Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – In Rio’s Tijuca and Saude neighborhoods, entire streets have become open-air canvases ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Residents paint murals and hang decorations from their windows in support of Brazil’s national team, which is hoping to win a long-awaited sixth World Cup.
San Isidro (Argentina) (AFP) – Víctor Stinfale, friend and legal advisor to the football leyend Diego Maradona, testifies at the San Isidro courthouse in the trial investigating the death of the Argentine star, who died in November 2025. IMAGES
Karur (India) (AFP) – With a smartphone strapped to her head, Indian housewife Nagireddy Sriramyachandra films herself performing everyday chores to train AI-powered humanoid robots to take on household jobs in the future.
Beijing (AFP) – Beijing cleaner Lin Meiqiong found her work a little easier the day she was paired with an unlikely new colleague — a tall, wheeled robot with AI-powered tidying skills.
Yongin (South Korea) (AFP) – In her tiny apartment in South Korea, where she lives alone, 78-year-old Bang Chun-ja spends her days with a childlike AI-powered doll she says she prefers to people.
Hong Kong (AFP) – It’s a tiny, landlocked microstate with no access to the sea – and yet a rowing team representing Liechtenstein is making waves thousands of miles away in Hong Kong. On June 19, the Liechtenstein Princely Navy will compete in the city’s traditional Dragon Boat Festival.
Chuhuiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Buildings lie in ruins and vehicles are left burnt-out after a Russian strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Chuguiv, which killed at least three people, including a pregnant woman, authorities have said. According to the city’s Mayor Galyna Minaeiva, Chuguiv was hit late on Monday by Russian missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones.
Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says that the EU is seeking to impose a visa ban on Russians who have fought in Ukraine, as part of a new round of sanctions on Moscow over the war. She adds that the EU will “continue targeting the shadow fleet”, for the first time including vessels that “assist the fleet”.
Belfast (AFP) – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn tells the UK parliament that “any foreign national who abuses the hospitality of this country to commit crimes should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them”, following a stabbing attack in Belfast.
Yiwu (China) (AFP) – Stuffed “GOAT” plushies donning Lionel Messi’s famous Argentina no. 10 line the shelves of Chinese shops. “This little sheep is wearing Argentina’s traditional blue-and-white striped jersey, featuring Messi’s number 10,” says Zhu Hui, as she holds a plushie. “The sheep itself represents the ‘GOAT’, which perfectly embodies fans’ love for him,” she adds. China hasn’t qualified for the international tournament since 2002 but the nation is still gripped by World Cup fever.
Paris (France) (AFP) – Demonstrators gather outside the Paris Courthouse to protest against the French justice system’s handling of the murder of an 11-year-old girl named Lyhanna. “I don’t even know how I feel today. It goes beyond anger,” says protester Peggy Charpentier. The 41-year-old suspect in the case had been formally accused twice of raping a child, but had not been questioned by police by the time Lyhanna went missing.
General Santos (Philippines) (AFP) – Residents spend the night outside in General Santos City after a deadly earthquake struck the southern Philippines. “We panicked because it was really strong. We got really scared,” says student Diana Katimuan. The magnitude 7.8 quake killed over 40 people, according to provincial authorities, after toppling buildings and sparking tsunami warnings across the region.
