The EU has formally opened the first stage of accession negotiations with Ukraine. This comes two years later than planned, as former Hungarian PM Viktor Orban was blocking the process prior to his election defeat. The EU and Ukraine on Monday formally more...
ASIA: El Nino threatens livelihoods in Southeast Asia
Hotter, drier weather is impeding rice and palm-oil production as households across Southeast Asia struggle with higher fuel, food and transport costs. Southeast Asia is bracing for an extreme El Nino weather pattern as households and governments in the more...
Iran war: Pakistan announces US-Iran peace deal reached
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif has announced a peace deal between the US and Iran, with a signing ceremony on June 19. Sharif said both sides would terminate military operations, including in Lebanon. What you need to know Pakistan PM announces peace more...
AUSTRALIA: Woman critically injured in shark attack at Sydney beach
A woman, believed to be in her 30s, sustained critical injuries after being bitten by a shark off Sydney’s Coogee Beach, Australia. The woman is in critical condition in the latest in a spate of shark attacks in Australia. Police said the attack at Coogee Beach took place just after 11 a.m. local time (0100 more…
SPORTS: World Cup starts in Mexico City
Co-hosts Mexico and South Africa kick off the largest World Cup ever in Mexico City following the opening ceremony in the renowned Estadio Azteca. It marks the start of 39 days of action across the three countries Mexico, USA and Canada. The World Cup opening ceremony began at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on more…
COP31: Turkish-Australian presidency announces global “35% by 2035” electrification target as part of Climate Action Agenda
At the Bonn Climate Change Conference in Germany, COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum launched a new global electrification target — calling for the share of final energy demand met by electricity to rise from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035. A flagship target for the COP31 Presidency’s Climate Action Agenda Electrification target to raise more…
SPORTS: Why the 2026 World Cup is so controversial
The 2026 World Cup has come under fire even before kickoff. Criticism is mounting over US President Donald Trump’s travel bans, high ticket prices, the expansion to 48 teams as well as its environmental impact. The 2026 men’s World Cup will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. more…
NEW ZEALAND: International business events surging in 2026 – New MEETINGS conference
International business event delegate arrivals to New Zealand have surged in 2026, with arrivals in the first quarter up more than 50% year-on-year, and now close to pre-COVID levels, says the Business Events Industry Aotearoa. This year’s largest business events showcase MEETINGS opens in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week, where about 600 buyers will meet more…
MEDIA: Australia wants social media to be ‘safe by design’ – What does that actually look like?
When social media first went mainstream, it promised a new world of connection, information and fun. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and it’s become a world of addiction, political division, identity theft, deep fakes, stalking, and more. One in two Australian adults has experienced abuse online – and for women and gender-diverse people, that figure more…
