Brüssel (AFP) – The heads of state and government of the 27 member countries of the European Union arrive for an emergency summit to discuss Ukraine and European defence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also present to participate in some of the meetings.
Nuuk (AFP) – Wearing an “American badass” T-shirt emblazoned with Donald Trump’s picture, Jorgen Boassen walks to a painting at Nuuk’s Cultural Centre showing the US President in Inuit costume looking at minerals by a fjord. An avid Trump fan, the Greenlander also took part in a highly publicised visit by Trump’s son Donald Jr in January, but he says he is against a US takeover of Greenland.
Moskau (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to discuss extending his country’s nuclear deterrent to European partners is a “threat”, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Macron announced the possible extension of France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners on Wednesday, as Europe scrambles to respond to Donald Trump’s upending of the transatlantic alliance.
Currumbin (Australia) (AFP) – A tropical cyclone lingered off Australia’s eastern coast, bringing drenching rains and record-breaking waves to a heavily populated region rarely hit by typhoons. ++ COMPLETES WITH VIDI_36ZF4ZW ++ =
Pocheon (South Korea) (AFP) – Military and police personnel at the scene of a fighter jet training accident in South Korea’s Pocheon. Several people were injured after a military aircraft accidentally dropped eight bombs in the wrong place during a training exercise.
Mendoza (Argentina) (AFP) – Two daughters of an Argentine mountaineer who died on an icy peak 40 years ago, have retrieved his backpack from the spot — finding camera film inside that allowed them a glimpse of some of his final experiences.
London (AFP) – A campaign to grant London’s traditional pie and mash special protected status has won the support of members of parliament. Proponents argue the cockney classic deserves an official stamp of recognition, similar to that enjoyed by Parmesan cheese or Champagne.
Ofunato (Japan) (AFP) – Wet weather brings some relief to northern Japan, battling its worst wildfire in half a century, in a region that had been experiencing record-low rainfall. The blaze around the northern city of Ofunato in the Iwate region has raged for more than a week, killing one person and forcing nearly 4,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
Washington (AFP) – A week before Greenlanders go to the polls to elect their members of parliament, the US is on voters’ minds as President Donald Trump again voiced his desire to annex the Arctic island during an address to congress. Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede hit back at Trump’s pledge to take the island “one way or the other”, saying that islanders did not see their future with the United States or even Denmark.
Santiago (AFP) – During his visit to the country, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier holds a joint press conference with Chilean President Gabriel Boric at the Moneda Palace. IMAGES
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine “can only regret what happened in the White House”, referring to his public bust-up with US President Donald Trump. Speaking to Ukrainians in his first evening address since Trump halted military aid to Kyiv, he tells the country that “Ukraine deserves peace” and “Ukrainians deserve respect”. In an address to US Congress, Trump said Zelensky has now told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and the finalisation of a US minerals deal.
Ofunato (Japan) (AFP) – Wet weather brings some relief to northern Japan which is battling its worst wildfire in half a century in a region hit by record-low rainfall. The blaze around the northern city of Ofunato in the Iwate region has raged for more than a week, killing one person and forcing nearly 4,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
