Nine of the top 10 mega-cities are in Asia, with Bangladesh’s Dhaka projected to be the world’s largest city by 2050.
A new United Nations report has found that Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is the world’s largest city with 41.9 million people living there, followed by Dhaka in Bangladesh, which is home to 36.6 million.
A low-lying coastal city located in the west of the densely populated island of Java, Jakarta rose from second place to replace Tokyo, which had been named the world’s largest city in the UN’s most recent assessment published back in 2000.
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The Japanese capital’s relatively steady population of 33.4 million saw it fall to third place behind Bangladesh’s densely populated capital, Dhaka, which jumped to second place from ninth and is now projected to become the world’s largest city by 2050.
The World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs also found that the number of megacities – urban areas with more than 10 million inhabitants – has increased to 33, four times more than the eight megacities that existed worldwide in 1975.
Asia is home to 19 of the world’s 33 megacities, and nine out of the top 10. In addition to Jakarta, Dhaka and Tokyo, the other Asian cities in the top 10 are: New Delhi, India (30.2 million); Shanghai, China (29.6 million); Guangzhou, China (27.6 million); Manila, Philippines (24.7 million); Kolkata, India (22.5 million); and Seoul, South Korea (22.5 million).
With a population of 32 million people, Egypt’s Cairo is the only city in the top 10 that is outside Asia, according to the UN.
Sao Paulo in Brazil, with 18.9 million people, is the largest city in the Americas, while Lagos in Nigeria also grew rapidly, making it the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa.
People cross the second Buriganga bridge on rickshaws and motorcycles in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 23, 2025 [Monirul Alam/EPA]
Still growing
Dhaka’s rapid growth has partly been driven by people from rural areas moving to the capital, searching for opportunities or fleeing hometowns due to problems including flooding and rising sea levels, made worse by climate change.
Jakarta is also facing problems due to rising sea levels. It is estimated that up to one quarter of the city could be under water by 2050.
The problem is so serious that Indonesia’s government is building a new purpose-built capital city in Nusantara in Borneo island’s East Kalimantan province. Yet while the city’s officials and parliamentary buildings will have a new home, the UN estimates that 10 million more people will be living in Jakarta by 2050.
The city’s growing population will also have to contend with concerns over inequality and affordability, which saw thousands of people take to the streets of the Indonesian city earlier this year, reflecting rising anger over the conditions of low-income workers, including app-based motorcycle ride-share and delivery riders.
Meanwhile, according to the UN report, Iran’s capital Tehran, which is facing water rations because it is close to running out of water, currently has a population of nine million people.
The new assessment also saw changes as the UN adopted new measures to try to address inconsistencies in how different countries defined urbanisation.
The UN also said that in most cases its report reflected the size of individual cities, rather than two cities that have grown together, with a small number of exceptions.
The new definition defined a city as a “contiguous agglomeration” of one-kilometre-square grid cells with a density of at least 1,500 inhabitants per square kilometre and a total population of at least 50,000.
A massive fire tore through more than 170 buildings in the Saganoseki district of Oita city on Japan’s southern coast on Wednesday, claiming one life and injuring at least one person. Military and firefighting helicopters were deployed to battle what is being described as the largest urban blaze in Japan in nearly half a century. Aerial footage showed homes reduced to rubble and thick plumes of smoke rising over the hilly district, which overlooks a fishing harbor famous for its premium Seki-brand mackerel. The flames spread to nearby forested slopes and even an uninhabited island over a kilometre offshore, likely driven by strong winds.
Why It Matters
The fire has devastated roughly 48,900 square meters about the size of seven soccer fields forcing 175 residents to evacuate to emergency shelters. Power outages have affected approximately 300 households. Given the scale of destruction, the incident represents the most severe urban fire in Japan since 1976, when a blaze in Sakata destroyed a similar number of buildings. Fires of this magnitude have significant humanitarian, economic, and infrastructural impacts, disrupting local life and commerce in the affected district.
The primary stakeholders are the residents of Saganoseki, many of whom have lost their homes or are displaced, and the Japanese government, which is coordinating relief efforts. Local authorities, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and Kyushu Electric Power are all actively involved in firefighting, evacuation, and restoring essential services. The incident also has implications for Japan’s emergency response planning and public safety policies.
What’s Next
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. The government has pledged maximum support to affected residents, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressing condolences and commitment to relief efforts. Recovery will involve rebuilding homes, restoring power, and ensuring the safety of residents while authorities assess measures to prevent future large-scale urban fires.
The head of the UN migration agency says more than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan because of the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The agency says humanitarian operations in North Darfur are on the brink of collapse.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The U.K. Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, is now carrying 24 F-35B fighters — the largest number of the jets to go aboard either of the U.K.’s two aircraft carriers, or any ship, for that matter. All 24 of the jets are British, a significant achievement for the British F-35 force, which has long faced questions about the feasibility of deploying a meaningful number of the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets at sea, without U.S. Marine Corps aircraft making up the numbers.
The Royal Navy announced today that the 24 British F-35Bs were aboard HMS Prince of Walesfor planned multinational maneuvers in the Mediterranean, called Exercise Falcon Strike. The service has not so far published photos showing all the jets on deck, instead posting imagery from Operation Highmast, the eight-month cruise that took the carrier to the Indo-Pacific region.
HMS Prince of Wales entered the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, around a week ago. Six additional British F-35Bs embarked in the carrier once it had arrived in the Med, flying from their base at RAF Marham in England.
A pair of F-35Bs landing on board HMS Prince of Wales during Operation Highmast in May 2025. Crown Copyright
As part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group, the conventionally powered HMS Prince of Wales is accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, the replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring, and several allied ships. A Royal Navy Astute class nuclear-powered attack submarine is normally also part of the Carrier Strike Group.
For Exercise Falcon Strike, the U.K. Carrier Strike Group is joined by the Italian frigate Luigi Rizzo, as well as Norwegian warships, for what are Italian Navy-led air and maritime maneuvers.
Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group, said that Falcon Strike is “a real demonstration of the warfighting readiness” of the group.
The British F-35Bs on the carrier are from the two frontline units, the Royal Air Force’s No. 617 Squadron and the Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron, as well as from the training unit, No. 207 Squadron, RAF, which serves as the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
Well done to everyone at Marham for making this happen. Whilst it did require the rather unprecedented deployment of the OCU to achieve a totemic milestone, it has readily demonstrated that our Carriers can be reinforced anywhere in the NATO region in a matter of hours. https://t.co/eIWNIyKkLX
It’s notable that, in the past, larger F-35B complements on U.K. carriers were assisted by detaching U.S. Marine Corps aircraft during these cruises.
For example, in 2021, HMS Queen Elizabeth deployed with a Marine Corps-augmented air wing. On that occasion, eight F-35Bs from No. 617 Squadron were joined by 10 from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, the “long.” This total is still smaller than the current F-35B complement for Exercise Falcon Strike.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B operates from HMS Queen Elizabeth during the U.K. Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment. Crown Copyright POPhot Jay Allen
The number of F-35Bs now on HMS Prince of Wales is also bigger than has been deployed aboard any amphibious assault ship by the Marine Corps. Back in 2022, the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) hosted 20 of the jets during a test of the “Lightning Carrier” concept. This is based upon essentially turning a big-deck “Gator Navy” amphibious assault ship into a light aircraft carrier, packed with F-35Bs.
A J-35 launches from the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian. PLAN
Having a larger number of F-35Bs on board the British carrier means that HMS Prince of Wales can contribute more to Falcon Strike, which also involves air assets from France, Greece, Italy, and the United States.
More importantly, a carrier deployment with 24 British F-35Bs is a major requirement for the declaration of full operating capability for the U.K. Carrier Strike capability, once planned for 2023, then delayed to the end of this year. A 24-aircraft total is the minimum required for this declaration, with the Queen Elizabeth class having the capacity to embark more jets, if required.
The move toward full operating capability is also welcome, considering recent criticism of the British F-35 program.
Last week, the U.K.’s Public Accounts Committee released its latest report on the program. Among others, this highlighted the effects of a lack of overall investment in the program. According to the report, cost-cutting measures have had an adverse impact on the F-35B’s capability, availability to fly, and value for money.
To date, the United Kingdom has only placed firm orders for 48 F-35Bs. The previous Conservative government confirmed it was negotiating to buy another 27 F-35Bs for delivery by 2033. However, this batch of 27 jets will now be divided between F-35As (12) and F-35Bs (15). The conventional takeoff and landing F-35A offers a number of advantages, including being cheaper, possessing a bigger weapons bay, having a nuclear capability, and improved performance in many scenarios. However, it cannot embark on a carrier.
Most analysts consider that many more than 48 F-35Bs would be required to meet the ambition of 24 jets available for the baseline Carrier Strike mission, across two carriers, as opposed to just one. Considering training and other demands, a figure of 60-70 jets is generally thought to be reasonable. It is for this reason that U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs have been relied upon to make up the required aircraft numbers during carrier cruises.
Officially, at least, the U.K. Ministry of Defense says that it still expects to procure 138 F-35s over the lifetime of the program. However, this total now includes at least 12 F-35As. Having a smaller pool of F-35Bs will also put more strain on the fleet of STOVL jets that are required for missions aboard the carriers.
“The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham, with the Government expected to procure 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme.” Everything else aside, this is about as clear a commitment to the UK’s full programme of record as you’re ever going to get……
Whatever the final F-35B numbers, the Royal Navy is increasingly looking to the potential of uncrewed aircraft to bolster its carrier air wings. The Royal Navy hopes that a combination of drones and long-range weapons will help to make a more balanced ‘hybrid carrier air wing,’ as you can read about here.
In 2023, the Royal Navy revealed details of its plan to fit its two carriers with assisted launch systems and recovery gear, enabling operations by a variety of fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft and, potentially, also conventional takeoff and landing crewed types.
“We are looking to move from STOVL to STOL, then to STOBAR [short takeoff but arrested recovery], and then to CATOBAR [catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery],” Col. Phil Kelly, the Royal Navy’s Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation, told the Combined Naval Event conference in 2023. “We are looking at a demonstrable progression that spreads out the financial cost and incrementally improves capability.”
A General Atomics rendering of a catapult-equipped HMS Prince of Wales with a Gambit-series drone ready to launch. The rendering also depicts an air wing that includes carrier-capable MQ-9B drones fitted with a STOL kit, as well as F-35Bs. GA-ASI
By the time a British carrier makes its next scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific, planned for 2029, the Ministry of Defense hopes that it will include some kind of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This aspiration was laid out by First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins earlier this year, when he said he wanted to “launch the first jet-powered collaborative platform drone as a concept demonstrator off a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier” before the end of 2026.
Nevertheless, for the foreseeable future, the F-35B remains the cornerstone of the carrier air wing’s strike capability. Putting the largest number of the stealth jets on a Royal Navy carrier is a visible demonstration of the aircraft’s central role and underscores the British F-35Bs’ progress, despite lingering concerns over final aircraft numbers and other criticisms of the program.
MOST childhoods for Brits were made up of reading books like The BFG, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Next year, you’ll be able to experience some true nostalgia as a new museum showcasing the work of famed illustrators, like Sir Quentin Blake, will open in the UK.
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The new House of Illustration will be in ClerkenwellCredit: Tim Ronalds ArchitectsSome of Quentin Blake’s own work will be shown in the museumCredit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire
Sir Quentin Blake is well-known for illustrating lots of Roald Dahl’s books, as well as his own like the Mrs Armitage series.
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open in May 2026, and it’s an attraction that has been 20 years in the making.
On the project, Sir Quentin said: “I have long dreamt of a permanent place with ‘illustration’ above the door, and now the amazing reality is that we have it.
“I am proud to think the centre has my name on it – illustration is a wonderful universal and varied language.
“Here we shall celebrate its traditions and welcome the astonishing diversity of visual language from across the world. Hurrah!”
Once open, the museum will have exhibitions that will feature rarely-seen works from all over the world.
Original illustrations from leading and emerging illustrators, including work loaned from Quentin Blake’s own archive, will be on show.
There will be open spaces and a cafe for visitors to grab a bite to eatCredit: Tim Ronalds ArchitectsOn-site will also be a gift shop full of illustrated goodiesCredit: Tim Ronalds Architects
Also on the site will be free spaces, including public gardens, displays and an illustration library.
You can take a seat at the café which will serve up fresh food and drinks, and there will be a shop stocked with illustration gifts.
There will be illustrator residencies in London‘s oldest surviving windmill which is also on the old waterworks site in Clerkenwell.
Other events at the museum will be illustration workshops and learning programs.
Previously, the House of Illustration was in Granary Square from 2014 to 2020.
THE UK’s biggest one-day Christmas market is to return in just a few weeks after it was abruptly cancelled last year.
Thousands are expected to attend the event in a historic market town.
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Stalls in Beverley will once again be brimming with seasonal gifts and local treats
Shoppers will be able to choose from 120 stalls set up in the centre of Beverley in Yorkshire next month after council officials confirmed the event would be back in place this year.
Stalls at the Beverley Festival of Christmas will once again be brimming with seasonal gifts and local treats.
There will also be live entertainment, music and dancing – and, of course, an appearance from Santa and his reindeers – as well as birds of prey on display, and traditional brass bands.
The event had to be cancelled at the last-minute in 2024 after Storm Darragh caused chaos across the UK last year.
Locals and visitors were left disappointed after council officials took the decision to cancel the market in the run up to the event after 34 flood warnings were issued across the country and a cold weather health alert was put in place.
At the time, a spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the event, which was established in 1995 by local shop owner John Bird, had involved six months of planning and the decision to cancel “had not been taken lightly”.
Announcing its return for 2025, councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure at the council, said the event is “the flagship tourism event for our region and is an important date in the calendar for businesses and traders”.
‘Hugely popular’
He added: “It is always a hugely popular event, with visitors from all over the UK coming to enjoy the festive stalls and entertainment.
“The event will also provide a welcome boost to the local visitor economy at such a wonderful time of the year.”
The council said that Beverley’s historic centre will be “transformed into a magical Christmas shopper’s wonderland” for the event.
News of its return has prompted an outpouring of support and excitement with hundreds of locals and visitors commenting on Facebook.
One person posted: “I cannot wait to stand in this market. So excited.”
Another person wrote: “We will be there.”
A third person said: “Can’t wait. This is one of our fave Christmas markets.”
A fourth person was equally excited at the news the market is to return, posting: “Love Beverley. Nice place.”
A fifth said: “Will defo have to go!”
The festival will again be sponsored by The Beverley Arms, part of hospitality company Thwaites.
Rick Bailey, chairman at Thwaites, said: “We’re so proud that The Beverley Arms is once again part of The Beverley Festival of Christmas, it’s such a special celebration that brings the whole town together, showcases the very best of Beverley, and captures the true spirit of the season.”
This year’s event will run from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, 14 December.
Also making a return to Beverly this year is the Reindeer Rampage Christmas Trail, which is running from 1 November to December 31.
This is a popular event in the town with locals and visitors asked to find Santa‘s reindeer, which are “hiding” in shop windows in Beverley.
You can pick up a free map and reindeer mask from the Tourist Information Centre on Cross Street and find out more detailshere.
The market itself will take place over several areas in the town, including Saturday Market, and will also feature a parade to mark the start of the festival.
The parade will leave from Wednesday Market when the event opens at 10am and it will move down Toll Gavel to Saturday Market.
Taking part in the parade will be feature Santa Claus, Rudolph and the rest of his reindeer, live music, comedy acts, steam punks, Bernese mountain dogs and much more.
This year’s event will take place on 14 December in Beverley
LOVE a buffet but fancy something a little more luxury? Well, we’ve found the spot perfect for that with the world’s biggest buffet just a few hours from the UK.
Les Grands Buffets in the south of France is so in demand that it often has a seven-month waiting list.
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The world’s largest all-you-can-eat buffet is located in Narbonne, FranceCredit: AlamyIt often has a seven-month waiting listCredit: AlamyThe luxury buffet dates back to 1989 and welcomes 400,000 people a yearCredit: Alamy
The luxury buffet dates back to 1989 and welcomes 400,000 brave diners each year.
That’s around 600 people each day, for lunch and dinner.
Whilst not exactly your budget buffet, it isn’t too outrageously priced either at €65.90 (£57.38) per person.
The inside of the restaurant is so vast that visitors are handed a map upon entering – there are four dining rooms in total.
One of the rooms – called Salon Dore Jean de la Fontaine – was created by the same people who restored the Palace of Versailles, so as you can imagine, is pretty extravagant.
In fact, around 18,000 gold leaves have been added to the finishings in the room.
Another – the Tente d’Apparat Jean-Baptiste Nolin – is a tented room that pays tribute to Louis XIV.
If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can even weigh yourself before and after to see how much food you have consumed.
All of the food served at the buffet is inspired by 19th century chef Auguste Escoffier, who is often considered one of the masters of traditional French cuisine.
In total, there are 150 entrees, main courses and desserts at the buffet.
One section of the restaurant is a seafood buffet, with dishes including a royal seafood platter, fish soup and smoked salmon.
Bottomless lobster is also available.
At the foie gras buffet, guests can help themselves to a range of different duck foie gras, including ones with pepper or creme brulee.
Then there is also a pâté en croûte buffet and a cooked meat and terrine buffet.
For main dishes, guests can enjoy a range of options such as veal, snails,a roasted leg of lamb, scallops, quail stuffed with foie gras, suckling pig on a spit, omelettes, salmon, beef fillet, beef stew, onion soup, squid, wild boar stew, gratin dauphinoise… The list goes on.
Les Grands Buffets is home to the largest cheese selection in the world, in a restaurant with over 100 varieties of cheese.
When it comes to sweet treats there is a cake section, with a towering chocolate fountain.
The restaurant is so vast, that guests are handed a mapCredit: http://www.lesgrandsbuffets.comIn total, there are 150 entrees, main courses and desserts at the buffetCredit: Alamy
Classic desserts make an appearance as well, such as creme caramel and black forest gateau with candied cherries.
Flamed desserts are available too, like crepes, rum bananas and baked Alaska.
The restaurant has over 32,000 reviews on Google, equalling an average rating of 4.5 stars.
One recent visitor said: “You don’t come here just for the food.
“It’s about the whole experience which is totally ridiculous and fun.
It also has the world’s largest cheese selection in a restaurantCredit: AFP
“While it wasn’t the best buffet food I’ve ever had, the showmanship and atmosphere really do make up for it.”
Another added: “It is a feast for once in a lifetime.”
The restaurant is located in Narbonne, a town in south France on the Canal de la Robine.
If visiting, the town has some other lovely spots to explore such as the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Just et Saint-Pasteur, which started construction back in the 13th century but was never finished.
For some history, head to the Archbishop’s Palace which is home to a number of archaeological and art museums.
And if it is sunny, you can explore Plage de Narbonne beach which has golden sand and clear waters.
One of the world’s most expensive buffets is in the UK
THE Sun’s assistant travel editor, Sophie Swietochowski tried out one of the world’s most expensive buffets and here is what she thought.
The Grove Hotel inHertfordshirewent viral earlier last year whenTikTokfoodies discovered its Glasshouse restaurant where everyone dines en masse, but in five-starluxury.
Costing a whopping £82 per person at the weekend, there is certainly enough to choose from.
After several, overly-generous spoonfuls of caviar, a few servings of beetroot-cured salmon and seven superbly crafted sushi rolls, decorated with dainty herbs, I felt I’d made a good dent in “getting my money‘s worth” – a statement that had been thrown back and forth between my buffet partner, Mum, and I.
The shellfish section was part of one of 10 dining areas at the buffet.
There was a sushi station with hand-made California rolls placed delicately alongside huge tubs of wasabi and seaweed salads.
If all this isn’t enough to wrap your head around, you can also order directly from the chefs, doting on each station, when there is something in particular that you fancy that isn’t on display.
The desserts – including achocolate fountainand fruit for dipping, rows of perfectly wobbly creme brûlées and a freezer containing all manner of ice cream flavours – are in a section on their own, so you don’t even need to ponder those choices until you’ve satisfied your savoury stomach.
