AFP UK

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says that the European Union has hit its target of vaccinating 70% of adults with at least one dose by July.

Thousands protest in the Philippines capital Manila as they mark one year left in power for President Rodrigo Duterte. The groups — from several different sectors — are calling for Duterte to step down. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hailed his signature drug war policy, but lamented there was a “long way” to go in the controversial crackdown that has killed thousands of people.

The United States will continue air strikes in support of Afghan forces fighting the Taliban in coming weeks, a top US general says as the insurgents press on with offensives across the country ahead of the US military withdrawal by August 31.

Battered by the wind and swell for 400 years and nicknamed the “king of lighthouses”, France’s Cordouan beacon wins recognition from UNESCO. The lighthouse, which will be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is the last to be inhabited in France and only the second after Spain’s La Coruna to win the plaudit from the world heritage body.

Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (AFP) – Men take part in the 455th edition of the Old Bridge Diving competition in Mostar, in Bosnia. This prestigious Balkan competition was won this year by Serbian Dragan Milnovic, who won the “swallow” discipline, which consists of diving head first into the river.

Stykkisholmur (Iceland) (AFP) – On a remote island in Breidafjordur Bay off the west coast of Iceland, a thousand-year-old harvest takes place — the hunt for elusive eiderdown, used to make some of the world’s best duvets and quilts.

Valea -Trestieni (Moldova) (AFP) – A growing cohort of farmers in Moldova are fuelling an ambitious resurgence of lavender oil, whose cultivation had collapsed along with the Soviet Union.

Tunis (AFP) – People protest shortly after Tunisian President Kais Saied announced the suspension of parliament and dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi following a day of protests against the ruling party, who condemned the move as a “coup d’etat”.

Xinxiang (China) (AFP) – Residents of several floods that disrupted Chinese villages in Henan province were evacuated with an emergency boat bridge built overnight. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is concerned about rising Covid-19 infections, with the country joining a number of European nations that have seen cases climb in recent weeks fuelled by the Delta variant, first detected in India.

Kaifeng city, Henan province (China) (AFP) – Firefighters rescue people stranded, including a baby and a pregnant woman, following devastating torrential rains in China that left at least 33 dead. With many streets still flooded, trucks pumped muddy water from underground tunnels as meteorologists issued “red” rain alerts, warning of the threat of fresh landslides and flooding in surrounding areas.

Oslo (AFP) – Norway holds a remembrance ceremony to honour the 77 people killed on July 22, 2011 in twin attacks by right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik.