Category: World

Sloth fever, a rare and mysterious virus first identified in 1955, has resurfaced in the Amazon, raising concerns among health experts as it spreads through local populations. The virus is transmitted primarily by the biting midge, Culicoides paraensis, a small insect found in the region's humid forests. Although the virus has long been on the radar of researchers, its increasing prevalence among humans has prompted renewed investigations.The virus was initially discovered in sloths, from which it derived its name. However,

The American Heart Association has made significant changes to its blood pressure guidelines, sparking discussions among health experts about the implications for treatment and prevention. Under the revised norms, a blood pressure reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg is now considered optimal. Previously, figures above this threshold were seen as the standard for healthy adults. This revision is expected to influence how blood pressure is monitored and managed across healthcare systems worldwide.The AHA's new guidelines are part of

Wall Street surged on Friday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s address at the Jackson Hole symposium signposted a shift in policy direction, lifting the Dow to its highest closing level of 2025. The Dow climbed by around 1.9 per cent, the S&P 500 rose 1.5 per cent, and the Nasdaq jumped by roughly 1.9 per cent. This rally reversed a recent downturn and came amid rising expectations for an interest-rate cut in September.Investor sentiment pivoted sharply as Powell acknowledged

Labour unrest at the CHEP plant in Boksburg, South Africa, escalated on Thursday when approximately 110 workers initiated a strike following two months of failed negotiations. The dispute centres around unresolved wage issues and conditions that employees claim have been neglected by management. The workforce, employed at the CHEP site in Jet Park, halted operations after talks between the unions and management reached an impasse, with no compromise on the table.CHEP, a subsidiary of the Sydney-based Brambles group, operates globally

Royal Caribbean’s latest cruise ship, the Star of the Seas, has embarked on its maiden voyage, claiming the title of the world’s largest cruise ship. Set to join its sister vessel, Icon of the Seas, this groundbreaking debut signals the cruise line's commitment to pushing the limits of luxury and innovation at sea.At a staggering 1,200 feet in length and capable of carrying over 9,000 passengers and crew, the Star of the Seas towers over other ships in the fleet

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Cote d'Ivoire in a massive show of defiance against President Alassane Ouattara’s push for a fourth consecutive term. The protests, which began in the nation’s largest cities, have sparked intense debates over the future of democracy in a country that has long been a political bellwether in West Africa.The protests erupted after Ouattara, 83, announced his decision to seek another term, effectively sidelining his two main political rivals. The move comes

The U. S. has unveiled its largest immigrant detention centre, a facility designed to accommodate thousands of individuals awaiting deportation or asylum hearings. Located in the state of Texas, the new centre has sparked debates over the country’s immigration policies and its handling of detainees, especially amid ongoing concerns about the conditions of such facilities.Spanning over 1,500 acres, the facility is part of the U. S. government's increased efforts to manage the surge in immigration at the southern border. The

Hurricane Erin has intensified into a Category 2 storm as it pounds the Outer Banks in North Carolina, generating life-threatening conditions along the East Coast. With maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, the storm is unleashing dangerous surf and rip currents, urging authorities to issue urgent warnings for residents and tourists in the affected areas. As Erin continues to churn across the Atlantic, meteorologists have predicted further deterioration in conditions, with hazardous effects expected to extend well beyond the initial

North Korea has established a covert long-range missile base near its border with China, reportedly housing some of the regime's most advanced strategic weapons. The existence of this facility was uncovered through a combination of satellite imagery and intelligence reports, marking another step in the regime's ambitious missile development programme.The base, located in a remote area of North Korea’s northeast, is believed to be operational and fully stocked with missile systems capable of reaching distant targets, including South Korea, Japan,

The White House has launched an official account on TikTok, sparking fresh debate over the platform's role in US politics and its uncertain future in the country. This unexpected move comes as the Biden administration continues to scrutinise TikTok’s operations within the United States, with concerns primarily centred around data privacy and national security.The account, created under the handle @whitehouse, aims to reach a younger audience and engage with the public in a more direct and informal manner. Despite the

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health warning regarding a specific brand of shrimp sold at Walmart stores across the country. The advisory, which comes after routine checks, highlights concerns over the presence of radioactive material detected in the product. The shrimp, which is imported from overseas, has sparked alarm among health experts, prompting an immediate call for consumers to dispose of any affected items.According to the FDA, the shrimp in question was found to

The U. S. Department of State's 2024 report on Zimbabwe paints a grim picture of human rights conditions under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government. It highlights a consistent pattern of violations, ranging from repression of political opposition to systemic abuses of freedom of expression. Despite mounting international scrutiny, authorities in Zimbabwe remain largely unaccountable for these actions, allowing abuses to persist unchecked.According to the U. S. report, Zimbabwe's government has continued to curtail civil liberties with impunity. Political opposition leaders, activists,

Ethiopia’s foreign direct investment reached $4 billion for the fiscal year ending July 2025, according to the country’s Investment Commission. This represents a modest 2.2% increase from the previous year, signalling a steady inflow of capital despite economic challenges. The rise in FDI comes as the country prepares for a major bond restructuring, which aims to alleviate its mounting debt burden.The FDI figure is particularly significant given the global economic slowdown and the internal challenges Ethiopia faces, such as

Elon Musk has reportedly suspended his ambitious plans to create a new political party, instead shifting his attention back to his array of business ventures. According to the Wall Street Journal, sources close to the billionaire entrepreneur have confirmed that Musk now intends to focus on his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, which recently rebranded as X.The idea of a new political movement was first floated by Musk earlier this year, capturing the attention of both supporters and critics

A growing crisis unfolds in Saint-Louis as families uprooted from the Langue de Barbarie peninsula remain in precarious limbo at the Khar Yalla site, more than nine years after coastal erosion rendered their homes uninhabitable. Despite the introduction of temporary shelters at Diougop under the SERRP programme, many displaced persons continue to confront chronic hardship, vulnerability and the erosion of hope.Dozens of families originally from Guet-Ndar, Gokhou-Mbathie and Santhiaba were relocated to Khar Yalla when the advancing sea swallowed their

Four technology firms from Australia, Nigeria, the UAE and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint venture named AfricAI, aimed at creating enterprise-grade artificial intelligence solutions specifically designed for Africa’s diverse markets. The pact marks a strategic push for digital sovereignty and localised innovation across the continent.Lakeba Group of Australia, Next Digital of Nigeria, AqlanX of the UAE and Agentic Dynamic of the Netherlands are the founding partners behind AfricAI. Nigeria will serve as the

A 13-year-old boy has died following a shooting at a home in Pimicikamak Cree Nation, and a 17-year-old has been charged with manslaughter. RCMP from the Cross Lake detachment responded at about 5:40 p. m. on Saturday after reports of gunfire. The victim was transported to a local nursing station, where he was pronounced dead. The 17-year-old was arrested at the scene and a firearm seized, police confirmed.This incident has cast a sombre mood over the Pimicikamak community, located

French authorities have initiated dialogue with Mali to secure the immediate release of a French national working at the embassy in Bamako, whose detention Bamako’s military regime justifies with allegations of involvement in a destabilisation plot. The French foreign ministry has dismissed these allegations as baseless, emphasising that the detained individual is entitled to protections under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.French officials argue that the embassy staffer’s detention breaches longstanding diplomatic norms and demands swift clarification of the matter.

Cambridge Dictionary has added over 6,000 entries to its online lexicon this year, including the slang “skibidi,” alongside other terms that reflect internet-era linguistic shifts. Lexical programme manager Colin McIntosh emphasised that each word chosen shows signs of enduring use, based on analysis via the Cambridge English Corpus containing more than two billion instances of written and spoken English.“Skibidi” entered the dictionary with a flexible definition — it can mean “cool” or “bad,” or serve as a humorous placeholder with

Cocoa processing in Ivory Coast saw a significant decline in July, with the nation’s cocoa grind dropping by 31.2% compared to the same period last year. According to figures released by the Ivory Coast Exporters’ Association, the volume of cocoa ground during the month amounted to just 39,301 metric tons, marking a sharp fall from the 57,125 metric tons processed in July 2023. This downturn has raised concerns within the industry, particularly among exporters and grinders, who are grappling with

LUSAKA, Zambia — The largest climate adaptation event of the year wrapped up in Lusaka, where world leaders, policy makers, and experts issued a strong appeal for increased financial commitments to tackle the accelerating impacts of climate change. Hosted in Zambia, the UN Climate Adaptation Expo served as a key platform for discussing strategies to protect vulnerable populations and economies from the worsening climate crisis.The Expo, held in the Zambian capital, brought together over 2,000 participants from across the globe,