AFP UK

Cañón del Micay (Colombia) (AFP) – Coca plantations blanket the mountains along the narrow Micay canyon, the heartland of Colombia’s holdout guerrillas who rule their fiefdom like a mini state. In makeshift laboratories, farmers openly mix coca leaf with gasoline to extract a paste used to make the pure cocaine that is one of Colombia’s top exports. Micay canyon is a major source of tension in negotiations between the government and the Central General Staff (EMC) rebels who broke away from the FARC when it signed a 2016 peace deal.

Taipei (AFP) – At least nine people were killed and more than 800 injured Wednesday by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted.

Hong Kong (AFP) – Dancing dragons, a flying phoenix and a mascot in a sports stadium are among the creations of Chinese “light painting” artist Roy Wang to cheer for the annual Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.

Provincetown (United States) (AFP) – The situation is dire for critically-endangered North Atlantic right whales, a species that could be functionally extinct by 2035 as it faces risks from human activities and climate change.

Pyongyang (AFP) – Images released by North Korea’s official KCTV show leader Kim Jong Un at the test launch of a new medium-to-long range solid-fuel hypersonic missile.

Caracas (AFP) – Venezuela’s Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez arrives at parliament in Caracas to discuss a law against fascism proposed by President Nicolas Maduro. Several other ministers and authorities are attending the parliamentary session, including Parliament President, Jorge Rodriguez, and Vice President and Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino. IMAGES

Cuenca (Ecuador) (AFP) – Military forces seal off a clandestine tunnel dug by prisoners in a dangerous prison in southern Ecuador.

Istanbul (AFP) – A fire that raged from the basement of a 16-storey building in central Istanbul killed at least 29 people.

Paris (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace at the end of a day-long visit to the French capital. IMAGES

Damascus (AFP) – Syrians in Damascus fear the war has “started again” after a deadly strike blamed on Israel hit Iran’s diplomatic mission in the capitol.

Shefa Amr (Israel) (AFP) – After both his parents were killed by a Hamas rocket during the October 7 attack — and Israel went to war in Gaza in retaliation — Israeli activist Maoz Inon decided he had to campaign for peace.

Beijing (AFP) – China says it is “shocked” and condemns a strike in Gaza that a US-based charity said killed seven of its staff as they unloaded desperately needed food aid.