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Lima (AFP) – Peru’s ousted ex-president Pedro Castillo goes on trial in Lima for attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree to avoid impeachment. Castillo, a leftist former schoolteacher who was dubbed Peru’s “first poor president” on his election in 2021, has been in preventive custody since his failed bid to disband parliament in December 2022. IMAGES

Kawazu (Japan) (AFP) – Thousands flock to the town of Kawazu to see early-blooming cherry blossoms. Unlike those found in Tokyo and Kyoto, Kawazu’s sakura trees bloom in early February — offering some of the first blossoms in the country. Located around 175 kilometres south of Tokyo, Kawazu boasts over 800 cherry blossom trees that stretch for about 4 kilometres along the local river.

Allentown (United States) (AFP) – The parishioners of St Mary’s Ukrainian church in Allentown, Pennsylvania are still in shock following US President Donald Trump’s stunning “slap” of Ukraine’s president as they gather for Sunday mass.

Karachi (AFP) – Scrabble has a cult youth following in Pakistan, a legacy of the English language brought by the British colonial period but which the country has adapted into its own dialect since independence. Young Pakistanis reign supreme in the field of competitive Scrabble — boasting the current youth world champion and more past victors than any other nation since the tournament debuted in 2006.

Schiltigheim (AFP) – What if the shoes you were wearing had been designed using generative artificial intelligence (AI)? In Strasbourg, French start-up Imki is developing AI models for ready-to-wear brands to speed up the design process.

Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accuses Hamas militants of hoarding supplies, saying they have “enough food” in Gaza to “fuel an obesity epidemic”, a day after Israel blocked aid deliveries amid an impasse in truce talks.

Mainz (AFP) – A street carnival in the German city of Mainz celebrates Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), one of the most important carnival days, mocking politicians with depictions on floats from Russian President Vladimir Putin to his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Jakarta (AFP) – Houses in parts of Indonesia’s capital are submerged up to their roofs, and residents wade through chest-deep floodwater as torrential rain hits Bogor, an area south of Jakarta. Over a thousand residents have been affected, according to the local disaster mitigation agency, leaving many temporarily displaced.

Mexiko-Stadt (AFP) – Hundreds of people, including firefighters and uniformed security guards, participate in a ‘Tower running’ race, climbing 720 steps or 42 stories of the iconic Torre Latinoamericana skyscraper in Mexico City.

Genf (AFP) – The UN rights chief voices deep concern over the United States’ “fundamental shift” in direction since President Donald Trump’s return to power. Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Turk voices his strongest rebuke to date of the dramatic about-face seen in the United States in recent weeks.

Thrissur (India) (AFP) – They flap their ears and squirt water from waving trunks, but these elephants are life-size mechanical replicas rolled out to replace the endangered animals in India’s Hindu temples.