Distant

Fresh uncertainty gripped the Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz remained shut in the escalating standoff between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker making clear that, despite signs of progress, any final peace agreement was still a long way off. With mediation efforts continuing after high-level talks in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough, Tehran said the vital maritime chokepoint would stay closed unless Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the…

World Toilet Day serves as a critical reminder of the pressing need for clean and safe toilets, particularly within Africa. The United Nations highlights a concerning reality— progress is lagging significantly behind in the race to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of providing "safe toilets for all by 2030." Currently, around 3.5 billion individuals across the globe are without access to basic sanitation. In various African nations such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and…