AFP UK

Seoul (AFP) – Humanoid robots dressed as Buddhist monks lead a parade as part of the annual Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, celebrating the Buddha’s birthday.

Chimoré (Bolivia) (AFP) – Supporters of the former Bolivian president Evo Morales take over disused airport in Chimore, in the Cochabamba department, over fears it will be used for a military operation to capture their leader after he exposed an alleged plan orchestrated with the DEA. The airport, used primarily by the military and police, has been out of service since 2024. IMAGES

London (AFP) – Tens of thousands of demonstrators gather in central London for a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally called by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. “Multiculturalism is fine when it doesn’t overtake your culture,” says Rikki Webster. Around 4000 police officers were deployed to manage this demonstration and the rival rally happening at the same time, which marks Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.

Singapore (AFP) – World Cup excitement builds in Singapore, but with a canine twist. Sportswear giant Adidas has released a collection of football jerseys for dogs, inspired by the home kits of Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Japan. “The World Cup is something that previously only humans enjoy,” says Deryne Sim, who has just bought a jersey for her dog, Mocha. “Now with these jerseys from Adidas, our dogs can join in too”.

Vienna (AFP) – Around 400 people gather in Vienna to protest Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision song contest, which will take place on 16 May in the Austrian capital. Five countries, including Spain, have withdrawn this year’s contest in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Bunia (DR Congo) (AFP) – People in the town of Rwampara express their fears as a new Ebola outbreak is declared in the east of DR Congo. “We are very afraid,” says John Kisembo, a motorbike taxi driver in the area. Health officials say that at least 80 people have died in the latest outbreak, which is the 17th in DR Congo since the virus was first detected in the country in 1976.

Tyre (Lebanon) (AFP) – Residents gather among debris in Lebanon’s southern city of Tyre after overnight Israeli strikes, as a bulldozer clears rubble from damaged buildings. “They have destroyed the entire neighbourhood. It is complete destruction and harm to the residents,” says Tyre resident, Ibrahim Qahwaji. The strikes come one day after Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a fragile truce by 45 days following talks in Washington, according to the United States.

Bogor (Indonesia) (AFP) – Satrio “Rio” Wiratama prepares to make his public debut later this month, after making history as the first giant panda born in Indonesia. He was born in November last year in Taman Safari Indonesia, a zoo in Cisarua, West Java, to a pair of pandas loaned by China in an act of “panda diplomacy” to celebrate ties between the two nations.

Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – A video released by the United Nations shows a drone strike on a convoy with a UN-marked vehicle in Kherson, damaging the vehicle as it was delivering aid to Ostriv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of deliberately attacking the vehicle, saying the car, operated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), was struck twice by FPV drones. OCHA says the vehicle was “severely damaged”.

Würzburg (Germany) (AFP) – “I wouldn’t recommend to my children today that they go to the US to study and work there,” says German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a conference with young Catholics in Bavaria, drawing applause from the audience. A traditional ally of the United States, Berlin has distanced itself from Washington since Donald Trump returned to the White House and has stepped up its criticism since the start of the war against Iran.

London (AFP) – A London event dubbed ‘Bald Fest’ offers free pints to people with smooth scalps and those willing to have a head shave in a bid to celebrate the hairless. “I’ve got a pint because I stumbled into a random event in London called ‘Bald Fest’ in Soho, and yeah, I’m getting shaved,” says one soon-to-be-bald participant. “The things you do for a free beer in a cost of living crisis”.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces now control 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, suggesting troops have expanded into more of the Palestinian territory than set out in an October ceasefire plan. “There were those who said: get out, get out. We did not get out. Today we control… how much? 60 percent. Tomorrow we shall see,” Netanyahu says at an event marking Jerusalem Day.