International developments include the conviction of 19 individuals in an Indonesian child trafficking ring that exploited economic hardship to sell babies for adoption. Tensions in the Middle East persist as a US-brokered plan for pilot safe zones in southern Lebanon faces skepticism, while the ongoing US-Iran conflict continues to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly through the mineral-rich Ituri province, complicating containment efforts. Historical surveillance techniques are showcased at the newly opened Trent Park House, a former WWII prison for German generals, while climate change impacts are increasingly visible in the melting glaciers of Mont Blanc. Finally, the rise of live shopping on platforms like TikTok is transforming retail, offering small businesses unprecedented reach despite significant platform fees.
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