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On 26 November 2025, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, effective April 2026. The policy, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, limited child tax credits to two children per family and contributed to rising child poverty. The repeal is expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty, funded by new taxes including a gambling levy and mansion tax.
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The UN reports that famine has been declared in Gaza, with over 514,000 people affected and the number expected to rise. Israel's blockade and military actions have severely restricted aid, leading to widespread malnutrition and starvation, especially among children. The situation is described as a man-made catastrophe.
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A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing over 1,400 people and injuring thousands. Rescue efforts are hampered by landslides and blocked roads. International aid is arriving amid logistical challenges, with remote villages still inaccessible and the death toll expected to increase.
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Recent heavy rains triggered deadly landslides in Sudan's Darfur region, killing up to 1,000 people, mostly children. The disaster worsens Sudan's ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by civil war since April 2023, with rescue efforts hampered by conflict, flooding, and inaccessible terrain. The UN and aid groups call for urgent action.
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A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, causing over 2,200 deaths and damaging thousands of homes. Difficult terrain and ongoing aftershocks hinder relief efforts, which are urgent before winter. Aid organizations warn that aid cuts and Afghanistan's political situation complicate response efforts.
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Multiple artists, including Hayley Williams and Björk, have joined a cultural boycott of Israel, removing their music from Israeli streaming platforms in protest of the Gaza war. The move aligns with a broader campaign to pressure Israel through artistic and cultural means, amid ongoing violence and casualties in Gaza.
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Since September 29, 2025, Afghanistan has faced a near-total internet and telecom blackout after the Taliban severed fiber-optic connections citing immorality concerns. The Taliban deny imposing a ban, attributing outages to decaying infrastructure. The shutdown disrupts banking, commerce, aviation, and humanitarian aid, with partial restoration beginning October 1.
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WFP reduces food aid for Ethiopian refugees amid funding shortages, risking starvation for 780,000. Meanwhile, conflict in Congo hampers health services, leaving millions without medicine. Climate impacts worsen hunger in Kenya's Turkana, highlighting a growing regional crisis.
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Between November 21-23, 2025, armed bandits abducted over 250 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria. This follows a recent kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State. Nigerian security forces, including military and local hunters, are actively searching for the victims amid escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu postponed foreign trips to address the crisis.
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Hong Kong hosts the World’s 50 Best Bars awards, with Bar Leone ranked No. 1, marking a historic first for Asia. The city also sees new bar openings, immersive dining experiences, and a vibrant event week, highlighting its rising prominence in the global cocktail scene.