The world has a new largest city

Tokyo has lost its status as the world's most populous megacity, now ranking third behind Jakarta and Dhaka, according to a recent report from the United Nations. This marks a significant shift in global urban demographics, as Tokyo had held this title for many years.

To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Eve Irvine hosted Dr. Ashley Morgan, a Masculinities Scholar from Cardiff Metropolitan University. This day, established by the United Nations 25 years ago, honors the Mirabal sisters, who were assassinated for their activism against Rafael Trujillo's regime, and has since inspired global campaigns for women's rights and against violence.

The United Nations has reported that the reconstruction of Gaza, devastated by Israel's military operations, will require at least $70 billion over several decades. The UN's trade and development agency, Unctad, highlighted that these operations have severely undermined the basic survival pillars for the 2.3 million residents, leading to extreme poverty levels.

A 37-year-old man in Tokyo has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a car and subsequently hitting 11 pedestrians, resulting in one fatality. The incident occurred after the driver fled the scene, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the theft and the collision.

The province of Ituri in eastern DR Congo has been severely affected by ethnic conflict, particularly between the Hema and Lendu communities, leading to significant violence since the 1990s. The United Nations reports that over 1,000 people have been killed since January, with more than a million residents displaced from their homes due to the ongoing clashes over land and mining resources.

Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for her involvement in a violent crackdown on student protests in 2024. The ruling was made in absentia as Hasina is currently in India, raising significant diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

After extended negotiations, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, concluded with a climate deal that failed to include a global roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, despite calls from over 80 countries. The agreement, which ran a day overtime, reflects significant divisions among nations regarding climate action.