Maiquetía (Venezuela) (AFP) – An Eastern Airlines plane carrying Venezuelan migrants expelled from the United States lands at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. The Latin American country reauthorizes US flights to deport migrants, which had been suspended following President Donald Trum’s warning of a ‘total closure’ of Venezuelan airspace. IMAGES
Colombo (AFP) – Survivors of Cyclone Ditwah, which has ravaged Sri Lanka in recent days, return to their devastated homes, faced with a massive clean-up as they start rebuilding their lives. The powerful storm brought record rains that triggered landslides and floods across the island country, killing at least 474 people, according to disaster officials.
New Delhi (AFP) – New Delhi recorded more than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses at six state-run hospitals between 2022 and 2024, highlighting the adverse effects of toxic air on health. Each winter, New Delhi is shrouded in toxic smog, as cooler air traps pollutants close to the ground, creating a deadly mix of emissions from traffic, factories, and crop-burning.
Chan Junis (AFP) – Waving UAE flags, cheerful crowds celebrate the mass wedding of 54 Palestinian couples, held amid the ruins of destroyed buildings in Gaza’s Khan Yunis. The initiative, dubbed ‘The Dress of Joy’, is organised by the United Arab Emirates to coincide with its 54th National Day. “It’s an indescribable feeling that after all this war, destruction, and everything we’ve lived through, we can return, rejoice once again, and start rebuilding a new life,” says a groom.
Peking (AFP) – China says it is “strongly dissatisfied” with Britain’s latest delay to a decision on whether to allow Beijing to build a sprawling new embassy in London. “The United Kingdom’s further delay in its approval is completely unreasonable,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian tells a regular news briefing.
Tokyo (AFP) – Christmas kicks off in Japan as KFC opens its Tokyo Christmas pop-up restaurant. The fast-food chain offers customers dishes inspired by Japan’s “Christmas chicken” tradition, dating back to 1974. “While it’s common overseas to eat turkey during Christmas, it wasn’t available in Japan during the 1970s. Instead, we provided chicken,” explains KFC marketing officer Takuma Kawamura.
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.
