to her son for the first time in months. The 73-year-old is one of those being evacuated from fighting in the Russian Kursk region, where Moscow’s forces are rapidly pushing Ukrainian soldiers out. “What I’ve been through, not even in your worst nightmare,” she says.
Jérusalem (AFP) – Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein says Israel “is operating with full force against the Hamas terrorist organisation” as the country resumes striking the Gaza Strip. “Hamas repeatedly refused proposals”, Marmorstein adds during a press briefing. The Israeli army has carried out a wave of deadly overnight strikes on Gaza, the most intense since a ceasefire began last January, killing more than 400 people according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Israel has unleashed its most intense campaign on the Gaza Strip since a January ceasefire, prompting Hamas to accuse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deciding to “resume war.”
Rabat (AFP) – During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, tables across the Maghreb region are adorned with “essential” traditional sweets. In Morocco, a table isn’t complete without shebakia. In Algeria, zlabia takes the spotlight, and in Tunisia, people travel for kilometres to buy makroud.
Belgrade (AFP) – Thousands of demonstrators disperse in a panic during a massive anti-corruption rally in Belgrade on 15 March. The crowd, holding a 15-minute silence during the incident, claim authorities used a type of sonic weapon, referred to in the video caption as: “Sound cannon used on citizens while they pay their respects to those killed.” Serbia’s police and defence ministries, the security agency, the president, and the prime minister all firmly deny the accusation and have announced an investigation. Several of the demonstrators have reported health problems since the incident.
Tbilissi (AFP) – A court in Tbilisi has sentenced former president Mikheil Saakashvili to an additional four and a half years behind bars for illegally crossing the border, bringing the pro-Western politician’s total sentence to 12.5 years. Saakashvili says the decision is meant to “intimidate” Georgian people and “send a threatening message” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — who has demanded that the Ukrainian national since 2019 be transferred to Kyiv.
Channapatna (Inde) (AFP) – The whirr of machines and smell of carved wood hangs in the air of the toy workshop in Channapatna, Indian town where around 2,500 artisans are employed in the industry. The centuries-old art form is still in the game despite the threat of cheaper plastic alternatives and replicas.
Bilytske (Ukraine) (AFP) – As soon as Raisa walks out of her house in eastern Ukraine, she is quickly joined by a pack of hungry dogs whose barking fails to drown out the sound of artillery. “I get up every day, make food for the animals, then go to work,” says the 65-year-old, refusing to leave the city without the 20 dogs and 50-something cats under her care.
La Havane (AFP) – Traffic lights remained off in most parts of Havana on 16 March as Cubans suffered through another days-long major blackout. “Let’s hope it will pass soon,” says Pedro Herrera, a constructor. Power is now slowly being restored across most of the island. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITE
Bangkok (AFP) – Wielding a cumbersome tattoo gun with his small hands swamped in surgical gloves, nine-year-old Napat Mitmakorn expertly inks the pattern of a fanged serpent on a man’s upper thigh, as he makes his public debut at the Thailand Tattoo Expo in Bangkok.
Rome (AFP) – The Vatican has released the first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalisation over a month ago, showing the pontiff celebrating mass from the chapel in his hospital suite. Meanwhile, a steady stream of well-wishers continue to gather outside the hospital, including tango dancers.
Addis Abeba (AFP) – Ermias Haylay was 15 when he first touched a begena, one of Ethiopia’s oldest instruments, that has since become “an addiction” for the young musician. From his love for the “charismatic and knowledgeable” instrument was born the Eman begena school, which now regularly visits a nursing home to play for its residents as a form of therapy.
