Shanghai (AFP) – Urban exploration, or “urbex” for short, is growing in popularity in China, where a years-long property sector crisis has left many cities dotted with empty buildings. Xu Pengcheng, a 29-year-old tech worker from the eastern city of Qingdao, has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers for his photos of rundown schools and vacant cinemas.
Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Ahead of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders from Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to deepen diplomatic ties and explore new avenues for cooperation. IMAGES
Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrive in Rio de Janeiro to attend the BRICS summit, where leaders from major emerging economies are gathering to discuss global trade, financial reform, and geopolitical cooperation. Emerging nations, which represent about half the world’s population and 40 percent of global economic output, are expected to decry US President Donald Trump’s “indiscriminate” trade tariffs, saying they are illegal and risk hurting the global economy. They are set to unite over “serious concerns” about US import tariffs, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP. IMAGES
Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shakes hands with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as they mark an important step in bilateral trade — celebrating the first export of Brazilian beef to Vietnam and Vietnamese tilapia to Brazil. The meeting, held ahead of the BRICS summit, also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. IMAGES
Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Rio de Janeiro to attend the BRICS summit, where leaders from major emerging economies are gathering to discuss global trade, financial reform, and geopolitical cooperation. Emerging nations, which represent about half the world’s population and 40 percent of global economic output, are set to unite over “serious concerns” about US import tariffs, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP. IMAGES
Guadalajara (Mexique) (AFP) – A massive sinkhole opened up east of Guadalajara in Mexico’s Jalisco State, swallowing two vehicles — a cargo truck and a personnel truck — and prompting an emergency response. Aerial images reveal the full extent of the accident, showing the gaping sinkhole — approximately 40 meters long by 10 meters wide — that disrupted traffic. No injuries or deaths have been reported. IMAGES
Buenos Aires (Argentine) (AFP) – Argentine President Javier Milei and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave from the balcony of the Casa Rosada government palace in Buenos Aires, as part of Modi’s official visit to Argentina. The stop comes ahead of his trip to Brazil for the upcoming BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. IMAGES
Gondomar (Portugal) (AFP) – Family, friends and football stars gather to bid farewell to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, in their hometown of Gondomar in northern Portugal, just two days after the players died in a car crash in Spain. “It’s a tragedy, they were great young people, symbols of this town,” says local jeweller Joaquim Almeida as the siblings are laid to rest. – COMPLETES 64V36CQ, 64V9763, 64UY7T3, 64UW8NR, 64UW764
Ponnagyun (Myanmar) (AFP) – Four years of fighting between Myanmar’s military and its myriad opponents have shattered communications networks, in turn disrupting education and damaging the economy. This is prompting citizens to also find solutions, ranging from making calls at traditional payphone shops to internet cafes powered by Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system.
Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Oasis fans share their emotions after the first show of the British rock legends’ long-awaited reunion tour. Outside Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, fans pour out singing “Champagne Supernova,” the final song of the night. “I don’t think, in my generation, there’s ever been a better rock band than that,” says Kieran Wiltshire, a fan from Somerset.
Paris (AFP) – The River Seine reopens to swimmers in Paris, marking the first time since 1923 that bathers could take a dip. “It was truly a moment of pure happiness,” says Paris resident Jeannine after her swim.
Mexico City (AFP) – Restaurants and retail stores are vandalized in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City during a protest against gentrification. Hundreds turn out to denounce rising housing prices and displacement of long-time Mexican residents from neighborhoods increasingly populated by foreigners.
