Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended greetings to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his birthday and said that he has distinguished himself for his hardworking nature and wisdom. PM Modi praised the Defence Minister’s efforts to make India self-reliant in defence.
“Best wishes to Union Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Ji on his birthday. He’s distinguished himself for his hardworking nature and wisdom. His efforts to make India self-reliant in defence and strengthen our armed forces are commendable. Praying for his long and healthy life,” PM Modi posted on his X handle.
Rajnath Singh was born on this day in 1951 in the Bhabhuara village of Uttar Pradesh. He is one of the senior-most political leaders in the country, having entered politics in 1974 and in 1977 was elected as an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. In October 2000, he became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was the Union Minister of Surface Transport in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre. In 2003, Singh became Minister of Agriculture in Vajpayee’s cabinet at the Centre.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) elected Rajnath Singh as the party president for the term 2013 to 1015. As the BJP National President, he embarked on the Bharat Suraksha Yatra.
In 2014, he became the Union Minister of Home Affairs in the Narendra Modi government, and in 2019, he was made the Defence Minister of the country. He continued with the portfolio in 2024 when the PM Modi-led NDA retained power at the Centre for the third term.
Extending his birthday greetings, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Rajnath Singh was an epitome of ideals, integrity, and restraint in Indian politics.
“ … heartfelt birthday greetings to the Honorable Defense Minister Shri @rajnathsingh ji! Your public life of over five decades is a shining example of national policy, national security, and ethical politics. May the grace of Lord Shri Ram remain upon you. May you be blessed with excellent health and a long life,” wrote CM Yogi on his X handle
The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Australia was held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting reviewed the progress made under ASEAN-Australia cooperation and discussed its future direction. The Ministers explored ways of advancing the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including through the implementation of the Plan of Action (2025–2029), and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. The Meeting was attended by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers or their representatives, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, and Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
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As thousands of New Zealanders take on Dry July, ExerciseNZ is encouraging exercise professionals and facilities to recognise the powerful role exercise plays in supporting alcohol-free living. Since landing in New Zealand in 2012, Dry July has inspired over 61,000 Kiwis to go alcohol-free while raising over $11 million to support people affected by various forms of cancer.
Mounting evidence shows that physical activity not only helps people reduce or abstain from alcohol but also improves mood, reduces cravings, and builds the resilience needed for long-term lifestyle change.
“Exercise is one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support both mental health and behaviour change,” says ExerciseNZ CEO Richard Beddie. “Dry July is a great opportunity for our industry to step up and offer supportive environments for those choosing to go alcohol-free.”
Recent studies have shown:
Just 12 minutes of aerobic exercise can significantly reduce alcohol cravings and anxiety in adults with alcohol use disorder
Structured exercise programmes used alongside alcohol treatment are more effective than treatment alone, with over 75% of studies reporting reduced alcohol intake when exercise is included.
Campaigns like Dry July often lead to increased exercise levels among participants, as people swap drinking for more mindful habits.
These benefits are more than physical. Regular movement boosts endorphins, improves sleep, enhances emotional regulation, and builds routine. All are critical to the success of alcohol-free commitments.
ExerciseNZ is encouraging exercise professionals and facilities to support Dry July participants in ways that promote inclusiveness and wellbeing. This includes, but is not limited to the following support methods.
Create welcoming spaces for new members or returning exercisers who may be seeking positive lifestyle change.
Offer Dry July promotions or challenges.
Encourage group training or classes that help replace social drinking with supportive, community-based activities.
Movement and exercise play a powerful role in helping people reconnect with themselves, often becoming a long-term replacement for unhealthy habits. As the leading voice of the exercise industry in Aotearoa, Exercise New Zealand is well placed to support and guide that positive shift. Dry July can be more than just a fundraiser for cancer support services; it also opens up important conversations about wellbeing, mental health, and reducing alcohol harm. These are all areas where the exercise industry has a crucial and growing role to play.
IWO TO, Japan – U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 participated in Iwo To Live Mine Exercise (MINEX) 2025, a bilateral mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise hosted annually by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the vicinity of Iwo To, Japan, May 29 to June 24.
▲ Galaxy Unpacked 2025 took place at Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn.
On July 9, Samsung Electronics hosted Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in Brooklyn — a borough known for its culture, creativity and spirit of collaboration. Under the theme of “Unfold Ultra,” the event reimagined what’s possible in the era of mobile AI. The all-new Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Flip7 FE and Galaxy Watch8 series showcased seamless integration of Galaxy AI, redefined form factors and transformative performance.
Samsung Newsroom was on the ground at Galaxy Unpacked 2025, where the next chapter of mobile AI innovation unfolded.
Galaxy AI: A True AI Companion
▲ Roh opens the showcase by boldly announcing a new direction for Galaxy AI.
Building on a legacy of human-centered innovation, Samsung’s latest lineup reflects a clear vision — making AI more meaningful, personal and accessible. From slimmer foldables to personalized health-tracking wearables, these devices chart a bold trajectory for how AI companions can support users in every moment.
▲ Roh shares the vision for Galaxy AI as a true AI companion.
“When AI is paired with powerful mobile technology, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities,” said TM Roh, President, Acting Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “The biggest breakthroughs are made when hardware, software and services challenge each other to grow.”
▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 are revealed through a launch video.
One UI 8: Made for Foldables, Powered by AI
▲ Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, introduces One UI 8.
At the center of this transformation is One UI 8 — Samsung’s next-generation interface designed specifically for foldables, optimized for AI and built on the principles of multimodal understanding and deep personalization.
Privacy and security are core to One UI 8. The on-device Personal Data Engine learns from user preferences, while Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection secures and isolates information within the app where it’s used.
Android 16 is available on the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 at launch — made possible through close collaboration with Google.
▲ Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Platforms & Devices at Google, discusses ongoing AI collaboration with Samsung.
Galaxy Z Fold7: A Larger Canvas for Galaxy AI
▲ Annika Bizon, Vice President of Product & Marketing at Samsung Electronics, highlights the Galaxy Z Fold7.
Pushing the limits of design, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is the slimmest Z Fold to date.
Features like Writing Assist and Drawing Assist help shape thoughts into polished prose and ideas into visuals. Now Brief displays insights — such as travel advisories, weather updates and exchange rates — by analyzing location, time and schedule.
▲ Circle to Search is demonstrated in a video.
Circle to Search has evolved to recognize in-game elements and provide contextual assistance without breaking immersion. Meanwhile, Vulkan optimizations boost graphics and responsiveness, powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy — engineered for next-level performance.
▲ The Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers next-generation resolution and effortless cropping.
For the first time, a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera headlines the Z Fold series, empowering users to shoot wide and crop tight without compromise. AI-powered editing tools have been optimized for the large display. Generative Edit now includes a new Suggest Erases feature that automatically detects and removes passersby. Audio Eraser offers intelligent sound isolation — with support for adjusting up to four sound types at once.
▲ Audio Eraser is demonstrated in a video.
Galaxy Z Flip7: A Full Experience, Even When Closed
▲ Dale Hogen, Mobile Communications at Samsung Electronics, reveals the Galaxy Z Flip7.
Compact yet uncompromising, the Galaxy Z Flip7 is the slimmest Z Flip yet. With a reengineered Flex Hinge and the largest battery in Galaxy Z Flip history, the device features a 6.9-inch bar-type display that delivers vivid visuals through an embedded polarizer.
The redesigned 4.1-inch FlexWindow spans edge to edge and supports a 120Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth interaction. To maximize screen space, the bezel has slimmed to just 1.25 millimeters — nearly a third the thickness of its predecessor. Supporting numerous apps and widgets, One UI 8 brings greater functionality to the cover screen.
▲ The Galaxy Z Flip7 features a newly expanded Flex Window and thinner bezels.
The Galaxy Z Flip7 is a pocket-perfect AI assistant. Timely information — such as the day’s schedule or current playlist — appears on Now Bar. Meanwhile, holding the side button activates Google’s Gemini for hands-free AI. Gemini Live can even analyze outfits via the camera and suggest style tips based on the weather or calendar events.
▲ The Galaxy Z Flip7’s camera has FlexCam that allows users to take selfies in an easier way.
The 50-megapixel camera delivers sharp detail and true-to-life color thanks to the ProVisual Engine, and FlexCam gives users a one-of-a-kind selfie experience.
The revolutionary Galaxy Z Flip design is now even more accessible with the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE — featuring the same iconic foldable form, complete with a 50-megapixel camera, ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI.
Galaxy Watch8: A New Standard for Personalized Health
▲ John Englehardt, Sales at Samsung Electronics, presents the Galaxy Watch8 series.
The Galaxy Watch8 series is an evolution in Samsung’s design philosophy to create a clearer, more iconic design identity with distinctive cushion design — first introduced on the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The slim design, combined with Dynamic Lug System provides an unparalleled all-day comfort. Galaxy Watch’s sleek form is complemented by its exceptional performance, with a new 3-nanometer processor, dual-frequency GPS and the advanced BioActive Sensor.
▲ Running Coach delivers personalized training.
The new Running Coach feature analyzes users’ running level and provides personalized insights to keep users motivated through the tailored coaching program. Simultaneously, Samsung Health informs users when it’s time to wind down via the new Bedtime Guidance feature.
▲ Vascular Load and other advanced health tracking features have been added.
Vascular Load monitors stress levels on the vascular system during sleep. Meanwhile, the Antioxidant Index uses the BioActive Sensor to measure carotenoid levels, delivering lifestyle insights for healthy aging.
The experience of having a true AI companion now comes full circle with the introduction of One UI 8 Watch across the Galaxy Watch8 series. In addition, the Galaxy Watch8 is the first smartwatch to come out of the box with Google’s Gemini and be powered by Wear OS 6.
Sustainability: A Commitment to the Planet
▲ This year’s Galaxy foldable align with Samsung’s sustainability vision.
Sustainability remains central to Galaxy’s design philosophy. The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 incorporate nine recycled materials — including recycled lithium and plastics sourced from discarded fishing nets. These efforts align with Samsung’s broader Galaxy for the Planet initiative and reflect an enduring commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Experience Zone: A Galaxy of Possibilities, Unfolded
Attendees from around the world gathered in the product experience zone after the announcement, excited to explore the newly launched Galaxy devices. The Galaxy Z Fold7, in particular, drew attention for its noticeably slimmer, lighter build — with many eager to try it firsthand.
▲ The product experience zone draws a crowd at Galaxy Unpacked 2025.
“When I first saw the Galaxy Z Fold7, I was surprised by how slim and lightweight it is,” said Francisco Javier, a Samsung Member from Spain. “The larger screen makes a big difference.”
▲ Francisco Javier, a Samsung Member from Spain
“I love the Galaxy Z Flip7 because there are so many creative ways to use it,” said Ana Carolina Sandoval Diaz, an influencer from El Salvador. “I’m always making new content, and this gives me more freedom to do that.”
▲ Ana Carolina Sandoval Diaz, an influencer from El Salvador
“Samsung always surprises us — and this year, it’s how thin the Galaxy Z Fold7 is,” said Adi Fida, a journalist from Indonesia. “Despite the larger screen, it still feels easy to use with one hand.”
▲ Adi Fida, a journalist from Indonesia
“I like that the Galaxy Watch8 focuses on health,” said Bilge Suisik, an influencer from Türkiye. “I’ve never been great at sleeping, so I think it’ll help me get back on schedule — I could really use the reminders.”
▲ Bilge Suisik, an influencer from Türkiye
With the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Flip FE and Galaxy Watch8 series, Samsung has made a groundbreaking leap in delivering personalized, intelligent experiences that adapt, anticipate and empower. Galaxy AI is now more deeply embedded than ever across the Galaxy ecosystem — positioning Samsung at the forefront of a future where mobile technology is both personal and powerful.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
South Korea’s court issued a warrant to detain former President Yoon Suk-yeol, sought by special counsel investigating Yoon’s short-lived martial law imposition, the special counsel team’s spokesperson said early Thursday.
The Seoul Central District Court accepted the issuance request from Cho Eun-suk, independent counsel leading the investigation into Yoon’s insurrection and other charges, saying Yoon was feared to destroy evidence.
The charges specified in the warrant included the obstruction of justice, abuse of power and writing a bogus official document, the spokesperson noted.
He is also accused of violating the rights of cabinet members by excluding most of them from a key meeting ahead of his Dec. 3 martial law declaration, according to local media reports.
Additional charges include ordering the dissemination of false statements to foreign media, instructing aides to obstruct his arrest in January, and ordering the deletion of call records from secure phones, reports said.
The special counsel team, which launched its investigation on June 18, sought the detention warrant to keep Yoon in custody for an extended period of time, or at least 20 days.
A separate warrant to arrest Yoon for up to 48 hours was sought last month, but it was dismissed by the Seoul court as Yoon showed his willingness to be questioned.
Yoon rejected the third police call on June 19 to appear for questioning over his charges of ordering the presidential security service to block the attempt in January to arrest him and to delete information on security phones offered to three military commanders.
Yoon was apprehended in presidential office on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, but he was released on March 8 as prosecutors decided not to appeal against the court’s release approval.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon on April 4 over his botched martial law bid last December, officially removing him from office.
Victorians will soon have greater access to free mental health and wellbeing support, with 7 new Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals set to open across the state.
These new services will build on the success of the 15 existing Mental Health and WellbeingLocals, which have already supported more than 21,000 people to access care closer to home – without the need for a referral or Medicare card.
The new services will be located in the Local Government Areas of:
Cardinia
Darebin
Maribyrnong
Maroondah
Mount Alexander (servicing Mount Alexander, Central Goldfields and Macedon Ranges)
Port Phillip
Wyndham.
The rollout of these new services is an important step in delivering on the Royal Commission’s vision for a connected, responsive and community-based mental health system.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC has issued a determination granting authorisation with conditions to allow the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) and industry participants to collaborate on sustainable finance initiatives for five years.
The authorisation allows ASFI, ASFI members and other industry participants to exchange information to improve the integration of natural capital data into financial decision-making, co-design investment structures and give effect to limited agreements for co-designed financial products, and develop related regulatory reform proposals.
The collaborative conduct aims to facilitate the development of sustainable farming practices, support producers to meet sustainability regulations of export destinations, and contribute to emissions reduction targets.
“The ACCC recognises there can be benefits of businesses working together towards a more sustainable economy, and many sustainability collaborations are unlikely to raise competition concerns,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
“This authorised collaborative conduct will likely result in transaction cost savings, process efficiencies and increase the likelihood of investment supporting positive environmental and social outcomes.”
The ACCC has specified five conditions of authorisation to address potential public detriments, such as reduced competition in the supply of sustainable finance products and coordinated behaviour in broader financial markets from information sharing.
“We are able to consider a broad range of sustainability benefits when assessing exemptions from competition law,” Mr Keogh said.
“This authorised conduct, with the conditions, will likely result in public benefits that outweigh potential community harms.”
Competition law does not need to be a barrier for those considering sustainability collaborations that deliver a net public benefit. A wide range of sustainability collaborations may not breach competition laws. Where there is risk of a potential breach, the ACCC’s authorisation process is flexible and can provide timely legal protection to businesses who wish to work together to achieve better environmental outcomes.
ASFI is a collaboration between representatives of the Australian financial sector, civil society, academia, and financial regulators. Membership is voluntary and open to any corporation in the financial services sector or service provider to financial institutions which is interested in pursuing and supporting ASFI’s objectives.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has provided the ASFI with a grant to undertake the ‘Institutional Investor Engagement (Indo-Pacific)’ project to draw private investment into development outcomes in the Indo-Pacific region, including through supporting the development of DFAT’s blended finance portfolio.
The ACCC granted interim authorisation to the ASFI and its member banks on 7 March 2025, allowing them to discuss and exchange information for the purpose of developing potential banking capital requirement reforms to remove constraints on sustainable finance and investment in Australia. Interim authorisation will remain in place until the final determination comes into effect.
The ACCC released a draft determination on 17 April 2025 proposing to grant authorisation, with conditions, for five years.
Note to editors
ACCC authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct by competitors that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act.
Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
In December 2024, the ACCC released its guide on sustainability collaborations and Australia competition law to inform businesses and other entities about the interaction between Australian competition law and sustainability collaborations.
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Today I am releasing an updated Statement on the Conduct of Monetary Policy (SCMP) and the first Statement of Expectations for the RBA’s Governance Board.
The RBA Monetary Policy Board formally agreed the new SCMP at its meeting on 7–8 July.
These new Statements are next steps to strengthen the independence and transparency of the RBA.
They finalise the Government’s implementation of our reforms to the RBA, including the publication of unattributed votes by the Monetary Policy Board.
These reforms are all about reinforcing the Reserve Bank’s independence, clarifying its mandate, modernising its structures and enhancing its accountability.
This is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to ensuring Australia’s central bank remains world class with a monetary policy and governance framework fit to meet current and future economic challenges.
The Statements are the result of careful consideration and extensive consultation with the RBA, the Bank’s boards, and Treasury.
I thank Governor Bullock, the Bank’s boards and its leadership for their work bedding down the reforms.
The SCMP reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the independence of the RBA and sets out the agreed approach to meeting the Board’s legislated objectives.
Under the new SCMP the RBA publishes an unattributed record of votes.
The RBA Review recommended this change to enhance the transparency and accountability of the RBA.
The new SCMP also implements another key transparency and accountability recommendation for the Monetary Policy Board members to conduct at least one speech or public engagement each year.
The first Statement of Expectations for the newly constituted Governance Board clarifies the Board’s responsibilities when it comes to accountability, transparency and operational matters, as well as reporting on progress in implementing the RBA Review recommendations.
The RBA Governance Board considered the Statement at its meeting on 10 June.
The Statement brings the RBA into line with best practice making the Governance Board’s role clear in overseeing the Bank’s culture and driving institutional change.
OSAN, South Korea — It’s been 75 years since the beginning of the Korean War. Each year, the city of Osan, South Korea, holds its annual Task Force Smith ceremony at its Jukmiryeong War Memorial commemorating the Battle of Osan, the first ground combat involving U.S. forces during the Korean War, which took place July 5, 1950.
Auckland, New Zealand – 40 years ago today, Greenpeace’s flagship Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbour by French secret service agents in an operation that murdered photographer Fernando Pereira. The commemoration coincides with Greenpeace resisting a new wave of attacks from the billionaires and corporate polluters who plunder our precious planet.
The bombing was an attempt to silence anti-nuclear protests in the Pacific. It backfired, igniting a global outcry and galvanising a movement. “You Can’t Sink a Rainbow” became a rallying call for resistance. It was a call to courage, putting hope into action for a better world.
Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director, said:
“Whether forty years ago or today, Greenpeace will resist, we will persist, and we will win. Alongside our allies, and inspired by the courage of those who came before us, the global community of people working together in hope and for each other will prevail over those who plunder the planet for profit and power.”
“This anniversary is a moment to remember Fernando Pereira. It is a moment to remember that when we join together, we can, and have changed the world for the better.”
“In 1985, the French government wasn’t just trying to sink a ship – it was attempting to sink a movement, to attack activism, and to silence the voice of hope. They failed. They blew wind in our sails.”
“Greenpeace and the movement refused to back down and continued to campaign against nuclear testing until, in 1996, we won.”
“In 2025, civil society is under increased attacks from billionaires and fossil fuel companies trying to silence dissent, but we will show again that hope rises as we join together to meet this moment with increased unity and courage”.
In 1985, the Rainbow Warrior had just helped relocate the people of Rongelap to Mejatto. The 300 Marshall Islanders were suffering severe health effects – including radiation sickness, birth defects, and high cancer rates – as a consequence of the fallout from the notorious 1954 US Castle Bravo nuclear weapons test at Bikini Atoll.
The crew then sailed to Auckland to join protests against French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. The Rainbow Warrior was to lead a flotilla of boats into the test zone to disrupt and draw international attention to atmospheric nuclear tests.
In the wake of the bombing protests and international pressure against nuclear weapons testing continued to build. Greenpeace mounted three further protest expeditions to Mururoa in 1990, 1992 and 1995 on board the Rainbow Warrior II.
In 1995 the Rainbow Warrior sailed into the test zone, defying exclusion orders and attempting to disrupt the tests, drawing global media attention and support. French forces seized the ship and arrested the crew, sparking widespread international condemnation. Although six tests went ahead, the intense backlash contributed to President Jacques Chirac announcing a permanent end to nuclear testing and signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996.
New Zealand and Japan are developing a logistics agreement to support ongoing defence cooperation between our two countries, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have announced.
“Japan is a crucial partner for New Zealand,” Mr Peters says following a meeting with Japanese counterpart Iwaya Takeshi at the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.
“We are both committed to the international rules-based system, and to maintaining security and prosperity in our region.”
Ms Collins says the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement will detail how our militaries can better support one another when undertaking exercises, training and other activities together.
“Our militaries are already doing more together, and the agreement will provide practical support to help enable this cooperation,” Ms Collins says.
“This is an important step as New Zealand pulls its weight on the world stage as it will ultimately strengthen our interoperability and ability to work closely with our partners.”
The agreement will set out how logistical support, including the provision of supplies and services, will be managed when the New Zealand Defence Force and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan operate together.
Examples include refuelling activities at sea using HMNZS Aotearoa, or the reciprocal provision of food or medical supplies during joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities.
New Zealand and Japan are also working on an Information Security Agreement which will provide a legal framework for sharing more classified information.
Important progress in the fight against online financial scams has been made with the launch of a new initiative between government, industry and consumer groups, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says. “It is unacceptable that so many Kiwis are swindled by scammers every day,” Mr Simpson says. “Some reports suggest scams cost the economy up to $2 billion annually, and it is crucial we get on top of the problem. “That is why I’m pleased to announce the New Zealand Anti-Scam Alliance – a new national effort that seeks to reduce the number of Kiwis falling victim to online financial scams. “Up until this point New Zealand’s anti-scam efforts have developed in an ad-hoc way and suffered from a lack of coordination. We frequently hear that real-time information on scams is sourced from different areas across government and the private sector, making for a fragmented, and often, slow response. “The Alliance addresses this by establishing a formal structure for government agencies, banks, telecommunications companies, digital platforms sectors, and consumer groups to share data about scams and shut them down in real-time. “By better coordinating our efforts across industry and government, we should be able to seal up the cracks that scammers are slipping through. “The Alliance has also agreed to take coordinated action to update industry codes, strengthen consumer protections and educate Kiwis about how to protect themselves from scams. “The Anti Scam Alliance represents a significant step forward and is the first in a series of actions that will strengthen New Zealand’s scam defences. However, there is more work to do. “The Government is also exploring other initiatives to support this work, including amending the Fair Trading Act so that government and industry can have the confidence to proactively share scam-related intelligence and collaborate on disruption initiatives without breaching competition or privacy laws. “There is no silver bullet to address scams, but by working together across sectors to disrupt scams, we can significantly shift the dial.”
Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
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 Exchequer – is wanting to do), then in 2070 the public debt to GDP ratio would reach an ‘extreme’ level of 270% of GDP (gross domestic product). He added for good measure that no country in the world has public debt at a level anything like that. (Refer UK: Macron meets the King, RNZ, 10 July 2025.)
So I checked the International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025, and found the following about Japan, the world’s fourth-largest national economy, looking at years from 2010 to 2024, with respect to government gross debt and general government financial deficit:
minimum debt206% (in 2010)
maximum debt 258% (in 2020)
average debt 234%
current debt 237% (in 2024)
projected debt 232% (in 2030)
minimum deficit 2.3% (in 2023)
maximum deficit 9.1% (in 2010)
average deficit 5.3%
current deficit 2.5% (in 2024)
projected deficit 5.3% (in 2030)
Japan does not have a ‘cost of living crisis’. Below is a list of Japan’s interest (source: tradingeconomics.com) and inflation rates (again the reference period is 2010 to 2024):
minimum interest-0.1% (in 2016-2024)
maximum interest 0.25% (in 2024)
average interest 0.0%
current interest 0.5% (in 2025)
minimum inflation -0.7% (in 2010)
maximum inflation 3.3% (in 2023)
average inflation 0.9%
current inflation 2.4% (in 2025)
projected inflation 2.0% (in 2030)
Japan is a prosperous country, with high life expectancy (85, the highest in the world for large economy nations), a very high ratio of retired people to working-age people, low inflation, and low interest rates. It was able to host the Olympic Games in 2021 without any financial fuss, and is about to host World Expo 2025. It has some of the world’s most sophisticated infrastructure.
Despite its high government debt – actually, to a large extent because of its high government debt – Japan’s is a creditor economy. Japan is not in debt to the rest of the world. Japan’s national debt is non-existent. Japan’s government debt is widely acknowledged, however, to be the world’s highest. Too many commentators – using wilful laziness – conflate national debt with government debt.
Japan’s is the world’s most successful twenty-first century large economy. It operates by Japanese savers lending much of their savings to their government at very low interest rates; those savers prefer to lend to their government rather than to pay high taxes to their government. Prosperous Japanese people are not greedy in the way that many rich westerners are. Their mantra is ‘private wealth, public wealth’; not ‘private wealth, public poverty’. Japan’s is not a zero-sum economy; in a zero-sum economy the prosperity of some comes at the expense of the impoverishment of others.
Hugo Jye was negligently dishonest – a case of wilful blindness or ignorance – in claiming that no countries had anything like 270% of GDP government debt. Western economists and financial commentators are likewise wilfully negligent in failing to alert their countries’ governments that there is an alternative – in plain sight – to our woeful policies of financial suffocation.
Note about three other economies
Within the European Union, it is rare for professional commentators to sing the praises of Spain and Italy. Spain, with 101% public debt, is enjoying a low inflation economic boom. It has a life expectancy of 83, higher than all European Union countries other than Malta and Luxembourg. Spain has had only government budget deficits since the surpluses of the years leading up to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (a crisis which hit Spain particularly badly). Despite – no, because of – these accumulated deficits, Spain’s public debt (as a percent of GDP) has been falling since 2020; the deficits stimulated GDP. Spain had one year of high inflation (8.3% in 2022; the next highest since 2020 were 3.05% in 2011 and 3.0% in 2021); it recovered very quickly from that one year. Spain’s current interest rate is 2.15%.
Italy had 135% government debt to GDP in 2024. Its people’s life expectancy is high, marginally lower than Spain’s and slightly higher than New Zealand’s; significantly higher than Germany, Netherlands and the United States. Italy’s economy has been growing faster than the European Union average. Its public debt (compared to GDP) has been falling despite government deficits.
Spain and Italy are doing relatively well despite having among the highest older-person to younger-person age ratios in Europe. Spain is pro-actively utilising immigrant labour, whereas Northern Europe is scapegoating immigrants. And Spain, unlike most of Europe, is not looking to its ‘Defence’ budget to boost future growth.
Türkiye’s public debt has fallen from a high (since 2006) of 40% in 2021 to under 30% in 2023. This is despite double-digit inflation since 2016 and an average budget deficit since 2011 of 5.3%. While high inflation has benefitted Türkiye by bringing about negative real interest rates (meaning interest payments effectively flow from richer to poorer, generally benefitting indebted Turkish businesses and households), current interest rate settings look like suffocating for Türkiye for the remainder of the 2020s. (This monetary policy of suffocation is also true for Australia in 2025, with its particularly hawkish Reserve Bank at present.)
Despite challenging geopolitical and climatic circumstances, Türkiye has, at least until 2024, managed to achieve rising living standards for a substantial majority of its people. Unlike the United Kingdom and some northern European countries, Türkiye has not been a crisis economy despite (or because of) a reputation for unsound public finance.
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Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW DELHI, July 10 (Xinhua) — Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed during a training exercise in the western state of Rajasthan on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force confirmed.
A training aircraft crashed during a routine training session in Churu district of Rajasthan.
“An Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet trainer suffered an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. No damage to civilian property reported,” the IAF said on social media.
An investigative commission was created to establish the causes of the accident.–0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SHANGHAI, July 10 (Xinhua) — The English-language version of Chinese animated film “Nezha 2” will hit theaters in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in IMAX and 3D from Aug. 22, CMC Pictures said Wednesday.
Directed by Yang Yu, aka Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is a milestone in modern animation, combining emotionally charged storytelling, mythological spectacle, and cutting-edge visual artistry.
The dubbed version of Ne Zha 2 will be co-produced by A24 and CMC Pictures. It is worth noting that Ne Zha 2 has already become the highest-grossing animated film and the highest-grossing non-English-language film in world cinema history, as well as the fifth-highest-grossing film worldwide.
At the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival, Enlight Media Chairman Wang Changtian said that the overseas box office revenue of “Nezha 2” will exceed US$100 million. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The latest of the Albanese Labor Government’s new trade and investment missions took place in India this week building on the government’s commitment to create jobs and drive growth through stronger international partnerships.
This mission, one of five announced by the Prime Minister in April, will be attended by 30 delegates from across 22 innovative Australian companies, showcasing Australia’s cutting-edge clean energy solutions.
Led by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in partnership with the New South Wales and Victorian Governments, and supported by Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, the mission will deepen our energy cooperation with one of our most important trade and investment partners.
Australia is a world leader in clean energy innovation, and businesses are well placed to partner with India as it transitions to a low-emissions future. India has set a commendable target to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, and Australian companies can play a key role in supporting that growth while opening up significant export opportunities.
Trade missions such as these are a critical part of the Government’s strategy to diversify and strengthen Australia’s trade and investment relationships. They showcase the best of Australian innovation to the world and deliver concrete commercial outcomes for our exporters.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 10) that due to inclement weather, red flags have been hoisted at Pui O Beach in Islands District and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 10, 2025.
How can we stay safe after data breaches? Step 1 is to change the cybersecurity laws Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Andreotta, Lecturer, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University Moor Studio / Getty Images Last week, Australian airline Qantas announced cyber attackers had accessed personal data about some of its customers. The company later confirmed that 5.7 million customer records were involved. The attackers targeted an
Cyber crime and real-world crime are converging in a dangerous new way – here’s how to stay safe Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jongkil Jay Jeong, Senior Fellow, School of Computing and Information System, The University of Melbourne It starts with a call from someone claiming to be your bank. They know your name. They know your bank. They even know your credit card number. There’s been “unusual activity” on
Labor leads in two Victorian state polls, but Premier Jacinta Allan’s approval tanks Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Labor leads in Victorian state polls by Newspoll and Redbridge, but Premier Jacinta Allan is very unpopular. Two federal polls give Labor big leads and a Tasmanian
Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Camilla Hoyos, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Macquarie University Lysenko Andrii/Shutterstock You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them sleep. But there’s a dearth of
Planning a ‘Euro summer’ or cruise? Why another flu shot might save your holiday Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Janetzki, Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South Australia DavideAngelini/Shutterstock Are you escaping a southern hemisphere winter by heading off for a “Euro summer”? Maybe you’re planning a cruise through the Mediterranean. Or you’re dreaming of a white Christmas overseas later in the year. Maybe
Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual
Earth’s ‘oldest’ impact crater is much younger than previously thought – new study Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron J. Cavosie, Senior Lecturer, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University 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
Where do giant volcanic eruptions come from? New study finds missing link to ‘blobs’ deep within Earth Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicolas Flament, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, Environmental Futures, School of Science, University of Wollongong Volcanic eruptions at Earth’s surface have significant consequences. Smaller ones can scare tourists on Mount Etna or disrupt air traffic. Giant, large-scale eruptions can have more serious impacts. One such event
Defence spending is like insurance – how will NZ pay the higher premiums? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Hickson, Lecturer in Economics and Director, Business Taught Masters Programme, University of Canterbury Getty Images Defence spending is like insurance – you have to pay for it but you hope you never have to use it. And the higher the risk you face, the higher your
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shatters the church’s century-long effort to curate its own image Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University Hulu 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,
We interviewed 205 Australians convicted of murder and manslaughter. Alcohol’s role was alarming Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Li Eriksson, Senior Lecturer, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University We’ve long known there’s a link between alcohol and violence, but when it comes to homicide the stories behind the statistics are harder to grasp. Our study sheds rare light on what actually happens when
Thirsty future: Australia’s green hydrogen targets could require vastly more water than the government hopes Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madoc Sheehan, Adjunct Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering, James Cook University totajla/Shutterstock Green hydrogen is touted by some as the future – a way for Australia to slowly replace its reliance on fossil fuel exports. The energy-dense gas has the potential to reduce emissions in sectors challenging
Israel’s Rafah camp – ‘humanitarian city’ or crime against humanity? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced a controversial plan to move up to 600,000 Palestinians in Gaza into a designated “humanitarian area” on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah. Access to the camp would be through
Ice baths are booming in popularity – but they come with health risks Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Michele Ursi/Getty Images Walk through any trendy suburb and you might find a new “wellness” studio offering ice baths or “contrast therapy” (a sauna and ice bath combo). Scroll social media,
Can’t fill your ADHD script? Here’s why, and what to do while the shortage persists Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Janetzki, Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South Australia Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses are rising across Australia. But after finally getting a diagnosis, many people are discovering the medicine they’ve been prescribed isn’t available at the pharmacy. Australia faces a nation-wide shortage of methylphenidate
Medicinal cannabis is big business. But the latest clampdown won’t curb unsafe prescribing Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carmen Lim, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland Nuva Frames/Shutterstock Australia’s key regulator of health professionals has announced it’s clamping down on unsafe prescribing of medicinal cannabis in the wake of surging patient demand. The Australian Health Practitioner
Are ‘ghost stores’ haunting your social media feed? How to spot and avoid them Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology CC BY The offer pops up in your social media feed. The website is professional and the imagery illustrates an Australian coastal region, or chic inner-CBD scene. The brand name indicates this exclusive fashion retailer
NZ Post is the latest company to drop its climate targets – another sign business is struggling to decarbonise Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pii-Tuulia Nikula, Associate Professor, School of Business, Eastern Institute of Technology Getty Images NZ Post committed to cutting its emissions by 32% by 2030 (based on 2018 levels), but recently announced it would abandon its climate target. The company was part of the Science Based Target initiative
Last week, Australian airline Qantas announced cyber attackers had accessed personal data about some of its customers. The company later confirmed that 5.7 million customer records were involved.
The attackers targeted an offshore IT call centre, which enabled them to gain access to a third-party system.
The airline contacted affected customers shortly after the announcement, and sent a follow-up email a week later. The email apologised to customers and informed them attackers had accessed information about customers’ names as well as frequent flyer numbers and tier status.
The email may have felt familiar to Australians impacted by the 2022 Optus Breach or the 2024 Medisecure Hack — a routine apology, an assurance that immediate steps have been taken, and a statement that the company takes seriously the trust placed in it to safeguard personal information.
It’s an adequate response. But it ignores something that might genuinely make customer data safer in the future: stronger cybersecurity laws to prevent these kinds of breaches from happening in the first place.
How should we respond to data breaches?
If your data were involved in the Qantas breach, you might be wondering what to do about it.
The first sensible step might be to find out what personal information was compromised. Next, you might research the potential harm that could come from your name, Qantas Frequent Flyer number, and tier status being accessed.
You may learn about the risks of identity theft, account hijacking, and scams.
After that, you might want to figure out what actions you could take to protect yourself – that is, how to best secure your data. Plenty of websites offer advice along these lines.
If you are a Qantas customer, and received the follow-up email, you may have noticed a section titled “What steps can I take to protect myself?”. This part encourages users to stay alert, use two-factor authentication, stay informed about the latest threats, visit IDCARE’s Learning Centre, and never share passwords or sensitive information (stating that Qantas will never ask for them).
While these are helpful suggestions, they place a significant burden on the customer. They also imply that if our data becomes compromised, we may be partially to blame for not doing more to protect ourselves.
Is this fair or useful? Rather than just trying to protect ourselves after data breaches, we might be better off focusing our attention on why breaches occur and the legislators who make the rules for the companies that hold our data.
Does the law have an unhealthy obsession with data breaches?
It may seem that, to improve cybersecurity laws, we need to pay more attention to Qantas-like data breaches and impose bigger fines on companies when they occur. However, this is not necessarily the best solution.
As US privacy scholars Daniel Solove and Woodrow Hartzog point out in their 2022 book Breached!: “Data privacy law has an obsession with data breaches.”
Ironically, the authors claim, “this obsession has […] been the primary reason why the law has failed to stop the deluge of data breaches. The more obsessed with breaches the law has become, the more the law has failed to deal with them.”
Solove and Hartzog argue that focusing solely on the breaches themselves prevents us from concentrating on prevention.
make recommendations to government and industry about actions that could be taken to prevent, detect, respond to or minimise the impact of, cyber security incidents of a similar nature in the future.
These reforms are an important step in addressing prevention, and the Cyber Incident Review Board will undoubtedly draw many lessons from the Qantas case when it performs its post-incident review – such as identifying potential weaknesses at the offshore IT call centre.
However, we shouldn’t have to wait until an incident occurs to start thinking about how to protect against breaches. There are also concerns about whether the recommendations it offers will be put into law.
Ideally, we need legislation that focuses on prevention, not just post-incident responses. If we had laws that required companies to conduct audits, provide legally binding safety checks applicable to all relevant stakeholders, and impose penalties for non-compliance with these standards, it would genuinely improve prevention.
Revising our flight path
Our response to the Qantas breach will no doubt follow a familiar pattern: first, we panic! Then we get angry at the company. Next, we attempt to follow privacy advice – at least for a short while – changing a password or two before becoming complacent and then lowering our privacy vigilance. And then the cycle repeats the next time a breach occurs.
We don’t need to accept this eternal pattern, however. If we focus our attention on lawmakers, rather than these immediate responses we are all too familiar with, prevention becomes a possibility.
Adam Andreotta 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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo taken on May 28, 2025 shows a view of Basum Tso, a lake in Nyingchi, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
At an apple base in Bepa Town of Nyingchi, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, which sits at an altitude over 3,000 meters, Lin Chuanqing, head of a local apple business, was busy inspecting the growth of apples.
“A wave of orders poured in from overseas,” said Lin. “Beyond our existing exports to Nepal, this year will mark Xizang’s first-ever local apple shipments to Singapore.”
“Apples here are favored by foreign markets,” Lin said. His company owns over 4,000 mu (about 266.6 hectares) of apple orchards in Nyingchi, exporting 490 tonnes of apples to Nepal last year and over 137 tonnes so far this year.
However, when Lin and his team arrived in Xizang three years ago, the local apple industry operated in a rudimentary and unsystematic manner.
At that time, many local farmers mainly grew apples in their backyards and sold them in bulk without sorting or grading them. The unsold apples were stored in earthen cellars with plastic film, which was not effective for properly preserving them for more than two months.
Now, Lin’s company has invested 158 million yuan (about 22 million U.S. dollars), building a complete industrial chain from seedling research and development to cold chain logistics.
Apples grown on the plateau enjoy unique advantages. The region’s intense sunlight and dramatic temperature fluctuations between day and night contribute to their exceptional sweetness and firmness, setting them apart from those cultivated in other areas of the country.
“Apples of the same size here are 15 percent heavier than others of the same variety and our apple yield will reach 3,000 kilograms per mu during peak season,” said Lin. The unique environment also boosts the sugar content of Nyingchi apples to 12 percent, with vitamin levels 30 percent higher than ordinary apples.
Despite the plateau’s vast territory and relatively high transportation costs, growing apples here actually works out cheaper. Eligible local businesses benefit from a series of government subsidies for freight.
“Transporting apples from Nyingchi to south China’s Guangdong Province is cheaper than from east China’s Shandong Province to Guangdong, for the government subsidies cover nearly half of the transport costs,” added Lin.
Additionally, there are fewer pests on the plateau. In other areas of China, apple cultivation requires bagging to avoid pests, which alone adds 1.2 yuan per kilogram in labor costs.
“In Xizang, we don’t need to bag our apples, and pesticide use is minimal,” said Lin. Nyingchi apples have obtained GLOBAL Good Agricultural Practice certifications and have met the EU’s 533-item pesticide residue testing standards. Even in dried apple products, residue levels are undetectable.
The apples are also precisely categorized into 16 different grades based on sugar content, size and color. Now, people in Xizang are sharing Nyingchi apples with the world, introducing a new market-recognized apple variety.
Apart from Nyingchi, there are 10,000-mu apple orchards in Shannan’s Dranang County and 2,000-mu in Qamdo. A growing number of people beyond the plateau are falling in love with apples grown in Xizang.
“In November, when the apples are ripe, consumers in Singapore will be able to taste the apples from Nyingchi,” Lin said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s women’s football team played to a 2-2 draw with hosts South Korea in their opening match of the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, also known as the East Asian Cup, on Wednesday.
Li Mengwen (L) of China vies with Mun Eunju of South Korea during the women’s football match between China and South Korea at the EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final in Suwon, South Korea, July 9, 2025. (Photo by Jun Hyosang/Xinhua)
China opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Yao Wei struck from distance. South Korea responded with increased pressing and created several chances before Jang Sel-gi netted the equalizer in first-half stoppage time.
In the 67th minute, Yao turned provider, heading an assist to Shao Ziqin, who nodded home to restore China’s lead. But deep into stoppage time, Ji So-yun salvaged a dramatic draw for the hosts with a long-range strike.
“We expected a tough game between two decent teams in Asia, playing under difficult conditions,” said China’s head coach Ante Milicic after the match. “We’re obviously disappointed to have conceded two goals, both in injury time of the first half and second half.”
Milicic said he was proud of his team’s effort. “Playing away against a strong home crowd is never easy, and this kind of situation happened to us before, like when we played Australia,” he added.
“Tonight we were so close, and I thought the girls deserved to hang on for the win,” he noted.
“Still, I think they will gain confidence from taking the lead twice against such a strong opponent. We just need to look at why we’re conceding late and giving these [chances] away, because looking ahead to the Asian Cup, we will definitely need to hold on [to our leads].”
Chinese player Wang Shuang said the team remains young and needs more time to build chemistry and improve understanding on the field. “We will give our all to perform well in the upcoming matches,” she added.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TAIYUAN, July 10 (Xinhua) — A train loaded with 50 standard containers of photovoltaic panels weighing 1,159 tonnes departed Jinzhong City in north China’s Shanxi Province for Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on Wednesday morning, marking the province’s launch of China-Europe rail service along the trans-Caspian route.
According to the press service of the local transport company Huayuan International Land Port, the train departed from the Zhongding logistics center. On the way, it will pass through the territory of Kazakhstan and arrive at the port of Aktau, from where the cargo will be delivered to Azerbaijan by ferry.
Compared to the traditional method, trans-Caspian transportation allows to significantly reduce transportation time, the company recalled. In the future, locally produced photovoltaic modules will be more convenient to deliver to the Transcaucasus, Turkey and Eastern European countries, the company recalled.
Currently, Huayuan International Land Port operates regular rail services on 23 China-Europe and China-Central Asia routes, linking Shanxi Province with 48 cities in 16 countries. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
To help Taiwan’s machine tool industry proactively respond to evolving international regulations, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) officially launched the Local Inspection, Certification, and Calibration Service Platform for Machine Tools on July 1. By integrating the resources of public research institutions, the platform serves as a centralized hub that offers up-to-date information on safety and performance testing requirements, as well as relevant technical standards, for key export products in major global markets. This initiative aims to help businesses stay informed of regulatory changes in real time.
In addition to the online portal, BSMI has conducted a comprehensive assessment of domestic calibration and certification capacities. The platform provides consultation services and facilitates demand matching between enterprises and service providers, enabling local testing and certification. These efforts help reduce certification timelines and lower testing costs, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Taiwan’s machine tool sector.
BSMI further explained that, in light of India’s recent regulatory changes for mechanical products, they invited the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in April to brief local machine tool manufacturers on new compliance requirements and application procedures. The seminar focuses on key updates to the European Union’s new Machinery Regulation (EU 2023/1230).
A senior expert from TUV SUD Taiwan, a subsidiary of the renowned German certification body, has been invited to elaborate on the regulation’s major changes. These include strengthened risk assessment requirements, expanded oversight of AI and automated equipment, and clearer responsibilities for manufacturers. The objective is to equip domestic manufacturers with a deeper understanding of the new framework and support early compliance preparation.
With the EU set to fully implement the new Machinery Regulation by 2027, BSMI will continue to organize technical regulatory briefings targeting major export markets. In addition, BSMI also plans to further integrate testing and certification resources, offer consultation and matchmaking services, and promote international cooperation to strengthen Taiwan’s local testing capabilities and export competitiveness.
For more information on machine tool Inspecting, certification, and calibration services, please visit the Local Inspection, Certification, and Calibration Service Platform for Machine Tools at: http://taiwaninspect.pmc.org.tw
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jongkil Jay Jeong, Senior Fellow, School of Computing and Information System, The University of Melbourne
It starts with a call from someone claiming to be your bank. They know your name. They know your bank. They even know your credit card number. There’s been “unusual activity” on your account, they say – and they just sent you a one-time passcode to verify your identity so they can assist.
You read out the code and feel reassured. Moments later, your funds are gone and the bank refuses reimbursement, citing a breach of terms because you voluntarily shared your passcode.
This is not a niche or isolated scam. It’s part of a growing pattern we’re seeing across Australia and beyond: cyber criminals are merging digital and real-world tactics in ways that make these frauds more convincing, harder to stop, and far more damaging.
It starts with stolen data
These scams don’t begin with a phishing email or fake app. They begin with data – your data – stolen in one of countless breaches, such as the latest Qantas incident that exposed the details of up to 5.7 million customers.
Sometimes the personal data has been sold through third-party data brokers. Names, phone numbers, emails, even card details are routinely leaked and traded online.
Once they have this information, scammers get to work. The phone call mimics a real interaction with a bank, perhaps with a spoofed caller ID. Victims are pressured in urgent language to “verify” their identity, often by reading out a one-time passcode that, unbeknownst to them, is authorising a transaction using their own card details.
We refer to this as a “convergence scam” – where online data leaks, psychological manipulation and weak enforcement come together. It’s a sophisticated hybrid of digital theft and physical-world exploitation, and it’s on the rise.
Devastating and personal
These scams are deeply personal and can be financially devastating. But what makes them even more alarming is the system-wide failure surrounding them.
For starters, many credit card fraud insurance policies contain clauses that exclude coverage when the customer “voluntarily” provides account credentials – including one-time passcodes – even if they did so under duress or deception.
One victim we spoke to lost nearly A$6,000 after a scammer posing as their bank prompted them to read out a passcode over the phone. The transaction was verified using that code, and the bank later refused to reimburse the loss.
In a formal response, the bank stated that by voluntarily sharing the one-time passcode, the customer had breached the epayments code, even though they were manipulated into doing so. As a result, the customer was held liable and ineligible for a chargeback.
Law enforcement may not help
Even when the criminals leave a physical trail, follow-up is rare. Law enforcement rarely investigates. In the cases we’ve seen, reports are acknowledged but not pursued. Officers don’t explicitly say the case is too small or not worth the effort, but their inaction suggests it, especially given how resource-intensive most cyber-crime investigations tend to be.
In many instances, particularly when the total loss isn’t deemed significant, victims are simply told to follow up with their bank, based on the assumption they’ll be reimbursed.
In one case we reviewed, stolen card details were used in-store at major Australian retailers such as Woolworths and Coles – indicating that a cloned card had been physically used. These purchases could, in theory, be tracked back to in-store CCTV footage. But no investigation was launched.
This reluctance to act, even when the evidence is tangible, sends a dangerous message: that scammers can operate with near-impunity.
Meanwhile, banks and regulators are slow to update verification systems. One-time passcodes are still widely used, even though scammers now exploit them routinely. There’s little recourse for victims, and minimal accountability for data brokers whose records fuel these scams.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
For individuals, the first line of defence is simple but vital:
never share a one-time passcode or security code over the phone, even if the caller seems legitimate
if in doubt, hang up and call the bank directly using the number on your card
be cautious about where and how you share your personal information, especially online through websites or social media. Only disclose what personally identifiable information you have to.
The true answer is systemic change
Banks and other institutions need to put into place stronger identity verification systems that don’t rely solely on SMS codes. We need greater transparency and regulation of data brokers.
Crucially, we also need active enforcement of cyber-enabled fraud, especially when there’s physical evidence, such as in-store purchases and CCTV footage.
Banks should also reassess their policies and procedures on how they communicate with customers. If scam calls closely mimic real ones, it’s time to change the script. More proactive education, clearer warnings, and redesigned verification processes can all help prevent harm.
The real danger of these convergence scams isn’t just financial loss. It’s the erosion of trust: in our banks, in our security systems, and in the institutions meant to protect us.
Once that trust is gone, it’s not easily recovered.
Jongkil Jay Jeong has received prior research funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DSRI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Ashish Nanda has received funding from the Australian Government through various research grants, including the Cyber Security CRC and Australia’s Economic Accelerator.
Peter Thomas 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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University
Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual arrival of intense rains in areas north and south of the Equator. These drenching rains tend to arrive during each hemisphere’s summer.
The East Asian monsoon north of the equator is the best known and best studied, because it affects the largest land area and the most people. But the southern Indo-Australian monsoon is vitally important to northern Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To date, it has been studied much less.
To help fill this gap in knowledge, we analysed deep sediment from an unusual lagoon near Darwin in northern Australia. We looked at ancient pollen and chemical isotopes (different versions of the same chemical element) to look about 150,000 years back in time and glimpse changes to the monsoon. When types of pollen change, it tells us the monsoon has changed. Drier conditions favour the emergence of grasslands, while wetter climates favour forests.
Our new research suggests as the world gets hotter, the Indo-Australian monsoon will intensify and northern Australia will get wetter. This finding is consistent with research suggesting the East Asian monsoon could weaken, threatening agriculture and nature in heavily populated countries.
Location of Girraween Lagoon in monsoonal north Australia. Insert shows approximate dominant flows of the East Asian and Indo-Australian summer monsoons. Corey Bradshaw/Flinders University, CC BY-NC
The past held in a single lagoon
To examine how monsoons change over time, researchers drill sediment cores to track changes in pollen and chemical isotopes. For example, changes in hydrogen isotopes indicate changes in the intensity of the monsoon rain.
The problem is, these cores have to come from long-undisturbed lake sediments, because such places provide a continuous record of change.
To reconstruct past changes in monsoon patterns, undisturbed sediments have to be sampled carefully by extracting a thin “core” from the bottom sediments. Once researchers have this precious core, they can examine the changing proportions of pollen, chemical isotopes and other properties. The deeper you drill the core, the farther back in time you can look.
These exacting requirements are one reason the Indo-Australian monsoon is not as well understood as its northern cousin.
Fortunately, we have found one place which has kept a detailed environmental record over a long period: Girraween Lagoon on the outskirts of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
This lagoon was created after a sinkhole formed more than 200,000 years ago. It has contained permanent water ever since, and is slowly filling with sediment and pollen blown in from the surrounding landscape.
The 18-metre core from Girraween’s sediments gave us a 150,000-year record of environmental change in Australia’s northern savannahs.
It took hard work to extract the core from Girraween Lagoon.
Dipping into the past
If you walk around Girraween Lagoon today, you’ll see a tall and dense tree canopy with a thick grass understory in the wet season. But it hasn’t always been that way.
During the last ice age 20,000–30,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower and the polar ice caps much larger. As a result, the lagoon was more than 300 kilometres from the coast. At that time, the lagoon was surrounded by an open, grassy savannah with fewer, shorter trees.
A schematic showing the depth of the Girraween core and the associated time periods. Emma Rehn/Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, CC BY-NC
About 115,000 years ago (and again 90,000 years ago), Australia was dotted with gigantic inland “megalakes”. At those times, the lagoon expanded into a large, shallow lake surrounded by lush monsoon forest, with almost no grass.
At times, tree cover changed radically. In fact, over one 3,000-year period, the percentage of tree pollen soared from 15% to 95%. That suggests a sweeping change from grassland to dense forest – meaning a switch from drier to wetter climate at a rate too fast to be explained by changes in Earth’s orbit.
Some of these changes are linked to the shifting distance between coastline and lagoon as well as predictable variation in how much solar energy reaches Earth.
A connection to the North Atlantic
Huge ice sheets covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere during previous ice ages.
Remarkably, the evidence of their melting at the end of previous ice age was there in the sediment core from Girraween Lagoon.
When glacial ice melts rapidly, huge volumes of fresh water flood into the North Atlantic. These rapid pulses are known as Heinrich events. These pulses can shut down the warm Gulf Stream current up the east coast of North America. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere cools and the Southern Hemisphere warms.
Over the last 150,000 years, there have been 14 of these events. We could see evidence of them in the sediment cores. Every gush of fresh water in the Atlantic triggered higher rainfall over northern Australia because of the buildup of heat in the Southern Hemisphere as the Gulf Stream slowed.
What does this mean for the monsoon?
All this suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon will get more intense as the world gets hotter and more ice melts.
That would mean a wetter northern Australia. It could also bring more rainfall to other Australian regions, and neighbouring countries. At this stage, it’s too uncertain to predict what an intensifying monsoon would do to the southern parts of Australia.
We might already be seeing this shift. Weather records since the 1960s show northern Australia getting steadily wetter, and less rain in Australia’s southeast and southwest.
Trends in total annual rainfall in Australia from 1960 to 2020. Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY
What would this mean for people? Australia’s tropical north is not densely populated, which would reduce the human impact of an intensifying monsoon.
But while our research suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon strengthens during Heinrich events, earlier research has shown the East Asian and other Northern Hemisphere monsoons will weaken. Without reliable monsoonal rains, food and water supplies for billions of people could be at risk.
Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Cassandra Rowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Michael Bird receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University
Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual arrival of intense rains in areas north and south of the Equator. These drenching rains tend to arrive during each hemisphere’s summer.
The East Asian monsoon north of the equator is the best known and best studied, because it affects the largest land area and the most people. But the southern Indo-Australian monsoon is vitally important to northern Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To date, it has been studied much less.
To help fill this gap in knowledge, we analysed deep sediment from an unusual lagoon near Darwin in northern Australia. We looked at ancient pollen and chemical isotopes (different versions of the same chemical element) to look about 150,000 years back in time and glimpse changes to the monsoon. When types of pollen change, it tells us the monsoon has changed. Drier conditions favour the emergence of grasslands, while wetter climates favour forests.
Our new research suggests as the world gets hotter, the Indo-Australian monsoon will intensify and northern Australia will get wetter. This finding is consistent with research suggesting the East Asian monsoon could weaken, threatening agriculture and nature in heavily populated countries.
Location of Girraween Lagoon in monsoonal north Australia. Insert shows approximate dominant flows of the East Asian and Indo-Australian summer monsoons. Corey Bradshaw/Flinders University, CC BY-NC
The past held in a single lagoon
To examine how monsoons change over time, researchers drill sediment cores to track changes in pollen and chemical isotopes. For example, changes in hydrogen isotopes indicate changes in the intensity of the monsoon rain.
The problem is, these cores have to come from long-undisturbed lake sediments, because such places provide a continuous record of change.
To reconstruct past changes in monsoon patterns, undisturbed sediments have to be sampled carefully by extracting a thin “core” from the bottom sediments. Once researchers have this precious core, they can examine the changing proportions of pollen, chemical isotopes and other properties. The deeper you drill the core, the farther back in time you can look.
These exacting requirements are one reason the Indo-Australian monsoon is not as well understood as its northern cousin.
Fortunately, we have found one place which has kept a detailed environmental record over a long period: Girraween Lagoon on the outskirts of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
This lagoon was created after a sinkhole formed more than 200,000 years ago. It has contained permanent water ever since, and is slowly filling with sediment and pollen blown in from the surrounding landscape.
The 18-metre core from Girraween’s sediments gave us a 150,000-year record of environmental change in Australia’s northern savannahs.
It took hard work to extract the core from Girraween Lagoon.
Dipping into the past
If you walk around Girraween Lagoon today, you’ll see a tall and dense tree canopy with a thick grass understory in the wet season. But it hasn’t always been that way.
During the last ice age 20,000–30,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower and the polar ice caps much larger. As a result, the lagoon was more than 300 kilometres from the coast. At that time, the lagoon was surrounded by an open, grassy savannah with fewer, shorter trees.
A schematic showing the depth of the Girraween core and the associated time periods. Emma Rehn/Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, CC BY-NC
About 115,000 years ago (and again 90,000 years ago), Australia was dotted with gigantic inland “megalakes”. At those times, the lagoon expanded into a large, shallow lake surrounded by lush monsoon forest, with almost no grass.
At times, tree cover changed radically. In fact, over one 3,000-year period, the percentage of tree pollen soared from 15% to 95%. That suggests a sweeping change from grassland to dense forest – meaning a switch from drier to wetter climate at a rate too fast to be explained by changes in Earth’s orbit.
Some of these changes are linked to the shifting distance between coastline and lagoon as well as predictable variation in how much solar energy reaches Earth.
A connection to the North Atlantic
Huge ice sheets covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere during previous ice ages.
Remarkably, the evidence of their melting at the end of previous ice age was there in the sediment core from Girraween Lagoon.
When glacial ice melts rapidly, huge volumes of fresh water flood into the North Atlantic. These rapid pulses are known as Heinrich events. These pulses can shut down the warm Gulf Stream current up the east coast of North America. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere cools and the Southern Hemisphere warms.
Over the last 150,000 years, there have been 14 of these events. We could see evidence of them in the sediment cores. Every gush of fresh water in the Atlantic triggered higher rainfall over northern Australia because of the buildup of heat in the Southern Hemisphere as the Gulf Stream slowed.
What does this mean for the monsoon?
All this suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon will get more intense as the world gets hotter and more ice melts.
That would mean a wetter northern Australia. It could also bring more rainfall to other Australian regions, and neighbouring countries. At this stage, it’s too uncertain to predict what an intensifying monsoon would do to the southern parts of Australia.
We might already be seeing this shift. Weather records since the 1960s show northern Australia getting steadily wetter, and less rain in Australia’s southeast and southwest.
Trends in total annual rainfall in Australia from 1960 to 2020. Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY
What would this mean for people? Australia’s tropical north is not densely populated, which would reduce the human impact of an intensifying monsoon.
But while our research suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon strengthens during Heinrich events, earlier research has shown the East Asian and other Northern Hemisphere monsoons will weaken. Without reliable monsoonal rains, food and water supplies for billions of people could be at risk.
Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Cassandra Rowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Michael Bird receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Are you escaping a southern hemisphere winter by heading off for a “Euro summer”? Maybe you’re planning a cruise through the Mediterranean. Or you’re dreaming of a white Christmas overseas later in the year.
Maybe you’ve already booked your flights and accommodation, locked in your itinerary, and started planning what to pack.
But there may be one more thing to add to your pre-travel checklist – a flu shot.
For some travellers, this may mean a second flu shot this year – one for Australia’s flu season and another to protect them in the northern hemisphere.
Why do I need another flu shot?
Protection from a flu shot doesn’t last all year; it decreases after three to four months.
So if you had your flu shot in April or May, it may no longer offer enough protection by the time you travel in July or later.
Getting a second shot will provide you with optimal protection against the flu while travelling to the northern hemisphere.
That’s why it is now recommended Australians travelling to the northern hemisphere between October and May consider a second flu shot if they’ve already had one earlier this year.
If it’s been three to four months since your first shot, you can consider a second shot.
A second shot should be at least four weeks after the first shot. Ideally, get your second shot at least two weeks before your departure, so your body has time to build up protection.
If you haven’t had a flu shot at all this year, now’s the time. In the year to July 7, there have been more than 167,000 confirmed cases of the flu in Australia.
Who should consider a second flu shot?
Here are some examples where a second flu shot is worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist.
Cruises are a prime setting for flu outbreaks. There are hundreds or thousands of people sharing confined spaces, such as restaurants and entertainment facilities, for days or weeks at a time. This creates the perfect environment for the flu virus to spread.
Group tours and large events are also high risk. Bus tours, music festivals and cultural events bring together large crowds, often in indoor spaces or via shared transport. This increases your chance of exposure and catching the virus.
Pilgrimages and religious gatherings such as Hajj, Lunar New Year or Ramadan are also high risk, especially for older travellers or those with health conditions. These events can attract millions of international visitors, often in crowded, shared accommodation, where flu and other respiratory viruses can spread rapidly.
People who are over 65 years of age, have medical conditions, such as severe asthma or diabetes, or are on medications that decrease their immune function, are more likely to become severely ill if they catch the flu. So, if you’re travelling during the northern hemisphere’s flu season, a second shot should be strongly considered.
Which flu shot should I get?
Each year, health authorities around the world develop two different flu shots, one for each hemisphere’s flu season. The flu shots can differ, as flu strains change rapidly and different strains may circulate in different regions.
Australians receive the southern hemisphere version around March to May. And
while it’s ideal to have the northern hemisphere flu shot before heading overseas, it’s not available in Australia.
Instead, you can have two shots of the southern hemisphere flu shot – one earlier in the year and a second shot before your trip.
You could wait until you are overseas to get your second shot. But you wouldn’t be protected for two weeks afterwards, and you’d need to navigate an overseas health system while on holiday.
Where can I get a flu shot? How much does it cost?
You can get a flu shot at your local pharmacy, GP clinic, or sometimes via your workplace. Many pharmacies offer walk-in appointments, and the flu shot usually costs around A$25 (including the price of the vaccine and administering it).
If your GP doesn’t bulk bill, you will be charged an out-of-pocket cost for the consultation, and may need to pay the cost of the shot if you don’t qualify for a free one.
The (first) flu shot is free for people who meet certain criteria, such as being 65 and over, pregnant, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those with certain medical conditions. But you would have to pay for a second shot if you’re travelling.
Specific flu shots are recommended for each person. So speak to your pharmacist or GP to discuss the best option for you.
Your GP or pharmacist will also discuss what to expect after your flu shot. This may include tiredness, fever, muscle aches, and redness or swelling at the injection site. These usually go away within two days. For most people, these symptoms are mild and well-tolerated.
Why bother?
The flu is more than just a sniffle. It can lead to serious illness, cancelled plans and perhaps a hospital stay in a foreign country. Even if you don’t get sick, you could pass the virus to others more vulnerable than yourself.
So before you finish your pre-travel checklist, make sure your flu shots are up to date.
Not getting the shot could be the difference between sipping Aperol spritz on the Amalfi Coast or spending your trip in bed with a fever.
Jack Janetzki works for the University of South Australia, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited and The Barossa Pharmacist in the Mall (Nuriootpa, South Australia). He is a member of Pharmaceutical Defence Limited, the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the South Australian Immunisation Program Advisory Group, the Observational Health Data Science Informatics network and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Insight Board for pharmacist-led vaccination services.
Wern Chai is employed as a lecturer at the University of South Australia. He is an SME for the Australian Pharmacy Council, a board examiner for the Pharmacy Board of Australia, the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the South Australian Immunisation Program Advisory Group and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Insight Board for pharmacist-led vaccination services.
