AFP UK

Alcatraz Island (United States) (AFP) – “He says things. And sometimes he does them, and sometimes he doesn’t. So who knows,” says Bill Keyser, a tourist from Chicago at Alcatraz prison, which closed in 1963 and is now a sightseeing destination. US President Donald Trump announced an order to resurrect the once-notorious island prison out of the blue over the weekend in a social media post. Under plans to reopen, Trump says the facility would “house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”

New York (AFP) – Stars hit the Met Gala’s red carpet, which this year spotlights the subversive style of Black dandyism. The theme comes five years after the anti-racist Black Lives Matter movement, which pushed a number of cultural institutions in the United States to grapple with their representation of race and diversity, and now coincides with US President Donald Trump’s efforts to quash institutional initiatives to promote diversity.

Vienna (AFP) – Rolling off the production line at a chocolate factory in Vienna, the Mozart Ball or Mozartkugel is an emblematic Austrian treat. First invented in Salzburg in 1890, the chocolate is beloved by locals and tourists alike, but increasingly isn’t even made in its homeland. Citing high cacao prices and energy costs, US food giant Mondelez, which owns one of Mozartkugel’s most recognisable brands, has moved production to Eastern Europe, making it the latest company to make the sweets outside Austria. The trend has sparked a row, with traditional makers unable to cut costs in the same way and workers’ unions critical of bigger companies’ lack of transparency.

Sanaa (AFP) – Footage aired by the Huthi-run TV channel Al-Masirah shows the aftermath of airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, including people being treated in hospital. The Huthis have accused Washington of carrying out around 10 strikes in and around the capital, wounding 14. The bombardment follows a Huthi strike on Israel, which hit the perimeter of the country’s main airport. The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen, have been targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

Lome (AFP) – Hundreds protest in the Togolese capital, Lome, against changes to the West African country’s constitution. The rally came a day after leader Faure Gnassingbe assumed a new role with no term limits. Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled Togo for nearly six decades, was sworn in on 3 May as the head of the majority in parliament, held by his UNIR party. Opposition parties and civil society have criticised the move, describing it as a “monarchical drift.”

Guadalajara (Mexico) (AFP) – Crowds gather in Guadalajara in western Mexico to watch a parade of balloon sculptures. Using thousands of balloons and designed by artists from around the world, the dozen floats depict sea creatures.

Islamabad (AFP) – Pakistan was “not involved at all” in the deadly attack in Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed by gunmen targeting a tourist hotspot, says the country’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have escalated since the attack, which took place in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir on 22 April, with New Delhi pointing the finger at Islamabad.

Fukaya (Japan) (AFP) – The classic cars on sale at Yosuke Fukuda’s repair yard ooze Californian cool with their chrome and tail fins, but on Japanese roads new US vehicles are a rare sight — much to President Donald Trump’s annoyance.

Bucharest (AFP) – Romania’s far-right candidate George Simion takes a comfortable lead in Sunday’s first round of presidential elections, near-final results for the rerun of last year’s annulled ballot shows.

Koelibeda (India) (AFP) – India is waging an all-out offensive against the last vestiges of its Naxalite rebellion, named after the Darjeeling village in the foothills of the Himalayas where the Maoist-inspired guerrilla movement began nearly six decades ago.

Ternate (Indonesia) (AFP) – Centuries ago, farmers on the slopes of Indonesia’s Mount Gamalama volcano defied colonial orders to stop clove production, hiding their crops from the Dutch. Now, production of the aromatic spice faces a new challenge. The region’s once-favourable climate kept the crop alive, providing the specific conditions needed to harvest, but with climate change bringing heavier, more destructive rains, clove farmers livelihoods are under threat.

Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) – Australians have begun casting pre-polling day votes in the country’s national election this Saturday 3 May, with voters in the state of Queensland, home to conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton, sharing their thoughts on the issues swaying the contest. Cost of living has emerged as a key issue, as has Australia’s relationship with the United States in the wake of President Donald Trump’s return to office.