AFP UK

Dubai (AFP) – An exhibition in Dubai is showing off two rare precious stones ahead of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York.

Tarkwa Bay (Nigeria) (AFP) – Running into the waves and towards the oil tankers lined up on the horizon, young Nigerian surfers take part in a national competition off the Lagos coast. Many of those competing were plunged further into poverty by mass evictions carried out by the Nigerian army in January 2020, and the event’s organisers say the sport can steer them clear of criminality and drug abuse. “It gives them the opportunity to showcase their talent” says Adewale Fawe, the President of the Nigerian Surfing Federation, “it becomes something positive in life.”

Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain) (AFP) – Spain has a “problem” with racism, the head of the country’s football federation says a day after Real Madrid’s forward Vinicius Junior was again the target of racist chants during a match. “As long as there is just one fan, a single undesirable, or a group of undesirables who hurl insults” says Luis Rubiales, “we have a serious problem.”

Hiroshima (Japan) (AFP) – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, compares the total destruction of Bakhmut to that of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which was hit by a US atomic bomb in 1945. “Now Hiroshima is a rebuilt city” he says, “and we dream of rebuilding all our cities that are now in ruins.”

Tunis (AFP) – Tunisian architect-turned-cartoonist known only by the initial Z still believes in the “magical power” of satire to decipher the perils of a “fascist turn” in Tunisia under the leadership of President Kais Saied. Following Saied’s power grab, “anonymity became vital” says Z, adding that “some people are being arrested just for expressing their opinion on Facebook”.

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – “To be considered one of the greatest teams we have to win Europe, we have to win the Champions League” says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as his team celebrate their third consecutive Premier League title. Looking forward to his side’s two upcoming finals — against city rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup and Inter Milan in the Champions League — Guardiola says he has told his players to enjoy the title but to “be careful” and avoid being distracted from their chance to win a historic treble.

Titusville (United States) (AFP) – Equipped with binoculars, telescopes and folding chairs, space enthusiasts watched on as the second-ever private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) blasted off from the southern US state of Florida Sunday.

Baghdad (AFP) – Young Iraqis row a flotilla of traditional wooden boats down the Tigris river in Baghdad, celebrating an ancient nautical heritage in the now drought-stricken country. Once common sight across Iraq’s southern streams and marshlands, the elongated boats, known as meshhouf, have been around “since the time of the Sumerians”, said event organiser Rashad Salim.

Dakar (AFP) – Pencil and rubber in hand, Ibrahima Soumare is studying the art of graffiti. In Senegal’s Dakar, RBS Akademya is a unique school, one that aims “to educate young people to understand the realities of their time”, says graffiti artist and a member of the school’s founding collective, Serigne Mansour Fall. The graffiti works often bear political, educational, health or environmental messages.

Killi (Syria) (AFP) – In the town of Killi in Idlib province, Syrians harvest hundreds of pink Damask roses. For centuries the flower’s prized scent has been distilled into rose water for use in perfumes, cosmetics and food across the Middle East and Europe. “Harvesting roses makes me happy,” says Shahed, who lives in a nearby camp for displaced Syrians and picks the flowers to support her family.