Santiago (AFP) – The coffin of Chile’s former president Sebastian Pinera is removed from the Former National Congress building in Santiago following a ceremony led by current President Gabriel Boric. The coffin is being taken to a cathedral in the capital for a main funeral. Pinera died on February 6 while piloting his helicopter in the south of the country. IMAGES
Santiago (AFP) – Coffin transporting body of former president Sebastian Pinera arrives at cathedral as the country holds State funeral. The 74-year-old billionaire died on February 6th when the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake. IMAGES
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor, Eduardo Paes, hands over the keys of the city to Rei Momo, the king of carnival, to mark start of the festivities. IMAGES
Santiago (AFP) – A hearse carrying the coffin of former president Sebastian Pinera arrives at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, following a ceremony at the Former National Congress and a state funeral in the capital city. IMAGES
Brasília (AFP) – Images of Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia as Brazilian police launched dozens of raids targeting ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who was ordered to surrender his passport, and his inner circle over allegations of orchestrating an invasion of the seat of power last year. IMAGES
Schönefeld (Germany) (AFP) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urges the European Union and United States to step up efforts to supply aid to war-torn Ukraine, ahead of a visit to Washington for talks with President Joe Biden. Scholz’s visit to key ally the United States comes as a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv pushed by Biden has become held up in the Senate amid Republican opposition.
Reykjavik (AFP) – Aircraft taxi on the tarmac near Reykjavik against a backdrop of a volcanic eruption from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula, the third eruption to hit the area since December, with authorities raising the alert level as a key water pipe was threatened. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. Until March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries.
Kharan (Pakistan) (AFP) – Millions of Pakistanis go to the polls to vote in an election with Imran Khan, the country’s most popular politician, in jail and the military-backed Nawaz Sharif tipped to win. The vote has been mired by allegations of vote-rigging and a bloody election campaign, including two blasts on 7 February that killed 28 people.
Reykjanes (Iceland) (AFP) – A river of glowing lava flows from an erupting volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, the third to hit the area since December. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. Until March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries.
Bogotá (AFP) – Hundreds of Colombians rally in support of President Gustavo Petro in the capital of Bogota. IMAGES
Santiago (AFP) – Chileans walk around the casket of former President Sebastian Pinera to pay their respects inside the Former National Congress in Santiago, where he lies in state until the main funeral on February 9. The 74-year-old billionaire served two non-consecutive terms in office, leaving his final mandate in 2022. IMAGES
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – At least four people have been killed in Kyiv, while one person was killed in the southern Mykolaiv region following a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine. “The windows were broken, there is no kitchen, no balcony. Total devastation,” says one Kyiv resident.
