The article highlights the severe health consequences of wildfire smoke, including respiratory distress and death. As climate change intensifies wildfires, more people are exposed to hazardous air quality. This underscores the growing public health threat from smoke inhalation and the need for protective measures.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun its first national census since 1984, aiming to obtain accurate population data for the country of over 100 million people. Many residents have never been officially counted, and the process is crucial for fair political representation, resource distribution, and development planning. The census also carries political weight as it could reshape electoral boundaries and government funding.

Colombia’s newly inaugurated president took office with a firm pledge to crack down on narco-terrorism. The vow signals a hardline security approach that could reshape the country’s conflict dynamics and drug policy.

SpaceX and Tesla have selected Texas as the site for a new AI chip manufacturing plant, which will reportedly become the world's largest building. The facility aims to boost domestic production of AI components, reducing reliance on overseas supply chains. This move strengthens Texas's role in high-tech manufacturing and has major economic implications for the region.

A devastating fire has struck a US city, and even longtime residents accustomed to seasonal wildfires are stunned by the unprecedented scale of destruction. The event marks a new extreme in fire severity, raising concerns about the growing intensity of fire seasons.

Investigators discovered the decomposing remains of 56 people at a Chicago funeral home, where the bodies had been left instead of being cremated or buried. The operator is under investigation, and the discovery raises serious concerns about oversight of funeral homes and the anguish caused to grieving families.

The UN has issued a dire warning that Sudan's ongoing civil war is endangering the future of an entire generation of children. The conflict has led to mass displacement, acute hunger, and a collapse of education and healthcare services. This alert highlights the urgent need for humanitarian access and a political resolution to prevent a lost generation.

Colombia's new president, known as 'El Tigre,' was sworn in, marking a rightward shift across Latin America. As a close ally of former President Trump, his election could realign Colombia's foreign policy and strengthen ties with the United States.

Senior managers at St Basil's aged care, where 50 residents died in a COVID-19 outbreak, told an inquiry they cannot fully recall key decisions. The testimony drew anger from grieving families, who contrast their lasting pain with the executives' selective memory. The hearing is part of a royal commission probing systemic failures in aged care.