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Palmyra (Syria) (AFP) – Timelapse footage shows the Milky Way passing over Syria’s ancient ruins of Palmyra. Palmyra is one of six Syrian sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, all of which suffered varying degrees of damage during the country’s 13-year civil war. During their occupation of the site starting in 2015, jihadists from the Islamic State group destroyed several temples, columns, and other ancient treasures, reducing much of the city to rubble.

Bilozerske (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians in the country’s war-torn east display mixed feelings about the country’s Independence Day. Nina, an 84-year-old local who is sleeping in the basement of her nearby church, says she just wants peace. Vitaliy, who works for Ukraine’s electrical grid, says Independence Day is about “the defence of our state”.

Umerkot (Pakistan) (AFP) – The practice of elder women needling delicate shapes onto the faces, hands, and arms of younger generations stretches back centuries in the Hindu villages that dot Pakistan’s southern border with India. In recent years, however, as the rural communities become more connected to nearby cities, many young women have opted out of the “old ways”.

Bilozerske (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians in the country’s war-torn east display mixed feelings about the country’s Independence Day. Nina, an 84-year-old local who is sleeping in the basement of her nearby church, says she just wants peace. Vitali, who works for Ukraine’s electrical grid, says Independence Day is about “the defence of our state”.

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – A huge cloud of smoke rises above Gaza City, after Israel pressed ahead with plans to seize the urban area despite an international outcry. Israel have said that taking Gaza City is key to defeating Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages. At least 51 people have been killed in Israeli attacks over the last two days, according to Hamas’s civil defence’s spokesman Bassal.

Hong Kong (AFP) – The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society holds its first-ever bird call contest with people taking to the stage to mimic the calls of birds including the koel, brown fish owl, and Asian barred owlet. The event aims to raise awareness around conservation of bird habitats in and around the city.

Colombo (AFP) – Colourful kites fill the skies as participants from around the world gather in Sri Lanka’s capital for the Colombo International Kite Festival. More than 55 international kite flyers representing 25 countries joined local enthusiasts at Galle Face Green park for a day of vibrant kite displays.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Speaking alongside Zelensky in front of the Ukrainian capital’s St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Canadian PM Mark Carney says that Canada understands the lessons of history. “We know that Putin can never be trusted,” he says. “We know that true peace and security requires security guarantees for Ukraine”. Carney is visiting Kyiv as Ukraine marks its Independence Day.

Igueña (Spain) (AFP) – Firefighters continue to tackle wildfires in northwestern Spain. The country has been battling wildfires that have killed four people this month and ravaged huge swathes of land, the head of its civil protection and emergencies service has said.

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Smoke rises from Gaza City as Israeli forces press ahead with an offensive on the city, saying it is key to capturing Hamas’s last major strongholds. It comes after a UN-backed report by the IPC officially declared that famine is affecting 500,000 people in the Palestinian territory – accusing Israel of a “systemic obstruction of aid”.

Porto (Spain) (AFP) – “Even for us, who are experienced, accustomed to natual disasters, this work is abnormal,” says Lieutenant Colonel Vianney Labbe, a French firefighter, describing the situation in Spain, where international teams are helping efforts against historic wildfires. More than 60 firefighters with trucks and two planes have been sent from France to help their overwhelmed counterparts in Spain’s northwestern Zamora province.

Caracas (AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro hits out at the US deployment of three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, calling the operation an “illegal” attempt at regime change. TO COMPLETE 72A36CV_EN