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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.

Caracas (AFP) – Some of the most recently released political prisoners, including human rights activist Javier Tarazona, attend a vigil outside El Helicoide, one of Venezuela’s most important detention centers, joining the families of those still detained to offer moral support. Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has been under pressure from Washington to free prisoners after the United States ousted Nicolas Maduro on January 3 and declared it is in effect running the South American country. IMAGES

San José (AFP) – Supporters of right-wing law-and-order candidate Laura Fernandez celebrate as she enjoys a commanding lead in the country’s presidential election, according to partial results, which was dominated by concern over drugs-related crime. With results from 31 percent of polling stations counted, the ruling party candidate had 53.01 percent of the vote, 13 points over the threshold needed to win election outright in the first round. IMAGES

Costa Rica (AFP) – Official in Costa Rica begin tallying votes after polling stations closed in the first round of the presidential election. Laura Fernandez, the ruling party candidate, is the runaway favorite to become the next leader of a country long seen as a beacon of stability in a volatile region, but now battling a crime wave. Vote counting begins after 12 hours of voting for one of 20 presidential candidates and 57 members of the Legislative Assembly. IMAGES

San José (AFP) – Polls close in Costa Rica’s presidential and parliamentary election, in which a hotly-tipped conservative candidate vowing a crackdown on drug trafficking is hoping for a landslide win. Vote counting begins after 12 hours of voting for one of 20 presidential candidates, including frontrunner Laura Fernandez, and 57 members of the Legislative Assembly. IMAGES

Vatikanstadt (AFP) – Pope Leo XIV calls for an ancient Olympic truce ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. “These major sporting events send a powerful message of brotherhood and rekindle hope for a peaceful world,” the Pope says.

Moskau (AFP) – Thrillseekers in Moscow put on bright red wetsuits and relax in the icy waters of the Moskva River, as the trend known as “ice floating” reaches the country’s capital. Ice floating has become a popular activity across Russia, from Lake Baital in the east to the Murmansk region in the north.

Minneapolis (AFP) – Residents of Minneapolis gather at a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti while others take part in an open-air prayer in his honor, a week after the 37-year-old ICU nurse was killed by US federal agents. “Our city is hurting, we’re all hurting,” says one resident.

Teheran (AFP) – Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warns of a “regional war” if the United States attacks following heavy military deployments by Washington in the Gulf. “The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” says Khamenei from Tehran in a speech aired on state television.

Gaza (AFP) – Just metres from tents for displaced people, men of all ages take to the beach in Gaza City for swimming practice. Two years of war and air strikes have destroyed most recreational facilities in the Palestinian territory, including swimming pools. “We practise swimming amid serious dangers — foremost among them the Israeli patrol boats which chase swimmers and fishermen out at sea,” says Abu Mahmud, the group’s captain.