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.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the schedule for the 2025 Under-19 One Day International World Cup, set to begin on January 15 and conclude with the final on February 6. The tournament will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Bangladesh and India have been placed together in Group A, alongside the United States and New Zealand. Notably, archrivals India and Pakistan have been kept in separate groups. Matches will be hosted across venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Harare and Bulawayo among the key locations. Tanzania will make its debut appearance in this edition. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, followed by semifinals and the final. Reserve days have been allocated for both the semifinals and the final to ensure completion in case of weather disruptions.

Eight additional teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing the total to 42 confirmed participants out of 48. The final six teams will be determined through playoffs in March 2025. Spain clinched their place after a 2–2 draw with Turkey, extending their unbeaten streak to 31 matches. Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland, and Austria also secured qualification from Europe, joining earlier qualifiers Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany. In the CONCACAF region, Panama, Haiti, and Curaçao earned their spots, with Curaçao becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. Hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada automatically qualified. The European playoffs will feature 12 group runners-up and four top Nations League teams. The World Cup draw is scheduled for December 5, 2024, marking the first edition to feature 48 teams across North America.

Microsoft and Anthropic have announced an expanded partnership that integrates Anthropic’s Claude models—Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5, and Opus 4.1—into Microsoft Foundry and Microsoft 365 Copilot. The models are now available in public preview, allowing Azure customers to build production applications and enterprise agents using Claude within Microsoft’s infrastructure. This integration simplifies procurement by aligning with existing Azure agreements and billing systems, eliminating the need for separate vendor contracts. Developers can deploy Claude through Foundry’s APIs and SDKs in Python, TypeScript, and C#, using Microsoft Entra authentication. In Microsoft 365 Copilot, Claude powers the Researcher agent and is now available in Excel’s Agent Mode to assist with data analysis, formula generation, and error detection. The rollout begins globally with a U.S. DataZone coming soon, offering scalable, serverless deployment and access to Claude’s full suite of developer tools and capabilities.

An analysis released at the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, suggests that adhering to three major climate commitments—tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling global energy efficiency, and significantly reducing methane emissions—could prevent nearly 1°C of additional global warming this century. The Climate Action Tracker coalition estimates that achieving these goals could lower projected warming from 2.6°C to about 1.7°C, aligning more closely with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. Among G20 nations alone, these measures could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18 billion tonnes by 2035, cutting the rate of global heating by one-third in the next decade. However, experts warn that implementation remains uncertain, particularly regarding methane reductions, as many countries underreport emissions and face pressure from fossil fuel industries. The Cop30 summit is focusing on translating existing pledges into action and developing a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, though resistance from major petrostates remains a challenge.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a $13 billion shortfall that could severely impact its ability to feed one-third of the 318 million people facing acute hunger by 2026. Due to declining humanitarian funding, WFP says it will have to prioritize food assistance for about 110 million people, leaving millions without support. The agency expects to receive only about half of its required funding based on current projections. The United States remains WFP’s largest donor, but reductions in foreign aid under previous administrations, along with budget cuts by several European nations, have worsened the crisis. Conflict, extreme weather, and economic instability have doubled the number of people facing severe hunger since 2019. WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently identified 16 global hunger hotspots, including Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and South Sudan, warning that funding shortages are already exacerbating conditions. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain called the situation “unacceptable in the 21st century.”