Kocani (AFP) – Firefighters and emergency services are on site after a fire that tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia’s Kocani, killing 51 revellers. More than 100 people have been wounded, according to the country’s interior minister. The fire broke out in the nightclub “Pulse”, where more than 1,000 mostly young fans had crammed in to see the hip-hop duo DNK, popular in the country.
Damas (AFP) – Syrian army helicopters drop confetti and leaflets on people celebrating the fourteenth anniversary of the uprising at a rally in Damascus’ Umayyad Square. The rally is the first in the capital after years under toppled president Bashar al-Assad.
New York (AFP) – Palestinian student campaigner Mahmoud Khalil is arrested on 8 March 2025 by plainclothes agents in New York as his eight-months-pregnant wife, Noor Abdalla, records the scene. The officers did not present a warrant or identify themselves. Khalil was arrested by US immigration officials despite holding a permanent residency green card.
Tokyo (AFP) – Former sex worker and photographer Beniko is on a mission to capture the spirit of Tokyo’s historic red-light district, formerly known as Yoshiwara, a place she once called home. “These places are often referred to as having a “negative history”, she says, “but the truth is that through the years people lived there, people made their lives there, sometimes struggled to survive. I want to share that.”
Salé (Maroc) (AFP) – Abdel Aziz Touil is one of the few stucco master craftsmen in Morocco, experts in a craft threatened by dwindling numbers and the lack of interest from younger generations. Over the centuries, stucco, a type of plaster, has been an essential element of Moroccan architecture.
Rio de Janeiro (Brésil) (AFP) – Brazil football star Neymar is ruled out of upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after a thigh injury scuppered his recall to the national team, says head coach Dorival Junior.
Assinie-Mafia (Côte d’Ivoire) (AFP) – His self-described “naive” style of paintings, mostly inspired by “street children”, has made Ivorian artist Aboudia one of the world’s bestselling artists despite the resistance and hardships along the way. “I talk a lot about the children who are on the street. Basically, it’s not where they belong,” he states.
London (AFP) – Newly appointed England football coach Thomas Tuchel says the national team “needs to reflect the Premier League,” describing the domestic competition as “the strongest league in the world”. Speaking at Wembley Stadium, in his first press conference in the job, Tuchel says his England side will “implement a direct style” and “increase the intensity in our game.”
The Hague (AFP) – As former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears via video at the International Criminal Court, dozens of demonstrators gather outside the building, voicing both support and opposition for the 79-year-old. Duterte has been charged with the crime against humanity of murder over thousands killed during his time in office in campaigns against drug users and dealers, rights groups say. Victims’ families have welcomed the trial, while Duterte’s supporters believe he was “kidnapped” and sent to The Hague amid a falling out with the ruling Marcos family.
Ahmedabad (India) (AFP) – Revellers across India smear and throw colours at each other, dancing to music as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colours. Holi is observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month. “It’s significance lies in bringing people together,” says Bhavik, a reveller covered in purple powder.
Naypyidaw (Myanmar) (AFP) – The World Food Programme will be forced to stop providing vital food aid in Myanmar, “because of a shortfall in funding” says Michael Dunford, head of operations for the agency in the war-torn country. “We had aspirations to be reaching up to 1.1 million people.” The lack of funding is down to donors not meeting WFP’s requirements. “This includes the US, but it’s definitely not only the US,” says Dunford.
Tirana (AFP) – TikTok has been banned in Albania after authorities in the country ordered all internet service providers to block access to the Chinese-owned social media app. The ban was first announced last December after the killing of a 14-year-old, the culmination of a confrontation that started on TikTok. “Social media is holding our children hostage,” says teacher Trendelina Zhupa.
