Recent TalkFuse coverage from BBC World. Open a story to read its summary, compare its sources and join the discussion.
California has banned marriage for anyone under 18, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing a law that takes effect on 1 January 2027. The change ends a system that campaigners say left children vulnerable to abuse and trapped in relationships, and makes California the 18th US state to ban…
Swiss glaciers lost an estimated 5.5% of their remaining ice over the past year, a near-record decline that scientists describe as disastrous. The unusually rapid melting, driven by intense heatwaves and a mild winter with little snow, is a sign of the pace of climate change and could…
At least 32 children have died since May in remote villages in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh state in India, with most victims belonging to the Baiga, one of India's particularly vulnerable tribal groups. Officials attribute the deaths primarily to measles and malaria, exacerbated by malnutrition and delays in…
China introduced regulations on 15 July restricting AI chatbots that form sustained emotional relationships with users. The rules reflect concern that AI companions could manipulate people or displace human relationships, while also raising questions about how far the state should reach into people’s private lives. The regulations cover…
Vladimir Putin is showing no indication of ending Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with recent developments suggesting a commitment to continued military operations. Russia's tightly controlled parliamentary election in September produced a more pro-Putin State Duma, which the Kremlin is presenting as a popular mandate. This comes as…
Heavy rain and landslides have killed about 30 people in Nepal, where communities are still recovering from August’s catastrophic floods, which killed 1,400 and left thousands missing. The latest damage has affected more than 1,900 families, damaged over 240 homes and swept away roads, buildings and bridges. Hundreds…
On a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, a pilot stabbed the other pilot in the cockpit and attempted to disable the aircraft, causing it to plummet 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. Passengers, including Israeli citizen Yaniv Hayun, managed to break into the cockpit and…
Six people traffickers were convicted in Paris of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the deaths of 31 migrants in the worst small-boat disaster in the Channel. The verdict holds members of two smuggling networks responsible for organising the crossing, which ended in tragedy in November 2021. The…
Botswana has authorised the killing of 23 elephants to provide meat for its 60th independence celebrations on Wednesday, a decision that has drawn criticism from animal rights activists and conservation groups. The country, which is home to the world's largest elephant population of over 130,000 animals, issued the…
Russia carried out its largest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the end of the last heating season, with Kyiv and the surrounding region among the main targets, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi said. The overnight strikes killed at least six people and injured 33 across the country,…
The last British and American troops have left Iraq, ending the international coalition’s military mission against the Islamic State group after more than a decade. Iraq’s government says its security forces can now take full responsibility for the country’s security, marking a shift towards security co-operation under Iraqi…
Jeremy and Gemma Cooper said they were relieved to be rescued after a sperm whale struck and sank their yacht in the Pacific. Their account highlights the danger they faced far from shore, as the damaged boat began taking on water and they had to abandon it. The…
Singapore has launched FirstDate, a government-run matchmaking service for civil servants aged 21 to 35, using a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm to match participants on individual dates. The initiative addresses Singapore's demographic crisis, as the country recorded fewer than 30,000 births in 2025—a 60-year low—prompting the government to take…
An Indian trial court judge has written a compassionate and emotionally moving letter to a 10-year-old child sexual abuse survivor, promising that her abuser would remain imprisoned for life. Judge Rajani Ranga's letter, which praised the child as "the bravest little girl" and assured her that the convict…
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto are due to break ground on a $16bn oil refinery in Lamu, despite protests from residents seeking more compensation for land used by the project. Dangote says construction will proceed as planned and the refinery should be ready by…
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a physical altercation between the pilot and co-pilot during the flight. The aircraft signalled emergency codes, initially appearing to indicate a hijacking, but Israeli officials confirmed the incident was not a security threat. The…
Five crew members of an oil tanker have been killed by Somali pirates before local security forces successfully recaptured the vessel, according to Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade. The MT Hoarner 25, which had been seized in April whilst carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil destined for…
Six-year-old Raseel al-Balawi has undergone more than 20 operations since she was injured in an air strike in Gaza in late July. Her case highlights the struggle to treat severe wounds amid continuing bombardment and the near-total destruction of infrastructure that children and medical services depend on. Witnesses…
A Chinese restaurant in South Korea named after leader Xi Jinping has been vandalised by a group of Chinese nationals, who fled back to China after the attack. The incident highlights tensions surrounding the restaurant's controversial name, which has drawn mounting pressure from both individuals and businesses in…
Three South Korean soldiers were injured by landmine explosions on the South Korean side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on 21 September. Seoul says North Korean mines were “highly likely”, calls the blasts a breach of the 1953 armistice and has demanded an apology and an end to…