Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP) – In Bangladesh’s sprawling Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million refugees live in squalid conditions, there’s hope a court thousands of miles away could bring justice. This week a landmark case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya is set to open at the United Nations’ top court.
Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP) – In Bangladesh’s sprawling Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million refugees live in squalid conditions, there’s hope a court thousands of miles away could bring justice. This week a landmark case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya is set to open at the United Nations’ top court.
Milan (Italy) (AFP) – Thousands of farmers across the EU take to the streets to protest against the European Union’s trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur. Pointing to concerns about unfair competition and health concerns due to looser food regulation in South America, Francie Gorman, Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president, says, “I cannot see why the European Commissioner is continuing to push ahead with this deal in its current form.” In Poland, farmer Janusz Sampolski predicts it would mean “the slaughter of our agriculture in Poland.”
Caracas (AFP) – When explosions boomed in the night and US warplanes roared over Caracas, Jorge Suarez and his companions rushed for their guns. For these members of the ‘colectivos’ — armed loyalists of the leftist leadership — the US raid that ousted Nicolas Maduro as their president was the most dramatic challenge yet. “We’re ready for this. No one here is bowing their head. We’re not afraid of anyone,” says one colectivo.
Sälen (Sweden) (AFP) – The world is on “a dangerous path” in the wake of the US attack on Venezuela, says Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Speaking at his country’s premier forum on security and national defence, Kristersson says Washington’s military operation and capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro “violates international law and risks encouraging more countries to act in exactly the same way.” US President Donald Trump has also since threatened Cuba, saying “make a deal, before it is too late” in a post on his Truth Social platform, and adding that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to Havana would now stop.
Jerusalem (AFP) – “We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be freed from the yoke of tyranny,” says Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, as major protests shake the Islamic republic for a second week. Sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, they have evolved into a movement against the theocratic regime in place since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
(AFP) – US and allied forces carry out “large-scale” strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria, which the US Military said in a statement on X was in response to an attack last month that left three Americans dead. “The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria” and were part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched “in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on US and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria” on December 13, US Central Command wrote on X on December 10.
Caracas (AFP) – Supporters of Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores rally in Caracas to mark one week since his dramatic capture by US forces. IMAGES
(AFP) – Images released by the Emergency Services of Ukraine show firefighters battling blazes in the northern Sumy region and eastern Donetsk region in the aftermath of Russian strikes.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is seeking to “shut down” entire cities by intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. After a night of heavy drone and missile strikes on 8 January, Zelensky urges local authorities to prepare contingency plans, stressing that the threat from medium-range ballistic missiles also poses a challenge to neighbouring European capitals.
Hwacheon (South Korea) (AFP) – Thousands of people gather atop a frozen river in South Korea’s Hwacheon for the annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, hoping to catch a Sancheoneo [mountain trout]. “It brings back those old memories, and spending time together with my son is what really matters, so we’re having a great time,” says Kim Choon-tae, a businessman attending the festivities.
Brasília (AFP) – “In these difficult geopolitical times of instability and conflict… it shows that it is possible to build trade routes based on rules of open trade and strengthening, not isolationism, but multilateralism,” says Brazil’s Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin on the announcement of the Mercosur–European Union trade agreement, which has drawn strong opposition from farmers in several European countries.
