International

An international team of scientists has developed a biodegradable material that could slash global energy consumption without using any electricity, according to a new study published today. The bioplastic metafilm – that can be applied to buildings, equipment and other surfaces – passively cools temperatures by as much as 9.2°C during peak sunlight and reflects almost 99 per cent of the sun’s rays.

As part of the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s Rebuilding the Economy: NT Economy Strategy 2025, Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill will lead a delegation to Malaysia to strengthen government-to-government ties and promote new trade and investment opportunities for the Northern Territory.

Premier Roger Cook and Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia are travelling to the UK for strategic talks about WA's internationally sought-after defence sector ... WA companies already manufacture vital parts of Australia's submarines and are working to enter the US Virginia-class supply chain. By strengthening ties with the UK, it's hoped they will also break into the Astute-class supply chain.

Teys Naracoorte facility, which currently employs 475 workers, will not experience any major changes to staffing levels following its recent acquisition by American food and protein industry giant Cargill ... the acquisition will have no "significant impact on roles" at the Naracoorte site, addressing concerns about potential workforce changes.

Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector has ambitions to emulate its UK counterpart’s planned doubling in size, after recording an 8.4 per cent increase in annual revenue. The latest National Mutual Economy Report (NME) … shows continued resilience by the sector against a backdrop of on-going global volatility and stabilising inflation.

A Queensland man, 63, is scheduled to face Cairns Magistrates Court today (18 June, 2025) charged with allegedly producing child abuse material in the Philippines. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched the man’s phone after he returned to Australia on an international flight at Cairns Airport on 25 December, 2024. 

Austinn Lane. Former Yorke Peninsula resident Tara Rawson has made history, becoming the deepest Australian female freediver and setting two national records at the AIDA Asian Freediving Cup in the Philippines last week.

The state’s food, wine and beverages have been showcased to international retail, food and hospitality business leaders at a special event hosted by South Australian Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs in Japan earlier this week.

Joe Lauria. The Australian government whistleblower David McBride is headed back to jail with no end of incarceration in sight. He is serving nearly six years for leaking documents to the media exposing Australian war crimes in Afghanistan. A three-judge panel at the Supreme Court in Australia's capital on 28th May spent less than one minute dismissing all appeals by David McBride ...

They did it. Organisers of the World’s Biggest Happy Dance were thrilled to see 468 people groovin’ to the song Dancing in the Street at Kyogle Showground yesterday, Saturday, June 14. The previous record for a happy dance in Singapore was 448.

Be part of the magic! LisAmore! 2025 Calls for volunteers and Italian car lovers. Get ready to immerse yourself once again in the vibrant atmosphere of Italian culture and community spirit. The Lismore Turf Club's parklands will be transformed into a bustling Italian festival for LisAmore! on Sunday 6 July 10am to 3pm.

The global grains and oilseeds trade continues to grow steadily and reached around 880 million metric tons in 2023/24, with an estimated value of USD 330 billion, according to Rabobank’s just-published global grains and oilseeds world map.

Global dairy commodity prices have continued to climb in most key exporting countries in recent months, defying expectations and economic headwinds. But ‘downside’ risks are expected to emerge in the second half of the year, Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has welcomed the arrival of Japanese frigate JS Yahagi to Darwin this week, reinforcing the Northern Territory’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific and strengthening defence and economic ties with Japan. Chief Minister and Minister for Defence NT, Lia Finocchiaro, said the visit highlights Darwin’s growing importance as a regional hub for defence cooperation, joint exercises, and security engagement.

Climate change has such a large negative impact on Ukrainian agriculture that it affects the country's macroeconomic indicators ... Farmers from all regions of Ukraine have sown 5.5 million hectares of spring grain and leguminous crops ... However, this spring cannot be called ordinary.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said he feared the Albanese Government was prepared to trade away Australia’s biosecurity advantage to appease the Trump Administration, after reports the Government had put beef imports on the negotiating table. Mr Littleproud said Australia’s strong biosecurity must remain a priority, instead of being used as a bargaining tool by Labor.

In many European countries right now - Spain, France, Hungary and Poland - farmers are just putting the finishing touches on planting their sweet corn. Similar plantings occur in other parts of the world - from South Africa to Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand - at a different time of the year. They have one key thing in common: they source their sweet corn seeds from Snowy River Seeds in Orbost.

John O'Donnell presents an analysis of town and city bushfire protection case studies where prescribed burning and other adaptive management and mitigation have assisted in restricting bushfire impacts on communities across Australia and the United States. His extensive review covers some 25 Australian and nine US fires.

Luke Terramadre. How does Italy’s elegant aperitivo culture compares to Australia’s casual pub drinks. When the clock strikes five, both Italians and Australians know it’s time to unwind, but how they do it couldn’t be more different.

On Sunday and Monday, August 31 and September 1, Donald will host the 2025 Lexus Cup during its five-month tour, beginning in New York, U.S.A., early this month. On May 29, the Victoria Racing Club was thrilled to unveil 36 destinations for the Cup tour at a special Launch event held at Flemington Racecourse.

In a year when the eastern states have either been drowning under floods or gasping through drought, and here in the west half the state has been left staring at a dry horizon, it seemed timely to stop watching the skies and start digging into the past ... What I aim to do is cut through the rising noise between the climate catastrophists shouting Armageddon and the hardened sceptics waving it all away, versus the climate fatalists like me—convinced that, whatever humans do, nature already has the final say—and put some facts on the table.