AFP UK

Vatican City (AFP) – Thousands of people, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, pay their respects to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. They began queueing before dawn to view the former pope’s body, which was transferred from the monastery to St.Peter’s Basilica. This video contains images of former pope Benedict XVI’s body, which some viewers may find disturbing.

Uppsala (Sweden) (AFP) – Under the Instagram handle ‘crossfitpriest’, Swedish hospital chaplain Oskar Arngarden shares fitness and spiritual guidance with his 30,000 followers, with a view of helping them heal body, mind and soul. While the negative effects of social media are well documented, Arngarden says social media can also be a good place to talk about “faith and health, and… our existential, mental health.”

Tokyo (AFP) – Japanese Emperor Naruhito makes his first public New Year’s greetings since 2020, resuming an annual tradition with caution as the nation and the royal family gradually return to normalcy.

Kherson (Ukraine) (AFP) – A children’s hospital was struck by several missiles just minutes after a New Year’s address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack started a fire at the hospital in Kherson, in the south of the country. The Ukrainian Presidency says more than 700 of the building’s windows were shattered.

Santos (Brazil) (AFP) – Football legend Pele’s body arrives at Urbano Caldeira Stadium. Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. IMAGES

Ureña (Venezuela) (AFP) – Venezuela and Colombia on Sunday reopened the last stretch of their shared border that had remained closed for years in a diplomatic dispute. “The former brotherhood is back,” says mayor of Andres Bello municipality, “there are many people who have their relatives on the other side of the border.”

The Hague (AFP) – Thousands of people plunge into the North Sea in Scheveningen, a seaside resort in The Hague, the Netherlands, to celebrate the New Year.

Dubai (AFP) – Fireworks light up the sky in Dubai over the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, to welcome the new year.

Taipei (AFP) – Images of the 360° fireworks show on the 4 facades of the Taipei 101 tower to celebrate the arrival of the year 2023.

Medellín (Colombia) (AFP) – An albino ocelot spends her days hunting dummy prey and climbing small logs at a conservation park in Medellín, where scientists interpret the unprecedented find as a symptom of the deforestation of the feline’s natural habitat in Colombia.

Moscow (AFP) – Russian leader Vladimir Putin tells Chinese President Xi Jinping he is keen to ramp up military cooperation and hailed the two countries’ efforts to counter Western influence.

Lima (AFP) – Atop a sacred hill in Lima, Peruvian shamans scatter coca leaves and flower petals while a snake named Maria slithers over posters of world leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It’s the time of year that the shamans beat drums, chant, blow smoke and drink a potent hallucinogenic brew to make their divinations for the 12 months ahead.