Liege (Belgium) (AFP) – Police in the western Belgian city of Liege stand guard outside a synagogue after an explosion that damaged the building in the early hours of Monday morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, which is being investigated as a suspected “terrorist” crime. The explosive device “blew out the windows and blew out the door,” says rabbi Joshua Nejman.
Juba (AFP) – Years of natural disasters, corruption and armed conflict have pushed South Sudan’s healthcare system to the brink and with fighting once again on the rise, what little is left is being tested by an influx of those wounded. More than 80 percent of the system’s health provision comes from foreign donors, namely NGOs, who can’t officially pay hospital staff, but give out “incentives” with government salaries going unpaid for months at a time. This is despite significant foreign aid, with the country receiving $1.4 billion in 2024, the largest amount globally as a share of GDP.
Bekasi (Indonesia) (AFP) – Rescuers dig through a mountain of rubbish, looking for at least four people missing after a collapse at one of the world’s largest open landfill sites. At least four people were killed by the landslide at Indonesia’s Bantargebang site, which sits just 25 kilometres from the capital Jakarta.
Beijing (AFP) – “China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs,” says the country’s foreign ministry, following threats by the Israeli military against Iran’s new supreme leader. The threats came after Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was named as his father’s successor. “Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” says Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.
Dubai (AFP) – Dubai’s main airport, a key global transport hub, has been forced to close off and on as Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf leaving many tourists stranded. Visitors from Europe say cancelled flights and soaring ticket prices have left them waiting in hotels while trying to find a way home.
Dorking (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Feet in the air and crash helmets on: the UK Wife Carrying Race takes place in Surrey, England, with teams running up and down a hill in a quirky tradition with Finnish roots. “It’s like being put in a washing machine,” says Hattie Cronin, of the second placed pair. Finnish winner Teemu Tuovinem says the win is a “dream come true” after travelling to the UK for the race.
Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) – Lebanon’s health minister, Rakan Nassereddine, says Israeli strikes have killed 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women. A previous toll had put the number of dead at 294 since Lebanon was drawn into the regional war that began 28 February between Iran, Israel and the United States.
Ashdod (Israel) (AFP) – Israeli firefighters and security forces deploy after a missile landed in an open field near the southern city of Ashdod, following air raid sirens across parts of Israel, warning of incoming missiles from Iran. Israeli authorities said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Zanzibar (Tanzania) (AFP) – Thousands take part in one of Zanzibar’s largest communal Iftar meals at the island’s Amani Stadium, where Muslims and non-Muslims gather to break the fast at sunset during Ramadan.
Beijing (AFP) – China’s top diplomat condemns the war in the Middle East, which was sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. “A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,” he told a news conference in Beijing. c
Philippines (AFP) – Entomologist Cristian Lucanas is the Philippines’ lone expert on cockroaches and says the ubiquitous bugs, which many deride as disgusting pests, deserve more study — and credit — for their key role in the planet’s ecosystem.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) – The UN’s humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher says that “we’re seeing staggering amounts of money, reportedly a billion dollars a day” being spent on the Middle East war, rather than addressing the world’s “huge humanitarian caseload.” He tells reporters during a press briefing at the United Nations in New York, “It breaks my heart… we’ve lost our bearings somehow in the world”.
