World

Nepal has conducted its first general election since unprecedented Generation Z-led protests six months ago forced the then-prime minister to resign. Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari stated the voting process concluded peacefully and enthusiastically. However, initial estimates indicate turnout was only about 60%, the lowest in over two decades, reflecting potential voter apathy or disillusionment.

The Trump administration has attempted to sink a UN resolution spearheaded by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which calls for countries to implement a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year that could hold nations liable for reparations if they fail to address the climate crisis. Vanuatu, among several island countries facing existential threats from climate change despite minimal contribution to its causes, was forced to remove sections of its draft resolution due to pressure from the US and other major fossil fuel producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia, in hopes of securing adoption in a UN vote later this month.

Police in Canada have determined that a missing Iranian activist was most likely the victim of murder, sparking concerns that his disappearance bears the hallmarks of a transnational repression campaign targeting critics of Tehran's theocratic government. Masood Masjoody, a mathematician critical of both Iran's theocratic government and the exiled family of the former shah, vanished in early February in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Indonesia's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister, Meutya Hafid, announced on Friday that the government has signed a regulation prohibiting children under the age of 16 from having accounts on high-risk digital platforms. These include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Roblox, and the popular livestreaming site Bigo Live. With a population of approximately 285 million, the fourth-highest globally, this Southeast Asian nation represents a significant market for social networks.

The newly opened Caminhos da Ibiapaba trail in Brazil's northeast region spans 186 kilometers along paths once used by 19th-century merchants, marking the first waymarked long-distance footpath in the country with standardized black and yellow footprint signage. This trail is part of a growing network aimed at increasing access to national parks, developing local economies, and better preserving the environment, contrasting with the long-established hiking networks in the US or European countries.

As the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensifies, the European Union (EU) faces growing scrutiny and mounting threats. Key powers within the bloc and the United Kingdom have called for adherence to international law and condemned the Iranian government, yet they have so far failed to articulate a common approach, appearing divided, sidelined, and ineffective as a major crisis unfolds in the Middle East with potential ramifications for Europe and the world.

The US economy unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.4%, marking the sixth contraction of the labor market under the Trump administration. The February jobs report, released by the US Labor Department on Friday, defied economists' forecasts of marginal gains between 50,000 and 59,000 jobs.

Cologne's iconic cathedral in Germany will begin charging an entrance fee for visitors starting from the second half of this year. The cathedral chapter announced this decision during a press conference on Thursday.

South Sudan, the world's youngest country, is reeling from an escalating conflict between the government-aligned army and opposition forces, with observers warning of a potential return to a full-blown civil war. Violent confrontations between the military, loyal to President Salva Kiir, and insurgents believed to be allied with suspended Vice-President Riek Machar have intensified in recent weeks, raising fears of renewed widespread violence.

Prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has announced he will not appeal his 20-year prison sentence in Hong Kong, marking the end of a protracted legal battle for the 78-year-old critic of the Chinese Communist Party and potentially opening the door to political negotiations for his release. The decision concludes years of court proceedings against the British citizen, whose case has drawn international condemnation.

The Trump administration in the United States has attempted to completely derail a UN resolution demanding action on the climate crisis, leading to cuts in the proposal but not its total elimination. Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation that considers itself existentially threatened by climate change, was forced to remove sections of its draft resolution in hopes that a reduced version could be adopted in a UN vote later this month.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, on the eve of the new Formula One season in Melbourne, has called for a movement to "take Africa back", alleging that the continent is being "controlled" by European powers. He outlined his ambition to compete in a grand prix on African soil, emphasizing the need to address what he described as ongoing external dominance.