The GPI, produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, tracks 23 indicators, from external conflicts and military expenditure to safety and security measures like terrorism and homicide. The countries ranked at the top of the index have been remarkably consistent for nearly two decades, showing the stability that peaceful policies can bring over the long haul. Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world’s most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains:

With Gen Z facing existential career crises, billionaire OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that in just 10 years, college grads will be exploring the solar system—jobs that will reel in sky-high salaries. “In 2035, that graduating college student, if they still go to college at all, could very well be leaving on a mission to explore the solar system on a spaceship in some completely new, exciting, super well-paid, super interesting job,” Altman told video journalist Cleo Abram. Whil

A new report by EIT Hub Israel, Planven VC and KPMG maps the growing footprint of Israeli technology companies across Europe and finds a story of deepening integration, resilience and long-term commitment. More than 1,600 Israeli tech companies now employ over 30,000 people across Europe, with a 4.8% annual growth rate over the past three years. “The data highlights the significant presence of the Israeli technology ecosystem in Europe,” said Dina Pasca-Raz, partner and head

The country’s Smart Education of China platform has become the world’s largest high-quality educational resource center, with total visits exceeding 72.6 billion, the Ministry of Education said recently. Covering the entire educational process from preschool to postgraduate studies and encompassing moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and labor education, the platform now serves more than 178 million users in over 200 countries and regions. Daily visits average about 52 m

Swiss voters decisively rejected a call to require women to do national service in the military, civil protection teams or other forms, as all men must do already. Voters also heavily rejected a separate proposal to impose a new national tax on individual donations or inheritances of more than 50 million francs ($62 million), with the revenues to be used to fight the impact of climate change and help Switzerland meet its ambitions to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by

European governments that condemn Israel and announce sanctions still line up for its air defense systems, as fears of Russian drones and other threats override political boycotts. At a joint appearance in Jerusalem, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against any steps in the West Bank that might amount to annexation, insisting there should be “no formal, political or structural measures” in that direction and reiterating that “recognition of a Palestinian state should c

Stefan Eiriksson, director-general of Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, said: “There is no peace or joy connected to this contest as things stand now. On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back while the situation is as it is.” RÚV said Israel’s participation had “created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.” Israel’s presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Ga

India’s telecoms ministry has directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, according to a government order, raising concerns of data privacy and user consent in one of the largest handset markets in the world. The ministry said the app, which is available to India’s 1.2 billion smartphone users, was essential in “curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security.” But privacy adv

Switzerland adopted its first-ever national action plan against racism and antisemitism at the Federal Council meeting. The action plan comes amid surging antisemitism and racism in the country. According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, 17% of the resident population aged 15 to 88 said in 2024 that they had experienced racial discrimination in the previous five years. By integrating four dimensions—structural racism, intersectional discrimination, involvement

The Quebec government plans to enact a series of measures expanding its secularism rules across public institutions, including a ban on prayer rooms in universities and CEGEPs and restricting the offering of religion-based meals. Six years after the CAQ government adopted its landmark secularism law, known as Bill 21, and only a month after adopting a bill which expanded Bill 21’s prohibition of religious symbols, the province is once again taking aim at the intersection of r

Questions over how companies and other institutions will use AI are a near universal concern given its potential to change or replace some jobs done by people with computers and robots. “As a general-purpose technology, AI can lift productivity, spark new industries, and help latecomers catch up,” the report says. Better advice on farming, analysis of X-rays within seconds and faster medical diagnoses, more effective weather forecasts and damage assessments hold promise for r

[The following is commentary from] Bishop Dennis Nthumbi is the Africa director of the Israel Allies Foundation, president of the Golgotha Christian Foundation, and international bishop of the African American Clergy Leaders Association. Decisions on Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and the Golan Heights must remain solely in the hands of Israel’s elected legislature to protect national security and self-determination. Current diplomatic discourse at the United Nations regarding Gaza

There is something deeply Israeli about the road that led here. Israel did not decide in the abstract to dominate an arms race; it was dragged into one. From the first crude rockets fired out of Gaza to the mass barrages launched by Hamas and Hezbollah, by the Houthis in Yemen, and by Iran itself, the country has been forced to innovate or absorb intolerable levels of civilian harm. As Defense Minister Israel Katz has explained, the Iron Beam is a ground-based, high-power las

Israel has approved a plan to absorb about 5,800 members of the Bnei Menashe community by 2030, according to a government decision. A first group of 1,200 people is scheduled to arrive next year. The ministry responsible for their absorption will provide initial financial support, Hebrew language instruction, job guidance, temporary housing and social programs to help newcomers settle. The Bnei Menashe identify as descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, considered one

Now in its 11th year, the [Global Talent Competitive Index] ranking covers 135 countries and is based on 77 indicators, including the concentration of AI workers, grouped into six categories that measure talent attraction, growth, retention, and technical capabilities. The index evaluates how countries cultivate, attract, and retain skilled workers across all income levels. Israel ranked 23rd overall and first in the North Africa and Western Asia regional ranking, rising two

Israel’s Civil Administration announced its intention to expropriate large swaths of Sebastia, a major archaeological site in the West Bank, in the document obtained by The Associated Press. Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group, said the site is around 1,800 dunams (450 acres)—Israel’s largest seizure of archaeologically important land. The capital of the ancient Israelite kingdom Samaria is thought to be beneath the ruins of Sebastia, and Christians and Muslims belie

Across Europe, politicians increasingly tout private pensions as a cure-all for reviving stagnant stock exchanges, fostering entrepreneurship and curbing ballooning public spending as populations age. But any governments that bet on this solution may be disappointed. A proliferation of individual piggybanks will not solve the deeper challenges that flow from having purchasing power ever-more concentrated in older hands. According to the United Nations, Europe’s population age

Officials say Dubai International Airport has seen 93.8 million passengers [in 2025], surpassing [2024’s] record. The rapid growth of passengers at the airport underscores Dubai as a key hub for East-West travel in global aviation and the need for its $35 billion project to build a massive five-runway airport at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. A real-estate boom and the city’s highest-ever tourism numbers have made Dubai a destination as well as a lay

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves further restricted access to abortion, limiting it to situations when the mother’s life is in danger. The country’s previous regulations also allowed abortions if a pregnancy posed a threat to the mother’s health. No legislative approval was required for the change. In making the rule change through the Health Ministry, Chaves made good on a promise he had given religious conservatives at the Evangelical Alliance. While abortion access ha

The United States is the biggest recipient of China’s lending activities globally, according to a study which tracked Beijing’s credit activities and found it is increasingly lending to higher-income countries over developing countries. The report, published by AidData, a research lab at U.S. university William & Mary, said China’s lending and grant giving totaled $2.2 trillion across 200 countries in every region of the world from 2000 to 2023. Beijing’s portfolio size is tw