Asia India The patent on semaglutide, the molecule behind Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, expired in India allowing domestic pharma to release generics; the competition could cut prices by half, expand people's access and reach $1bn in value
Europe Iceland A snowstorm in Reykjavík transformed in thick ice ridges on main roads as traffic pressed the snow before it could be removed; nearby municipalities were less affected
America Argentina President Javier Milei has led his party La Libertad Avanza to a landslide victory in midterm elections with two years of radical spending cuts and a free-market political line; winning 41% of votes he took 13 of 24 Senate and 64 of 127 lower-house seats
Asia Malaysia Malaysia and the U.S. have sealed a 17-point trade pact that grants preferential access for U.S. industrial goods while securing for Malaysia tariff exemptions on 1.711 lines
Oceania Australia City suburbs in Australia show plots of lands at convenient prices that lure customers into buying properties that will not be transformed into homes; they come from ‘paper subdivisions’ lacking water, sewage and roads that haven’t been and aren't planned
Europe Austria The program of New Year's Concert 2026 at the Vienna Musikverein has been announced: it includes five premieres, including two pieces by female composers and Yannick Nézet-Séguin from Canada will conduct the concert for the first time
Africa Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing another term in office amid days of unrest across the country that caused at least 700 deaths, with local and foreign transparency concerns
Europe Russia Halloween was a day of costumes, candy and all things spooky even in Russia, as Muscovites celebrated like fellow trick-or-treaters around the world, notwithstanding Halloween being irritant for politicians, pro-Kremlin activists and the Orthodox Church
America United States Unless rescinded, Trump's executive order greenlighting deep-sea mining in direct violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea will unleash a gold rush among major powers that concerns Pacific nations, fearing armed conflict as consequence
America Bahamas Assessments and cleanup were underway in areas of the southern and central Bahamas after Hurricane Melissa swept through the country, uprooting trees, tearing down utility poles and damaging some roofs; most residents were relieved they dodged the worst
Africa Seychelles The UN office in Seychelles marked its 80th anniversary with a youth engagement event that brought together young entrepreneurs, environmental advocates, students, and change makers from the Seychelles National Youth Assembly
Africa South Africa The University of Fort Hare council has urged higher education and training minister Buti Manamela not to proceed with appointing an independent assessor, saying the university is already taking steps to stabilise itself and address recent unrest
Europe Slovenia Slovenian mountaineering is at the top of the sport as Aleš Česen won his third Golden Ice Axe for outstanding mountaineering achievements for conquering the 7.952 m Gasherbrum III, one of only six to have won three; Slovenian Marko Prezelj, has won four
Europe Vatican City Recalling the words of Pope Leo XIV during a video call with astronaut Buzz Aldrin earlier this year, the Holy See has taken a definite position on space-based weaponry saying it poses ‘genuine and grave’ threat