2025

• A study by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) reports that the world recorded 65 state-based conflicts in 2025, marking the highest number since 1946. • The report highlights a steep increase in civilian deaths globally, with the conflict in Sudan accounting for a significant portion of the rise. • These findings underscore a deteriorating global security landscape and a surge in organized political violence on a state level.

• A Norwegian study released on Tuesday reports that the number of state conflicts reached its highest level since the Second World War in 2025. • The report highlights a concerning surge in attacks specifically targeting civilian populations. • This peak in global instability underscores a deteriorating security landscape and an increase in state-led violence.

• India A and Bangladesh A faced off in the 1st Semi-Final of the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. • India A set a target of 194/6 in their 20 overs, which Bangladesh A matched, reaching 194/6 in their own innings. • Key individual performances for the chasing side included Nehal Wadhera, who scored 32 runs off 29 balls, and Harsh Dubey.

Karmelo Anthony, who is Black, is accused of stabbing Austin Metcalf, who was white, at track meet in an affluent Dallas suburbSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAfter a 2025 high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, ended with one student dead and another accused of murder, Karmelo Anthony, then 17, was indicted on first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, 17. Social media posts about the death divided the case into racial lines, sparking national outrage. Anthony, who is being tried as an adult, is Black; Metcalf was white.This week marked the beginning of Anthony’s murder trial. Continue reading...

• Bangladesh A and India A are facing off in the first semi-final (A1 v B2) of the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. • The match is being broadcast and tracked via Cricbuzz, providing live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and highlights for viewers in the USA and Canada. • This fixture is a critical knockout stage event to determine which team will advance to the tournament final.

• A new European Central Bank (ECB) report reveals that the euro's international use has seen a moderate increase, reaching approximately 20% in 2025. • The currency has achieved record levels of euro-denominated debt issuance and maintains a leading position within the global green bond market. • Despite these gains, the ECB warns of growing risks regarding monetary system fragmentation and an increase in gold hoarding by central banks.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) reported that the international role of the euro experienced moderate growth throughout 2025. • This trend indicates a steady increase in the currency's global usage, likely across foreign exchange markets and international reserves. • The growth matters as it reflects the euro's ongoing effort to diversify global currency dependence and strengthen its position relative to the US dollar.

• Germany's net migration experienced a sharp 45% decline in 2025, falling to 235,000 people. • The decrease was driven by lower arrivals from Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, alongside a rise in German emigration. • Significant migration deficits were recorded with EU states, most notably Poland (minus 17,000) and Bulgaria (minus 14,000).

• The FDA approved oral berotralstat in Q4 2025, expanding critical treatment options for pediatric patients suffering from hereditary angioedema (HAE). • Significant medical progress was reported through Phase 3 clinical trial advances targeting peanut allergies, multi-allergen immunotherapy, and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. • These developments matter as they broaden the therapeutic landscape for chronic allergic conditions and provide new options for younger populations.

• At least 127,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies were laid off in mass job cuts throughout 2025, according to data from Crunchbase News. • The trend of workforce reductions has persisted beyond 2025, with layoffs continuing into 2026. • These figures highlight a significant period of instability and downsizing within the American technology sector across multiple years.

• French startups raised €6.7 billion in 2025, marking a 5% year-over-year decline in total funding. • Artificial Intelligence dominated the landscape, accounting for 43% of all capital, with Mistral alone capturing 25% of the total funding. • Market exits reached a five-year low of €5.3 billion, signaling a cooling period for liquidity in the French ecosystem.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is analyzing a significant surge in euro area banks' price-to-book (P/B) ratios projected for 2025. • While high valuations may indicate strong earnings power, the ECB warns they could also stem from investor over-optimism and compressed equity risk premia. • This trend matters because it poses potential risks to financial stability if expectations for economic growth or return on equity are not realized.

• Artificial intelligence is transforming vibrational spectroscopy in 2025 by automating critical processes such as calibration, feature extraction, and data interpretation. • These advancements are being integrated across multiple systems, including Raman, infrared, near-infrared (NIR), and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). • The integration of AI enables significant improvements in data fusion and spectral imaging, enhancing the precision of industrial and biomedical applications.

• Poland and Portugal experienced the strongest real household income growth in Europe over the last two years, with Spain leading among major economies. • Specific growth rates included the Netherlands at 2.3%, Portugal at 2%, Denmark at 1.9%, Greece at 1.8%, and Spain at 1.5%. • The OECD attributed Poland's acceleration to employee remuneration offsetting lower social benefits, while Greece's growth was driven by property income and the lowest unemployment rate since 2009.

• European cinema attendance declined by 5.5% in 2025, with the total number of cinemagoers dropping to 796 million. • Despite the fall in attendance, overall box-office revenues remained stable at €6.36 billion. • This trend highlights a shift in consumer behavior and pricing dynamics within the European film exhibition market.

• TIN Media hosted the second edition of the Asian Tourism & Hospitality Awards (ATH Awards) 2025-26 during a gala night in Kuala Lumpur. • Key winners included FELDA Residence Hot Springs for Most Unique Nature Wellness Experience (Malaysia), Jatiluwih Village for Leading UNESCO Cultural Landscape Tourism Destination (Indonesia), and Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony for Leading Tourist Attraction of the Year (Singapore). • The event serves as Asia's benchmark for excellence in the sector, receiving strategic support from organizations such as the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Malaysia Chapter.

• SportsCafe is providing comprehensive daily coverage of football news, transfer updates, and match scores for 2025, with a specific focus on the Indian market. • The platform tracks both domestic Indian football and major international clubs, including Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Liverpool. • This service allows fans to stay current on breaking highlights and detailed player movements through a filtered search system for teams and tournaments.

• Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat will appear at the Star Awards 2025 in Singapore on July 6 as an award presenter, marking his return to the ceremony after about three decades. • The event will be held at The Theatre at Mediacorp and broadcast on Channel 8, Channel U, mewatch and Mediacorp Entertainment’s YouTube channel from 7pm to 10pm. • His appearance adds star power to one of Singapore’s biggest TV and entertainment nights, helping Mediacorp draw regional attention.

The 32.3m surpasses those caused by disasters for the first time, as 82.2m people displaced in total around worldThe number of internal displacements triggered by conflict or violence around the world reached a record high in 2025, surpassing the number of disaster-driven internal displacements for the first time.A report published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) shows that by the end of 2025 there were 32.3m conflict-driven internal displacements. That is 60% higher than those recorded the previous year, and – for the first time since data collection began in 2008 – above displacements driven by natural disasters, which reached 29.9m in 2025. Continue reading...

• CVB Financial (NasdaqGS:CVBF) finalized its acquisition of Heritage Commerce Corp on May 10, 2026, forming a combined mid-sized bank with pro forma assets of US$21.5 billion. • The merged entity released pro forma financials projecting 2025 net earnings of US$241 million, or US$1.36 per share, offering investors visibility into future performance. • This deal transforms CVB from a smaller regional player into a more substantial competitor, potentially enhancing its market position and dividend capacity in the banking sector.

• Ocean Network Express (ONE) posted a US$55 million profit in the fourth quarter of FY2025 as freight rates recovered, though overall cargo movements remained sluggish throughout the year. • The container shipping company faced persistent headwinds from weak cargo demand in 2025, signaling continued challenges in the global freight market. • Industry observers view ONE's modest profitability as reflective of broader shipping sector weakness, with market recovery dependent on improved global trade volumes.

US judge says halt of $100m in funds allotted by Congress for scholars, writers and research illegal and discriminatoryA federal judge ruled on Thursday that the terminations of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) were unconstitutional and involved “blatant” discrimination. In April last year, Donald Trump’s administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing more than $100m in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations.The terminations were part of a cost-cutting drive that billionaire Elon Musk was leading at Doge. Continue reading...

• TrendAI published its 2025 APT Annual Report on May 8, 2026, detailing advanced persistent threat campaigns increasingly fueled by AI technologies. • The report identifies a shift in global cyber balance, with nation-aligned groups using AI for automated attacks, evasion, and intelligence gathering. • Key findings include over 50 documented APT operations in APAC, emphasizing the role of generative AI in enhancing malware sophistication.

• In April 2025, China-aligned attackers exploited a Taiwanese software company's server as a malware distribution point, highlighting aggressive regional tactics. • Earth Kasha, linked to APT10, expanded spear-phishing from Japanese think tanks in 2024 to Taiwanese government agencies in March 2025 using ANEL malware. • Groups like Earth Preta, Baxia, and Kurma targeted APAC governments and telecoms with backdoors, rootkits, and cloud exfiltration, shifting the global cyber balance.

• APAC recorded the fastest regional growth in semiconductor sales at 45.4% year-over-year in 2025, propelled by demand for AI systems and advanced logic chips. • The boom ties directly to expanding AI infrastructure needs and power electronics in the region. • Singapore and Southeast Asia hubs benefit as key players in global supply chains amid rising tech demands.

• GXS Bank and MariBank, Singapore's digital banks, posted increased interest income for FY2025 ended in 2025, driven by sustained lending activities. • Both banks are leaning on South-east Asia markets to fuel profitability, expanding beyond Singapore into regional operations. • The growth highlights lending as a core strategy amid competitive digital banking landscape in ASEAN.

• Polomar Health Services (OTCQB: PMHS) disclosed a $10.7 million net loss for fiscal year 2025 in its annual 10-K filing with the SEC. • The filing raises substantial going-concern doubts due to ongoing losses, telehealth partner setbacks, and liquidity issues. • Company plans a merger with Altanine that would dilute existing shareholders to approximately 20% ownership post-deal.

Researchers say 481-metre wave in fjord was triggered by rockslide linked to climate crisisA mega tsunami in Alaska last year in a fjord visited by cruise ships is a stark warning of the risks of coastal rockslides and glacier retreat fueled by the climate crisis, a new study warns.Scientists recorded the world’s second-tallest tsunami after it struck the Tracy Arm fjord in south-east Alaska last August after a massive rockslide around the toe of a glacier. The tsunami reached 481 metres (1,578ft) in height; by comparison the Eiffel Tower is 330 metres (1082ft). Continue reading...