AFP UK

Brussels (AFP) – Arriving at a Brussels meeting of EU foreign ministers, Brussels’ foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expresses concern about Russia’s recent exit from the Black Sea grain deal. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year saw Black Sea ports blocked by warships until the United Nations and Turkey brokered a grain agreement in July 2022. The Kremlin exited the deal after months of complaining that provisions allowing the export of Russian food and fertilisers had not been honoured. The deal enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain over the last year, bringing relief to countries facing critical food shortages such as Sudan, Afghanistan and Yemen.

Montilla (Spain) (AFP) – In southern Spain, the intense summer heat is disrupting the vineyards and causing the harvest to arrive two weeks earlier than last year. At the Bodegas Robles winery, pickers work in the early hours of the morning to avoid the day’s heat.

Baghdad (AFP) – Protesters clash with security forces near the Swedish embassy in Baghdad during demonstrations ahead of a planned burning of a Koran in Sweden. SOUNDBITES

Moscow (AFP) – Russian president Vladimir Putin says “the continuation of the grain deal in the form in which it existed has lost all meaning.” Speaking at a meeting with the Russian government, Putin accused Western countries of turning the now-expired deal protecting Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, which alleviated fears of food crisis, into political leverage.

Tokyo (AFP) – A courtroom win and new anti-discrimination law could be seen as signs Japan is warming to the protection of LGBTQ rights. But activists warn of a dark side. They say recent months have seen a rising tide of hateful online rhetoric, particularly targeting transgender women.

Shenzhen (China) (AFP) – Chinese e-commerce worker Twiggy He’s home is smaller than 10 square metres and located in her office car park, but with its open kitchen, bathtub and electric piano, her refitted van is the envy of her colleagues. The 28-year-old is one of a growing number of young people in major Chinese cities who have taken one look at sky-high real estate prices and sought an alternative arrangement.

Cundinamarca (Colombia) (AFP) – Heavy rains on Wednesday complicated the search for nine people still missing after a landslide that killed at least 20 in central Colombia, authorities said.

Yamazaki (Japan) (AFP) – The famed Yamazaki distillery marks its 100th anniversary this year with plenty to celebrate, as Japan’s acclaimed aged whiskies command increasingly eye-watering prices thanks to growing demand and longstanding shortages.

Auckland (AFP) – New Zealand police commissioner Andrew Coster speaks after a gunman killed two people and wounded at least five at a building site in central Auckland, just hours before New Zealand’s biggest city hosts the opening game of the Women’s World Cup football tournament.

Auckland (AFP) – New Zealand police commissioner Andrew Coster speaks after a gunman killed two people and wounded at least five at a building site in central Auckland, just hours before New Zealand’s biggest city hosts the opening game of the Women’s World Cup football tournament.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Bruce Lee, a consummate martial artist whose films spawned a kung fu craze around the world, was one of the first Asian men to achieve Hollywood superstardom before his untimely death at 32. His influence can still be felt in Hong Kong, where he spent his childhood and final years, and fans recently held exhibitions and martial arts workshops to mark the 50th anniversary of Lee’s death.

Auckland (AFP) – Police officers stand at the site of a shooting in central Auckland. A gunman opened fire at a building site in central Auckland on Thursday in an “alarming incident” that left two people and the shooter dead, New Zealand police said.