Malaysia has implemented new regulations for hikers following a rise in accidents and search and rescue operations. The country is now requiring mandatory guides at 189 high-risk hiking locations. Over half of Malaysia is covered in tropical forest, which has contributed to hikers becoming lost.
In Australia, environmentalists are urging the government to address a bird flu outbreak that is affecting the Little penguin population on Phillip Island. The island is home to over 40,000 penguins and is a significant tourist destination. Experts have warned that the virus could spread to other animal species if left untreated, potentially leading to mass deaths.
Meanwhile, in England, 97-year-old Betty Bromage has broken her own Guinness World Record for the oldest female wing walker. Bromage, a resident of Cheltenham, achieved this feat in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, one year after experiencing a stroke. She had previously set the record in 2022 at the age of 93.
Elsewhere, the National Autonomous University of Mexico is investigating a high number of perfect scores on its first online admissions exam. Suspicion of artificial intelligence use has led the university to require 58,000 students to retake the test, leaving all 160,000 applicants awaiting their acceptance status. In Canada, two women from Alberta's First Nations communities achieved top honors at the Miss Indigenous Canada competition. Brooke Metchewais of the Cold Lake First Nations was awarded first place, and Heather Wolf Ear of the Siksika First Nations was the runner-up. The competition evaluates contestants based on interviews, essays, cultural presentations, and community service documentation.