AFP UK

Unknown (AFP) – The chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claims that he is inside the headquarters of the Russian southern military district in the city of Rostov-on-Don. On Friday, Prigozhin accused Moscow’s military leadership of ordering strikes on Wagner’s camps and killing a large number of forces. He said they had to be stopped and vowed to “go to the end”. These images were released on June 24 on the Telegram account of a company linked to The chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner.

Unknown (AFP) – In a televised address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin labels Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion a “betrayal”, conducted out of “personal interests”. The announcement comes after the chief of the paramilitary group vowed to overthrow Russia’s military leadership and claimed control of a key military headquarters in the south.

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Tanks, cargo truck with fighters of rebel mercenary Wagner group leave the military headquarters the group had occupied earlier in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin halted the fighters’ march on Moscow.

Rostov-on-Don (Russia) (AFP) – Dozens of residents in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on chant “Wagner! Wagner!” outside the military headquarters that had been captured earlier by the rebel mercenary group.

Davidson (Canada) (AFP) – Following repeated droughts, Canadian farmers are having to adapt to a new era in agriculture marked by warming — including trapping snow on fields, planting heat-resistant crops and seeding earlier in the season.

San Antonio (AFP) – France’s Victor Wembanyama lands in San Antonio, Texas one day after being chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, sparking wild celebrations as the Texas club reveled in landing the gifted teenager seen as a once-in-a-generation talent. Towering cut-outs to prayer candles portraying him as a saint, welcome the 19-year-old prodigy.

Elk Island (Canada) (AFP) – Wild bison that once numbered in the tens of millions in North America before being hunted almost to extinction are once again thriving in a pocket of Western Canada and restoring balance at the top of a fragile ecosystem.

Cape Cod (United States) (AFP) – All five people aboard a submersible that went missing near the wreck of the Titanic died — likely in an instant — when their vessel suffered what the US Coast Guard said Thursday was a “catastrophic implosion” in the ocean depths.

Paris (AFP) – Paris 2024 organising committee head Tony Estanguet says the Olympic Torch will visit hundreds of towns and sites on its 80-day journey. The first stop will be Marseille, “a city known for its openness, cultural diversity and sport”, he says.

Middelkerke (Belgium) (AFP) – Twenty five sand sculptors from across Europe spend 10 days creating a fairy tale world on the Belgian beach of Middelkerke for the annual sand sculpture festival, which opens to the public on July 1st. “We bring in about 5,000 tons of sand” explains Peter Monbailleu, the festival’s organiser.

Canberra (AFP) – A mystery Russian diplomat with a penchant for loungewear and cigarettes has sparked a national security standoff between Canberra and the Kremlin, defying Australia’s efforts to kick him off a messy building site near parliament.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Hong Kong’s famous Dragon Boat Festival draws thousands of spectators on Friday, reviving a centuries-old tradition that was forced to ban crowds during the pandemic.