During a U.S. speaking tour, renowned primatologist and environmental advocate Jane Goodall passed away of natural causes in California on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91.

Goodall is globally recognized as a leading authority on chimpanzees. Beginning in the 1960s at Gombe National Park, Tanzania, she was the first to document chimpanzees using tools, displaying complex social behavior and emotional interactions, challenging traditional boundaries between humans and animals.

She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and launched the Roots & Shoots youth environmental program, now operating in multiple countries worldwide to encourage young people to participate in conservation and environmental issues.

Her legacy spans scientific contributions, advocacy for biodiversity, animal rights, and the future of the planet. Tributes have poured in internationally, with many noting her passing as a major loss for the environmental and scientific communities.

Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025, at least 29 U.S. citizens have applied for asylum in Australia, a significant increase compared to fewer than five applications per month in the latter half of 2024. This indicates that some Americans feel uneasy about the domestic political and social environment.

Most applicants have submitted an onshore protection visa (Subclass 866), which allows individuals who arrive in Australia on a valid visa to apply for asylum. According to the Department of Home Affairs, no applications have been approved yet. Asylum applications typically take months or even years to process, including identity verification, personal statements, and security checks.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) noted a recent surge in requests from U.S. citizens seeking asylum advice. While official data does not disclose the reasons, experts suggest that political polarization, social division, and threats to certain groups’ rights—particularly LGBTQ+ individuals—may be driving the increase.

At the same time, countries such as Canada and Ireland have observed similar trends. Experts remind that asylum is granted based on “current risk of persecution,” so even if some applicants filed before Trump’s second term, their cases are assessed according to present circumstances.

On September 29, 2025, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina announced the dissolution of the government, dismissing Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and appointing interim officials to stabilize the country. The move followed large-scale youth-led protests in the capital, Antananarivo, where demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing water and electricity shortages, inadequate public services, and rising living costs.

Reports indicate the protests, initially organized by youth groups, quickly spread across multiple districts. The demonstrations resulted in at least 22 deaths, over 100 injuries, and damage to public facilities. Protesters demanded improvements in infrastructure, more efficient public services, and accountability from officials.

President Rajoelina stated that dissolving the government aims to establish a more efficient administration and promised infrastructure reforms to address long-standing issues in water and electricity supply, roads, transportation, and other public services. He also called for calm and urged citizens to avoid further violent clashes. Observers noted that if the government fails to respond quickly to citizens’ demands, social instability could persist, further affecting the country’s economy and international image.