World
		Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Over Security Risks
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 5, 2025
Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Over Security Risks
						Australia announced on Tuesday a ban on the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from all government devices due to security concerns, Reuters reported. The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive prohibiting the use, installation, and retention of…					
				
			
		Senior ISIL Commander Captured in Puntland, Somalia
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 5, 2025
Senior ISIL Commander Captured in Puntland, Somalia
						Authorities in Puntland, Somalia, have announced the capture of Abdirahman Shirwac Aw-Saciid, a senior commander of ISIL’s assassination squad, Al Jazeera reported. Aw-Saciid surrendered to police in the Cal Miskaad mountains during an ongoing offensive against the group. His capture…					
				
			
		Philippines: Senator proposes motion requiring public institutions to provide prayer rooms for Muslims
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 4, 2025
Philippines: Senator proposes motion requiring public institutions to provide prayer rooms for Muslims
						In a significant move to uphold the rights of Muslims in the Philippines, Senator Mark Villar has introduced Senate Bill No. 2288, which mandates all public offices and institutions in the country to allocate prayer rooms for Muslims. The proposed…					
				
			
		Malaysia Proposes Tram-Bus System to Alleviate Congestion
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 4, 2025
Malaysia Proposes Tram-Bus System to Alleviate Congestion
						The Malaysian government is exploring the development of a light rail transit (LRT) or tram-bus network in Johor Bahru to ease traffic congestion upon the completion of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, Dawn Newspaper reported. The federal…					
				
			
		Greece: Fears of Earthquake Prompt Mass Exodus from Santorini
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 4, 2025
Greece: Fears of Earthquake Prompt Mass Exodus from Santorini
						Residents and tourists are fleeing Santorini amid fears of an impending earthquake, following a series of over 200 undersea tremors, The Guardian reported. On Monday, an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck at 2:17 PM local time, prompting…					
				
			
		New Zealand Grants Legal Personhood to Mount Taranaki
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 4, 2025
New Zealand Grants Legal Personhood to Mount Taranaki
						New Zealand passed a groundbreaking law on Thursday granting Mount Taranaki the status of a legal person, acknowledging its cultural significance to Māori iwi as a sacred ancestor, Jurist News reported. This legislation is part of ongoing treaty settlements with…					
				
			
		Halal Food Market Set to Reach $3,739 Billion by 2033
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 4, 2025
Halal Food Market Set to Reach $3,739 Billion by 2033
						The Halal Food Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching approximately USD 3,739 billion by 2033, up from USD 1,305 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%, Newswires reported. The Asia Pacific region leads the…					
				
			
		Tanzania breaks tourism record with 5.36 million visitors in 2024
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 3, 2025
Tanzania breaks tourism record with 5.36 million visitors in 2024
						Tanzania welcomed 5.36 million tourists in 2024, surpassing its target of 5 million by 2025, according to Pindi Chana, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism. Speaking at a meeting in Dar es Salaam, Chana revealed that 3.22 million of…					
				
			
		Flooding in Northeast Australia Claims One Life, Thousands Urged to Evacuate
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 3, 2025
Flooding in Northeast Australia Claims One Life, Thousands Urged to Evacuate
						Heavy flooding in northeast Australia has resulted in one death and prompted authorities to urge thousands of residents to evacuate to higher ground, Reuters reported. The flooding, primarily affecting Queensland’s Hinchinbrook Shire—home to around 11,000 people—was caused by torrential rains…					
				
			
		World’s Largest Iceberg Drifting Toward South Georgia Island, Threatening Wildlife
		
			
			
				
				 
		
	
February 3, 2025
World’s Largest Iceberg Drifting Toward South Georgia Island, Threatening Wildlife
						The world’s largest iceberg, known as A-23-A, is on a collision course with South Georgia, a British overseas territory in northern Antarctica, Anadolu Agency reported. This massive iceberg, approximately 40 meters tall and weighing an estimated 1 trillion tonnes, first…					
				
			 
				