China expands Covid-19 lockdowns at Hainan beach resort, other cities

China imposes an indefinite lockdown of the beach resort of Sanya — confining some 25,000 vacationers to their hotels — and lockdowns in four other cities in Hainan province.

UK museum agrees to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The decision comes after Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments formally asked for the artifacts to be returned earlier this year following a consultation with community members, artists and schoolchildren in Nigeria and the UK.

Battle of oranges: Tonnes of South African fruit stranded at European ports

The EU introduced new plant and health safety requirements as ships were already at sea carrying hundreds of containers full of fruit to Europe, resulting in them being held up on arrival.

Türkiye to offer traditional archery classes in South Africa

The director of a Turkish cultural institute in Johannesburg heralds the start of traditional Turkish archery classes, to be taught by two South African nationals who studied the craft in Türkiye.

Ancient Mayans played with balls made out of the ashes of VIPs

New evidence supports the theory offered by the excavation leader at the Tonina site in Mexico: Mayans made balls out of the ashes of high ranking officials to play with, so they could live on after death.

'Stray': a virtual cat in a game is helping real cats in shelters

A gaming company filled with cat lovers has partnered with a shelter and a cat cafe, fundraising via livestreaming of 'Stray', a video game featuring an orange tabby.

US declares public health emergency as monkeypox cases surge

Announcement is billed to help bolster response to the outbreak that has infected more than 6,600 Americans, around a quarter of them from New York state.

Parts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef show record coral cover in 36 years

The recovery in the central and northern stretches of the UNESCO world heritage-listed reef contrasted with the southern region.

Volcano erupts again near Iceland's capital Reykjavik

Eruption following intense seismic activity is believed to be five to 10 times bigger than last year's eruption, with about 20-50 cubic metres of magma spewing out per second.

A mahjong tile maker keeps tradition alive in Hong Kong, but for how long?

70-year-old Cheung Shun-king's family used to own four separate mahjong shops, where as a teenager he learned his trade. Now, he says, he's not willing to take on apprentices for fear that there won't be any demand for handmade tiles in the future.

Why some experts don’t want India to release cheetahs in the wild

The relocation of the wild cats from one continent to another comes with a lot of challenges and questions.

Myanmar announces birth of rare white elephant

Historically, white elephants were considered extremely auspicious in south-east Asian culture and the region's ancient rulers acquired as many as they could to boost their fortunes.