Beijing (AFP) – China urges countries in the Middle East but “especially Israel” to immediately cease fighting after fresh exchanges of fire with Iran. Their foreign ministry spokesperson also says it opposes the “use of force”, in response to a question about US President Donald Trump warning he was weighing up US military involvement in the conflict.
Beersheba (Israel) (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that in Iran, ‘no one is immune’ when asked if Israel would target Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the seventh day of war between the arch foes. He also thanks Donald Trump for his ‘partnership’ with Israel — after the US President said he was considering joining Israel’s military action against Iran.
Puerto Escondido (Mexique) (AFP) – Boats lie stranded on the beach and buildings bear the scars of Hurricane Erick, as residents and authorities begin clearing debris in the popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido. The powerful Category Three storm slammed into Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing winds of up to 205 kilometers (125 miles) an hour. In the southern state of Oaxaca, locals boarded up homes and businesses and sought shelter as Erick swept through the palm-fringed coastline, leaving a trail of damage in its wake. IMAGES
New York (AFP) – New York’s pride parade, the highest-profile US LGBTQ gathering, is ramping up efforts to raise funds from individual community members as corporate donations have been squeezed as Washington demonizes diversity. NYC Pride’s spokesman Kevin Kilbride said “just about 80 percent of the fundraising goal” for the city’s largest pride parade group had been met.
Bangkok (AFP) – Hundreds of anti-government protesters gather outside Thailand’s Government House, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian lead Hun Sen that triggered public outrage. IMAGES
Santo Domingo (AFP) – Dominicans Maribel and Antonio Espaillat arrive for a pre-trial hearing after being arrested on manslaughter charges over the collapse of a nightclub in Santo Domingo. The two siblings, owners of the Jet Set nightclub, are accused of “immense irresponsibility and negligence” for failing to carry out repairs to the roof, which collapsed in the early hours of April 8 during a concert by merengue star Rubby Perez, killing 236 revelers, including the singer. IMAGES
Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) – Mexican authorities seal off a property in the border city of Tijuana where a tunnel leading towards the US was found. Mexican authorities say they also seized several doses of methamphetamine at the property where the 350-meter-long tunnel leading towards San Diego was found. IMAGES
Puerto Escondido (Mexique) (AFP) – Gray skies loom over popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido as Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico’s Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm. Now a major hurricane, Erick is expected to bring “potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico” late Wednesday and Thursday, says the US National Hurricane Center. IMAGES
Acapulco (Mexique) (AFP) – Local police in Acapulco warn people on beach and in the streets of tropical storm Erick. The storm will likely strengthen to a hurricane bringing life-threatening heavy rains in the days to come, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). IMAGES
Buenos Aires (AFP) – Tens of thousands of Argentines take to the streets of Buenos Aires in support of ex-president Cristina Kirchner, a day after she began serving a six-year sentence for fraud under house arrest. Supporters of the polarizing leftist gather on the Plaza de Mayo square and spill into surrounding streets for a demonstration called by the 72-year-old’s Justicialist Party. IMAGES
Ascot (AFP) – Prince William appears in a horse drawn carriage alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot after his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales pulled out of attending the race meeting, a key event in the royal calendar. Catherine, also known as Kate, would not be attending Royal Ascot with her husband Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla as she continued to “find the right balance following her battle with cancer” the domestic Press Association news agency said.
St. Petersburg (AFP) – Representatives of the Taliban participate in the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) — once dubbed “Russia’s Davos” — amid Russia’s push to normalise ties with the militant Islamist group. Some 20,000 guests from 140 countries are set to take part in the forum both online and in person, according to the Kremlin, while high-profile European and American representatives are absent for the fourth year running amid Moscow’s offensive on Ukraine.
