‘That’ll Be the End’: Actor Sam Neill Joins Fight to Stop Controversial Goldmine Near His New Zealand Vineyard
Actor‑winemaker Sam Neill is leading a campaign against Santana Minerals' proposed Bendigo‑Ophir open‑cast gold mine in Central Otago, a region famed for its pinot noir and tourism. The company has applied for fast‑track consent to extract an estimated $6.75 bn NZD (≈$4 bn USD) of gold, promising 357 direct and 500 indirect jobs. Opponents, including local environmental group Sustainable Tarras, warn the project threatens up to 650,000 native lizards, could damage the area’s pristine reputation, and poses seismic risks from a tailings dam. A decision is expected by year‑end, pitting economic growth against environmental stewardship.
Concerns Raised About Motorbike Tourist Trail After Death of British Teenager in Vietnam
A British teenager, 19‑year‑old Orla Wates, died after falling from a motorbike and being struck by a truck on Vietnam’s famed Ha Giang loop. The 350‑km mountain circuit attracts roughly 200,000 tourists each year, many riding as pillion passengers with local...
Japan Confirms Release of More Oil Reserves as Concern over Energy Crisis Grows
Japan announced it will tap roughly 20 days of oil from its strategic reserves in early May, marking the second release since the US‑Israel war on Iran began. The nation holds enough stockpiled crude for about 230 days, yet imports...
Why Is Anthony Albanese Visiting Singapore Amid Australia’s Fuel Crisis – and What Could Come From It?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Singapore ahead of schedule to discuss fuel security with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The leaders will focus on ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petrol, diesel and LNG amid a regional fuel crunch sparked...
Who Can Claim Victory if Iran Ceasefire Holds? An Early Winner Is China
The United States and Iran announced a ceasefire on April 7, 2026, and Beijing is being credited in Western media and Chinese outlets as a key mediator. Chinese officials publicly emphasized their role in de‑escalation, while analysts argue Iran’s concessions...
Timor-Leste Is Vulnerable to ‘Infiltration by Foreign Organized Crime’, President José Ramos-Horta Says
Timor‑Leste’s president José Ramos‑Horta warned that the island nation is vulnerable to infiltration by foreign organized crime. Australian Federal Police have deployed digital‑forensics and cyber experts to help local law enforcement after a December 2025 visit. A joint Guardian‑OCCRP investigation linked...
What Are the Health Impacts of Sea-Level Rise, and Who Should Pay?
The Lancet Commission on sea‑level rise health and justice was launched to examine how rising oceans threaten Pacific health systems, with 62% of facilities within 500 metres of the coast. Experts warn that saltwater intrusion, water‑borne disease, displacement and food insecurity...
‘There’s More to Life than Work’: Bangkok’s Young People Embrace Mass Outdoor Aerobics Sessions
Bangkok’s Lumphini Park evening aerobics have transformed from a modest senior‑focused activity into a bustling Gen Z phenomenon, now drawing hundreds of participants each night. The sessions feature eclectic playlists ranging from K‑pop to US hip‑hop, fueling viral clips on TikTok...
New Zealand Signs Defence Pact with Cook Islands After Quarrel over China Deal
New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a defence and security declaration, ending a year‑long diplomatic dispute sparked by the Pacific nation’s strategic partnership with China. The agreement restores regular security consultations and sees New Zealand resume roughly NZ$29.8 million (about $17.1 million)...
Japan Allows Divorced Couples to Negotiate Joint Custody of Children for First Time
Japan has amended its Civil Code to allow divorced parents to negotiate joint custody for the first time in over a century. The amendment permits couples to choose joint or sole custody and enables petitions to family courts to alter...
Manila’s Transport Workers Struggle to Make Ends Meet as Philippines Feels Force of Oil Crisis
Manila’s transport workers are feeling the brunt of a 60% surge in fuel prices, wiping out roughly a third of their earnings. The Philippines, which imports almost all its crude from the Middle East, declared a national energy emergency and...
The Nightmarish Sounds of Squid Game Composer Jung Jae-Il: ‘Having No Identity Very Much Defines My Identity’
South Korean composer Jung Jae‑il, famed for the discordant recorder motif in Netflix’s record‑breaking Squid Game, is leveraging his unconventional, improvisation‑driven style to dominate global concert stages. After sell‑out shows at London’s Barbican and Carnegie Hall, he will debut in...
Rising Petrol Prices Spell Chaos for Thailand's Farmers – Video
Thai rice farmers are confronting a sudden spike in petrol prices as the US‑Israel war against Iran disrupts Middle‑East oil supplies. The price increase adds roughly $0.30 per litre to diesel costs, eroding already thin profit margins. Thailand, which imports...
Dolphins, Stingers and ‘Salt Tongue’: An Epic Ocean Swim Around New Zealand’s East Coast
Ultra‑marathon swimmer Jono Ridler is 1,254 km (779 miles) into a world‑record, unassisted staged swim along New Zealand’s east coast. He averages 18‑30 km per day, battling jellyfish, hypothermia and extreme isolation while relying on two support boats for sustenance. Ridler uses meditative breathing...
New Zealand to Give Cash Payments to some Low Income Families as Global Fuel Crisis Worsens
New Zealand will begin a one‑year cash‑payment scheme on 1 April, giving roughly 150,000 low‑income families an extra NZ$50 (about US$30) per week to offset soaring fuel costs. The boost is delivered through an expansion of the in‑work tax credit and...
New Zealand Covid Response Among World’s Best but ‘Scars’ Remain, Inquiry Finds
A royal commission report released in March 2026 concluded that New Zealand’s Covid‑19 response was among the world’s most effective, crediting low death rates and aggressive elimination tactics. The inquiry focused on the 2021‑2022 shift from elimination to a suppression strategy,...