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A new UNCTAD report paints a challenging picture for the global economy, projecting a slowdown in growth to 2.6% in 2025 due to financial market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, which disproportionately burdens developing economies. This economic deceleration is tragically compounded by a surge in modern slavery, now affecting 50 million people globally, highlighting the profound human cost intertwined with increasing global instability.
President Donald Trump announced imminent land strikes against drug traffickers in the Caribbean, marking a significant escalation in U.S. anti-narcotics efforts following an extensive military buildup and prior sea-based operations. This aggressive move, primarily targeting Venezuelan traffickers but also warning other nations like Colombia, aims to curb drug flow into the U.S. despite drawing international criticism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Russia "ready" for war with Europe following high-stakes peace talks with the United States regarding the Ukraine conflict that concluded without a significant breakthrough. Putin further escalated tensions by accusing European leaders of sabotaging peace efforts and rejecting their proposed amendments to a U.S. peace plan, leaving both sides no closer to resolving the nearly four-year-old conflict.
Merck is poised to unveil crucial first-in-human data for its investigational Alzheimer's drug candidates, MK-2214 and MK-1167, at the prestigious Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) 2025 conference in San Diego. Adding to this momentum, MK-2214 has already secured FDA Fast Track Designation, accelerating its development in the urgent fight against this debilitating disease.
Chile has inaugurated South America's first Bio-LNG (liquefied biomethane) plant in its Ñuble region, a significant step towards cleaner energy and decarbonization by converting organic waste into a sustainable fuel. This pioneering facility, a collaboration between Spain's HAM Group, HAM Chile, and Empresas Lipigas, will supply renewable Bio-LNG to heavy-duty truck fleets across Chile and into Peru, with ambitious plans for capacity expansion.
Record-breaking rains and a succession of tropical storms have unleashed widespread devastation across Southeast Asia, claiming nearly 800 lives and displacing over a million people. This catastrophic event, impacting nations like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, underscores the severe humanitarian toll of climate change and the region's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather.
FIBA has launched a significant overhaul of its 3x3 Federation Ranking system, effective December 1, 2025, doubling the ranking window to 24 months to kick off the qualification race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This strategic change coincides with an expanded Olympic quota, increasing 3x3 basketball teams from eight to twelve per gender, marking a landmark moment for the sport's growth.
Chinese researchers have achieved a significant quantum computing breakthrough by demonstrating a novel form of quantum matter that maintains its integrity despite disturbances, potentially revolutionizing how future quantum computers safeguard information. This innovative approach, utilizing the Zuchongzhi 2 processor to create a non-equilibrium higher-order topological phase, offers inherent protection against errors and noise, paving the way for more reliable and fault-tolerant quantum devices.
A palm oil company is urgently clearing critical rainforest within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Borneo, threatening endangered species and Indigenous Dayak communities. This destructive activity by PT Equator Sumber Rezeki, a subsidiary of First Borneo Group, has already razed nearly 1,500 hectares of orangutan habitat, despite the parent company's "zero-deforestation" pledges, leading to calls for immediate government intervention.
The Trump administration has enacted stringent new immigration policies, including an immediate halt to asylum decisions and a pause on visas for Afghan nationals, following a shooting incident in Washington D.C. These sweeping measures, announced around December 1, 2025, were prompted by an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who allegedly killed a National Guard soldier, raising significant concerns for thousands of applicants and those awaiting Special Immigrant Visas.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a significant policy change in the Autumn Budget 2025, aiming to reduce average UK household energy bills by approximately £150 annually by shifting renewable electricity costs from consumer bills to general taxation, effective April 1, 2026. However, this initiative has drawn criticism from environmental groups and industry stakeholders due to the simultaneous discontinuation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which previously funded energy-efficiency upgrades for vulnerable households.
Europe's Vega C rocket successfully launched South Korea's advanced KOMPSAT-7 Earth-observation satellite on December 1, 2025, from French Guiana, significantly boosting global capabilities for environmental monitoring and high-resolution imaging. This pivotal mission, the sixth for the Vega C and fifth successful flight, highlights deepening international collaboration in space and marks a crucial milestone for both European launch services and South Korea's ambitious space program.