Global economic growth is set to fall to 2.5% in 2026, the weakest since the pandemic, due to the US–Iran war and disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Even if tensions ease, inflation is expected to rise to 4%, while fertiliser prices may jump 38%, hitting food security. Most developing countries — except India and China — have failed to narrow the gap with rich economies for a decade. In a worst‑case scenario, renewed conflict could push global growth down to 1.3%. With developing‑world debt now at 70% of GDP, governments have little room to cushion shocks. The World Bank is preparing up to $100bn in support but warns that without regional trade reforms, clean‑energy investment and broader access to AI, global inequality will deepen.
Thailand has appointed two foreign legal experts to join UN conciliation proceedings over its long‑running maritime dispute with Cambodia. Phnom Penh triggered the UNCLOS mechanism after Thailand withdrew from a 2001 agreement governing negotiations over a 26,000 km² overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand, rich in oil and gas worth an estimated $300bn. Cambodia welcomed the move and has already named its own representatives. Arbitrators now have 30 days to select a chair and begin proceedings. Relations remain tense after last year’s border clashes that killed nearly 150 people and displaced more than 300,000, though a fragile ceasefire holds.
Fuel prices in Mozambique have surged — petrol by 12%, diesel by 46% — leaving dozens of fishing boats idle in Maputo. For one of the country’s poorest communities, the rising cost of fuel means lost income for fishermen and fish sellers who rely on daily earnings. Local leaders warn that global conflicts have direct consequences for vulnerable nations, where over 80% of people live on less than $3 a day. Economists expect a domino effect: higher transport costs, rising inflation and deeper strain on households. Many fishermen remain ashore, hoping prices stabilise and that a crisis thousands of kilometres away stops determining their survival.
In drought‑stricken La Calera near Bogotá, residents discovered that Indega — a Coca‑Cola Femsa bottling franchise — continued extracting spring water while households faced 15‑day rationing cycles. The company paid just 120 pesos per m³, compared with 697–3,720 pesos for residents. Backed by legal groups, activists exposed documents showing excessive pressure on local springs and launched a campaign to block concession renewal. The fight split the town: some defended the company for providing jobs, while activists faced threats, harassment and smear campaigns. In April 2026, authorities sharply reduced Indega’s water quota, number of springs and concession length — a rare environmental win in Colombia. But campaigners say the struggle to protect Chingaza’s water has only begun.
Cities worldwide are racing to adapt to increasingly intense heatwaves, with urban areas warming 10–15°C more than rural regions. Antalya expands green roofs, shaded zones and water points, while Teresina and Fortaleza invest in urban greenery, heat monitoring and support for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children and seniors. In Kenya, youth-led tree‑planting and solar micro‑grids power schools and clinics. Experts warn that heat is one of the biggest threats to modern cities, but smart planning and investment can significantly reduce risks and improve residents’ safety.
Since June 1, 2026, Malaysia has banned anyone under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on major social platforms. TikTok, Meta and YouTube must block underage users or face fines up to RM10 million. Implementation is proving difficult: age‑verification systems are weak, and teens easily bypass restrictions. Young people say they’ve lost their digital “third place”, while parents are divided — some welcome protection, others fear children will move to less regulated corners of the internet. Experts stress that limiting online spaces must go hand‑in‑hand with building safe offline spaces like parks and youth centres.
Thousands who fled drought‑stricken regions of Zimbabwe to the fertile Eastern Highlands now fear eviction. The government is cracking down on informal settlements, citing environmental protection and land‑use regulation. Many migrants say they are not land grabbers but climate‑displaced families who have farmed the area for years. With no national policy on climate migration, communities remain legally unprotected. Civil society groups urge authorities to legalise settlements and create frameworks that reflect the growing impact of climate change on internal displacement.
A major meta‑analysis of 69 studies and 153,000+ participants finds that calcium, vitamin D, or both together provide little to no meaningful benefit in preventing fractures or falls among older adults. Published in The BMJ, the review shows no significant reduction in overall fractures, hip fractures or fall rates — regardless of age, sex, prior injuries or dietary calcium. Researchers argue that routine supplementation guidelines should be reconsidered. Proven strategies such as balance training, resistance exercise and personalised fall‑prevention programs offer far greater benefits.
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At every France match during the World Cup, one press‑box seat remains empty — a tribute to French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, imprisoned in Algeria since 2025 on charges of “supporting terrorism”. Gleizes was arrested while reporting on JSK Tizi Ouzou and later convicted over contacts with an activist advocating Kabyle self‑determination. French media organisations and dozens of newsrooms demand his release, calling the sentence an attack on press freedom. His mother travelled to the tournament to raise awareness, while coach Didier Deschamps expressed hope that Gleizes will soon be free to ask his own questions again.
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