Law enforcement ready in Paris before France-Morocco clash
Paris (AFP) – Law enforcement officers ready along the Champs-Elysees, in Paris, before the World Cup semi-final France v. Morocco.

Paris (AFP) – Law enforcement officers ready along the Champs-Elysees, in Paris, before the World Cup semi-final France v. Morocco.

Al Khor (Qatar) (AFP) – Police outside Al Bayt Stadium form a safety perimeter to regulate the flow of Morocco fans arriving at the stadium for the World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco.

Al Bayt Stadium (Qatar) (AFP) – Fans arrive at Al Bayt Stadium for the World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco. Didier Deschamps’ men are heavy favourites to win but face a Morocco team that have conceded just one goal in a remarkable giant-killing run.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – “I didn’t do anything to him (Putin), but he does this to me” says Kyiv resident Anton after the latest Russian drone strikes blew out the windows of his home. President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Ukraine shot down 13 Iranian-made attack drones in the skies about the capital in the early hours of Wednesday. Another resident, Svetlana, says “winter is coming…they’re not letting Ukrainians live”.

Patryki (Poland) (AFP) – In just a few years, Poland has become one of the world’s leading caviar producers. But the market is haunted by the delicacy’s traditional association with Russia, blacklisted since its invasion of Ukraine. “The majority of caviar producers in the world fight against the myth of Russian caviar,” says Agata Lakomiak-Winnicka, director of Polish producer Antonius Caviar.

Paris (AFP) – Migrant workers make up 2.5 million of the gulf state’s 2.9 million population and labour rights were criticised in the run-up to the tournament. Last week, in a recent example, a worker died from a fall while fixing lights at a tournament training camp. Members of the French LFI Party hold a minute’s silence to honour the World Cup dead.

Ukraine (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian military servicemen after the latest prisoner swap with Russian forces. According to Andriy Yermak, the Presidency’s chief of staff, 64 Ukrainian servicemen and one US citizen, Suedi Murekezi, were turned over by Moscow.

Paris (AFP) – A fine blanket of snow covers Paris as parts of Europe go through a cold snap. Orange snow warnings have been put in place across northern France, advising residents to avoid going out if possible and to take blankets, food and drink with them if they do.

Dover (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Border force staff go about their day and boats navigate in and out at the port of Dover after at least four people died when a small boat apparently packed with migrants capsized in freezing temperatures in the Channel overnight, according to the UK government.

Punta Arenas (Chile) (AFP) – “Argentina scored that first goal from a made-up penalty” says Croatia’s president, Zoran Milanovic, after watching his country’s team lose their World Cup semi-final. Milanovic watches the game surrounded by Chilean-Croatians, as the South American country is home to one of the largest Croatian diasporas in the world.

Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lands in Turkmenistan for the trilateral summit. He will be joined in Turkmenbashi by Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. IMAGES

Ho Chi Minh City (AFP) – Phan Thi Nhieu has spent a decade assembling shoes for worldwide brands such as Timberland and K-Swiss, but she is now among tens of thousands of Vietnamese factory workers laid off as Western consumers cut spending. Almost half a million other workers in Vietnam have been forced to work fewer hours as orders fall in the Southeast Asian country, one of the world’s largest exporters of clothing, footwear and furniture.
