AFP UK

Barcelona (AFP) – Prosecutors in Spain drop the corruption and fraud charges faced by Brazilian footballer Neymar, and others, standing trial over transfer irregularities.

Playa Vista (United States) (AFP) – At a rally in California, United States Senator Bernie Sanders says that – beyond abortion rights and the fight against climate change – the upcoming US midterm elections are about “whether or not this great country remains a democracy”.

Taipei (AFP) – Chinese vets have received a rare invite to Taiwan after a male panda named ‘Yuan Yuan’, symbol of an era of warmer ties, was moved into end-of-life care.

Tehran (AFP) – Iranians rally in Tehran to condemn a mass shooting at a Shiite Muslim shrine in the southern city of Shiraz after Wednesday evening prayers that state media said killed at least 15 worshippers. The attack was claimed by the Sunni extremist group Islamic State.

Beijing (AFP) – China says it will “not be intimidated by the US’s nuclear blackmail” after the Pentagon released a US nuclear posture report which foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin slams as being “blatantly tailored” towards Beijing.

San Francisco (AFP) – Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has bought Twitter – and wasted no time in making his mark on the social media platform.

Bangkok (AFP) – Almost a decade after fleeing China, more than 50 Uyghurs are currently languishing in Thai detention facilities facing an uncertain future as the kingdom strives to strike a balance between Beijing and Washington. Abdullah Sami, a 35-year-old Uyghur from Xinjiang, who fled China through Thailand and now lives in Austria, has been in contact with some of the detainees. “I tell them with sorrow that there is no news”, he says.

Kabul (AFP) – Hundreds of aspiring male cricketers flock to Chaman-e-Huzuri park in Kabul on Fridays, where they emulate their world cup heroes on the dusty ground. Cricket was largely unknown in Afghanistan until the early 2000s, but the sport has since exploded when it was brought to the country from Pakistan by Afghan refugees. Since the Taliban came to power last year, uncertainty over women’s cricket threatens the sport, with funding from peak bodies and participation in international competitions tied to growth of both men’s and women’s cricket.

Gummatapura (India) (AFP) – Gummatapura and surrounding villages celebrate the Gorehabba festival by collecting heaps of cow dung and holding cow dung fights to honour the village deity.

Tokyo (AFP) – The Japanese manga “One Piece” is a cultural phenomenon. It has sold about 500 million copies worldwide and this year marks the 25th anniversary of its serialisation. But the much-beloved manga is now on the cusp of its final chapter. AFP met three fans to learn how it has impacted their lives.

Jerusalem (AFP) – Prime Minister Yair Lapid claims Israel’s foe Lebanon de-facto “recognises” the Jewish state, thanks to a sea border deal the two states are expected to sign. Lapid also hails the deal as fortifying Israel’s “security” against armed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

REGION DE DONETSK (Ukraine) (AFP) – Amongst the residents of a small village in east Ukraine, one man has less luck than most: he, like the president, is also called Volodymyr Zelensky. Far from a blessing, his name has led to more than his fair share of run-ins with the Russian invaders.