A devastating outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has killed seven people and infected over 1,190 others across Mexico and South America. The parasite is now aggressively moving northward, prompting the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an urgent health advisory to doctors, veterinarians, and the public. With 601 active animal cases currently reported in Mexico—including eight in the border state of Tamaulipas—the "devastating pest" is now just 70 miles from the United States.

India is preparing for its first-ever entirely digital census, marking a significant transition in how the nation tracks its population and infrastructure. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently notified the official list of 33 questions for Phase I, which focuses on "Houselisting and Housing Enumeration". This 16th Census, scheduled for 2027, will leverage modern technology to map the living conditions and socioeconomic amenities of Indian households.

Warming in Antarctica, driven by climate change, is fundamentally altering the life cycles of the region's most iconic inhabitants. Scientists have discovered that penguins are now breeding significantly earlier than in previous decades, with some colonies advancing their season by as much as 24 days. A study recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology highlights how rapid local warming is prompting these record-breaking shifts in behaviour across the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.

The United States signals a fundamental realignment of American military power, moving the primary focus away from China and placing the protection of the US homeland and Western Hemisphere at the top of the nation's priority list. The United States Department of Defense released the landmark strategy 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) officially on December 24. This quadrennial report, which serves as a blueprint for the Pentagon, departs sharply from the 2022 Biden administration version.

"Size matters" is often dismissed as a tabloid cliché, yet for evolutionary biologists, the dimensions of the human penis represent a genuine scientific mystery. When compared to other great apes, such as chimpanzees and gorillas, the human penis is significantly longer and thicker than expected for a primate of our size. If the primary role of the organ were simply to transfer…

US President Donald Trump has sparked a fresh diplomatic firestorm, extending his confrontational rhetoric from the Arctic into the heart of the Indian Ocean. In a series of public statements, Trump has sharply questioned the United Kingdom’s recent decision. This decision involves returning sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategically vital island of Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. The move marks a significant shift in the region's security architecture.

For every US1 the world invests in protecting our natural environment, itspends US30 on activities that destroy it. This startling imbalance is the primary finding of the State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, recently released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The State of Finance for Nature 2026 report calls for an urgent and massive shift in global financial flows, urging leaders to phase out harmful investments in favour of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to enhance global resilience and reduce risk.

A disturbing trend of government-enforced internet shutdowns is sweeping the globe, prompting urgent warnings from the United Nations. Over the last two years, at least 300 incidents have been recorded across more than 54 countries. UNESCO recently issued a statement highlighting that these digital blackouts pose a severe threat to freedom of expression, access to information, and fundamental human rights.

Are generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems truly creative? This question has sparked intense debate since the rise of tools like ChatGPT. To find a definitive answer, a research team led by Professor Karim Jerbi from the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal has published the largest comparative study ever conducted on the creativity of large language models (LLMs) versus humans.

Despite representing nearly half of the world's population, women’s health remains one of the most underfunded sectors in global finance. Currently, women's health captures just 6% of private healthcare investment, says a report from World Economic Forum. While the fundamental needs are strong, the majority of this capital is narrowly confined to reproductive and maternal health, leaving a massive "white space" for innovation in other critical areas.

For decades, Latin America was the global heart of the Catholic Church. However, a new study by the Pew Research Center reveals a dramatic shift in the region's spiritual landscape. While Catholicism remains the largest religion in the region, its share of the population has plummeted significantly over the last ten years. The rise of the religiously unaffiliated—those who identify as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular"—is reshaping several of the continent's most populous nations.

International tourism achieved a significant milestone in 2025 as global travel demand remained resilient despite economic and geopolitical challenges. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals grew by 4% over the previous year. There was an estimated 1.52 billion tourists travelling across borders. This increase represents approximately 60 million more visitors than in 2024. It signals that the sector has largely returned to the growth trends seen prior to the pandemic.

To achieve the ambitious vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, India must overhaul its healthcare architecture. A landmark report titled The Lancet Commission on a citizen-centred health system for India argues that a strong, publicly provided healthcare system is crucial. It is the essential backbone required to reach Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Based on an extensive survey of 50,000 households across 29 states, the Commission provides a comprehensive roadmap for reform.

Scientists have finally uncovered a solution to a longstanding medical mystery: why more than half of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) eventually succumb to cardiovascular complications. Researchers from UVA Health and Mount Sinai have identified that diseased kidneys produce a specific substance that essentially "poisons" the heart. This discovery is a significant milestone in nephrology and cardiology. It could allow doctors to identify at-risk patients much earlier.

Human trafficking is not merely a crime of opportunity; it is a global industry that depends on systemic corruption at every single stage of the process. A new report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights a troubling reality. Traffickers cannot recruit, transport, or exploit victims alone. They succeed with the active collusion or intentional negligence of corrupt officials.

The United Nations has formally declared the dawn of an era of global water bankruptcy, warning that the world has transitioned into a "post-crisis" reality. According to a landmark report from the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), traditional terms like "water stress" no longer accurately describe the permanent loss of water resources currently occurring across the globe.