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Mexico City (AFP) – Hot air balloons are assembled and inflated in the Zocalo of Mexico City, where thousands of citizens watch as the balloons are inflated and lit up to the beat of music.

Beijing (AFP) – Xi Jinping secures a historic third term as China’s leader after the party’s Central Committee elected Xi as its general secretary for another five years. “I wish to thank the whole party sincerely for the trust you have placed in us,” Xi tells journalists at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People after the closed-door, rubber-stamp vote was announced.

Rovaniemi (Finland) (AFP) – Mezmerizing northern lights were seen around the Arctic Circle in Finland on the evening of 22 October 2022. At one point, red auroras are also visible. According to locals, seeing such red auroras with a naked eye is extremely rare, as usually the auroras appear in other ranges of colours.

London (AFP) – IMAGES ANIMATED TWEET Protesters gather outside Downing Street, calling on the British Government to deport the Chinese officials who are alleged to have attacked a pro-democracy for Hong Kong protester who was demonstrating outside the consulate last week.

Berlin (AFP) – Thousands of people joined rallies in solidarity with anti-regime protests in Iran, a police spokesman told AFP. It comes six weeks after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which sparked protests across Iran.

Vatican City (AFP) – Shortly after the handover ceremony where outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi welcomed the new Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Pope Francis notes the start of the new government in his weekly Angelus and offered his prayers for “unity and peace in Italy”.

Johannesburg (AFP) – SOUNDBITE The ex-leader of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, accuses the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, of “corruption” saying that his conduct has been “inconsistent with the nature of that office and the constitution itself”.

Rome (AFP) – Italy’s new Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, names Giancarlo Giorgetti, a loyal supporter of former PM Mario Draghi, as her new government’s Economy Minister. Giorgetti is a member of Matteo Salvini’s right-wing ‘League’ party, but is widely seen as one of its more moderate figures.

Perth (Australia) (AFP) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warns that Russia using nuclear weapons would be seen as an “act of hostility against humanity”. Speaking in Australia, Kishida said the 77-year period of no nuclear weapons use “must not be ended”.

Beijing (AFP) – Video shows moment when former Chinese president Hu Jintao unexpectedly leaves Saturday’s closing ceremony of the Communist Party Congress. A staff member supports Hu by the arm as he stands up. He also speaks to President Xi Jinping for a moment and pats Premier Li Keqiang on the shoulder before being led out.

Beijing (AFP) – Former Chinese president Hu Jintao is unexpectedly led out of Saturday’s closing ceremony of the Communist Party Congress. A staff member supports Hu by the arm as he stands up. He also speaks to President Xi Jinping for a moment and pats Premier Li Keqiang on the shoulder before being led out.

Beijing (AFP) – The closing ceremony for China’s five-yearly Communist Party Congress held in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, with President Xi Jinping likely to seal an unprecedented third term in power. Delegates vote to endorse Xi’s “work report” delivered at the Congress’s opening last Sunday and rubber-stamped a resolution on the Party’s constitution.