Havana (AFP) – Cuba holds two days of tributes for the 32 Cuban soldiers killed during a US military operation in Venezuela on January 3 that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Twenty-one of the soldiers were from the Cuban interior ministry, which oversees the intelligence services, officials have said. The others were from the military.
Tehran (AFP) – Iran’s supreme leader says authorities “must break the back of the seditionists”, blaming US President Donald Trump for “casualties” after a deadly crackdown on protests against the country’s clerical leadership. Weeks of demonstrations have subsided after a crackdown that rights groups say left thousands dead under an internet blackout.
Asuncion (Paraguay) (AFP) – The South American trade bloc Mercosur and the European Union attend a ceremony in Asuncion during which they will sign a deal 25 years in the making to create one of the world’s largest free trade areas at a time of growing protectionism and volatility. The long-awaited agreement comes amid the sweeping use of tariffs and trade threats by US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has sent countries scrambling for new partnerships. IMAGES
Doylestown (AFP) – Picking up groceries from a food bank in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Trump voter Michelle Sims voices her disappointment with the president, saying she “was hoping more would be done by now”. In Bucks County, a swing county in a swing state, support for Trump has waned since he took office last January, according to opinion polls.
Kiew (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says negotiators are headed to the United States for further talks on a US-drafted plan to end the war with Russia. US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a halt to the war and has pressured Ukraine to accept peace terms that Kyiv has likened to capitulation to Russia.
Berlin (AFP) – The famous Berlinale Bears, the festival’s iconic trophies, are made at Berlin’s Noack Foundry, with the festival director Tricia Tuttle present. The Berlinale is Europe’s first big cinema showcase of the year and ranks along with Cannes and Venice among the continent’s top film festivals. Its 76th edition will take place from February 12 to 22.
Kédougou (AFP) – A shriek pierces the dawn in Senegal’s savannah as the Fongoli chimpanzees awaken, a rare West African species living in the hot, scraggly Sahel rather than usual forested habitats. Found in the southeast of the east African country, these chimps survive in conditions that push the limits of where they can live, offering insight into how they adapt to extreme environments. “They actually have really different behaviours than chimps that live in forests,” says primatologist Jill Pruetz.
Melbourne (AFP) – Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz says he is “hungry” to break his Australian Open title drought and become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, calling it his primary target in 2026. The world number one is the title favourite along with two-time defending champion and great rival Jannik Sinner.
Peking (AFP) – China will allow Canadian visitors to enter the country visa-free, Prime Minister Mark Carney says after talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing as the two nations aim to thaw frosty relations. Carney also announces a “landmark trade agreement” between the new countries to remove trade barriers and reduce tariffs.
Maracaibo (Venezuela) (AFP) – A gas carrier and an oil tanker are seen at Maracaibo Lake Bay in Venezuela’s unofficial “oil capital.” The United States announces that its forces seized another tanker in the Caribbean, the sixth ship apprehended since President Donald Trump announced a blockade to prevent sanctioned vessels going to or from Venezuela. IMAGES
Dayr Hafir (AFP) – Syrians flee Deir Hafer, a town in eastern Aleppo province, after the army gave civilians a deadline to leave amid fears of an escalation in clashes with Kurdish forces. The government is seeking to extend its authority across the country following the ouster of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad a year ago.
Vatikanstadt (AFP) – Pope Leo meets with families of the victims of the New Year’s fire in a Swiss ski resort bar, telling them faith can help in “the darkest and most painful moments”. Leo XIV received about 20 relatives of the Crans-Montana fire victims in a private audience at the Vatican, offering words of comfort two weeks after the disaster that killed 40 people and injured 116.
