Five people were killed and 19 others were injured when a powerful explosion at a chemical factory in China was caused by investigators in China. More than 200 emergency personnel responded to the explosion in Shandong province, which damaged homes one kilometer away.
Oualata is one of a quartet of fortified towns, or ksour, whose historical significance as trading and religious centers earned it the title “World Heritage.” They still contain remnants of a rich medieval past today.
The earthen facades of Oualata are punctuated by acacia wood doors with traditional designs that local women have painted on the walls. Family libraries safeguard incredibly valuable collections of cultural and literary heritage that have been passed down through generations.
Oualata is acutely vulnerable to the harsh Sahara environment because of its close proximity to the Malian border. The town’s historical walls have become strewn with stone and holes as a result of particularly severe recent rains, which have caused piles of stone and seasonal downpours.
Standing next to her crumbling childhood home, which is now her inheritance from her grandparents, Khady said, “Many houses have collapsed because of the rains.”
Oualata’s decline has only been accelerated by depopulation.
Sidiya, a member of a national foundation dedicated to protecting the country’s ancient towns, claimed that “the houses became ruins because their owners left them.”
Oualata’s population has remained stagnant for generations as residents relocate and leave their historic structures foreclosed. The traditional structures, which are covered in red mud-brick known as banco, were designed to withstand the desert’s climate but still need maintenance after the rainy season.
Only about one-third of the Old Town’s buildings are actually inhabited, leaving the majority of it to be abandoned.
Desertification is “our biggest issue,” according to the statement. “Oualata is covered in sand everywhere,” Sidiya said.
About 80% of the country is affected by desertification, which is a “adverse state of land degradation” caused by “climate change (and) inappropriate operating practices,” according to the Mauritania’s Ministry of Environment.
Even Oualata’s mosque was submerged in sand by the 1980s. Bechir Barick, a geography lecturer at Nouakchott University, said that “people were praying on top of the mosque” rather than inside.
Oualata is still home to remnants of its past as a major gateway to the trans-Saharan caravan routes and a renowned center of Islamic learning despite the relentless sand and wind.
Mohamed Ben Baty, the town’s imam, is the author of nearly a millennium of scholarship and is a member of a renowned line of Quranic scholars. 223 manuscripts, the oldest of which date back to the 14th century, are housed in the family library he controls.
He hurriedly opened a cupboard in a cramped, cluttered room to display its priceless, centuries-old documents, which are fragile and have survived unheilingly.
Ben Baty pointed to pages that had water stains and were once very poorly maintained and vulnerable to destruction as he approached the books, which were then stored in plastic sleeves. In the past, books were kept in trunks, he said, recalling a roof collapse eight years ago during the rainy season when the water seeped in and could ruin them.
More than 2, 000 books were restored and preserved digitally in Oualata thanks to funding from Spain in the 1990s. However, a small number of enthusiasts like Ben Baty, who doesn’t reside in Oualata year-round, are now relying on their dedication to keeping these documents preserved.
Because the library contains a lot of valuable documentation for researchers in various fields, including languages, the Quran, history, and astronomy, he said, “the library needs a qualified expert to ensure its management and sustainability.”
The nearest town, Oualata, is a two-hour drive across rugged terrain, and the island’s isolation prevents tourism development. The town’s location in a region where many nations advise against traveling, citing the threat of rebel violence, makes things even more difficult.
Three decades ago, Sidiya acknowledges that the planting of trees around Oualata was insufficient in response to efforts to combat the encroaching desert.
Oualata and the three other historic towns that were reunited in 1996 on the UNESCO World Heritage List have been the subject of a number of initiatives. One of the four towns hosts a festival each year to raise money for restoration, investment, and to encourage more people to stay.
Jamie Smith will start the batting in Harry Brook’s first one-day international since taking over as England’s full-time white-ball captain.
On Thursday, Smith will face West Indies at Edgbaston along with Ben Duckett.
After leaving the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks are both starting for the team.
Captain Brook, 26, claimed that Smith, who bats at seven and takes wickets for the Test side, might be an “amazing” white-ball opener, according to Captain Brook and head coach Brendon McCullum, 26.
He has the technique to face the swinging ball, according to Brook, who told BBC Sport.
He is a very good player, as we have seen in Test cricket. From any position, he has the ability to put his best balls under pressure.
Smith has started playing both first-class and T20 cricket. He pitched only eight innings overall in his third appearance for the Champions Trophy.
A regular white-ball opener like Surrey’s Jacks would have provided a second option at the top of the order. Instead, he is listed at seven, one place behind Bethell, a fellow spin-bowling all-rounder.
Fast bowlers Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse, who are both quick and skilled with the bat, follow them.
Due to injuries, Pace bowlers Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson are all out.
After an awful 18-month run of results, Buttler resigned as captain in February, keeping wicket and bats at number five.
When Buttler, arguably England’s greatest white-ball player of all time, was freed from the captaincy, Brook said, “That weight will be lifted off his shoulders.
He is “the world’s best white ball player.” He is free to simply show off his abilities.
England won the T20 World Cup in 2022 under Buttler, and the rest was abysmal under his leadership.
England have lost seven of their previous international matches.
“There is a new era here, new leadership,” Brook said. We’ll probably be able to unleash a lot of enthusiasm, enthusiasm, and fun.
“We’ll try to get some wins out of the crowd and try to engage them as much as we can.”
England could not possibly have qualified for the 2027 World Cup due to their poor run.
In order to avoid having to go through a qualifying tournament in March 2027, Brook’s team will likely need to be in the top nine of the world rankings. They are eighth, one place ahead of West Indies, in the three-game series.
Last week, the Windies drew a three-game series with Ireland 1-1.
West Indies captain Shai Hope praised the series as a “fresh start.”
Our main objective is to win the World Cup, but we must tick each box before reaching 2027.
After missing the Champions Trophy with an injury and skipping England’s Test victory against Zimbabwe due to his IPL commitments, Bethell now plays international cricket.
The 21-year-old, who will represent Warwickshire at home, was born in Barbados and attracted Hope’s attention as a teenager.
“During his under-15 stint, I saw him. Hope praised him for always displaying a high level of play.
He has a formidable talent, according to his description of the job. He has a lot of potential.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) uses a variety of tactics to stabilize the naira and control inflation, which is making a significant change to the country’s economy. These actions are essential to promoting sustainable development and addressing economic challenges. Because it provides Nigerian users with real-time currency fluctuation monitoring, the forex trading app has gained popularity as a tool for individuals interested in trading foreign exchange markets.
To stabilize the naira, the CBN primarily relies on structural economic adjustments and monetary policy adjustments. The unification of multiple exchange rate windows, which aimed to end arbitrage and promote transparency in the foreign exchange market, was a crucial initiative. A market-driven exchange rate system known as the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&, E) FX window has successfully cured artificial pricing distortions.
The CBN adjusts key interest rates to maintain inflation through strict monetary policies. The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) is increased to lower circulation and stabilize prices, thereby sluggish consumer spending. Commercial banks’ ability to lend money is further limited by raising the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR), which further controls liquidity and halts inflationary trends.
For maintaining currency stability, it is crucial to increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. These reserves increase investor confidence in the naira and serve as a buffer against global economic shocks. Policies have been put in place by the government and the CBN to encourage diaspora remittances, increase non-oil export revenues, and promote foreign direct investment. These inflows maintain the availability of foreign currency, resulting in a stable exchange rate.
Additionally, the government’s fiscal reforms promote currency stability and strengthen monetary instruments. The elimination of fuel subsidies aims to lower public finances costs and help to promote economic growth, despite initially causing inflation due to higher utility and transportation costs. This is anticipated to result in a lower foreign debt and long-term fiscal stability.
Nigeria’s strategy for reducing inflation is heavily influenced by digital innovation. The monetary system is modernized with the introduction of the first digital currency from Africa’s central bank, the eNaira. The eNaira improves the execution of monetary policy, improves access to financial services, and improves consumer behavior tracking in real-time.
To maintain financial system stability, the CBN is expanding its oversight of banking operations. Financial institutions are more resilient because of risk-based supervision, stress testing, and stricter prudential rules. In times of economic turbulence and pressure on the foreign exchange market, robust banks are essential for preserving system trust.
Public awareness and transparency are essential for managing inflation expectations. Through press conferences and meetings, the CBN maintains an open dialogue with all stakeholders and regularly updates the bank’s monetary policy. Price fluctuations and market speculators are reduced by this objective communication, which helps to stabilize market and consumer expectations.
There are still several obstacles to fully stabilizing and controlling the naira. Nigeria’s economy is still sensitive to the volatility of the world’s oil prices, which results in unpredictable revenue flows. Economic stability is hampered by structural barriers, including unreliable energy supplies, unreliable infrastructure, and limited industrial expansion.
The widespread informal sector, which employs many Nigerians, operates outside of traditional financial systems, putting strain on efforts to monitor and regulate money transactions. The reach and potency of monetary policies can be increased by expanding the use of digital financial services, improving documentation, and promoting formalization.
For Nigeria’s future economic development, structural reforms to diversify the economy, investments in human capital development, and synchronized fiscal and monetary policies are necessary. For sustainable development and reduced economic vulnerability, institutional strengthening, policy discipline, and infrastructure investments are essential.
Soul legend Sade Adu has abandoned her 1980s international fame for a peaceful life in the West Country, moving from the famed “Smooth Operator” to a peaceful life in Somerset.
She moved to Colchester when she was four to live with her grandparents and was later known as Sade Adu. Her early years in Essex were spent raising her.
However, after the release of their debut smooth soul single, “Your Love is King,” which soared to number six on the charts in 1984, she and her band took a dramatic turn. Four decades after its release, Diamond Life, their second album, sold a staggering 10 million records, and is still regarded as a classic.
Sade also won over the critics, winning four Grammys for her works, including being named Best New Artist in 1986 following the release of their second album. The singer began acting around this time, appearing in the movie Absolute Beginners set in 1950s London.
Over the next two decades, Sade achieved international fame, with singles like “Smooth Operator”, “The Sweetest Taboo” and “No Ordinary Love” echoing from radios worldwide. These tracks continue to be popular today, having been streamed over a billion times on Spotify alone, reports the Daily Record.
The elusive actress, who is renowned for her frequent album releases and lengthy layoffs, appears to have embraced a life of tranquility, snapping up a farm in the West Country where she lived while battling the pandemic with her partner Ian Watts and her mother, affectionately referred to as “Granny Annie.”
The singer stated in a 2020 interview with British Vogue that “we’re on a ship with unknown destinations, but that’s life… no mutiny yet.”
There are songs I’m so eager to write, and I’ve rediscovered the joy of cooking, she continued. “There’s always so much to do.
Sade continues to make music despite her retreat to the countryside, with her most recent single “Young Lion” coming out in 2024, a follow-up to “Flower of the Universe” from the Disney film A Wrinkle in Time starring Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey.
When REN Clean Skincare, a well-known skincare brand, announced a few weeks ago that it would soon stop trading, citing “internal factors” and “market challenges” as the causes, many beauty fans were heartbroken. Fans of the company, who adored its renowned products like the Redness Relief Serum, Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, and their priceless bath oils, were sad to learn this.
There is no fixed date for the final closure, but [they] anticipate that trading will end by the end of Q3 2025, according to the company that owns REN. You might want to stock up if you hate the idea of going without your skincare favorites if you have only a few months until they are no longer available. What we’ll be adding to our baskets right away, while we can, here…
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was $49; Lookfantastic now offers $37.
Laura Mulley, our beauty editor, has tried a lot of eye cream over the years, and this is her all-time favorite. It’s “incredibly creamy and nourishing,” which is what dry eyes require, but it also doesn’t make my already puffy eyes look any more. It also feels active enough to be doing something, giving the area an immediate illumination, and doesn’t make my already puffy eyes look any more puffy. It’s the ideal formula, in my opinion.
Try Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream, £24, for an alternative.
Was £30, now £23.60 from Boots
This is the OG of liquid exfoliators, a potent yet gentle combination of salicylic acid (one of the more hydrating ones) and lactic acid (great for unclogging pores), making it perhaps REN’s most well-known product. We know someone who claims to have adult acne at a discount for keeping it at bay, but keep in mind that, despite its name, you might not need to use an acid exfoliator every day.
You might also like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting, which costs just £10.40, with a final price of 6% Mandelic + 2% Lactic Acid AHA Liquid Exfoliant.
Was £46, now £36.80 from Boots
Although too thick for most people to use it as a daily face cream, this treatment balm is a must-have in your store cupboard for use on sore noses, chapped skin, or after procedures like laser. This treatment balm, while excellent for sensitive or compromised skin, is also excellent for use as a daily face cream. It instantly calms and arouses tension in the skin.
Although we wouldn’t advise applying this to the entire face, CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, available for $9.20, is a great solution for dry lips and sagging skin.
Was £54, now £43.20 from Boots
This anti-aging cream contains a plant-derived alternative if you can’t or don’t want to use retinol. Testers have reported firmer, more supple skin after 28 days of use. A good serum and a dry skin oil are also available in the range (Medik8’s Bakuchiol Peptides, £55).