Chicago (AFP) – A household name in the United States, singer and poet Patti Smith lists her worries for the planet and its threatened species as she admits feeling overwhelmed with the number of challenges the world faces. Despite the issues, ‘I’m so happy to be here,’ she adds.
Jerusalem (AFP) – With 84 percent of the vote counted on Tuesday morning, veteran politician Benjamin Netanyahu was predicted to return to power – with the support of the far-right.
Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Russia “retains the right” to leave the Ukrainian grain export deal if Ukraine “violates” guarantees to not use the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea for hostilities against the Russian Federation.
Jerusalem (AFP) – “All Israeli governments have been killing the Palestinian people and bringing more wars”, says Gaza resident Youssef Khattab as Palestinians react to the news veteran Israeli hawk Benjamin Netanyahu appears on the cusp of returning to power.
Lake Poopo (Bolivia) (AFP) – Bolivia’s Lake Poopo has mostly disappeared — leaving the Indigenous communities reliant on its waters without a source of food and work.
Taipei (AFP) – Chinese veterinary experts make a rare visit to Taiwan to help treat Tuan Tuan, a giant panda at Taipei Zoo diagnosed with a brain tumour in September.
Ankara (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the traffic of vessels carrying Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products has resumed following a phone call between the Turkish and Russian defence ministers.
Moscow (AFP) – Russia confirms that it is resuming its participation in the Ukraine grain deal, saying it has received “sufficient” guarantees from Kyiv on demilitarising a maritime corridor. Moscow had pulled out of the UN-brokered deal after its Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea’s Sevastopol port was targeted by drones in what Russia called a “terrorist attack”.
Copenhagen (AFP) – Denmark’s Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen clung to power in Tuesday’s general election after final results gave her left-wing bloc won a one-seat majority.
Hong Kong (AFP) – Hong Kong is hosting a finance summit attended by some of the world’s top bankers, defying criticism by US lawmakers over their decision to share a stage with John Lee, the city’s leader who is sanctioned by Washington. “Social disturbance is clearly in the past. It has given way to stability to growing in business and community confidence in Hong Kong’s future,” says John Lee, Hong Kong’s leader who took office this year.
Seoul (AFP) – People watch news reports on the latest missile launch by North Korea at a busy Seoul train station. North Korea fires more than 10 missiles on Wednesday, including one that landed close to South Korea’s waters that President Yoon Suk-yeol said was “effectively a territorial invasion”.
London (AFP) – Environmental activists try to breach the gates of Downing Street as part of a high-profile campaign to halt new oil and gas exploration in Britain. Members of the Just Stop Oil group attempt to climb into the street housing the prime minister’s official residence but were unsuccessful.
