The central Islamic scripture, believed to be God's revelation in 114 chapters.
A trio of recent reports paints a worrying picture: invasive pests are threatening forests across the Northeast, weakening beech, hemlock and ash trees and accelerating landscape-scale changes. The threat endangers water filtration, land stability and carbon storage, underscoring the urgency for targeted mitigation and monitoring.
Two Africa-wide efforts and a national drive highlight rising commitment to biodiversity and reforestation. UN officials warn biodiversity loss remains urgent as Africa grapples with climate shocks, while Ethiopia readies to plant 800 million seedlings in a single day as part of the Green Legacy Initiative, underscoring continental leadership in climate resilience.
Austria has enacted a headscarf ban for girls under 14 across public and private schools, with talks and potential fines for repeated violations. The measure, backed by the ruling coalition and FPÖ, faces legal challenges from Muslim groups and opposition concerns about religious freedom and enforcement burdens on teachers. Protests have occurred in Vienna and neighbouring states as the school year starts.
Azerbaijan has amended school uniform rules to reflect a secular principle. While not explicitly banning the hijab, the changes are prompting protests as students and teachers report denial of entry for headscarves, arrests connected to unrest, and social-media outages.
Azerbaijan has tightened dress rules in state schools to enforce secularism, leading to entries denied to hijab-wearing pupils and teachers. Protests have erupted domestically as international groups condemn the move and tensions with Turkey rise over the issue.
A multi-storey building under construction in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area has collapsed. Rescue crews are working as officials warn of possible further collapses. Authorities say most workers have escaped, but some remain unaccounted for. Investigations into building approvals and safety are underway.
A 39-year-old man has launched a racist, terrorist-style shooting in Trappes and La Verrière, killing one and injuring several others before psychiatric evaluation of the suspect is pursued. Macron has called it a racist terrorist attack amid rising social tensions ahead of elections.