New Delhi (AFP) – Residents and students attend a vigil at the gates of the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi to pay homage to Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photographer Danish Siddiqui. The Reuters news agency photographer was killed covering fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban near a border crossing with Pakistan.
Adenau (Germany) (AFP) – On a visit to a town devastated by deadly flooding, German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls the disaster “frightening” while praising peoples’ solidarity in the face of tragedy.
Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says recent violent unrest and looting, which claimed more than 200 lives, united the country as well, as he visits cleanup and rebuilding efforts in Soweto township in Johannesburg.
Tokyo (AFP) – Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.
New York (AFP) – Inside an unassuming store in New York’s Greenwich Village, around a dozen men unlock black briefcases, remove sports cards and begin to trade them — a growing hobby and industry that has boomed during the pandemic.
Tokyo (AFP) – A ten-metre-tall puppet which is part of Tokyo Olympics’ cultural programme arrives in the capital from tsunami-hit Tohoku region. Mocco, an imaginary creature from the land of Japan’s northeastern region, set off on the journey in mid-May, and staged a show in a park in downtown Tokyo. But due to Covid-19 measures, no spectators were allowed.
Tokyo (AFP) – Tokyo Olympics organisers reveal the first Covid-19 case in the Games Village as they seek to reassure competitors that the pandemic-delayed event will be safe. “We discussed with IOC how much we should disclose about it. And IOC concluded that if we gave the name of the country, this person would be most likely identified. This, obviously, would raise privacy issues,” says Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto.
London (AFP) – An unconventional photography exhibition in London has turned toxic pollution into art to raise awareness about the British capital’s persistent air quality problems.
Damascus (AFP) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is sworn in for a fourth seven-year term in a ceremony at the presidential palace in Damascus. Assad won the May 26 election with 95.1% of the vote, which was widely criticised by the West and the Syrian opposition.
Mumbai (AFP) – Heavy monsoon rains hit parts of India’s financial capital Mumbai, flooding roads and causing widespread disruption.
London (AFP) – A mural commissioned by London’s City Hall celebrates England’s football team, who reached the finals of the Euro 2020 championship, showing Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling next to the slogan ‘You did us proud’. One of the artists who created the piece, street artist ‘Mr Meana’ of the MurWalls collective, says the work highlights ‘the importance of getting racism out of football’ in the wake of racist comments about the team online.
Dhaka (AFP) – Bangladeshis are rushing home to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the country’s second-biggest religious festival, despite a lockdown and rise in coronavirus cases. However, authorities have said the nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be lifted Thursday, even as new infections soared to record levels.
