As Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says Beijing will “continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement” of the Ukraine war. Wenbin adds that Xi “stressed that voices for peace are growing” to Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implores the International Criminal Court to ensure “accountability” for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, adding that the world needs to see that “no one is above justice” and that “no one can make torture and filtration camps to exterminate a nation”. The address follows the issue on Friday of arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, over the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Bangkok (AFP) – Seven storeys above a shop floor hawking cheap perfume and nylon underwear, Thailand’s “shopping mall gorilla” sits alone in a cage — her home for 30 years. Activists around the world have long called for the primate to be moved from Pata Zoo. But the family who owns Bua Noi have resisted public and government pressure to let go of the critically endangered animal.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – In a cosy barn on the outskirts of Kyiv, a group of Ukrainian soldiers take a break from battle with a session of hippotherapy — using riding and contact with horses to relieve the stress brought by their time at the front.
Nairobi (AFP) – Kenyan riot police fire tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators joining a day of action called by the opposition to protest a punishing cost-of-living crisis.
Paris (AFP) – Hundreds of students gather in central Paris on Monday night to demonstrate against French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms, which raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Pretoria (AFP) – South Africa’s opposition holds rallies under tight security in a bid to force out President Cyril Ramaphosa over his handling of the country’s sickly economy and crippling energy crisis.
Brussels (AFP) – Thousands of Iranians demonstrated in the streets of Brussels, demanding that the European Union place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on a blacklist. A dozen Ukrainians are also present in the demonstration.
Kayah State (Myanmar) (AFP) – Displaced Myanmar villagers prepare makeshift bunkers of earth and sandbags as fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels rages and military shelling becomes an almost daily occurence.
Sabratha (Libya) (AFP) – Dozens of Libyan chefs get to work preparing a couscous platter the size of a large inflatable swimming pool as they seek international recognition for their country’s beloved dish. “It’s part of our identity, our culture, our heritage and we’re proud of it,” says spectator Ahlam Fakhri, watching the four-metre (13-foot) diameter semolina dish take shape.
Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin says that deepening ties between Moscow and African countries is a key goal for the Kremlin, as it seeks to expand it influence on the continent. Speaking at a summit on Africa and Russia, Putin calls cooperation with African nations “consistent priorities of Russian foreign policy”, and vows to continue supplying African countries with grain if Moscow exited a landmark agreement with Ukraine to allow exports from the country’s Black Sea ports.
Jakarta (AFP) – Around a hundred of Muslims in Indonesia protested the participation of the Israeli football squad in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will be held in the country in May and June. Israel has qualified for the tournament and is expected to visit Indonesia.
