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San Juan Teotihuacán (Mexico) (AFP) – Mexicans gather at the pre-Hispanic pyramids of Teotihuacan on the outskirts of Mexico City for a tradition that celebrates spring equinox.

Cairo (AFP) – A major ground operation in Rafah would worsen the humanitarian crisis warns US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. After meeting with Blinken in Tel Aviv, Benjamin Netanyahu says he will go into Rafah in the Gaza Strip even without US support.

Beijing (AFP) – China sees major differences between Russia and Ukraine on the idea of a negotiated settlement to end the war, Beijing’s Eurasia envoy Li Hui says in a briefing after wrapping up a tour.

New Delhi (AFP) – India’s opposition says the government’s freezing of its bank accounts has left it with no money to fight the heavily funded ruling party in general elections that begin next month. “The idea that India is the world’s largest democracy, it’s a lie. It’s a complete lie,” says party leader Rahul Gandhi. Several of the Congress Party’s bank accounts were frozen in February because of the alleged late filing of tax returns.

Santos (Brazil) (AFP) – Images have surfaced of the Federal Police headquarters in Santos, on the coast of Sao Paulo, where former Brazilian football player Robinho was held after his arrest. He was sentenced to nine years in prison in Brazil for his involvement in a gang rape case in Italy dating back to 2017. IMAGES

Cupertino (United States) (AFP) – The US Department of Justice sued Apple on Thursday for illegally maintaining a monopoly for its iPhone by stifling competition and imposing exorbitant costs on consumers.

Paris (AFP) – Violet Chachki is the first male-bodied drag queen ever to dance at the fabled Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris, where she hopes her appearance will help “spread the therapy” she herself got from drag.

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – The iconic Ipanema beach is packed with people as a heat wave continues to stifle Brazil on the first day of the fall season in the southern hemisphere. On Sunday, Rio de Janeiro’s heat index hit 62.3 degrees Celsius, the highest in a decade.

West Aceh (Indonesia) (AFP) – Sixty nine Rohingya refugees, clinging to the upturned hull of a boat, were rescued at sea on Thursday off Indonesia’s Aceh region after their ship sank.

Pesquería (Mexico) (AFP) – Mexican soldiers and police guard the scene where at least five bodies and several charred skeletal remains, including five skulls, have been found on a highway in the industrial state of Nuevo Leon, in northern Mexico. IMAGES

Badung (Indonesia) (AFP) – A normally pristine beach on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali is awash with garbage – a bleak annual event caused by the yearly monsoon which has left tourists vexed and local officials scrambling to clean up.

Bến Tre (Vietnam) (AFP) – A prolonged heatwave and saline intrusion are causing a shortage of fresh water in Vietnam’s Ben Tre province, badly affecting crops and the livelihoods of local farmers.