AFP UK

Tehran (AFP) – People in the Iranian capital Tehran express mixed views on potential military escalation with the United States. “War is 100% likely to happen because this process, which both sides are pursuing, leads to war,” says Habib, a 47-year-old shop owner in Tehran. Mehdi, a 58-year-old salesman believes the opposite, saying that “the Americans are bluffing” and that “the negotiations will be 100% successful”. This comes a day ahead a third round of talks between the two foes in Geneva.

Schönefeld (Germany) (AFP) – Speaking on Tuesday’s fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that China had a “significant opportunity” to exert influence on Russia over the Ukraine war. Ahead of a trip to China, Merz added that “cooperation is needed to resolve the major crises and wars of our time” and that “Beijing’s voice is heard, including in Moscow”.

Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) – American rapper Snoop Dogg is greeted by cheering fans as he attends a Swansea game for the first time since becoming a minority owner of the Welsh club. Dressed in the club’s all-white colours, with a Swansea crest on his jacket, and his trademark dark glasses, Snoop Dogg is greeted by supporters whirling white towels in the stands during a prolonged lap of honour before the 1-1 draw against Preston.

Juiz de Fora (Brésil) (AFP) – Firefighters work to recover a body found among the debris after a landslide caused by heavy rains in Juiz de Fora, in Minas Gerais State. Torrential rains left at least 25 people dead and 43 missing as a river burst its banks and a wall of mud swept away houses in the middle of the night, officials said. IMAGES

Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (AFP) – Firefighters and authorities search for people trapped in the mud and debris in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, after torrential rains that have left at least 23 people dead and 47 missing in flooding and landslides. IMAGES

Irpin (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians in the Kyiv region attend memorial ceremonies to mark the fourth anniversary of the full scale war with Russia. “Only the horrors remain in my memory,” says Olena Ponomariova, who lost a 24-year-old family friend in the fighting. The cities of Irpin and Bucha, located in the Kyiv region, were the site of fierce fighting for the Ukrainian capital in the early days of Russia’s invasion.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges the European Union to set out a clear timeline for his country’s accession to the bloc, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion. “It is important for us to receive a clear date for joining the EU,” Zelensky says in a video address to the European Parliament, adding: “If there is no such guarantee, (Russian President Vladimir Putin) will find a way to block Ukraine for decades by dividing you, by dividing Europe.”

Sobetsu (Japan) (AFP) – At the foot of an active volcano in northern Japan, shouts ring out, competitors size each other up and snowballs whistle through the air in a very serious game of “yukigassen” — a sport with Olympic dreams. Yukigassen, essentially a snowball fight, first became a sport in Sobetsu 37 years ago and has since spread to 13 countries, including Russia, Finland and Australia. “We say it’s the oldest winter sport in human history,” says Yuji Ano, president of the organising committee for the Sobetsu tournament.

Bihsud (Afghanistan) (AFP) – Afghans gather to pray for villagers who died in air strikes by Pakistan, which says its operation killed dozens of militants. Islamabad says Taliban authorities have failed to act against militant groups using Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan, something Kabul denies. Pakistani military action killed 70 Afghan civilians between October and December last year, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan.

Yogyakarta (Indonesia) (AFP) – Thousands flock to the Jogokariyan mosque in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta for free meals during Ramadan, as it continues a long-standing programme powered by donations and volunteers who cook the food in their homes. About 3,800 iftar fast-breaking meals are served each evening, financed largely through online contributions, organisers say.

Voronezh (Russia) (AFP) – Around 500 kilometres south of Moscow, Voronezh — a city of one million people — is closer to the front line in eastern Ukraine than to the Russian capital. From frequent Ukrainian retaliatory drone attacks to army recruitment adverts around the city, the conflict has gradually seeped into daily life. “We all hope that everything will be over in 2026,” says the mother of a Russian soldier who has been missing in Ukraine for four months.

Kabul (AFP) – Afghanistan’s decision to overhaul its medicine market was meant to improve quality and domestic production, but industry specialists say the swift changes have led to a litany of problems. The Taliban authorities announced in November that the decades-long dependency on medicine imports from Pakistan would soon end, a step taken after deadly border clashes with their neighbour.