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Buenos Aires (AFP) – Thousands of protesters gather in Buenos Aires to oppose a series of measures unveiled by President Javier Milei to deregulate the country’s struggling economy, with some clashing with the riot police on hand. In office since December 10, Milei’s ultra-libertarian plan involves changing or scrapping more than 350 economic regulations, including many protecting people from price rises at a time of high poverty and inflation.

Beijing (AFP) – China’s defence ministry accuses Taiwan’s leadership of “hyping up” claims that Beijing is interfering in the self-ruled island’s upcoming presidential election. Defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian accuses the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of trying to “stoke confrontation and manipulate” Taiwan’s closely watched January 13 vote, where one of the main themes will be how the presidential candidates will handle relations with China.

Dalwhinnie (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Heavy snowfall caused by Storm Gerrit grinds traffic to a halt on the main road of the A9 in the Scottish Highlands near the village of Dalwhinnie, as seen in amateur-filmed images. Storm Gerrit has caused serious disruption for post-Christmas travellers across the UK as flights, trains and ferries have been cancelled on what is one of the UK’s busiest travel days. Two key football matches in Scotland also fell victim to the elements – Rangers’ scheduled Scottish Premiership match at home to Ross County and Aberdeen’s top-flight game against Motherwell have had to be postponed.

Tokyo (AFP) – Growing up, Mirai Kisaragi fled her abusive parents, barely survived homelessness and contemplated suicide. At 18 she met her “saviour” at one of Tokyo’s hundreds of host clubs where men entertain women. Except he, too, was no good. Before long, Kisaragi became one of a growing number of victims of financial and sexual exploitation linked to the establishments that have dotted Japan’s red-light district Kabukicho for decades.

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Thousands of protesters gather in Buenos Aires to oppose a series of measures unveiled by President Javier Milei to deregulate the country’s struggling economy, calling on Argentina’s courts to declare them unconstitutional. Latin America’s third-biggest economy is on its knees after decades of debt and financial mismanagement, with inflation surpassing 160 percent year-on-year and 40 percent of Argentines living in poverty. IMAGES

Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi warns its war with Hamas will last “many more months” as the military steps up strikes inside the Gaza Strip. Despite mounting concerns over a spiralling humanitarian crisis inside the besieged Palestinian territory and fears of wider regional escalation, Israel’s leaders have repeatedly vowed to keep up their offensive until the militant group is destroyed. The war erupted when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October and killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures, and took around 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 20,915 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll issued by Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Pattani (Thailand) (AFP) – Widespread floods caused by heavy rains have hit southern Thailand, killing at least six people and affecting tens of thousands of households. The floods, which began on December 22, have hit more than 70,000 homes across the provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, according to regional officials.

Akunk’ (Armenia) (AFP) – A group of paragliders dressed up as Santa Claus bring gifts to refugee children from Nagorno-Karabakh, among more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians who fled the long-disputed region after Azerbaijan recaptured it in a September lightning offensive. The exodus of the entire Armenian population from the mountainous enclave has sparked a refugee crisis in Armenia.

Lima (AFP) – Every Christmas, many Peruvians celebrate by taking part in an ancient Andean fighting festival where they settle their scores by punching each other. The tradition, called “Takanakuy”, derives from Indigenous practises and was originally used to solve legal disputes.

Barranquilla (Colombia) (AFP) – Colombian superstar Shakira’s Caribbean home city of Barranquilla has unveiled a 6.5-metre hip-swaying statue in her honour. The singer, an icon of Latina girl power, has sold around 80 million albums worldwide and won three Grammy awards.

Totota (Liberia) (AFP) – A tanker truck explodes after crashing in central Liberia, killing at least 15 people according to police, as seen in amateur-filmed images. The tanker carrying gasoline crashed and fell into a ditch along a road in Totota, in Bong County, with police saying at least 30 more people were injured in the explosion as locals gathered at the scene. At the moment of the explosion, people were trying to get free gas from the tank that had crashed and fallen into a ditch by the side of the road.

Seoul (AFP) – South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, was found dead Wednesday. He was 48.