Berlin (AFP) – In his traditional New Year’s address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the next federal elections “will not be decided by the owners of social media channels”. His statement comes after Elon Musk, a key supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, posted on his social media platform X this month that “only the AfD [German far-right movement, ed.] can save Germany”.
Firebaugh (United States) (AFP) – In California’s central valley, vegetable, nut and dairy farmers aren’t sure how US President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plans will impact their operations. While some dairy farmers don’t believe mass expulsions will happen at all, other fruit and nut farmers fear that if they do, it could be especially hard on their industry, since many harvests rely on hand picking by documented and undocumented migrant workers.
Geneva (AFP) – A United Nations report published on December 31 found that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in the Gaza Strip had left healthcare in the Palestinian territory “to the brink of total collapse”, warns Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Hpa-an (Myanmar) (AFP) – Myanmar’s ethnic Karen people celebrate the traditional new year, which falls on December 30 in 2024. People in Hpa-an, the capital of Karen State, hold a traditional ceremony in which they dance, sing and pray for a good harvest in the coming year.
Washington (AFP) – Outside the White House, Americans reflect on Jimmy Carter’s legacy following the death of the 100-year-old former US president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Milan (Italy) (AFP) – “In my opinion the new law is excessive,” says Morgan Ishak, visiting Milan days before a new ban on outdoor smoking comes into force. On January 1, 2025, the measure will ban the use of cigarettes in all public outdoor areas, including city streets, bars and cafes, unless it is possible to keep a distance of at least 10 metres between people, with a fine of up to 240 euros for anyone caught in breach of the rule.
Muan (South Korea) (AFP) – “It’s heartbreaking, unexpected things happened,” the sister of a passenger killed in South Korea’s deadliest plane crash tells AFP from Muan International Airport, a day after the Jeju Air plane carrying her brother crashed on arrival, killing 179 people.
Baku (AFP) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demands that Russia admit that it fired at an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet before it crashed, accusing Moscow of initially trying to cover up the cause of the fatal disaster. His comments come four days after the AZAL Embraer 190 plane crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, with Azerbaijani officials suggesting the aircraft was hit by Russian air-defences.
Beer Yaakov (Israel) (AFP) – Wearing a safety belt, helmet and work boots, Raju Nishad navigates the scaffolding, hammering blocks that will form part of a building in a new neighbourhood in Beer Yaakov, in central Israel. He and other Indians are part of an Israeli government effort to fill a void left by tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers barred from entering Israel since Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack.
Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – Tens of thousands demonstrate in the Spanish city of Valencia over the government’s response to devastating recent floods.
Tiflis (AFP) – Georgia has inaugurated a far-right governing party loyalist as president, escalating a political showdown moments after his pro-EU predecessor declared herself the “only legitimate president”. The inauguration of former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili ratchets up a months-long political crisis that has seen huge pro-European Union demonstrations. Outgoing head of state Salome Zurabishvili and protesters have declared Kavelashvili “illegitimate”, demanding a re-run of the October general elections that they say the governing Georgian Dream party rigged.
Zagreb (AFP) – “Croatia needs a peaceful life,” says Dragan Primorac, the presidential candidate backed by ruling conservative HDZ party, after casting his vote. He is polling second behind main rival and incumbent head of state, Zoran Milanovic. One of the two candidates is expected to be chosen in a runoff in two weeks. The election comes as Croatia deals with biting inflation, widespread corruption and a labour shortage.
