AFP UK

Brussels (AFP) – Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary Seneral, rejects Putin’s “land grab” and denounces Russia’s “illegitimate” annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

Washington (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim of Western sabotage in the leaks of the Nord Stream gas pipelines “absurd” and “outrageous.”

Port-au-Prince (AFP) – Demonstrators take to the streets of Port-au-Prince in Haiti to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whom they believe is unable to address the economic crisis.

Moscow (AFP) – People in Moscow react to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to annex regions of Ukraine, following a controversial referendum. Putin warned the West that the people of four Moscow-occupied Ukrainian regions were “our citizens forever” as he prepared to formally annex them at a Kremlin ceremony.

Amman (AFP) – Jordanian Mohammad Nsour gave up a career in medicine to pursue his dream of becoming a bodybuilder. At 26, he has qualified for Mr. Olympia, a prestigious international contest where he will go up against the sport’s biggest names — and muscles.

Frisco (United States) (AFP) – Foretold for years, drone delivery has become a reality in some parts of the United States. In less than 15 minutes, what you ordered on your phone can be delivered to your backyard by air.

McGregor (United States) (AFP) – Susan Clarke rescues her three grandchildren with a kayak in McGregor, a Florida community south of Fort Myers where Hurricane Ian flooded homes and damaged property.

Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the people of four Moscow-occupied Ukraine regions are becoming “Russian citizens forever”, during his address at the annexation treaty signing ceremony for the regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after so-called referendums that Moscow organised. He also claims the West wants to see Russia as a “colony”.

London (AFP) – New 50p coins and a commemorative £5 featuring a portrait of King Charles are unveiled by the Royal Mint following his accession to the throne. The effigy is the work of British sculptor Martin Jennings and was personally approved by the new king.

Unknown (AFP) – Brazilian Communications Minister Fabio Faria releases a video of Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker Neymar dancing to a campaign song by President Jair Bolsonaro. In the video, the Paris SG striker, who has more than eight million followers on TikTok and nearly 180 million on Instagram, smilingly mimes a song that calls for voting Bolsonaro.

Turkey (Turkey) (AFP) – Kneeling before a chalk star outside his tumbledown house, an old man performs a ritual to rid himself of evil spirits — which many superstitious Turks believe exist. Perched behind the camera, director Metin Kuru tries to encourage the actor to convey the sheer agony of being possessed by a genie. But there won’t be many takes, because Kuru needs to finish his film fast to feed Turkey’s voracious appetite for low-budget horror flicks, with a new supernatural chiller released every week.

Kuwait City (AFP) – Polling stations close in Kuwait after the country held its most inclusive elections in a decade with some opposition groups ending a boycott after the oil-rich country’s royal rulers pledged not to interfere with parliament. The polls are the sixth in 10 years, reflecting the repeated political crises that have gripped the only Gulf Arab state with a fully elected parliament.