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Scientists from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service say 2025 is on track to be the second or third hottest year ever recorded, likely only just behind 2024. Average global temperatures over the last three years have been around 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the key threshold mentioned in the Paris Agreement.
They link the heat mainly to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and point to extreme events like deadly typhoons and wildfires as evidence of the trend. The data is adding pressure on governments, especially after a weak outcome at recent climate talks where countries struggled to agree on deeper emission cuts.
Sources: Copernicus (EU), Reuters, climate agencies.
A major UN Global Environment Outlook (GEO) report warns that the way the world currently produces food and energy is causing about $5 billion of environmental damage every hour. Researchers estimate around $45 trillion in damage per year, with agriculture, transport and fossil-fuelled electricity among the biggest contributors.
The report says climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and land degradation are all connected and must be tackled together. It calls for ending harmful subsidies, putting a real price on environmental damage, shifting to renewable energy and more sustainable farming – arguing the cost of action is still far lower than the cost of doing nothing.
Sources: UN Environment Programme, GEO report, The Guardian, AP.
From 10 December 2025, Australia has brought in a world-first law that bans children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and X. Platforms that fail to block under-age accounts can face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
Supporters say this will protect children from online harms and mental-health pressures, while critics worry about privacy, free speech and young people who rely on online communities for support. Other countries are watching closely and considering similar rules, so this move could shape global social-media regulation in the coming years.
Sources: Reuters, UNICEF Australia, ABC News (Australia), official government fact sheet.
In India’s state of Goa, at least 25 people – including tourists and many nightclub staff – died when a fire ripped through a crowded nightclub in Arpora just after midnight. Early reports suggest serious safety lapses: inadequate fire exits, missing alarms and possible issues with gas cylinders or fireworks.
The tragedy has triggered fire-safety inspections at clubs and bars in other cities as well, as authorities race to prevent a repeat of such an incident. Goa, a major party and tourist destination, is facing tough questions about enforcement of safety rules in busy nightlife areas.
Sources: ABC News, Hindustan Times, The Independent, Times of India.
Qatar’s prime minister says negotiations to turn the current truce in Gaza into a more stable ceasefire are at a “critical moment”. He warned that the ceasefire will not be truly complete until Israeli troops withdraw fully from Gaza, under a peace plan backed by the UN and the US.
Despite a reduction in large-scale fighting, reports of violence and casualties continue, and mediators from Qatar and other countries are trying to push all sides towards a lasting deal. The outcome will have major implications for regional stability, reconstruction efforts and broader Middle East diplomacy.
Sources: Reuters, Sky News, regional outlets covering Doha Forum 2025.
The West African country Benin says it has foiled an attempted military coup, after a group of soldiers briefly appeared on state TV claiming they were dissolving the government. Loyalist forces quickly regained control, and President Patrice Talon remains in power.
Neighbouring Nigeria deployed fighter jets and troops in support of Benin after a request for help, and France provided intelligence and logistical backing. Regional bloc ECOWAS has condemned the coup attempt amid a wider pattern of coups and instability in parts of West Africa over recent years.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Euronews, ECOWAS statements.
A separate UN environment report warns that climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and land degradation are now directly threatening food security, water supplies, public health and economic stability. Scientists estimate pollution alone is linked to around 9 million deaths a year and say up to 40% of global land is now degraded.
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The report says the world needs about $8 trillion a year in investment to reach net-zero emissions and restore ecosystems, but argues that the long-term economic benefits are larger than the costs. Experts are urging governments to move beyond GDP as the only measure of success and to redesign policies and subsidies so they reward cleaner, more sustainable choices.
Sources: UN Environment Assembly, AP, GEO report coverage.
Australia’s tough social-media ban for under-16s has restarted a global debate over screen time, mental health and AI tools that can bypass age rules. Child-welfare groups say constant social-media use is linked to anxiety, body-image issues and cyberbullying, while some teens argue that online communities are a lifeline, especially for those who feel isolated offline.
At the same time, regulators are concerned about how AI chatbots and other tools might help young users access restricted content or fake their age. Governments and platforms are now under pressure to find age-checks that work without creating new privacy and surveillance problems.
Sources: The Guardian, ABC (Australia), The Verge and policy commentators.
With 2025 shaping up as one of the hottest years on record and multiple UN reports warning of systemic environmental risk, climate policy is moving back to the top of the agenda for upcoming global meetings. Scientists argue that the window to keep warming near 1.5°C is narrowing fast, and that delays now will lock in more extreme weather and higher long-term costs.
Civil society groups are using the latest data to push for stronger commitments on coal phase-out, methane cuts and climate finance for vulnerable countries. However, political divisions – including some major powers rolling back climate policies – continue to slow progress.
Sources: Copernicus, UN environment bodies, climate think-tanks.
The foiled coup in Benin and ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, all being discussed at forums like the Doha Forum 2025, show how fragile global security remains. Leaders there have warned that unresolved conflicts, economic stress and climate change are feeding instability and making diplomacy harder.
Regional bodies like ECOWAS and mediators like Qatar are playing bigger roles where trust between major powers is low. Analysts say the way these crises are handled in the next months will influence not only local security but also energy markets, migration and global cooperation.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Doha Forum 2025 coverage, Reuters, AP.