The Republic in the Caucasus, navigating conflict, alliance ambitions, and reform
Two Africa-wide efforts and a national drive highlight rising commitment to biodiversity and reforestation. UN officials warn biodiversity loss remains urgent as Africa grapples with climate shocks, while Ethiopia readies to plant 800 million seedlings in a single day as part of the Green Legacy Initiative, underscoring continental leadership in climate resilience.
A travel feature on Yerevan, Armenia, exploring Republic Square, the Dancing Fountains show, and the city’s heritage from Tamanian’s design to recent tourism growth linked to direct flights from London.
Armenia’s Catholicos Karekin II and six senior clergy are facing up to two years in prison after refusing to reinstate a defrocked bishop, in a confrontation seen as part of broader tensions between the church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The trial began amid protests and international attention.
A 12-day Sri Lanka group tour, chronicled by a solo traveler, shows how organised trips now attract millennials while highlighting social dynamics, logistical hiccups, and evolving bonds with local guides. The narrative follows the writer’s shift from solo exploration to extended travel after meeting a guide, amid a backdrop of scenic sites and practical challenges.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
Ukraine has warned airlines and insurers that expanding long‑range drone strikes have made Russian airspace unsafe for civilian flights. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is not targeting civilian aircraft but that "drone‑infested skies" require airlines to rethink routes. Moscow has condemned the warning as "state terrorism" and moved to protect airports and keep services running.
Flyweight champion Joshua Van has retained his title with a dominant rematch win over Alexandre Pantoja in Los Angeles. Van, the first UFC champion born in the 2000s, improves to 18-2, while Pantoja suffers a second straight defeat in the wake of an early elbow dislocation in their previous meeting.
Preliminary results have shown President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia has secured about 57–58% of the party vote and is set to take roughly 355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments have denounced the ballot as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.
Britain has announced a National Centre for Information Defence to detect, attribute and disrupt AI-enabled disinformation campaigns. The move follows a UN address by Prime Minister Burnham warning of an industrial-scale information assault and calls for closer cooperation with tech platforms and allies. The effort aims to shield the UK from foreign interference and bolster national resilience.
France's captain Kylian Mbappé has sustained a knee issue after overextending in a shot, prompting his substitution. France has been forced to replace him with Désiré Doué, with Zidane stating the forward will return to Real Madrid for treatment. Belgium also beats Italy; Northern Ireland claim a dramatic win in Tbilisi.
France and Italy play to a 1-1 draw in Paris as Olise nets a late winner for France in a tense Nations League clash; Donnarumma and Bastoni rescue Italy with key saves and a late Upamecano red card alters the game.
Recent biodiversity reports show significant drops in animal populations across Africa and Europe, with farmers’ lands hit hardest and some species showing hopeful recoveries where targeted conservation has been implemented. The data underscore the urgent need for policy shifts and sustainable farming practices to avert a global collapse.
The Department of Energy has begun lending up to $4.4 billion to restart three decommissioned U.S. nuclear plants—Palisades, Three Mile Island, and Duane Arnold—to restore about 2.25 gigawatts of power. Big Tech contracts underpin some plants, aiming to deliver carbon-free electricity quickly; critics warn safety and aging infrastructure risk. The Trump administration is backing nuclear as a fast-track energy solution.
Leaders are reviewing progress on the Kunming-Montreal framework at COP17 in Yerevan. While many parties have set targets and submitted reports, implementation remains insufficient. Governments are being urged to mobilise finance, strengthen capacity, and ensure fair benefit-sharing as they move toward the 2030 milestone.
Azerbaijan has tightened dress rules in state schools to enforce secularism, leading to entries denied to hijab-wearing pupils and teachers. Protests have erupted domestically as international groups condemn the move and tensions with Turkey rise over the issue.
Canada has opened negotiations for a free trade agreement with Turkiye as Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Ankara. Officials say the goal is to deepen ties in trade, energy, defense, and high-tech sectors, with plans to raise two-way trade and increase direct flights. Amnesty International has urged human-rights considerations in negotiations.
The IUCN has classified 96% of the world’s shallow-water coral reef systems as critically endangered and warned of possible ecosystem collapse by 2075 if current warming continues. The assessment, presented at COP17, blames heat stress from climate change and adds that reefs still show pockets of resilience that stronger emissions cuts and local conservation can protect.
Gymnastics world championships in Rotterdam see Kaylia Nemour (Algeria) win uneven bars gold, Artur Davtyan (Armenia) claims vault, and British gymnasts Jarman and Blakely add to medal tally as the event tightens Olympic qualification stakes.
Conservation groups have secured a near-final pledge to buy the Rothbury Estate, a 9,500-acre site in Northumberland, to create a 40-mile nature corridor. Government funding and donations have pushed the campaign close to its £30m target, with mixed local support remains.