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Ankara (AFP) – Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is welcomed to Ankara by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, as Kristersson makes a bid to persuade Turkey to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden and Finland abandoned their long-held policy of non-alignment and applied to join the military alliance. But Turkey has stalled ratification of their bids, accusing them of harbouring outlawed Kurdish militants.

Lagos (AFP) – Actors and influencers walk the red carpet while dancing with performers in costumes at the premiere of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Nigeria. Fans paint their faces with make-ups from the Marvel Studios franchise and cheer as they pose for photos at the event.

Mexico City (AFP) – Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, seen as a likely contender for Mexican president in 2024, accuses a top prosecutor of trying to cover up the murder of a young woman. Dozens of people took to the streets on Monday to demand justice for Lopez and other victims of femicides in the country. Between January and September, Mexico recorded the murders of 695 women, compared to 978 in all of 2021.

Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) – Hundreds of young Congolese men and women volunteer to join the army to fight the M23 (“March 23 Movement”) rebels who are making increasing advances in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In Goma, Northern Kivu, young hopefuls attend recruitment drives for a chance to be trained at the military academy and defend their country.

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Thousands of supporters of Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hold a “CarnaLula” party on Rio’s Copacabana beach to “exorcise” defeated far-right incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro from Brazil.

Washington (AFP) – Images of the United States Capitol building on the eve of the midterm elections, as Americans prepare to go to the polls to elect 435 members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and a host of state and local posts.

Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) – Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan leaves hospital three days after being shot in the legs in a failed assassination attempt. Khan, 70, was wounded by gunfire aimed at his open-top container truck as he led a political party convoy through thick crowds in the eastern city of Wazirabad on Thursday.

League City, Texas (United States) (AFP) – In Texas, Cindy Scott teaches women to handle firearms, convinced that guns are not only safe but symbols of female empowerment. The right to bear arms — the privilege asserted in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution — is one of the key faultlines that runs through America.

Bukoba (Tanzania) (AFP) – Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa visits the scene after a Precision Air flight with dozens of passengers on board plunged into Lake Victoria while approaching the northwestern Tanzanian city of Bukoba.

Cape Town (AFP) – One of Cape Town’s oldest residential areas, the Bo-Kaap on the slopes of Signal Hill, was brought to a standstill as thousands flocked to watch the Red Bull Box Cart race.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine says the defence ministry has requisitioned several energy and manufacturing companies to guarantee sufficient supplies for the military to fend off the Russian invasion. The secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, Oleksiy Danilov, said the enterprises include aircraft engine manufacturer Motor Sich working from the partially Russian-controlled region of Zaporizhzhia, and the oil and gas company, UkrNafta.

Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) – UN chief Antonio Guterres tells world leaders “we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator” as they gather in Egypt for talks tasked with curbing global warming and protecting people and the planet.