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Buenos Aires (AFP) – Thousands of women and activists chant and cheer outside Argentina’s Congress building in Buenos Aires to mark International Women’s Day. IMAGES

Santiago (AFP) – Hundreds of Chileans join a march and chant to demand their rights in Santiago on International Women’s Day. IMAGES

New York (AFP) – An additional 1,000 New York police officers and another 1,000 members of the National Guard have been deployed across the city’s subway system as authorities in the United States’ largest metropolis try to crack down on a recent surge in violence. In January, major crime was up almost 50 percent on the transport system when compared to the same period in 2023. The influx of security personnel will help implement a new program to ban violent passengers with bag searches and patrols set to increase.

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he “respects completely” the decision made by his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp to step down at the end of the season. Speaking ahead of the sides’ Premier League clash on Sunday, Guardiola hails Erling Haaland’s “massive” contribution, saying that the Norwegian forward is getting back to his best “step by step” following a recent injury lay-off.

Rafah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – In the midst of a humanitarian crisis, with warnings of mass starvation mounting, people in Rafah, southern Gaza, are buying Ramadan lanterns in an effort to raise spirits ahead of the holy month. For Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is a time of prayer and joyful evening meals, but in Gaza “there is no joy deep inside,” says one man displaced from the Jabalia refugee camp.

Abiquiu (United States) (AFP) – After months of strict secrecy, the replica town used in Christopher Nolan’s historical biopic “Oppenheimer” is set for a tourist boom. In the real city of Los Alamos – an hour’s drive from the set – officials have reported a leap in visitors since the billion-dollar film’s release last year and, amid the Oscars buzz, the owners of Ghost Ranch, where the set was built, are planning to start running “Oppenheimer Tours”.

Beijing (AFP) – China criticises the US for “abusing its national power,” following the arrest of a Chinese Google software engineer over the alleged theft of trade secrets. Linwei Ding, 38, also known as Leon Ding, was arrested in California on Wednesday after allegedly transferring confidential information from Google’s network to a personal account while being secretly affiliated with Chinese-based companies in the AI industry.

Larnaca (Cyprus) (AFP) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says a maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gaza will open “hopefully this Sunday”, establishing a route for aid deliveries into the war-torn territory.

Bangkok (AFP) – Hundreds of women march from Bangkok’s Democracy Monument to Government House, the offices of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Decked out in purple, many of the marchers demand improvements to the kingdom’s laws on maternity leave.

Dajabón (Dominican Republic) (AFP) – While tension and violence caused by criminal gangs persist in Haiti’s capital, in the border province of Dajabon, in the Dominican Republic, commercial exchange continues as normal. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has been in turmoil for years with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence that has left its economy and public health system in tatters. IMAGES