Gibraltar (AFP) – People cross between Spain and the tiny British territory of Gibraltar after midnight as border checks — a source of tension and frustration — are finally lifted. Under an agreement reached between Brussels and London following Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2020, border controls have now been eliminated.
Madrid (AFP) – Spanish fans celebrate in Madrid after Spain’s 2-0 victory over France secures their place in the 2026 World Cup final, moving one win away from a second world title. “We’ve dreamt of a moment like this since we were 6 years old”, say Spanish fans Juan Martinez and Alejandro Salinas.
Beijing (AFP) – Chinese lifestyle app Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote in English, has shaken up the tourism industry in China. Travellers use the app to discover new destinations and plan their itineraries around photogenic locations. Xiaohongshu’s user base has grown to 350 million monthly active users, and the platform is reportedly preparing to file to go public as soon as this year.
Portland (United States) (AFP) – Protesters take to the streets of Maine following the second fatal shooting by ICE agents in less than a week. The incident has prompted the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to suspend the use of traffic stops to detain immigrants, according to media reports.
London (AFP) – It’s time for the yearly swan count, called ‘Swan Upping’, run by King Charles’ Chief Swan Marker David Barber. He’s happy with this year’s swan count, though distressed about the rising amount of litter in the Thames in London, United Kingdom.
Srinagar (India) (AFP) – Members of the Sikh community in Srinagar organise special screenings of the film “Satluj” after it was removed from an online platform amid a censorship row in India. The film, originally named “Punjab 95” and directed by Honey Trehan, is based on the life of a human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who risked his life setting out to trace the people who disappeared in Punjab during the separatist insurgencies in the 1980s and 1990s, before he himself disappeared and was presumed murdered.
Paris (France) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces the launch of a new anti-ballistic programme called Freya, aimed at developing an affordable, mass-produced missile defence system within 12 months, at the Coalition of the Willing meeting held on 13 July in Paris, France.
Fontainebleau (AFP) – Hundreds of firefighters from all over France are battling a wildfire in the Forest of Fontainebleau, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) southeast of Paris. The blaze erupted the previous day in the sprawling forest, a former royal hunting preserve that today is dotted with quiet villages. “The fire is still spreading unchecked,” says firefighter Sylvain Wdowik.
Brüssel (AFP) – EU chief Ursula von der Leyen calls for “phased and gradual” access for young people to digital platforms as she presents an expert report on protecting children online. Children need “time to shape their own identity, their own personality, before an algorithm shapes them instead,” she says.
Moskau (AFP) – Russia dismisses a summit in Paris of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and key allies — the so-called Coalition of the Willing — as a “coalition of warmongers”. “It’s the group of countries who don’t want peace and want to continue the war,” says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Sumy (AFP) – CCTV footage from a cafe in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy shows the moment of a Russian strike on 11 July, with people outside throwing themselves to the floor and customers inside rushing to take shelter. The strike came as Russia launched missiles, drones and guided bombs at cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Sloviansk and Odesa in addition to Sumy, killing a total of eight people, authorities said. Five were killed in the attack on Sumy.
Deir el-Balah (AFP) – Mohamed Saad arranges rescued books and welcomes customers at a roadside tent bookstore in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, after rebuilding his library with volumes recovered from the rubble of his home in Beit Lahia. “I say, whoever has books, don’t burn them. I’ll buy them from anyone who has books,” Saad says. “Books have value and books are life for a person.”
