Ayn Tarma (Syria) (AFP) – Syrians share their frustration following a recent decision to massively hike electricity prices, even as much of the country continues to face extensive outages. “We thought life would get better for everyone and we would have money,” says Alaa Mussa, a street vendor in Damascus, adding that the government is “suffocating us even more” than Assad’s regime.
Moscow (AFP) – Russia denounces as illegal and unacceptable US strikes on boats from Venezuela — a Moscow ally — that Washington says are transporting drugs. “This is how, in general, lawless countries act, as well as those who consider themselves above the law,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says, accusing the US of using the “pretext of fighting drug trafficking.”
Islamabad (Pakistan) (AFP) – Islamabad is left reeling after a suicide bombing claimed by the Pakistani Taliban killed at least 12 people, a rare attack by the militant group on the country’s capital. “It was a massive, loud bang,” lawyer Rustam Saleem tells AFP near the crime scene. “I saw body parts strewn around and a few burnt corpses.”
Belém (Brésil) (AFP) – A future Democratic president would rejoin the Paris climate accord “without hesitation,” says California Governor Gavin Newsom, slamming President Donald Trump for pulling the United States out of the deal. “It’s an abomination that he has twice, not once, pulled away from the accord,” he adds from Belem, the Brazilian Amazon city hosting the UN’s COP30 climate summit. SOUNDBITE
New Delhi (AFP) – A car explosion near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort has killed at least eight people and injured 19 others. The police say that an investigation is ongoing, and the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has vowed to bring those responsible “to justice”.
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump hails his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa after unprecedented talks at the White House, saying Sharaa’s “rough” past as a jihadist will help him rebuild the war-torn country.
Hoi An (Vietnam) (AFP) – Severe coastal erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi exposed a centuries-old shipwreck in Vietnam, providing a narrow window to salvage what experts say could be a historically significant find. Initially discovered in 2023 off the coast of Hoi An, the at least 17.4-metre (57-foot) vessel — whose heavy wood-ribbed hull survived hundreds of years of rough seas almost perfectly intact — was resubmerged before authorities could reclaim it.
Belém (Brésil) (AFP) – COP30 attendees make their way through flooded outdoor corridors during a heavy but brief rainfall in Belem, attempting to stay dry as the downpour disrupts movement around the venue. IMAGES
Belém (Brésil) (AFP) – COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago speaks at a press conference during the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Brazil, which opens with pleas for the world to keep up the fight against global warming, even as the United States turns its back. IMAGES
Havana (AFP) – India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Jose Marti monument in Revolution Square during his official visit to Cuba. IMAGES
Paris (AFP) – Nicolas Sarkozy leaves prison, a 20-day experience the former president called a “nightmare”, after a judge ordered his release pending an appeal decision over Libyan funding. A lower court in September found the right-wing politician — who was head of state from 2007 to 2012 — guilty of seeking to acquire funding from Moamer Kadhafi’s Libya for the campaign that saw him elected, and sentenced him to five years behind bars. The appeals case means that Sarkozy is now presumed innocent again ahead of the appeal trial in March 2026.
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump addresses the government shutdown with reporters outside the White House, telling them “we’re getting very close” to it ending. “We’ll never agree to give any substantial money, or any money, to prisoners, illegals that come into our country. I think the Democrats understand that,” he said.
