Bissau (AFP) – Military officers in Guinea-Bissau announce they are taking “full state powers” of the country while suspending its electoral process and closing its borders, three days after the poverty-stricken west African nation’s legislative and presidential elections.
Bischkek (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to play a traditional Kyrgyz folk instrument called the ‘komuz’ during a state visit to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz President Japarov is hosting a number of leaders from countries in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a military alliance of six post-Soviet states.
Hongkong (AFP) – A huge fire rips through several high-rise blocks in a Hong Kong residential estate, killing at least 13 people. The fire — which started in the afternoon and showed little sign of abating after dark — is one of the deadliest in decades for Hong Kong, which has some of the world’s most densely populated and tallest apartment blocks.
Carrickfergus (AFP) – A Northern Irish council has voted to rename a street in the town of Carrickfergus named after Britain’s disgraced former prince Andrew. Mid and East Antrim is the first UK council to drop the ex-prince from a street name following King Charles III’s decision to remove his brother — now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor — from public life.
Bethlehem (AFP) – Caritas, the Catholic humanitarian aid organisation, unveils the popemobile vehicle used by Pope Francis on his 2014 visit to Bethlehem, now converted to a mobile health clinic destined for Gaza children. “I think it’s also symbolic in terms of offering a symbol of hope,” says the Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, Alistair Dutton. “And I know talking to people here in Jerusalem that they have seen this as a real moment of hope.”
Saporischschja (AFP) – Russia launches a series of overnight strikes on Zaporizhzhia, wounding 18 people and damaging 31 apartment blocks, according to the head of the regional military administration. Donald Trump says he is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week as the US president seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine, though European leaders remain skeptical, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying there is “clearly no Russian willingness” for a ceasefire.
Vatikanstadt (AFP) – During the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV asks the faithful to pray for his imminent apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon, which begins on 27 November with a visit to Ankara. He will then continue on to Istanbul, Iznik, and later on 30 November to Lebanon, where he will remain until 2 December.
Khost (Afghanistan) (AFP) – Hundreds of mourners attend a funeral for the victims of a strike on Afghanistan’s Khost province. Ten people were killed in the attack which the Taliban has blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied any responsibility, calling the allegations “baseless”.
London (AFP) – “It’s kind of been disastrous in the last two year,” says James Fitzgerald, a London pub landlord bracing for the UK government’s November 26 budget. Fitzgerald has seen his running costs rocket, with energy prices rising in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, alongside hikes in food bills, taxes and the minimum wage.
Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Argentina’s Secretary of International Economic Relations Fernando Brun take part in a wreath-laying ceremony in homage to Argentine national hero General Jose de San Martin in Buenos Aires. Sa’ar is in Argentina on an official visit. IMAGES
Warsaw (AFP) – French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin says that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine “requires discussions with Europeans”. “We are not there yet,” adds Catherine Vautrin during a meeting with Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russia rains missiles and drones overnight on Kyiv, killing six people, authorities say, as three people die in Russia’s Rostov region in massive Ukrainian strikes. The heightened attacks come after US President Donald Trump initially gave Kyiv until November 27 — the American holiday of Thanksgiving — to respond to his proposal to end the fighting, a timeline and blueprint that European leaders have baulked at.
