Author: Maryam Sulaiman

‎Deep within the sun-baked savannas of southwestern Ethiopia’s Omo River Valley, the rhythmic sound of iron ankle bells echoes across the dirt. This is the heartland of the Hamar, a proud agro-pastoralist community of roughly 50,000 people.‎‎‎In a rapidly globalizing world, the Hamar have fiercely preserved a rich, visually stunning tapestry of social structures, where identity is worn like armor and marriage is a sacred contract sealed not by paper, but by cattle and courage.‎‎1. The Crucible of Manhood: The Ukuli Bula‎‎‎Before a Hamar man can even contemplate marriage, he must prove his readiness through the ‘Ukuli Bula’, the famous…

The death toll from the catastrophic twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has surged sharply to at least 188, with 971 others reported injured. The updated figures were confirmed on Thursday by National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez. The latest announcement marks a grim escalation from initial government assessments, which had placed the casualties at 32 dead and over 700 injured. According to Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, the crisis remains fluid as the country has been shaken by approximately 30 aftershocks following the dual main tremors. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the disaster was triggered by two massive earthquakes…

The recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States has successfully navigated its initial high-stakes days. This diplomatic framework lays down a potential roadmap toward a long-term resolution of the conflict initiated by the US and Israel nearly four months ago. While the agreement has withstood its first major hurdles, months of intricate political and technical negotiations remain, leaving many Iranians watching developments with a mix of anticipation and caution. For ordinary citizens, trading military conflict for diplomatic talks offers a welcome reprieve, even as daily economic hardships persist. “We got from daily bombing to talking…

A punishing summer heatwave has plunged western Europe into uncharted meteorological territory, breaking historic temperature records across France, the UK, and Spain. As emergency red alerts expand across the continent, tens of millions of citizens are confronting extreme weather conditions driven by a rapidly warming climate. Across the RegionThe sheer scale of the heatwave has left multiple European nations grappling with unprecedented heat thresholds: France marked its hottest day since records began in 1947 on Wednesday, with the national temperature indicator peaking at 30°C. In Paris, atmospheric temperatures soared to nearly 41°C. The United Kingdom recorded its hottest June day…

‎‎Frustration reached a boiling point among Nigerian citizens currently stranded in South Africa as sharp divisions emerged over the federal government’s handling of their repatriation.‎‎The brewing tension was captured in a video, showing a stark contrast between official diplomatic appeals and the raw anger of citizens left waiting in difficult conditions during the winter season.‎‎‎The confrontation began during an address by Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, the Nigerian Consul General to South Africa. Attempting to rally the crowd into a show of gratitude and patience, Okey-Uche led a call-and-response, urging those present to thank the administration.‎‎‎”I want to hear you say thank…

Story from TITI AJAYI MOGADISHU, Somalia — For millions of Somalis, the struggle to find enough food has become a daily battle. Across large parts of the country, families are facing worsening hunger as prolonged drought, conflict, displacement and rising living costs continue to erode their ability to survive. Humanitarian agencies warn that millions of people are at risk as food insecurity deepens in one of Africa’s most fragile nations. Years of below-average rainfall have devastated crops and livestock, leaving many households without reliable sources of food or income. In rural communities, farmers have watched their fields dry up while…

Kenya’s Health Minister, Aden Duale, has ordered an immediate halt to the construction of a controversial, US-funded Ebola quarantine facility. The decision came just one day after a judge found him in contempt of court for ignoring a previous judicial ruling to pause the project. Appearing in court on Tuesday, Duale apologized to the bench and confirmed he had “directed the immediate and complete cessation” of all building activities at the military base in Nanyuki. The legal battle began last month when the High Court ordered a temporary halt to the construction of the 50-bed isolation facility, pending a hearing…

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has declared that he would completely ban tinted vehicles nationwide if he possessed the unilateral authority to do so, pointing to escalating security threats tied to their usage. Disu shared these thoughts in Abuja on Tuesday during a meeting with Afam Osigwe, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The discussion followed concerns raised by the NBA leader regarding the commercialization and renewal procedures of tinted glass permits.“I have a different view about it entirely. We have a security situation in the country now,” Disu remarked. “If I have my way, there…

Global index provider MSCI announced on Tuesday that South Korea will remain classified as an emerging market, while simultaneously extending its evaluation of Indonesia’s market status until November.The announcement disappointed officials in Seoul who had hoped South Korea would be added to MSCI’s Developed Markets watchlist, a necessary milestone before a nation’s market can be officially elevated to developed status.Meanwhile, Indonesia’s extended review follows earlier anxieties raised by MSCI regarding market accessibility. The index provider had previously frozen Indonesian equities from its indexes in January due to investability concerns.MSCI noted that it intends to monitor the regulatory changes implemented by…

The United States has partially rolled back its sanctions on Iranian oil exports after witnessing positive momentum in negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict between the two nations. On Monday, the US Treasury rolled out a 60-day sanctions waiver, opening the door for the production, transport, and sale of Iranian oil to the United States. This development follows optimistic updates from mediators and the US vice president regarding the ongoing diplomatic talks in Switzerland, which are designed to secure a comprehensive peace agreement between Washington and Tehran. This temporary waiver fulfills a specific requirement laid out in the 60-day memorandum…