Badaling (AFP) – Large crowds of visitors pack the most popular section of China’s Great Wall, Badaling, on the first day of the country’s week-long May Day holiday. The May Day holiday counts as one of China’s three big “Golden Weeks”, along with the October 1 National Day and the Spring Festival in January or February.
Ierapetra (AFP) – Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Crete disembark at a small port on the island. Israel’s foreign ministry says around 175 activists, the majority of them nationals of European countries, were taken off more than 20 boats on Thursday. Flotilla organisers put the number at 211. The war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, has led to severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel.
London (AFP) – A statue of a suited man marching, with one leg off the plinth, while carrying a flag covering his face, has emerged in central London. Anonymous graffiti artist Banksy has confirmed on social media that he made the statue after his signature on the its base caused a speculative frenzy. “It’s about bad, blind nationalism leading us collectively off the cliff,” says art student Ollie Isaac.
Edinburgh (AFP) – On a clear, cold night in the Scottish capital, an estimated 5,000 spectators gather to celebrate the Beltane fire festival. Held on Calton Hill annually since 1988, the Celtic festival commemorates the rebirth of ‘Green Man’ — representing life — courtesy of the ‘May Queen’, who represents fertility.
Los Angeles (AFP) – ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ actors Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Meryl Streep, Dwayne Johnson, Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon come along to the ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump says he is “OK” with Iran playing their World Cup games in the United States, after FIFA chief Gianni Infantino reiterated that the team would do so despite the Middle East war. “Well, if Gianni said it, I’m okay,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the comments by Infantino, with whom the US leader has close ties.
Stockholm (AFP) – Although it looks like any other coffee shop, this cafe in Stockholm has artificial intelligence (AI) running the place. San Francisco–based startup Andon Labs, the company behind the experiment, gave a lease to Mona the AI chatbot, and she did the rest: hiring employees, creating the menu, taking care of daily supplies — and making several unnecessary purchases along the way.
Kourou (AFP) – Europe’s powerful Ariane 6 rocket launches carrying a second batch of 32 satellites into space for Amazon’s internet constellation Leo, which aims to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. The French company Arianespace, which operates the rocket, will carry out a total of 18 launches for Amazon Leo, its main commercial customer.
Nairobi (AFP) – Kenyan long-distance runner Sebastian Sawe lands in Nairobi after making history in London as the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in race conditions. Sawe clocked 1hr 59min 30sec in a tight battle with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who also came in under two hours.
London (AFP) – Two Jewish men were stabbed in north London, an attack police have declared a “terrorist incident” and which follows a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites. A 45-year-old man, a British national who was born in Somalia and came to the UK as a child, remains in custody following the stabbings.
Peking (AFP) – Beijing says Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi is an “old friend of China” while expressing concern about her situation. The comments come after bilateral meetings between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Myanmar’s junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing in capital Naypyidaw over the weekend.
Tokio (AFP) – Japan Airlines (JAL) says it will start using humanoid robots in ground handling operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from May in a two-year trial with its tech partner GMO AI and Robotics. The robots are expected to be used across a wide range of tasks, from loading baggage to cabin cleaning, to help reduce staff workload in an industry impacted by labour shortages.
