Madrid (AFP) – The Eurovision song contest should exclude Israel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says in Madrid. The intervention by Sanchez, one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, comes after protests against Israeli participation marked the weekend’s extravaganza in Switzerland. Russia has not been allowed to participate in Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Landerneau (AFP) – The small Breton town of Landerneau sets a world record for the largest gathering of smurfs on Saturday, bringing together 3,076 people dressed as the blue characters, according to the organisers, after two unsuccessful attempts over the past five years. Landerneau has secured the spotlight from the German town of Lauchringen, which held the record since 2019 with 2,762 smurfs.
Vatikanstadt (AFP) – Pope Leo XIV receives US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican, ahead of a US-led push to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Chicago-born pope was elected as head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8.
Sderot (AFP) – Hundreds of anti-war activists gather in the Israeli southern city of Sderot to march towards the Gaza border, calling to end the war. “We want to stop this horrible war,” says Itamar Avneri, one of the organisers of the event. “We demand our government to achieve a hostage deal and a ceasefire, in order to save lives, Israeli lives and Palestinian lives, end this horrible war and destruction of Gaza, and starting to advance toward real Palestinian-Israeli peace.” Police stop protesters from marching towards the border, resulting in clashes and several arrests.
Bukarest (AFP) – Hundreds of Romanians take to the streets to celebrate after Nicusor Dan, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, wins a tense rerun of Romania’s presidential election, beating nationalist George Simion in a vote seen as crucial for the direction of the EU and NATO member.
Washington (AFP) – Americans in Washington, DC, express their sadness as former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
Sandomierz (Pologne) (AFP) – Rafal Trzaskowski, liberal candidate in the presidential election, speaks to his supporters at the Civic Coalition party headquaters in Sandomierz, Poland. According to the polls, Rafal Trzaskowski is ahead of nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki (29.1%) with 30.8% of the vote. IMAGES
East Flores (Indonesia) (AFP) – Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the tourist island of Flores erupts again, spewing thick ash up to 6,000 metres above its peak. Authorities had raised its alert status to the highest level after the 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano erupted for 11 minutes on March 20, forcing thousands of locals to evacuate. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Chiclayo (Peru) (AFP) – Residents of Chilcayo, Peru gather overnight as they prepare to celebrate the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. The US-born pontiff was made bishop of the city in 2014, after two decades of work as a missionary in Peru. Many here say it is his ‘adoptive city’ and remember him for his work with the poor, and for bringing the church closer to local residents.
Basel (Switzerland) (AFP) – Austria’s JJ wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his operatic song “Wasted Love”, triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into Sunday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel on 357 and Estonia on 356. JJ gave Austria its first victory since Conchita Wurst’s triumph in 2014 with “Rise Like a Phoenix”. – COMPLETE VIDI4769463_EN
Vatican City (AFP) – Around 200,000 people including world leaders US Vice President JD Vance and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky gather at the Vatican for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. During the mass the US-born pontiff called to stop exploiting nature and marginalising the poor. Many Catholics wonder what direction Pope Leo XIV might take the Church in after the death of Pope Francis.
London, Kentucky (United States) (AFP) – Residents of London, Kentucky dig through debris of roofless houses, some without walls, as they inspect the damage left by a tornado. More than 25 people in the southern US states of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri since the tornadoes and severe storms began on Friday. 200,000 homes have been left without power, authorities said. The United States saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record last year with nearly 1,800, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Further storms are forecast for the coming days.
