Officially

Pacific nation is latest country to signal a shift away from its colonial past with return to its traditional nameThe Pacific Island country of Nauru has changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, its president said, matching the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.The country’s international code will change from NRU to NRO and its people will be known as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan. Commonly known abroad by the pronunciation of Now-roo, the new name is spoken as Now-ero. Continue reading...

• The United Nations has formally launched the global selection process to find a successor for the outgoing Secretary-General, António Guterres. • The search occurs against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical flashpoints and compounding global crises that are currently straining multilateral diplomacy. • This transition is critical as member states face increasing pressure to reform institutional governance to better address modern international challenges.

Environment Agency names seven regions affected by unusually hot and dry weather and shortage of waterHalf of England is officially in drought, with July set to be the driest on record after winter floods, the Environment Agency has said.The “flash drought” developed quickly because of unusually low rainfall and high temperatures. Continue reading...

• The official draw for the men's football competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, has been revealed. • The tournament is scheduled to take place from September 14 to October 3, 2026, featuring highly competitive group matchups. • Key groupings include Group A with host nation Japan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong; Group B with China, UAE, Iran, and North Korea; and Group C with Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and Kuwait.

• ASEAN nations are aggressively pursuing AI development, though they face significant local opposition, such as February 2026 protests in Gelang Patah, Malaysia, over data center water consumption. • Thailand is positioning itself as a regional hub, with Gulf Development pledging up to 140 billion baht over five years to increase data center capacity from 200 to 2,000 megawatts. • Major global players are fueling this growth, including Google's $1 billion investment in a Bangkok cloud region and partnerships with Microsoft and a Singtel-AIS venture.

• Sumerian Pictures has released the first official trailer for the upcoming comedy film *The Incomer*, starring Domhnall Gleeson. • The movie is scheduled to hit theaters this September, promising a "side-splitting" experience for audiences. • The narrative explores heavy themes including self-sabotage, the unstoppable momentum of history, and the destructive nature of the culture industry.

• OnePlus is reportedly preparing to officially shut down its operations in the United States and Europe later this week. • The move follows a period of decline marked by cancelled global product launches and internal mergers within parent company Oppo. • Evidence of the exit includes recent changes to the OnePlus website, where customers in several regions are being redirected to purchase from Oppo.