Accra (AFP) – “I acknowledge our economy is facing difficulties and the people of Ghana are enduring hardships”, says Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who faces an enquiry from lawmakers over his financial management as the government comes under increasing pressure over the country’s economic woes.
Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian tanks head to Kherson following its liberation November 11 after an 8-month long Russian occupation, which left much of the city mined and in ruins. Shelling from across the Dnipro river, where Russia’s forces retreated to, leaves many buildings in the regional capital smouldering from the strikes.
Hamburg (United States) (AFP) – Lightning flashes as heavy snow coats roads and houses in upstate New York and Fort Erie, Canada, as weather forecasters predict “major to extreme impacts” in the area from up to four feet of snow in the coming days.
Bangkok (AFP) – President Emmanuel Macron describes current world order as “a jungle”, posing the US and China as “two big elephants, trying to become more and more nervous”. Speaking at the APEC summit in Thailand, the French leader urges the “cooperation of a lot of other animals” and calls for a single world order.
Bangkok (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron urges Asian countries to join the “increasing consensus” against the conflict in Ukraine, telling them the war is “your problem” too.
Bangkok (AFP) – Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha welcomes the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Bangkok (AFP) – World leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Kamala Harris arrive at a group session of the APEC summit to discuss balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth in Bangkok.
Chitose (Japan) (AFP) – Travellers in Japan watch news on TV of a suspected North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch on Friday. Japan said the missile splashed down in its exclusive economic zone off the northern region of Hokkaido.
Kanyaruchinya (DR Congo) (AFP) – The humanitarian crisis grows ever worse for those displaced by fighting between M23 rebels and the army in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Several thousand people have found themselves in the Kanyaruchinya IDP camp, near Goma, which is only 12 miles from the advancing rebels.
Lille (France) (AFP) – “We can change mentalities simply by having fun”: with their glittery make-up and their buttocks moulded in red lycra mini-shorts, a group of male cheerleaders strut their stuff, with a series of swaying moves and sexy poses to “deconstruct toxic masculinity”.
Punta Chame (Panama) (AFP) – Dozens of baby olive ridley sea turtles are released and make their way out to sea from Punta Chama beach, Panama. The protected turtle species faces an existential threat: human superstition. Its eggs, illegally harvested from the beach, are sold for their purported aphrodisiac qualities. Marine turtles and their uncertain fate are on the agenda of a global wildlife summit taking place in Panama City, not far from Punta Chame and its 500 human inhabitants. The gathering of countries under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will consider ways to combat egg theft and trafficking.
Harare (AFP) – Supporters celebrate the release from prison of 14 Zimbabwean opposition activists who each had to pay bail of 50,000 Zimbabwe dollars (US$78). Their release came just days after a mission from the Commonwealth arrived to assess if conditions were conducive to warrant Zimbabwe’s readmission into the grouping of mainly former British colonies.
