Japan recently became the first country in the world to sell genome-edited tomatoes. This technology, which alters a crop's genetic information, does not involve adding outside genetic material – unlike with genetically modified foods. Experts claim that some genome-edited foods are healthier than their conventional counterparts. But environment campaigners are calling for more testing to be carried out amid safety concerns. Our correspondents Louis Belin, Rie Fukushima, Yuko Sano and Justin McCurry report.

As COVID-19 continues to harm economies globally, it's the developing and emerging economies that are suffering most says the lender's Franziska Lieselotte Ohnsorg.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Mahbouba Seraj, a leading women's rights activist in Afghanistan. She told us the Taliban have to "give in" on "red lines" such as women's access to education and work in order to "continue governing". With Afghanistan in dire need of financial assistance, Seraj said she was "angry at the whole world", especially US President Joe Biden. "You cannot let the people of this country die," she said in an emotional plea to the international community.

Turkey is home to more refugees than any other country in the world, with more than 3 million Syrians and 300,000 Iraqis. But as the years have gone by, many Turks believe these refugees have overstayed their welcome. Now, as the economic crisis in the country gets worse, attacks have begun to escalate, both rhetorically and physically. Our correspondents Ludovic de Foucaud, Shona Bhattacharyya and Hussein Asad report from Bolu, a city whose mayor wants all foreigners out of Turkey.

Teenager Zara Rutherford is expected to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the globe when she is expected to return to Belgium on Thursday. The British-Belgian teenager landed in the German village of Egelsbach on Wednesday, one-stop short of completing a journey that will make her the youngest woman ever to fly solo around the globe.

President Joe Biden cast a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine in stark historical terms Tuesday, saying, “it would be the largest invasion since World War II.”

On this week's Tech 24 show, we bring you the the latest on the metaverse, the enhanced version of reality that Meta (formerly Facebook) founder Mark Zuckerburg is staking his legacy on. Meta's AI Research SuperCluster was announced this week. When it comes to completion in July, it could be the world's most powerful supercomputer. Built in an undisclosed location for an undisclosed cost, Meta wants it to help bring the metaverse to life. Our Technology Editor Peter O'Brien explains.

Niniola, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido: In dance clubs around the world, musicians from Africa are stars. And no wonder - Afrobeats, which pairs West African musical elements with hip-hop, dancehall or house music, is great to dance to.

Nature has its very own information storage technology: DNA. For millions of years, the double helix has been the primary code for all living things. But could DNA also become the ultimate storage solution for our digital information? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

We speak to Noam Shuster Eliassi, an Israeli comedian whose latest performance has gone viral in the Arab world. The satirical song "Dubai, Dubai" criticises the recent deal to normalise ties between Israel and the UAE and has been watched, rewatched and tweeted thousands of times. She tells us why she feels the song sends an important message.

On November 30, 2021, Barbados became the world's youngest republic, cutting historic ties with the British monarchy. In the 17th century, the Caribbean island state became a British colony dedicated to sugar production. Some 90 percent of its population are descended from slaves. Since independence in 1966, Barbados had long been ambivalent about its colonial heritage. But today, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is taking the country into a new era. Our team reports.

In the Libyan capital, colourful chicken and strut their feathers as they compete in the country's first chicken beauty pageant.