Tokyo (AFP) – Akie Abe, wife of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, arrives in Nara, where her husband is being treated after being shot at a campaign event. The shooting of the country’s best-known politician comes despite Japan’s strict gun laws and with campaigning under way ahead of upper house elections on Sunday. IMAGES
Bali (Indonesia) (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday he would not chase after the United States for talks as his counterpart Antony Blinken declined to see him at a G20 meeting in Indonesia. “It was not us who abandoned contact; it was the United States,” Lavrov told reporters on the island of Bali. “We are not running after anybody suggesting meetings.” The United States has sought to isolate Russia on the world stage and aides to Blinken said they saw no point in speaking to Lavrov so long as Moscow pursues its war in Ukraine. SOUNDBITE Duration: 00:15
Madrid (AFP) – Madrid’s LGTBQ Pride would not be the same without its traditional Heel Race, a sporting-festive event which this year celebrates its twenty-third edition in Pelayo Street and which involves finishing the course on platforms up to 15 centimetres high. “I run because I think it’s something super original, very fun and a way to show the diversity that exists in Chueca (an area of Madrid known as Madrid’s gay neighbourhood),” one of the winners in the race said.
Bali (Indonesia) (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives at the venue of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali. As he shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, he is asked “why did you start the war?”
Bali (Indonesia) (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives at the venue of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali. As he shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, he is asked “why did you start the war?” IMAGES
Bali (Indonesia) (AFP) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting and shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. IMAGES
Bali (Indonesia) (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting and shakes hands with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. IMAGES
Moscow (AFP) – President Vladimir Putin challenges the West to try and defeat Russia in one of his strongest speeches since he sent troops to Ukraine on February 24. “Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. Well, what can you say here? Let them try,” Putin tells senior lawmakers.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is booed outside Downing Street as he delivers his resignation speech. Johnson resigned as leader of Britain’s Conservative party, triggering a race to succeed him as prime minister after a frenzied 48 hours which saw dozens desert his scandal-hit government.
London (AFP) – The news of Boris Johnson’s resignation is well received by several Londoners who are happy to see the back of the leader after his ability to escape controversies finally ran out. His departure comes just less than three years after he took over from Theresa May in an internal Conservative leadership contest. Since then, he has faced criticism, from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic to allegations of corruption, cronyism, double standards and duplicity.
Pamplona (Spain) (AFP) – Half-tonne fighting bulls knock over thrill-seekers in the first bull run in three years at Spain’s San Fermin festival in Pamplona, with five people taken to hospital. There were no fatal injuries, but several daredevils were trampled or knocked to the cobblestone pavement of the mediaeval northern city in the first of the festival’s eight early-morning bull runs.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says in his daily address that the artillery delivered as part of Western military aid to the beleaguered nation is “working very powerfully”. “Our defenders inflict very noticeable blows on warehouses and other points which are important for the logistics of the occupiers. And this significantly reduces the offensive potential of the Russian army”, he adds.
