By Friday, visitors were spreading picnic sheets beneath pale pink canopies in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, one of the capital’s most popular hanami (flower-viewing) spots. This year, the cherry blossoms arrived five days earlier than the seasonal average, marking an early start to spring gatherings, family outings, and one of the…
Kenya’s floriculture sector, valued at over $800 million, faces mounting losses as ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupts trade routes and export markets. Growers report up to $1.4 million in weekly losses as shipments to key markets falter. Export Challenges Following attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,…
The United Nations on Wednesday passed a landmark resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity,” a decision hailed across West Africa and by the African Union. “This is a historic moment,” said Wenceslas Avosse from Benin, celebrating the UN’s acknowledgment of the injustices suffered by…
Footage released by the Iranian Red Crescent shows damaged buildings and emergency teams responding to ongoing attacks, as Israel confirmed it carried out a “wide‑scale” series of strikes targeting Tehran and the West Azerbaijan province in north-west Iran. The attacks come amid reports from US media that Washington is considering…
Heavy overnight rainfall has caused widespread flooding and traffic disruption in Sharjah, as authorities respond to one of the latest severe weather events to hit the United Arab Emirates. Emergency crews, including police units and water-pumping teams, were deployed across the emirate to clear flooded roads and manage congestion after…
The International Olympic Committee has approved a new eligibility policy excluding transgender women from competing in women’s events at the Olympic Games, marking a significant shift in global sports governance ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Announced Thursday, the policy states that participation in female categories at IOC-sanctioned events will…
Authorities in Cape Town are facing growing scrutiny over plans to construct a $7 million anti-crime wall along a notorious stretch of the N2 highway, widely referred to by locals as the “Hell Run.” The nine-kilometre route connecting the city centre to Cape Town International Airport has long been associated…
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected accusations that Moscow is providing intelligence support to Iran, as geopolitical tensions escalate between Russia and Western powers over developments in the Middle East. Speaking onThursday in an interview with France Télévision, Lavrov acknowledged that Russia maintains “very close relations” with Iran under…
At least 20 people have been killed following devastating landslides in southern Tanzania, as intense seasonal rains continue to wreak havoc across the region. The disaster struck early Wednesday in the Mbeya Region, where prolonged rainfall and strong winds triggered landslides that engulfed homes. Authorities in Rungwe District confirmed the…
On the sandy shores of Gabon, the journey from nest to ocean is a perilous race for survival for newly hatched sea turtles one that underscores both the fragility of marine ecosystems and the growing challenges facing conservation efforts. Each hatchling must scramble roughly 10 metres across open sand to…