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Lima (AFP) – A massive march against the Peruvian government of President Dina Boluarte ended with clashes between police and protesters in downtown Lima. The violent street protests happened hours after a Roman Catholic cardinal voiced dismay that the nation’s Congress again declined to advance elections to defuse Peru’s political crisis. Thousands of protesters skirmished with riot police once night fell, scattering amid tear gas volleys but regrouping in an effort to reach Peru’s Congress.

Chile (Chile) (AFP) – The Chilean government extends a state of disaster to include the region of Araucania as hundreds of forest fires whipped up amid a blistering heat wave in south-central Chile. The regions of Nuble and Biobio were already under a disaster designation. The death toll in forest fires raging through southern Chile has risen to at least 23 people, officials said Saturday night.

Idlib (Syria) (AFP) – Snow covers a camp for internally displaced Syrians in the Khirbet al-Joz area, in the west of the northwestern Idlib province near the border with Turkey. The cold temperatures have exacerbated the already difficult living conditions. “We were rushing to sweep the snow off the tents. We have children. We were afraid the tents would collapse on them due to the heavy snow,” says Um Ahmed.

Juba (AFP) – After two years of delay cause by the pontiff’s troubled knee, Pope Francis finally makes his promised visit to South Sudan – the first papal visit to the country since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. His trip to the country raises hopes for a peace brokered by the Vatican – but finds a nation still divided and traumatised by a ethnic conflict.

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Thousands of people dressed in white take to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to lay flowers and other gifts for Yemanja, the goddess of the sea in the Afro-Brazilian religions of Umbanda and Candomble.

Lviv (Ukraine) (AFP) – At fifteen private clinics across Ukraine, a new donor-funded project sets out to treat civilians disfigured by severe scars and burns as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Singapore (AFP) – After two years of digital and hybrid shows due to the Covid pandemic, Singapore’s annual multicultural Chingay Parade returns in person to celebrate the city’s diverse population in style, with over 3,000 performers taking part.

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – After hosting a summit with hosting European Union chief Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that it was “possible” to start official talks on Ukraine joining the EU as soon as this year. Zelensky has long pressed for a speedy accession to the EU as Ukraine fends off Russia’s nearly year-long invasion.

Washington (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls it “irresponsible” of China to send a surveillance balloon into US airspace after he scrapped a planned visit to Beijing over the issue. Moments before Blinken’s decision to cancel his trip, China issued a rare statement of regret over the balloon – which it insists was a civilian airship for “mainly meteorological purposes” – and blamed winds for pushing it into US airspace. A second balloon has since been spotted over Latin America.

Bakhmut (Ukraine) (AFP) – Constant artillery exchanges, shelling, gunfire, drones buzzing in the sky – everyday life in Ukraine’s Bakhmut is living hell for the 7,000 people still stuck in the hotly contested city, which has seen most of its pre-war population of 75,000 flee. But even in the face the prospect of Russian occupation, those remaining refuse to leave.