Vatican City (AFP) – Thousands of people queue early in the morning around Vatican City to pay their respects to former pope Benedict XVI, whose body will lie in state for three days at St Peter’s Basilica before his funeral. IMAGES
Moscow (AFP) – 63 Russian troops have been killed in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv forces struck a camp using US-supplied Himars systems, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov announces. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the strike.
Brasília (AFP) – Brazil’s newly re-elected leftist President Lula da Silva promises to rebuild Brazil and reconcile his compatriots as he becomes president for the third time, an inauguration marked by the absence of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. “I will govern for all 215 million Brazilians, and not only for those who voted for me”, Lula says.
Vatican City (AFP) – Thousands of people, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, pay their respects to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. They began queueing before dawn to view the former pope’s body, which was transferred from the monastery to St.Peter’s Basilica. This video contains images of former pope Benedict XVI’s body, which some viewers may find disturbing.
Uppsala (Sweden) (AFP) – Under the Instagram handle ‘crossfitpriest’, Swedish hospital chaplain Oskar Arngarden shares fitness and spiritual guidance with his 30,000 followers, with a view of helping them heal body, mind and soul. While the negative effects of social media are well documented, Arngarden says social media can also be a good place to talk about “faith and health, and… our existential, mental health.”
Tokyo (AFP) – Japanese Emperor Naruhito makes his first public New Year’s greetings since 2020, resuming an annual tradition with caution as the nation and the royal family gradually return to normalcy.
Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – A children’s hospital was struck by several missiles just minutes after a New Year’s address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack started a fire at the hospital in Kherson, in the south of the country. The Ukrainian Presidency says more than 700 of the building’s windows were shattered.
Santos (Brazil) (AFP) – Football legend Pele’s body arrives at Urbano Caldeira Stadium. Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. IMAGES
Ureña (Venezuela) (AFP) – Venezuela and Colombia on Sunday reopened the last stretch of their shared border that had remained closed for years in a diplomatic dispute. “The former brotherhood is back,” says mayor of Andres Bello municipality, “there are many people who have their relatives on the other side of the border.”
The Hague (AFP) – Thousands of people plunge into the North Sea in Scheveningen, a seaside resort in The Hague, the Netherlands, to celebrate the New Year.
Dubai (AFP) – Fireworks light up the sky in Dubai over the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to welcome the new year.
Taipei (AFP) – Images of the 360° fireworks show on the 4 facades of the Taipei 101 tower to celebrate the arrival of the year 2023.
