Wintzenbach (AFP) – Storks are returning to eastern France earlier and earlier, with milder winters resulting in some birds avoiding the arduous migration to Africa altogether. Many are drawn to the abundant food available in waste disposal centres across Europe.
London (AFP) – People take part in a two-hour “digital detox” night organised by the “Offline Club” in London, with over 150 young adults aged mostly between 20 and 35 eager to spend an evening off their screens. According to the UK’s telecoms regulator Ofcom, young Brits spend an average of four hours and three minutes a day glued to their smartphones.
Brasília (AFP) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accuses US President Donald Trump of wanting to “become an emperor of the world” and “chime in on all countries and public policies against migrants.” Lula’s comments come after Trump lashed out at Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, branding him a “dictator” and blaming him for Russia’s invasion of his country.
Rafah (AFP) – Trucks loaded with caravans and bulldozers pass through the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip, as Hamas handed over the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages to the Red Cross early in the morning as part of a truce deal with Israel. Hamas had previously accused Israel of holding up the delivery of heavy machinery needed to clear war debris.
Villa del Rosario (Colombia) (AFP) – Tolls destroyed at the Colombia-Venezuela border after ELN guerrilla groups allegedly carried out explosive attacks. Four bombings, including one involving a car bomb, were carried out between February 19 and 20 in two Colombian cities bordering Venezuela, possibly by ELN guerrillas, according to officials. IMAGES
Peking (AFP) – China calls for the United States to show “mutual respect” in managing commercial tensions, after President Donald Trump said a trade deal with Beijing was “possible”. “Trade and tariff wars have no winners,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun says at a regular press briefing.
Habarana (Sri Lanka) (AFP) – A Sri Lankan passenger train has derailed after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island’s worst such wildlife accident, police said.
TBOUNG KHMUM (Cambodia) (AFP) – Cambodia is still littered with unexploded ordnance from decades of conflict, and US President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze virtually all American aid has forced many long-running projects to clear the deadly debris to grind to a halt.
Seoul (AFP) – Image of a convoy thought to be carrying South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arriving at the Seoul Central District Court to attend his first criminal hearing. He is the country’s first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings open Thursday on his bid to impose martial law. IMAGES
People outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital offer their well-wishes to Pope Francis, who has been a patient at the facility since last week. “I hope for the best,” says medical student Silvia Roda. The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted with bronchitis after suffering breathing difficulties and the Vatican has since revealed that he has developed pneumonia in both lungs. “He has so much to do for young people,” says Annamaria Santoro, “it’s very sad.”
Istra (Russia) (AFP) – In Russia, the Kremlin is increasingly instilling support for the armed forces in the classroom, in bid to ensure its youngest citizens are behind the “special military operation” in Ukraine. Russian children are being encouraged to join pro-military youth movements, and thousands learn from text books that justify the Ukraine operation as the latest in a string of successful Russian and Soviet campaigns to defend the motherland.
Moscow (AFP) – Speaking to lawmakers in Russia’s State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praises US President Donald Trump for blaming the Ukraine conflict on moves to admit Kyiv into the NATO military alliance.
