Valladolid (AFP) – In a test of speed and focus, puzzle enthusiasts battle it out in the final of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship. Around 1700 competitors from 70 countries gathered in northwest Spain in a challenge to solve a never-before-seen jigsaw puzzle. “It’s really a battle, it’s not like let’s make nice together, people are really battling,” says volunteer Karin Harmsen.
Moskau (AFP) – The Kremlin says Germans are looking for a political “alternative” after the country’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a state election defeat to the far-right AfD, widely seen as being pro-Moscow. “We are seeing fairly low figures for the popularity and approval ratings of the current German government,” says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who also notes “figures relating to economic development in Germany and the decline in the competitiveness of the German economy.”
Moskau (AFP) – The Kremlin says Germans are looking for a political “alternative” after the country’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a state election defeat to the far-right AfD, widely seen as being pro-Moscow. “We are seeing fairly low figures for the popularity and approval ratings of the current German government,” says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who also notes “figures relating to economic development in Germany and the decline in the competitiveness of the German economy.”
Paro (Bhutan) (AFP) – Atop a steep hillside in Bhutan, an arrow slices through the air and slams into a wooden target with a thud, prompting a round of celebratory song. Traditional archery is Bhutan’s national sport and has a storied history, but some fans fear for its future as development and safety concerns eat away at space for archery ranges.
Paro (Bhutan) (AFP) – Atop a steep hillside in Bhutan, an arrow slices through the air and slams into a wooden target with a thud, prompting a round of celebratory song. Traditional archery is Bhutan’s national sport and has a storied history, but some fans fear for its future as development and safety concerns eat away at space for archery ranges.
Berlin (AFP) – Dozens of opposition protesters gather outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections and shred fake votes into ballot boxes. In Belgrade, Russian opposition organisers and voters bring apples in solidarity with Russia’s banned anti-war party Yabloko (‘apple’ in Russian), collecting donations and writing letters to Russian political prisoners. Only parties that support President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine have been registered to run in the parliamentary election.
Berlin (AFP) – Dozens of opposition protesters gather outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections and shred fake votes into ballot boxes. In Belgrade, Russian opposition organisers and voters bring apples in solidarity with Russia’s banned anti-war party Yabloko (‘apple’ in Russian), collecting donations and writing letters to Russian political prisoners. Only parties that support President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine have been registered to run in the parliamentary election.
Schwerin (Germany) (AFP) – Voters in the German states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin head to the polls in regional elections where far-right and far-left gains could send fresh shock waves through Berlin and rock the government of embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz has scheduled a crisis meeting of his centre-right CDU party leadership to discuss the first results as they come in, cleared his calendar for the following days and is skipping a trip to the UN General Assembly to deal with potential aftershocks.
France (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron says a deal between the United States, Denmark and Greenland helps “to reaffirm Danish sovereignty” over the Arctic territory. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had struck a deal with Denmark to give Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security, barring Russia and China from setting up bases there. Denmark and Greenland — an autonomous Danish territory — both hailed the deal and said they would sign it on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
France (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron says a deal between the United States, Denmark and Greenland helps “to reaffirm Danish sovereignty” over the Arctic territory. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he had struck a deal with Denmark to give Washington “permanent control” over Greenland’s security, barring Russia and China from setting up bases there. Denmark and Greenland — an autonomous Danish territory — both hailed the deal and said they would sign it on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinian artist Ubayy Al-Qarashli paints a mural of US rapper Macklemore on the ruins of a building in Gaza City in tribute to his support for Palestinians. Macklemore was booted from Ed Sheeran’s tour after his declaration of “Free Palestine” at a New Jersey concert this month drew backlash from owners of US stadiums hosting future dates. Sheeran has since called the situation in Gaza “unjustifiable,” following a wave of criticism that he had failed to back his opening act.
Chile (AFP) – The El Nino weather phenomenon has brought rainfall to parts of Chile’s Atacama Desert, activating the flowering of plants across areas of the normally arid landscape. The bloom has drawn visitors and photographers to the region to document the seasonal transformation. “While there are several deserts that bloom when it rains, the geographical scope and diversity of species found here are unique,” biologist Cesar Pizarro Gacitua tells AFP.
