Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) — China Southern Airlines flight CZ3083 with 145 passengers on board took off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China’s Guangdong Province on Wednesday for Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking the official opening of a direct air route between the two cities by the Chinese carrier.
The new route will be operated by Boeing 737-8 aircraft in both directions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the Chinese news agency Zhongxinshe reports.
With the addition of this route to the schedule, China Southern Airlines’ fleet now operates a total of 26 direct round-trip flights per week, connecting Almaty with airports in Guangzhou, Urumqi (the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China), Xi’an (the capital of Shaanxi Province in Northwest China) and Beijing Daxing Airport.
Let us recall that 2024 was the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China, and 2025 has been declared the Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan. The opening of the new airline will facilitate business and tourism exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, the report notes.
In addition, as previously reported, China Southern Airlines will also launch a Guangzhou-Tashkent flight on June 30. The carrier’s network of flights on air routes between China and Central Asia continues to expand. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) — Xinhua News Agency Director-General Fu Hua met with a delegation of Azerbaijani media in Beijing on Wednesday.
Fu Hua said that Xinhua and the Azerbaijan State News Agency signed a cooperation agreement in April. Xinhua is ready to work with Azerbaijani media to tell stories about the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Fu Hua expressed hope that the media of the two countries will strengthen cooperation in news coverage, technology and personnel exchange.
Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency Akhmed Ismayilov stated that the Azerbaijani side is ready to implement important agreements reached by the heads of the two countries together with Xinhua and achieve new successes in media cooperation. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BAGHDAD, June 26 (Xinhua) — Two militants of the Islamic State (IS) group were killed on Wednesday during a military operation in northern Iraq, the Iraqi counter-terrorism service said in a statement.
Acting on intelligence, counter-terrorism forces ambushed militants in a remote area of Kirkuk province.
The counter-terrorism service will continue to fight terrorism in all corners of Iraq, the statement said.
While Iraq declared victory over ISIS in 2017, remnants of the group continue to carry out attacks on security forces and civilians in cities, deserts and remote areas. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)
Headline: Moolenaar Statement on American Strikes on Iran
Congressman John Moolenaar released the following statement on the American strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities:
“President Trump has been consistent. A nuclear Iran poses a threat to our nation, our military personnel, and our allies in the region. His decision to strike Iran is necessary to keep our nation and our allies safe, and ensure the number one sponsor of terrorism does not develop nuclear weapons.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)
Headline: Moolenaar, Walberg, Bergman Introduce Legislation to Protect Line 5
Today, Congressman John Moolenaar introduced legislation to ensure Line 5 remains open to provide low-cost energy for Michigan residents. The Line 5 Act would prevent future administrations from shutting down the international pipeline. Moolenaar’s legislation is cosponsored by Congressmen Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Jack Bergman (R-MI).
“Line 5 is a vital source of energy for Michigan families. Unfortunately, the previous administration did not recognize its value to our state and fought to shut down the pipeline with bureaucratic red tape. Thankfully, the Trump administration has worked to ensure Line 5 remains open to serve Michigan residents. The Line 5 Act is a commonsense, two-page bill, which will stop future administrations from reversing the progress made by President Trump’s administration on Line 5, so Michigan families can count on it to affordably heat their homes,” said Congressman Moolenaar.
“Michiganders rely on Line 5 for a safe, secure, and reliable supply of energy to heat their homes and power our local economy,” said Rep. Walberg. “While the Trump administration has shown its steadfast dedication to securing American energy reliability, it is vital that we prevent future presidents from shutting down this safe and essential pipeline. Energy security is national security, and we must protect our critical energy infrastructure.”
“Line 5 is critical to Michigan families and our way of life. No president, regardless of their party – should have the power to shut it down with the stroke of a pen. Line 5 keeps energy affordable, supports thousands of Michigan jobs, and helps fuel our economy. This bill is about putting common sense and stability ahead of political agendas,” said General Bergman.
Approximately 320,000 households in Michiganrely on propaneto heat their homes. Line 5 provides 55% of the state’s propane supply.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)
Headline: Moolenaar, Dingell Legislation to Stop Deadly TB Outbreaks Passed by House
Today, Congressman John Moolenaar and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s bipartisan legislation, the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act, was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make reforms regarding the screening of tissue donation materials, conduct education campaigns, and impose penalties on tissue providers who fail to prevent tuberculosis outbreaks.
The lawmakers introduced the bill in honor ofShandra Eisenga, of Marion, who passed away on August 10, 2023 due to a tuberculosis infection. Eisenga was one of 36 patients in seven states to contract TB after receiving a bone graft containing infected tissue donor material.
“I am grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan support for our legislation honoring Shandra’s legacy. This bill will help prevent TB infections from bone grafts and save families from experiencing the pain and sadness that Shandra’s family has tragically endured. Our legislation accomplishes this by ensuring the FDA requires screening for TB and holds tissue suppliers responsible for infections they spread. I will continue my work in Congress to ensure this commonsense legislation is signed into law,” said Moolenaar.
“Shandra Eisenga’s death was a preventable tragedy, and we owe it to Shandra, her family, and every other patient who has been affected by contaminated bone grafts to ensure we’re doing everything possible to prevent future cases like this,” said Dingell. “As someone who had multiple bone grafts after osteomyelitis, I was never warned about the dangers. We must do more to educate patients, make sure they are aware of the risks of human cell and tissue product transplants, and implement additional safeguards to protect patients from the dangers of these infections. I’m thankful to Congressman Moolenaar for his partnership, to the University of Michigan doctors who brought this issue to our attention, and most importantly, to Shandra’s family for their tireless advocacy. I am optimistic this legislation will pass the senate and be signed into law.”
Moolenaar with Shandra Eisenga’s family, in December 2024.
The text of the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act can be found here. Moolenaar spoke during the debate of the legislation on the House floor about Shandra’s tragic story and the need for reform. Moolenaar’s remarks can be viewedhere.
Porirua City Council today officially adopted the Te Puna Kōrero committee recommendations made earlier this month around the city’s budget and rates, and the preferred water services delivery model.
The Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year was agreed, with an average rates increase of 6.39 per cent, significantly lower than previously budgeted.
When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year’s rates increases had hit 15 per cent, due to cost pressures.
Council acknowledged this wasn’t sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent.
After public consultation on five options to further lower the increase, Council agreed to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council’s building consent hourly rate.
They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme.
With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties will be 6.39 per cent. For most properties, this equates to around $6 or $7 extra per week.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said while nobody wanted to see rates go up, she was confident that the Council had done everything possible to keep increases as low as possible.
“We know the community is struggling, which is we have done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts, that got us to a lower number than planned. We could have done further cuts, but we listened to your feedback and were guided by that.”
Water Services preferred delivery model
Council also agreed to the committee recommendation of 5 June to jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Mayor Baker said this was another milestone decision for Porirua as we continue to progress towards implementing the Local Water Done Well Policy.
“Public consultation undertaken in March and April strongly supported a jointly owned water organisation, and this decision today enables Porirua to continue working with our neighbouring Council towards the stand up of the water company in 2026.”
Council also agreed today to delegate Mayor Baker and Councillor Ross Leggett, as her alternate, (as the Council’s representative on the Advisory Oversight Group) the power to make decisions on two establishment activities.
This delegation will enable the next phases of work to continue during the new company’s establishment phase. It will remain in place until later in the year when a new shareholders committee will be set up and will take over the governance level decision making.
Updated rules on keeping animals and the sale and supply of alcohol in Porirua will be coming into force.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025 and Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2025 have been recently officially ratified by Mayor Anita Baker and Porirua City councillors, following on from consultation (December 2024 to this March) and deliberations and hearings in May.
The updated LAP aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in our city, particularly in some of Porirua’s most vulnerable communities, while balancing growth in the city and the hospitality industry’s needs. After input from the public, health officials, licensing inspectors and police, the policy will manage where and when alcohol can be sold and promotes responsible drinking. New LAP rules include:
off-licence premises like bottle stores, grocery stores and supermarkets can only sell alcohol between 9am-9pm
no new off-licences are allowed in vulnerable areas without very good reason (Porirua East, Titahi Bay, Elsdon, Takapūwāhia, Kenepuru and the city’s CBD)
all licences within 100 metres of a sensitive site, such as schools and drug/alcohol treatment centres, will need to do an impact assessment for a new licence or an application to renew.
The LAP comes into effect on 18 July, except changes to the off-licence hours, which will take effect on 5 January, 2026.
The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025, meanwhile, has updated rules to help prevent mess, noise and nuisance by domestic animals in Porirua.
It includes new rules for cats (requiring owners to desex, microchip and register their feline), stock, and poultry, as well as new rules for beekeepers.
Dogs are already governed by the Dog Control Bylaw.
A new IHC report reveals that New Zealanders with an intellectual disability are twice as likely to live in hardship or severe hardship compared to the rest of the population.
IHC Advocate Shara Turner says the report, The Cost of Exclusion: Hardship and People with Intellectual Disability in New Zealand, shows this is a deep, systemic issue.
“The cost of disability is real and it’s falling entirely on individuals and families who are often excluded from work, transport and even food.
“It is not acceptable that people with intellectual disabilities can’t afford a healthy diet.
“It’s also unacceptable that this is not part of national conversations on poverty.
“We need to include intellectual disability in all poverty tracking and public reporting. We need to adjust income support to reflect the true cost of disability and to build joined-up systems that recognise the long-term, cross-sector disadvantage disabled people experience.”
The report shows that people with intellectual disability face significantly higher rates of hardship at every stage of life:
Hardship is twice as likely for people with an intellectual disability under 40 and almost three times as likely for those aged 40-64 compared to others Severe hardship rates triple in middle age, even as they decline for the rest of the population Nearly 50% of people with intellectual disability cannot pay an unavoidable bill within a month without borrowing (vs. 18% of others) They are over four times more likely to go without a meal with meat (or vegetarian protein equivalent) every second day They are almost three times more likely to cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables due to cost Nearly 30% of children with intellectual disability can’t have fri
Tasmania Police has charged a man from southern Tasmania with child sexual abuse offences, including five counts of rape, as part of an ongoing investigation.The man, aged in his 50s, was previously charged in December 2023 with multiple historical sexual offences against three children under the age of 12.Following further inquiries and interviews by the Southern Sex Crimes Investigation Unit, the man was recently arrested and faces charges of sexual abuse against two more children.The man was bailed with strict conditions and will reappear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in late September.If you suspect child abuse, report it on 131444 or if the child is in immediate danger, call 000.You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.auThe Tasmanian Government’s Keeping Children Safe website is available at https://keepingchildresafe.tas.gov.au/Support for victim survivors, if required, is available through Arch https://arch.tas.gov.au/ or via https://keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/get-support/
As the world watches the US–Iran situation with concern, the ripple effect from these events are reaching global oil supply chains – and exposing their fragility.
If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz as it is considering, it would restrict the global oil trade and trigger energy chaos.
Petrol in some Australian cities could hit A$2.50 a litre according to some economists. As global instability worsens, other experts warn price spikes are increasingly likely.
What would happen next? There is a precedent: the oil shocks of the 1970s, when oil prices quadrupled. The shock drove rapid change, from more efficient cars to sudden interest in alternative energy sources. This time, motorists would likely switch to electric vehicles.
If this crisis continues or if another one flares up, it could mark a turning point in Australia’s long dependence on foreign oil.
What would an oil shock mean?
Australia currently imports 80% of its liquid fuels, the highest level on record. If the flow of oil stopped, we would have about 50 days worth in storage before we ran out.
Our cars, buses, trucks and planes run overwhelmingly on petrol and diesel. Almost three-quarters (74%) of these liquid fuels are used in transport, with road transport accounting for more than half (54%) of all liquid fuels. Australia is highly exposed to global supply shocks.
The best available option to reduce dependence on oil imports is to electrify transport.
How does Australia compare on EVs?
EV uptake in Australia continues to lag behind global leaders. In 2024, EVs accounted for 9.65% of new car sales in Australia, up from 8.45% in 2023.
In the first quarter of 2025, EVs were 6.3% of new car sales, a decline from 7.4% in the final quarter of 2024.
Norway remains the global leader, with battery-electric passenger cars making up 88.9% of sales in 2024. The United Kingdom also saw significant growth – EVs hit almost 20% of new car registrations in 2024.
In China, EVs made up 40.9% of new car sales in 2024. The 12.87 million cars sold represent three-quarters of total EV sales worldwide.
One reason for Australia’s sluggishness is a lack of reliable public chargers. While charging infrastructure is expanding, large parts of regional Australia still lack reliable access to EV charging.
Until recently, Australia’s fuel efficiency standards were among the weakest in the OECD. Earlier this year, the government’s new standards came into force. These are expected to boost EV uptake.
Could global tensions trigger faster action?
If history is any guide, oil shocks lead to long-term change.
When global oil prices quadrupled in 1973–74, many nations were forced to reconsider where they got their energy. A few years later, the 1979 Iranian Revolution caused another major supply disruption, sending oil prices soaring and pushing much of the world into recession.
Huge increases in oil prices drove people to look for alternatives during the 1970s oil shocks. Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Much more recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed the European Union to face up to its reliance on Russian gas and find alternatives by importing gas from different countries and accelerating the clean energy shift.
Clearly, energy shocks can be catalysts for long-term structural change in how we produce and consume energy.
The new crisis could do the same, but only if policy catches up.
If fuel prices shot up and stayed there, consumer behaviour would begin to shift. People would drive less and seek alternate forms of transport. Over time, more would look for better ways to get around.
Cutting oil dependency through electrification isn’t just good for the climate. It’s also a hedge against future price shocks and supply disruptions.
Transport is now Australia’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Now that emissions are falling in the electricity sector, transport will be the highest emitting sector emissions source as soon as 2030.
Building a cleaner transport system also means building a more resilient one. Charging EVs on locally produced renewable power cuts our exposure to global oil markets. So do biofuels, better public transport and smarter urban planning.
Improving domestic energy resilience isn’t just about climate targets. It’s about economic stability and national security. Clean local energy sources reduce vulnerability to events beyond our control.
What can we learn from China?
China offers a compelling case study. The nation of 1.4 billion faces real oil security challenges. In response, Beijing has spent the past decade building a domestic clean energy ecosystem to reduce oil dependency and cut emissions.
This is now bearing fruit. Last year, China’s oil imports had the first sustained fall in nearly two decades. Crude oil imports fell 1.5%, while oil refinery activity also fell due to lower demand.
China’s rapid uptake of EVs has clear energy security benefits. pim pic/Shutterstock
China’s rapid shift to EVs and clean energy shows how long-term planning and targeted investment can pay off on climate and energy security.
What we do next matters
The rolling crises of 2025 present Australian policymakers a rare alignment of interests. What’s good for the climate, for consumers and for national security may now be the same thing.
Real change will require more than sustained high petrol prices. It demands political will, targeted investment and a long-term vision for clean, resilient transport.
Doing nothing has a real cost – not just in what we pay at the service station, but in how vulnerable we remain to events a long way away.
Hussein Dia receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre, Transport for New South Wales, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
With around 90 per cent of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) having experienced an increase in costs in the past year, keeping up with utilities, supplier and marketing costs is proving ever more challenging.
Key findings:
New research commissioned by CommBank shows 89 per cent of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have experienced an increase in business costs in the past 12 months.
Utility bills, including phone, internet and electricity bills, are by far the greatest contributor to the increased costs (66 per cent), while nearly half (47 per cent) have seen supplier costs soar.
These increases are followed by marketing (29 per cent), staff (26 per cent), and accounting software costs (25 per cent).
On average, business costs have increased by 10 per cent, however 40 per cent of SMEs who have experienced a rise report increases of more than 10 per cent.
Justine Dalrymple, owner of Front Room Hair in Sydney’s lower North Shore suburb of Crows Nest, prides herself on not only the high standard of service her salon offers to local customers, but the community she’s been able to build around her business.
“What I love the most about being a small business owner is the opportunity to bring the community together. We are so blessed that we get to make fri
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
WASHINGTON – Today on Fox Business’ Kudlow, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised the One Big Beautiful Bill as a historic opportunity to prevent a more-than $3,000 tax hike on Texas families and bend the spending curve. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.
“We’ve got to continue the current tax provisions so we don’t see a multitrillion-dollar tax increase.”
“President Trump understands that the real key here is getting our economy growing again, and his deregulatory agenda, his focus on American energy production, and lowering taxes, and expensing equipment, and things like that, is going to see this economy boom – just like it did after the 2017 tax bill up until the time the pandemic hit. It was the best economy I’ve seen in my lifetime, and I think this promises to be even better.”
“If you don’t vote for the bill, you’re going to see a multitrillion-dollar tax increase. That does nothing for the deficit and debt.”
“So we’re making good, incremental change – a good first start.”
“We need to get this bill done so people don’t experience a huge tax increase.”
Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
Legislation Would Ban Former Government Employees from Lobbying for Countries of Concern
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions (CLEAR) Path Act, which would mitigate foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern:
“Foreign adversaries with ill intentions should not wield influence on American policymaking, nor should they exploit our own citizens to intercede on their behalf,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This commonsense legislation would root out attempts of malign foreign interference and permanently ban former U.S. government employees from lobbying for countries of concern like Russia and China.”
“Public trust in our democratic institutions has been eroding,” said Sen. Welch. “It’s vital we set higher standards against potential conflicts of interest for former government employees, particularly when it involves foreign adversaries that might be working to influence U.S. policy.”
“It isn’t right for senior government officials to turn their public service experience into a payout from malign foreign governments,” said Sen. Risch. “This bill will help prevent corruption at the highest levels of our government, protect our national security, and ensure that our public servants do not abuse their power for the good of America’s adversaries.”
“America is engaged in a clash of civilizations against kleptocrats, international criminals, and corrupt foreign nations that provide them safe harbor,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “Our adversaries exploit both secret and overt channels of influence to put their thumb on the scale of American policy. I’m glad to join this bipartisan effort to prevent senior U.S. government officials from selling their expertise, access, and influence to shadowy foreign interests after they leave their jobs.”
Background:
With recent attempts by foreign actors to manipulate the U.S. political and governing processes in recent years, the Clear Path Act would seek to mitigate foreign malign influence in our political system by:
Permanently banning agency heads, deputies, and Senate-confirmed employees from lobbying the executive and legislative branches on behalf of countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba;
And including a mechanism to add or remove countries of concern via a Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Judiciary Committee joint resolution and with the concurrence of the U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Attorney General.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G. Valadao (California)
WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This bill includes critical investments to modernize military infrastructure, support readiness, and enhance the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families. It also maintains our nation’s commitment to the well-being of our veterans by providing critical resources for healthcare, pension benefits, and housing. Congressman Valadao is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.
“I’m proud to support this bill that delivers on our promise to America’s veterans and strengthens support for our military families,”said Congressman Valadao.“This bill fully funds veterans’ health care, the VA, and key benefits our veterans have earned, while also investing in a new program to combat veteran homelessness. I’m also happy to see Central Valley priorities included—like important language related to the Bakersfield VA clinic and funding for an F-35 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at NAS Lemoore. This is the first FY26 appropriations bill to clear the House, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move the rest of our funding bills forward.”
Key Takeaways:
Fully funds veterans’ health care programs.
Fully funds veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
Combats veteran homelessness by investing in the new Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program.
Maintains funding levels for research, mental health programs, and other programs to support our veterans.
Provides robust funding for military construction projects, including NAS Lemoore.
Invests in the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Background:
The FY26 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act includes a total discretionary allocation of $152.091 billion, which is nearly $5 billion (3%) above the FY25 enacted level. This bill also provides $300 billion for mandatory programs, for a total of $453 billion in overall funding.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), alongside Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), announced that Nevada will receive nearly $34 million in federal funding through the Department of the Interior’s Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to support essential services in rural counties across the state. PILT payments provide yearly federal funding to local governments that can’t collect property taxes on federal land, helping them pay for essential services like law enforcement, firefighting, public schools, and infrastructure. These funds offset lost revenue and support vital services like public safety, road maintenance, and education. This year’s allocation is nearly $1 million more than last year’s, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure that Nevada communities receive the resources they need.
“I’m committed to making sure that Nevada receives its fair share of federal funding to help support local law enforcement, bolster public education, and fund critically‑needed infrastructure repairs,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have helped secure more than $33 million in PILT funding this year to support rural communities across Nevada so they can afford essential services that benefit our state and help Nevadans succeed.”
“Nevada’s rural communities rely on PILT funding to complete projects and carry out critical services,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I am pleased to announce this funding – close to a million more than last year – to ensure local governments across the Silver State can continue to deliver for families that call our rural counties home.”
Senator Rosen has consistently fought to deliver results for Nevada’s rural communities through targeted legislation and federal funding. In February, she helped introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which provides essential funding for schools, roads, and law enforcement in rural counties across the state. With her support, this bipartisan legislation passed the Senate last week. In December 2024, Senator Rosen secured nearly $1 million through the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program to expand access to education and job training in Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Nye, Pershing, and White Pine counties. Last year, she helped secure nearly $33 million in federal PILT funding to support vital services in rural Nevada.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)
Pushes President to Issue Executive Order that Helps Struggling South Texas Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announcedthat he has called on President Trump to save the American workforce by sending a letter urging executive action to help struggling businesses in South Texas and across the U.S.
This comes as the administration’s mass deportation agenda has disproportionately hurt many businesses, including the agriculture, construction, and hospitality sectors.
The letter reads, “Like you, I am a strong supporter of legal migration and the apprehension of criminals, which is why I voted in support of legislation like the Laken Riley Act. However, American businesses are being harmed by what you described as a “…very aggressive policy…” This country is heavily reliant on an undocumented workforce in industries like construction, agriculture, and hospitality. That is why I urge you to protect American businesses and issue an executive order that would allow small business to sponsor undocumented migrants who have been in the country for three years and have no criminal record. This executive order would provide migrants temporary lawful status on a yearly basis and allow them to continue working without fear of deportation.”
Currently, the Trump Administration’s mass deportation policies could lead to the removal of an estimated:
1.5 million workers from the construction workforce
Author – Denton Pugh, NAB Executive for Home Lending. Originally published on News.com.au.
We might be deep into the winter months, but there’s definite signs of warmth returning to Australia’s property market.
Home values across the country have nudged higher again, rising 0.5% in May and lifting the national index 1.7% over the first five months of the year. And every capital city recorded growth. A sign that confidence in the market is continuing to grow.
NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh
We’re seeing this confidence play out in people like Emily Chalk, a 32-year-old first-home buyer who recently bought a home just outside of Rockhampton, in regional Queensland. She’d spent six months looking for a place to call home.
A conversation with her banker helped her understand how the Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme could help get her into her first home sooner than she thought. Within weeks she’d bought a home in the town she grew up in.
Stories like Emily’s are becoming increasingly more common.
It’s not just upgraders or investors sitting on equity returning to the market. Many first-home buyers have been waiting for banks to reduce home lending rates so they can not only borrow more but also have that confidence to take the leap into homeownership.
New NAB home lending data shows lending to first home buyers is up 16% since February, and up 32% to home buyers more broadly.
While interest rates are still relatively high, recent rate cuts are helping. With these cuts combined with initiatives like the Home Guarantee Scheme, we’re starting to see more people take that first step into homeownership.
Of course, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. While monthly growth is returning, the annual pace of property price increases has slowed. Not great news for investors but good news for those trying to break into the market.
We’re also seeing strong momentum in regional markets; a trend that’s been building since the pandemic years and is not going away.
In fact, Queensland regional hotspots dominated our list of the five hottest regional markets so far in 2025*. Toowoomba, Burnett, Springfield-Redbank, and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland all ranked high for home loan activity. Geelong in Victoria was the only non-Queensland regional hotspot to break into the top five.
Toowoomba – QLD
Burnett – QLD
Springfield – Redbank – QLD
Geelong – VIC
Sunshine Coast Hinterland – QLD
Mandurah – WA
Loganlea – QLD
Ballarat – VIC
Maryborough – QLD
Mackay – QLD
It may be the weather, or the lifestyle, but regional markets offer more than just charm and appealing work life balance. They offer affordability and the potential for long-term growth. For buyers like Emily, the appeal of staying close to family, and finding space for a young family was strong.
“I already know most of my neighbours, I definitely didn’t have that when I was living in Brisbane,” first-home buyer, Emily Chalk.
This continued momentum is promising, but it also highlights one of the biggest challenges still facing the market – we need more homes.
Lower rates are helping on the demand side, but affordability and supply remain big hurdles. Addressing those issues will take time, commitment, and smart policy. Particularly when it comes to getting new housing built in the places people want to live.
The winter months are usually quieter for the housing market, however, with most economists expecting further interest rate cuts this year, winter activity is expected to be a little higher than usual, continuing to build for the busier spring period.
More information:
*NAB proprietary home lending data between January – April 2025 vs the year prior.
. Pillen Celebrates Passage of Bill to Protect Against Influence of Foreign Adversaries
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen celebrated passage of LB644, brought on his behalf by Senator Eliot Bostar. During the news conference, the Governor signed ceremonial copies of the bill. He officially signed the legislation into law on June 4.
LB644 creates two new acts: the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act and the Crush Transnational Repression in Nebraska Act. Together, the acts are aimed at knowing who represents foreign adversaries within the state, curbing the information and/or data they may access or distribute, as well as providing protection against tactics that could be utilized by such organizations to cause undue influence or harm. Reporting requirements and penalties for violations are outlined within each Act.
“Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba and the Maduro regime in Venezuela are all designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Government,” said Gov. Pillen. “They do not have our best interests at heart and as a result, we need to take appropriate steps to make sure that as a state, we are protected.”
LB644 represents the latest of several executive and legislative actions that Gov. Pillen has authorized since taking office – all aimed at making sure state assets including infrastructure, land, technology and people are protected.
“In today’s world, the means of getting access, of getting information, and crippling our most critical systems is easier than ever, which is why we are highly focused on addressing these issues,” continued Gov. Pillen.
Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who serves as the state’s director of homeland security, called attention to several of the executive orders and bills signed by Gov. Pillen over the two previous legislative sessions — including LB683 and LB1301 — both brought Sen. Bostar. Those bills, respectively, address the protection of communications equipment and prohibit companies from adversarial countries bidding on state and local procurement contracts.
“This year, primarily, the legislation is focused on guarding against foreign adversarial influence operations,” said Bostar. “We have some existing transparency requirements for those who would seek to influence policy in the state of Nebraska, but not enough. It doesn’t prohibit the circumvention of full transparency over interests that would be adversarial to the interests of Nebraskans.”
Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, pointed to Nebraska’s leadership among other states when it comes to addressing national security issues.
“Resilience is the key topic for states to address — being ready for potential conflict, being ready to counter political warfare — this is a part of resilience,” noted Lucci.
State Armor works alongside states to identify solutions to global security issues and was founded following the introduction of LB683 in 2023.
“One of the first things when our organization was founded was to tell states, ‘do what Nebraska did.’ And we have not stopped conveying that message.”
Lucci commended Nebraska lawmakers on taking a bipartisan approach to legislation aimed at protecting the state and signaled it was the approach President Trump and other federal officials want to see.
Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard and director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) remarked that in his dual role, homeland security was top of mind.
“Our adversaries can reach out at us through many different methods, and not just through the traditional, conventional munitions, but by way of cyber-attack, satellite imagery and other vectors that we have to be aware of, such as drones,” said MG Strong. “This bill clearly helps us maintain the level of awareness and readiness that are important elements of our state emergency response plans, particularly as it relates to Nebraska’s homeland defense.
Also attending today’s news conference and ceremonial bill signing were senators Beau Ballard, Barry DeKay and Brian Hardin.
Links to executive orders, legislation and letters signed by Gov. Pillen to protect the state against foreign adversaries can be found below.
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced that Matt Rhule, head football coach for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will keynote the Governor’s Summit the morning of August 14 in Kearney.
“Coach Rhule loves Nebraska because — it’s the people! He is Nebraska and he brings positive energy, grit, determination and passion to leading young men,” said Gov. Pillen. “It’s exciting for us to have him at this year’s Summit to inspire all of us to be more than we believe we can be.”
Rhule is entering his third season as the Nebraska’s head coach in 2025, having led the Huskers to victory in the Pinstripe Bowl to close out the 2024 season. He has 12 years of experience as a head coach, including nine years in the college ranks and three seasons as the head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Highly regarded as a program builder and player developer, Rhule led successful turnarounds of the programs at Baylor and Temple and has improved Nebraska’s record in each of his first two seasons in Lincoln. A native of New York City, Rhule earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State and his master’s degree in educational psychology from Buffalo. He and his wife Julie have three children, Bryant, Vivienne and Leona.
The 2025 Governor’s Summit officially kicks off on Wednesday night, Aug. 13, with a reception and banquet hosted by the Nebraska Diplomats. Thursday, Aug. 14, is the primary day of the Governor’s Summit. It features remarks from Gov. Pillen, a keynote from Husker Coach Rhule, a full slate of breakout sessions, and the inaugural Governor’s Youth Summit.
To register for the Diplomats Banquet and Governor’s Summit, visit govsummit.nebraska.gov. Students may sign up for the Youth Summit at https://govsummit.nebraska.gov/youth/
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 26, 2025.
‘Do not eat’: what’s in those little desiccant sachets and how do they work? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kamil Zuber, Senior Industry Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia towfiqu ahamed/Getty Images When you buy a new electronic appliance, shoes, medicines or even some food items, you often find a small paper sachet with the warning: “silica gel, do not eat”. What exactly
Iran accuses US over ‘torpedoed diplomacy’ – passes bill to halt UN nuclear watchdog cooperation BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou, I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. At least 79 killed and 391 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza over the last 24 hours, including 33 killed
Parenthood or podium? It’s time Australian athletes had the support to choose both Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasmine Titova, PhD Candidate, CQUniversity Australia When tennis legend Serena Williams retired in 2022, she stated: If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Many
Papua New Guinea police blame overrun system for prison breakouts By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Police in Papua New Guinea say the country’s overrun courts and prisons are behind mass breakouts from police custody. Chief Superintendent Clement Dala made the comment after 13 detainees escaped on Tuesday in Simbu Province, including eight who were facing murder charges. Dala said an auxiliary policeman who
Stable public housing in the first year of life boosts children’s wellbeing years down the track – new research Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimie Monk, Research Fellow, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Phil Walter/Getty Images New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market means low-income families face big constraints on their accommodation options. This involves often accepting housing that is insecure, cold, damp or in unsuitable neighbourhoods. But little is known about
Yes, Victoria’s efforts to wean households off gas have been dialled back. But it’s still real progress Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University MirageC/Getty On the question of gas, Victoria’s government faces pressure from many directions. The Bass Strait wells supplying Australia’s most gas-dependent state are running dry. Gas prices shot up in 2020 and have stayed high.
Remote cave discovery shows ancient voyagers brought rice across 2,300km of Pacific Ocean Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hsiao-chun Hung, Senior Research Fellow, School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University Ritidian beach, Guam. Hsiao-chun Hung In a new study published today in Science Advances, my colleagues and I have uncovered the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific Islands – at an ancient
500,000 Australians live with mental illness but don’t qualify for the NDIS. A damning new report says they need more support Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney stellalevi/Getty Half a million Australians are living with moderate to severe mental illness, but they don’t qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cannot access the support
‘I’m not going to give up’: how to help more disadvantaged young people go to uni and TAFE Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucas Walsh, Professor and Director of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Monash University Oliver Rossi/ Getty Images On Wednesday, Education Minister Jason Clare hailed an increase in the numbers of Australians starting a university degree. In 2024, there was a 3.7% increase in Australian
New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Baird, Senior Lecturer , University of Tasmania PaeGAG/Shutterstock A new financial year starts on July 1. For Australia’s large companies, that means new rules on climate-related disclosures come into force. These requirements are the culmination of years of planning to ensure companies disclose climate-related risks and
Whose story is being told — and why? 4 questions museum visitors should ask themselves this school holidays Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato The winter school holidays will mean families across Aotearoa New Zealand will be looking for indoor activities to entertain children. With millions of visitors each year, museums focused on the country’s history will inevitably play host to
Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends? I am the director
Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2. The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually
Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition
Election flows reveal nearly 90% of Greens preferenced Labor ahead of Coalition Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Minor party preference flows for the federal election have been released, with Labor winning Greens preferences by 88.2–11.8, while the Coalition won One Nation preferences by 74.5–24.5.
Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kit Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pollination Ecology, University of Southern Queensland Kit Prendergast (@bee.babette_performer) After a devastating bushfire, efforts to help nature recover typically focus on vertebrates and plants. Yet extreme fires can threaten insects, too. After the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, I embarked on world-first research
Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra It looks, at least for now, as though tensions in the Middle East are easing somewhat. It appears much less likely Iran will try to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows about a fifth of
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 26, 2025.
‘Do not eat’: what’s in those little desiccant sachets and how do they work? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kamil Zuber, Senior Industry Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia towfiqu ahamed/Getty Images When you buy a new electronic appliance, shoes, medicines or even some food items, you often find a small paper sachet with the warning: “silica gel, do not eat”. What exactly
Iran accuses US over ‘torpedoed diplomacy’ – passes bill to halt UN nuclear watchdog cooperation BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou, I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. At least 79 killed and 391 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza over the last 24 hours, including 33 killed
Parenthood or podium? It’s time Australian athletes had the support to choose both Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasmine Titova, PhD Candidate, CQUniversity Australia When tennis legend Serena Williams retired in 2022, she stated: If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Many
Papua New Guinea police blame overrun system for prison breakouts By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Police in Papua New Guinea say the country’s overrun courts and prisons are behind mass breakouts from police custody. Chief Superintendent Clement Dala made the comment after 13 detainees escaped on Tuesday in Simbu Province, including eight who were facing murder charges. Dala said an auxiliary policeman who
Stable public housing in the first year of life boosts children’s wellbeing years down the track – new research Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimie Monk, Research Fellow, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Phil Walter/Getty Images New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market means low-income families face big constraints on their accommodation options. This involves often accepting housing that is insecure, cold, damp or in unsuitable neighbourhoods. But little is known about
Yes, Victoria’s efforts to wean households off gas have been dialled back. But it’s still real progress Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University MirageC/Getty On the question of gas, Victoria’s government faces pressure from many directions. The Bass Strait wells supplying Australia’s most gas-dependent state are running dry. Gas prices shot up in 2020 and have stayed high.
Remote cave discovery shows ancient voyagers brought rice across 2,300km of Pacific Ocean Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hsiao-chun Hung, Senior Research Fellow, School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University Ritidian beach, Guam. Hsiao-chun Hung In a new study published today in Science Advances, my colleagues and I have uncovered the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific Islands – at an ancient
500,000 Australians live with mental illness but don’t qualify for the NDIS. A damning new report says they need more support Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney stellalevi/Getty Half a million Australians are living with moderate to severe mental illness, but they don’t qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cannot access the support
‘I’m not going to give up’: how to help more disadvantaged young people go to uni and TAFE Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucas Walsh, Professor and Director of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Monash University Oliver Rossi/ Getty Images On Wednesday, Education Minister Jason Clare hailed an increase in the numbers of Australians starting a university degree. In 2024, there was a 3.7% increase in Australian
New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Baird, Senior Lecturer , University of Tasmania PaeGAG/Shutterstock A new financial year starts on July 1. For Australia’s large companies, that means new rules on climate-related disclosures come into force. These requirements are the culmination of years of planning to ensure companies disclose climate-related risks and
Whose story is being told — and why? 4 questions museum visitors should ask themselves this school holidays Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato The winter school holidays will mean families across Aotearoa New Zealand will be looking for indoor activities to entertain children. With millions of visitors each year, museums focused on the country’s history will inevitably play host to
Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends? I am the director
Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2. The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually
Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition
Election flows reveal nearly 90% of Greens preferenced Labor ahead of Coalition Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Minor party preference flows for the federal election have been released, with Labor winning Greens preferences by 88.2–11.8, while the Coalition won One Nation preferences by 74.5–24.5.
Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kit Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pollination Ecology, University of Southern Queensland Kit Prendergast (@bee.babette_performer) After a devastating bushfire, efforts to help nature recover typically focus on vertebrates and plants. Yet extreme fires can threaten insects, too. After the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, I embarked on world-first research
Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra It looks, at least for now, as though tensions in the Middle East are easing somewhat. It appears much less likely Iran will try to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows about a fifth of
Pregnancy and having a baby can be a special time. And families want to feel safe and trust their maternity care.
But when we reviewed the evidence, we found many Indigenous families globally face unfair treatment during pregnancy and birth. This can include racism, neglecting cultural aspects of their care, or using health care poorly designed to accommodate their needs.
We found similar themes in research involving more than 1,400 Indigenous women, Elders, fathers, family members and health workers from locations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Greenland and Sápmi (parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia).
Many Indigenous families felt disrespected. They said hospital staff often didn’t understand their cultures or give them basic rights during their maternity care, such as being listened to, included in decision-making, or giving informed consent.
As a result, some families felt hesitant to seek care in mainstream hospitals. As one Indigenous woman told us during recent Australian research submitted for publication:
I’m dreading birthing in such a system.
But there are alternatives.
What can hospitals do?
There is a clear need to improve birthing services and cultural safety in mainstream hospitals with a focus on respecting the beliefs, practices and traditions of all families, including Indigenous ones.
For example, many Indigenous families view childbirth as a communal event with extended family support. But hospital policies that limit the number of support people often disregard these important cultural practices.
Indigenous families also need to get the type of health care they trust and feel comfortable with. Ideally this might involve staff with sound cultural knowledge and who can support families clinically in a culturally safe way.
Aboriginal patient liaison officers are sometimes available in hospitals or health services. But there are not often enough, they have to service entire facilities, and they provide cultural support not clinical patient care.
Indigenous families may also want to access a specific type of care. One example is “continuity of care”, where the same midwife or a small team of midwives, supports the family through the whole pregnancy. Ideally, these midwives should be Indigenous or, if not, be trained in supporting Indigenous families with respect and understanding.
What is ‘birthing on Country’?
For Indigenous women living in rural and remote areas, being sent away from home to give birth in a city hospital can be really hard.
Sometimes women and families are evacuated from their home communities and have to stay for weeks or months in temporary accommodation in the city, both before and after birth, or if their baby is born pre-term and needs extra care. This temporary accommodation can be far from the hospital.
All this takes place in unknown cities and towns, without family support, and sometimes away from their other children cared for by the community back home.
This makes it harder for mums who need extra support, and can get in the way of starting breastfeeding and bonding with their baby.
Again, there is an alternative. For many Indigenous families, giving birth is not just about having a baby. It’s also a spiritual and cultural event that strengthens their identity and connection to Country. A “birthing on Country” model of care, which respects Indigenous traditions and knowledge, reinforces that.
This is midwife-led care designed for and with Indigenous communities. It doesn’t mean you have to birth in rural and remote spaces, but it is a model of care that focuses on culture, and can also be implemented in the city.
Ideally, families would see the same midwife or team of midwives and use the “birthing on Country” model.
What else can we do?
Maternity services can be led by Indigenous people, which many women prefer. But Indigenous staff make up about 3.1% of the Australian health workforce.
So it is crucial to engage non-Indigenous staff in building relationships and to support Indigenous families in their right to receive culturally safe care.
This can start with better training for staff, not only to understand and respond to an Indigenous person’s individual needs, but to know when and how to speak up, call out or report racist or disrespectful behaviour.
This is everyone’s problem
A health system you can trust should be safe for everyone. If some people feel unsafe or face discrimination when getting care, this not only affects them, it affects everyone.
For instance, when Indigenous women avoid or delay going to the hospital because of past bad experiences or discrimination, it can lead to health problems that could have been prevented.
This not only harms the women, it puts more pressure on the public health system, which affects us all.
By talking about these issues, we hope all Australians begin to care about the safety of all women during pregnancy and birth.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Pregnancy and having a baby can be a special time. And families want to feel safe and trust their maternity care.
But when we reviewed the evidence, we found many Indigenous families globally face unfair treatment during pregnancy and birth. This can include racism, neglecting cultural aspects of their care, or using health care poorly designed to accommodate their needs.
We found similar themes in research involving more than 1,400 Indigenous women, Elders, fathers, family members and health workers from locations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Greenland and Sápmi (parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia).
Many Indigenous families felt disrespected. They said hospital staff often didn’t understand their cultures or give them basic rights during their maternity care, such as being listened to, included in decision-making, or giving informed consent.
As a result, some families felt hesitant to seek care in mainstream hospitals. As one Indigenous woman told us during recent Australian research submitted for publication:
I’m dreading birthing in such a system.
But there are alternatives.
What can hospitals do?
There is a clear need to improve birthing services and cultural safety in mainstream hospitals with a focus on respecting the beliefs, practices and traditions of all families, including Indigenous ones.
For example, many Indigenous families view childbirth as a communal event with extended family support. But hospital policies that limit the number of support people often disregard these important cultural practices.
Indigenous families also need to get the type of health care they trust and feel comfortable with. Ideally this might involve staff with sound cultural knowledge and who can support families clinically in a culturally safe way.
Aboriginal patient liaison officers are sometimes available in hospitals or health services. But there are not often enough, they have to service entire facilities, and they provide cultural support not clinical patient care.
Indigenous families may also want to access a specific type of care. One example is “continuity of care”, where the same midwife or a small team of midwives, supports the family through the whole pregnancy. Ideally, these midwives should be Indigenous or, if not, be trained in supporting Indigenous families with respect and understanding.
What is ‘birthing on Country’?
For Indigenous women living in rural and remote areas, being sent away from home to give birth in a city hospital can be really hard.
Sometimes women and families are evacuated from their home communities and have to stay for weeks or months in temporary accommodation in the city, both before and after birth, or if their baby is born pre-term and needs extra care. This temporary accommodation can be far from the hospital.
All this takes place in unknown cities and towns, without family support, and sometimes away from their other children cared for by the community back home.
This makes it harder for mums who need extra support, and can get in the way of starting breastfeeding and bonding with their baby.
Again, there is an alternative. For many Indigenous families, giving birth is not just about having a baby. It’s also a spiritual and cultural event that strengthens their identity and connection to Country. A “birthing on Country” model of care, which respects Indigenous traditions and knowledge, reinforces that.
This is midwife-led care designed for and with Indigenous communities. It doesn’t mean you have to birth in rural and remote spaces, but it is a model of care that focuses on culture, and can also be implemented in the city.
Ideally, families would see the same midwife or team of midwives and use the “birthing on Country” model.
What else can we do?
Maternity services can be led by Indigenous people, which many women prefer. But Indigenous staff make up about 3.1% of the Australian health workforce.
So it is crucial to engage non-Indigenous staff in building relationships and to support Indigenous families in their right to receive culturally safe care.
This can start with better training for staff, not only to understand and respond to an Indigenous person’s individual needs, but to know when and how to speak up, call out or report racist or disrespectful behaviour.
This is everyone’s problem
A health system you can trust should be safe for everyone. If some people feel unsafe or face discrimination when getting care, this not only affects them, it affects everyone.
For instance, when Indigenous women avoid or delay going to the hospital because of past bad experiences or discrimination, it can lead to health problems that could have been prevented.
This not only harms the women, it puts more pressure on the public health system, which affects us all.
By talking about these issues, we hope all Australians begin to care about the safety of all women during pregnancy and birth.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Iranian parliament on Wednesday approved the general outlines and details of a plan to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The bill was approved at an open session of the parliament in the Iranian capital Tehran, with 221 votes in favor and one abstention, reported the ICANA news agency affiliated with Iran’s legislative body.
According to the report, the plan requires the Iranian administration to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
The plan stipulates that, given the violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity by Israel and the United States through attacking the country’s peaceful nuclear facilities and jeopardizing its interests, the Iranian government is duty-bound to immediately suspend any kind of cooperation with the IAEA based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement until a number of preconditions are met.
It lists the conditions as ensuring respect for Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the security of the country’s nuclear centers and scientists within the framework of the UN Charter and the complete recognition of Iran’s inherent rights under the NPT, especially the enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil.
Elaborating on the plan, Seyed Mohammad Nabavian, an Iranian lawmaker, said it was not focused on Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT, as the country was committed to the treaty and had announced that its nuclear activities were all peaceful, ICANA reported.
On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, inflicting casualties and heavy damage.
On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran on Monday struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles.
Following Iran’s attack, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel would begin around 0400 GMT Tuesday. Both sides later confirmed the start of the ceasefire.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Fu Cong (C, front), China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on Iranian nuclear issue at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for the return to the track of political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
China is of the view that there is still hope for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue as diplomatic means have not been exhausted, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council.
It is necessary for all parties to draw lessons from the crisis, restart dialogue on an equal footing and promote the return to the track of a political settlement, he said.
First thing first is to stop the fighting, he said, adding that China has taken note of the current developments on the ground and looks forward to the realization of a genuine ceasefire.
“The parties concerned should take practical measures to prevent the situation from escalating again. Meanwhile, the international community must make efforts to cool down the situation and promote dialogue and negotiation,” he said.
To balance the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he called on Iran to continue to abide by its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and all other parties to fully respect Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a state party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Noting that China supports all efforts to relaunch negotiations, he said the Security Council should play a constructive role in assisting parties in building trust, bridging differences and creating conditions conducive to the resumption of negotiations.
Relevant countries should abandon the practice of threatening to activate “the snapback mechanism” for sanctions against Iran at every turn as this will only aggravate tensions and confrontations and even further jeopardize diplomatic efforts, he said.
“A proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue has a direct bearing on the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime and is crucial to peace and stability in the Middle East,” said Fu.
“At present, the situation in the region is at a critical and crucial juncture. China calls on all parties to act with a higher sense of urgency and responsibility to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and resume negotiations at the earliest possible date,” he said.
As a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the Iran nuclear deal, China will continue to maintain an objective and impartial position, strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, build synergy, and uphold fairness and justice, with a view to playing a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East and promoting a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, he added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he discussed steps toward a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people,” Zelensky said on social media platform X.
Ukraine appreciates the attention and the readiness of the United States to help bring peace closer, Zelensky said.
Zelensky and Trump met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have agreed to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) annually by 2035, according to a declaration issued on Wednesday following the high-level summit in The Hague.
The five-paragraph statement outlined that the new spending target will be split between two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for related areas, including critical infrastructure, networks, and defense industrial capabilities.
The plan will undergo a review in 2029, taking into account the strategic environment and revised capability targets, the document added.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement at a press conference after the summit, asserting that Washington had long carried more than its fair share of the alliance’s defense burden.
However, he singled out Spain, criticising Madrid as the only country refusing to meet its full commitment.
Trump said the United States is negotiating a trade deal with Spain and warned that Madrid could be made to “pay twice as much” through trade measures.
Spain has agreed with NATO to limit its military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday, ahead of the NATO summit.
In his Sunday statement, Sanchez warned that “rushing toward 5 percent” would lead to rising prices and public spending, and reduce investment in key sectors such as education and digital development.
Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, Sanchez emphasized that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the most troops deployed worldwide.” He also stressed that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies.
