Boston (AFP) – Boston’s Ukrainian community gathers to celebrate “Vyshyvanka Day,” a normally light-hearted annual celebration of Ukrainian folk traditions that this year is being viewed as a symbol of national unity against Russia’s invasion.
Pyaeongtaek (South Korea) (AFP) – President Joe Biden lands in South Korea for his first trip to Asia as US leader, aiming to cement ties with regional security allies as concern over a North Korean nuclear test grows.
Frankfurt (AFP) – Jubilant Eintracht Frankfurt fans flock to the city center of Frankfurt to celebrate the Europa League title with the players.
Joint Base Andrews (United States) (AFP) – US President Joe Biden boards plane from Joint Base Andrews as he leaves for Asia where he will visit South Korea, then Japan for the QUAD summit.
Cannes (France) (AFP) – The cast and crew of the film “Hunt” hit the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival to present the first film directed by Lee Jung-Jae, the star of the hit Netflix series “Squid Game”. IMAGES
Colombo (AFP) – Sri Lankan police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of students protesting against the economic crisis outside the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the nation’s capital Colombo.
Sado (Japan) (AFP) – In a hall on Japan’s Sado island, 71-year-old Yoshikazu Fujimoto strikes the enormous, imposing drum mounted before him, producing a boom so powerful that it reverberates through the floorboards.
Taipei (AFP) – Taiwan’s LGBTQ community celebrated the third year of gay marriage being legal this week, but for Vincent Chuang, it was a bittersweet reminder that he still cannot wed his partner because he fell in love with a foreigner. Under current rules, Taiwanese nationals can only marry those from the roughly 30 countries and territories where same-sex marriage is also legal.
A brewery in Savonlinna, Finland has created a beer in honour of Finland’s application to join NATO. “It tastes like security with a hint of freedom,” says owner Petteri Vanttinen.
Arlington (United States) (AFP) – The US government will fly in baby formula on commercial planes contracted by the military in an airlift aimed at easing the major shortage plaguing the country, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says. The lack of formula — the result of a perfect storm of supply chain issues and a massive recall — is leaving parents increasingly desperate.
Maumere (Indonesia) (AFP) – An Indonesian ferry carrying more than 800 people that had run aground was dislodged and taken safely to dock at a nearby port. “We felt that the ship strongly hit something down there. It was like an earthquake, it was very strong,” says one of the passengers.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – The first Russian soldier on trial for war crimes in Ukraine asks for “forgiveness” in a Kyiv court after he gave a detailed account on how he killed a civilian early in Moscow’s invasion.
