As yellow fever spreads through Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is worth remembering how long people have been battling this disease. It is said that the capital city of the US might well have been Philadelphia if not for an epidemic of yellow fever in 1793 ... Read More »
Rio Olympics 2016: Spectacular closing ceremony as Olympic flag goes to Tokyo
The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo. The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana. Among the highlights were Tokyo’s impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade. “These were a ... Read More »
Poverty is a lack of hope: ‘hunger season’ in Sierra Leone
In the shadow of a ten-year civil war in which some 50,000 people lost their lives, Sierra Leone’s peace agreement of 2001 opened the door to the gradual disarmament of armed factions, ushering in a period of relative stability with signs of economic growth. Sierra Leone’s populations face a range ... Read More »
Omran: ‘the real face’ of Syria’s war
for those who do not know the meaning of the word “humane”, its the quality or state of being human. When radio reporter Herb Morrison saw the airship Hindenberg burst into flames in 1937, he blurted “Oh, the humanity!” meaning something like “what terrible human suffering!” Writers who use this ... Read More »
Russia to Support Weekly 48-Hour Humanitarian Ceasefires in Aleppo
The Russian Ministry of Defense backed a proposal from the UN Syria envoy to organize 48-hour weekly ceasefires to supply humanitarian relief to Aleppo citizens. The first truce could be organized as early as next week. The proposal – which was originally voiced last week by the UN Syria envoy ... Read More »
Kick-start your productivity: Stop these 9 time-wasting habits
Being productive, whether at work or at home, is beneficial for many reasons. It helps you achieve your goals faster, which could lead to promotional opportunities, a higher salary or more free time to do the things you enjoy. The sense of direction and purpose can be great for confidence ... Read More »
Qatar plane makes emergency landing in Turkey
Turkey’s state-run news agency says a Qatari plane has made an emergency landing at Istanbul’s main airport shortly after take-off. In a statement released on its Twitter account, Qatar Airways said flight QR240, headed for Doha, was forced to return to Ataturk Airport after being hit by a bird. All ... Read More »
Civil war costs Yemen $14 billion in damage and economic losses
The cost from damage to infrastructure and economic losses in Yemen’s civil war is more than $14 billion so far, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters that highlights the effort needed to rebuild the country, where more than half the population is suffering from malnutrition. “The conflict has ... Read More »
Donald Trump defends Milwaukee police shooting
US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said initial evidence suggests the shooting of a black man by police in Milwaukee was justified. The killing of Sylville Smith in a predominantly African-American part of the city on Saturday led to protests. “We have to obey the laws or we don’t ... Read More »
US in largest detainee transfer under Obama
Guantanamo Bay, A detention facility on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba. The jail was opened by former US President George W Bush in January 2002 to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 11 September attacks in 2001 and the subsequent US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Some 779 men have ... Read More »