live Iran targets Gulf countries, closes Strait of Hormuz as U.S. launches fresh strikes
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claime...
Thousands of local residents and international visitors have gathered in northern Thailand for the 49th annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival, one of the city’s longest-running contemporary events.
The three-day festival (13–15 February) features elaborate floral displays, cultural performances and community activities across the city.
Festival zones including Nong Buak Haad Park, Thapae Gate and Nawarat Bridge have been transformed with vibrant blooms, orchids and tulip gardens, live music, art competitions, and stalls selling local crafts and food.
The highlight, a floral parade along Nawarat Bridge, took place on Valentine’s Day morning, featuring elaborately decorated floats, performers in traditional Lanna dress, and city-wide decorations.
Once the parade ends, the floats are parked at Buak Hat Park in the southwest corner of the Old Town for display, while surrounding streets are closed and converted into a “walking street market” filled with food vendors, entertainment stages, and flower and plant stalls.
Special events are also being held at the Three Kings Monument and the plaza in front of Thapae Gate, hosting music concerts, beauty contests, and regional performances over the festival weekend.
Floral arrangements also adorned the gates of Chiang Mai’s walled Old City, adding colour throughout the area.
The festival, which began in the 1970s, has grown from a small local event to an international attraction while retaining its regional identity, with strong support from districts across Chiang Mai province.
Organisers said the festival combines northern Thai culture, family-friendly activities, and romantic Valentine’s weekend experiences for tourists and residents alike.
Visitors stroll through parks drenched in blooms, and sampled local delicacies or shop for handcrafted souvenirs.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
China has maintained its highest-level rainstorm warning after Typhoon Bavi made landfall on the country's eastern coast, urging large-scale evacuations and emergency preparations across several provinces amid fears of severe flooding and landslides
Uzbekistan has approved a new film rebate programme offering foreign productions up to 4 billion soums (around U.S.$315,000) in reimbursement as it seeks to attract international filmmakers and boost tourism through cinema.
More than 100 countries now spend more on servicing debt than on education, UNESCO has warned, as it called on governments and international lenders to expand the use of debt-for-education swaps.
The Welsh rock singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the global hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75 in Portugal.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to become one of 2026’s biggest films, bringing Homer’s ancient epic to life with a $250 million budget. From real ships and thousands of extras to heated debates over casting choices, here are 10 facts about the ambitious adaptation.
Giorgio Armani Privé showed shimmering gowns and roomy suits in dusky tones on Tuesday in Paris, in the second haute couture show since Armani passed away in September last year, leaving the womenswear creative director role to his niece Silvana Armani.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment