By Britta Rennkamp, Senior Researcher at the African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town
South Africa opened its G20 presidency with an ambitious message for a world divided by conflict and economic strain: solidarity, equality and sustainability. The Johannesburg G20 leaders’ summit tried to mend deep geopolitical rifts. Even those who chose to boycott the summit remained…
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By Onyedikachi Madueke, Teaching Assistant, University of Aberdeen
The terrorism conviction and life sentence handed down by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, brings an end to a ten-year legal battle. But it opens up a larger political and security question for Nigeria.
Kanu has long championed the secession of Nigeria’s south-east region, a demand the Nigerian constitution forbids. The last major attempt at…
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By Federico Donelli, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Trieste
Djibouti’s president, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, pushed through constitutional changes removing presidential age limits in October 2025. The changes enable him to remain in power beyond 2026. He has already ruled for 26 years and is a shoo-in at elections in April…
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By OC Media
Despite declining numbers, hundreds — sometimes thousands — continue to protest daily. The duration of the movement remains uncertain, but the government’s shift toward authoritarianism appears unmistakable.
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By Nuarrual Hilal Md Dahlan, School of Law, Universiti Utara Malaysia
Malaysia’s Islamic home financing is failing too many buyers as projects stall or collapse. Reforming contracts, governance and housing laws is crucial to restore trust and protect consumers.
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By Morgan Marietta, Professor of American Civics, University of Tennessee
The Supreme Court on Dec. 5, 2025, agreed to review the long-simmering controversy over birthright citizenship. It will likely hand down a ruling next summer.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order removing the recognition of citizenship for the U.S.-born children of both immigrants here illegally…
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By Michael J. Ostwald, Professor of Architectural Analytics, UNSW Sydney
Frank Gehry, who has died at 96, leaves a powerful legacy, visible in many major cities, in the media, in galleries and in popular culture.
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image A banner promoting the Legislative Council General Election in Hong Kong, December 3, 2025. © 2025 Chan Long Hei/AP Photo Hong Kong will hold elections for its Legislative Council on December 7, without a single pro-democracy candidate. The Chinese government’s attempts to present the legislature, known as the LegCo, as legitimate hardly fool anyone. Many Hongkongers quietly boycotted the previous election in 2021, resulting in record-low turnout. Five years into its sweeping crackdown, Beijing has seized full control of the LegCo. It revised laws to ensure…
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By Steve Rintoul, CSIRO Fellow, CSIRO
Esmee van Wijk, Vanwijk, CSIRO
Laura Herraiz Borreguero, Physical oceanographer, CSIRO
Madelaine Gamble Rosevear, Postdoctoral Fellow in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania
Our ocean float spent years adrift in the Antarctic ocean and beneath massive ice shelves. What it found will help us estimate global sea-level rise.
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By Georgia de Leeuw, Resercher, Lund University
The Indigenous Sami in the far north of Sweden say intensive industrial projects pose risks to their way of life.
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