Veracruz (Mexico) (AFP) – In Veracruz, residents find ways to cool down as a deadly heatwave grips much of the country. The extreme heat has killed 14 people in the city and 48 across Mexico since March, with scientists warning of new records.
Northallerton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak jokes that he does not have “pneumonia yet” while on a campaign trail in the north of England following his rain-drenched early election announcement outside Downing Street.
Washington (AFP) – Addressing the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine activist and nephew of former US president John F. Kennedy, says he would drop charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and pardon whistleblower Edward Snowden as president.
Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will miss the Champions League final due to injury. The France international suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich on May 8.
The Hague (AFP) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into the Gaza war. The ICJ also demands the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from north Gaza.
Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (AFP) – Half of Pakistan’s pupils will be shut out of schools for a week as the nation takes crisis measures to lessen the effect of a series of heatwaves, officials said Thursday. The early closure was confirmed by a spokesperson for Punjab’s Education Department. Pakistan’s meteorological office has forecast three heatwaves — one already underway and two more set to hit in early and late June.
Beijing (AFP) – Beijing’s defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian says Taiwanese President Lai Ching-tse “has seriously challenged the one-China principle… pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger”. Democratic Taiwan is accustomed to frequent threats from China, which claims the island as part of its territory. Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has in recent years upped the rhetoric of “unification” being “inevitable”.
Turquie (AFP) – 90-year-old Kasim Karaosman carefully hoists himself onto a rickety cable car – which he made himself more than 50 years ago – before the contraption shoots him 300 metres across a deep mountain valley to his home. The makeshift machines are essential in these villages in northeast Turkey, where locals harvest tea leaves in fields inaccessible by car. But a string of deaths and hair-raising accidents has sent a shudder of fear through the community.
Ghazni (Afghanistan) (AFP) – Decades of war have left Afghanistan littered with landmines and other munitions, with the remnants of conflict killing a child in the country every other day.
Magelang (Indonesia) (AFP) – Thousands of people in Indonesia release lanterns to mark Vesak Day commemorating the birth birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.
Guaranda (Colombia) (AFP) – Widespread flooding in Colombia’s La Mojana region has caused a humanitarian crisis with homes inundated with water and thousands of hectares of crops destroyed.
Kinmen (Taiwan) (AFP) – Images of Taiwanese soldiers leaving port on the outlying island of Kinmen for routine military exercises. China on Thursday kicked off two days of military exercises encircling Taiwan, days after its new president was sworn in. IMAGES
