Author: Press Room

TOKYO: Japan was battling its largest wildfire in more than three decades on Saturday (Mar 1), one of several blazes that have killed one person and forced the evacuation of more than a thousand.Flames are estimated to have spread over about 1,200ha in the forest of Ofunato in the northern region of Iwate since fire broke out on Wednesday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.”We’re still examining the size of the affected area, but it is the biggest since the 1992 wildfire” in Kushiro, Hokkaido, an agency spokesman told AFP.That fire burned 1,030ha, the previous record.Around 1,700 firefighters were…

In SummaryThe Real Estate industry in Africa is projected to reach approximately US$17.64 trillion by the end of 2025.As of December 2024, 340 Real Estate Startups in Africa had received a total of $29.2 million in seed funding.Nigeria, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania are the countries with the largest housing deficit as of 2025.Africa currently faces a housing deficit of at least 51 million housing units and requires an estimated a1.4 trillion to curb the deficit. Deep Dive!!The African real estate technology sector—also known as Property Tech or PropTech—has witnessed significant growth, with numerous companies leveraging technology…

India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to set up rerun of the Cricket World Cup final against Australia in last four.Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in cricket’s Champions Trophy. India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament in Dubai on Tuesday. The match is a rerun of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, which the Australians won in Ahmedabad. New Zealand will take on Group B winners…

The tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy puts the spotlight on some European nations’ “divergence” from promoting freedom and reaching peace in Eastern Europe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on “Fox News Sunday.””I think those who are criticizing [Trump’s] efforts in this way are showing that they are not committed to peace, and in the case of many of those European countries, that they’re not committed to the cause and values of freedom, even though they speak of this,” Gabbard told Fox News’ Shannon Bream on Sunday morning when asked about Democrat U.S.…

The apparent head of a radical transgender cult linked to six killings, including a U.S. Border Patrol agent, told a Maryland judge last week, “I haven’t done anything wrong” while pleading for access to vegan food behind bars.”I might starve to death if you cannot answer me,” Jack Amadeus LaSota, 34, who goes by “Ziz,” told Judge Erich Bean during a bail hearing in Allegany County District Court in Maryland on Feb. 18, according to audio obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. “I need the jail to be ordered for me to have a vegan diet. It’s more important than…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s commerce secretary said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are still coming Tuesday, though he appeared to suggest there could be changes to the original 25 per cent plan. Howard Lutnick said in an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures that there would be tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on the announced March 4 date, though Trump would determine at what levels.“There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada,” he said. “Exactly what they are, we’re going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate.”The secretary’s comments…

President Trump’s tough talk on China typically centers on tariffs. But a closer look at the decisions he has made since taking office shows that the president is considering a far wider set of economic restrictions on Beijing, ones that could hasten America’s split from a critical trading partner.The Trump administration has so far proposed expanding restrictions on investments flowing between the United States and China. It has appointed officials who, because of national security concerns, are likely to push for more curbs on Chinese investments and technology sales to China. And Mr. Trump has ushered in a 10 percent…

Bitcoin’s latest 20% drop below key support levels has rattled the market. With institutional demand seeming to wane and traders bracing for further losses, uncertainty is rising. As Bitcoin struggles to regain traction, more investors are exploring alternative assets that offer stability and the promise of long-term gains. One project drawing attention is Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a fast-growing DeFi lending platform. Despite the volatility affecting the broader market, MUTM’s presale is gaining momentum among those looking to buy in early, while Bitcoin navigates a technical bear market.Bitcoin (BTC) loses 20% from its peak sustained selling pressure, Bitcoin has slid 20%…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the worldCryptocurrency prices jumped on Sunday after President Donald Trump said a potential US strategic reserve of digital assets will include lesser-traded tokens Solana, XRP and Cardano.Trump made the disclosure on his Truth Social media account, adding: “I will make sure the US is the Crypto Capital of the World. We are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”His comments gave prices across the industry a lift after weeks of selling pressure, as cryptocurrencies were hit in a market shake-out of riskier assets. Traders…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the US economy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.High interest rates and uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s plans for tariffs and mass deportations are biting into demand for US home improvements, the latest signs of a tepid housing market.Shares of Jeld-Wen Holdings, which sells residential doors and windows, tumbled 6 per cent on Friday to a record low of $5.50. In an earnings report last month, the company forecast revenues would drop 4 to 9 per cent for 2025 compared with last year.The shares sank despite chair David Nord buying…