The world, in perspective.

Interest paid on borrowings rose to highest rate since 1980s

UN report warns climate adaptation funding is falling far short of needs.

The US midterm results showed how unpopular Donald Trump's Iran war is. Now, Gulf countries, trapped for months in the middle of the war between the US and Iran, see reason for optimism.

Developing countries’ external debt rose to a record $9.4tn in 2025 due to increased private borrowing and higher interest rates, the World Bank reports. Read More: https://punchng.com/developing-countries-external-debt-hits-record-9-4tn-world-bank/

<img align='right' src='https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_720,w_1280/745044' alt='Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ​meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 4, 2026. (photo credit: Saudi NewsAgency/Handout via REUTERS)' title='Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ​meets Sau

OTTAWA — Ghana's head of state praised Canada this week for advocating against what he called a "rigged global system" that keeps African countries trapped by debt and mired in climate chaos.

Thailand has expanded access to automated passport control to travellers from 33 countries and territories to speed up immigration processing, reduce queues and ease congestion at airports.

Iran says the U.S. election results reflect a rejection of war and Spain's leader says it's another sign of a right-wing populist wave falling apart.

Discover the 10 African countries with laws restricting or prohibiting dual citizenship, including Botswana, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the C Read More: https://punchng.com/full-list-10-african-countries-with-restrictions-on-dual-citizenship/

<img align='right' src='https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_933,w_1400/744696' alt='A gathering of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike Users Club in Cyprus. (photo credit: RAFAEL ADVANCED SYSTEMS)' title='A gathering of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike Users Club in Cyprus. (photo credit: RAFAEL ADVAN

The energy-rich Gulf Arab countries are engaged in a flurry of mediation efforts to avert war between the U.S. and Iran, as many fear that the fighting will be worse this time around.

Eurozone finance ministers will discuss the candidates at their gathering next Monday.

A suspected cyberattack has hit supermarkets across nine European countries, targeting refrigeration systems and prompting an EU warning of a deliberate di Read More: https://punchng.com/cyberattack-hits-supermarkets-across-nine-european-countries/

SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Two shows from K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming tour in ...

Africa required approximately 347 cubic kilometres of water in 2020 to meet demand across households, agriculture, industry, energy production, mining and livestock, marking a 26% increase compared with 2010, according to a study recently published in Nature. The research provides the most detailed map to date of water demand across the continent, highlighti

Last month, similar attacks hit supermarkets in France, causing temperatures to rise in their refrigeration systems.

The problems follow a case last month in which attackers remotely took control of refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets across France, sending temperatures soaring.

This is the second wave of cyberattacks to hit supermarket refrigerators in a month, spoiling food and disrupting supplies.

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and Estonia were hit Monday by problems with freezers and fridges that apparently were caused by cyberattacks, forcing some to dispose of ruined food.

The World Health Organization should focus on reprioritising its spending rather than chasing replacement funding, said Indonesia's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.&nbsp;

The temperature of freezers in several shops across Europe reportedly rose to as high as 50C.

MELAKA, Nov 1 &mdash; Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia are the latest Asean countries to have expressed interest in joining...

<p>Alliance for the Future, unveiled at Montreal summit and open to other countries, conceived for world ‘shaken by new storms’</p><p>Canada and Europe have announced a new alliance of like-minded nations to<strong> </strong>serve as both a “protective canopy under which our citizens can thrive” and a powerful hedge against the unpredictable nature of geopol

Hawke’s Bay joined the Great Wine Capitals network in May 2023 as its 12th member.

President Vladimir Putin hosts African leaders at a summit in Moscow.

Adding sponsored content in more markets could make the feature profitable.

Are you an expert traveller? Put your knowledge to the test with our travel quiz.

<p>Federal ministers on Thursday responded to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s remarks regarding a recent huddle in Tehran comprising the Makkah defence pact countries and Iran.</p> <p>Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the meeting was not related to defence. Hence, Asif said his presence was

See the full list of the top 10 most affordable countries for international students, including Malaysia, Poland, and Hungary, with tuition and living cost Read More: https://punchng.com/full-list-top-10-affordable-countries-for-international-students/

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 &mdash; Forty countries have recorded the arrest of Malaysian citizens in drug-related cases, with...

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wanted to give Canada a special status within the EU. But Germany and other member states have raised objections ahead of a summit in Montreal.

The comment comes as UK and Netherlands pledge extra military support for Kyiv.

Observers say diverging views are unlikely to turn current diplomatic efforts into a lasting infrastructure.

Mr Wong suggested that countries start with a "practical and flexible approach" to AI governance.

<p>As labourers gathered at a roadside in northern Afghanistan, Ghulam Sakhi Barat joined the search for work, with millions of new arrivals intensifying pressure for jobs and homes.</p> <p>More than six million Afghans have returned from <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2030609">Iran</a> and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040046">Pakistan</a> in litt

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi has called for a peace agreement between the Arab Gulf states and Iran, which would see the countries collaborating on security and the regional economy. The agreement would take the form of a security pact that includes Iran, as well as Iraq and Yemen , where Tehran has active armed proxies, he said during a visit to

Ireland, the Netherlands and Iceland will once again boycott the competition next year.

The deadly Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport earlier this month are just the latest reminder of how the war with Iran continues to destabilise the Middle East. The conflict has driven Gulf countries to accelerate efforts to diversify trade routes and deepen regional integration. However, amid the focus on immediate security threats

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi and Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara agreed on Wednesday to push ahead with energy, trade and security co-operation, on the first visit by an Iraqi leader to Damascus since the regime of Bashar Al Assad fell in 2024. Accompanied by a senior delegation, Mr Al Zaidi was welcomed by Mr Al Shara in Damascus and held talks aimed a

Analysts cite weak currencies, rising yields at home, growing demand for stocks and unease over U.S. policy.

As multilateral cooperation becomes frayed, polylateral arrangements can help support global cooperation in key areas such as AI guardrails,&nbsp;said Temasek chairman Teo Chee Hean on Wednesday (Oct 28).

Globally, total number of heatwave days decreased from 2024’s historical high of 15.3 billion person-days for older adults and 2.3 billion person-days for infants

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has concluded its landmark IPO, attracting investor applications from 120 countries, including all 54 nations in Africa. Read More: https://punchng.com/dangote-refinery-ipo-attracts-investors-from-120-countries/

Countries also urge Sudan's warring parties to 'lift all impediments on humanitarian assistance'.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at s...

<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday called for “regional unity” at a meeting in Tehran with representatives of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which recently signed the Makkah defence pact.</p> <p>“I hope that the presence of representatives of important and influential Islamic countries at this meeting will help further consolidate regional

<p>Officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are currently meeting in Tehran, according to Iranian state media.</p> <p>The meeting brings together Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to discuss “regional cooperation, the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and its consequences”, among other topics, Iran’s state broadcaster said.</p> <p>Iran’s <em

This will be the first high-level contact between Iran and all members of the three-nation bloc since Saudi Arabia was drawn deeper into the wider Iran conflict.

Top officials from Mecca Pact countries Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are to meet Iran's leaders in Tehran on Monday in their first high-level contact since the kingdom became a pressure point in the wider Iran conflict.

<img align='right' src='https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/743554' alt='National flags of Pakistan (L) and Saudi Arabia flutter at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs premises in Islamabad on March 29, 2026. Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey met on March 29 for talks

<img align='right' src='https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_3198,w_4794/723122' alt='Yonatan Urich is seen following a hearing on journalist Omri Assenheim’s refusal to provide police with materials from a program he broadcast about Eli Feldstein, after the District Court ruled that journalistic privilege does

First comprehensive database of looted items returned by museums and collectors suggests articles worth at least $2bn have been repatriated since 1950

Japan is demanding access to a journalist who was arrested by Russian security services. The Kremlin claims that Japan is using journalists as spies.

Do British pensioners have it better or worse than those in other countries?

Greece has passed legislation banning social media access for children under 15. New rules will come into effect on January 1, 2027, and are designed to protect children's mental health.

Health officials are investigating where Nigeria's first patient, confirmed this week, was infected.

Sales company The Playmaker Munich has closed further territory deals on animated family adventure film “Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby” ahead of the American Film Market, where it will have its market premiere. The film has now sold to more than 50 countries. Variety is debuting the teaser (below). The latest […]