AFP UK

Barcelona (AFP) – After a Franck Kessie goal in the final minutes helped his team to a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid, Barcelona coach Xavi says he is “very satisfied” with his team. “I think it’s time to appreciate what these players are doing… I think we’re having an amazing season”, he adds. The victory, which moved Barcelona 12 points clear at the top of La Liga, dents Madrid’s ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019.

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) – At end of the week of Valencia’s Las Fallas festival, the traditional Cremà brings the celebrations to a close in a pyrotechnic blaze. The wooden and papier-mâché monuments planted in the streets of Valencia are set alight on the night of 19th March, the feast day of the city’s patron Saint Joseph, with many of the effigies filled with firecrackers for good measure.

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh blasts remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Palestinians do not exist as “racist”. “There are no Palestinians, because there are no Palestinian people,” Smotrich said on Sunday. Smotrich last year became a minister in the cabinet of Israel’s veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu, which analysts have called the most right-wing government in the country’s history.

Machala (Ecuador) (AFP) – Firefighters and emergency services clear the streets in the town of Machala in Ecuador’s El Oro province, a day after a deadly 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Saturday’s quake, whose epicenter was in the Ecuadoran municipality of Balao, near the border with Peru, left dozens dead.

Pretoria (AFP) – Police offers are deployed in Pretoria as South Africa braces for protests after a leftwing party called for a “national shut-down”, sparking fears of a repeat of unrest that turned deadly two years ago. Authorities said there would be a heavy police presence to deal with any possible violence, after the third largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) urged South Africans to take to the streets and bring the country to a halt.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – The white-coloured humanoid “Garmi” does not look much different from a typical robot — it stands on a platform with wheels and is equipped with a black screen on which two blue circles acting as eyes are attached. But retired German doctor Guenter Steinebach, 78, said: “For me, this robot is a dream.” Not only is Garmi able to perform diagnostics on patients, it can also provide care and treatment for them. Or at least, that is the plan.

Mariupol (Ukraine) (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a surprise trip to Mariupol, according to video distributed by the Kremlin, his first visit to territory captured from Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s offensive

Dublin (AFP) – Ireland Head coach Andy Farrell says it is “unbelievably fitting” that “the greatest player to play for Ireland”, Johnny Sexton, ended his Six Nations career by captaining the Irish to the Grand Slam.

Machala (Ecuador) (AFP) – At least 14 people were killed, several were wounded and buildings were damaged in a powerful earthquake that shook Peru and Ecuador on Saturday 18.

Kigali (AFP) – Britain’s interior minister defends a controversial plan to deport asylum seekers arriving in the UK to Rwanda during a visit there, when she inspected the centres where they will be held.

Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis greets refugees brought to Europe by Christian charities, recognising their difficult journeys.

Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day — and tout Biden’s expected visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland for the anniversary of the Good Friday peace accords on April 10. Biden’s much-anticipated visit has led to speculation it could coincide with power-sharing restarting in Belfast. But Northern Ireland’s largest pro-UK party said it would not be rushed on giving its verdict on the Windsor Framework post-Brexit trade deal that could pave the way for a resumption of devolved governance in Northern Ireland.