Vanuatu’s agriculture sector is set to take a major step towards commercialisation with the inaugural Vanuatu National Agriculture Expo, scheduled to take place on Maewo Island from 3 to 7 August 2026, following endorsement by the Council of Ministers (COM).

The Supreme Court has struck out a Judicial Review (JR) application filed by Gideon John Luie against the Government of Vanuatu after finding that the claimant repeatedly failed to comply with court rules and directions.

Twelve cartons of penicillin arrived in Luganville, Santo on Tuesday this week, ready to be sent to TORBA Province following the current shortage faced by its population.

Digicel Vanuatu is celebrating 18 years of operations in the country, marking a significant milestone in its journey of expanding telecommunications services and digital connectivity across the nation.

Visa-free travel to Australia and getting Vanuatu back on Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) ballot are among the aspirations people in Vanuatu hope to see realised as Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat is expected to lead a delegation to Canberra…

Trump warned an audience of religious conservatives that communism is spreading in the U.S., a new theme for his midterm campaign.

This tariff will supersede trade deals made with the country, whether implemented, signed, or not, US President said

The victims were two women - aged 80 and 90 in the Yamanashi and Kanagawa prefectures

According to the IRGC, the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and «the United States has no connection to it»

Rendez-vous vendredi 26 juin à 09h en direct sur Polynésie la 1ère.

Performance exceptionnelle pour la plus jeune surfeuse du Tour : Tya Zebrowski s'est inclinée en finale à la Rio Pro et termine ainsi 2e. A 15 ans, elle est désormais 15e mondiale et première Française, à une seule place du cut, le Top 14 Féminin.

NIS shareholders have been forced to sell their assets because they have come under US sanctions

The Russian defense ministry said earlier that on June 26, Russia had brought back 160 Russian servicemen from Ukrainian captivity, handing over 160 Ukrainian servicemen in exchange

The airline said that the report appeared to have been based on an old recording from one of its events

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint communique

According to the Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean, the ship was sailing under the flag of Cameroon from Primorsk

Danut Lazar, Cornel Alexandrescu and an unknown man broke into the stores in Blyth, Northumberland, before stealing nearly £45,000 in jewellery and stock.

Sherritt International Corp. is shutting down operations at its refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., after running out of the feed inventory it receives from its Moa mine in Cuba.

Winnipeg police say they have had more than 100 «interactions» and made two dozen arrests since the service ramped up patrolling in areas of the city affected by open drug use and trafficking earlier this week.

The alleged owner of a derelict former tugboat that was leaking oil in a rural harbour along Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore is being sued over cleanup and dismantling costs that the Canadian Coast Guard claims top $4.1 million.

A pilot landed on a rural Manitoba highway Thursday night after issuing an alert to emergency officials.

Daniel Senecal was arrested on Aug. 31, 2025, after police were called to a home in Welland, Ont., for a «medical assistance call involving a child.» The 26-year-old pleaded guilty this week in St. Catharines court to multiple charges.

The NATO Summit, taking place on 7-8 July 2026, will be hosted by Türkiye at Ankara's Beştepe Presidential Compound. This marks the second time that Türkiye hosts a NATO Summit, following Istanbul in 2004. The summit is expected to be a key moment for demonstrating Allied unity amid evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and calls for Europe to assume a stronger role in its security. Agenda items will likely include defence planning, spending targets, burden-sharing, and support for Ukraine. The summit will consist of a formal leaders' meeting and a parallel defence industry forum. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Migrant smugglers play a pivotal role in irregular border crossings into the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has experienced a significant rise in small boat crossings across the English Channel since 2020, prompting the British government to develop measures to address this new form of irregular migration. However, the UK's withdrawal from the EU (Brexit) in 2020 has complicated efforts to manage these crossings. The UK no longer has access to EU migration and asylum databases nor can it return asylum seekers to other EU countries without mutual agreement. While the EU has seen a decline in asylum applications between 2023 and 2025, the UK has not experienced a comparable decrease. The increase in small boat arrivals is attributed to several factors, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened border controls, and the commercialisation of the small boat route. These crossings have become the primary recorded method of irregular entry since 2020, accounting for 89 % of detected arrivals by 2025. This has sparked intense public and political debate and prompted calls for stricter measures. The UK government has introduced various measures to combat migrant smuggling, ranging from closer cooperation with some of the most affected EU countries, in particular France and Belgium, to funding for enhanced border controls and law enforcement cooperation. It has also launched initiatives such as the controversial Rwanda scheme. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable, with critics arguing that they do not address the root causes of migration and may even exacerbate the risks for migrants. The situation highlights the complex challenges of managing irregular migration in the post-Brexit era while seeking comprehensive and humane solutions that address both the immediate and underlying causes, including through access to more legal pathways into the EU and the UK. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Labelling is intended to help consumers make informed choices about the food and beverages they consume. In the EU, food information is primarily governed by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Yet alcoholic beverages remain partly exempt from standard labelling requirements, despite alcohol being linked to more than 200 health conditions and causing 656 deaths daily across the EU, which also has some of the world's highest consumption levels, with 77 % of adults consuming alcohol. Alcohol is also a major factor in injuries, road deaths, and premature mortality. Despite these risks, EU labelling rules remain limited. Ingredient lists and full nutrition declarations are mandatory only for wine. Other alcoholic beverages – above 1.2 % alcohol – are exempt. Some information, such as alcohol strength and certain allergens, must be displayed, but broader transparency is often voluntary or provided digitally. Recent reforms for wine require ingredient and nutrition information, partly via QR codes, signalling a shift toward greater disclosure. The World Health Organization advocates mandatory, standardised health warnings, including cancer risk information, to improve consumer awareness and reduce harmful consumption. Evidence suggests such labels can influence behaviour, though impacts vary depending on design and context. Calorie labelling is generally supported by consumers but shows mixed effects on purchasing and consumption. National approaches differ, with only a few EU countries mandating health warnings. Ireland is set to become the first country in the EU to require cancer warnings on labels from September 2028. Industry-led self-regulation has improved information availability, particularly for beer and spirits, but remains inconsistent. Overall, clearer labelling – combined with broader policy measures – can play a meaningful role in reducing alcohol-related harm, but stronger, harmonised EU action is still needed. This is an update of a briefing originally published in May 2025. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU has had a profound impact on fisheries relations in the North-East Atlantic. One of the most significant changes is the gradual transfer of EU fishing rights to the UK. This transfer is outlined in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which spanned the five years from 2021 to 2025, and is considered to represent 25 % of the value of the former EU27 landings from UK waters. We compare the fishing opportunities available to the EU in 2025 and 2026 — the first two years in which the transfer of fishing quotas was fully completed — with the theoretical quotas that would apply if the transfer of quotas had not taken place. In terms of volume, the pelagic species of herring and mackerel are most affected. In terms of value, demersal species, such as sole and Norway lobster, account for significant EU losses. As each Member State has a specific share of each stock, the loss of quota affects them to varying degrees. The transfer affects 13 Member States, but just seven bear almost the entire burden. A special case is north-east Atlantic mackerel, which is shared with several third countries. Since Brexit, the EU is no longer part of a quota-sharing agreement for this species. The sum of the fishing quotas set by all parties exceeds the scientifically recommended level, which is causing the stock to decline. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The World Health Organization (WHO) has had a central role in numerous health advances, including eradicating smallpox, driving the near‑eradication of polio, expanding childhood immunisation worldwide, and leading responses to global health threats such as HIV/AIDS and COVID‑19. Despite this, the United Nations (UN) specialised agency has faced persistent challenges, shortcomings and criticisms over decades. The agency has been limited by volatile, insufficient and distorted funding. Its complex governance and limited authority, compounded by political pressure, also compromise the agency's ability to carry out its mandate effectively. In addition, misinformation and disinformation have been obstructing the WHO's action. To address its systemic weaknesses and increase its capacity to overcome evolving challenges, the WHO launched its Transformation Agenda – an ambitious organisational change plan – in 2017. Although the WHO has successfully implemented many actions under its Transformation Agenda, owing to persistent structural weaknesses and newly arising challenges, the agency is still at a critical juncture. The second half of the 2020s is especially difficult for the agency. Following the United States' (US) withdrawal from the WHO, which was initiated in January 2025 and precipitated a sudden US$1.3 billion shortfall, 25 % staff reductions, loss of expertise and programme suspensions, historical vulnerabilities are now amplified to unprecedented levels. Moreover, declining investments in development assistance, including its health component, further intensify the financial pressure. The EU and the WHO enjoy a long-lasting strategic partnership. The EU supports the WHO's Transformation Agenda and contributes to a wide range of WHO programmes, focusing on areas such as UHC, strengthening health systems worldwide, health security, antimicrobial resistance, and enhancing laboratory capacities in Africa. Through its resolutions, the European Parliament has repeatedly expressed its strong support for the agency and called on the Commission and the EU Member States to comply with different WHO measures, initiatives and guidelines. Parliament supports the EU in seeking official observer status at the WHO. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

[FrontPageAfrica] Vice President Jeremiah Koung has announced President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's intention to seek a second term in the 2039 Presidential and Legislative Elections and said he will serve as the president's campaign manager.

[GroundUp] «I keep asking myself, 'Where is Ubuntu?»' says landlord

[allAfrica] Mombasa, Kenya -- The blue economy is a vital source of jobs, food security, and economic opportunity across Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region. Yet, by the admission of those driving its development, the region is still only beginning to tap into what its oceans, lakes, and rivers can truly offer.

India is set to develop its own design standards for future bullet train projects, aiming for 350 kmph speeds. Preparations are underway for seven new corridors spanning 4,000 km. This initiative will incorporate advanced design and construction practices, ensuring safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for high-speed rail operations across the nation.

Tamil Nadu's former chief minister MK Stalin remains non-committal on contesting a byelection to re-enter the assembly. Speculation links him to the Trichy East seat, vacated by his successor incumbent chief minister C Joseph Vijay. This comes as several other constituencies also face byelections due to AIADMK MLA resignations, potentially shifting allegiances to Vijay's TVK party.

The Election Commission is set to adjudicate a Trinamool Congress split, examining factional leadership claims and party constitution validity. Proceedings will involve assessing legislative and organizational strength, with a focus on adherence to party aims. The EC may freeze the symbol if an immediate poll looms, but no such urgency exists currently. Past disputes highlight the majority test as a decisive factor.

Yerevan may gain trade and access, but its outreach to Ankara risks pulling the South Caucasus into a deeper East-West clash Read Full Article at RT.com