Sloviansk (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulates soldiers on the country’s Armed Forces Day, as he visits the frontline city of Sloviansk in the eastern region of Donetsk, where Russian forces have been pressing for months, the presidency said.
Doha (AFP) – England forward Bukayo Saka expects an “exciting” game against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals and says the team will have to prepare well to be able to stop Kylian Mbappe, who he calls “one of the best players in the world.”
Beijing (AFP) – Xie Shangguang, a Beijing resident, says he feels the city is “coming back to life” after authorities announced that offices and commercial buildings, including supermarkets, would no longer require visitors to show proof of a negative test.
Tirana (AFP) – EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, pose for a family photo in Tirana as they attend the 2022 EU-Western Balkans Summit. The event, beginning on Tuesday, brings together EU and Balkan leaders, with tighter ties and the possible expansion of the Union on the agenda following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. IMAGES
Tirana (AFP) – EU officials arrive in Tirana, the capital of Albania, for the EU-Western Balkans summit. Among those greeted by Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, are President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic. IMAGES
Rights activists protest outside the House of Representatives after lawmakers approved legislation that would outlaw sex outside marriage in a move critics said was a huge setback to rights in the world’s most populous Muslim country. IMAGES
Wearing yellow and blue jerseys, thousands of Bangladeshi football fans cheer and blow vuvuzelas to celebrate Brazil’s victory over South Korea at the World Cup. Like their rivals Argentina, Brazil have a large fanbase in the South Asian nation.
Ulaanbaatar (AFP) – Thousands brave freezing temperatures in Mongolia’s capital to protest alleged corruption in the country’s coal industry and soaring inflation. Public outrage has also been stoked by whistleblower claims that a so-called “coal faction” of lawmakers with ties to the industry has stolen billions of dollars worth of the sedimentary rock. In mid-November, Mongolia’s anti-corruption authority announced that over 30 officials — including the CEO of the state-owned coal mining company Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi — were under investigation for embezzlement.
Washington (AFP) – Visitors have until New Year’s Day to admire the US National Christmas Tree and the 58 smaller trees outside the White House in Washington, DC. Decorated by students, the trees represent the various states and territories of the United States. Outside the Capitol, a 78-foot tall red spruce from North Carolina nicknamed “Ruby” is also delighting the crowds.
Yangzhou (China) (AFP) – Sirens wailed out across China at the beginning of a public memorial service for former leader Jiang Zemin on Tuesday, who died last week at the age of 96.
