Murak (Syria) (AFP) – Images show Syrian rebel forces pushing into Hama province where regime army tanks, artillery and other equipment lie abandoned on the side of roads. A war monitor reported that the army had pulled out of Syria’s fourth largest city Hama, as Jihadist-led rebels seized Aleppo’s airport and dozens of nearby towns on Saturday after overrunning most of Syria’s second city.
Bucharest (AFP) – Romanians vote in parliamentary elections to elect a new parliament, with the far right tipped to win, potentially heralding a shift in the foreign policy of the NATO country bordering Ukraine. The parliamentary poll comes at a time of political turmoil, sparked when a top court ordered a recount of the first round of the separate presidential election on November 24. The presidential ballot was won by Calin Georgescu, a little-known far-right admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A run-off in that poll is slated for December 8.
(AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that an invitation to join the NATO military alliance is necessary for his country’s survival during a press conference with the European Council’s new chief, Antonio Costa.
Sainyabuli (Laos) (AFP) – Once abundant in the forests of Laos, Asian elephants have been decimated by habitat destruction, gruelling labour in the logging industry, poaching and scarce breeding opportunities. But conservationists are hoping DNA analysis of elephants’ dung will help them track both captive and wild tuskers, so they can secure a healthy genetic pool and craft an effective breeding plan to protect the species.
Jind (India) (AFP) – Blazing flames light the sky as Indian farmer Ali Sher burns his fields to clear them for new crops, a common but illegal practice that is fuelling deadly pollution killing millions. Burning strips the fertility of fields, has a ruinous impact on India’s economy and sends plumes of acrid smoke packed with dangerous cancer-causing particles drifting over a densely-populated belt of northern India, including capital New Delhi’s 30 million people. But it is cheap — for farmers at least — to carry out.
Dabrówka (Poland) (AFP) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk inspects the start of work on a vast military project, known as the ‘Eastern Shield’, to reinforce the country’s border with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Paris (AFP) – Notre Dame fans share their thoughts on the cathedral just over a week before the 850-year-old mediaeval edifice reopens following painstaking restoration after the devastating 2019 fire.
Zubin Potok (Kosovo) (AFP) – Members of the Kosovar special forces are deployed in the area where an explosion damaged a crucial canal that supplies thousands of people with drinking water and carries the water needed to cool two thermal power plants.
Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) – Aerial footage shows sun rising over Aleppo citadel as smoke billows in Syria’s second city after a lightning offensive by rebels against government forces.
Binnish (Syria) (AFP) – “When I saw the flowers sprouting, my joy was immense,” says Syrian farmer Osama Sallat who owns a land in Binnish in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province where farmers pick saffron flowers. Sallat hopes that this new “promising agricultural venture” will improve the income of locals in the rebel-held area as its harvest season has begun.
Tbilisi (AFP) – Georgia’s pro-Western president Salome Zurabishvili expresses solidarity with a “resistance movement” that is seeing thousands rally against the government’s decision to delay EU membership talks amid a post-election crisis.
Melbourne (AFP) – Australians give their thoughts on new legislation to ban under 16s from social media after the bill passed through parliament with bipartisan support. However, there remains uncertainty over how the law will be implemented and enforced. “I think it’s good that the government’s on this ban,” 19-year-old Arthur McCormack tells AFP, “but in terms of enforcement, I’m not sure how it will be carried out.”
