Global Week in Review: Austen in Halifax, Bollywood controversy, Verona ticketing, IPL signing, and a new Mexican gecko
From Jane Austen celebrations in Canada to a contested Bollywood thriller and biodiversity updates in Mexico, this week’s international headlines span culture, sport, and science.
World News this week highlights milestones in culture, sport, and science from across the globe. In Canada, Halifax hosted celebrations of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, with teas, movie screenings, and a book event centered on The Austens, a project that traces the author’s ties to the Nova Scotia city where her younger brother served with the British Royal Army and where his wife, Fanny, lived from 1809 to 1811. Author Sarah Emsley, who spent 18 years researching the book, told CBC she was excited to share a story she has worked on for years.
In India, the political spy thriller Dhurandhar has drawn sharp criticism for historical misrepresentation. The film, released earlier this month, is set against India-Pakistan tensions, and critics contend it misportrays Karachi, Pakistan’s major city. The Pakistan People’s Party has filed a legal challenge, arguing the movie uses unauthorized images of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and depicts party leaders as supporters of terrorists. Popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh plays an Indian undercover spy in the film.
Italy’s Verona has begun charging visitors to view Juliet’s House, the 14th‑century building that inspired Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. Facing a surge in tourism, the city barred free access to the courtyard and requires visitors to purchase a $14 ticket to see Juliet’s House and Museum, a policy in effect until Jan. 6. The site features a balcony and a bronze statue dedicated to the doomed heroine.
In the sports world, Australian cricketer Cameron Green has become the most expensive overseas signing in Indian Premier League history. The 26-year-old agreed to join the Kolkata Knight Riders for $2.8 million at the league’s 2026 auction.
In Mexico, researchers confirmed a new gecko species native to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning Puebla and Oaxaca. The nocturnal lizard, named Phyllodactylus ngiwa and commonly known as the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley gecko, was first documented in 2020 and required five years of study to confirm it was distinct from the Upper Balsas gecko.
This week’s cross-border snapshots illustrate how culture, entertainment, sport and science intersect in public life, from literary anniversaries and cinematic debates to tourism policies and biodiversity discovery.
