Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Thousands of people dressed in white take to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to lay flowers and other gifts for Yemanja, the goddess of the sea in the Afro-Brazilian religions of Umbanda and Candomble.
Lviv (Ukraine) (AFP) – At fifteen private clinics across Ukraine, a new donor-funded project sets out to treat civilians disfigured by severe scars and burns as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Singapore (AFP) – After two years of digital and hybrid shows due to the Covid pandemic, Singapore’s annual multicultural Chingay Parade returns in person to celebrate the city’s diverse population in style, with over 3,000 performers taking part.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – After hosting a summit with hosting European Union chief Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that it was “possible” to start official talks on Ukraine joining the EU as soon as this year. Zelensky has long pressed for a speedy accession to the EU as Ukraine fends off Russia’s nearly year-long invasion.
Washington (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls it “irresponsible” of China to send a surveillance balloon into US airspace after he scrapped a planned visit to Beijing over the issue. Moments before Blinken’s decision to cancel his trip, China issued a rare statement of regret over the balloon – which it insists was a civilian airship for “mainly meteorological purposes” – and blamed winds for pushing it into US airspace. A second balloon has since been spotted over Latin America.
Bakhmut (Ukraine) (AFP) – Constant artillery exchanges, shelling, gunfire, drones buzzing in the sky – everyday life in Ukraine’s Bakhmut is living hell for the 7,000 people still stuck in the hotly contested city, which has seen most of its pre-war population of 75,000 flee. But even in the face the prospect of Russian occupation, those remaining refuse to leave.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says his army will hold on to the contested “fortress” city of Bakhmut and urges Kyiv’s Western backers to speed up arms deliveries to help recapture territory in the country’s eastern Donbas region. The comments come at a summit with senior EU officials in Kyiv.
Beijing (AFP) – Bejing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says it is working to verify reports of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States, and insists that China has “no intention” of violating US airspace. The incident comes just days before a rare visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with managing heightened tensions between the two powers at the top of the agenda.
Lima (AFP) – Hundreds of protesters march in the Peruvian capital of Lima to call for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte. Peru’s Congress voted down another proposal to advance elections to this year, a day after a similar proposal aimed at quelling deadly nationwide unrest also failed.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye (France) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier laments an unusal season cut in half by the World Cup after star striker Kylian Mbappe was ruled out for three weeks coming off injured in Wednesday’s Ligue 1 match against Montpellier. The injury is threatening to derail PSG’s Champions League campaign, just two weeks before the first leg of their last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.
Billings (United States) (AFP) – Images purportedly show a suspected Chinese spy balloon in the sky over Billings, Montana, in a video filmed by a local resident. The Pentagon said Thursday it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the United States, reviving tensions between the two countries just days ahead of a planned visit to Beijing by top US diplomat Antony Blinken.
Aley (Lebanon) (AFP) – Aerial images show snow blanketing towns from Aley to Mount Lebanon.
