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Central Tapanuli (AFP) – Indonesia’s government is resisting growing pressure to declare a national disaster over devastating floods that killed hundreds of people and laid waste to parts of Sumatra island. Those in favour argue the decision would free up resources and help coordinate the response. But analysts say the government may fear a declaration could spook investors or suggest it was not up to the task of responding to the disaster.

Moskau (AFP) – Top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov says they “haven’t found a compromise” yet on the key question of territory in Ukraine, after hours-long talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Hongkongers write handwritten notes and fold paper cranes during a memorial to mark the traditional seventh day ritual for the 159 people who died in the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court. It’s believed that the souls of the deceased return home to bid farewell to loved ones on the seventh day after death.

Dublin (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges a complete end to his country’s war with Russia and not just a “pause” in the fighting. The “common task for all of us in Europe is to really end the war, not just to achieve a pause in hostilities,” he tells a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin.

Mbabane (AFP) – Eswatini begins administering a groundbreaking HIV-prevention injection in the drug’s first public rollouts in Africa, which has the world’s highest HIV burden. Lenacapavir, which is taken twice a year, has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 percent, making it functionally akin to a powerful vaccine. Eswatini — a tiny kingdom of 1.2 million — has about 220,000 people living with the virus.

London (AFP) – Mick Jagger, Lily Allen and Cate Blanchett are among the stars on the red carpet ahead of The Fashion Awards 2025 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Brüssel (AFP) – NATO chief Mark Rutte says he is “confident” US efforts to end the Ukraine war could bring peace, as Washington’s representatives are in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I am confident that these sustained efforts will eventually restore peace in Europe,” Rutte tells journalists on the eve of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

Chost (AFP) – In eastern Afghanistan, people make their way to a sports stadium to witness the public execution of a man convicted of murder. The man, identified as Mangal, is the 12th person to be publicly executed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, according to an AFP tally. He had been sentenced to “retaliatory punishment” for killing a man after his case was “examined very precisely and repeatedly”, the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Hongkong (AFP) – When Jacky Lee first heard about a raging fire at the Hong Kong housing estate where she lived, she feared that she would never see her 15-year-old grey poodle Jason again. The 43-year-old airline engineer recounts how the dog was finally rescued by firefighters from the still-burning towers and returned to her.

Hong Kong (AFP) – British and American marathon swimmers Simon Holliday and Edie Hu have become the first people to swim around Hong Kong’s largest island of Lantau. Their 65 kilometre (40 miles) swim took 20 hours 56 minutes and 21 hours 28 minutes respectively. The third in the pod, American Brett Kruse, was defeated by crippling cramp at around the eight-hour point. AFP joined the support boat to document their adventure.

Seoul (AFP) – When South Korea’s leader declared martial law a year ago, one young woman blocked a tank, a civil servant resigned in protest and a lawmaker switched sides to remove him from office. They are among the many South Koreans whose lives were transformed on December 3, 2024.

Dublin (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska arrive Ireland, in a first official trip to the EU member country. They are greeted by Irish taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin upon arrival. IMAGES