New Delhi (AFP) – Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urges Donald Trump to treat all countries equally after the US leader imposed a 15 percent tariff on imports following an adverse Supreme Court ruling. “I want to tell the US President Donald Trump that we don’t want a new Cold War. We don’t want interference in any other country, we want all countries to be treated equally,” Lula told reporters in New Delhi.
Nikola Lenivets (Russia) (AFP) – A 25-metre high wooden structure is set on fire at the Nikola Lanivets art park in Russia’s Kaluga region as part of celebrations for Maslenitsa. The holiday marks the end of winter and the start of lent for Orthodox Christians.
Pakistan said Sunday it launched multiple air strikes targeting militants in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the government reported children were among dozens of people killed and wounded.
French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a moment of reflection after far-right radical activist, Quentin Deranque was beaten to death by ultra-left activists, and announces a meeting with the government on “violent groups”, on the sidelines of the opening of the Paris Agricultural Show.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Ukraine is definitely not losing the war with Russia, during an exclusive interview with AFP news agency. “You can’t say that we’re losing the war,” says Zelensky, “the question is whether we will win. But it is a very costly question”.
Tehran (AFP) – Skyline images of Tehran and pedestrians in the capital a day after US President Donald Trump said he was “considering” a limited strike on Iran if negotiations fail to yield a replacement for the nuclear deal with Tehran that he tore up during his first term in office.
Borodyanka (Ukraine) (AFP) – Amid the cold winter and the lack of heating and electricity, French volunteer baker Loic Nervi is on a humanitarian mission in Borodyanka in the Kyiv region. By baking and distributing fresh bread to local residents, he provides practical support and shows solidarity to people facing daily hardship. Working alone from early morning, lines of up to 300 people form to receive his freshly baked produce. For Nervi, perseverance is crucial. “It has been four years, and we must continue, we must not stop” he says.
Badaling (China) (AFP) – Lion and dragon dancers perform on the Great Wall of China, in Badaling, to entertain visitors who have come to enjoy the illuminated monument during the Year of the Horse celebrations.
New Delhi (AFP) – Speaking at an AI summit in India’s capital New Delhi, UN chief Antonio Guterres calls for “less hype, less fear” over artificial intelligence, saying that a new UN expert panel will aim to “make human control a technical reality”. Amid growing concerns about the impact on employment and misinformation, Guterres said the United Nations General Assembly has confirmed 40 members for the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which will delve into the issues related to global AI development and usage.
Pyongyang (AFP) – North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un opens a landmark Workers’ Party party congress, launching a political spectacle expected to unveil the next phase in the nation’s nuclear weapons programme. The gathering directs state efforts on everything from house building to war planning, offering potential hints about the country’s foreign policy, as well as Kim’s daughter and heir apparent, Ju Ae.
Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has criticised Benfica coach Jose Mourinho’s handling of the racism controversy involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, calling Mourinho’s comments after the midweek Champions League match a ‘huge mistake’. Vinicius accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real’s 1-0 win in Lisbon. Mourinho out at Vinicius after the match, saying that Vinicius had incited Benfica’s players with his celebration following his winning goal.
Hasakeh (Syria) (AFP) – The future is uncertain for Syrian Kurd’s all-women fighting units, known as the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). Last month the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) they are a part of made a deal with Syria’s government under military pressure, ending the Kurds’ de facto autonomy in the country’s north as they are integrated with government institutions. But the deal did not mention the YPJ. Speaking at a military base in northeast Syria, Roksan Mohammed, says, “Many are asking what will become of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and their existence. We say clearly… the YPJ represents all women in Syrian society”.
