Author: theparknews

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said on Saturday that drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon has destroyed crops across the region, affecting some 68 million people.The drought, which began in early 2024, has hit crop and livestock production, causing food shortages and damaging the wider economy.Leaders of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, to discuss regional issues, including food security.SADC Secretary-General Elias Magosi said some 68 million people, or 17 percent of the region’s population, were in need of aid.”The 2024 rainy season is set to be challenging as most parts…

Amid rumors of behind-the-scenes drama for her upcoming film, “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively faced intense backlash this week after footage went viral of her acting hostile towards a journalist during a 2016 interview.Kersti Fraer, the reporter behind the resurfaced interview, said a comment Lively made early in the conversation felt like a “bullet” and left her feeling “almost paralyzed.”Flair re-shared the interview with Lively and co-star Parker Posey on YouTube on August 10, captioning it “The Blake Lively interview that’ll make you want to quit your job.”The Norwegian journalist kicked off the conversation by congratulating Lively on her…

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Monumental Sports and Entertainment (MSE) commemorates National Nonprofit Day, celebrated annually on August 17, as it reflects on another year of giving back to the community through organizations that serve the fan communities that support the company’s teams, venues and media channels. During the 2023-2024 season, MSE has donated approximately $15 million thanks to the generous support of the Leonsis family, the Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) and MSE’s Corporate Office. “We believe sports plays a vital role in uniting and uplifting our communities, and we strive to do more every season,” said Ted Leonsis,…

I recently spent three nights at Hotel Maria Cristina, a Marriott Luxury Collection property. The hotel is located in beautiful San Sebastian, Spain, in Basque country. The 139-room property is typically regarded as the best hotel in the city, and it also has quite the history, dating back all the way to 1912. Best of all, it’s part of Marriott Bonvoy, so you can earn and redeem points.We had an excellent stay at Hotel Maria Cristina, and I’d say the hotel met my (high) expectations. The hotel has an ideal location, blends a historic design with modern comforts, has solid…

In Tiaret, a rural town of 200,000 in the high desert of Algeria, a huge crowd erupted on Friday night to celebrate the return of welterweight boxer Imane Kherif, who defied an international storm of lies, online libel and ignorant speculation to win an Olympic gold medal despite doubts about her Olympic qualification.As the open-top bus slowly made its way through throngs of jubilant fans, Kherif waved and posed for photos alongside fellow Tiaret athlete and bronze medallist Jamel Sejati.Parade Video Post to X The show showed crowds dancing to the music and merrily tossing rifles into the air, while…

Listen, I love a good pair of headphones that block out the noise around me when I need to focus on a task. I usually prefer over-the-ear headphones with good sound isolation, also known as earplugs. In fact, as I write this, I’m wearing my comfy Sony WH-XB900Ns, streaming Tinashe’s new album, Quantum Baby, on Spotify. But what if my beloved earbuds die? Or maybe it’s just a matter of when? Let’s face it, all electronic devices have an inevitable expiration date. This thought especially comes to mind whenever a cool new pair of headphones hits the shelves, like the…

If you haven’t yet adopted a flattop for your outdoor grilling routine, now is your chance to get a Blackstone Griddle at the best price ever.Over at Amazon, the Blackstone 2142 Original 17-inch Tabletop Griddle is on sale for $110 off the regular price of $190, a saving of 42%.This is a rare sale that sees the Blackstone 2142 Original Tabletop Griddle slashed by $80, making it the lowest price it’s ever been available. This is the first time this Blackstone griddle model has dropped this much in price since it went on sale for the same super low price…

What’s old is new again! Once-popular products are now trending and officially reaching new audiences. Products from big-name brands like Clinique, Coach, and more are gaining popularity, and both younger and older generations are excited about their comeback. But that’s not all: Social media is introducing some new products that our team can’t get enough of. Shop TODAY’s editorial director, Adrianna Brach, stopped by TODAY to share some trending items from her social media feeds that you’ll want to add to your shopping cart right away. Shop best-selling beauty products beloved by generations to items you’ll see all over TikTok,…

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the attack on a key bridge in Russia’s Kursk region was likely carried out using the US-made HIMARS rocket system.”For the first time the Kursk region has been hit by a Western rocket, most likely an American Himal rocket,” Maria Zakharova wrote in Telegram.”The attack on the bridge over the Seim River in Grushkovsky district resulted in its complete destruction and the deaths of volunteers who were providing assistance to evacuating civilians,” she added.In a Telegram post, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk shared footage of what appeared to be the attack, writing: “Ukrainian…

Amid the fierce debate over abortion and the challenges of accessing health care, American women face another problem: an increased risk of pregnancy-related death. The U.S. maternal mortality rate, 22 deaths per 100,000 live births, is the highest among high-income countries, according to an analysis released in June by the Commonwealth Fund, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, of which the U.S. is a member. Several studies have suggested that the high maternal mortality rate in the United States may be due to certain flaws in the…