The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival is underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, showcasing over 120 films from 81 countries. This year’s program includes 16 films in the Features Competition. One of the highlights is My Driver and I, a Sudanese drama about the bond between a taxi driver and a young Saudi woman. The film’s lead actor, Mustafa Shehata, describes it as a deeply emotional story of an immigrant driver who treats his young passenger like a daughter, while also longing for his own daughter back in Sudan. Saudi Arabia is aiming to expand its cultural influence, and since the festival’s launch in 2021, it has drawn global talent. This year, Academy Award winners Viola Davis and Spike Lee, as well as Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, are attending, enhancing the festival’s growing international profile. However, some critics argue that such events are intended to distract from ongoing concerns over the country’s human rights record. The festival runs through December 14.

The Arctic Ocean could experience its first “ice-free” day as early as 2027, according to a new study, signaling a profound shift in the planet’s climate. Even under the most optimistic scenarios, this “ominous milestone for the planet,” is inevitable within the next two decades, researchers caution in the study published in Nature Communications on Monday. “The first ice-free day in the Arctic won’t change things dramatically,” said co-author Alexandra Jahn, a climatologist at the University of Colorado Boulder. “But it will show that we’ve fundamentally altered one of the defining characteristics of the natural environment in the Arctic Ocean, which is that it is covered by sea ice and snow year-round, through greenhouse gas emissions.” Arctic sea ice, which has been shrinking by more than 12% per decade since satellite monitoring began in 1979, plays a critical role in regulating global temperatures and supporting marine ecosystems. As the ice melts, darker ocean waters absorb more sunlight – a feedback loop that accelerates warming. This phenomenon, known as the albedo effect, has transformed the Arctic into a region warming four times faster than the global average.
 – ‘We want to be prepared’ Using 11 climate models and 366 simulations, the study estimates the ice-free threshold could be crossed within three to six years if unusually warm conditions occur. Most scenarios place this event in the 2030s, highlighting the urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Lead author Celine Heuze, a climatology researcher at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, underscored the importance of preparation. “Because the first ice-free day is likely to happen earlier than the first ice-free month, we want to be prepared. It’s also important to know what events could lead to the melting of all sea ice in the Arctic Ocean,” Heuze said. While the findings are stark, the researchers emphasize that significant reductions in carbon emissions could delay this milestone and mitigate its broader impacts. “Any reductions in emissions would help preserve sea ice,” Jahn added, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of a rapidly changing Arctic.

African health officials committed Sunday to scaling up health care interventions aimed at curbing new HIV infections during World AIDS Day. The day was marked under the global theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” underscoring the link between human rights and health care access. Rwanda’s Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said while the country has made good progress in diminishing the impact of HIV, reducing new infections by 70% and AIDS-related deaths by 60% since 2010, AIDS remains a serious health challenge. “There are almost 10 new HIV infections in Rwanda every day. It is not a small number. And mostly they are young people 18 to 20 years old. This means we have a lot of work to do,” said Nsanzimana. “In the next months, we should be focused on areas where we can make a big impact. Number one is to make sure young people are well-informed, and communication is key,” he said. In Kenya, World AIDS Day was marked at Nyayo National Stadium with a call to action and a renewed commitment to eliminating HIV as a public health threat. Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah M. Barasa in a statement highlighted the crucial role of men and boys in the fight against HIV, urging them to challenge stigma, promote health-seeking behaviors and lead community efforts. “The fight against HIV is a collective effort, and men and boys must be champions for change,” she said. Kenya has made significant progress in its HIV response, with 98% of adults living with HIV receiving treatment by the end of 2023 and 97% achieving viral suppression, according to official data. New HIV infections have dropped by 83% over the past decade, while AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 64%. HIV prevalence in Kenya stands at 3.3%. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Africa, said that HIV is a complex health challenge, inseparable from social factors such as poverty and gender inequality and complicated by stigma and discrimination. Protecting human rights is key to achieving universal HIV care, she added. According to the WHO, equal access to prevention tools and education are key to stopping new infections while stigma and discrimination undermine the fight against AIDS. Seven African nations have met the UNAIDS HIV 95-95-95 targets, a global benchmark to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030. The targets seek to ensure that 95% of HIV-positive people know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their HIV-positive status are on antiretroviral therapy and 95% of people on antiretroviral therapy maintain an undetectable viral load to reduce onward transmission. The small southern African nation of Eswatini, once facing one of the world’s worst HIV epidemics, is among the countries which have achieved the global HIV target. Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said the kingdom will endeavor to put human rights first in the fight against HIV/AIDS while sustaining the gains. “I wish to reaffirm that Eswatini shall continue to engage with this year’s theme and ensure that no one is left behind in accessing HIV prevention services, treatment, care and support services,” he said, speaking in Mahlangatja in Manzini district, where the national commemoration took place. The Africa region has achieved an overall rating of 90-82-76, according to the WHO. In Uganda, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng raised concerns about the high number of new HIV infections registered in the country annually, which may hinder Uganda’s goal to end AIDS by 2030. “New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have been reduced. However, they are not being reduced fast enough to enable us to reach the targets we expected to get in 2025, and that also means that the country is at risk of not achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” she said during a World AIDS Day commemoration in Buyende District in eastern Uganda. She also said the HIV response is heavily donor-funded, but with shifting priorities, there has been a reduction in funding. The funding contributions for the response from the country’s main donor, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), declined from $426 million in the 2022/2023 financial year to $388 million in the 2023/2024 financial year after Uganda enacted the Anti-Homosexuality law in May 2023.

Rewriting the Thiaroye Massacre and the Shifting Historical Narrative The massacre at Thiaroye, which took place on December 1, 1944, remains one of the darkest chapters in the history of French colonialism in West Africa. The victims were soldiers of the “Tirailleurs Sénégalais,” a corps of colonial infantry drawn from West Africa to fight in both World Wars. Tensions had been building among the soldiers over unpaid wages in the days leading up to the massacre, and on that fateful day, French troops turned their guns on unarmed African soldiers, killing many. For years, French authorities downplayed the incident, labeling it as a “mutiny.” Early French military reports suggested that only 35 soldiers were killed, while later reports increased the death toll to 70. But recent research, including estimates based on the number of soldiers stationed at the camp, suggests the true toll could have been in the hundreds, with some historians estimating up to 400 deaths. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron officially acknowledged the event as a massacre for the first time, in a letter to Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye, which was seen by The Associated Press. “France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre,” Macron wrote. However, many historians reject the notion of a “confrontation” between the French soldiers and the African riflemen. Martin Mourre, a French historian and author of Thiaroye 1944: History and Memory of a Colonial Massacre, argues that the events were nothing less than the execution of unarmed soldiers. He points to the absence of any mention of weapons in the trial of the accused African soldiers and the lack of injuries among the French troops as evidence that there was no violent uprising, but rather a cold-blooded massacre. While Macron’s letter recognizes the event as a massacre, it avoids specifying the exact number of casualties, which remains a source of contention. The lack of transparency in the historical record has compounded the controversy. In 2014, French President François Hollande handed over archives on Thiaroye to Senegal’s then-president, Macky Sall. However, key documents—such as those detailing the location of mass graves and the precise number of soldiers present—remain elusive. It is unclear whether these documents still exist or if they have been lost or withheld. Senegalese efforts to uncover the truth have also been hampered. Under President Sall, historical investigations into the massacre were often delayed or obstructed, with some historians blaming diplomatic sensitivities toward France. “The archives remained inaccessible until this year for obscure reasons,” says Mourre. Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian, notes that Sall’s reluctance to confront the painful history was likely aimed at avoiding tensions with the French government. However, Senegal’s newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has vowed to take control of the country’s historical narrative, with a focus on Thiaroye. Since his election in March, Faye has emphasized the importance of recognizing the massacre as a crucial part of Senegal’s national story. The government has organized extensive commemorations from December 1 to April 2025 to raise awareness and educate the public about the massacre. These efforts are part of a broader attempt to address the colonial past and reclaim Senegal’s historical voice. “The authorities’ goal behind these major commemorations is to integrate Thiaroye into Senegal’s national identity,” says Babacar Ndiaye, a political analyst at the Wathi think tank. “This is not just about remembering the massacre but ensuring the younger generation, many of whom may not know the full story, are exposed to it through television, media, and social media.” The 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre occurs amid a shift in France’s influence in West Africa, where former colonies are increasingly distancing themselves from Paris. In recent years, countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have expelled French forces, while Chad has ended its military cooperation agreement with France. Senegal remains one of the few countries where French troops are still present, although they play a more limited, supportive role. President Faye has made clear that he does not view the continued French military presence favorably. “Historically, France enslaved, colonized, and stayed here,” he remarked. “It would be difficult to imagine another country, like China or Russia, having a military base in France.” At a ceremony on Sunday at the Thiaroye military cemetery, Faye announced several initiatives to honor the victims. These include the construction of a memorial, the creation of a research center to house the massacre’s archives, and the addition of history lessons on the event to the national school curriculum. December 1 will now be officially recognized as “National Day of the Tirailleur.” “We are doing this to fulfill our duty of remembrance, to reveal the truth, and to discharge a moral debt to the riflemen and their families,” Faye said, addressing an audience that included France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, as well as heads of state from neighboring countries. Macron did not attend the ceremony. The official narratives continue to differ. While the French foreign minister referred to the events as a “cry of anger” from the riflemen, which France “repressed in a bloodshed,” President Faye characterized the killings as “a premeditated act”—a clear sign of the ongoing tension between the two countries over how to reckon with this painful chapter of history.

The United Nations reported Friday that 2024 has become the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with 281 deaths so far—surpassing the previous high of 280 in 2023. This tragic milestone is primarily driven by violence in the Middle East, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the exceptional risks faced by aid workers, healthcare staff, delivery personnel, and other humanitarians operating in conflict zones. “Humanitarians are working courageously and selflessly in places like Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and beyond. They show the best humanity has to offer, and they are getting killed in return,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke. He stressed that these deaths would send shockwaves through the humanitarian community, particularly those working on the front lines of conflict. According to the U.N., most of the victims were national staff (268 people), while 13 were international personnel. The majority of these deaths occurred in Gaza, where 230 aid workers have been killed. The figures come from the Aid Worker Security Database, a project funded by the U.S. and managed by the U.K.-based group Humanitarian Outcomes. While Gaza is the epicenter of this violence, the U.N. noted that threats to humanitarians extend to other conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, where incidents of violence, kidnapping, harassment, and arbitrary detention have been reported. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, a total of 333 humanitarians have lost their lives, with the war itself causing more than 44,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health officials.

 The rise of digital technologies has blurred the lines between work and travel, creating a new era where professionals with the flexibility to work remotely can explore the world while maintaining their careers. Digital nomadism, a trend that has gained global traction in recent years, is reshaping traditional work norms by enabling people to work from virtually anywhere. The uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to reconsider their lifestyles. Economic pressures, especially on younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z, have spurred a shift toward more adaptable living, moving away from rigid, traditional work and lifestyle concepts. Amid this transformation, digital nomadism, often conceptualized as “working while traveling,” has gained prominence. Remote work has shifted from an advantage to a necessity for many professionals, driving them to seek environments that offer both career opportunities and personal freedom. More than 50 countries have responded to the growing trend by offering special visas for digital nomads, typically allowing stays of up to 12 months. A report from data reporting and analytics solutions provider Demand Sage said that digital nomadism, embraced by over 35 million workers worldwide, reflects the peak of technological innovation, changing societal values, and an entrepreneurial spirit. -Who are digital nomads? There are five types of digital nomads; freelance digital nomads; digital nomad business owners; salaried digital nomads; experimental digital nomads and armchair digital nomads. Fields such as graphic design, software development, digital marketing and copywriting are popular among digital nomads, with Americans representing nearly half (16.9 million) of the global digital nomad population. Ariana Nicole, an American digital nomad, describes her first travels to Spain and Mexico as a search for a place that felt like home. After starting her journey three years ago, Nicole’s passport now bears stamps from more than a dozen countries. Initially working as a hybrid IT consultant, she convinced her employer to adopt remote work. She eventually transitioned to freelance graphic design and content creation via social media. Having lived in nearly 15 countries, Nicole says her heart belongs to Colombia. While her decision-making process is spontaneous, she is guided by her interest in Spanish and recommendations from other travelers. Yet the allure of constant travel brings challenges. Nicole, like many digital nomads, has experienced “travel burnout,” a feeling of longing for stability and routine. While digital nomadism surged during the pandemic, Nicole notes that the trend has since slowed down. -Combining work and travel: possible, but challenging Papel Popov, who moved to Georgia with his wife in 2020 to work remotely for a financial tech startup in Russia, has fully embraced the digital nomad lifestyle. For the past four years, he has mostly lived in Türkiye, occasionally visiting other countries to maintain his nomadic lifestyle. Popov highlights how digital nomadism has allowed him to balance work and travel, emphasizing the importance of a reliable internet connection for productivity. Joining the global nomad community are Jess Parvin and Sergio Sala from the US, who are also living the digital nomad lifestyle. Parvin, a graphic designer, says freelancing gave her the freedom to travel while maintaining her work. Sala, a web designer with 10 years of experience, has traveled to over 50 countries, finding his way in digital nomad communities across the world. While digital nomadism offers flexibility, it also presents challenges such as loneliness and language barriers. Sala, who has lived in countries like Thailand and Mexico, highlights the difficulty of navigating visa processes and finding accommodation in new places. For Sala, Mexico’s diversity and charm hold special appeal, while Thailand remains a favorite due to its safety and vibrant digital nomad community. Digital nomads like Sala advise those considering the lifestyle to first secure a stable online income before taking the plunge into a nomadic career.

As the G20 Leaders’ Summit takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for decisive global action to eliminate cervical cancer, a preventable disease that claims the lives of over 350,000 women annually. In an op-ed published ahead of the summit, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency and feasibility of eliminating cervical cancer, describing it as an historic opportunity. “Unlike most other cancers, almost all cervical cancer cases and deaths can be averted,” he wrote, highlighting the transformative impact of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments in combating the disease. Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries, which account for 94% of cervical cancer deaths. While high-income nations are nearing elimination—defined as fewer than four cases per 100,000 women—many countries still lack equitable access to life-saving tools. The global burden is staggering, with 660,000 new cases diagnosed annually. These losses devastate families and communities, leaving children orphaned and plunging families into poverty. With scientific advances, achieving this target has become increasingly realistic. The introduction of a single-dose HPV vaccine, now adopted by 60 countries, is a game-changer in improving vaccination coverage, he said. Since the WHO’s 2018 call to action, more than 60 additional countries have included the HPV vaccine in their immunization programs, bringing the total to 144. Tedros stressed that achieving elimination depends on a strong political commitment and international cooperation to ensure equitable access to the tools needed. “Realizing this opportunity requires determined political leadership,” he said. The WHO hopes the G20 summit will galvanize support for expanded vaccination programs, enhanced diagnostic services and accessible treatments, particularly in resource-limited settings. Cervical cancer elimination would be a monumental public health achievement and a testament to the power of global solidarity.  “We have the tools and the opportunity,” said Tedros, adding “now is the time to act.”

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the G20 group of developed economies to lead global efforts to promote peace, advance climate action, and ensure equitable access to emerging technologies among other challenges. “I have come to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead. G20 countries – by definition – have tremendous economic clout.
 “They wield massive diplomatic leverage. They must use it to tackle key global problems,” Guterres said Sunday in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, according to UN News. Stressing the urgency for nations to accelerate efforts in addressing critical shared challenges, he called for intensified efforts to achieve peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan. “Everywhere, peace requires actions grounded in the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of States,” Guterres said. Addressing financial issues, the UN secretary-general drew attention to the challenges faced by vulnerable countries, which are grappling with significant obstacles beyond their control. He criticized the current international financial system as “outdated, ineffective, and unfair,” noting that it fails to provide these nations with adequate support. Guterres stressed the need for ambitious reforms under the Pact for the Future to make the global financial system more inclusive and reflective of today’s economy.
 Key measures include increasing developing countries’ representation in financial institutions, boosting Multilateral Development Banks’ lending capacity, fostering inclusive tax cooperation, and pursuing innovative financing. He urged the G20 to take the lead in implementing these changes.
 Guterres expressed concern about the pace of the negotiations at COP29, urging G20 nations to agree on ambitious climate finance goals to support developing countries.
 Stressing the necessity for leadership and trust-building to drive high-ambition climate plans, he called on the G20 as major economies and emitters to lead by example. G20 nations account for 80% of global emissions and “must lead with national climate plans that follow the guidance they agreed to last year – 1.5 degrees aligned, whole of economy and all greenhouse gases,” he said.
 Noting that solutions are still possible despite the challenges, Guterres said: “We need to seize every opportunity to lead transformative action for a safer, more peaceful and sustainable world.” Leaders of the G20 group of largest economies will meet in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday for their annual summit in Rio de Janeiro.

A new study reveals that over 800 million adults worldwide suffer from diabetes, with more than half of those over 30 not receiving any treatment. African countries are among the hardest hit, as non-communicable diseases like diabetes account for 17 million premature deaths each year, many of which occur before the age of 70. The report highlights that in sub-Saharan Africa, only about 5 to 10% of adults with diabetes receive any form of treatment. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for urgent action to address the growing diabetes epidemic. “We’ve seen a concerning rise in diabetes over the past three decades, driven by factors such as increased obesity, the marketing of unhealthy foods, physical inactivity, and economic challenges,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. He stressed the importance of policies promoting healthy diets and physical activity, as well as strengthening healthcare systems to focus on prevention, early detection, and treatment. The WHO has set global targets for improving diabetes care by 2030, with a particular focus on increasing access to diagnosis and treatment across Africa, aiming to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for millions.

The tribes living in the Samburu region in northern Kenya are among the few that can still live according to their traditions. One of the most important aspects of the Samburu tribe’s survival is their livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, from which they earn their livelihood. At a festival organized by the nomadic Maa community in the Samburu National Reserve, they performed cultural dances in their traditional clothing and jewelry.

Algerian-French Novelist Kamel Daoud Wins Prestigious Goncourt Prize for Houris Kamel Daoud, the Algerian-French novelist, was awarded the Goncourt Prize on Monday (Nov. 4) for his novel Houris, which explores the aftermath of Algeria’s civil war, the “Black Decade.” The book, which follows the journey of Aube, a survivor of the conflict, competed against three other finalists. However, Houris will not be published in Algeria due to laws prohibiting public discussions of the civil war. In a separate honor, French-Rwandan author Gaël Faye won the Prix Renaudot for his second novel Jacaranda.

French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud has won the prestigious Goncourt Prize for his novel “Houris,” which explores Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s.

Low-income economies will struggle to fill climate finance gap, according to a report by the US-based global credit rating agency Moody’s. “Vast sums are needed for the world to shift to a low-carbon economy, build resilience, and adapt to the effects of climate change,” said the report released on Thursday. “Investment has risen rapidly since the 2015 Paris Agreement, but it will take a lot more to reach the goal of global net zero emissions by 2050.” The rating agency said wide investment gaps exist for both climate mitigation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation in order to adjust to the effects of climate change. The agency estimates nations spending almost $2 trillion on clean energy this year, including low-carbon power, infrastructure, energy efficiency and electrification, adding there will be an estimated annual climate mitigation investment gap of nearly $2.4 trillion by 2030. “Adaptation investment has drawn much less funding, given its more limited commercial potential, and is well below estimated annual needs of about $400 billion, standing around $72 billion in 2022,” said the report. “This adds up to an annual climate investment gap of $2.7 trillion by 2030 – around 1.8% of global GDP – and exposes vulnerable communities to rising risks from climate change, particularly in emerging markets where investment needs are largest,” it added. Climate change also has far-reaching credit implications for economies and businesses through physical effects on livelihoods and infrastructure, or through the changes involved in reducing carbon emissions, according to Moody’s. It advised that early investment in clean energy can prevent big economic losses from climate change. “In addition to lives preserved, rapid climate spending could lead to higher growth and more revenue for governments globally over time,” said the report.

 Patrick Charlier, director of the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Unia), highlighted the concerning rise of anti-Muslim sentiment across Europe, noting that in Belgium, nine of 10 people facing discrimination are Muslim, particularly veiled women. A report released last week by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), “Being Muslim in the EU: Experiences of Muslims,” showed a marked increase in racism and discrimination against Muslims since 2016. The survey, conducted with responses from 9,000 respondents across 13 EU member states between October 2021 and October 2022, found that one in two Muslims encounter discriminatory treatment daily. Discrimination against Muslim women, men and children stems not only from their religion but is also due to factors like skin color, ethnic background and immigration history. Young Muslims born in Europe and veiled women are particularly affected. Belgium has emerged as a key area for the issues, with 43% of Muslims in that country reporting housing discrimination. Charlier, who has led the Equal Opportunities Center since 1993, emphasized the severity of the situation, pointing to hostility toward Muslims in education, employment and society. “For Belgium, when we’re speaking of religious and philosophical belief, it’s 90% concerning Muslims. The vast majority, nine cases out of 10, is according to Muslims that are facing discrimination, hate speech, hate crime,” said Charlier. “The last year, the most remarkable cases are in employment, discrimination in employment. It’s a majority of women that are victims of discrimination. When we are speaking of women in employment, that’s mostly cases of headscarves,” he said. Between 2017 and 2023, the center primarily addressed employment discrimination cases, with additional incidents occurring on social media and in schools, noted Charlier. -Anti-immigrant sentiment also fueling anti-Muslim sentiment “I think discrimination, hate speech and hate crime is grave. I don’t want to undermine the reality and the difficulty for Muslims in our country. That’s a reality. It’s not highly rising. It’s stable,” he said.  “We are not out with discrimination against Muslims. We are not out on Islamophobia. There is an indirect link also with a form of what we call more xenophobia,” he said. “That’s all the discourse against asylum seekers and migration. It’s not directly focused on Muslims, but we know that this discourse against migrants is often with the idea ‘that’s Muslims that are coming from Syria, from now Palestine, from Afghanistan, and so on.’ But that’s not registered to us as ‘discrimination against Muslims’. It’s more xenophobia,” he added.

 Meta Platforms’ Threads app, which is a rival to X, formerly known as Twitter, now has reached almost 275 million monthly active users, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “It has been growing more than 1 million sign-ups per day,” he said on an earnings call late Wednesday after the release of Meta’s financial results. “Engagement is growing too. So, we continue to be on track towards this becoming our next major social app,” he added. Threads had approximately 200 million monthly active users during the April – June period, according to Meta’s financial report released in July. The number of users is up 175% from July – September of 2023 when it had 100 million users. Threads launched in July 2023 as a rival to billionaire Elon Musk’s X, who bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion.

A new report from global health experts warns that climate change is pushing temperatures to dangerous levels, leading to increased deaths and the spread of infectious diseases. The Lancet Countdown report, released ahead of the COP29 climate summit, highlights that every country faces unprecedented health threats due to climate change. The experts urge governments to redirect the trillions spent on fossil fuels towards protecting health and livelihoods. “Resources should not perpetuate fossil fuel use but rather promote access to clean, renewable energy,” said Dr. Marina Romanello, the report’s executive director. The study, conducted by 122 experts, reveals record levels of heat-related deaths, food insecurity, and infectious diseases driven by climate change. In 2023, people faced an average of 50 additional days of extreme temperatures. Nearly half of the global land area is experiencing extreme droughts, exacerbating food insecurity for 151 million people in 124 countries. Romanello emphasized that climate change is a critical health issue affecting all demographics, particularly vulnerable populations. “The health implications are enormous,” she stated, referencing the acute hunger crisis in regions like Somalia due to drought.

A newly discovered 4,000-year-old fortified town in Saudi Arabia provides evidence of a gradual shift from nomadic to urban lifestyles in the region.

A Kenyan social enterprise is leading the way in sustainable agriculture with Kichawi Kill, a fungal bioherbicide that provides a safe and eco-friendly solution to the witchweed problem.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released alarming new data Tuesday showing tuberculosis (TB) once again ranking as the world’s deadliest infectious disease. According to the latest WHO report, approximately 8.2 million people were diagnosed with TB in 2023. “This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022, placing TB again as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19,” a statement by the organization noted. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed “outrage “over the continued toll of the disease. “The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it, and treat it,” he said. He urged nations to fulfill their commitments to effectively combat TB. The report highlights the alarming disparities, with 30 high-burden countries — primarily India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines and Pakistan –accounting for 56% of the global TB burden. It also emphasized funding a crisis for TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which bear 98% of the global TB burden. Noting that only 26% of the $22 billion target for annual global TB funding was reached in 2023, Tereza Kasaeva, director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Program, said: “We are confronted with formidable challenges: funding shortfalls, catastrophic costs to affected households, and drug-resistant tuberculosis.” While the report warned that treatment success rates for multidrug-resistant TB remain low, WHO urged the international community to fulfill their commitments from the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB, with a renewed push for funding research into new TB vaccines.

More than one in three trees globally is at risk of extinction, according to a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This alarming trend threatens life on Earth as we know it, with endangered trees outnumbering threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians combined. In South America, where the majority of the world’s trees are found, 25% face extinction, while Africa, despite having fewer trees, sees 45% at risk. Hilton-Taylor highlights that the primary threats include deforestation, habitat loss due to expanding agriculture, invasive species, and climate change. Trees now represent over a quarter of the species listed in the IUCN Red List, emphasizing the urgency for action. Hilton-Taylor stresses, “Species are declining. Unless we act now, we risk losing them forever.” Kevin Martin from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew points out that rapid climate change poses significant challenges for trees, which struggle to adapt quickly. The IUCN advocates for forest protection and restoration, including tree planting and conservation efforts via seed banks and botanical gardens. Their first Global Tree Assessment coincides with the UN’s COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia. Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the IUCN’s Red List Unit, states that out of approximately 47,000 tree species assessed, 38% are threatened. He emphasizes the vital role trees play in global biodiversity, livelihoods, and essential ecological cycles.

 Apple on Monday released the first public version of its much-anticipated artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac through a free software update with the launch of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. “Users can now tap into Apple Intelligence to refine their writing; summarize notifications, mail, and messages; experience a more natural and capable Siri; remove distracting objects from images with Clean Up; and more,” the company said in a blog post. The newly released AI, in addition, can create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate tasks, it added. “Apple Intelligence is generative AI in a way that only Apple can deliver, and we’re incredibly excited about its ability to enrich our users’ lives,” said CEO Tim Cook. “Apple Intelligence builds on years of innovation in AI and machine learning to put Apple’s generative models at the core of our devices, giving our users a personal intelligence system that is easy to use — all while protecting their privacy,” he added. The digital assistant Siri, moreover, becomes more natural, flexible, and deeply integrated into the system experience with Apple Intelligence, according to the company. Siri, with richer language-understanding capabilities, can now answer questions about the features and settings of Apple products, while users can learn everything from how to take a screen recording to how to easily share a Wi-Fi password, it added. To use Apple Intelligence, users need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model.

Kinshasa, the host city of the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight, is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic event that captivated the world.

Britain is facing increasing pressure to consider reparatory justice for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, which reached its peak in the 1700s, resulting in millions of Africans being forcibly transported to British colonies across the Americas and the Caribbean. As leaders of the Commonwealth, a group of 56 nations largely rooted in Britain’s colonial past, gather in Samoa, discussions are expected to include reparations, despite British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating the topic is not on the agenda. Diplomatic sources suggest that negotiations are underway to address the issue. Britain has yet to issue a formal apology for its ties to slavery, and estimates indicate that reparations could amount to trillions of pounds. The debate over reparations, while longstanding, has gained renewed global attention. Supporters argue that contemporary racial inequalities are a direct result of historical injustices, while opponents contend that nations should not be held accountable for past wrongs. Notably, all three candidates vying for the Commonwealth’s next Secretary-General from Ghana, Lesotho, and Gambia have advocated for financial reparations.

Human-caused climate change has intensified seasonal rains across the Niger and Lake Chad basins this year, leading to catastrophic flooding, according to a study released by international scientists on Wednesday. Researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative reported that floods in Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan have resulted in over 2,000 deaths and displaced millions. The heavy rains also overwhelmed dams in Nigeria and Sudan. The study found that rainfall this year was 5 to 20 percent more intense in the affected regions, which encompass four of the five countries. Scientists indicated that such extreme rainfall patterns are becoming the new normal due to climate change and are likely to continue annually if global warming persists. Factors such as poverty, rapid urbanization, and poor water management have worsened the impact of these floods. Ongoing conflict has further complicated the situation, displacing millions in Chad, Nigeria, and Sudan, who now live in makeshift shelters with heightened vulnerability to flooding. The WWA noted that the severe flooding from June to September exacerbated an already critical humanitarian crisis in Sudan, overwhelming the response capabilities of aid organizations and governments. The scientists emphasized the need for the region to prepare for even heavier rainfall in the future and to urgently improve water management systems. They called for increased investment in early warning systems and dam upgrades, as well as meaningful financial contributions from wealthier nations. Additionally, they urged delegates attending the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan to act decisively in reducing reliance on fossil fuels, which are responsible for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.