Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Los Angeles police have charged the son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner with murder after the suspect’s parents were found stabbed in a brutal double killing. Their deaths have shocked movie fans around the world.
Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – EU talks on using Russian assets for Ukraine are getting “increasingly difficult” according to the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The European Commission has put forward a complex scheme to use some 200 billion of Russian central bank assets frozen in Belgium’s Euroclear deposit house, but the Belgian government fears it could be left facing crippling legal and financial reprisals from Moscow and has demanded watertight guarantees other EU countries will share the risk.
Santiago (Chile) (AFP) – Chile elects its most right-wing president in 35 years of democracy, with arch-conservative Jose Antonio Kast scoring a thumping victory over his leftist runoff rival Jeannette Jara. Kast’s supporters line the streets and wave Chilean flags, celebrating the left-wing government’s exit from power after a campaign that largely focused on electoral security and crime.
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (AFP) – Over 19,000 people march in Rio de Janeiro to voice opposition to a bill that would reduce the prison sentence of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted of plotting a coup. Under the bill, the far-right former president could be granted parole just over two years into his 27-year sentence. Brazilian celebrities including singer Caetano Veloso and Oscar-nominated actress Fernanda Torres take part in the demonstration, called for by left-wing groups and activists.
Berlin (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says “progress” has been made in Berlin talks with the US envoys on Washington’s security guarantees for Ukraine in its showdown with Russia. During his press conference after the talks, Zelensky adds that Kyiv and Washington still have divergent positions on the key question of ceding Ukrainian territory after two days of talks in Berlin aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Santiago (Chile) (AFP) – Chilean President Gabriel Boric hosts president-elect Jose Antonio Kast, following the arch-conservative’s victory over his leftist runoff rival. Kast won some 58 percent of the vote to beat Jeannette Jara, a communist who headed a broad leftist coalition. IMAGES
Sydney (AFP) – Australia’s leaders have agreed to tougher gun laws after the country’s worst mass shooting in almost three decades saw a father and son open fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people including a child.
Santiago (Chili) (AFP) – Jose Antonio Kast’s supporters celebrate in the streets of Santiago the candidate’s election win over his leftist runoff rival. With almost all the ballots counted, Kast won some 58 percent of the vote and held an unassailable lead over Jeannette Jara, a communist who headed a broad leftist coalition. IMAGES
Santiago (Chili) (AFP) – Chilean presidential candidate Jeannette Jara speaks to her supporters in Santiago after conceding defeat to right-wing presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast IMAGES
Santiago (Chili) (AFP) – Supporters of presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast in Santiago cheer and wave flags while they wait for the presidential candidate to react to election results. First results point to thumping victory for Chile’s hard right presidential candidate. IMAGES
Santiago (Chili) (AFP) – Election officials in Santiago show ballots as they count votes following the closing of polls in Chile’s presidential runoff election. Chilean voters are poised to elect as president the most right-wing candidate in 35 years of democracy or a Communist Party member who leads a broad leftist coalition. Results are expected within hours, but hard-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast is the strong frontrunner, leading his rival Jeannette Jara by double digits in the pre-election surveys. IMAGES
Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Krampus figures, demonic characters from Central Alpine folklore linked to punishing misbehaving children with birch rods, march through the streets of Munich during an annual Christmas parade. The costumed procession forms part of pre-Christmas traditions in southern Germany.
