Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Financial Reporting Review Panel The appointments and reappointments, made in accordance with the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Ordinance (Cap. 588) (AFRC Ordinance), are:
New Convenors ———————- Mr Paul Donald Hebditch Mr Eric Tang Ying-cheung Mr Tang Yiu-chung
New Members ———————- Ms Fanny Hsiang Yuet-ming Mr Alexander Kaung Wai-ming Mr Lam Chi-ki Ms Carrie Lau Kar-yee Mr Jason Li Jiasheng Mr Ng Chun-man Ms Elza Yuen Wai-yiu
Reappointed Member ——————————- Mr Jacob Lee Chi-hin
A spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau today (July 11) said, “The Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC) is a key regulator for corporate governance of companies listed in Hong Kong. One of the statutory functions of the AFRC is to initiate enquiries concerning non-compliance with legal, accounting or regulatory requirements in a listed entity’s financial reports.
“The FRRP, a statutory body established under the AFRC Ordinance, is indispensable to the discharge of the AFRC’s statutory functions of enquiries. The work of the FRRP will benefit from the rich experience and professional knowledge of the members.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the two outgoing Convenors and nine outgoing members for their valuable contribution to the work of the FRRP in the past years,” the spokesman added.
When an enquiry case arises, the AFRC may appoint one Convenor and four or more members from the FRRP to form a Financial Reporting Review Committee which will enquire into the relevant non-compliance of the case. The Committee will submit an enquiry report on the case to the AFRC for consideration and, where appropriate, follow-up action. Issued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Gazettal of two pieces of subsidiary legislation under Copyright Ordinance The above two pieces of subsidiary legislation are made under section 46(1) of the Ordinance. They aim to specify libraries, museums and archives and prescribe conditions for certain permitted acts for use of copyright works, and at the same time replace the Copyright (Libraries) Regulations (Cap. 528B) currently governing some of the relevant permitted acts.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, “The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (the Amendment Ordinance), which came into operation on May 1, 2023, not only has strengthened copyright protection in the digital environment, but also maintained a proper balance between copyright protection and reasonable use of copyright works. The Amendment Ordinance has introduced and expanded the permitted acts for specified libraries, museums and archives to facilitate their reasonable use of copyright works in their collections during daily operations, promoting research, private study, as well as knowledge dissemination and preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Therefore, it is necessary to update the relevant subsidiary legislation to facilitate the above.”
The spokesperson added that the Government had earlier conducted a public consultation on the legislative proposals for the two pieces of subsidiary legislation and had carefully considered and taken on board the views of stakeholders. The proposals will provide specified libraries, museums and archives with a statutory framework which is clear and complies with the Ordinance, thereby enabling them to more effectively perform and fulfil their functions in education and the inheritance of knowledge and culture.
The two pieces of subsidiary legislation will be tabled before the Legislative Council on July 16 for negative vetting. Upon completion of the relevant legislative procedures, the Government will carry out publicity and educational activities to enhance the awareness of the relevant provisions among the specified libraries, museums, archives and their users, and to enable the relevant stakeholders to get fully prepared before the two pieces of subsidiary legislation come into effect on January 1 next year. Issued at HKT 11:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Import and Export (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 gazetted A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, “We are grateful to the Legislative Council for passing the relevant bill to provide the legal basis for the implementation of TSW Phase 3, achieving another important milestone on trade facilitation. The TSW not only overhauls and enhances the document submission workflows between participating government agencies and the trade, but also enhances the efficiency of cargo clearance in Hong Kong and helps consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international trade centre and a logistics hub. The Government is pressing ahead with the development and testing of the information technology (IT) system of TSW Phase 3, with the target of rolling out the services by batches from 2026 onwards.”
The Government is implementing the TSW in three phases to provide a one-stop electronic platform for the trade to lodge business-to-government trade documents for trade declaration and cargo clearance. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the TSW have been in full service since 2020 and 2023 respectively, covering 42 types of trade documents in total. Phase 3 is the final and most complex phase of the TSW. It involves a large volume of documents submitted by a wide range of stakeholders, covering Import and Export Declarations (TDEC), cargo information required to be submitted under different transport modes (including Advance Cargo Information, Cargo Manifests and Cargo Reports), and applications for Certificates of Origin and Dutiable Commodities Permits. The IT system of Phase 3 will replace the long-established GETS and major cargo clearance systems of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), and the trade will be required to use the TSW to submit relevant trade documents.
Features of Phase 3 include: To provide sufficient time for the trade to migrate to the new system, the Amendment Ordinance has included provisions on transitional arrangements to allow parallel run of TSW Phase 3 and GETS for a certain period of time. The C&ED will also launch a series of publicity, promotion and training programmes and provide support services prior to the rollout of Phase 3 services to ensure a smooth transition for the trade.
The main provisions of the Amendment Ordinance come into operation today, except for some provisions relating to the deletion of the existing legal framework of GETS, which shall take effect on a day to be designated by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise by notice published in the Gazette. Issued at HKT 11:00
A Trilateral Meeting was convened today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, involving Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, Türkiye, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan and attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, and Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. The Meeting discussed the ASEAN-Türkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, including progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-Türkiye Practical Cooperation Areas (2024–2028) and explored untapped opportunities to further strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and Türkiye.
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A Trilateral Meeting was convened today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, involving Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, Türkiye, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan and attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, and Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. The Meeting discussed the ASEAN-Türkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, including progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-Türkiye Practical Cooperation Areas (2024–2028) and explored untapped opportunities to further strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and Türkiye.
The post Trilateral Meeting between Malaysia, Republic of Türkiye, and the ASEAN Secretariat convenes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 11, 2025.
‘Storm clouds are gathering’: 40 years on from the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today. The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of
Dawn service held 40 years on from Rainbow Warrior bombing TVNZ 1News The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior has sailed into Auckland to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior in 1985. Greenpeace’s vessel, which had been protesting nuclear testing in the Pacific, sank after French government agents planted explosives on its hull, killing Portuguese-Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira. Today, 40 years
What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Clarence, Law Lecturer, RMIT University During the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping routes. Would that be possible, and what effects would it have? The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point
Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Draper, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canterbury The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable. Headgear was
Trump has flagged 200% tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals. What do we produce here, and what’s at risk? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joe Carrello, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Tanya Dol/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Australia’s pharmaceutical exports to the United States has raised alarm among industry and government leaders. There are fears that, if implemented, the tariffs could cost the Australian economy up to
‘Fashion helped the pride come out’: First Nations fashion as resistance, culture and connection Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design and Society, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images of deceased people. First Nations garments have always held deep meaning. What we wear tells stories about culture, Country and
Does AI actually boost productivity? The evidence is murky Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Whittle, Director, Data61, CSIRO Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock There’s been much talk recently – especially among politicians – about productivity. And for good reason: Australia’s labour productivity growth sits at a 60-year low. To address this, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened a productivity round table next month.
Albanese’s China mission – managing a complex relationship in a world of shifting alliances Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Laurenceson, Director and Professor, Australia-China Relations Institute (UTS:ACRI), University of Technology Sydney Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves for China on Saturday, confident most Australians back the government’s handling of relations with our most important economic partner and the leading strategic power in Asia. Albanese’s domestic critics
NZ’s new AI strategy is long on ‘economic opportunity’ but short on managing ethical and social risk Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lensen, Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images The government’s newly unveiled National AI Strategy is all about what its title says: “Investing with Confidence”. It tells businesses that Aotearoa New Zealand is open for AI use, and
Will my private health insurance cover my surgery? What if my claim is rejected? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yuting Zhang, Professor of Health Economics, The University of Melbourne shurkin_son/Shutterstock The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has fined Bupa A$35 million for unlawfully rejecting thousands of health insurance claims over more than five years. Between May 2018 and August 2023 Bupa incorrectly rejected claims from
Grattan on Friday: childcare is a ‘canary in mine’ warning for wider problems in policy delivery Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It’s such a familiar pattern. When a big scandal breaks publicly, governments jump into action, ministers rush out to say they’ll “do something” instantly. But how come they hadn’t seen problems that had been in plain sight? Who can forget
The special envoy’s antisemitism plan is ambitious, but fails to reckon with the hardest questions Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matteo Vergani, Associate Professor, Deakin University On July 6, an arson attack targeted the East Melbourne Synagogue. It was the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents recorded across Australia since October 7 2023, when Hamas carried out a horrific terrorist attack, killing about 1,200 Israelis. These
Queensland’s horrific lion attack shows wild animals should not be kept for our amusement Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgette Leah Burns, Associate Professor, Griffith School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been operating for
Does Donald Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? We asked 5 experts Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the president is “forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one
Does Australia really take too long to approve medicines, as the US says? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Australia’s drug approval system is under fire, with critics in the United States claiming it is too slow to approve life-saving medicines. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration balances speed with a rigorous assessment of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness. So
Skorts revolutionised how women and girls play sport. But in 2025, are they regressive? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer E. Cheng, Researcher and Lecturer in Sociology, Western Sydney University If you watched any of the 2025 Wimbledon womens’ matches, you’ll have noticed many players donning a skort: a garment in which shorts are concealed under a skirt, or a front panel resembling a skirt. You
First the dire wolf, now NZ’s giant moa: why real ‘de-extinction’ is unlikely to fly Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Colossal Biosciences, CC BY-SA The announcement that New Zealand’s moa nunui (giant moa) is the next “de-extinction” target for Colossal Biosciences, in partnership with Canterbury Museum, the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and filmmaker Peter Jackson, caused widespread
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Larissa Waters on why we deserve more than a government that just tinkers Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Greens had a poor election. They lost three of their four lower house seats including that of their leader Adam Bandt. This despite their overall vote remaining mostly steady. But they did retain all their Senate spots – though
Envoy’s plan to fight antisemitism would put universities on notice over funding Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has recommended universities that fail to properly deal with the issue should have government funding terminated. In her Plan to Combat Antisemitism, launched Thursday, Segal says she will prepare a report
Keith Rankin Analysis – Public Debt, Japan, and Wilful Blindness Analysis by Keith Rankin. I just heard on Radio New Zealand a claim by a British commentator, Hugo Gye (Political Editor of The i Paper), that the United Kingdom (among other countries) has a major public debt crisis, and that if nothing is done about it (such as what Rachel Reeves – Chancellor of the
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Dawson, PhD Candidate, School of Psychology and National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland
Around 41% of Australians report they’ve used cannabis at some point in their life.
Research estimates that 22% of recreational cannabis consumers meet criteria for a cannabis use disorder. This condition can make it difficult to control how often or how much cannabis they use.
For medicinal cannabis, our research estimated the percentage of cannabis consumers who meet criteria for a cannabis use disorder was similar, around 25%.
These figures may come as a surprise, as the perceived risks associated with cannabis have been steadily declining in many countries.
So, how can you tell if your cannabis use is a problem?
What does cannabis use disorder look like?
A person might use cannabis to relax after a stressful day at work or to help them sleep. At first, they might do so every now and then. But over time, they might come to rely on using cannabis to stop feeling uncomfortable, stressed and sleepless.
They might begin to use cannabis daily to feel “normal”.
With regular use, the body develops tolerance to the effects of cannabis. So the person needs to use more cannabis to get the same “high”.
People who consume cannabis might use more cannabis than they intended or might have problems performing at work because they’re high at the start of the work day, or they fail to do important things such as paying bills, and buy cannabis instead.
The person might keep using cannabis despite noticing their use is causing clouded thoughts, memory issues and anxiety.
Friends and family might notice problems with their cannabis use and recommend they stop or cut back. This can be difficult for people with cannabis use disorder because they may feel anxious, irritable and have difficulty sleeping if they suddenly stop using cannabis.
These withdrawal symptoms can make it harder to quit or cut back. Withdrawal symptoms are quickly relieved by using cannabis, creating a cycle of relapse.
How is it diagnosed?
Health professionals use specific criteria to diagnose a cannabis use disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a person may have a cannabis use disorder if they show at least two symptoms within one year. Symptoms can include:
using larger amounts over longer periods than intended
cravings for cannabis, where the person feels a strong urge or desire to use cannabis
trying and failing to cut back on cannabis use
continuing cannabis use despite worsening physical or psychological problems
failing to fulfil major role obligations at work, school or home
needing to use a greater amount for the same effect, known as tolerance
experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as feeling anxious, irritable or having trouble sleeping.
According to the DSM, two to three symptoms indicate a mild cannabis use disorder and few problems. A moderate disorder involves four to five symptoms, while six-plus symptoms means a severe disorder.
Who is at greatest risk?
In both recreational and medicinal consumers, the risk of cannabis use disorder is higher for people who use cannabis:
So people may increase how often they use cannabis or use more potent cannabis products in an unsuccessful attempt to control their pain.
This can lead to a cannabis use disorder, making it more difficult to manage their pain and impairing their ability to cope with the demands of everyday life.
How to reduce your risk
Legal changes in many countries, including Australia, have allowed greater access to cannabis for medical reasons. People now often use cannabis for both recreational and medical reasons (dual-use).
If you’re concerned about your cannabis use, consult your medical practitioner or contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for confidential advice.
Wayne Hall has in the past five years been paid to advise the WHO on the adverse health effects of cannabis and to advise the Commonwealth Department of Health on the safety and effectiveness of medical uses of cannabis-based medicines.
Danielle Dawson and Valentina Lorenzetti 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
Senior CPC official highlights global civilizations dialogue, cooperation at Beijing conference
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2025. The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting opened here on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING, July 10 — Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi on Thursday called for greater efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation among global civilizations, as he attended the opening of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the meeting, which was read out at the opening ceremony by Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.
In his keynote speech, Cai, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi more than two years ago has received enthusiastic responses and positive echoes from the international community.
The initiative, which upholds the core principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, is deeply rooted in China’s fine traditional culture and resonates with cultural values shared by many other nations, Cai said.
Noting that the path to global peace and development remains long and challenging, Cai called for joint efforts to explore diverse development models, strengthen cultural inheritance and innovation, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and build a diverse and multi-dimensional global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations.
Themed “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” the meeting is co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent his message of congratulations to the event, which has attracted over 600 guests from about 140 countries and regions.
Former heads of state and government from Indonesia, Namibia, Japan and Belgium delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, reads out a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2025. The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting opened here on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo taken on April 9, 2024 shows the scenery of Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]
An international symposium on the history and reality of the South China Sea was held in Beijing on Thursday, calling for peace and dialogue in the region.
Participants from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including the post-World War II international order, sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao — known in English as the South China Sea islands — and the re-evaluation of the South China Sea arbitration award in 2016.
Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, said that China’s sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and adjacent waters has ample historical and legal basis, as China has managed the region since ancient times and in accordance with the post-WWII international order.
“China’s safeguarding of its sovereignty of Nanhai Zhudao is maintaining international order, rather than undermining international rules,” said Wu in his opening remarks at the symposium.
“China and ASEAN should advance the consultations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and work together to safeguard peace and stability in the region,” Wu said when speaking about the illegal award of the South China Sea arbitration in July 2016.
Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies, said the award has jeopardized Philippine relations with China and complicated the geopolitical situation in the South China Sea.
“The South China Sea should not be the source of our division. In ancient times, the sea linked and united Filipinos and Chinese,” Banlaoi said. “The best way to settle disputes is through dialogue and consultations. The key factor for that is to rebuild confidence.”
Held by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the event attracted over 150 experts, scholars and other representatives of more than 10 countries and regions, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), signed in 2002 by China and ASEAN member states, outlines the most important principles in the management of disputes over the South China Sea. Consultations on the COC were launched between the two sides in 2013. Both the DOC and the COC are aimed at safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Scholars, experts and political figures from around the world convened in Beijing on Thursday to engage in an in-depth dialogue on civilization, highlighting cultural diversity and cooperation in a world grappling with turbulence and uncertainty.
“Dialogue is essential in a world fractured by conflict, intolerance and misinformation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a congratulatory message delivered to the opening ceremony of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.
Under the theme of “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” the two-day event has attracted over 600 guests from approximately 140 countries and regions.
At the opening ceremony, several speakers expressed concerns over growing global instability, from escalating regional conflicts to the rising tide of de-globalization.
It is precisely because of these ongoing tensions that the Global Civilization Initiative has taken on even greater significance, according to the participants.
Put forward by China in 2023, the foresighted vision advocates respect for the diversity of global civilizations, the promotion of the common values of humanity, the emphasis on cultural inheritance and innovation, and enhanced international people-to-people exchange and cooperation.
Exploring solutions to global challenges, participants have proposed dialogue over division, and understanding over conflict, calling on stakeholders to work together to enrich human civilization, strengthen cultural inheritance and innovation, and reinforce people-to-people exchange.
“The rich diversity of civilizations is a powerful force for mutual understanding and global solidarity,” Guterres said in his message.
Participants at the meeting also lauded China’s consistent efforts to drive human development through inclusiveness and cooperation.
China has strengthened its connection with the world through the Belt and Road Initiative, and built an international consensus via the Global Development Initiative, said Yukio Hatoyama, former prime minister of Japan. And by proposing the vision of a community with a shared future for all, it has helped transcend hegemonic logic, acknowledge cultural diversity, and inject sustainable Eastern wisdom into global governance, he added.
Eying a mechanism for the Global South countries to build a future free from inequity and hegemony, Megawati Soekarnoputri, general chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and former president of Indonesia, said that dialogue alone is not enough.
“We must return to the core values of civilization. History has proven that the rise and fall of civilizations always depend on the choice of human,” she added.
Before Thursday’s meeting, international guests toured cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Qufu and Dunhuang to gain firsthand insight into the Chinese civilization.
Welisarage Keerthipala Perera, an assistant to the minister of Buddhasasana, religious and cultural affairs of Sri Lanka, expressed his admiration of the ancient Buddhist murals at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China. He believes that dialogue on global civilization is vital, as enhanced mutual understanding can help resolve conflicts.
“The key is to maintain dialogue and deepen mutual understanding,” Fabrice Edouard Piault, a French publishing professional, said. “This meeting strengthens ties between nations. That’s precisely why it matters.”
At parallel sub-forums on Friday, participants will explore the crucial role of inter-civilization exchange and mutual learning in building an inclusive world, and in promoting global development and prosperity, cultural inheritance and innovation, understanding and friendship among peoples, scientific and technological progress, and academic exchange.
The event is co-hosted by the Publicity Department and the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
The ATO Co-chair welcomed members and ATO attendees to the Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) Tax Time 2025 meeting.
ATO updates
Frontline Services
We can confirm it has been a successful first week of tax time:
We’ve received 22,000 calls from agents, which is 8% down from last year.
Lodgment numbers are down 10% for self-preparers, and 15% for agent lodged.
Safety nets have now been successfully lifted; therefore early lodgers should start receiving their refunds by the end of this week.
IT system updates and maintenance
Good performance of core Tax Time Support systems with forecasts for Online Services and IITR Lodgments tracking well.
Planned maintenance of ATO online was successfully completed on Monday 6 July between 9:00 pm AEST and 1:00 am AEST (7 July).
ATO Digital services
Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) have identified an error in their original reporting of PAYGW for members of the MSBS and DFRDB super schemes.
CSC lodged their original report on 4 July with this data flowing through to pre-fill tax returns. On 6 July, it was reported that pre-fill information had been reported twice as both super lump sum and super income stream income.
We are working with CSC to address the issue as soon as possible. Its recommended members wait for prefill data to be corrected before lodging. Members who have lodged with the duplicated data may need to complete an amendment to correct this issue.
ATO Communications
We continue to highlight the importance of keeping accurate records and eligibility when claiming deductions in line with our ongoing ‘Back to Basics’ theme.
The ATO Tax Time Spokesperson will be recording the KPMG Tax Now podcast, the Tax Vibe podcast, as well as recording an episode of the NTAA’s Tax on the Couch.
An ATO Community language officer will be interviewed on SBS in Hindi on the importance of using a registered tax agent, including how to find out if the tax agent is registered and that only a registered tax agent can charge a fee for preparing and lodging your tax return. They will also cover if taxpayers are unsure of their tax obligations or need assistance, they can speak to a registered tax agent.
The first ‘Open Forums’ for this financial year, scheduled on 7 August from 1:00 pm AEST, will cover TPB Code obligations, implementation and compliance guidance, and Small Business focus areas for the upcoming quarter.
The Tax Professionals Tax Time webcast recording is now available at Tax professionals webcasts | Australian Taxation Office. Topics discussed around tax time include what’s new for individuals and small business clients, preparing your practice, and cyber security.
Superannuation
As of Monday 7 July, 56% of employers have finalised their STP data ensuring their employees have the right information to lodge their 2024–25 income tax returns.
We have reminded members that employer’s STP finalisation declarations are due next Monday 14 July. They should make sure they finalise the data for all employees paid during the financial year. This includes those they haven’t paid for a while, like employees or casuals who stopped work for them during the year.
Member insights and experience
Member comments
A member reminded tax agents that the prefill availability is updated regularly, and encouraged members to promote information on Pre-fill availability across their networks via their newsletters and tax time communications, etc.
From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today.
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of a voyager on board, Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, was both a tragic and a seminal moment in the long campaign for a nuclear-free Pacific.
It was so startling that many of us still remember where we were when the news came through. I was in Zimbabwe on my way to join the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Women in Nairobi. In Harare I met for the first time New Zealand Anglican priest Father Michael Lapsley who, in that same city in 1990, was severely disabled by a parcel bomb delivered by the intelligence service of the apartheid regime in South Africa. These two bombings, of the Rainbow Warrior and of Michael, have been sad reminders to me of the price so many have paid for their commitment to peace and justice.
It was also very poignant for me to meet Fernando’s daughter, Marelle, in Auckland in 2005. Her family suffered a loss which no family should have to bear. In August 1985, I was at the meeting of the Labour Party caucus when it was made known that the police had identified a woman in their custody as a French intelligence officer. Then in September, French prime minister Laurent Fabius confirmed that French secret agents had indeed sunk the Rainbow Warrior. The following year, a UN-mediated agreement saw the convicted agents leave New Zealand and a formal apology, a small amount of compensation, and undertakings on trade given by France — the latter after New Zealand perishable goods had been damaged in port in France.
Both 1985 and 1986 were momentous years for New Zealand’s assertion of its nuclear-free positioning which was seen as provocative by its nuclear-armed allies. On 4 February 1985, the United States was advised that its naval vessel, the Buchanan, could not enter a New Zealand port because it was nuclear weapons-capable and the US “neither confirm nor deny” policy meant that New Zealand could not establish whether it was nuclear weapons-armed or not.
In Manila in July 1986, a meeting between prime minister David Lange and US Secretary of State George Schultz confirmed that neither New Zealand nor the US were prepared to change their positions and that New Zealand’s engagement in ANZUS was at an end. Secretary Schultz famously said that “We part company as friends, but we part company as far as the alliance is concerned”.
Pour les 40 ans de l’attentat de la France contre le Rainbow Warrior, le journaliste néo-zélandais @DavidRobie publie une nouvelle édition de son livre sur le dernier voyage du navire de Greenpeace. Préfacée par Helen Clark, ex-PM de Nouvelle-Zélandehttps://t.co/n1v8Nduel6
New Zealand passed its Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act in 1987. Since that time, until now, the country has on a largely bipartisan basis maintained its nuclear-free policy as a fundamental tenet of its independent foreign policy. But storm clouds are gathering.
Australia’s decision to enter a nuclear submarine purchase programme with the United States is one of those. There has been much speculation about a potential Pillar Two of the AUKUS agreement which would see others in the region become partners in the development of advanced weaponry. This is occurring in the context of rising tensions between the United States and China.
Many of us share the view that New Zealand should be a voice for deescalation, not for enthusiastic expansion of nuclear submarine fleets in the Pacific and the development of more lethal weaponry.
Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior . . . publication 10 July 2025. Image: David Robie/Little Island Press
Nuclear war is an existential threat to humanity. Far from receding, the threat of use of nuclear weapons is ever present. The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists now sits at 89 seconds to midnight. It references the Ukraine theatre where the use of nuclear weapons has been floated by Russia. The arms control architecture for Europe is unravelling, leaving the continent much less secure. India and Pakistan both have nuclear arsenals. The Middle East is a tinder box with the failure of the Iran nuclear deal and with Israel widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. North Korea continues to develop its nuclear weapons capacity. An outright military conflict between China and the United States would be one between two nuclear powers with serious ramifications for East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific, and far beyond.
August 2025 marks the eightieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A survivors’ group, Nihon Hidankyo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. They bear tragic witness to the horror of the use of nuclear weapons. The world must heed their voice now and at all times.
In the current global turbulence, New Zealand needs to reemphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament. New Zealanders were clear — we did not want to be defended by nuclear weapons. We wanted our country to be a force for diplomacy and for dialogue, not for warmongering.
The multilateral system is now in crisis — across all its dimensions. The UN Security Council is paralysed by great power tensions. The United States is unlikely to pay its dues to the UN under the Trump presidency, and others are unlikely to fill the substantial gap which that leaves. Its humanitarian, development, health, human rights, political and peacekeeping, scientific and cultural arms all face fiscal crises.
This is the time for New Zealand to link with the many small and middle powers across regions who have a vision for a world characterised by solidarity and peace and which can rise to the occasion to combat the existential challenges it faces — including of nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence. If our independent foreign policy is to mean anything in the mid-2020s, it must be based on concerted diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.
Movement back towards an out-of-date alliance, from which New Zealand disengaged four decades ago, and its current tentacles, offers no safe harbour — on the contrary, these destabilise the region within which we live and the wide trading relationships we have. May this new edition of David Robie’s Eyes of Fire remind us of our nuclear-free journey and its relevance as a lode star in these current challenging times.
The 40th anniversary edition of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior by David Robie ($50, Little Island Press) can be purchased from Little Island Press.
From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today.
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of a voyager on board, Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, was both a tragic and a seminal moment in the long campaign for a nuclear-free Pacific.
It was so startling that many of us still remember where we were when the news came through. I was in Zimbabwe on my way to join the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Women in Nairobi. In Harare I met for the first time New Zealand Anglican priest Father Michael Lapsley who, in that same city in 1990, was severely disabled by a parcel bomb delivered by the intelligence service of the apartheid regime in South Africa. These two bombings, of the Rainbow Warrior and of Michael, have been sad reminders to me of the price so many have paid for their commitment to peace and justice.
It was also very poignant for me to meet Fernando’s daughter, Marelle, in Auckland in 2005. Her family suffered a loss which no family should have to bear. In August 1985, I was at the meeting of the Labour Party caucus when it was made known that the police had identified a woman in their custody as a French intelligence officer. Then in September, French prime minister Laurent Fabius confirmed that French secret agents had indeed sunk the Rainbow Warrior. The following year, a UN-mediated agreement saw the convicted agents leave New Zealand and a formal apology, a small amount of compensation, and undertakings on trade given by France — the latter after New Zealand perishable goods had been damaged in port in France.
Both 1985 and 1986 were momentous years for New Zealand’s assertion of its nuclear-free positioning which was seen as provocative by its nuclear-armed allies. On 4 February 1985, the United States was advised that its naval vessel, the Buchanan, could not enter a New Zealand port because it was nuclear weapons-capable and the US “neither confirm nor deny” policy meant that New Zealand could not establish whether it was nuclear weapons-armed or not.
In Manila in July 1986, a meeting between prime minister David Lange and US Secretary of State George Schultz confirmed that neither New Zealand nor the US were prepared to change their positions and that New Zealand’s engagement in ANZUS was at an end. Secretary Schultz famously said that “We part company as friends, but we part company as far as the alliance is concerned”.
Pour les 40 ans de l’attentat de la France contre le Rainbow Warrior, le journaliste néo-zélandais @DavidRobie publie une nouvelle édition de son livre sur le dernier voyage du navire de Greenpeace. Préfacée par Helen Clark, ex-PM de Nouvelle-Zélandehttps://t.co/n1v8Nduel6
New Zealand passed its Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act in 1987. Since that time, until now, the country has on a largely bipartisan basis maintained its nuclear-free policy as a fundamental tenet of its independent foreign policy. But storm clouds are gathering.
Australia’s decision to enter a nuclear submarine purchase programme with the United States is one of those. There has been much speculation about a potential Pillar Two of the AUKUS agreement which would see others in the region become partners in the development of advanced weaponry. This is occurring in the context of rising tensions between the United States and China.
Many of us share the view that New Zealand should be a voice for deescalation, not for enthusiastic expansion of nuclear submarine fleets in the Pacific and the development of more lethal weaponry.
Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior . . . publication 10 July 2025. Image: David Robie/Little Island Press
Nuclear war is an existential threat to humanity. Far from receding, the threat of use of nuclear weapons is ever present. The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists now sits at 89 seconds to midnight. It references the Ukraine theatre where the use of nuclear weapons has been floated by Russia. The arms control architecture for Europe is unravelling, leaving the continent much less secure. India and Pakistan both have nuclear arsenals. The Middle East is a tinder box with the failure of the Iran nuclear deal and with Israel widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. North Korea continues to develop its nuclear weapons capacity. An outright military conflict between China and the United States would be one between two nuclear powers with serious ramifications for East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific, and far beyond.
August 2025 marks the eightieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A survivors’ group, Nihon Hidankyo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. They bear tragic witness to the horror of the use of nuclear weapons. The world must heed their voice now and at all times.
In the current global turbulence, New Zealand needs to reemphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament. New Zealanders were clear — we did not want to be defended by nuclear weapons. We wanted our country to be a force for diplomacy and for dialogue, not for warmongering.
The multilateral system is now in crisis — across all its dimensions. The UN Security Council is paralysed by great power tensions. The United States is unlikely to pay its dues to the UN under the Trump presidency, and others are unlikely to fill the substantial gap which that leaves. Its humanitarian, development, health, human rights, political and peacekeeping, scientific and cultural arms all face fiscal crises.
This is the time for New Zealand to link with the many small and middle powers across regions who have a vision for a world characterised by solidarity and peace and which can rise to the occasion to combat the existential challenges it faces — including of nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence. If our independent foreign policy is to mean anything in the mid-2020s, it must be based on concerted diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.
Movement back towards an out-of-date alliance, from which New Zealand disengaged four decades ago, and its current tentacles, offers no safe harbour — on the contrary, these destabilise the region within which we live and the wide trading relationships we have. May this new edition of David Robie’s Eyes of Fire remind us of our nuclear-free journey and its relevance as a lode star in these current challenging times.
The 40th anniversary edition of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior by David Robie ($50, Little Island Press) can be purchased from Little Island Press.
More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24-hours after Health NZ failed to address their safe staffing concerns.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) Chief Executive Paul Goulter says there was strong support from members to take strike action after a new offer from Te Whatu Ora last week was worse than a previous one in May.
“This latest offer from Te Whatu Ora fails to address concerns about safe staffing despite them being raised continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process.
“Patients are at risk because of short staffing. Nurses, midwives and health care assistants are stretched too thin and can’t give patients the care they need. This is heartbreaking for our exhausted members who became health care workers because they want to help people.
“Te Whatu Ora data obtained by NZNO under the Official Information Act shows between January and November last year, 50% of all days shifts were understaffed across hospital wards in 16 health districts,” Paul Goulter says. (see table in editor’s notes)
To “add insult to injury” members have again been offered a wage increase which doesn’t meet cost of living increases and will see them and their whānau go backwards financially, he says.
“There were 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia in the past year. We know some of them are burnt out nurses moving for better conditions and wages.
“Te Whatu Ora needs to do more to retain our nursing workforce, employ graduate nurses and ensure patients get the care they need. This is about the health and wellbeing of real people and their whānau, not the need to meet some arbitrary budget set by the Government.
“It looks like this Government has lost control of health,” Paul Goulter says.
Notes:
-The nationwide strike will be held from 9am on Wednesday 30 July until 9am on Thursday 31 July.
-The strike will be a complete withdrawal of labour at every place in New Zealand where Te Whatu Ora provides health care or hospital care services.
-Life preserving services will continue to be provided.
Outcrops of shocked rocks from the Miralga impact structure.Aaron Cavosie
Ever been late because you misread a clock? Sometimes, the “clocks” geologists use to date events can also be misread. Unravelling Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history with rocks is tricky business.
Case in point: the discovery of an ancient meteorite impact crater was recently reported in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. The original study, by a different group, made headlines with the claim the crater formed 3.5 billion years ago. If true, it would be Earth’s oldest by far.
As it turns out, we’d also been investigating the same site. Our results are published in Science Advances today. While we agree that this is the site of an ancient meteorite impact, we have reached different conclusions about its age, size and significance.
Let’s consider the claims made about this fascinating crater.
One impact crater, two versions of events
Planetary scientists search for ancient impacts to learn about Earth’s early formation. So far, nobody has found an impact crater older than the 2.23-billion-year-old Yarrabubba structure, also in Australia. (Some of the authors from both 2025 Pilbara studies were coauthors on the 2020 Yarrabubba study.)
The new contender is located in an area called North Pole Dome. Despite the name, this isn’t where Santa lives. It’s an arid, hot, ochre-stained landscape.
The sun sets on the arid landscape of North Pole Dome in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Alec Brenner
The first report on the new crater claimed it formed 3.5 billion years ago, and was more than 100 kilometres in diameter. It was proposed that such a large impact might have played a role in forming continental crust in the Pilbara. More speculatively, the researchers also suggested it may have influenced early life.
Our study concludes the impact actually happened much later, sometime after 2.7 billion years ago. This is at least 800 million years younger than the earlier estimate (and we think it’s probably even younger; more on that in a moment).
We also determined the crater was much smaller – about 16km in diameter. In our view, this impact was too young and too small to have influenced continent formation or early life.
So how could two studies arrive at such different findings?
Subtle clues of an impact
The originally circular crater is deeply eroded, leaving only subtle clues on the landscape. However, among the rust-coloured basalts are unique telltale signs of meteorite impact: shatter cones.
Outcrop photo of shatter cones in basalt at the Miralga impact structure. The black pen cap is 5cm long. Alec Brenner
Shatter cones are distinctive fossilised imprints of shock waves that have passed through rocks. Their unique conical shapes form under brief but immense pressure where a meteorite strikes Earth.
Both studies found shatter cones, and agree the site is an ancient impact.
This new crater also needed a name. We consulted the local Aboriginal people, the Nyamal, who shared the traditional name for this place and its people: Miralga. The “Miralga impact structure” name recognises this heritage.
Determining the timing of the impact
The impact age was estimated by field observations, as neither study found material likely to yield an impact age by radiometric dating – a method that uses measurements of radioactive isotopes.
Both studies applied a geological principle called the law of superposition. This states that rock layers get deposited one on top of another over time, so rocks on top are younger than those below.
Example of the law of superposition, known as Hutton’s unconformity, at Siccar Point Scotland. The gently dipping layered rocks at the top left were deposited onto – and are therefore younger than – the nearly vertical layered rocks at the bottom right. Anne Burgess/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
The first group found shatter cones within and below a sedimentary layer known to have been deposited 3.47 billion years ago, but no shatter cones in younger rocks above this layer. This meant the impact occurred during deposition of the sedimentary layer.
Their observation seemed to be a “smoking gun” for an impact 3.47 billion years ago.
As it turns out, there was more to the story.
Our investigation found shatter cones in the same 3.47 billion-year-old rocks, but also in younger overlying rocks, including lavas known to have erupted 2.77 billion years ago.
Outcrop of shatter cones in 2.77-billion-year-old basalt at the Miralga impact structure. These lavas are the youngest rocks in the area we found to have shatter cones. They have distinctive holes (vesicles) representing trapped gas bubbles. The pen is 15cm long. Aaron Cavosie
The impact had to occur after the formation of the youngest rocks that contained shatter cones, meaning sometime after the 2.77-billion-year-old lavas.
At the moment, we don’t know precisely how young the crater is. We can only constrain the impact to have occurred between 2.7 billion and 400 million years ago. We’re working on dating the impact by isotopic methods, but these results aren’t yet in.
Smaller than originally thought
We made the first map showing where shatter cones are found. There are many hundreds over an area 6km across. From this map and their orientations, we calculate the original crater was about 16km in diameter.
A 16km crater is a far cry from the original estimate of more than 100km. It’s too small to have influenced the formation of continents or life. By the time of the impact, the Pilbara was already quite old.
Artist’s depiction looking northwest across the Pilbara, over the 16km-wide Miralga crater. The crater is shown 3km above the modern land surface to account for the deep erosion that has since erased it. The crater size is based on the distribution of shatter cones (inset). The cones point up and back towards the original ‘ground zero’ of the impact. Maps produced using Google Earth Studio. Alec Brenner
A new connection to Mars
Science is a self-policing sport. Claims of discovery are based on data available at the time, but they often require modification based on new data or observations.
While it’s not the world’s oldest, the Miralga impact is scientifically unique, as craters formed in basalt are rare. Most basalts there formed 3.47 billion years ago, making them the oldest shocked target rocks known.
Prior to impact, these ancient basalts had been chemically altered by seawater. Sedimentary rocks nearby also contain the earliest well-established fossils on Earth. Such rocks likely covered much of early Earth and Mars.
This makes the Miralga impact structure a playground for planetary scientists studying the cratered surface (and maybe early life) of Mars. It’s an easily accessible proving ground for Mars exploration instruments and imagery, right here on Earth.
Aaron J. Cavosie receives or has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the US National Science Foundation, and NASA.
Alec Brenner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Reality TV series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a number of social media influencers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who rose to prominence through social media, and particularly TikTok.
The show is based in Utah, United States, where the church has its headquarters. But it stands in stark contrast with the stereotypical perception of Mormons – and especially Mormon women – the church has promoted for more than a century.
Through its exploration of traditionally “taboo” topics such as sex, marital issues, mental illness and sexual abuse, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives clashes against the church’s carefully curated public image.
Historical pariahs
Historically, the church’s practice of polygamy placed it at odds with the mainstream sexual and familial norms of 19th century America.
Polygamy had been practised by Mormons since at least the 1830s, and was officially announced as permissible by the church in 1852. The church now acknowledges its founder, Joseph Smith, married almost 40 women and teenage girls before his death in 1844.
When Mormon missionaries began to proselytise throughout the world, newspapers criticised the practice, and Mormons were framed as sexual deviants and racialised “pariahs”. In other words, Mormons were presented as being racially different to the rest of white American society. This claim was even supported by doctors at the time.
To Mormons, however, polygamy was a reintroduction of the correct form of marriage, and they pointed to biblical prophets to justify it.
In 1862, the US congress passed a series of laws aimed at abolishing polygamy. This resulted in the arrest of church leaders and the confiscation of church-owned funds and properties in Utah.
Then, in the 1870s, exposés written by former Mormons (particularly women) decried polygamy as evil, increasing hostility against Mormon leaders.
Ann Eliza Webb Young, ex-wife of Mormon prophet Brigham Young, wrote the exposé ‘Wife No. 19, Or The Story of Life in Bondage’. Internet Archive Open Library
In 1890, church leader Wilford Woodruff announced in a revelation known as the Manifesto that polygamy would cease. The Manifesto was accepted by most Mormons as the government’s harassment increased. However, breakaway groups called “fundamentalists” continued the practice.
Today, Mormon scriptures continue to state polygamy is the correct form of marriage, and will exist in the afterlife.
The stereotypical Mormon
Since the ending of polygamy, the church has sought to establish itself as a moral equal to mainstream Christian norms, especially sexual norms. In 1995, it released a document titled Family: A Proclamation to the World which emphasised the view that heterosexual marriage and strict gender roles are divinely ordained.
The 1995 official Mormon document, ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’. BYU Scholar Arcive
In doing so, it has promoted unique doctrines and practices, such as sexual abstinence before marriage, and a particular health code called the Word of Wisdom which bars alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco.
These doctrines, and existing stereotypes of Mormons, are examined in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Before the show was released, the church published a general statement saying media portrayals of Mormons “often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members”. It has yet to directly comment on the show.
Nonetheless, the representation of Mormons in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is problematic for the church, because it transgresses its highly curated image of Mormonism.
As the influencers put it, there is a desire to push back against stereotypes around Mormonism, and particularly Mormon women. These stereotypes have been crystallised by the church to combat perceptions of Mormons as sexually abhorrent, due to past practices of polygamy.
There is also a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement that while the church prohibits stimulants such as tea, coffee and alcohol, Mormons within Utah and surrounds still consume other, somewhat surprising, substances. For instance, the use of ketamine in therapy is allowed when administered by a healthcare professional.
The series also engages with topics considered taboo in the church, such as marital issues, mental health struggles and consensual sex. Even if these are being played up by the cast or producers, such discussions are lacking in broader Mormon circles.
Importantly, there are admissions by some cast members, including one of the husbands, of being sexually abused as children. According to the cast members themselves, these disclosures are intended to empower viewers who may have had similar experiences.
This is a powerful critique, because the Mormon church has come under intense scrutiny for its failure to properly respond to child sexual assault, both in the US and globally.
The next steps
The show is having a marked impact on perceptions of Mormonism, despite the church’s stance it doesn’t represent the beliefs and lifestyle of Mormons more broadly.
For many viewers, it might be their introduction to the religion. This is concerning for adherents, and particularly for the church’s leadership.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion special aired earlier this month. Hulu
There are internal tools the church could use against the show’s cast members, such as disciplinary councils or excommunication. But these would be ineffective since only about half the members consider themselves “faithful” Mormons.
It’s interesting the church has yet to condemn the show. Perhaps maintaining an image of reluctant acceptance is more important, as in recent years the church has been criticised for overreach against its own members.
In this case, the show would be an uncomfortable reality the church will just have to live with. Either way, the damage to the stereotypical Mormon image is done.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to stream on Disney+.
Brenton Griffin was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is no longer a practising member of the church. His research is focused on the religion’s place in Australian and New Zealand popular culture, politics, and society from the 19th century to present.
The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable.
Headgear was originally designed to protect players from cuts and abrasions. But players still hope it will offer them a degree of protection against the collisions they experience in the game. Some players adopt it after previous concussions.
We’re now seeing increasing numbers of professional players opting in. The Irish men’s team, for example, field up to five players each match sporting headgear. In Japan, it’s mandatory for juniors. And more parents in New Zealand are making their children wear it, too.
The exact specifications for rugby match kit – boots, shorts, shoulder pads and
headgear – are regulated through World Rugby’s Law 4 and Regulation 12. In 2019, the governing body launched a trial enabling players to wear headgear with new technical specifications in training and matches.
The specifications have meant manufacturers can take advantage of novel “isotropic” materials that can potentially reduce the impact forces experienced by players.
Conventional headgear is composed of soft foams that flatten when a player’s head collides with the ground or another player. As such, they can only minimally absorb those collision forces.
Isotropic materials behave differently. They can absorb impacts from multiple directions and may offer a level of protection against the effects on a player’s head of a tackle or other collision event.
Given these changes, and in light of recent research, we may need to change the narrative around rugby headgear: while it may not prevent concussion, it might reduce the total contact “burden” experienced by players in a game and over a whole season. And this could have benefits for long-term brain health.
Impacts across seasons and careers
Contact in rugby – through tackles, at the breakdown, and in scrums and lineouts – leads to players experiencing a number of collisions or “head acceleration events”. This contact is most commonly head to ground, head to body or head to head.
By having players use “smart” mouthguards with embedded micro-accelerometers and gyroscopes to capture head movements, researchers can now measure each collision and each player’s contact load in a game – and potentially over a career.
A player’s total contact load is found by adding together the magnitude of the impacts they experience in a game. These are measured as “peak linear accelerations” or “peak rotational accelerations”.
While past research and media attention has focused on concussion, it has become clear the total contact burden in training and matches – the total “sub-concussive knocks” through head acceleration events – may be as important, if not more so.
One of our own research projects involved following 40 under-16 players wearing smart mouthguards for all training and matches across one season. Peak Linear accelerations are measured as a g-force (g). Activities such as such as running, jumping and shaking the head would measure under 8g, for example, whereas heading a soccer ball might measure 31g.
The results of our study showed the players differed greatly in their cumulative exposure over a whole season, from 300g to nearly 14,000g. These differences would be amplified further over an entire rugby career.
Some of the variation is likely due to a player’s team position, with loose forwards having a greater burden than others. But it also seems some players just enjoy the contact aspects of the game more than others.
Rugby is an impact sport: the Ireland and England women’s teams clash in 2025. Getty Images
Potential benefits of new headgear materials
Researcher Helen Murray at the University of Auckland has highlighted the need for more research into the burden of collisions, rather than just concussions, over a rugby career. In particular, we need to know more about its effect on future brain health.
We hope to contribute to this by following our existing cohort of players through their careers. In the meantime, our research has examined the potential of existing rugby headgear and new isotropic materials to mitigate peak accelerations in rugby collisions.
Using the field data collected from male and female players over the past four seasons, we have designed laboratory testing protocols to compare the conventional and newer materials.
The results suggest the new forms of headgear do have the potential to reduce the impact burden for players.
We found 55–90% of head acceleration events do involve direct contact with the head. As such, collision-mitigation headgear could be beneficial. And our laboratory testing produced an estimated 30% reduction in peak linear accelerations with the headgear compared to without.
The nature of concussion is complex and related to the size of an impact as well as its direction and angle. For instance, we observed the concussions experienced by the junior players occurred between 12g and 62g – well below the male threshold of 70g requiring professional players to be removed from the field for a head injury assessment.
Currently, it seems unlikely headgear can prevent concussion. But it does appear new headgear materials could significantly reduce the total impact burden for players during their careers. And this may help safeguard their future brain health.
Nick Draper receives funding from the Health Research Council, Cure Kids, the Neurological Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Pacific Radiology Group, the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the UC Foundation.
There’s been much talk recently – especially among politicians – about productivity. And for good reason: Australia’s labour productivity growth sits at a 60-year low.
To address this, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened a productivity round table next month. This will coincide with the release of an interim report from the Productivity Commission, which is looking at five pillars of reform. One of these is the role of data and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
But what do we really know about how AI impacts productivity?
What is productivity?
Put simply, productivity is how much output (goods and services) we can produce from a given amount of inputs (such as labour and raw materials). It matters because higher productivity typically translates to a higher standard of living. Productivity growth has accounted for 80% of Australia’s income growth over the past three decades.
Productivity can be thought of as individual, organisational or national.
Your individual productivity is how efficiently you manage your time and resources to complete tasks. How many emails can you respond to in an hour? How many products can you check for defects in a day?
Organisational productivity is how well an organisation achieves its goals. For example, in a research organisation, how many top-quality research papers are produced?
National productivity is the economic efficiency of a nation, often measured as gross domestic product per hour worked. It is effectively an aggregate of the other forms. But it’s notoriously difficult to track how changes in individual or organisational productivity translate into national GDP per hour worked.
AI and individual productivity
The nascent research examining the relationship between AI and individual productivity shows mixed results.
A 2025 real-world study of AI and productivity involved 776 experienced product professionals at US multinational company Procter & Gamble. The study showed that individuals randomly assigned to use AI performed as well as a team of two without. A similar study in 2023 with 750 consultants from Boston Consulting Group found tasks were 18% faster with generative AI.
A 2023 paper reported on an early generative AI system in a Fortune 500 software company used by 5,200 customer support agents. The system showed a 14% increase in the number of issues resolved per hour. For less experienced agents, productivity increased by 35%.
But AI doesn’t always increase individual productivity.
A survey of 2,500 professionals found generative AI actually increased workload for 77% of workers. Some 47% said they didn’t know how to unlock productivity benefits. The study points to barriers such as the need to verify and/or correct AI outputs, the need for AI upskilling, and unreasonable expectations about what AI can do.
A recent CSIRO study examined the daily use of Microsoft 365 Copilot by 300 employees of a government organisation. While the majority self-reported productivity benefits, a sizeable minority (30%) did not. Even those workers who reported productivity improvements expected greater productivity benefits than were delivered.
AI and organisational productivity
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to attribute changes in an organisation’s productivity to the introduction of AI. Businesses are sensitive to many social and organisational factors, any one of which could be the reason for a change in productivity.
Nevertheless, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has estimated the productivity benefits of traditional AI – that is, machine learning applied for an industry-specific task – to be zero to 11% at the organisational level.
A 2024 summary paper cites independent studies showing increases in organisational productivity from AI in Germany, Italy and Taiwan.
In contrast, a 2022 analysis of 300,000 US firms didn’t find a significant correlation between AI adoption and productivity, but did for other technologies such as robotics and cloud computing. Likely explanations are that AI hasn’t yet had an effect on many firms, or simply that it’s too hard to disentangle the impact of AI given it’s never applied in isolation.
AI productivity increases can also sometimes be masked by additional human labour needed to train or operate AI systems. Take Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology for shops.
More generally, think about the unknown number (but likely millions) of people paid to label data for AI models.
AI and national productivity
The picture at a national level is even murkier.
Clearly, AI hasn’t yet impacted national productivity. It can be argued that technology developments take time to affect national productivity, as companies need to figure out how to use the technology and put the necessary infrastructure and skills in place.
The common narrative around AI and productivity is that AI automates mundane tasks, making us faster at doing things and giving us more time for creative pursuits. This, however, is a naive view of how work happens.
Just because you can deal with your inbox more quickly doesn’t mean you’ll spend your afternoon on the beach. The more emails you fire off, the more you’ll receive back, and the never-ending cycle continues.
Imagine a world in which AI isn’t simply about speeding up tasks but proactively slows us down, to give us space to be more innovative, and more productive. That’s the real untapped opportunity with AI.
Jon Whittle works at CSIRO which receives R&D funding from a wide range of government and industry clients.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the president is “forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other”.
Trump, who has craved the award for years, sees himself as a global peacemaker in a raft of conflicts from Israel and Iran, to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With the conflict in Gaza still raging, we ask five experts – could Trump be rewarded with the world’s most prestigious peace prize?
Emma Shortis is Director of International and Security Affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank.
Jasmine-Kim Westendorf has received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Shahram Akbarzadeh receives funding from Australia Research Council.
Ali Mamouri and Ian Parmeter 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.
The ABC dodged a bullet in the Australian election. The Albanese government supports the ABC. In the United States, however, the 2024 presidential election severely wounded public media in America.
Fresh from his decisive victory in Congress – passage of the One Big Beautiful bill that locks in the legislation to prosecute Trump’s domestic policy agenda – Trump is demanding Congress cancel funding for public media, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). Hardliners in the US House of Representatives have already voted to end all federal funding for public media. The Senate will vote on this issue in mid-July.
We have tale of two vital and powerful media institutions in Australia and the US. What happens over there can affect what happens here.
Towards the end of Australia’s election campaign, Peter Dutton, then leader of the Liberal Party, opened up on the ABC. He looped in The Guardian for good measure. And he implied other media deserved his words:
Forget about what you have been told by the ABC, The Guardian and the other hate media.
Dutton’s words embellished previous policies under Coalition governments, with budget cuts to the ABC of over $500 million, and several inquiries into the degree of ABC’s neutrality and objectivity in its coverage of news and current affairs.
Kim Williams, chair of the ABC, said the network would “perform well” under any scrutiny from a Dutton government. Dutton himself, shortly before the election, demanded the ABC show “excellence” in order to prove to taxpayers that its almost $1.2 billion annual budget was justified.
The Coalition’s defeat aided the ABC’s victory in its longstanding quest for financial stability and future growth. The ABC can continue to build on the commitments established by the Albanese Labor government in 2023 – even though there are choppy waters for the ABC as its new leadership makes programming and staffing decisions for the years ahead.
With a new Coalition shadow cabinet in place, we will see as future budgets play out whether they have changed their tune on their approach to the ABC.
We will see how both the government and the Coalition react to Kim Williams’ powerful case he recently presented for “more investment for much-needed renewal” in the ABC.
Public media in Trump’s America
In America today, public media are facing Trump’s wrath.
Trump’s hatred of mainstream media is legendary. For the past decade, Trump has called the major media outlets the “enemy of the people” – the same label that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin used against those who dared to oppose him.
In his second term, Trump is engaged in aggressive muscling of the enemies he sees in the media. The Associated Press is barred from the pool of journalists covering the president. Trump has silenced the Voice of America. The US ABC and CBS television networks have both settled lawsuits filed by Trump to seek damages for their broadcast coverage of him and the 2024 presidential campaign. The price to help avoid regulatory punishment by the government of those two networks: $US16 million (A$24.5 million) each.
For a country that established freedom of the press under its Constitution, Trump’s attacks on news media are an ongoing assault on America’s democracy.
Trump’s attacks on PBS and NPR show the existential threat they face.
In 1967, Congress established and funded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to bring to life public television and radio across America. Money from CPB supports the stations. The stations contract with PBS and NPR to help produce the programming they air, from the PBS NewsHour, Frontline and Sesame Street on PBS to Morning Edition and All Things Considered on NPR – and much more.
Trump holds the same sentiment that Dutton expressed against the ABC – that the public broadcasters are biased toward the “extreme woke Marxist left”. Trump wrote on Truth Social that:
Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of the most influential Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, was in-your-face direct on the case against public media:
This bill’s real simple. Don’t spend money on stupid things, and don’t subsidize biased media.
In late April, Trump ordered the firing of three of CPB’s five directors. On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that will savage public media’s existence:
At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage […] The CPB fails to abide by these principles to the extent it subsidizes NPR and PBS.“
Public media has filed red-hot lawsuits against Trump and his officials for crushing the First Amendment free-speech rights of public televion and radio stations, and for cancelling funds appropriated by Congress. The court rulings in these cases will be crucial to the outcome.
The last near-fatal threat to public broadcasting was in 1981, when President Ronald Reagan sought Congress’ approval to decimate its funding. Under Reagan conservatism, media belong in the private sector. The conservative’s political bias against public broadcasting framed the push to cancel government funding.
But Congress rose up successfully against the Reagan cuts – led not only by Democrats but with Senate Republicans from rural states who understood how important public broadcasting was to their communities. Their budgets were trimmed, but PBS and NPR were not decapitated.
Lessons for the ABC
The same is true here: ABC stations in country areas are similarly held in high regard.
The cuts to public media passed the US House by one vote on June 12.
The Senate will vote in the coming days. We will see if some Senate Republicans who voted against Trump’s One Big Beautiful bill last week will stand up again and vote to buck Trump on this issue and protect public media in their states.
If Trump succeeds in silencing public media in America, the Trump echo chamber in Australia will take note. Some hard conservatives in Canberra and the Murdoch media will likely leverage Congress’ approval of Trump’s order that PBS and NPR be punished for their left-wing bias and that public media should become the province of the private sector. Defunding public media in the US will sustain the sentiment that one day, under a future government here, the scythe will be wielded at the ABC.
If the US Senate supports Trump, the fight for the ABC in Australia – not just over money, but over its role, responsibilities and standing in Australia – may not be over.
Bruce Wolpe is a (non-resident) Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. The views expressed herein are his own. Wolpe served on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He worked on the Democratic staff in Congress on public broadcasting issues and was an executive with NPR. He is the author of two books on Trump and Australia.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — China has always been the most reliable stabilizing force in a turbulent world and the most dependable partner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to address challenges, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Thursday.
Noting that China and ASEAN share similar development concepts, common demands and integrated interests, Wang said when attending the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held here that China regards ASEAN as a priority direction for neighborhood diplomacy and a pioneer area for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
“We should support and achieve success for each other in promoting the modernization process of Asia,” said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Wang briefed the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation and put forward four proposals.
Firstly, to be a model in defending international fairness and justice. Wang said that China and ASEAN must resolutely safeguard the global system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law.
China supports ASEAN’s central position in the regional architecture and its greater role in regional and international affairs. China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to practice open regionalism and true multilateralism and make greater contributions to regional and global governance.
Secondly, to be a model for maintaining regional peace and stability. Wang said that the peace and stability in the region are extremely precious and should be firmly safeguarded, and geopolitical conflicts or bloc confrontations should not be introduced into Asia, adding that China is willing to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone.
Wang said that the South China Sea is the common home of regional countries, rather than a “gladiatorial arena” for major powers, and China is willing to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries in areas such as marine environmental protection, navigation safety, maritime law enforcement and key marine infrastructure, and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advance consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and always keep the initiative on the South China Sea issue in our own hands.
Thirdly, to set an example of conducting mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. Wang said that China is willing to work with ASEAN to build the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to a high quality, and create a high-level free trade network.
China is willing to continue to take the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform, strengthen connectivity and cooperation in production and supply chains with ASEAN, and create highlights of cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and clean energy.
China speaks highly of ASEAN’s firm commitment to free trade and the multilateral trading system and believes that it is necessary to resolve economic and trade differences through equal dialogue and mutual benefit, safeguard own dignity and the bottom line of principles, and must not do so at the expense of the interests of third parties, Wang said.
Fourthly, to set an example for promoting inclusiveness and mutual learning. China is willing to continue to advocate dialogue, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations with ASEAN countries, Wang said, adding that both sides should jointly well organize the “Year of People-to-People Exchange,” enhance exchanges in education, youth, think tanks, media and other fields, take concrete actions to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and promote mutual understanding, friendship and integration among the people.
The participating countries said that China-ASEAN cooperation is the most dynamic and fruitful. China has always been one of the most important dialogue partners of ASEAN, expressing gratitude to China for its support of ASEAN’s central position.
They said that they are willing to accelerate the alignment of development strategies with China, cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative at a high quality, deepen all-round cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, digital transformation, clean energy and transnational crime, and look forward to the signing of the ASEAN-China free trade area 3.0 protocol within this year to continuously promote regional economic integration.
Appreciating China’s willingness to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, they said they look forward to the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by all parties.
They also said that they are willing to work with China to safeguard multilateralism and the multilateral trading system and jointly address global challenges, further strengthen unity and cooperation with China, jointly advance the modernization process in Asia, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.
During the meeting, Wang also met with foreign ministers of relevant countries.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
More than 80 young people and representatives from 12 countries gathered in Beijing on July 7 for the launch of the “Youth Development for a Shared Future” Summer Camp, organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF).
The seven-day event brings together participants from Armenia, Gambia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand and Uzbekistan to experience Chinese culture.
Participants pose for a group photo at the launch of the “Youth Development for a Shared Future” Summer Camp organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation in Beijing, July 7, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
CSCLF Vice Chairperson Zhang Jiming said the event aims to create a platform for youth from different countries to engage, enhance understanding and friendship, and promote unity and cooperation.
He expressed hope that the participants will strengthen their appreciation of the richness of different civilizations, uphold the spirit of the Silk Road, and contribute to building a global community of shared future.
China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Vice Chairperson Zhang Jiming delivers a speech at the launch event of the “Youth Development for a Shared Future” Summer Camp in Beijing, July 7, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
During the opening ceremony, students from several countries introduced themselves and thanked the foundation for the opportunity.
They said the camp is a valuable way to learn more about Chinese culture, wisdom and heritage, and they looked forward to building lasting friendships.
The summer camp runs from July 6 to 12 and features visits and cultural exchanges in Beijing and Shaanxi province, an area with historical significance to the ancient Silk Road.
Rolleston Police investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in the community are appealing for information from the public.
Senior Constable Matt Barraclough says Police are aware of multiple reports of vehicles having been allegedly broken into in the early hours of Monday 8 July and Friday 11 July.
“These have occurred in the Arbor Green, Harrison Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Brenley Drive areas.”
Police are appealing for any information in relation to these incidents including CCTV or dashcam footage in the surrounding areas.
“Specifically, we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a person riding a scooter in the Brenley Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Harrison Drive areas at around 4am on Friday.”
To ensure their vehicle is not targeted, Police would like to remind the public to lock their vehicles, park in off-street parking or in a well-lit area, remove any valuables that may attract thieves, invest in a steering lock or wheel clamp, and install cameras around and in their vehicle.
If you have any information that may assist us in our enquiries, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or call 105.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 11) announced the reappointment of Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) for two years with effect from July 1, 2025.
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, “Under Dr Chan’s outstanding leadership over the past four years, SCOLAR continues to collaborate with various stakeholders to organise and support a wide range of activities promoting biliteracy and trilingualism. These efforts are dedicated to enhancing local language strengths at various levels of the community, developing Hong Kong’s language and talent capital, and creating a more conducive language learning environment for the community. “
The EDB also reappointed eight serving members and appointed four new members to SCOLAR, with their terms ending on June 30, 2027.
Dr Choi also thanked the outgoing members, Ms Joanne Fong Yee-man, Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, Mr Armstrong Lee Hon-cheung, and Dr Tse Wai-lok, for their sterling service and contributions to the work of SCOLAR.
“The Government will continue to work closely with SCOLAR to create and cultivate an environment conducive to language learning, with a view to enhancing the public’s biliterate and trilingual proficiency,” she said.
The updated membership list of SCOLAR is as follows:
Chairperson ————— Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen
Reappointed members —————————- Mr Kenny Chan Ngai-sang Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay Ms Cheung Shin-yee Mrs Cindy Chow Lok Mei-ki Mr Mohan Datwani Professor Lo Yuen-yi Mr Pang Chor-fu Professor Zhu Xin-hua
Newly appointed members ———————————- Ms Ip Wan-ting, Belinda Ms Lam Chui-ling, Nancy Mr Kenneth Ng King-tsun Professor Tam Kar-yan
Ex-officio members ———————— Deputy Secretary for Education Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on Chinese Language Education Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on English Language Education Chairperson of Curriculum Development Council’s Committee on Early Childhood Education Chairperson of the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals Secretary-General of Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority or representative
SCOLAR was set up in 1996 to advise the Government on language education issues in general and on the use of the Language Fund.
Albanese released a damning report identifying companies complicit in Israel’s mass killing and mass starvation of civilians in Gaza, provoking the US to sanction her.
PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says it is unacceptable for the US to bully the UN and for New Zealand to stay silent.
“Anyone who stands up for Palestinians is attacked and menaced by the US. New Zealand claims to support the United Nations and the so-called ‘rules-based international order’ but we stay cowardly mute when the Trump administration does Israel’s bidding and attacks United Nations representatives and UN agencies such as the United Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).”
“New Zealand’s silence is eerily reminiscent of western silence as the Nazi regime in 1930s Germany targeted Jews, socialists, communists, gays, and gypsies, and took over country by country through Europe.”
“New Zealanders are calling on the government to sanction Israel, but our government remains cowardly complicit” says Nazzal. “Our silence represents the weakest and worst of human nature.”
“Silence is what empowers racism, genocide and imperial thuggery as personified in US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio’s attack on Albanese.
PSNA, last week, referred four New Zealand government ministers and two business leaders to the International Criminal Court for investigation over their criminal support for Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc
Calling for applications from writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama with a literary track record, who are currently working on a new project.
The Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship is awarded each year to a mid-career or senior writer to work on a project that shows a high level of literary merit and national significance and is donated by Peter Beatson. We thank Peter for his continuing and generous support of New Zealand writers.
In 2024, the fellowship was awarded to Dr Jacqueline Leckie, who used the funding to work on her biography with the working title Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.
Dr Jacqueline Leckie told us she was honoured to be the recipient of the 2024 Peter and Dianne Beatson Fellowship and the Fellowship would enable her to research and write the first book length biography of one of Aotearoa’s most original and memorable poets, Meg Campbell (1937–2007), provisionally titled ‘Meg Campbell (1937–2007): Aroha and Resistance.’ Meg’s story has remained within the shadows of her renowned creative husband, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell.
Other previous recipients include: Laurence Fearnley, Tim Jones, Siobhan Harvey, Whiti Hereaka, Emma Neale, Michael Harlow, Tina Makereti, Jillian Sullivan, Sue Wootton, and Frankie McMillan.
Deadline for applications: Thursday 18 September 2025
To apply for the fellowship you need to be a member of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc). Membership is open to all developing and established writers. New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori and its developing Youth writer’s network.
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa PEN NZ Inc is the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. Founded in 1934, it advocates for the right to fair reward and creative rights, administers prizes and awards, works closely with the literary sector and runs professional development programmes for writers among other activities. authors.org.nz
The Government’s Temporary Accommodation Service has been activated today to support people affected by severe weather in the Tasman and Nelson Region, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Temporary Accommodation Service is accepting registrations from displaced residents in Tasman and Nelson who need assistance finding temporary accommodation.
“With further rainfall expected, it’s essential people are swiftly supported into secure temporary accommodation, whether that be hotels, motels or otherwise.
“MBIE is working closely with Civil Defence Emergency Management, the National Emergency Management Agency, local councils, and the Ministry of Social Development to ensure a seamless transition for people in need to access safe, appropriate accommodation,” Mr Potaka says.
“Agencies are also working together to provide wrap-around support including social services, mental health support, financial support and others.”
MBIE has a responsibility to coordinate temporary accommodation following an emergency, as per the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan Order 2015.
People affected by the Tasman and Nelson severe weather who have a current, or expected future need for temporary accommodation, are encouraged to register via the TAS website:www.tas.mbie.govt.nz or email:TemporaryAccommServ@mbie.govt.nz or phone 0508 754 163.
Note to editor:
As TAS has only been taking registrations for a short time, it is too early to confirm numbers at this stage.
With weather warnings for the top of the South Island escalated, local drivers are being urged to keep a close eye on road and weather conditions.
The Metservice has issued a Red Heavy Rain Warning for Tasman district about and southeast of Motueka and north of Lake Rotoroa.
Orange Heavy Rain Warnings are also in force for Tasman District northwest of Motueka, Nelson, and Marlborough northwest of the Awatere Valley.
This weather will affect:
State Highway 60 – Richmond to Collingwood
State Highway 6 – Nelson to Murchison
State Highway 6 – Nelson to Blenheim
State Highway 1 – Picton to Seddon
State Highway 63 – Renwick to Kawatiri Junction
Emma Speight, Director Regional Relationships says Red Warnings must be taken seriously.
“There is no room for complacency. Keep an eye on the weather and avoid unnecessary travel. If you’re in a safe place, stay there and don’t put yourself at risk by driving on flooded roads.”
“It’s also about reducing danger to others too. Respect and obey any road closures that are in place. They are there to keep people safe. Ignoring them not only risks your own safety, but also that of anyone who may be called on to help rescue you,” Ms Speight says.
She also asks people to avoid driving through floodwaters.
“Flood waters can obscure hidden dangers. You just don’t know what is below the surface.”
“Also, driving through flooded areas creates bow waves that can cause more damage to homes and properties. Please, don’t do this,” Ms Speight says.
Contractors are on call and ready to respond to events as they arise and will do their best to keep state highways open.
However, Ms Speight says safety is the priority.
“We are keeping a close eye on areas that suffered damage over the past two weeks – SH6 Kohatu to Kawatiri, SH63 Renwick to Saint Arnaud, and SH6 Rocks Road.”
“If public safety is at risk, roads will be closed. This is why it is critical people keep a close eye on road and weather conditions, and Civil Defence updates. Make sure you know what is happening and how it may affect you,” Ms Speight says.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP-25) officially kicks off with the arrival of the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, led by Rear Admiral Todd F. Cimicata, U.S. Pacific Fleet Executive Agent for Pacific Partnership, and the mission commander, U.S. Navy Captain Mark B. Stefanik.
The PP-25 team, embarked aboard the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to make final preparations ahead of its upcoming port visits throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The PP-25 team will conduct medical exchanges, engineering projects, community outreach, and disaster preparedness engagements with host nation partners.
“Pacific Partnership is a testament to what we can achieve together,” said Cimicata. “By working alongside our allies and partners, we strengthen regional capacity and resilience and lay the foundation for a collective response to crises. It’s about preparing in calm to respond in crisis.”
This year’s PP-25 mission will include mission stops in Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, and Vanuatu. Prior to the USS Pearl Harbor’s departure, separate fly-in missions were conducted in the Philippines, Fiji, and Tonga in June.
“This enduring mission provides us the opportunity to build on our relationships, share expertise, and learn from one another,” said Stefanik. “Our shared experiences help create more resilient communities, and I’m proud to lead a team committed to strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.”
Pacific Partnership brings together more than 1,500 personnel from the United States and participating nations including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Activities will include engineering projects at schools and clinics, medical subject matter expert exchanges, and performances by the Pacific Partnership Band, composed of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet and partner nations.
The mission team will work alongside allies and partners to strengthen relationships, bolster host nation capacity to provide essential humanitarian services, and support efforts to reduce the risk of, prepare for, and respond to disasters.
Every day, the U.S. Pacific Fleet operates to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity for the U.S. and our allies and partners. The U.S. Pacific Fleet continues to advance a shared vision, alongside our allies and partners, of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.
Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on July 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that Britain and France have signed a new deal to allow the two countries to coordinate their nuclear deterrents for the first time.
During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at a military base in Northwood, near London, Starmer said the two countries had signed the Northwood Declaration, a deal designed to show adversaries that any attack on either nation would result in a response from both nations.
For his part, Macron, who will conclude a three-day state visit to Britain later Thursday, highlighted the importance of defense and security cooperation between the two countries, noting that times have changed in Europe and the Britain-France partnership “must change accordingly.”
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Macron said Europe must be able to rely on the strategic collaboration between Britain and France, Europe’s only two nuclear powers.
A statement by Downing Street underscored the “extreme threat to Europe” that would prompt a joint nuclear response. “Any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations,” it said.
Meanwhile, Britain and France plan to order additional highly lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles and step up replenishment of arms depots as part of a renewed defense agreement, according to the statement.
Following a Britain-France Summit at Downing Street and a “coalition of the willing” virtual meeting, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Starmer announced that a new coalition headquarters supporting Ukraine will be established in Paris.
On the issue of migration, the two leaders unveiled a new “one in, one out” scheme to reduce English Channel crossings.
Under the scheme, migrants arriving in Britain via small boats will be “detained and returned to France in short order,” Starmer said. In parallel, individuals who have not previously attempted to cross the Channel illegally will be allowed to enter Britain through a newly created route.
The route will be subject to strict security checks and limited to those meeting the eligibility criteria. Starmer described the plan as “groundbreaking” but didn’t specify how many migrants would be returned.
Macron said he’s “totally committed” to the pilot scheme, which will come into effect within weeks.
However, it remains unclear whether the scheme will serve as an effective deterrent. Despite joint funding and efforts, more than 20,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, marking a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Both Macron and Starmer face rising pressure at home from far-right and anti-immigration sentiment. Addressing the British parliament on Tuesday, Macron described the migration challenge as “a burden” shared by both countries.
Starmer also said the two countries “have gone further” to improve trade and investment, adding that both sides will strengthen collaboration on supercomputers, satellite connectivity, and artificial intelligence.
Macron hailed the development as a “reset” in bilateral ties, noting that trade volumes have topped pre-Brexit levels and the two countries are strengthening their partnerships in civilian nuclear power and cooperating in space exploration.
During his visit, Macron reiterated support for the two-state solution to solving the conflicts in Gaza, and called recognition of the State of Palestine the “only path to peace.”
The visit marks the first state trip to Britain by a French president since 2008, and Macron is the first European Union head of state to visit since Brexit.
Observers said trust between the two sides still needs to be rebuilt after years of tension, particularly during the Brexit negotiations. Macron previously described Brexit as a product of “lies and false promises.” Dialogue between the two nations had diminished following disputes on fishing rights and the Britain-Australia submarine deals.
Sebastien Maillard, an expert at London-based think tank Chatham House, said that “the memory of these difficult times has not vanished” on either side. “Trust needs time to build,” he added.
