New York (AFP) – Laughing and taking pictures, New Yorkers stop by a mysterious 10-foot-tall golden trophy awarded to Donald Trump for his “enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war”, designed by the anonymous art collective Secret Handshake.
Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) – Dutchwoman Joke had more than 250 tattoos scrawled all over her body and face by her abusive partner, anywhere he believed another man had touched her. She is now one of hundreds helped by Rotterdam-based foundation Spijt van Tattoo (“Tattoo Regret”), which offers victims free laser treatment and is poised to expand internationally.
Deir el-Balah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – In central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, displaced Palestinians question whether a deal announced by US President Donald Trump for Hamas to hand over its weapons and Israeli forces to withdraw will be implemented, after previous agreements failed to end the strikes or allow displaced people to return home. “We are not optimistic about this decision,” says Younes Al Tatar, displaced from Gaza City.
Ceuta (Spain) (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemns what he calls a “violation and attack on the territorial integrity” of Spain after a mass crossing of migrants into the country via Ceuta, Spain’s enclave in north Africa. Some 60,000 migrants have crossed into the territory from Morocco in recent days, according to local authorities. Many swam around a small border barrier that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea, with 34 people dying in the attempt.
Shanghai (AFP) – Cosplayers descend on the ChinaJoy gaming expo in Shanghai to show off their elaborate costumes. As well as trying out new games at the booths, visitors to the conference pose and take photos with the hundreds of cosplay artists. There are over 1,000 games to try including from Tencent Games, NetEase Games, Blizzard Entertainment and PlayStation.
Hebden Bridge (United Kingdom) (AFP) – A huge protest portrait of new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is emblazoned on the grounds of a farm in Northern England, calling the leader to reinstate humanitarian aid. The protest art, created by arts organisation ‘Sand In Your Eye’ and charity Concern Worldwide reads “5.1 million more deaths by 2030. People can’t wait. Reinstate humanitarian aid now.” Previous prime minister Keir Starmer announced cuts to aid last year to increase defence spending, prompting the resignation of Britain’s international development minister. Bilateral aid spending will be slashed by 43 percent over the next three years, equivalent to more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion), according to analyses of the UK foreign ministry’s annual accounts.
Ceuta (Spain) (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday planned to head to the country’s north African enclave after thousands of migrants crossed the frontier.
Seoul (AFP) – When AI-powered cameras on bridges over Seoul’s Han River raise the alarm that someone may be about to jump, acting quickly is vital. The waterway is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world’s highest suicide rates.
Ceuta (Spain) (AFP) – Madrid said on Thursday it would despatch soldiers to Ceuta to ensure security after hundreds of migrants entered Spain’s north African exclave from neighbouring Morocco and hundreds more headed there.
Tarnawa (Poland) (AFP) – Polish Prime Minister says a missile that blasted a 10-metre (33 feet) crater inside its territory was likely fired by Russia during its latest mass attack on Ukraine, but that there was “no reason to think that Poland was the target”. NATO and European leaders openly blame Russia for the 4:00 am (0200 GMT) explosion in a field that shook residents of the village of Tarnawa Kolonia, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the Ukrainian border, and the windows of their homes.
Sevastopol (AFP) – Despite Russia’s four-and-a-half-year assault on Ukraine, the scenic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea — which Moscow annexed in 2014 after the overthrow of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv — has until recently remained a popular summer retreat for Russian tourists. This summer, however, Ukraine has heavily targeted Crimea, escalating a campaign of strikes on fuel depots and electrical facilities, making blackouts and fuel shortages part of daily life and sending the local tourism economy into freefall. Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 after the overthrow of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv, with only a handful of countries, such as Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela, recognising the move.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Firefighters battle flames and clear debris at a market in Kyiv after a Russian strike sparked a major fire, leaving rows of stalls gutted and sending smoke billowing over the Ukrainian capital. Russian strikes across the country killed at least eight people and wounded more than a dozen others, authorities say.
