UK

Troms (Norway) (AFP) – Tanks power across the Arctic landscape of northern Finland and Norway as NATO conducts its biggest drills since the Cold War, with Swedish troops taking part for the first time as members of the alliance. The ‘Nordic Response’ exercises – formerly ‘Cold Response’ – involve more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 allied nations and take place as tensions between US-led NATO and Russia intensify. “Russia has stated high ambitions to reconstitute itself” says Sweden’s Defence Minister, Pal Jonson, while viewing the drills.

Larnaca (Cyprus) (AFP) – A Spanish charity ship carrying food aid for Palestinians leaves Larnaca port in Cyprus and heads for war-ravaged Gaza, where widespread famine is a growing threat. The vessel is towing a barge loaded with 200 tonnes of aid and is expected to arrive in Gaza by the 13th of March. It is the first ship to leave Cyprus in an attempt to open a maritime corridor to the besieged Palestinian territory.

Auckland (AFP) – Passengers who were on a LATAM flight that suddenly dropped in mid-air before landing in Auckland on Monday say they were “traumatised” by the experience.

Unknown (AFP) – Haiti’s prime minister agrees to step aside as armed gangs plunge his country into anarchy. Henry posted the resignation address online late Monday, accepting a regional push for a transition that sets the stage for international intervention.

Lagos (AFP) – The holy fasting month of Ramadan has begun in Nigeria, with the worst economic crisis in a generation leaving many in Africa’s most populous Muslim country struggling to provide for their families.

Jimbaran (Indonesia) (AFP) – The Indonesian island of Bali comes to a standstill for 24 hours as local Hindus observe Nyepi, a day of silence that marks the start of the new year in the Balinese Hindu calendar.

Stockholm (AFP) – “We feel a bit like broken records,” says Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg as she blocks an entrance to the Swedish Parliament along with other campaigners. “We are way too many young people who have had to grow up in the climate movement and who have had to grow up way too quickly, to take the responsibility and to try to clean up after the older generation,” adds Thunberg whose global climate strike movement, which has gathered more than one million strikers across 125 countries, celebrates its 5 years this week.

Israel-Gaza Border (Israel) (AFP) – Parachutes with humanitarian aid fall from the sky following an airdrop in northern Gaza, seen from Israel. Gaza’s deadliest war showed no signs of abating as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins amid a gruelling humanitarian crisis that has pushed much of the territory to the brink of starvation.

London (AFP) – “It’s a major communication failure from their side to distribute such an image, which raises doubts, will only create rumors,” says Eric Baradat, director of photography at AFP, as Catherine, Princess of Wales, apologised after a Mother’s Day photo of her with her children was published, only to be withdrawn by major news agencies who discovered it had been retouched.

Rafah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – “We don’t know what we are going to eat to break the fast, there’s nothing” says a displaced Palestinian man inside his tent in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on the first day of Ramadan. As the first day of the Mulism holy fasting month began, Gaza’s deadliest war showed no signs of abating amid a gruelling humanitarian crisis that has pushed much of the territory to the brink of starvation.

Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – Swedes express mixed feelings towards their country becoming the 32nd member of NATO, a move that brings the curtain down on more than 200 years of military non-alignment. “It’s good for the country” says Fredrik Palmqvist, a 36-year-old chef. However, Kerstin Bergea, an NGO worker, sees Sweden’s accession as “a historic mistake”. Stockholm’s bid to join the US-led alliance was prompted – alongside that of Finland – by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Liverpool (AFP) – “The result is only one thing,” says Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, following his team’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City. “Today, I saw a team who is in the right position,” he adds. The result leaves Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, if only on goal difference, level on points with Liverpool and just one point ahead of Manchester City.