Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine says it is doing “everything” to defend Donbas, where an intensifying Russian offensive is prompting Kyiv’s forces to consider a strategic retreat from some key areas to avoid being surrounded. In his daily address to Ukrainians, Zelensky said the Russians had “concentrated maximum artillery, maximum reserves” in the area.
Houston (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump rejects calls for tightened gun controls, following the Texas school massacre, saying decent Americans should be allowed the firearms they need to defend themselves against “evil.” Trump’s remarks came as he headlined an NRA event in Houston, three days after an 18-year-old gunman with a legally-bought AR-15-style rifle killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, marking the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history.
London (AFP) – Glammed up in satin knickerbockers, sequins and platform boots, ABBA fans stream into a concert hall in east London for the opening night of “ABBA Voyage”, the Swedish supergroup’s digital avatar show.
Barents Sea (Russia) (AFP) – Russia’s Defence Ministry releases images showing what it said was the latest successful test of their Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, as Moscow steps up its Ukraine offensive. The missile was fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate stationed in the Barents Sea and “successfully hit” a target stationed 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) away in the White Sea in the Arctic, the defence ministry said.
Pyongyang (AFP) – A North Korean army medic hands out medication to counter ‘fever’ — a term Pyongyang often uses to refer to Covid — and related sickness. The medic, Jong Jun Ho says the number of people receiving treatment for ‘fever’ has gone down in recent times. North Korea says its Covid-19 outbreak has been brought under control, but experts question the official numbers given the isolated country has one of the world’s worst healthcare systems and likely no Covid-19 drugs or mass testing ability.
Fairfax (United States) (AFP) – Lawyers for “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard deliver closing arguments after a six-week trial featuring blistering mutual accusations of domestic abuse.
Utopia, Texas (United States) (AFP) – In a tiny Texas town called Utopia, a sign at the entrance to its only school warns that staffers are packing guns — a measure designed to prevent shootings like the one that left 19 kids and two teachers dead down the road in Uvalde.
Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) – It’s Tuesday in Burundi’s biggest city, and every week just before sundown, crowds young and old huff and puff in lockstep as a coach shouts encouragement and blasts his whistle. These public sessions are a familiar scene across Bujumbura, and have played a part in restoring divisions following the country’s violent upheaval in recent times.
Shanghai (AFP) – Shanghai residents gets haircuts and massages on the sidewalk, and wander around mostly-empty roads as they are released briefly from their Covid lockdowns as the city slowly starts to reopen. Some residents are given temporary entry-exit passes that allow them to leave their residential compounds for a few hours in a week, but remain locked down for the rest of the time.
Whitby (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A world-record number of people dressed as vampires gather in the grounds of Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, England. The event, organised by English Heritage, celebrates 125 years since Bram Stoker’s Dracula, inspired by the seaside town, was published in 1897.
Moscow (AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accuses Western countries of waging a “total war” on Russia, its people and its culture as Moscow pushes on with its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Beijing (AFP) – China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accuses US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of “smearing” the country, after Blinken delivered a speech calling for action to counter Beijing’s influence. “Blinken’s speech is verbose and full of schemes,” Wenbin says.
