Media & Politics: Reuters reports that conservative pundit Philippe Bilger was removed from France’s CNews after he criticised Israel’s Gaza conduct and defended the judiciary’s conviction of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy—an example of how billionaire Vincent Bolloré is hardening the channel’s right-wing editorial line ahead of April’s presidential election. Public Health & Environment: Kenya hit a record pesticide high in 2024 (6,953 tonnes), with fungicides/bactericides leading; a separate report warns that more than two-thirds of pesticides are “highly hazardous,” raising risks amid surging illegal imports. Climate Risk for the Caribbean: CIMH and UWI Mona warn the region should prepare for a drought-and-heat crisis stretching into 2027 as strengthening El Niño drives hotter, drier conditions, with reduced rainfall and more hot-spell days expected across many islands. Global Data (Religion): Pew Research Center’s updated country-by-country religious map shows Christianity as the largest religion in 123 of 201 countries/territories and Islam leading in 54, with only two countries shifting their top group between 2010 and 2020.