Around The world

GT keeps the newswire ticking by bringing you news from around the globe

USA
PIO NYC mayor 

Zohran Mamdani, 34, has won the New York City mayoral election, paving the way for him to become the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of the country’s biggest city. The Democrat surged to victory with the promise to tax millionaires. During campaign, President Donald Trump threatened to cut NYC’s federal funding if Mamdani won over independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Born in Uganda to parents of Indian descent – filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, he will be NYC’s youngest mayor since 19th century.

CANADA
Indian visa applicants hit
 
The country has refused most study permit applications from Indian students, citing fraud concerns. In August 2025, roughly 74% of Indian applicants were rejected, up from 32% in August 2023. By contrast, the overall rejection rate for all study permits sat at around 40%, and about 24% for Chinese applicants. This crackdown follows findings of thousands of fraudulent letters of acceptance, many from India, prompting Canada to tighten verification and financial requirements. The number of Indian applicants also dropped sharply, from 20,900 in August 2023 to just 4,515 in August 2025.

INDIA
Women’s ‘1983 moment’

The team led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur made history by winning the country’s maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on November 2, 2025. Batting first, India posted 298/7, powered by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s 58 runs. Sharma then took five wickets for 39 runs as South Africa were bowled out for 246. Sharma was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ for scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets – the finest all-round performance, men’s or women’s, in World Cup history. The victory has been dubbed ‘India’s 1983 moment for women’s cricket’.

EGYPT
Grand Museum opens

After two decades of delays and a one billion USD cost, the Grand Egyptian Museum finally opened its doors to the public. Regarded as the world’s largest archaeological facility for a single civilisation, it is located two km from the pyramids of Giza. The complex spans nearly 500,000 sqm and houses over 100,000 ancient artefacts, including the complete treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

CHINA
Daily cooking in space

Astronauts have cooked chicken wings and steak in orbit using the world’s first oven designed for daily cooking in space. Installed on the China Space Station, the oven allows oil-free grilling and can run 500 times safely. Earlier, the International Space Station tested baking cookies in 2020, but only as an experiment. Experts call China’s device a major step toward improving astronauts’ stay and making it more home-like.

AUSTRALIA
Solar power push

The government will soon offer households three hours of free solar power each day under a new ‘Solar Sharer’ scheme starting in 2026. The plan aims to cut electricity bills and ease pressure on the grid during peak solar hours. Four million households have rooftop solar panels on their homes. Energy minister Chris Bowen said the plan promotes cleaner, cheaper energy, though critics warn it could cause price shifts outside free hours.

NEW ZEALAND
No more Maori in schools?

The government has said it will remove the legal requirement for schools to incorporate Maori culture in their curricula as required under the Treaty of Waitangi, an 1840 deal between the Indigenous tribes and the British Crown. Education minister Erica Stanford argued that the clause did not boost outcomes for Maori students, and it was unfair to  schools. Critics warn the change risks damaging social cohesion.

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