Amazon has officially launched its new satellite internet service, ‘Amazon LEO,’ positioning it as a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink. The company claims LEO is the world’s fastest commercial satellite internet service, capable of delivering download speeds up to one gigabit per second—five times faster than Starlink’s current performance. Although Amazon’s network currently includes only 150 satellites compared to Starlink’s 8,000, it plans to expand to 3,236 satellites in the coming years. The service is initially available to select business clients, including Hunt Energy Network, Vanu Incorporated, and JetBlue Airways, as part of a limited rollout to test network performance and industrial applications. Amazon aims to broaden access globally next year, while SpaceX continues to expand Starlink toward a 12,000-satellite constellation. The launch marks a major step in the growing competition for global satellite-based internet connectivity.

Severe floods and landslides have claimed more than 300 lives across Indonesia and Thailand, with both nations struggling to recover from the widespread destruction. In Indonesia’s Sumatra region, at least 174 people have died and 80 remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides. North Sumatra alone reported 116 deaths, while Aceh and West Sumatra recorded 35 and 23 fatalities respectively. Rescue efforts continue as many areas remain cut off and power restoration is underway. In Thailand, southern provinces have been hit by record rainfall, leaving at least 145 people dead, including over 110 in Songkhla province. Thousands have been displaced, and authorities are accelerating search and recovery operations as floodwaters begin to recede. Despite some improvement in weather conditions, the Thai Meteorological Department has warned of possible thunderstorms in several southern regions, raising concerns about further hazards.

Researchers at France’s Institut Pasteur have warned that if the H5 strain of bird flu mutates to spread efficiently between humans, it could cause a pandemic more severe than COVID-19. The virus, currently widespread among wild birds, poultry, and some mammals, has disrupted food supplies and killed millions of birds, though human infections remain rare. Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti, medical director at the Pasteur Institute’s Respiratory Infection Center, said the greatest concern is the virus adapting to human-to-human transmission. Since humans lack antibodies against H5, unlike seasonal flu strains H1 and H3, the population would be highly vulnerable. From 2003 to 2025, around 1,000 human infections were recorded, mostly in Egypt, Indonesia, and Vietnam, with a 48% fatality rate. Recent detections in U.S. cattle and the first human H5N5 case in Washington have raised alarms. Experts stress that the pandemic risk remains low but emphasize vigilance and preparedness, noting that vaccine candidates and antivirals are already available.

Netflix faced a major technical disruption shortly after releasing the first volume of the final season of 'Stranger Things 5', directed by the Duffer Brothers. The platform went down within minutes of the global premiere as millions of fans attempted to stream the episode simultaneously. The unexpected surge in traffic overwhelmed Netflix’s servers, leaving viewers unable to access the show. Fans quickly took to social media to share their frustration, reporting error messages when trying to play the episode. The company has acknowledged the issue and is working to restore full service. The release of 'Stranger Things 5' marks the beginning of the end for one of Netflix’s most popular and culturally influential series, set in the nostalgic 1980s and known for its blend of science fiction, horror, and coming-of-age drama.

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck India’s Manipur state early Thursday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology. No casualties or damage were reported. Earlier, two minor tremors were recorded in Bhutan and the Bay of Bengal — a 3.0 magnitude quake in Bhutan late Wednesday night and a 4.0 magnitude quake in the Bay of Bengal at a depth of 10 kilometers. Meanwhile, Indonesia experienced a stronger 6.3 magnitude earthquake off the western coast of North Sumatra on Thursday, following a 5.1 magnitude quake in North Sulawesi the previous night. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported that the Sumatra quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. Despite the sequence of tremors across South and Southeast Asia, no major damage or tsunami warnings have been issued so far.

According to the United Nations’ latest World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s largest city, with a population of 41.9 million. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, now ranks second with 36.6 million residents, while Tokyo falls to third with 33.4 million. The report highlights that Asia dominates the global urban landscape, hosting 19 of the world’s 33 megacities, including New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kolkata, and Seoul. Cairo remains the only non-Asian city in the top ten. Dhaka’s rapid growth is driven by rural migration and climate-related displacement, while Jakarta faces severe flooding risks, with projections suggesting a quarter of the city could be underwater by 2050. Despite Indonesia’s plan to relocate its capital to Nusantara in Borneo, Jakarta’s population is expected to grow by another 10 million. The UN also introduced a new definition of cities to standardize global urbanization data, focusing on contiguous high-density areas with at least 50,000 people.

FIFA has announced that Argentina, France, Spain, and England will receive special treatment in the 2026 World Cup draw, ensuring they do not face each other before the semifinals. These four teams, currently the top-ranked sides in world football, will be placed in separate halves of the draw under the new 48-team format. Spain and Argentina will be positioned on opposite sides, while France and England will also be kept apart. The draw, scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C., will start with the 12 teams in Pot 1, which includes the three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—along with Germany, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Meanwhile, 18 teams are still competing in playoffs for the remaining six World Cup slots. Italy, a four-time champion, could end up in Pot 4 if they qualify, potentially creating a ‘group of death’. Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curaçao are among the debutants in the expanded tournament.

Global crude oil prices have declined despite continued sanctions on Russia, as markets anticipate that global supply will surpass demand in 2026. On Tuesday, Brent crude dropped by 27 cents to $63.10 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by 23 cents to $58.61. Analysts attribute the decline to forecasts from institutions like Deutsche Bank, which predict a surplus of at least two million barrels per day in 2026, with little chance of shortages in 2027. Meanwhile, Indian refiners such as Reliance have reduced imports of Russian oil due to new sanctions, prompting Russia to increase sales to China. However, optimism remains as expectations of a potential U.S. interest rate cut in December could stimulate economic activity and boost oil demand. The market currently faces a tug-of-war between fears of oversupply and hopes of renewed demand growth.

A joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women reveals that more than 50,000 women and girls were killed worldwide in 2024 by intimate partners or family members—an average of 137 victims per day or one every 10 minutes. The report, released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2025, highlights that 60% of all female homicides were committed by current or former partners or relatives, compared to only 11% of male victims. The UN agencies warned that many of these femicides are preventable but persist due to weak protection systems, inadequate police responses, and limited social support in many countries. The report also notes that the actual number of femicides may be higher because of poor data collection, victims’ fear of reporting, and outdated legal definitions that fail to classify many killings as gender-based violence.

A new United Nations report released on November 24, 2024, reveals that nearly 50,000 women and girls were killed globally last year by intimate partners or family members — averaging one death every 10 minutes. The study, jointly published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women, highlights that 60% of female homicide victims were murdered by someone close to them, compared to 11% among male victims. Africa recorded the highest number of such killings, with around 22,000 cases in 2024. The report stresses that homes remain the most dangerous places for women and girls, showing no significant improvement from previous years. UN Women’s policy director, Sarah Hendriks, emphasized that femicide is often part of a broader pattern of violence, including coercion, threats, and online harassment. The report also warns that technological advances have enabled new forms of gender-based violence, such as non-consensual image sharing, doxxing, and deepfake abuse, urging stronger laws to ensure accountability both online and offline.

Following a series of mild tremors in Bangladesh after a 5.7-magnitude quake, global attention has turned to countries with minimal earthquake risk. According to seismic data, nations far from major tectonic fault lines experience very few or no natural earthquakes. Among them, Chad and Niger in Central Africa face extremely low seismic risk, though they remain vulnerable to floods, droughts, and wildfires. Similarly, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in West Africa rarely experience quakes but contend with climate-related hazards. In Europe, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, and Ireland are among the safest countries, with fault lines located over 1,000 kilometers away. Finland occasionally experiences minor, human-induced tremors due to mining activities. The Bahamas, though distant from the Caribbean fault line, faces coastal flooding and hurricanes. In South America, Uruguay’s distance from major fault zones makes earthquakes rare, though flooding remains a concern. These nations exemplify regions where seismic stability contrasts with other environmental risks.

Earthquakes are among the most destructive natural disasters, often triggering tsunamis and landslides. Several countries face frequent seismic activity due to their location along tectonic plate boundaries. Japan tops the list as it lies within the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', where it experiences constant tectonic movement. The country has developed advanced seismic monitoring systems and early warning networks. Indonesia, also on the Ring of Fire, endures multiple high-magnitude earthquakes annually, often accompanied by volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. China has a tragic history of deadly quakes, including the 2008 Sichuan disaster that killed tens of thousands. The Philippines faces similar risks due to its mountainous terrain and frequent storms, which heighten landslide dangers. Iran, located on several fault lines, regularly experiences destructive quakes, such as the 1990 Gilan event that claimed over 40,000 lives. Despite these risks, all five nations have strengthened disaster preparedness and public awareness to mitigate earthquake impacts.

According to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQAir, India dominates the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai among the top five. Delhi tops the list with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 450, indicating hazardous air conditions. Kolkata follows with a score of 248, while Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranks third with a score of 232, categorized as very unhealthy. Pakistan’s Karachi is fourth with 209, and Mumbai is fifth with 198. IQAir’s scale classifies air quality between 0–50 as good, 51–100 as moderate, 101–150 as unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 as unhealthy, 201–300 as very unhealthy, and above 301 as hazardous. The data, collected on Sunday morning, highlights the severe air pollution crisis affecting major South Asian cities, posing serious health risks to millions of residents.

Feeling dizzy after an earthquake is a common physiological reaction, experts say. During a quake, the body’s balance system—particularly the vestibular system—becomes hyperactive as it tries to stabilize against the shaking. Even after the tremors stop, the brain may continue to perceive movement, leading to dizziness or imbalance. Research from the University of Tokyo (2022) and Stanford Psychology Lab indicates that both physical and psychological stress responses, including elevated cortisol levels, can cause lightheadedness, nausea, or disorientation. A 2023 study in Nature Human Behaviour found that prolonged exposure to vibration can make the brain temporarily misinterpret stillness as motion. Mild dizziness that resolves within 10–30 minutes is normal and can be eased by sitting down, closing the eyes, drinking water, breathing deeply, and eating light snacks. However, if dizziness persists for more than 24 hours, or is accompanied by vomiting, numbness, or difficulty walking, medical attention is advised.

Amid global economic instability, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, gold remains a key safe-haven asset for central banks worldwide. According to the latest data from the World Gold Council and international financial institutions, the United States holds the largest gold reserves at 8,133.46 tons, surpassing the combined reserves of the second and third-ranked countries. Germany follows with 3,355.14 tons, while Italy, France, Russia, and China complete the top six. Notably, China increased its reserves by 331 tons between 2019 and 2024. Other significant holders include India (876.2 tons), Japan (846 tons), Turkey (595.4 tons), and Saudi Arabia (323.1 tons). Bangladesh, by comparison, maintains 14.8 tons of gold in its central bank reserves. Although modest globally, this reserve plays an important role in supporting financial stability and international trade confidence. Central banks continue to rely on gold as a core reserve asset due to its enduring value amid global uncertainty.