Beijing (AFP) – Beijing says it was defending its “territorial sovereignty” in the South China Sea after the Philippines released footage appearing to show a Chinese Coast Guard vessel ramming one of its ships during an at-sea confrontation. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says its “maritime rights and interests” in the region are “legal and legitimate.”
Erfurt (Germany) (AFP) – Germany’s far-right AfD has secured victory in a regional election in the former East German state of Thuringia, where the anti-migrant party is now the leading political force. The party also saw success in the state of Saxony, coming a close second place, just behind Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s conservative CDU party. The landmark results come just a year ahead of national elections in Germany.
Petah Tikva (Israel) (AFP) – Israel’s main union orders a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six killed hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Palestinian militants.
Venice (AFP) – George Clooney and his wife Amal walk the red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival for the premiere of “Wolfs”. The comedy is written and directed by Jon Watts and sees Clooney reunited with Brad Pitt.
Hangzhou (China) (AFP) – Sweet, milky and colourful — bubble tea is wildly popular in China, where people sipping through straws from large plastic cups is a common sight in high streets and shopping malls across the country. But there’s fresh competition brewing in the vast market, characterised by ultra-cheap products that are striking a chord with China’s increasingly frugal young consumers.
Bogotá (AFP) – Relatives of missing people in Bogota display portraits of their loved ones and lay flowers to mark the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The emergency department at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital has reopened after nearly 10 months of inaction. The hospital — the Gaza Strip’s largest medical facility — was raided by the Israeli army on 15 November 2023, following claims that Hamas was using the site to host a military command centre. The group has denied this accusation.
Wielun (Poland) (AFP) – Poland marks the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War with a ceremony in Wielun – one of the first Polish towns to be bombed by the Nazis on 1 September, 1939. President Andrzej Duda says that Poland learnt its lesson from the war and can no longer afford to be defenceless when next to an imperialist neighbour, referencing Russia. He also stresses that German war reparations to Poland continue to be owed.
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis expresses his solidarity with the Ukrainian people during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s square, amid the ongoing war against Russia. His comments come after Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was targeted by over 200 Russian drones and missiles in one of the biggest such attacks.
Maracaibo (Venezuela) (AFP) – Venezuelans from different states are affected by a nationwide blackout that authorities blame on sabotage of the national power grid – the latest crisis to hit the country after a disputed presidential election.
