World News in Brief: Russian rights abuses in Ukraine, US a no-show for rights review, Orlando Blooms highlights Rohingya plight

During their mission from 2 to 6 November, the three members of the Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry met survivors, families of victims and human rights groups in Kyiv. “People spoke of unimaginable suffering – homes destroyed, loved ones killed, and lives upended,” said chairperson Erik Møse. The investigators – who are not UN […]

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Pfizer to Acquire Metsera for $86.25 Per Share in $10 Billion Deal

Biotech buyout ends bidding war with Novo Nordisk, securing key obesity drug assets. New York – November 8, 2025 — Pfizer Inc. has finalized a deal to acquire Metsera, a clinical-stage biotech focused on obesity treatments, for $86.25 per share in cash, representing a 3.69% premium over Metsera’s closing price on Friday CNBC. The transaction […]

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Ireland Prepares for Potential Visit by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in December

Diplomatic planning underway as Ireland reaffirms support for Ukraine amid ongoing war and EU integration efforts. Dublin, Ireland – November 8, 2025 — The Irish government is actively preparing for a possible visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with diplomatic sources indicating the trip could take place as early as December TheJournal.ie. While no official […]

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Morocco and Safran Launch $382M Aircraft Engine Hub, Doubling Aerospace Exports

Nouaceur, Morocco – November 8, 2025 — In a landmark move for African industrial development, Morocco and France’s Safran Group have launched a $382 million aircraft engine manufacturing hub near Casablanca, signaling a transformative leap in Morocco’s aerospace capabilities. The initiative, unveiled during a ceremony chaired by King Mohammed VI, positions Morocco as a strategic […]

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CapitaLand and Mapletree Explore $150 Billion Merger in Potential Real Estate Shake-Up

Temasek-backed giants may form Asia-Pacific’s largest property investment firm amid early-stage talks. Singapore – November 7, 2025 — Two of Singapore’s most prominent real estate investment firms, CapitaLand Investment (CLI) and Mapletree Investments, are reportedly exploring a $150 billion merger, a move that could reshape the Asia-Pacific property landscape. The potential deal, first reported by […]

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DR Congo hunger crisis worsening amid fighting and lack of aid funding

UN aid agencies are struggling to access provinces overrun by Rwanda-backed M23 rebel fighters at the start of the year, although dramatic funding shortfalls for humanitarian work have also contributed to the dire situation. Kigali has consistently denied providing military backing to the group. Help could be provided more easily if air access were re-established, […]

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The Grapefruit Protest That Shook Apartheid: Ireland’s Dunnes Stores Strike Revisited

How 11 retail workers defied apartheid through a fruit boycott—and won Mandela’s gratitude. 🍊 Comedy Meets History In a moment of unexpected resonance, comedian David Nihill’s skit “Fruit for Thought” spotlighted a little-known but powerful chapter in Irish history: the 1984 Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike, where a group of grocery workers refused to sell South […]

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Grandi calls for greater refugee protection and funding

Filippo Grandi reported that for the first time in nearly a decade, the number of refugees and other people fleeing war, violence and persecution, has decreased – from 123 million at the end of 2024 to about 117 million today. “This may seem surprising. Because the world has not become safer – on the contrary,” he said, pointing to conflicts in places such as […]

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When Funders Unite: A Financing Stack for Climate Resilience

In the aftermath of the floods in 2022, Pakistan’s financial sector was in crisis. But for different types of financial institutions, this crisis didn’t look the same. For microfinance banks, this was a crisis of capital adequacy; as non-performing loans (NPLs) in flood-impacted areas increased, capital was eroded, and capital adequacy fell from a regulatory […]

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UN chief urges world leaders to drive down global warming

“Every fraction of a degree means more hunger, displacement, and loss – especially for those least responsible. It could push ecosystems past irreversible tipping points, expose billions to unlivable conditions, and amplify threats to peace and security,” Mr. Guterres told leaders in Belém. Failure to contain global heating amounts to “moral failure and deadly negligence,” […]

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