Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – People in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson dance around a bonfire singing “Chervona Kalyna”, a Ukrainian patriotic song, as they celebrate their country’s armed forces entering the city following a Russian withdrawal. Moscow said on Friday it had withdrawn more than 30,000 troops in the southern Kherson region to the eastern bank of the Dnipro river.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – In his daily address, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky says that “today is a historical day” because Ukraine is “taking back Kherson”. “As of now, our defenders are on the outskirts of the city. But special units are already in the city,” Zelensky adds. Ukraine had earlier on Friday said its forces were entering the southern city of Kherson after Russia announced its troops had retreated from the only regional capital it has captured after nearly nine months fighting.
Amazonas (Colombia) (AFP) – In Colombia’s Amazon jungle, indigenous people of different nations, ethnicities and languages have come together to tell their own stories in a single united voice, through filmmaking. Rather than letting outsiders do it, the community of San Martin de Amacayacu in southern Colombia, home to the local Ticuna tribe, was joined for the first time by the Matis people of Brazil, for a crash course on film.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians sing and wave flags in celebration on Kyiv’s independence square after news broke that Ukraine’s forces had entered the city in the country’s south.
Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) – President Joe Biden tells the COP27 conference that the “very life of the planet” is at stake in the climate crisis, and assures that the United States is on track to slash carbon emissions.
Lanzarote (Spain) (AFP) – German astronaut Alexander Gerst together with other trainees, takes part in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Pangaea training course on the Spanish isle of Lanzarote. The course seeks to give astronauts as well as space engineers and geologists skills needed for expeditions to other planets.”What makes it special is that this place here has lavas that are very, very similar to the ones that we find on the moon,” says Alexander.
Beijing (AFP) – China says the US should work with the country and put relations “back on the right track of healthy and stable development” after confirming that Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet US President Joe Biden next week in Bali.
Unknown (AFP) – The Chief spokesperson for Russia’s Defence Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, says that Russia has completed its withdrawal of forces from the western bank of the Dnipro river, after Moscow said it had made the “difficult decision” to withdraw in the face of Ukrainian advance.
Warsaw (AFP) – Tens of thousands of people gather in the centre of Warsaw for Poland’s Independence Day celebrations. The event is organised by Polish nationalist groups and is expected to attract over 100,000 people.
Rome (AFP) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemns what she calls the “aggressive reaction” of the French government to taking in a migrant rescue vessel rejected by Rome. She tells a press conference it is “incomprehensible and unjustified”, after Paris said it would accept the Ocean Viking and the 234 migrants onboard, but suspend a previous plan to take in 3,500 refugees currently in Italy.
Toulon (France) (AFP) – A charity ship carrying more than 200 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean enters the French port of Toulon, after the country allowed the ship to disembark in response to Italy’s refusal to take passengers in.
Phnom Penh (AFP) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds talks with ASEAN leaders on Friday afternoon, before joining Biden and other regional leaders for an East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh on Sunday.
