UK

Düsseldorf (Germany) (AFP) – “We are at a crucial moment in our country’s history,” says France captain Kylian Mbappé in response to a Euro 2024 press conference question about the current political situation in his country. The French star striker is calling on young people in particular to vote in the forthcoming parliamentary elections that could see the far-right National Rally (RN) leading the government and its leader Jordan Bardella, 28, as prime minister.

Bureij (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – People in central Gaza’s Bureij camp gather to pray after a grim start to Eid al-Adha. Gazans, like Muslims the world over, would usually slaughter sheep for the holiday — whose Arabic name means “feast of the sacrifice” — and share the meat with the needy. But this year, after a devastating Israeli campaign that has flattened much of Gaza, displaced most of the besieged territory’s 2.4 million people and sparked repeated warnings of famine, the holiday is marred by the war.

Hamburg (AFP) – Thousands of Netherlands fans parade in their traditional orange attire in Hamburg before their team’s first Euro 2024 match against Poland. The Dutch will be hoping to make a strong start to Group D, with a game against tournament favourites France to follow next Friday before facing Austria on June 25.

Warsaw (AFP) – People dance through the streets of Poland’s capital Warsaw for Equality Parade.

Navinwadi (India) (AFP) – Far from the gleaming high-rises of India’s financial capital Mumbai, impoverished villages in areas supplying the megacity’s water are running dry — a crisis repeated across the country that experts say foreshadows terrifying problems. “Whatever water we have, all of that goes to the city (Mumbai) and our situation remains as it was and we don’t get water to drink,” says Sunita Pandurang Satgir. Demand is increasing in the world’s most populous nation of 1.4 billion people, but supplies are shrinking — with climate change driving erratic rainfall and extreme heat.

London (AFP) – Catherine, Princess of Wales, tentatively returns to UK public life for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer, attending a military parade in London to mark King Charles III’s official birthday. Kate, as she is widely known, travelled in a state carriage alongside her three children at the outset of the annual event before watching the ceremonial proceedings from a viewing point.

Guayaquil (Ecuador) (AFP) – Mortuary workers carry corpse after corpse from a container into the forensic institute in Guayaquil, a city where the strong stench of putrefaction has taken hold as more people fall victim to Ecuador’s drug-related violence.

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Germany thrashed 10-man Scotland 5-1 as the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off the tournament in style in Munich. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said he would not be a “killjoy” after the host nation’s blistering start to Euro 2024 — a 5-1 thumping of Scotland in Munich. With five different players scoring goals, Germany delivered their best showing so far under Nagelsmann — and one of their most convincing team performances in some time. The group A teams will also be facing Switzerland and Hungary.

Paderborn (Germany) (AFP) – “It’s sad and very serious. We have to tell everyone to go and vote and, as a citizen, we have to fight to ensure that the National Rally doesn’t get through,” says Marcus Thuram in response to a question about the current political situation in France ahead of the snap legislative elections.

Insel Delos (AFP) – Just a short boat ride from the pounding nightclubs of Greece’s Mykonos island, a silent battle is raging. Delos, one of the most important sites of the ancient world, is slowly disappearing under the rising Mediterranean, with experts saying it could vanish “in fifty years or so”. Rising sea levels have already submerged monuments and caused the shoreline to retreat up to 20 metres on some parts of the island.

Savelletri (AFP) – Addressing a gathering of G7 leaders in Italy, Pope Francis calls for “lethal autonomous weapons” to be banned, warning of the dangers of artificial intelligence.

Tetovo (AFP) – More than twenty years after building her first bee colonies, Magda Miloseska still visits the hives with the same passion. Tending the bees behind her house near Tetovo, western North Macedonia, Miloseska has seen first-hand the harmful effects of climate change on her honey harvests, with warm winters and sudden changes in temperature creating conditions favourable to parasites and the development of disease.