(AFP) – Fuel sales to the general public are suspended in Russian-annexed Crimea, the local Moscow-backed governor announces, as Kyiv steps up strikes on Russian supply lines. “Today, June 21, starting from 09:00am (0700 GMT), fuel sales at Crimean petrol stations have been suspended,” said governor Sergey Aksyonov, adding that fuel would only be sold to state enterprises.
Kansas City (AFP) – Curacao fans celebrate outside the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City after their team clinched the first ever World Cup point in a goalless draw with Ecuador. “We just made a lot of history here in Kansas,” one excited fan says. Ecuadorian fans leave in low spirits, pessimistic about the team’s chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
East Dean (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Dozens of speed demons take part in the British Lawn Mower Championships in Chichester, southern England, bracing a demanding 4-minute circuit on modified, bladeless ride-on machines which are “so much quicker” than regular lawnmowers, reaching up to 55mph. “This is about proper British fun in a field where you build and race your own mower against your mates. It’s really good fun, but also incredibly competitive,” explains Callum McIntyre, a competitive racer within the British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA).
Tehran (AFP) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterates that Tehran will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium, as Iranian and US negotiators are set to meet for talks in Switzerland later on Sunday.
Barranquilla (Colombia) (AFP) – Colombian hard-right presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella votes in presidential election runoff in Barranquilla. Up to 41 million voters will choose between frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella and his leftist rival Ivan Cepeda — the latest in a series of hyper-polarized Latin American elections. IMAGES
Bogotá (AFP) – Colombians begin voting in a presidential runoff, facing a stark choice between a hard-right, White House-backed lawyer and a leftist senator that will decide the fate of a stumbling peace process and strained ties with Washington. Up to 41 million voters will choose between frontrunner Abelardo de la Espriella and his leftist rival Ivan Cepeda — the latest in a series of hyper-polarized Latin American elections. IMAGES
Philippines (AFP) – A major earthquake that hit the southern Philippines earlier this month toppled buildings, triggered landslides and killed at least 76 people on the southern island of Mindanao. It also thrust chunks of the island’s coastline upward in a phenomenon known as “coastal uplift”, leaving stretches of shore unrecognisable to families who have spent their whole lives there. “If the residents are waiting for the old coastline to return to ‘normal’, it won’t return,” says Nande Danlag of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
La Paz (AFP) – Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declares a nationwide state of emergency, accusing what he calls “narco‑terrorist” groups of orchestrating an attempted coup after weeks of crippling roadblocks and unrest, and vowing to restore order while urging remaining protesters to stand down.
Bedford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Emergency services operate by the tracks near Bedford, just north of London, UK, where two trains collided on Friday. The accident left the driver of one of the trains dead and at least 11 others seriously injured. A thorough investigation is still being done to establish how the collision happened, according to the transport secretary.
Lima (AFP) – Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez arrives at a protest calling for transparency in the June 7 vote count, in which the leftist leader is narrowly trailing the right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori. IMAGES
Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Young Palestinians, some barefoot, dart around in the sand as they take part in the semi-final of their very own ‘World Cup’, in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. “As you can see, we tried to bring back something, even if just a little, because as you know, football is the only escape in life,” says coach Jaber al-Basheeti.
Guadalajara (Mexico) (AFP) – “It wasn’t easy, but we did it,” a fan says after co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over South Korea at a delirious Guadalajara Stadium.
