Documents reveal concerns over US company’s proposed gas fracking in WA’s Kimberley region

• Voters in four U.S. states are heading to the polls today to participate in primary elections. • A new report indicates that global conflicts have reached their highest levels since the end of World War II.

• A new report from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program reveals that global conflict levels have reached their highest point since World War II. • The data highlights a surge in one-sided violence in Africa, specifically citing massacres in El Fasher as a primary driver.

• One hundred days after the U.S. and Israel initiated military actions against Iran, civilians across the Middle East are facing severe hardships, including bombings, blackouts, and water shortages. • The conflict has triggered global economic instability, resulting in increased costs for food, transport, and fuel for populations worldwide.

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), reporting that global peace has reached a historic low. • This decline is attributed to the "Great Fragmentation," a geopolitical shift where middle powers are gaining influence while traditional European powers lose strength.

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), reporting that global peace has reached a historic low. • This decline is driven by a "Great Fragmentation," characterized by the rising influence of middle powers and the diminishing strength of traditional European powers.

• A Norwegian study released on Tuesday reports that the number of state conflicts reached its highest level since the Second World War in 2025. • The report highlights a concerning surge in attacks specifically targeting civilian populations.

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 2026 Global Peace Index on June 9, 2026, reporting that global peace has reached a historic low. • This decline is attributed to a record number of interconnected conflicts and a "Great Fragmentation" caused by the rising influence of middle powers and the waning strength of traditional European powers.

• Global conflicts have surged to their highest levels since World War II, according to data from Sweden's Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). • Senior analyst Shawn Davies notes a significant increase in interstate wars, which had previously been relatively rare for a long period.

• A study by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) reports that the world recorded 65 state-based conflicts in 2025, marking the highest number since 1946. • The report highlights a steep increase in civilian deaths globally, with the conflict in Sudan accounting for a significant portion of the rise.

• Geopolitical risk is emerging as a critical factor influencing global financial stability, as detailed in the June 2026 Bulletin. • These risks extend to organizational capacity, specifically threatening the stability of offshore teams and third-party service providers.

Pontiff appeals in Catalan for harmony on Barcelona leg of Spain tour after making football foes in cityTo the delight of many, Pope Leo XIV kicked off the Barcelona leg of his week-long visit to Spain with a few words in Catalan, calling on the faithful who had gathered in the city’s cathedral on Tuesday “to build harmony and communion beyond all polarisation”.The pontiff’s familiar and commendable plea for people to set aside their differences may, however, have come a little late. Three days earlier, while chatting to journalists on the flight to Spain, Leo had made an awkward confession. Continue reading...

People flee historic district of ancient city after airstrikes hit residential areas and damage archaeological sitesMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael has bombed the city of Tyre, killing eight and injuring at least 32 people, and struck dozens of other villages in south Lebanon as it issued forced evacuation orders for the historic Christian quarter of the ancient city for the first time.Israel struck the al-Masaken neighbourhood without warning on Tuesday morning, sending smoke plumes high above the city’s buildings and igniting fires. Further airstrikes were carried out across the city and a series of bombings hit Abbasieh, a village north of Tyre. Continue reading...