Worldwide
USA: longest-ever government shutdown finally ends, both sides bruised
The longest US government shutdown in history has ended after 43 tense days, restoring pay for federal workers and reopening critical services. Yet its conclusion has left both political parties bruised. Senate Democrats triggered the shutdown…
Environment: five innovative Earthshot Prize winners
A star-studded Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro celebrated global ingenuity and hope for the planet, honouring five remarkable winners across its key categories. Brazil’s re.green, which uses AI and satellite technology to restore vast…
Nigeria: Trump’s military threats over ‘Christian genocide’
Donald Trump’s threats to cut aid and launch military strikes against Nigeria over alleged ‘Christian genocide’, while resonating with US evangelicals, might misrepresent and oversimplify the country’s complex crisis. Nigeria’s conflicts, spanning insurgency, banditry, and communal…
Pakistan / India: 2,000 Sikh pilgrims allowed to cross border
Pakistan’s reception of Sikh pilgrims from India on 4 November marked a rare moment of goodwill amid lingering hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. After deadly border clashes in May shut down the Wagah-Attari crossing, the…
