Three consecutive seasons of drought have left people in Northern Kenya facing an emergency. Communities in Mandera County rely on fertile land for their livestock to survive. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa went to meet some of them.
Did you know that we should wear SPF every single day – even when indoors, and even when it rains? Yes, just because it’s cold doesn’t mean the UVA and UVB rays from the sun can’t harm your skin. Protect it daily, preventing fine lines, pigmentation and more serious issues like skin cancer, with a separate SPF product with at least SPF30. The skincare tech these days is so incredibly clever that many are completely undetectable once applied. TRY: CeraVe Invisible Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 50+, £21. It strengthens the skin barrier while shielding against UV and sinks into skin in seconds, feeling weightless on the face.
Cold weather and indoor heating can dry out the skin, causing irritation and redness. The best way to combat this is by boosting the skin barrier to help naturally prevent damage. Look for strengthening skincare ingredients to fortify, including ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. TRY: Medik8 Niacinamide Peptides, £49. It’s powered by 10% niacinamide, with a potent peptide complex and zinc to refine pores, fortify skin and increase glow.
The featherlight moisturiser you loved over summer might not cut the mustard when it comes to hydrating winter skin. Quench its thirst with a thicker formula instead, to help skin retain moisture and avoid irritation. TRY: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Meltdown Recovery Cream, £23. Your one stop shop for skin emergencies and day to day uber hydration, it contains soothing colloidal oatmeal and dexpanthenol.
You can also increase moisture levels in your skin by adding a serum into your daily routine, looking for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. TRY: Muji Fermented Booster Serum, £19.95. With the uber cool brand now branching out into skincare, this is as sleek and chic as you’d expect. There’s rice ferment in there to bolster winter skin.
A combination of wind, cold, central heating and excess licking can n cause chapping. When applying SPF don’t forget your lips, try where you can not to lick them, and apply a thick and nourishing balm to protect them. TRY: Gisou Honey Glaze Collagen Lip Mask, £24. It contains a lip loving concoction of honey, ceramides, collagen and hyaluronic acid in a luxuriously thick formula that is a delight to apply.
We also tend to forget our hands – and in winter this can lead to chapping and redness. Go easy on the UV lamps, applying SPF before and moisturiser afterwards. Keep hand cream with you for regular top-ups, choosing one with ceramides to protect the skin barrier on the hands as you would for your face. TRY: L’Occitane Shea Karité Hand Balm, £29. Reassuringly thick, yet able to sink easily into skin this shea-rich hand treatment is ideal to keep in your pocket or on your desk to nourish hands as needed.
Rounding up our trio of oft forgotten and neglected body parts is the scalp. The common culprits of cold weather and heating, alongside a buildup of styling products, leads to a spike of dry, grumpy scalps over the winter months. The answer? Exfoliation and hydration. TRY: Aroma Zone Strengthening & Densifying Hair Serum, £12. Peptides, plus pea and clover extracts, work to prolong the hair growth phase for longer, stronger locks.
“In colder months the drop in temperatures, lower humidity and indoor heating can cause skin dryness and irritation. Switching to a cleansing balm in winter is beneficial as they are richer and more moisturising than traditional cleansers, effectively removing daily dirt, impurities and makeup without stripping your skin’s natural oils. This helps keep your skin barrier protected and fortified,” says Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe’s Consultant Dermatologist. TRY: CeraVe Make-up Removing Cleansing Balm, £14.49. Packed with ceramides, this protects the skin barrier and soothes skin while gently removing make-up and the days dirt and grime.
A breakfast superfood regularly enjoyed by Pippa Middleton, according to reports, costs just 9p per serving and could slash your cancer risk. The British socialite, sister to the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, told iNews she eats “a lot of porridge” each morning.
Discussing her morning routine, she confessed to enjoying “almost everything,” but particularly “lots of porridge or boiled eggs with soldiers.” She added that she “can’t start the day properly” without breakfast.
Porridge boasts countless health benefits, from supporting heart and digestive health to managing weight and stabilising blood sugar. What’s more, it won’t break the bank – Aldi’s 1kg bag of oats retails at just 85p, working out at around 9p for a 100g portion.
Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that can lower LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol whilst raising HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is linked to severe conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Wholegrains such as porridge also help lower fasting blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. The fibre acts as a prebiotic too, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting digestive wellness.
Oats contain abundant antioxidants, including polyphenols and avenanthramides. Antioxidants are vital in safeguarding our cells from harm and may reduce the risk of developing numerous conditions, such as heart disease, certain cancers, and age-related illnesses.
Incorporating more high-fibre whole grains while reducing refined grains in your diet can help maintain a healthy weight, which may be one reason why Pippa stays trim. The body also expends more energy breaking down fibre, potentially boosting your metabolic rate.
The substantial fibre content in porridge also keeps you satisfied for extended periods, which could support weight loss and result in decreased overall calorie consumption. Consuming soluble fibre creates a gel in the intestines, which can block some calories from being absorbed. Being overweight is a big risk for at least 12 types of cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, maintaining a healthy balanced diet rich in wholegrains and fibre “can help reduce your risk of bowel cancer”. Wholegrains include items like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oats and wholegrain bread. Fibre also nourishes good bacteria in your gut, which strengthens your immune system and can help protect against harmful substances that might cause cancer.
Fibre is essential in encouraging regular bowel movements, enlarging stool size, and diluting its contents. This mechanism enables harmful substances to remain in the intestines for shorter periods. When fibre combines with gut bacteria, it generates a compound called butyrate. Butyrate is advantageous for preserving the health of intestinal cells, which can diminish the risk of tumour formation.
In addition to bowel cancer, experts suggest that fibre could also help protect against several other types of cancer. A study published in the National Library of Medicine, titled “Use of Dietary Fibres in Reducing the Risk of Several Cancer Types,” concluded the following regarding the level of evidence for various cancers:
While there is no definitive cure for cancer, maintaining a balanced and healthy and fibre-rich diet can aid in reducing your risk. Regular exercise, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding processed foods and maintaining a healthy weight can also contribute to lowering your risk.
Victoria Taylor, a dietitian from the British Heart Foundation, advises: “Porridge is a healthy, nutritious way to start the day. However, there is much debate about which oats are the best to use and which cooking method is healthiest.
The sacking of Xavi Alonso as the manager of Real Madrid has not come as a surprise, not least for Madridistas, the fans of the Spanish football giants.
The club announced on Monday that Alonso had left his role “by mutual consent”, with Alvaro Arbeloa promoted from coaching the club’s reserve team to replace him.
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Alonso, 44, lasted less than a year into the three-year contract he signed last summer to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
While the club announced his exit after he had just seven months in charge of the star-studded team, fans and local football experts could foresee this outcome.
Here’s how Alonso’s reign unfolded and why he was sacked by Real Madrid:
Seasoned watchers of the Los Blancos believe that despite being a club legend, Alonso committed a number of “cardinal sins” that could not protect him from the wrath of Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez.
“Alonso stands condemned in the eyes of Perez – the only person whose opinion matters when a coach’s fate is concerned – of several offences,” according to Graham Hunter, an expert on Spanish football.
Chief among these was Real Madrid’s 3-2 loss to archrivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. In the eyes of the all-powerful Perez, missing out on silverware and that, too, against Barca was too big a mistake to let slip.
“Losing to Barcelona in a big final remains, it seems, a capital offence,” Hunter said.
Add to this a patchy run, by Real Madrid’s standards, in La Liga, including a 5-2 thrashing in the Madrid derby, draws against three lower-ranked teams, and a home loss to Celta Vigo.
Trouble had been brewing for Alonso over the past few months, with a UEFA Champions League defeat at Liverpool setting off a run of only two victories in eight games.
This slump affected Madrid’s standing on top of the La Liga table, turning their five-point lead over Barcelona into a four-point deficit.
Real Madrid’s results did improve more recently, but performances did not convince the management. The team beat Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup semifinal despite being outplayed, only to lose in the final.
“When Real Madrid dropped points against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona, and then lost at home to Celta and Manchester City, there was a massive manhunt mounted by the club and by the media to find someone to blame,” Hunter explained.
“The coach, correctly or not, was found guilty.”
In addition to the results, the fact that Alonso very publicly fell out with star forward Vinicius Junior didn’t help his case.
All of these factors combined to seal the fate of the football manager.
The former midfielder was welcomed amid fanfare at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in May 2025 after signing a contract to stay until 2028.
Regarded as a modern strategist, he came with an impressive pedigree, having steered German football giants Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga victory, a German Cup triumph, and a UEFA Europa League final appearance.
Alosno’s first real test was the FIFA Club World Cup, where Real Madrid were beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal in July. Despite Alonso’s insistence that he would not implement his coaching style until the beginning of the new (2025-26) La Liga season, it was a clear sign of the vast difference between the club he had previously coached and the Spanish giants.
During the summer, Alonso’s signing targets never materialised, with Martin Zubimendi choosing Arsenal over Real Madrid.
When the La Liga season began, Alonso started off well with a series of victories, including a 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona in October. But soon, a rot started to set in and resulted in defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
The row began during the El Clasico win when Vinicius Junior stormed off the pitch after being substituted by the manager in the 71st minute. The striker issued an apology later, but it was not directed towards Alonso.
Spain-based football expert Hunter believes the coach was not backed up by the club’s management in the aftermath of the row as they saw the Brazilian as a prized possession.
Club president Perez, in particular, has been keen to retain Vinicius on the club’s books.
“Damage was done to Alonso’s public reputation and club credibility during the Vinicius Junior saga as the player erupted in petulant anger while showing complete disrespect for his manager,” Hunter said.
“He [Vinicius Junior ] said he wanted to leave the club. Perez wanted Vinicius Junior to renew his contract. It is now clear that this did irreparable damage to Perez’s view of the coach.”
Hence, Alonso became the 10th Real Madrid manager to be sacked during Perez’s reign and that, too, without completing a full year in charge.
Alonso has said he was leaving the club with “gratitude, respect and pride” despite his sacking.
“This stage of my career has come to an end, and it has not turned out as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility,” Alonso wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
“I am grateful to the club, the players and, above all, the fans … I leave with respect, gratitude and pride in having done my best.”
Alonso has been replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid right-back who made 238 appearances across seven years with the club.
Arbeloa has been managing the club’s B team, Real Madrid Castilla, since June 2025 and coaching the youth academy since 2020.
His lack of coaching experience at the highest level has been a talking point in Madrid.
Football journalist Lorenzo Calonge, writing in Spanish newspaper El Pais, noted on Tuesday that Arbeloa had been a probable successor to Alonso for some time.
“Since Xabi Alonso began teetering on the brink a month ago, Arbeloa’s name has been the leading candidate to take over the reins at Real Madrid, should [Alonso] be dismissed,” he said.
“His coaching career is short [five and a half seasons], and he has always been within the Real Madrid training complex. He has never managed a senior or professional team, nor has he worked outside of Valdebebas [training ground].”
However, what Arbeloa lacks in terms of experience as a professional manager, he makes up for as a player. The 42-year-old started his top-flight career with Real Madrid before spending two seasons with Liverpool between 2007 and 2009.
Arbeloa returned to Los Blancos and was at the club during one of the most successful periods in their history – between 2009 and 2016 – and won two Champions League trophies.
The reliable backline player was also in the Spanish squad that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships, making 56 international appearances.
Football expert Hunter believes Arbeloa’s temperament may not go down well with some of the highly strung stars at the Bernabeu.
“The trouble with Arbeloa, is that he is blunt to the point of resembling a carpenter’s hammer. He’s unforgiving, unrelenting and completely unafraid of incurring anybody else’s displeasure or disapproval.”
Manchester United have agreed upon a deal in principle with Michael Carrick for the former Middlesbrough manager to take charge of the Premier League team on an interim basis until the end of the season, a club source said on Tuesday.
Carrick, who is also a former United player, replaces Ruben Amorim, who was sacked earlier this month, and faces an immediate baptism of fire with his first match being the derby against second-placed Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
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The 44-year-old inherits a team in crisis, sitting seventh in the Premier League table – a whopping 17 points behind leaders Arsenal – and eliminated from both domestic cups.
The FA Cup exit in a 2-1 home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion has left United facing their shortest season since 1914-15, with just 40 games to play.
It is a return to familiar territory for Carrick, who previously served as caretaker manager in 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
British media reported both Carrick and Solskjaer were in contention for the interim role this time around.
Following Amorim’s turbulent tenure, United had placed Carrick’s former teammate and under-18 coach Darren Fletcher in temporary charge, but he failed to register a win in his two games, having also drawn 2-2 with lowly Burnley in the league.
Carrick brings a significant United pedigree, having made 464 appearances across all competitions during his playing career, lifting five Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy with the club.
His managerial experience includes a mixed stint at second-tier club Middlesbrough, where he initially worked wonders after joining in October 2022 when the Championship side was languishing in 21st place.
Carrick quickly turned things around, guiding them to a fourth-placed finish and the playoffs in his first season, and they reached the League Cup semifinals the following campaign.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has remained firm in its stance to not play its T20 World Cup matches in India following a video conference with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the BCB said in a media release on Tuesday.
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“The board also reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India.”
The BCB said its position remains unchanged, despite the ICC highlighting that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the board to reconsider its stance.
“Both parties agreed that discussions will continue to explore possible solutions. The BCB remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff while engaging constructively with the ICC to address the matter.”
The T20 World Cup is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh are scheduled to play three T20 World Cup group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
Bangladesh requested that the ICC shift its World Cup venue from India after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its squad for this year’s tournament.
The BCCI did not give any specific reason for the removal of the star left-arm paceman from the IPL, but it is believed it was done because of the recent political tensions between the two countries.