AFP UK

Cairo (AFP) – In a 500-year-old stone theatre in the Egyptian capital, young dervishes spin ceaselessly. Slowly, then all at once, they are consumed in a flurry of vivid fabrics. Born into a lineage of whirling dervishes, Mohamed Adel, 20, takes great pride in the uniquely Egyptian interpretation of the centuries old-ritual, known colloquially as “tanoura”, or skirt in Arabic. The kaleidoscopic performance is a world away from the whirling dervishes of Turkey, who trace their origins to the teachings of Sufi poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi. The United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO proclaimed the ritual an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Atalaia do Norte (Brazil) (AFP) – The Brazilian federal police and military continue their search for British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira by flying over and visiting communities they had visited prior to disappearing.

Singapore (AFP) – People marvel at dancing “fireflies” on a lawn, walk through an inflatable whale, and pose for photos beside multicoloured artworks at a light festival in Singapore that aims to encourage sustainability. The i Light Singapore festival has returned to the city’s Marina Bay area after a two-year hiatus. Among its 20 installations are a giant glowing jellyfish, lanterns made of discarded fishing nets, and a sculpture comprised of CDs. Energy-saving lights and environmentally-friendly materials are used in the installations to encourage the public to adopt sustainable habits, organisers say, although some visitors remain sceptical of the festival’s effectiveness to relay an environmental message.

Raqa (Syria) (AFP) – An ancient lake-side fortress, once used by jihadists to launch attacks, is slowly regaining its status as a key cultural destination, attracting visitors from across war-torn Syria.

New York (AFP) – Leaders, celebrities, activists and scientists who are making an impact on the world walk the Time100 red carpet in New York City. The event is resuming for the first time in three years since the pandemic.

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Pizza chefs from around Argentina take part in the 10th Argentine Pizza Championship in Buenos Aires, making huge pizza doughs and performing gravity-defying tricks.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is responsible for a global grain crisis, dismissing Russian claims that Western sanctions on Moscow had sent prices soaring.

Casar de Cáceres (Spain) (AFP) – From young people looking for their first job to current farmers looking to specialise, a school in Casar de Caceres in rural Extremadura teaches students how to work with animals, as well as financial literacy with the aim of setting up their own farm one day. For five months, the students receive theoretical and practical training in Spain free of charge, to counter the flight from the land that has left large swathes of inland Spain thinly populated.

Dakar (AFP) – Supporters of the main Senegalese opponent, Ousmane Sonko, are gathered to demonstrate against the rejection of their list in the upcoming legislative elections. The coalition of Ousmane Sonko, Yewwi Askan Wi, had announced this rally against the power before the decision of the Constitutional Council to confirm the rejection of the list on which he and other opposition figures appear for the general elections on 31 July. This invalidation amounts to removing Ousmane Sonko from the race.

Abuja (AFP) – Former-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu waves the flag of Nigeria’s ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) after being announced as its candidate for the 2023 election to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abuja (AFP) – Former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu is announced the winner of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primary as its candidate for the 2023 presidential election to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Pizza chefs participate in 10th Argentine Pizza Championship in Buenos Aires, making giant pizza bases and performing gravity defying pizza tricks in the freestyle category.