A growing number of Americans believe religion is regaining influence in society, marking a sharp turn from previous years of decline. According to Pew Research Center’s February 2025 survey, 31% of U.S. adults say religion is gaining influence in American life — a substantial increase from 18% in February 2024. This is the highest level recorded in fifteen years, reflecting renewed public engagement with spiritual and moral ideas amid cultural and political polarization.

A new analysis has revealed that nearly 70 percent of adults in the United States could be classified as obese under recently proposed definitions that move beyond the traditional body mass index (BMI). This expanded definition incorporates broader indicators of health risk such as waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio, providing a more comprehensive understanding of body fat distribution and its impact on health.

Female bodybuilders are facing an unusually high risk of sudden cardiac death, according to a landmark global study published in the European Heart Journal on Tuesday. The research—the first large-scale analysis of deaths among female competitive bodybuilders—found that heart-related causes accounted for nearly one-third of all known cases. Sudden cardiac death, defined as an unexpected death resulting from heart malfunction, is generally rare in healthy individuals.

Regular and diet soft drinks, long seen as routine beverages, may significantly increase the risk of fatty liver disease and liver-related death. A new large-scale study presented at UEG Week 2025 revealed that both sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and low- or no-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs) were tied to higher chances of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This research challenges the widespread assumption that “diet” sodas represent a healthier alternative to sugary ones.

A record 676 million women lived within 50 kilometres of deadly conflict last year, the highest figure since the 1990s, according to the United Nations. This alarming statistic was one of the central findings of the UN Secretary-General’s annual Women, Peace and Security (WPS) report released on Monday. The report paints a stark picture of escalating global instability and the growing vulnerability of women and girls in conflict zones.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Oslo provides strong evidence that male brains may shrink faster than female brains as people age. Among 4,726 participants with healthy cognition, MRI scans have uncovered modest yet systematic sex differences in how neurological tissue deteriorates over time. The findings bring new clarity to a long-debated question about whether men and women experience brain aging differently across the lifespan.

Aging brings invisible genetic consequences for men, as new research uncovers how harmful DNA mutations accumulate in sperm over time. These small but significant genetic errors can influence disease risks in children, emphasizing the importance of understanding paternal age effects. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger InstituteandKing’s College London have now revealed an intricate link between aging, mutation rates, and sperm health.

In recent years, scientists have emphasized gut health as a cornerstone of overall wellness, influencing everything from digestion to mental health. Research now confirms that the gut microbiome contains trillions of microorganisms that impact immune strength, metabolism, and emotional balance.These microbes, which include bacteria and fungi, interact dynamically with the body, shaping functions essential for long-term health and stability.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the distinguished winners of the 2024–2025 Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEEE). These awards honor outstanding individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in tackling transboundary environmental crimes across Asia. The virtual awards ceremony, held on 17 October 2025, brought together international partners and enforcement leaders committed to advancing environmental justice.

The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2025 list has officially been announced, highlighting model rural destinations across the globe. In its fifth edition, 52 villages from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East earned recognition for their excellence in sustainable tourism and community-driven development. These selections were made from over 270 applications submitted by 65 UN Tourism Member States.

A groundbreaking study by a team from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has shown that triple-negative breast cancer may be fueled by lipids—fatty acids linked directly to obesity. This discovery, supported by the National Cancer Institute, sheds new light on how metabolic imbalances drive aggressive tumor growth and may redefine dietary recommendations for breast cancer patients. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most challenging forms of the disease to treat due to its high recurrence rates and limited targeted therapies.

Divorce in the United States has reshaped family life, impacting living arrangements, financial stability, and parenting. For decades, the story of marital dissolution has captured attention, reflecting changes in values, culture, and social expectations. However, recent data from PEW Research Centre shows the nation’s divorce rate has declined sharply, signaling a remarkable transformation in how Americans view marriage. In 2023, over 1.8 million Americans divorced, but researchers note that the percentage of…

Medicines for the ailing, have sadly become a commercial commodity in the market of greed. The medicine mafia has tightened its grip on the market, vandalizing the rate structure with impunity. The common man is forced to buy life-saving drugs at exorbitant rates. They have no idea of what the actual price should be. It is a chaotic situation. Every chemist seems to have his price list.

Nearly eight in ten people across the globe are living in multidimensional poverty—about 887 million out of 1.1 billion people. They are directly exposed to climate hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, drought, and air pollution, says a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) report. The 2025 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index…

Global Handwashing Day highlights the crucial role of clean hands in saving lives, protecting health, and promoting community well-being across societies. To mark this year’s event, the World Health Organization and UNICEF jointly released the first-ever Global Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Community Settings. The initiative emphasizes that effective hand hygiene is not only a personal responsibility but also a public good deserving governmental action.

Wildfires worldwide are becoming more devastating, driven by human-caused climate change that is intensifying heatwaves, droughts, and vegetation dryness across continents. Scientists report that extreme fires in South America and Southern California grew many times larger and more destructive due to warming trends. According to advanced climate models, the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025 were twice as likely and 25 times larger under current conditions.

Global carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere surged by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs that commit the planet to even greater long-term warming. According to the latest World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the sharp rise was driven by continued human emissions, massive wildfire activity, and weakened natural systems that normally absorb carbon. The report warns that this unprecedented increase in atmospheric CO2 threatens to trigger a vicious climate cycle, further amplifying warming and reducing the planet’s ability to recover.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that more than three billion people worldwide suffer from neurological conditions. These conditions contribute to over 11 million deaths each year. Neurological disorders now affect over 40 percent of the global population. Yet, less than one-third of countries have policies addressing these diseases. The WHO’s first-ever Global Status Report on Neurology underscores an urgent need for investment and coordinated action.

More than 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024, accounting for over 8.2 percent of the global population, according to the UN’s 2025 SOFI report. Although this figure marks slight progress compared to 2023, it still signifies a humanitarian crisis far from pre-pandemic hunger levels. The persistence of hunger and inequality highlights a stark reality. Global food production is sufficient to feed more than eight billion people.

Global progress toward clean energy remains far behind targets set under the Paris Agreement. This is according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report reveals record-breaking renewable capacity gains during 2024. However, it cautions that current momentum falls drastically short of what is required for a stable, net-zero future.UN Secretary-General António Guterres has once again urged governments, investors, and industries to accelerate efforts.

Antibiotic resistance threatens global health as one in six bacterial infections become resistant in 2025, warns the World Health Organization. Responsible use and rapid action are essential. The latest WHO report draws on data from over 100 countries, monitoring more than 40 percent of bacteria-drug combinations tracked between 2018 and 2023. Resistance increases annually by 5 to 15 percent. Regional Resistance Disparities…

From 1970 to 2000, disasters cost $70-$80 billion annually but doubled since 2000 to $180-$200 billion yearly. Most costs are preventable. According to the UNDRR's 2025 Global Assessment Report, disasters now cost over $2.3 trillion yearly, including indirect social and ecosystem damages. Why Resilience Funding Is Critical Investing in resilience decreases direct damages, reduces human suffering, and protects vital health infrastructure from catastrophic disasters globally.

Every day, countless individuals across the globe are transforming local food systems by implementing innovative, sustainable practices. These Food Heroes demonstrate the power of community action, resilience, and leadership. Supporting their efforts allows us to progress toward healthier, more equitable agrifood systems—crucial in addressing global hunger.​ The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) celebrates Food Heroes who lead local food transformations, impacting millions of lives worldwide.

Public opinion about the economy is strongly tied to both economic performance and political change. Around the world, people’s perceptions of their economy often depend on political alignment. These perceptions are also based on actual economic indicators. A new global analysis based on surveys in 25 countries in 2025 and 36 countries in 2024 shows a striking pattern. In nearly every nation surveyed, supporters of the governing party are far more likely to describe the national economy as strong.

A new Pew Research Center survey shows that 69 percent of Americans believe President Donald Trump is trying to exercise more power than his predecessors. Most of those who share this view see it as a negative development for the country. Nearly half of U.S. adults, about 49 percent, say Trump is attempting to expand presidential authority and that this is bad for the nation.