AFP UK

Beijing (AFP) – From Beijing to Bangkok, stargazers marvel at the ‘Blood Moon’ in the night sky during a total lunar eclipse.

Beijing (AFP) – People in Beijing, the capital of the world’s most populous country China, comment on the world’s changing population, which is expected to reach 8 billion by mid-November.

New York (AFP) – At polling stations across the United States, voters share their concerns and hopes as they cast their ballot in the midterm elections. Their choices, along with those of millions who already voted by mail or early in-person, will decide the control of US Congress, as well as many governorships, state legislatures and local offices.

Nankana Sahib (Pakistan) (AFP) – Huge crowds of Sikh pilgrims join a procession in Pakistan’s Punjab province to celebrate the 553rd birth anniversary of their spiritual leader, Guru Nanak.

Pale (Myanmar) (AFP) – Almost two years after seizing power, Myanmar military has been unable to crush “People’s Defence Force” militias that have sprung up to fight the coup, but many are forced into risky trial-and-error operations to churn out their own rockets, mines and mortars.

Boston (AFP) – The US state of Massachusetts on Tuesday elected Democrat Maura Healey as America’s first openly lesbian governor, TV networks said.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – American actor and director Sean Penn presents President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with an Oscar statuette during his return trip to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Penn says “When you win, bring it back to Malibu,” to which Zelensky replies, “in my peace life it was a dream”.

Moscow (AFP) – A funeral service is held at the Moscow Christ the Saviour cathedral in honour of the pro-Kremlin archpriest Mikhail Vasilyev who died in Ukraine over the weekend. Russian President Vladimir Putin posthumously awarded him with the highest state decoration.

Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) – Security guards push a climate activist back after he interrupts US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the COP27 in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh. “John Kerry, you are promoting false solutions,” screams the activist, at the International Convention Centre, in the country’s Red Sea resort city.

McAllen (United States) (AFP) – After winning re-election for a third term as Governor of Texas by beating Democrat Beto O’Rourke, Republican Greg Abbott promises to “keep Texas number one for oil and gas production in the United States of America”, and demands that the government goes “back to building our border wall” with Mexico.

Unknown (AFP) – The Moscow-installed deputy head of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, has died in a car crash, according to acting governor Vladimir Saldo. Stremousov, 45, was one of the highest-profile officials in Ukraine supporting Moscow’s offensive.

Bakhmut (Ukraine) (AFP) – In the east, an artillery commander in the Ukrainian army’s 93rd Brigade barks out the order to fire to his crew, who cover their ears as the field gun blasts out yet another salvo. The unit’s task is simple: to relentlessly batter the Russian army’s positions near Bakhmut with their massive USSR-era cannon.