AFP UK

The National Police of Colombia announce the seizure of 14 tons of cocaine at the port of Buenaventura, in Valle del Cauca. Authorities say this is the largest cocaine bust in “the last decade.” The discovery in the world’s largest cocaine-producing country comes as the White House pressures Colombian President Gustavo Petro through financial sanctions and by removing Colombia from the list of allied nations in the war on drugs as it deems its anti-drug policies to be insufficient.

Kamisato (Japan) (AFP) – Japan is strongly opposed to a proposal by the EU, Panama and Honduras to list all 17 species of eels worldwide under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It cites a recent study by Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology that says the Japanese eel population has tripled across East Asia since 1990.

Morelia (Mexico) (AFP) – Seven members of Mexican mayor Carlos Manzo’s security team, arrested as suspects in his murder, arrive at a prison in Morelia, Michoacan state. The assassination of the Uruapan mayor during a public event in the city shocked the country, sparking protests and prompting the reinforcement of federal forces in Michoacan. IMAGES

Faisalabad (AFP) – A witness recounts the moment a powerful explosion rocked a chemical factory in Pakistan’s Faisalabad city, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens. A major gas leak caused the blast in the early morning, which triggered a fire and caused the collapse of several homes, according to the local district commissioner’s office.

Kiew (AFP) – Volodymyr Zelensky says he will not “betray” Ukraine and will propose “alternatives” to a US plan to end the war with Russia widely seen as giving in to a host of Moscow’s demands. “I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will propose alternatives,” Zelensky says in an address to the nation published on social media.

Belém (AFP) – The EU’s climate chief Wopke Hoekstra warns the UN climate summit could end without a deal after COP30 host Brazil proposed an agreement that does not include a roadmap away from fossil fuels.

(AFP) – Floods submerge houses in Gia Lai and rescuers evacuate stranded people on the streets of Khanh Hoa as widespread flooding has inundated central Vietnam, killing dozens. Relentless rain has lashed south-central Vietnam since late October and popular holiday destinations have been hit by several rounds of flooding.

Tulkarem (AFP) – Ten months after he was forced out of the occupied West Bank’s Tulkarem refugee camp, Hakam Irhil doesn’t know if he will ever be able to return. Irhil was displaced and his home demolished after Israel launched a major military operation in mid-January in multiple northern Palestinian refugee camps, where the army says it is seeking to root out armed groups. Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.

Peking (AFP) – China urges Japan to “immediately retract its erroneous remarks, and earnestly demonstrate its commitments to China through concrete actions”. The move comes after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that she wants “constructive” ties with China and that the country’s stance on Taiwan remains “unchanged” amid a spat with Beijing over the island.

Belém (Brésil) (AFP) – A fire erupts at a pavilion inside the venue of the UN’s climate talks in Brazil, prompting panicked delegates to run for the exits. IMAGES

Ciudad de México (Mexico) (AFP) – The Mexican police block protesters gathered on Paseo de la Reforma as they head toward Mexico City’s Zocalo. The protest, led by members of “Gen Z,” referring to those under 28, initially erupted on September 8 in Nepal after the government imposed a ban on social media. IMAGES

Belém (Brésil) (AFP) – Security officers are evacuating the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, and forming a security perimeter after a fire erupted at a pavilion inside the site of the UN climate talks. IMAGES