World

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its World Report 2025, noting a year of significant yet uneven progress for democracy and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The report highlights encouraging signs, including citizen activism in India, Bangladesh, and South Korea,…

The United Nations reports that more than 230,000 people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the start of 2025, marking one of the world’s most alarming humanitarian crises, Al Jazeera reported. The UN refugee agency,…

China’s population decreased for the third straight year, reaching 1.408 billion at the end of 2024, a decline of 1.39 million from the previous year, Arab News reported. This trend poses significant challenges for the government and economy, as the…

Kazakhstan launched the region’s first Shariah-compliant exchange-traded fund (ETF), the ITSS, on January 14, marking a significant milestone in Islamic finance, The Astana Times reported. The ETF, listed on the Astana International Exchange, aims to replicate the performance of the…

The Israeli government has ratified a ceasefire agreement aimed at pausing the 15-month war in Gaza for an initial six weeks, The Guardian reported. The deal, approved after a cabinet meeting, involves the exchange of 33 hostages held by Hamas…

Layoffs in the technology sector decreased significantly in 2024, with approximately 152,000 workers laid off, a 42% reduction from the previous year, according to data from Layoffs.fyi compiled by Anadolu Agency. In total, 549 tech firms worldwide implemented job cuts…

The global halal food market is expected to grow significantly, from $2.67 trillion in 2024 to $5.96 trillion by 2033, Yahoo Finance reported. This trend reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.33% from 2025 to 2033, according to…

Sweden has announced stricter citizenship requirements for migrants, emphasizing adherence to the country’s values and laws, British news agency “GB News” reported. The government aims to strengthen rules for acquiring Swedish nationality, citing the need for integration and shared identity.…

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch a satellite network called “IRIS²” to provide internet services to various parts of the world, according to European Spaceflight. The CEO of ArianeGroup, a French aerospace company, expressed interest in securing…

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025 identifies armed conflict and climate change-induced extreme weather as the most significant threats to the global economy this year. Released ahead of the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, the report highlights…