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World News
Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
The United Nations General Assembly voted to support a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which shows Africa and other continents closer to their true sizes. The vote had strong global support, with 164 countries in favor, but the United States voted against it, and six countries abstained.
Key Facts
The UN resolution promotes using the Equal Earth map to better represent continent sizes.
The traditional Mercator map makes northern countries appear larger and equatorial places like Africa smaller than they really are.
Africa is about 30.3 million square kilometers, much larger than shown on the Mercator map, where it looks similar in size to Greenland.
Latin America covers about 20 million square kilometers, Oceania about 8.5 million, and South Asia about 5.1 million.
France and other countries support the new map and plan to stop using the Mercator projection.
The U.S. opposed the resolution, saying the UN should focus on more important issues.
The Equal Earth projection was created in 2018 to show continents more accurately on a flat map.
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Rescuers in Nepal saved a Chinese person from a tunnel and a local woman from a flooded home on Saturday. These rescues have raised hope as emergency teams continue searching for thousands of people missing after heavy floods 10 days ago.
Key Facts
The floods in Nepal occurred 10 days ago and caused many people to go missing.
A Chinese national was rescued from inside a tunnel.
A local Nepali woman was rescued from her home, which was partly underwater.
Emergency teams are continuing their search efforts with more energy.
The situation remains serious as many people are still unaccounted for.
The floods have caused widespread damage and disruption in Nepal.
Rescue operations are ongoing with both local and international help involved.
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Yemen’s internationally recognized government has carried out air strikes against Houthi forces, marking a rise in fighting after a fragile truce began weakening. The government targeted Houthi positions in western Yemen as the Houthis pushed towards strategic areas near the Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Key Facts
The Yemeni government launched at least 15 air strikes on Houthi sites in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces on Friday.
These attacks aim to support government troops fighting a Houthi offensive near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, an important global shipping route.
This marks an increase in the Yemeni government’s use of its own air power; previously, Saudi-led coalition aircraft handled most air strikes against the Houthis.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, are trying to gain control of hills and coastal areas near al-Makha and Bab al-Mandeb.
The Houthis recently declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
Fighting includes the use of ballistic missiles, drones, and artillery by Houthi forces.
The strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is crucial for global shipping.
Control over this area could allow the Houthis to disrupt shipping routes far beyond Yemen.
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In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, teams responsible for burying Ebola victims are working quickly to prevent the disease from spreading. They face difficulties including local distrust, threats, and ongoing rebel conflicts in the area.
Key Facts
There is an ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo.
Burial teams aim to safely bury those who died from Ebola.
The teams are working against time to stop the virus from spreading further.
Some local communities distrust the burial teams and sometimes threaten them.
Rebel fighting in the region makes the response to Ebola harder.
Safe burial is important to control Ebola because the virus can spread from dead bodies.
The situation is urgent and dangerous for health workers on the ground.
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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank, where many residents are US citizens and have been affected by attacks from Israeli settlers. Huckabee called for the Israeli government to act against violent settlers and described his meeting with locals as constructive.
Key Facts
Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel, visited Turmus Ayya, a Palestinian town frequently targeted by settler violence.
Many residents of Turmus Ayya, about 80%, are US citizens.
Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian communities by damaging crops, livestock, and trying to force people off their land.
The Israeli government condemns settler violence but rarely arrests or prosecutes those responsible.
Huckabee has called violent settlers "terrorists" but says they are a minority among about 750,000 settlers.
Israeli occupation of the West Bank has lasted since 1967, with about 3 million Palestinians living there.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is advancing new settlements, considered illegal under international law, before upcoming elections.
Huckabee denied plans by Israel to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza despite some Israeli ministers discussing such ideas.
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Nearly 1,000 children in Bangladesh have died in the country’s worst measles outbreak in decades. Hospitals are crowded with sick babies as the disease spreads rapidly.
Key Facts
Bangladesh is facing its deadliest measles outbreak in many years.
The death toll is approaching 1,000 children.
The outbreak is causing overcrowded hospital wards.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that mostly affects children.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles outbreaks.
The health system in Bangladesh is struggling to manage the large number of cases.
Measles can cause severe complications, especially in young children.
Efforts to control the outbreak include medical treatment and vaccination campaigns.
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Costa Rica’s President Laura Fernandez said that having US ground forces in her country could improve national security. However, she emphasized that there are no current plans for this, and any such decision would need approval from the Costa Rican legislature.
Key Facts
Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez discussed the possibility of US ground forces operating in Costa Rica.
She said this could strengthen Costa Rica’s national security.
No actual plans for US troop deployment exist at the moment.
Any deployment would have to be approved by Costa Rica’s lawmakers.
The statement was made publicly to clarify the current situation.
The topic concerns cooperation between the US and Costa Rica on security matters.
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The UK government has set up a National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC) to fight illegal number plates across England. This new team will help police forces work together using new technology to catch drivers who use fake or unreadable number plates to avoid fines and commit crimes.
Key Facts
The NRPCC is a new national police team focused on illegal number plates.
It will combine information from police forces across England to improve tracking.
New technology, like special goggles, can detect number plates made unreadable to cameras.
Illegal plates are used by criminals to move stolen goods and avoid speeding or parking fines.
Drivers with illegal plates can be fined up to £1,000.
Types of illegal plates include cloned plates (copying real registrations) and ghost plates (using see-through film to hide from cameras).
The police say this effort will help catch offenders faster and disrupt crime gangs linked to these plates.
Officials emphasize that illegal number plates help criminals avoid law enforcement and are not harmless.
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US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the occupied West Bank and met with Palestinians affected by violent attacks from Israeli settlers. Huckabee said the Israeli government must protect Palestinians living there and ensure their safety.
Key Facts
Huckabee met local officials and Palestinians in the West Bank, including Palestinian Americans harmed by settler violence.
He emphasized Israel’s responsibility to protect Palestinians amid a rise in violent attacks called pogroms.
Palestinian residents say settler violence is frequent and mostly unpunished.
Huckabee told reporters that crime and terror should have severe consequences regardless of who commits them.
Some settlers have written hostile messages not only against Palestinians but also against Huckabee himself.
The current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, is the most right-wing in the country’s history.
Settler violence and settlement building have increased despite international laws that say these settlements are illegal.
A former Israeli ambassador called Huckabee’s visit mostly symbolic, saying it won’t change US policy much.
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The chief executive of the mental health charity Mind said that mental health groups have not fully recognized the small risk of violence from some people with severe mental illnesses. This discussion follows a public inquiry into the 2023 Nottingham attacks, where three people were killed by a man later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Key Facts
Mind’s chief executive, Dr. Sarah Hughes, stated that mental health charities have avoided talking about the risk of violence to reduce stigma.
The Nottingham attacks happened on June 13, 2023, where Valdo Calocane fatally stabbed three people.
Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was sentenced in 2024 to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter and attempted murder.
The public inquiry examined actions by health professionals, police, and others leading up to the attacks.
Calocane had a history of violent behavior, refusal to take medication, and was detained under mental health laws multiple times.
Hughes called for mental health groups to have open talks about violence risk without ignoring the problem.
A victim’s family member welcomed this, saying previous conversations downplayed the potential danger from some mentally ill individuals.
There is a balance between addressing stigma and acknowledging that some people with mental illness can be dangerous.
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Gilly McArthur rescued a bumblebee named Phoebee with a broken wing and shared photos of her care on Instagram. Phoebee’s story attracted worldwide attention, highlighting the importance of bees and the challenges they face.
Key Facts
Phoebee was found injured on a roadside and taken home by Gilly McArthur, who cared for her.
McArthur took Phoebee on a sailing trip and posted about it on Instagram, which gained many followers globally.
The story resonated with people during a time of many global crises, offering a moment of kindness and connection.
Britain has 24 species of bumblebees, most of which live only one year; queens like Phoebee can hibernate and start colonies.
Expert Andy Benson explains that many bee species are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and harmful pesticides.
Bees are vital for pollination, directly affecting about one-third of the food we eat, including fruits and nuts.
Instead of rescuing individual bees, experts recommend planting flowers to support many bees naturally in gardens.
McArthur watches Phoebee closely but understands that the bee’s life will follow its natural course.
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Serbia’s ruling party has proposed that President Aleksandar Vucic become prime minister if they win the upcoming early parliamentary election, expected on October 25. The vote comes amid ongoing protests against government corruption following a deadly train station collapse in 2024, with political tensions running high.
Key Facts
Serbia’s ruling party wants President Vucic to switch roles and become prime minister after the election.
The early parliamentary election is expected around October 25 but has not been officially called yet.
A deadly canopy collapse in 2024 that killed 16 people sparked large youth-led protests demanding government accountability.
Protests have continued for over a year, criticizing corruption and poor government management.
President Vucic plans to resign his presidency to join the campaign and run for prime minister.
The election will feature opposition groups including student-backed lists, right-wing, and center-left parties.
Vucic blames foreign powers for stirring unrest but has not presented evidence.
Serbia is trying to join the European Union, but progress is slowed due to concerns about democracy and election fairness.
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Richard Hammond has paused renovation plans on his new £2 million Georgian mansion because rare bats live on the property. A bat survey found several protected species, and Hammond must get a special licence before he can continue work.
Key Facts
Richard Hammond bought a 19th-century mansion in Llanwenarth for around £2 million.
Renovation plans include adding a padel court and a luxury car garage.
Several species of bats, including common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle, live and forage on the estate.
British law requires a protected species development licence to continue renovations where bats are involved.
Hammond says he will find a way to share the home with the bats rather than harm them.
The mansion is set on 21 acres with historic outbuildings and formal gardens in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Hammond bought the house after his divorce and plans long-term renovations without changing the building’s appearance.
The bat survey found other bat species like brown long-eared, noctule, Leisler’s, and serotine bats around the property.
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A new international trial is testing a drug called Trontinemab to see if it can prevent Alzheimer’s disease in healthy people who have no memory problems but are at higher risk. The trial is led by the NHS in the UK and will monitor participants for several years to find out if the drug stops dementia before symptoms start.
Key Facts
The trial will recruit about 1,600 people aged 55 to 80 worldwide, including the first European participants in the UK.
Participants must have no memory loss and will be tested for a blood marker called p-tau217, which indicates risk for Alzheimer’s.
People with high levels of p-tau217 have a 78% chance of developing cognitive problems within 10 years.
Trontinemab is a drug made by Roche that targets harmful proteins called amyloid plaques in the brain.
Early research showed Trontinemab removed amyloid plaques in 90% of people with early Alzheimer’s in 28 weeks.
Participants will be randomly given either Trontinemab or a placebo and then followed for 4 to 6 years to monitor dementia development.
The trial involves at least 15 UK hospitals and clinics and focuses on preventing Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.
Alzheimer’s disease often develops up to 10 years before memory decline is noticeable, and affects many older adults.
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John Healey, the UK chancellor, said the upcoming budget will be difficult due to the impact of the Middle East conflict on the economy. He plans to protect public finances without raising taxes on working people, while facing pressure from rising borrowing costs and inflation caused by global instability.
Key Facts
The UK budget will be affected by the war in the Middle East, causing economic challenges.
John Healey became chancellor after Rachel Reeves and succeeded her when Andy Burnham became prime minister.
Healey wants a strong financial buffer to handle uncertainty from global events.
Economists expect Healey to either raise taxes or cut spending to protect a £24 billion fiscal safety margin.
Healey does not plan to increase income tax, national insurance, VAT, or corporation tax.
Global bond yields have risen to an 18-year high, increasing government borrowing costs.
Healey resigned as defence secretary in June over disagreements about defence spending targets.
There is a focus on reducing welfare spending and encouraging more people to work.
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Rescuers in Nepal found two more people alive after massive floods caused by a glacial collapse. They continue searching for thousands missing, especially workers trapped in hydropower tunnels damaged by the floods.
Key Facts
A Chinese man was rescued from a 225-meter tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project and is being checked by doctors.
A 64-year-old Nepali woman was found alive under mud in a flooded house in Nuwakot and flown to Kathmandu for treatment.
About 900 workers are missing in hydropower projects across Nepal, with 500 believed trapped in tunnels.
International teams from India, China, South Korea, and the US are helping with rescue efforts.
The floods were triggered by a glacial and rock collapse on August 26.
More than 40 bridges collapsed and rivers overflowed, making rescue work harder.
At least 1,375 people have died, and over 5,000 are still missing according to Nepal’s disaster agency.
Experts say the chance of finding survivors in tunnels decreases as time passes.
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Bradley Carlisle, a 37-year-old actor from Atlanta with Down’s syndrome, became the first professional Santa Claus with Down’s syndrome in the US. After training at a major Santa Claus academy, he was honored with induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame for his role as a meaningful representative in the holiday community.
Key Facts
Bradley Carlisle is the first professional Santa Claus with Down’s syndrome in the US.
He is a community theater actor from suburban Atlanta, aged 37.
Carlisle started portraying Santa at a holiday party for the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta in 2023.
He trained for four days at Atlanta’s Northern Lights Santa Academy, the second largest Santa training school in the US.
The academy teaches how to dress as Santa, care for the beard, and handle sensitive questions from children.
Carlisle was praised for his confident performance and treated equally with other Santa trainees.
He was honored with an induction to the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.
His photo will be displayed in New York City’s Times Square during Down Syndrome Awareness Month starting October 1, his birthday.
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Defence experts involved with Nato warn that Europe is not ready for a long war with Russia because the public does not support it. Rising populist movements in Europe and a lack of clear communication about the security threat from Russia make it harder for Nato to prepare. European countries are discussing ways to improve military cooperation as the US plans to reduce its military presence in Europe.
Key Facts
Nato defence planners believe Europe cannot sustain a long war of attrition with Russia due to public wariness.
Russia is seen as gaining an advantage in a hybrid war, which combines military and political tactics.
Populist political parties in Europe, many sympathetic to Russia, are gaining support in key countries.
The US is expected to reduce its conventional military commitments in Europe soon.
A group of five major European countries, including the UK, aims to improve joint military coordination and defence planning.
European officials say the public has not been well informed about the threat level from Russia.
An attempted drone attack in Germany, linked to Russian and Belarusian suspects, increased concerns about hybrid attacks.
European defence ministers are beginning to cooperate on capabilities like missile defence and early warning systems.
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At a Reform UK party conference, leaders and supporters expressed doubts about climate change science, while also criticizing the government for not protecting people during recent heatwaves. The event showed mixed views, with some rejecting climate warnings but agreeing that authorities should better prepare for extreme weather.
Key Facts
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, spoke at their conference amid a recent donation scandal.
A banner saying “Collect £5m, burn the planet” appeared briefly during Tice’s speech.
Many attendees enjoyed this summer’s heatwaves and doubted climate change science.
Some argued carbon dioxide levels were higher in the past and said climate change is not caused by humans.
Attendees criticized government policies, such as building houses with small windows and not providing enough heatwave protection.
There were calls for more support for farmers and better air conditioning in public buildings.
Experts say the party’s mixed messages cause confusion among supporters on climate policy.
The party leaders claim cutting emissions would harm the UK economy, a claim experts say is incorrect.
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A woman spent $50,000 to clone her dog, Ciuppi, who died from cancer. Although the cloned dog, Smoochie, has the same DNA, he behaves very differently, showing that having the same genes does not mean they have the same personality.
Key Facts
The original dog, Ciuppi, had lymphoma, a common dog cancer, and the owner spent a lot on his treatment.
Cloning was initially considered to help Ciuppi by potentially providing bone marrow transplant, but Ciuppi died before this could happen.
The cloning process cost $50,000 and was done after Ciuppi’s death to keep his cell line alive.
Smoochie, the cloned dog, was born in a lab in Hong Kong.
Despite identical DNA, Smoochie’s personality and behavior differ from Ciuppi’s.
Ciuppi disliked water and men, while Smoochie loves everyone and enjoys swimming.
The owner felt conflicted about loving the cloned dog, worrying it might feel like replacing Ciuppi.
The experience shows that genetics alone do not determine a pet’s behavior or personality.
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