Singapore (AFP) – A 73-year-old British man died and more than 80 people were injured during a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence and made an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Shanghai (AFP) – At age 40, Japanese competitive breakdancer Ayumi Fukushima has been busting moves for longer than some of her rivals have been alive. But the former kindergarten teacher saw off the rest of the field to triumph in an Olympic qualifier in Shanghai.
Fujikawaguchiko (Japan) (AFP) – Workers mount a mesh barrier to block a view of Mount Fuji in the Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko, in an attempt to deter photo-taking by an ever-growing number of tourists.
Singapore (AFP) – Singapore Airlines (SIA) CEO Goh Choon Phong says he is ‘deeply saddened’ by the incident on a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence and caused the death of a passenger, injuring more than 70. Flight SQ321 had taken off from London’s Heathrow Airport and “encountered sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin, Goh said in a video statement.
Cahors (France) (AFP) – After two new employees decided restaurant life wasn’t for them, Geoffrey Ruamps turned to technology to fill staffing gaps. The manager of a restaurant in western France hired a ‘BellaBot’, a white robotic tower capable of delivering dishes to several tables. According to Ruamps, the recruitment situation has been difficult since the pandemic, with businesses across the sector experiencing a similar shortage of capable staff.
Tokyo (AFP) – Volleyball is flying high in Japan thanks to a hit manga. ‘Haikyu!!’, which centres on school volleyball teams, has sold more than 60 million copies since 2012, been turned into a popular anime TV series and, more recently, a successful movie. Off the page and screen, official records show that membership in high-school boys volleyball clubs jumped from 35,000 in 2012 to more than 50,000 in 2024.
Istanbul (AFP) – First appearing on the streets over a century ago, Istanbul’s famous red and white tram cars are due for a modern overhaul. The tramway is loved by locals and tourists and has become a symbol of the city’s most popular shopping street, Istiklal Avenue. New battery-power cars will take over, with the rearview mirrors – held onto by many a passenger – being replaced by cameras.
Geneva (AFP) – More than 14,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, says the World Health Organization representative in Kyiv Dr Jarno Habicht. On 10 May, Russia launched a ground offensive in the region that has seen Moscow’s forces achieve their largest territorial gains in Ukraine in the last 18 months.
Jerusalem (AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labels the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against himself and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a “moral outrage of historic proportions”. On Monday 20 May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant and top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Tabriz (Iran) (AFP) – The streets of Tabiz, northern Iran, are filled with tens of thousands of mourners as the coffin holding late president Ebrahim Raisi passes by. The 63-year-old ultraconservative was killed when his helicopter crashed in foggy mountainous terrain in the country’s northwest on 19 May.
New York (AFP) – Stylish canines show off their outfits at the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York, wearing the 2024 Met Gala looks of celebrities like Bad Bunny, Gigi Hadid and Shakira, recreated especially for them by fashion designer Anthony Rubio.
Maravatío (Mexico) (AFP) – To the west of Mexico City, the town of Maravatio has seen the murder of three mayoral candidates since November, as criminal groups use violence to ensure their preferred officials are elected. Despite the risks, 34-year-old dentist Mario Perez has continued his campaign as one of just five remaining candidates. The violence comes ahead of nationwide elections in June which will include the selection of a new president. Since campaigning began in September, 28 of those seeking office have been killed by criminal gangs, according to the NGO Data Civica.
