Explainer

A study of 738 UK harbour porpoises (1990–2021) shows mercury levels rising about 1% annually, nearly doubling since the 1990s. Higher mercury burdens increased the risk of death from infectious disease, revealing persistent ocean contamination despite the Minamata Convention

International enrolment at US colleges dipped slightly this fall, but new foreign student arrivals plunged 17% amid visa delays and policy tightening under the Trump administration. Graduate programmes were hit hardest, straining budgets, while other countries ramped up efforts to attract students

Recently released House Oversight Committee emails reveal Jeffrey Epstein maintained extensive ties with global political figures, academics and business elites long after his 2008 conviction. The messages show exchanges on politics, introductions and personal advice, highlighting his persistent influence until his 2019 arrest

President Donald Trump signed a funding bill ending a 43-day US government shutdown that strained workers and divided Congress. The compromise funds key agencies, restores worker protections, and delays the Affordable Care Act subsidy debate, leaving healthcare and tax credit disputes unresolved

China is rapidly advancing toward its first crewed lunar landing by 2030, developing new spacecraft, rockets, and spacesuits. Its steady progress rivals NASA’s Artemis program, raising geopolitical stakes and highlighting Beijing’s growing technological, strategic, and symbolic ambitions in space exploration

New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, faced online ridicule for eating with his hands, exposing lingering colonial hierarchies around race, civility, and culture. The controversy sparked debates on identity, diaspora hypocrisy, and how colonial-era notions of refinement still shape global attitudes

China has officially commissioned its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, *Fujian*, designed and built domestically. Featuring an electromagnetic launch system, the carrier marks a major leap in Beijing’s naval power and global ambitions as it seeks to rival US maritime dominance

‘Vibe coding,’ coined by AI expert Andrej Karpathy to describe creating software through natural language, was named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025. The term highlights AI’s accessibility and impact, alongside trending words like glaze, aura farming, and biohacking

A global study published in *Science* reveals that agricultural drones are transforming farming worldwide, spreading rapidly from East Asia to the US. Used for spraying, seeding, and monitoring, drones boost efficiency and safety but risk displacing workers and causing environmental concerns

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing, risking a renewed global arms race. The move threatens the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, raises environmental concerns, and comes amid rising proliferation and stalled arms-control negotiations

King Charles has stripped Prince Andrew of all royal titles following the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl, detailing her abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and others. Giuffre’s revelations reignited global outrage, exposing systemic failures and prompting renewed calls for accountability

South Korea hosts the APEC summit amid global trade tensions driven by U.S. President Trump’s tariff policies. The meeting is expected to be overshadowed by Trump–Xi talks, as Seoul seeks to balance ties while promoting free trade, AI cooperation and economic stability

Stem cells offer medical promise, but their capabilities vary. Adult, embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells each have strengths and limits. While therapies exist for blood diseases, broader treatments need rigorous research, regulation and public trust to distinguish genuine advances from unproven hype

Pressure mounts to end the prolonged US federal shutdown as millions risk losing food assistance, federal workers miss pay, and travel delays worsen. Lawmakers remain deadlocked over health care demands, leaving service members and SNAP beneficiaries facing severe uncertainty

FutureGuessr, a free online game launched in 2025, uses AI-generated images to show how locations might look in 2100 due to climate change. It blends fun with climate education, inspiring awareness, conversations and collective action on environmental impacts and sustainable game development

Astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics have discovered that radiation and jets from supermassive black holes suppress star formation in galaxies. Studying 538 active galactic nuclei using optical and radio data, the team confirmed black hole activity regulates galactic evolution and growth

Four thieves executed a daring daytime heist at Paris’s Louvre Museum, stealing nine priceless imperial jewels worth €88 million. Despite tight security, they escaped on motorbikes. Authorities suspect organised crime involvement, comparing the theft to the 2019 Dresden Green Vault robbery

Saudi Arabia has abolished its decades-old Kafala system, granting migrant workers the freedom to change jobs, travel without sponsor consent, and access legal protections. The move, part of Vision 2030, aims to improve labour rights and global perception

A senior Bangladeshi adviser disclosed recruitment and training of 8,850 recruits for an alleged "Islamic Revolutionary Army" across multiple centres, prompting Indian alarms that the Yunus government, Jamaat and Pakistan’s ISI aim to radicalise forces and heighten tensions with India

Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukraine to concede the Donbas to Russia during tense meetings with President Zelenskyy, dismissing maps showing front-line realities. His transactional approach contrasts sharply with Ukraine’s view of territory as sacred, hard-fought land, not negotiable real estate

MPs are urging the UK government to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles amid renewed scrutiny over his Epstein links. While Andrew has ceased using titles, legal action via Parliament or royal decree remains the only route for permanent removal

Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections highlight the dominance of political dynasties, with candidates from nearly all parties linked to established leaders. Critics blame weak education, low political awareness, and party favoritism for sidelining grassroots workers in favor of dynastic entrants

Madagascar’s 2025 military coup, led by Col. Randrianirina, reflects rising coup risk across Africa. Despite global declines, coups remain common on the continent due to poverty, weak institutions, and eroding anti-coup norms, emboldening future military takeovers

Despite a ceasefire ending a brief Iran-Israel war, international media remains focused on conflict, ignoring Iran’s worsening environmental crisis. Severe drought, subsidence, pollution, and mismanagement threaten millions, yet coverage remains minimal outside Persian-language and reformist outlets