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Taipei (AFP) – Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te speaks to AFP in his first interview with an international news agency since taking office in May 2024. In a wide-ranging discussion, Lai comments on the threat posed by China, saying that “if Taiwan were to be annexed, the next countries under threat would be Japan, the Philippines, and others in the Indo-Pacific region”. He says “we want to ensure that, for China, there is never a day that is a good day to invade Taiwan.”

Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – A group of protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails at riot police in front of the Argentine Congress, and the officers responded with tear gas and water cannons, as thousands of people protested against ultraliberal President Javier Milei’s labor reform being debated in the Senate. IMAGES

Venezuela (AFP) – US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is welcomed by the US charge d’affaires in Venezuela, Laura Dogu, upon his arrival for talks with acting president Delcy Rodriguez and oil industry executives on harnessing the country’s vast crude reserves. IMAGES

Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) – A pack of robot dogs will help Mexican police tackle crime during the 2026 World Cup this summer, authorities announce during a presentation in Monterrey. The four-legged robots are designed to enter dangerous areas and broadcast live video back to security forces. The World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, is being hosted by Mexico alongside the United States and Canada.

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promises that, “if necessary and appropriate”, the state will “ensure that justice is done” after two train accidents that killed 47 people last month. The back-to-back disasters in January shocked the country and raised doubts about the safety of train travel in Spain, which boasts one of the world’s most extensive high-speed rail networks.

London (AFP) – Londoners react to calls for embattled premier Keir Starmer to resign for embroiling the British government in the Epstein scandal, as the leader faces the most serious crisis of his 19-month premiership. “I don’t think he should resign. Just because there’s quite a lot of turmoil in the country, and also worldwide,” says 40-year-old Aya.

Caracas (AFP) – Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, blames opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa for his rearrest just hours after being released from prison, after Guanipa demanded free elections. “Nothing had happened, they were released, they were reunited with their families,” Cabello says in a press conference. According to Cabello, Guanipa violated the conditions under which he was released.

Bryan (United States) (AFP) – Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to answer questions from US lawmakers but her attorney says she is prepared to speak if granted clemency by US President Donald Trump. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relations with Epstein.

Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – A landmark social media trial begins in a California court that could establish a legal precedent on whether Meta or YouTube deliberately designed their platforms to lead to addiction in children and promote content which can harm mental health. Three parents from the UK who claim to have lost their children because of social media influence gather outside the court to show their support for the plaintiff. “This is a global problem, and things need to change,” says Ellen Roome, whose son committed suicide at the age of 14.

Sisimiut (Denmark) (AFP) – Snow has become so scarce on Greenland’s east coast that even short dogsled journeys now break down, making the business of running dogsled tours increasingly economically unviable. With average temperatures on Greenland’s ice sheet 8.1°C higher in December than between 1991-2020, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute, dogsled mushers fear their ancestral way of life is under threat.

Beijing (AFP) – Beijing urges Japan to retract Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan. China and Japan have been locked in a spat over comments by Takaichi in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan. The move comes the day after the ultra-conservative Takaichi’s landslide win in a snap election, giving her a strong mandate for her tough stance on China.

Milan (Italy) (AFP) – Olympic pin collecting enthusiasts queue for hours for the chance to snag one of 250 free 2026 Winter Olympic pins. The hobby has become part of the Games’ culture, as fans travel around the world to attend in the hope of adding to their collections. “Sometimes I wonder why my wife still stays with me,” jokes Edwin Schneider, who said he has accumulated at least 25,000 pins after attending 14 games as a collector.