Geneva, Switzerland (AFP) – Cyclone Freddy, which crossed the entire southern Indian Ocean before wreaking devastation on southeastern Africa last year, was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded, at 36 days, the UN said Tuesday.

An extreme weather evaluation committee “recognised Tropical Cyclone Freddy’s duration of 36.0 days at tropical storm status or higher as the new world record for the longest tropical cyclone duration”, the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization said in a statement.

rjm/nl/rlp

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image credit: NASA | Public Domain

Image: Grapes, vineyard
Warmer climate boosts north German vineyards, for nowNews

Warmer climate boosts north German vineyards, for now

Werder, Germany | AFP The morning sun shines on lush vines as harvesters pick grapes. The hillside vineyard looks like it could be in Italy but…
SourceSourceSeptember 21, 2025 Full article
Image
Fighting fires from space in record time: how AI could prevent a repeat of Australia’s devastating wildfiresNewsScience

Fighting fires from space in record time: how AI could prevent a repeat of Australia’s devastating wildfires

By University of South Australia Australian scientists are getting closer to detecting bushfires in record time, thanks to cube satellites with onboard AI now able…
SourceSourceJune 7, 2024 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, nature)
EU environment ministers test blood for ‘forever chemicals’News

EU environment ministers test blood for ‘forever chemicals’

Copenhagen, Denmark | AFP EU environment and climate ministers meeting in Denmark on Thursday tested their blood for "forever chemicals" linked to serious health risks, in…
SourceSourceJuly 10, 2025 Full article