AFP UK

Lwengo (Uganda) (AFP) – Far from the fictional skies of Hogwarts, in a remote village in Uganda, a young woman sprints after a “snitch” during a game of quadball, an adapted version of Quidditch, the sport made famous by author JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books. There are no magic broomsticks here, but instead, players run with sticks between their legs, united by the same ambition — reaching the Quadball World Cup. “I will die a happy man when I see the team of Uganda going to the World Cup,” says team founder, John Ssentamu.

Dubai (AFP) – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces during a visit to Dubai his government’s plans to ban access to social media for under-16s in order to protect them from the “digital wild west” of “pornography” and “violence”.

London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells lawmakers that “engagement makes us stronger,” after a visit to China, while saying that the government is “clear-eyed about the threats” from Beijing on national security. Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch accuses Starmer of being “played,” saying China is about to build “an enormous spy hub in the centre of London,” referring to plans to build a mega embassy in the capital.

Khan Yunis (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinians reunite with their loved ones as they arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, after Israel permitted a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing. Israeli forces seized control of the crossing in May 2024 during the war with Hamas, and it has remained largely closed since.

Ranchi (India) (AFP) – Tending crops by day then logging on for a night shift of data labelling, 27-year-old Chandmani Kerketta is part of a rising rural Indian workforce helping power an artificial intelligence revolution. The work is basic but essential for machine learning: data labelling, annotation and quality checks. “I have completed my studies and I also help out at home. I am able to earn enough to support myself,” Kerketta told AFP.

La Havane (AFP) – Vintage American cars and their drivers wait for tourists to drive around in downtown Havana. Tourism in Cuba suffered a sharp decline in 2025, closing the year with 1.8 million visitors, well below the government’s target of 2.6 million, according to official figures. IMAGES

Tehran (AFP) – Tehran is “reviewing and finalising the details of each step of the diplomatic process,” says Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, as President Masoud Pezeshkian orders the start of nuclear talks with the US. Baqaei also criticises European countries, accusing them of “contributing to the escalation of tensions”.

Crans-Montana (Switzerland) (AFP) – In Crans-Montana, the fire at a bar that claimed the lives of 41 people and injured 115 others was at the forefront of people’s minds a month after the tragedy, as the Swiss resort hosted the final stage of the Ski World Cup before the Winter Olympics. “It’s horrible, it’s a nightmare. But coming back here today, I still find it beautiful. It also shows that life goes on,” says visitor Shannon Bugnon.

Minneapolis (United States) (AFP) – For the two months that federal agents have been conducting immigration raids in Minneapolis, Ana, Carlos and their kids have locked themselves inside their home, feeling trapped behind their own deadbolt. “What they are doing is inhumane, in recent days I no longer felt like a normal person, I felt like a criminal”, says Carlos.

Argentina (AFP) – Forest fires burn in the Patagonian region of Chubut province, Argentina, fuelled by high temperatures and winds. Argentina’s government has declared an emergency in Patagonia, where wildfires have been ripping through vast tracts of forest since December. This comes after Argentina’s 2026 budget slashed funding for the fire service by 71% compared with the previous year, according to FARN, a local non-profit group.

San Pedro (Costa Rica) (AFP) – Supporters waving flags dance on the street as right-wing political scientist Laura Fernandez wins Costa Rica’s presidential election by a landslide. “Most importantly, the country did not head down the path of the left,” a supporter wearing a “Trump 2024” visor tells AFP.

Beijing (AFP) – Beijing says it opposes Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s Grammy win, calling the award a tool for “anti-China political manipulation”. The Dalai Lama won a Grammy for audio, narration and storytelling for his audiobook “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. The Dalai Lama lives in exile in India and is known for his tireless campaign for greater autonomy for his Tibetan homeland, which Beijing says is an integral part of China.