Record-breaking $100 billion India-Africa trade achievement

In the realm of medical research, a groundbreaking discovery has been made by using artificial intelligence to spot signs of consciousness in comatose patients. The researchers were able to analyze patients' facial movements, including minute changes that were too subtle to be visually noticeable, but could be clinically meaningful.

Political unrest continues to grip various parts of the world. In Indonesia, protests driven by economic discontent and opposition to police brutality have posed the greatest challenge yet to President Prabowo Subianto's government. The situation in Sudan remains dire, with famine declared last year, over 25 million people facing extreme hunger, and humanitarian agencies prevented from providing aid. Both warring parties in Sudan have been accused of mass human rights abuses, with the death toll of the conflict likely surpassing 400,000.

The economic landscape is also experiencing significant shifts. The rising cost of food has hit African countries harder than many other regions globally, leading to a 3.5% rise in moderate or severe food insecurity when food prices increase by 10%. This trend has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In the business sphere, India-Africa trade rose to a new record of $100 billion in 2024-25, and Nigeria's state oil company NNPC awarded two offshore oil blocks to TotalEnergies. On the other hand, London-listed mining company Glencore is planning job cuts at its ferrochrome and vanadium plants in South Africa.

Environmental concerns are also at the forefront of discussions. Several European governments are considering reviving drained peat bogs, as they cover just 3% of the planet but hold a third of its carbon. Finland and Poland are considering restoring peat wetlands along their Russian borders for similar reasons. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have turned succulents into glow-in-the-dark, rechargeable lights that shine in a variety of colors.

In the political arena, the former leader of an unspecified nation has vowed to stand in next year's presidential election despite a ban against him running, a stance that analysts believe will damage the right's chances of returning to power. The verdict in Brazil's politics could determine the future of the country's economy and is expected as soon as next week.

International relations continue to evolve, with China hosting an array of world leaders at a diplomatic and military show of force, most of whom are opposed to Western hegemony. India wants to boost ties with Africa in sectors including health care, renewable energy, and technology-driven farming. Africa appeared to have a reduced presence compared with a decade ago at China's military parade.

In legal matters, a US federal appeals court ruled that sweeping global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump were illegal, representing a major setback for his economic agenda. The Trump administration's efforts to deport undocumented migrants faced further legal setbacks, with a federal judge blocking White House plans to return Guatemalan children to their home country.

Lastly, political turmoil continues in Thailand, as the constitutional court sacked the country's prime minister, throwing the country into renewed political turmoil. An airplane carrying the European Commission president was the target of a suspected Russian interference operation, and more than 800 people have been killed after an earthquake struck near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.