Taiwan pledges extra US$40 billion defence outlay amid escalating threat from China
Taiwan on Wednesday unveiled a landmark supplementary defence budget of US$40 billion to counter what its leadership described as mounting and accelerating threat from...
Italy passes law defining ‘femicide’ as ‘crime’
In a historic and unanimous decision, Italian lawmakers have approved a new law that defines femicide — the murder of a woman motivated by...
South Africa declares gender-based violence a “National Disaster”
South Africa has officially classified gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide as a national disaster following large-scale protests on the eve of the G20 summit...
US colleges see surging deferrals among international students as visa delays bite
US colleges and universities are witnessing a substantial rise in deferrals by admitted international students, as visa-related complications mount. Many institutions have responded to...
Volcano in Ethiopia erupts after nearly 12,000 years
A rarely seen volcanic eruption shook northern Ethiopia on Sunday, as the Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region sprang into life for the...
Saudi Arabia to open more alcohol stores for select foreigners
Saudi Arabia is reportedly expanding access to alcohol for certain non-Muslim foreign residents, marking another step in its gradual loosening of long-standing social restrictions....
Explained: The rising tide of Buddhist extremism
In recent years, Buddhism — globally perceived as a peaceful, nonviolent faith — has undergone a troubling transformation in parts of South and Southeast...
Developing nations demand climate justice, not more debt
In a powerful appeal published on November 24, 2025, a sustainability researcher highlights how developing nations — especially those that contributed least to historical...
UK set to extend sugar tax to pre-packaged milkshakes and lattes
The UK government has announced a significant expansion of its “sugar tax” (the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, or SDIL), confirming that bottled milkshakes, flavoured...
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