UK

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (AFP) – Revellers of the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school perform during the first night of carnival at the Marques de Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. IMAGES

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil kicks off its carnival parades at the Anhembi Sambadrome in São Paulo. With an explosion of colours, the samba schools showcase vibrant costumes and lively performances in the parades.

Cheonan (South Korea) (AFP) – South Koreans carry torches and national flags as they march through the city of Cheonan to celebrate the March First Movement for independence. The movement began on 1 March 1919, when South Koreans stood up to Japanese colonial rule and proclaimed independence, and spread nationwide. Thousands were killed and arrested as the movement was met with brutality by Japanese authorities.

Paris (AFP) – The winners of the 50th Césars, the French film awards, react after receiving their prizes. Director Jacques Audiard says he was “touched” by the triumph of his film Emilia Perez, which won seven trophies, including Best Film and Best Director, despite the controversy surrounding former tweets by actress Karla Sofia Gascon that tainted his run for the awards.

Hanoi (AFP) – In the last three months, the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi has regularly topped a list of the world’s most polluted major cities, leaving its nine million residents struggling to breathe and even to see through a thick blanket of smog.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians on a central street in Kyiv react to the heated meeting at the White House between US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US president openly berated Zelensky for not being “thankful”, and later accused the Ukrainian leader of “not being ready for peace” and having “disrespected” the United States in the “cherished Oval Office”.

Ipiales (Colombia) (AFP) – Indigenous communities in Colombia have taken control of the international Rumichaca Bridge on the border with Ecuador, allowing only intermittent pedestrian passage while blocking vehicle traffic. Members of the Los Pastos, Quillasingas, and Awa communities are said to be protesting the destruction of two bridges connecting both nations in northwestern Carchi. IMAGES

Johannesburg (AFP) – “The Grand Prix is definitely coming in 2027,” says South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie, after the government launches the official bid process for prospective organisers of a future Formula 1 race in the country. The two major cities vying for the sport’s return are Johannesburg and Cape Town. A committee set up by McKenzie will choose the winning bid in the third quarter of the year, a committee member tells AFP.

Porto (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron says that the EU would impose “reciprocal” tariffs on US steel and aluminium if President Donald Trump moves ahead with the threatened 25 percent duties on European imports.

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (AFP) – King Momo Caio Cesar Dutra receives the keys to the city of Rio from Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes during the official opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. IMAGES

Neu Delhi (AFP) – The European Union is exploring a security and defence partnership with India, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says before meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The pact would work to counter common threats, including “cross-border terrorism, maritime security threats” as well as cyber-attacks.

Bukavu (AFP) – Two explosions that rocked the city of Bukavu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after a meeting of the Rwanda-backed M23 group Thursday have killed at least 11 people and wounded around 60, according to a hospital source. The blasts occurred after a rally held by the Rwanda-backed M23 group, but it was not immediately clear what the source was.