Tag: World

Australian Government Pledges $5.5 Million to PNG’s NRL Bid

The Albanese government has pledged $5.5 million (US$3.7 million) in support of Papua New Guinea’s bid for the next NRL license. Federal Minister for International Development Pat Conroy made the announcement during his visit to PNG this week and said the funds would be used to develop pathways programs. “Talent identification and player development are…


Armenia: Canada to Send Two Experts for EU Mission Seeking Peace in Nagorno-Karabakh

Canada is sending two officials to support a European mission that is aiming to prevent another war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The unarmed European Union mission in Armenia is a project involving a hundred civilian monitors who keep tabs on the security situation at the border with Azerbaijan. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has announced…


IN-DEPTH: Pressure From Climate Change Advocates Driving Big Changes in Travel Industry

Climate change supporters have the travel industry in its crosshairs, pressuring businesses like airlines, cruise operators, and other tourism sectors to adopt more eco-friendly practices. The heat is on—quite literally—at every level. Sources for this coercion range from global agencies like the United Nations and World Economic Forum to scientific researchers. From this, a civilian-led…


Government Borrowing Falls Unexpectedly as Tax Receipts Grow

The government borrowed less than expected last month, official figures show. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), public sector net borrowing hit £18.5 billion in June. It is a fall from May’s £20 billion and lower than expected by economists, who had forecast borrowing to hit £22 billion, according…


China, Russia Grow Their Spy Networks in Mexico to Potentially Target the US

As U.S.-China relations remain tense and the war in Ukraine drags on, officials warn that both the China and Russia are rapidly increasing the number of their intelligence agents in Mexico, with the possible goal of causing disruptions in the United States. “In recent months, a Chinese spy balloon crossed the U.S., a CCP [Chinese…


US, Japan Hold First Space Engagement Talks to Boost Cooperation

The United States and Japan hosted their first ever space engagement talks on July 18 to enhance combined space operations and tackle adversaries with “questionable intentions,” the U.S. Space Force stated. The space engagement talks were led by Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, a U.S. Space Force deputy chief of space operations, strategy, plans, programs, and…


Italian Police Net Record 5-tonne Cocaine Haul Off Sicilian Coast

ROME—Italian authorities have seized a record 5.3 tonne cocaine haul being transferred between ships off the southern coast of Sicily, police said on Friday. The consignment had an estimated value of 850 million euros ($946 million) and five people have been arrested, the Guardia di Finanza said in a statement. Police had been tracking a…


US Marines Deploy to Deter ‘Iranian Destabilizing Activities’ in Middle East

The United States will deploy marines and two amphibious warships to the Middle East in response to Iranian forces’ recent attempts to seize commercial ships in the region, the Pentagon said on July 20. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a Marine Expeditionary Unit consisting of USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall, and…


Tories Avoid By-election Wipeout but Remain in ‘Deep Electoral Trouble’

The Conservatives have lost two parliamentary seats in Thursday’s by-elections but unexpectedly retained Boris Johnson’s old constituency in a setback for the opposition Labour Party. The Tories—who are trailing in the polls following a series of scandals—lost two traditional safe seats to Labour and the Liberal Democrats respectively, but held on to the marginal Uxbridge…


Coutts Apologises to Nigel Farage After Bank Account Closure

Natwest’s chief executive, owner of the prestigious bank Coutts, has apologised to Nigel Farage and has promised a full review of the bank’s processes after a dossier said that his views “were at odds with our position as an inclusive organisation.” On Thursday, Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest Group, of which Coutts is part…