NEWS

Japan’s birthrate hits record low, raising alarm over demographic crisis Japan recorded fewer than 700,000 births in 2024 for the first time since records began in 1899, highlighting a deepening demographic crisis, The Guardian reported. Government data revealed 686,061 births…

Asia-Pacific faces record marine heatwave in 2024, triggering extreme weather and coral bleaching A record-breaking marine heatwave engulfed nearly 40 million square kilometres of ocean across Southeast Asia and the Pacific in 2024—an area five times the size of Australia—according…

Trump’s new travel ban sparks widespread criticism from lawmakers and rights groups Donald Trump’s newly announced travel ban on 12 countries has triggered widespread condemnation from Democrats, human rights organizations, and some Republicans, who argue the policy is discriminatory, politically…

Diphtheria outbreak in Europe hits migrants and homeless, experts urge vaccination The largest diphtheria outbreak in Western Europe in 70 years has affected over 500 people since 2022, primarily targeting vulnerable populations such as migrants and the homeless, according to…

Millions mark Day of Arafah at Imam Hussein Holy Shrine in Holy Karbala Millions of Shia pilgrims gathered on Friday in the holy city of Karbala to commemorate the Day of Arafah at the sacred shrines of Imam Hussain and…

Economic hardship and restrictions dampen Eid spirit in Afghanistan As Eid al-Adha approaches, markets in Kabul and Kandahar are noticeably subdued, reflecting the growing economic challenges and social restrictions faced by Afghans under Taliban rule, according to local reports. While…

Over 1.5 Million Foreign Pilgrims Participate in Hajj Amid Intense Heat in Saudi Arabia —————————— More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, according to a spokesperson from the Saudi Ministry of…

Melbourne Researchers Make Breakthrough in HIV Cure Efforts ——————— Scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne have developed a novel method to expose hidden HIV within white blood cells, a major obstacle in curing the virus, The Guardian reported.…

Peers Defy Government Over Copyright Protections in AI Legislation ————————— The UK government suffered its fifth defeat in the House of Lords over controversial plans allowing artificial intelligence (AI) companies to train models using copyrighted material without explicit permission, The…

A coalition of over 80 human rights organizations has expressed deep concern over a threefold increase in the execution of Afghan citizens in Iran, Khaama Press reported. Reports indicate that at least 80 Afghans were executed in 2024, up from…