Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged his country’s unwavering support for Israel in his first visit to the country since taking office in May. The trip comes two weeks after Germany resumed military exports to Israel, ignoring violations of the Gaza ceasefire.
Nearly 1,000 people have been killed, and close to one million displaced, Indonesia has said a week after torrential rains triggered catastrophic floods and landslides.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported late on Sunday that 961 people had been killed, with 234 people missing and about 5,000 injured across the Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra provinces.
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The agency also recorded damage to more than 156,000 homes, and 975,075 people had taken refuge in temporary shelters.
Floodwaters have begun to recede in several coastal districts, although large areas in the central highlands are still cut off, BNPB said. However, heavy rain is forecast for parts of the island in the coming days, raising concerns for displaced people.
Indonesia’s rainy season, which usually peaks between November and April, frequently brings severe flooding.
Environmental groups and disaster specialists have warned for years that rapid deforestation, unregulated development and degraded river basins have increased the risks.
Several other countries in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka and Thailand, have been hit hard by storms and floods in recent weeks.
The Asian Water Development Outlook 2025, published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday, warned that the impact of climate change on Asia’s water systems poses a risk to billions.
The research said accelerating ecosystem decline and funding shortfalls for investment in critical water infrastructure threaten to plunge many in the sprawling region into water insecurity.
That could jeopardise gains over the past 12 years that have seen more than 60 percent of Asia-Pacific’s population – about 2.7 billion people – escape extreme water insecurity, the report says.
“Asia’s water story is a tale of two realities, with monumental achievements on water security coupled with rising risks that could undermine this progress,” said Norio Saito, the ADB’s senior director for water and urban development.
“Without water security, there is no development,” Saito said, adding that the report showed that urgent action was needed to restore ecosystem health, strengthen resilience, improve water governance, and deploy innovative finance to deliver long-term water security.
The report said extreme weather events such as storm surges, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion, along with rising water-related disasters, threaten the region, which already accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s floods.
That includes the disasters that ravaged Indonesia and other countries in the region in recent weeks.
From 2013 to 2023, the Asia Pacific region experienced 244 major floods, 104 droughts, and 101 severe storms, causing widespread damage to life and property and undermining crucial development gains.
The report said accelerating ecosystem decline was also a serious threat to water security in the region, with rivers, aquifers, wetlands and forests that sustain long-term water security deteriorating rapidly.
It said water ecosystems were deteriorating or stagnating in 30 of the 50 Asian countries it looked at, as they face threats from pollution, unchecked development and the conversion of land to other uses.
Underinvestment in water infrastructure is another threat to water security.
Asian nations will need to spend $4 trillion for water and sanitation between now and 2040, an outlay of about $250bn a year, the report said.
The moment a deadly fire broke out at a nightclub in Goa, India, was caught on camera. The blaze killed at least 25 people, including four tourists. Authorities are investigating safety violations and the venue’s operators.
Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr became the first international journalist to enter Damascus as the city fell to opposition fighters. On the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime, her report looks back on a dramatic day that reshaped the future of Syria.
Fragrance enthusiasts can snap up a complimentary Moschino perfume gift set thanks to an ingenious deal combination. However, those keen to secure the freebie must act swiftly, as the offer is valid for today only (Monday, 8 December).
Available from The Perfume Shop, the Moschino Toy Eau de Toilette Spray Gift Set comprises four 5ml fragrances. The collection includes Toy 2; a fruity and fresh scent with ‘delicious’ notes of apple, mandarin, white currant and peony, Toy Boy; a floral musky fragrance, Bubblegum; a ‘fun and playful’ perfume with sweet and fruity notes of rose and bubble gum, and Pearl; an ‘effervescent marriage’ of sharp citrus and delicate jasmine.
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The Moschino collection has been reduced from £35 down to £19.99, representing a saving of £15.01 for beauty enthusiasts. Yet there’s now a way for customers to essentially obtain it without spending a penny through a smart cashback arrangement.
For a limited 24-hour period, TopCashback is providing members with the opportunity to make substantial savings on sought-after perfumes with 30% cashback at The Perfume Shop. First-time TopCashback members can secure an additional £15 welcome bonus on purchases over £15, meaning the Moschino Toy collection becomes effectively cost-free for them following cashback. Complete instructions on claiming this promotion can be located at the end of the page.
Customers have warmly embraced the set, awarding it a flawless five-star rating on the high street shop’s website. One reviewer, who headlined their feedback ‘beautiful set’ said: “Great set, amazing gift. Beautiful individual little bottles. Great quality. Great price.”
For those who’d rather not sign up to TopCashback, there are other fragrant bargains to be had on the high street. We found a deal at Boots on the YSL Libre Eau De Parfum 30ml, slashed from £72 to a more palatable £54.
Over at LookFantastic, savvy shoppers can nab the 50ml Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Glitter Eau de Parfum for half its original price. Once £105, it’s now just £52.50.
While the Moschino Toy perfume gift set hasn’t garnered any negative reviews on The Perfume Shop website, it’s worth bearing in mind that scent is subjective and what smells divine to one person might not to another. So, when shopping via TopCashback, consider your personal preferences.
The Moschino collection is described as having fruity, floral, sweet and citrus notes. If you’re after something a bit different, why not check out the Versace Miniatures via TopCashback for just over £2?
For new members of TopCashback and all customers of The Perfume Shop, the miniatures set effectively comes down to £2.24 after cashback (currently on sale for £22.99, RRP £39). There’s also a men’s collection which, like the women’s, effectively costs £2.24 after cashback for new TopCashback members (on sale for £22.99, RRP £39), reports the Liverpool Echo.