‘Sent to be killed’: How Russia forces migrants to fight in Ukraine
Life expectancy on the front line for Central Asian migrants forced to fight for Russia in Ukraine is just four months.
![A Havana local smokes a cigar on the Malecón - the city’s waterfront area. Both domestically and abroad, Cuban cigars are becoming an increasingly rare luxury. [Euan Wallace/ Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC02741-1775944580.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Aragon's team cuts peppers as she cooks chicken in the kitchen. [Justin Salhani/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-09.35.33-1776234948.png?resize=678%2C513&quality=80)
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Historic but not enough? Colombia’s Gustavo Petro defends cocaine seizures
Colombia’s president has intercepted record volumes of illicit cocaine. But will it be enough to lessen US pressure?
The Sea of Azov: Ukraine’s loss but hardly Russia’s gain
The colossal steel plants along Ukraine’s side of the sea are unrestorable ruins since Russia’s invasion.
What do we know about sea mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz?
The psychological terror that the presence of sea mines can generate could paralyse the Strait of Hormuz.
Map quiz: How well do you know Iran?This article will be opened in a new browser window
Drop a pin on the map for every location and see how close you get. Can you get a perfect score of 100?
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Refugee in my own city: Surviving Tehran’s bombing, with my cat for company
Despite the relentless bombing, Sana refuses to flee Tehran, clinging to resilience and fleeting moments of normalcy.
Kafat Abdulhakem loops a bundle of thread used in making aso-oke, a handwoven fabric indigenous to the Yoruba ethnic group, in her home workshop in Iseyin, Nigeria. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Waliu Fransisco separates tangled thread used for aso-oke, a handwoven fabric indigenous to the Yoruba ethnic group. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
While many weavers in Iseyin are middle-aged men, younger artisans like Fransisco are joining the trade, introducing fresh ideas and skills. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Some collaborate with graphic artists to develop innovative designs. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
A man dips thread into a starch gel to bind and strengthen fabric while making aso-oke. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Despite increasing demand, the craft remains rooted in traditional methods. Attempts to mechanise production have been limited or unsuccessful. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
"If you use a machine to weave aso-oke, it won't come out as nice as if it was handwoven," explains Kareem Adeola while working on a yellow-and-olive piece. "People have tried it before, and it did not work. It is meant by God to be handwoven." [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Adhering to traditional weaving techniques causes physical strain and health risks from prolonged sitting, but weavers insist this painstaking process defines the fabric's authenticity. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Once worn exclusively by Nigeria's wealthy and ruling class for special occasions, aso-oke now appears in designer studios across major cities, on London and Paris runways, and transformed into shoes, bags, and purses. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
"It is no longer reserved for special occasions," notes Isiaq Yahaya, a 45-year-old mathematician. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Kareem Adeola creates aso-oke at a weaving workshop in Iseyin. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
"There is nothing wrong with your culture being worn by other people," says Ayomitide Okungbaye, the 31-year-old creative director of Lagos-based Tide Chen, who has exhibited aso-oke designs in London. "Where we start to have a problem is when there's misappropriation or people start to claim ownership." [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Designers acknowledge that aso-oke's growing international exposure has elevated it to global status but also raised concerns about cultural ownership. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
Meanwhile, adire, another Yoruba fabric produced using tie-dye techniques, already faces challenges from Chinese counterfeiting. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
People arrange finished aso-oke in a store in Iseyin. [Toyin Adedokun/AFP]
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Peru holds presidential election amid a decade of political tumult
In the span of a decade, Peru has seen nine presidents come and go. How has that affected this year’s presidential race?
Makeshift Gaza university offers chance to resurrect academic studies
Solar-powered halls create academic lifelines for Gaza students battling war’s aftermath and scarce resources.
Israeli settlers turn Passover into celebration of ethnic cleansing
Palestinians displaced by settler violence confront loss of community as settlers celebrate their forced expulsions.
In Peru’s presidential race, a pro-Trump frontrunner sinks in final stretch
Donald Trump has sought greater influence over Latin America, but in Peru’s election, will a pro-Trump stance pay off?
