AFP UK

Grande-Synthe (France) (AFP) – Migrants in northern France are still determined to try to cross to Britain, according to several charities drawing attention to their harsh living conditions, after four people died when a small boat packed with migrants capsized in freezing temperatures in the Channel overnight. Dozens of others were plucked from the waters of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes in a large-scale rescue operation involving UK and French emergency services.

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announces that the government will raise defence spending from one to two percent of GDP by fiscal 2027 in response to what he calls China’s “militaristic behaviour”.

Buenos Aires (AFP) – In the streets of Buenos Aires, the football World Cup final between Argentina and France is the talk of the capital, with many fans eager for Sunday to come.

Manila (AFP) – Thousands of Catholics from the Philippines attend the first of nine-day dawn masses, a widely-followed tradition leading to Christmas, as relaxed Covid rules allow churches to operate to their full capacity. In Baclaran Church in the capital Manila, face mask-wearing churchgoers filled the pews as they pray for their wishes and say a word of gratitude for a blessed year.

Batang Kali (Malaysia) (AFP) – Malaysia’s fire and rescue department vehicles arrive and exit the campsite at a Malaysian farm that was hit by a deadly landslide on Friday. At least 16 people were killed in the incident near the town of Batang Kali, just outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine’s capital Kyiv continues to battle partial darkness in some areas of the city after its energy infrastructure was the target of successive Russian strikes.

Kinshasa (AFP) – Residents of the DRC capital, Kinshasa, are cleaning up and assessing the damage after one of the worst floods to strike the area in years killed an estimated 120 people on Tuesday. “I find it hard to bear” says Robert, who lost a relative, “(I have) no strength to bury the dead bodies”.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – The speaker of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Zaruba, says that almost all components of “Russian unmanned aerial vehicles are of foreign production”. Speaking at a presentation of attack drones deployed by Moscow, Zaruba highlights the role of Iran in supplying vehicles used in strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas.

Moscow (AFP) – Yaroslav Leonov has been living in exile since President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s partial mobilisation in September. Back in Moscow, his wife, Yekaterina Filimonova, and their three sons have to get by on their own. “The first month was very sad” says Filimonova, “it was very hard for me and it was hard for the kids”. They are not the only ones divided by the conflict, with the chaotic and hurried exodus of tens of thousands of military-aged men tearing apart families and piling pressure on mothers across Russia.

Beijing (AFP) – “The UK has failed to fulfil its obligations under relevant international law” says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, placing the blame for the violent outbursts at an October demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester squarely at Westminster’s door. According to Wenbin, a member of Consulate staff “temporarily lost consciousness” after being attacked during the protest.

Brussels (AFP) – French President, Emmanuel Macron, stands by his decision to visit Qatar to support France’s World Cup team, saying he’s “totally comfortable with it”, despite allegations linking the Gulf monarchy to corruption in the European Parliament. Macron was in Qatar on Wednesday night to watch France’s semi-final victory over Morocco before flying to Brussels to attend an EU summit.

London (AFP) – Images show nurses in front of London’s St Thomas’ Hospital amidst unprecedented walkouts. Up to 100,000 nurses around the UK are staging a one-day strike as a “last resort” in their fight for better wages and working conditions. IMAGES