AFP UK

Montmeló (Spain) (AFP) – Young women may be powering the boom in popularity in Formula 1 — but a woman hasn’t competed at the highest level of motorsport since 1976. AFP meets four of the world’s most promising young female drivers, all vying for a future in F1. Skye Parker, Zoe Florescu Potolea, Ivonn Simeonova and Alexia Danielsson have been selected for a pioneering driver development programme that’s committed to finding F1’s first woman world champion.

Seoul (AFP) – Customers cook and eat ramyeon, or Korean instant noodles, in a viral restaurant in Seoul that offers a massive collection of the staple food featured in the global hit Netflix movie “K-pop Demon Hunters”. South Korea’s instant noodle export surpassed 1.5 billion US dollars in 2025, hitting a record high, according to figures released by the customs service.

Hawaii National Volcanoes Park (United States) (AFP) – Fresh lava fountains spew from Hawaii’s Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, in its 40th eruption. The volcano has been very active since 1983 and erupts relatively regularly. It has been throwing out thousands of tonnes of molten rock and gases for over a year now since an eruption in December 2024.

Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – 30-year-old Abdullah Al-Hissi was diagnosed with lymphoma in his leg a year and a half ago and has been waiting for over a year to get permission to leave Gaza for treatment as the Rafah border crossing, the Strip’s “only lifeline”, is still closed. “Patients are suffering greatly due to the lack of treatment,” says oncologist and hematologist Saleh Sheikh Al-Eid. Last month, Israel announced it would prevent 37 aid organisations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), from operating in Gaza from March 1 for failing to provide detailed information on their Palestinian staff.

London (AFP) – Braving the London Underground in nothing but their briefs, more than a hundred people take part in the 2026 edition of the London No Trousers Tube Ride. “I just wanted to do something different,” says William Skannerup, a 32-year-old tech worker.

Ouro Preto (Brazil) (AFP) – A traditional Afro-Brazilian festival parades through the streets of Brazil’s Ouro Preto, with participants singing and playing instruments. The festival honors Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Ifigenia, Saint Benedict, and Chico Rei, a Congolese king enslaved by the Portuguese who later bought his freedom and became a symbol of resistance in Brazilian folklore.

London (AFP) – Braving the London Underground in nothing but their briefs, more than a hundred people take part in the 2026 edition of the London No Trousers Tube Ride. “I just wanted to do something different,” says William Skannerup, a 32-year-old tech worker.

Karachi (AFP) – Seventy-five Hindu couples from across the country get married at a mass wedding ceremony in Pakistan’s city of Karachi, organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council, which helps couples from low-income families. The Council has been organising the event annually since 2008.

Aboard Air Force One (AFP) – US President Donald Trump says he is considering potential military action against Iran, amid mounting reports of deadly crackdowns against mass anti-government protests that activists fear have killed hundreds. Trump adds that the “leaders of Iran” have “called to negotiate”. Iran’s foreign minister has said the Islamic republic is ready for both war and talks after repeated threats from the US president to intervene militarily.

Beverly Hills (United States) (AFP) – Stars including Timothee Chalamet, Rose Byrne, and Stephen Graham, pose with their winnings at the Golden Globe awards in Beverly Hills. “Hamnet” sprung a surprise by taking best drama film, while Jessie Buckley, who plays Shakespeare’s grief-stricken wife Agnes, won best drama actress honors. Wagner Moura took Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Brazilian thriller “The Secret Agent”.

Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP) – In Bangladesh’s sprawling Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million refugees live in squalid conditions, there’s hope a court thousands of miles away could bring justice. This week a landmark case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya is set to open at the United Nations’ top court.

Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP) – In Bangladesh’s sprawling Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar, where more than a million refugees live in squalid conditions, there’s hope a court thousands of miles away could bring justice. This week a landmark case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya is set to open at the United Nations’ top court.