Cinematic hero film leads a bold new brand campaign across TV, social, OOH and digital.
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Rising rural populations, drought and climate change are making water scarcity a problem in country townships – with more efficient handling of sewage system wastewater part of the solution.
Pioneered by Flinders University environmental health experts, local councils in South Australia are operating sustainable energy-efficient sewage treatment operations with low-cost high-rate algal pond (HRAP) systems.
Now new research led by Flinders University is investigating improved effluent treatment and biosolids removal with ‘sequencing batch reactors’ – or low-cost ‘SBR-HRAP’ technology field trials – installed at SA Water’s Angaston wastewater treatment plant in the Barossa Valley.
The good news is that the newer systems under development can work better and faster without major capital expense – due to the latest research of new approaches to bio-processing inside them, says Professor Howard Fallowfield, from the College of Science and Engineering at Finders University.
The SBR techniques under development involve a new kind of algae and improved removal of waste from the water, for better quality non-potable water for use in parks, gardens, sporting fields and other purposes.
“Supported by SA Water and the ARC Biofilm Research and Innovation Centre at Flinders, we are trialling selective enrichment of algal-bacterial combinations to produce higher quality treated effluent,” says Professor Fallowfield.
“Using wastewater from the Angaston community, our six pilot-scale HRAP tanks will compare the performance of these improved processes against the original HRAP operations.”
Large high-rate algal pond systems, which have been treating wastewater at local council-owned facilities near Kingston-on-Murray (since 2013) and Peterborough (since 2018) in South Australia, use low-energy paddlewheels to move township and business organic waste along shallow channels where harmless green microalgae and bacteria remove pathogens and contaminants.
PhD candidate Felipe Sabatté, who has used a native freshwater filamentous algal population to produce higher quality clarified treated effluent, says the latest developments will be scaled up in the Angaston field trials.
“While high-rate algal ponds are an accepted method of wastewater treatment, particularly for regional and rural communities, they utilise microalgae which are difficult to remove from the treated wastewater leading to unacceptably high suspended solids in the discharge,” says Mr Sabatté.
“These larger filamentous algae offer the prospect of easier separation from the treated wastewater, significantly improving treated effluent quality.”
The outcome of this research provides a new operational strategy for wastewater HRAPs, particularly for the benefit of regional and rural communities challenged with water restrictions and to help meet UN SDG6 (clean water and sanitation) targets in the long run, he says.
See more, ‘High-rate algal ponds operated as sequencing batch reactors: Towards wastewater treatment with filamentous algae’ (2025) by Felipe Sabatté, Ryan Baring and Howard Fallowfield, just published in the Journal of Applied Phycology – DOI: 10.1007/s10811-025-03545-6
First published 13 June 2025 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-025-03545-6
This research was conducted by the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation and funded by the Australian Government.
Also at the Angaston trial site, Flinders ARC Biofilm Research and Innovation Centre PhD researcher Sam Butterworth is investigating how to use this new technology to develop dense, algae-bacterial granules, which can be more readily removed from wastewater and to potentially reduce phosphorus levels.
“Algae-bacterial granule formation is a positive way for biofilms to form dense, fast-settling biomass and improve treated wastewater quality,” says Mr Butterworth.
“Using microalgae in high-rate algal ponds is increasingly seen as a better alternative to other wastewater treatment systems, such as activated sludge,” he says.
Traditional wastewater treatment methods can use more energy and water and can be less sustainable due to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
An independent validation of the HRAP projects approved the treated wastewater to be used for non-food crop irrigation. For example, the Kingston-on-Murray ponds supply reuse water to irrigate a woodlot, and the ponds in Peterborough provide reuse water for a golf course and a sports field.
Working with industry, the Flinders University ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation is working on a range of sustainable and environmentally friendly research solutions. See more at the website and https://youtu.be/FbWhd-lc9z0?si=pCnUqEaDDlymcDRF
Acknowledgements: This research was conducted by the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation (project number IC2201000003).
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has completed the qualification process and recently signed legally binding agreements with 62 private companies under the Solomon Islands Government Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA).
The PSA qualifies these Companies to supply materials, equipment, goods and services to the national government through the 50 constituencies.
This signing marks a significant milestone toward the full implementation of the 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) budget; enabling the mobilization of essential resources for rural development projects and community improvements.
The PSA is a SIG procurement administrative process designed to streamline and fix procurement procedures particularly for commonly procured goods or equipment by engaging legally registered, genuine, and qualified companies to supply goods and services to the government. The goal is to improve efficiency and ensure the delivery of quality services to both the government and the public.
“The PSA contracts are valid for one year, with procurement of goods and services governed by and in compliance with Sections 73 and 74 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act 2013 and Section 28 of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Act 2023” MRD said in an official statement.
“The processes will be closely monitored by MRD in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) to ensure all procurement procedures under the relevant sections of the PFM Act 2013, SIG Procurement Manual and the CDF Act 2023 are complied with, guaranteeing that quality goods and services are delivered to the constituencies,” the statement added.
It further explained that, to ensure impartiality, the PSA underwent a rigorous selection and evaluation process, including physical site inspections and assessments on suppliers conducted by the MRD Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). The process also involved scrutiny by the Ministry of Finance (MoFT) and the Central Tender Board (CTB) before contracts were awarded to successful suppliers.
Regarding pricing, MRD secured fixed prices for various items based on prevailing market rates, ensuring value for money and consistent quality of materials purchased by constituencies for development projects.
Price evaluation was conducted exclusively for the 62 qualified companies across the following categories/items:
Hardware and Building Materials
Forestry Milling Products
Marine, Seagoing, and Fishing Equipment
Plant & Motor Vehicles
Electrification Supplies
Plumbing, Water Supply, and Sanitation Equipment
Communication, Musical, and Sound Equipment
Sports Equipment and Accessories
Agriculture and Gardening Equipment
Tailoring, Embroidery, and Fabric Printing Equipment
Cookery, Bakery, and Kitchenware
Retail Goods
The CTB serves as the awarding authority, responsible for the tender awards following the completion of all technical evaluation processes undertaken by MRD. PSA contracts are prepared by MRD, with signatories including Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (Chairman of the CTB), PS MRD (Chairman of the Ministerial Tender Board, MTB), and the suppliers.
The contracts are valid for one year (12 months), with fixed prices throughout the period. The list of the qualified suppliers for the PSA will be published when all contract documentations are finalised soon.
The Tender for the PSA was publicized in October 2024, with 68 companies submitting bids. After thorough evaluation, six companies were disqualified for failing to meet the minimum technical requirements outlined in the tender documentation, including Section VI, Schedule of Requirements. MRD also undertook a quick review of the selling prices of commonly procured goods under the PSA which resulted in some decrease in pricing on some commonly procured goods under the scheme.
Funding for the 2025 PSA is allocated from the MRD/SIG Development Budget.
The SIG support to the Constituency Development Program totals $250 million, which will be equally shared among the 50 constituencies—each receiving $5 million. Of this amount, $3.2 million is allocated and to be processed via the Preferred Suppliers Arrangement, while $1.8 million is provided as grants to the respective constituencies.
Funding utilization will follow the sectoral allocations stipulated in the CDF Act 2023, Section 26. Specifically, the funding utilisation will be portioned as follows:
40% for the Productive & Resources Sector
20% for Essential Services
20% for Cross-Sectoral, Inclusivity, and Gender initiatives
20% for Social and Cultural Obligations
The implementation of the 2025 CDF program continues to progress smoothly.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday met Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, with discussions focused mainly on recent developments in West Asia.
“Glad to meet FM @araghchi of Iran this evening. Our conversation focused on recent regional developments,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including conflict between Iran and Israel and recent US strikes on Iran. India has called for de-escalation and urged a return to dialogue and diplomacy to help restore regional peace and stability.
In June, Jaishankar held a phone call with Araghchi to discuss the situation following the flare-up between Iran and Israel. He also thanked Tehran for assisting in the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Iran.
India and Iran share centuries-old ties rooted in civilisational links, which continue to shape the contemporary relationship. Both sides maintain cooperation in trade, connectivity and cultural exchanges.
IANS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Leaders of the BRICS nations on Sunday welcomed Indonesia as a full member of the group, along with the inclusion of 10 countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Cuba, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan — as partner countries.
In a joint declaration issued at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the leaders said, “We welcome the Republic of Indonesia as a BRICS member, as well as the Republic of Belarus, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Cuba, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Malaysia, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of Uzbekistan as BRICS partner countries.”
The declaration also highlighted key initiatives adopted during the summit, including the BRICS Leaders’ Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, and the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.
During the BRICS session on ‘Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the expansion demonstrates BRICS’ ability to evolve with changing times. He called for urgent reforms in global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Multilateral Development Banks.
“The expansion of BRICS and the inclusion of new partners reflect its ability to evolve with the times. Now, we must demonstrate the same determination to reform institutions like the UN Security Council, the WTO, and Multilateral Development Banks. In the age of AI, where technology evolves every week, it’s unacceptable for global institutions to go eighty years without reform. You can’t run 21st-century software on 20th-century typewriters,” the Prime Minister said.
BRICS was originally established as BRIC after the leaders of Russia, India, China, and Brazil met during the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping formalised its cooperation with the first BRIC Summit in Russia in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, expanding the group to BRICS.
A further expansion took place in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE becoming full members from January 1. Indonesia became a full member in January 2025, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were inducted as BRICS partner countries.
(ANI)
Source: United Nations secretary general
Prezado Presidente Lula, muito obrigado pelo seu amável convite e pela sua hospitalidade tão amiga.
Excellencies,
Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies.
The fundamental test is how wisely we will guide this transformation.
How we minimize the risks and maximize the potential for good.
I am particularly concerned with the weaponization of AI, in a world where peace is more necessary than ever.
Peace in Palestine, based on building the two-State solution, starting by an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, free and unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery, and the ending of the crippling annexation and violence in the West Bank.
A just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Silencing the guns in Sudan, where civilians have also suffered too much.
And the list goes on, from the DRC to Somalia, from the Sahel to Myanmar.
Excellencies,
Artificial intelligence needs a multilateral response grounded in equity and human rights.
The Pact for the Future, approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, calls for a new architecture of trust and cooperation – starting with the establishment by the UN of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
This Panel should provide impartial, evidence-based guidance available to all Member States.
The Pact also calls for a periodic Global Dialogue on AI within the UN, with all the Member States and relevant stakeholders.
The AI can’t be a club of the few, but must benefit all, and in particular, developing countries which must have a real voice in global AI governance.
I will also soon present a report outlining innovative voluntary financing options to support AI capacity-building in developing countries, and I urge the BRICS’ support and your support for these efforts.
But we cannot govern AI effectively – and fairly – without confronting deeper, structural imbalances in our global system.
We are in a multipolar era.
Power relations are shifting.
A multipolar world requires multilateral governance – with global institutions tuned for the times, in particular the Security Council and the international financial architecture.
They were designed for a bygone age, a bygone world, with a bygone system of power relations.
The reform of the Security Council is crucial.
The message from the Financing for Development Conference last week in Sevilla was clear:
Ensuring that developing countries have a greater participation in global economic governance and its institutions;
Putting into place an effective debt restructuring mechanism;
And tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, in particular, with concessional funding and in local currencies.
All this is crucial for countries, especially in the Global South – to bridge the digital divide and fully harness artificial intelligence’s potential, making AI a powerful driver for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Excellencies,
At a time when multilateralism is being undermined, let us remind the world that cooperation is humanity’s greatest innovation.
That begins with trust, and trust begins with all countries respecting International Law without exceptions.
Let us rise to this moment – and reform and modernize multilateralism, including the UN and all the systems and institutions to make it work for everyone, everywhere.
Thank you.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work at a rockfall site on the West Coast has reached an important milestone with the completion of a micropile retaining wall to improve resilience and safety for users of State Highway 6.
Efforts to reduce the ongoing rockfall risk have been underway at the Epitaph Rift site, north of Haast and south of Knights Point, since a storm in November last year triggered a slip. The event required an initial highway closure and ongoing traffic management since then.
Work at the site has included use of explosives and blasting to reduce and remove unstable pieces of rock above the road.
See an example of the rock clearing work at the Epitaph site.(external link)
In March, work shifted to the construction of the micropile retaining wall below road level, with funding of $1.7 million for the work.
“This has involved the construction of 110 metres of micropiles, down to depths of up to nine metres, to ensure the stability of the outside shoulder of the highway,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.
“This wall is an important step to improving the short-term resilience of the site while work on a business case looking at long term resilience options is completed.”
Completion of the retaining wall means two lanes of unrestricted traffic are now restored on SH6.
“There is still some work remaining at the site to complete repairs to the road surface that was damaged during the rockfall and subsequent scaling that happened to make the site safe. This work needs to occur in warmer temperatures and is programmed for our next construction season this coming summer,” Miss Whinham says.
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nafanua Purcell Kersel as the Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence for 2025.
Nafanua, a Sāmoan writer and performer, is based in Heretaunga, Te Mātau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay). She will use the residency to work on a stage adaptation of her debut poetry collection Black Sugarcane, as well as a new book of poems.
Her aspiration is to create work that creates more. “More alofa, more creativity, more understanding in our communities and worlds,” says Nafanua.
Nafanua has a background in facilitation and community storytelling, including her role with Nevertheless NZ, where she leads the storytelling programme and runs creative writing workshops with Māori, Pasifika, and Rainbow+ communities. Her creative work includes poetry, theatre and spoken word, often centring on themes of intergenerational memory and Pasifika knowledge systems. (ref. https://neverthelessnz.com/ )
Black Sugarcane, published in 2025 by Te Herenga Waka University Press, grew out of Nafanua’s Master of Creative Writing at IIML, for which she won the 2022 Biggs Family Prize in Poetry. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies and in various literary journals including Cordite, Landfall and Turbine l Kapohau.
Nafanua says it is a privilege and an honour to receive this award.
“I admire each of the previous recipients, and feel humbled to have been chosen to follow on from them.
“My wish is to write work which offers an insight into the complexity of community and the subtle work of shared stories, through my own experiences, dreams, and observations. My goal for the residency is to produce work which is mana-enhancing and unapologetic in its cultural depth. Fa’afetai, fa’afetai, fa’afetai tele lava mo le avanoa.”
Nafanua will receive a stipend of $15,000 to write her new work at the IIML for three months. She will also work with a mentor during the residency.
Damien Wilkins, Director of the IIML, says Nafanua’s wonderful first book of poems shows her to be a highly skilled writer with new things to say.
“We’re excited to see her work develop. The IIML is also very appreciative of the support of the University and Creative New Zealand.”
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Leaders of the BRICS nations on Sunday welcomed India’s candidacy to host the 33rd Conference of the Parties (COP 33) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2028.
In a joint declaration at the 17th BRICS Summit, the leaders said, “We express our full support to the Presidency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP-30, which will take place in Belém, Brazil, highlighting the importance of action and cooperation on all pillars of the UNFCCC as applicable, considering each country’s membership and commitments thereunder. We also underscore our full commitment to a successful COP30 that will catalyze progress in implementing the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. We welcome India’s candidacy to host COP 33 in 2028.”
The declaration reiterated the commitment of BRICS countries to remain united in pursuing the goals of the UNFCCC and called on all countries to uphold their existing commitments under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. It urged intensified efforts in mitigation, adaptation, and providing support to developing nations, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
The BRICS leaders called for a stronger global response to climate change, linking it to sustainable development and poverty eradication. They endorsed the BRICS Climate Leadership Agenda as a pledge to advance solutions that support development priorities while accelerating implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
The joint statement also highlighted the critical role of forests in conserving biodiversity, regulating water cycles, combating desertification, and serving as carbon sinks. It noted the United for Our Forests initiative and India’s proposal to form an international Big Cats Alliance, encouraging cooperation among BRICS countries on conservation efforts.
The leaders stressed the urgent need to reform the governance of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to ensure fairer representation and easier access to resources for developing countries, including Indigenous peoples and local communities.
The declaration praised Brazil’s BRICS Chairship in 2025 and expressed full support for India’s Chairship in 2026 and the hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other leaders, attended the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Brazil took over the BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2025, under the theme ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.
ANI
Source: Panasonic
Headline: Global Topic: FC Barcelona and Panasonic agree contract for Espai Barça
Wiesbaden, Germany – FC Barcelona and Panasonic have signed a sponsorship agreement whereby the Japanese multinational will become the new “Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Provider” for Espai Barça for four seasons up to 30 June 2028. This association adds another strategic partner for Espai Barça, ensuring the highest possible energy efficiency, with precision technology and a high level of interior air quality in the new installations, with a view to providing the highest possible comfort for every member and fan visiting the Spotify Camp Nou.
Part of the sponsorship programme associated with the future Spotify Camp Nou, this agreement will see Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions provide more sustainable heating, ventilation and air conditioning solutions, with air purification (using nanoeTM X technology), and latest generation of air-to-water heat pump systems for each space in the refurbished blaugrana home. Furthermore, high precision heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment will be used in the technical areas, such as rooms containing the servers and for broadcasting games, where device reliability and quality is essential.
This is also an opportunity for the sponsorship programme developed specifically for Espai Barça, one of the most important projects in the Club’s history, and which has provided a platform full of new opportunities for both companies that directly target consumers (B2C) and those focused on the business sector (B2B), making the most of FC Barcelona’s global prestige and outreach.
Espai Barça is a ground-breaking project in the world of sport and entertainment, which includes the refurbishment of the iconic Spotify Camp Nou, which is set to become the best sports complex located in the centre of a major city, providing comfort for every one of its almost 105,000 spectators. Every space in the new stadium will be fitted out with Panasonic solutions, providing the highest possible comfort, energy efficiency and highest quality interior air, offering innovative and high quality solutions for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and air purification, among others.
“The alliance with Panasonic demonstrates the Club’s willingness to equip the Spotify Camp Nou with the highest quality technology in the market, with the comfort of every member and fan visiting the stadium in mind so they can enjoy a match day in the refurbished installation. This agreement with Panasonic will mean every space is as comfortable as possible for the best possible enjoyment of the matchday experience.”
Statement by Panasonic Heating & Cooling Europe CEO Hiroshi Komatsubara
“Panasonic is proud to be involved in this new FC Barcelona project, which will inevitably become a global benchmark in infrastructure. Moreover, in line with the Club’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency, Panasonic contributes to the new stadium’s design with its most innovative heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions. Using cutting-edge technology, these systems ensure comfort, high indoor air quality, and low CO2 emissions, marking a new era for major facilities in progressive cities worldwide.”
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Leaders of BRICS nations have reiterated their support for “comprehensive” reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient.
In a joint declaration at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, China and Russia — as permanent members of the UN Security Council — reaffirmed their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council.
“We reiterate our support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s membership so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council. We recognise the legitimate aspirations of African countries, as reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration,” the declaration said.
“We stress that United Nations Security Council reform must lead to an amplified voice for the Global South. China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, reiterate their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including its Security Council,” it added.
India has long sought a permanent seat in the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The UNSC comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
BRICS leaders also expressed serious concerns over the rise of unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade and violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. They reiterated their support for a rules-based, open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, consensus-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, with special and differential treatment (S&D T) for its developing members.
The bloc recalled commitments made at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and reaffirmed at the 13th to work towards the necessary reform of the organisation to ensure its relevance and restore the credibility of the multilateral trading system.
They expressed commitment to restoring an accessible, effective, fully functioning, two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement system and extended support for Ethiopia and Iran’s bids to join the WTO. The group also welcomed the BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of the Multilateral Trading System, adopted by trade ministers.
The leaders condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that violate international law and reiterated that such measures — including unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions — have far-reaching negative impacts on human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security.
“We call for the elimination of such unlawful measures, which undermine international law and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. We reaffirm that BRICS member states do not impose or support non-UN Security Council authorised sanctions that are contrary to international law,” the declaration said.
BRICS leaders also voiced concern over ongoing conflicts in various regions and the current state of polarisation and fragmentation in the global order. They expressed alarm at the increasing global military spending, which they said comes at the cost of financing development in the Global South.
The BRICS Summit, hosted by Brazil, has brought together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia.
ANI
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
South Korea’s special counsel investigating former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law imposition sought a warrant to detain the ousted president, the special counsel team’s spokesperson said Sunday.
Cho Eun-suk, independent counsel leading the investigation into Yoon’s insurrection and other charges, requested the warrant issuance from the Seoul Central District Court.
The charges specified in the warrant included the obstruction of justice, abuse of power and writing a bogus official document, the spokesperson noted.
The detention warrant was sought to keep Yoon in custody for an extended period of time, or at least 20 days.
The independent counsel team, which launched its investigation on June 18, sought a separate warrant to arrest Yoon for up to 48 hours last month, but it was dismissed by the Seoul court as Yoon showed his willingness to be questioned by the special counsel.
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 the 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.
Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers:
A rapid review of Police IT systems and devices has found while Police have a wide range of security measures in place, there are opportunities to strengthen and tighten controls on their use.
The review found Police has a range of modern security controls which protect Police information and systems from malicious activity. Most user activity is logged in line with good industry practice and there is clear guidance and expectations for staff around acceptable use.
However, the review also identified several areas where improvement was needed. These include more monitoring of staff internet use and stronger filtering mechanisms to guard against inappropriate or harmful content being accessed or downloaded.
It also recommended better oversight of all Police-owned devices, including those that sit outside the Police network for legitimate work purposes.
Police is an extremely complex workplace and different levels of security settings will always be required by some staff for lawful policing purposes. Some staff also require devices that operate outside the central Police system.
However, the review has made it very clear the current settings are not robust enough and urgent attention is required. The report includes recommendations to strengthen the settings.
I have made two decisions immediately:
– Re-introducing audits of data and internet usage on police devices, a process that was halted 4-5 years ago. These will recommence as soon as possible.
– Initiating an assessment of Police-owned standalone devices which operate outside the Police network. While there are legitimate work reasons for such devices, clarity is needed around the oversight of them.
I have requested a remediation plan to consider the review’s recommendations and address key issues. I have asked this be done quickly and expect to make further decisions within the month.
We have shared the review with other relevant agencies.
The NZ Police Rapid Review Summary Report is attached.
The Commissioner’s statement announcing the review on May 16 can be found here.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a bilateral meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
PM Modi also met Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the sidelines of the summit. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials were present at the meeting.
The BRICS Summit, hosted by Brazil, has brought together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia.
Brazil assumed the BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2025, with the theme ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’.
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026.
-ANI
Source: New Zealand Police
The north bound lanes of State Highway 5, at the Bayview end, Te Pohue have been closed due to dangerous conditions following a diesel spill.
Road cleaning crews have been called to deal with the spillage.
Motorists are advised to take care and drive to the conditions.
ENDS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
India’s women boxers led the country’s best-ever show at the World Boxing Cup in Astana on Sunday, with Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine (57kg) and Nupur (80+kg) clinching gold medals to cap off a memorable campaign.
Sakshi outclassed USA’s Yosline Perez with a unanimous verdict in the women’s 54kg final, while Jaismine edged past Brazil’s Jucielen Cequeira Romeu 4:1 in the 57kg bout. Nupur rounded off the day with a dominant 5:0 win over Kazakhstan’s Yeldana Talipova in the 80+kg final.
India ended its campaign with 11 medals — three gold, five silver and three bronze — bettering its tally from the first leg in Brazil, where the team won six medals, including one gold.
Sakshi set the tone for India on the final day with her aggressive approach and quick combination punches to seal the first gold. Jaismine, 23, used her reach smartly to keep her opponent at bay in a close contest before landing clean counters in the final round to pull ahead.
Nupur, who lost the opening round to the local favourite Talipova, came back strong to dominate the next two rounds with better footwork and sharper attacks.
Earlier, Meenakshi went down fighting to Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay in the 48kg final, losing 2:3.
Jugnoo (men’s 85kg), Pooja Rani (women’s 80kg), Hitesh Gulia (men’s 70kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (men’s 65kg) settled for silver after finishing second in their respective finals. Jugnoo lost 0:5 to Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov, while Pooja went down by the same margin to Australia’s Eseta Flint. Hitesh lost 0:5 to Brazil’s Kaian Oliveira and Jamwal fell short 2:3 against Yuri Falcao.
Sanju (women’s 60kg), Nikhil Dubey (men’s 75kg) and Narender (men’s 90+kg) claimed bronze.
(ANI)
Source: New Zealand Police
Please attribute to Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie O’Brien.
Police officers working dedicated area patrols to prevent burglaries in the Horowhenua area last week caught a recidivist offender with help from a quick-thinking caretaker.
On Thursday 3 July the Old Horowhenua Hospital complex was targeted with an offender cutting the main water supply to the site.
The burglary was discovered by workers on Friday morning and the damage repairs were estimated to be around $20,000. A plumber had to be called to reconnect the water supply to the building.
At about 9am on Saturday 5 July police were called to a burglary in progress by a caretaker at the hospital complex.
Police arrived to find a male running through the back fence of the complex. He had fled the premises allegedly leaving a substantial amount of copper piled up in sacks ready to go.
Police made immediate area enquiries and this work encouraged the suspect to report to the station and hand himself in.
Over several months the Old Horowhenua Hospital has been targeted by burglars removing copper pipes from within the buildings and under the floors.
While the site is no longer a hospital it is still the offices for community organisations such as The Horowhenua Learning Centre, and Life to the Max who rely on the building for their daily work.
The burglaries have caused thousands of dollars of damage and cutting and stealing pipe undermines the infrastructure of the building which can lead to further damage.
The offender responsible has been charged with five counts of burglary and will appear in the Levin District Court today.
Police would like to thank the public for their help in locating the person responsible for the burglaries and damage. Their quick thinking alerting police immdiately made all the difference.
We continue to encourage members of the public contact us if you see any suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the community.
Please contact Police on 111 immediately with as much information you can safely gather if an offence is currently in progress.
Information can be reported in non-emergencies or afterwards online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Dwelling and household estimates: June 2025 quarter – information release
7 July 2025
National dwelling and household estimates are used for many purposes including planning, policy formation, business decisions, and as ‘bottom lines’ in the calculation of market coverage rates.
Key facts
At 30 June 2025, the estimated number of:
Visit our website to read this information release:
Source: New Zealand Government
Tens of thousands of households will be better off thanks to changes being made to FamilyBoost to help families with the cost of living, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“From the start of this month, families will get larger FamilyBoost rebates on the early childhood education fees they pay, with rebates increasing from 25 per cent to 40 per cent of weekly fees, and those with household incomes of up to $229,000 now eligible to apply.
“This means for example that a family with early childhood fees of $100 a week could have their weekly FamilyBoost payment increased from $25 a week to $40 a week, meaning their annual payments would increase from $1,300 to $2,080 over the course of a year, making them hundreds of dollars better off.
“FamilyBoost rebates are calculated according to the weekly fees parents pay, so the maximum payment is also increasing, from $75 a week to $120 a week. The maximum refund is only available to those who pay weekly fees of $300 or more, however it’s important to note that parents at all fee levels can now claim 40 per cent of their total fees, so these changes will result in bigger payments for many families who already take part in the scheme.
“Cabinet has also decided to increase the number of families eligible for the scheme, by reducing the abatement rate for families earning more than $140,000. This means the upper limit for households to receive a portion of FamilyBoost increases from $180,000 a year of income to just under $230,000.
“We know many people are still doing it tough. These changes will help many families to deal with the increased costs that come with having young children.
“The changes will put more money in the bank accounts of households currently receiving FamilyBoost and extend the scheme to thousands of families that were previously ineligible for it.
“We note that only eligible families who make a claim will receive the rebate. To date, around 60,000 families have successfully claimed the FamilyBoost tax credit which is less than the number of families estimated to be eligible.
“The changes we are making will make around 22,000 more households eligible for the scheme. Based on the current take-up rate, officials estimate this may result in up to 16,000 more families accessing the payment.
“Officials estimate these changes can be accommodated within the appropriation set for the scheme in Budget 2024.
“I encourage all households who think they may be eligible for FamilyBoost to register for it on Inland Revenue’s website. Families who have done so tell us it is simple to do and only takes five minutes.
“FamilyBoost is paid out every three months. The changes will apply for fees paid from 1 July, with claims available to be made from 1 October.
“We have also asked officials to progress work on longer term improvements to the scheme, including by having fees information provided directly to Inland Revenue by ECE providers. FamilyBoost will also be included in the Early Childhood Education Funding Review which is examining the full range of supports available to families with children in early childhood education.”
Legislation giving effect to the changes will be introduced in time for the increases to be in place when households next claim rebates in October. The changes will apply to fees incurred from 1 July 2025.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 78 on Sunday, including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompted fresh evacuations.
Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicenter of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children.
Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor were still missing.
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.
The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kiddsaid at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County.
“You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow,” said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday.
Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio.
“Everyone in the community is hurting,” Leitha told reporters.
A WALL OF WATER
Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of “an additional wall of water” flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday’s rains.
He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm’s way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas that were to last until 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT) as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said.
SCALING BACK FEDERAL DISASTER RESPONSE
Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government’s role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm.
Trump’s administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service’s parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, former NOAA director Rick Spinrad said.
Spinrad said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but that they would inevitably degrade the agency’s ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a “moderate” flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic U.S. congressman from Texas, told CNN’s “State of the Union” program that fewer personnel at the weather service could be dangerous.
“When you have flash flooding, there’s a risk that if you don’t have the personnel … to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy,” Castro said.
‘COMPLETE DEVASTATION’
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding.
Katharine Somerville, a counselor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, on higher ground than the Guadalupe River side, said her 13-year-old campers were scared as their cabins sustained damage and lost power in the middle of the night.
“Our cabins at the tippity top of hills were completely flooded with water. I mean, y’all have seen the complete devastation, we never even imagined that this could happen,” Somerville said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Somerville said the campers in her care were put on military trucks and evacuated, and that all were safe.
The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 29 feet (9 meters).
A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 78 on Sunday, including at least 28 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day and fears of more flash flooding as rain fell on saturated ground prompted fresh evacuations.
Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said 68 people had died in flooding in his county, the epicenter of the flooding, among them 28 children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 confirmed missing. The governor did not say how many of the dead outside Kerr were children.
Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp. Sheriff Leitha said on Sunday that 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor were still missing.
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.
The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kiddsaid at the press conference on Sunday afternoon the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green County, five in Travis County and one in Williamson County.
“You will see the death toll rise today and tomorrow,” said Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, also speaking on Sunday.
Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio.
“Everyone in the community is hurting,” Leitha told reporters.
A WALL OF WATER
Kidd said he was receiving unconfirmed reports of “an additional wall of water” flowing down some of the creeks in the Guadalupe Rivershed, as rain continued to fall on soil in the region already saturated from Friday’s rains.
He said aircraft were sent aloft to scout for additional floodwaters, while search-and-rescue personnel who might be in harm’s way were alerted to pull back from the river in the meantime.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas that were to last until 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT) as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said.
SCALING BACK FEDERAL DISASTER RESPONSE
Trump, who said on Sunday he would visit the disaster scene, probably on Friday, has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government’s role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm.
Trump’s administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service’s parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, former NOAA director Rick Spinrad said.
Spinrad said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but that they would inevitably degrade the agency’s ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a “moderate” flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic U.S. congressman from Texas, told CNN’s “State of the Union” program that fewer personnel at the weather service could be dangerous.
“When you have flash flooding, there’s a risk that if you don’t have the personnel … to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy,” Castro said.
‘COMPLETE DEVASTATION’
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding.
Katharine Somerville, a counselor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, on higher ground than the Guadalupe River side, said her 13-year-old campers were scared as their cabins sustained damage and lost power in the middle of the night.
“Our cabins at the tippity top of hills were completely flooded with water. I mean, y’all have seen the complete devastation, we never even imagined that this could happen,” Somerville said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Somerville said the campers in her care were put on military trucks and evacuated, and that all were safe.
The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 29 feet (9 meters).
A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The death toll from catastrophic floods in Texas reached at least 69 on Sunday, including at least 21 children, as the search for girls missing from a summer camp entered a third day.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, said the death toll in Kerr county, the epicenter of the flooding, had reached 59, while another 10 had died elsewhere in Texas and 41 remained missing.
Among the most devastating impacts of the flooding occurred at Camp Mystic summer camp, a nearly century-old Christian girls camp, where 11 girls and a counselor are still missing.
“It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” said Abbott, who said he toured the area on Saturday and pledged to continue efforts to locate the missing.
The flooding occurred after the nearby Guadalupe River broke its banks after torrential rain fell in the central Texas area on Friday, the U.S. Independence Day holiday. Larry Leitha, the Kerr County Sheriff in Texas Hill Country, said earlier that 21 children have died in the flooding.
Officials speaking at the press conference on Sunday afternoon said the destruction killed three people in Burnet County, one in Tom Green county, five in Travis county and one in Williamson county.
Officials said on Saturday that more than 850 people had been rescued, including some clinging to trees, after a sudden storm dumped up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain across the region, about 85 miles (140 km) northwest of San Antonio.
“Everyone in the community is hurting,” Leitha told reporters.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and advisories for central Texas that were to last until 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT) as rains fell, potentially complicating rescue efforts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated on Sunday and is deploying resources to first responders in Texas after President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and planes are helping the search and rescue efforts, the department said.
Trump has previously outlined plans to scale back the federal government’s role in responding to natural disasters, leaving states to shoulder more of the burden themselves.
Some experts questioned whether cuts to the federal workforce by the Trump administration, including to the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, led to a failure by officials to accurately predict the severity of the floods and issue appropriate warnings ahead of the storm.
Trump’s administration has overseen thousands of job cuts from the National Weather Service’s parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leaving many weather offices understaffed, former NOAA director Rick Spinrad said.
Spinrad said he did not know if those staff cuts factored into the lack of advance warning for the extreme Texas flooding, but that they would inevitably degrade the agency’s ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees NOAA, said a “moderate” flood watch issued on Thursday by the National Weather Service had not accurately predicted the extreme rainfall and said the Trump administration was working to upgrade the system.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic U.S. congressman from Texas, told CNN’s “State of the Union” program that fewer personnel at the weather service could be dangerous.
“When you have flash flooding, there’s a risk that if you don’t have the personnel … to do that analysis, do the predictions in the best way, it could lead to tragedy,” Castro said.
‘COMPLETE DEVASTATION’
Camp Mystic had 700 girls in residence at the time of the flooding.
Katharine Somerville, a counselor on the Cypress Lake side of Camp Mystic, on higher ground than the Guadalupe River side, said her 13-year-old campers were scared as their cabins sustained damage and lost power in the middle of the night.
“Our cabins at the tippity top of hills were completely flooded with water. I mean, y’all have seen the complete devastation, we never even imagined that this could happen,” Somerville said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Somerville said the campers in her care were put on military trucks and evacuated, and that all were safe.
The disaster unfolded rapidly on Friday morning as heavier-than-forecast rain drove river waters rapidly to as high as 29 feet (9 meters).
A day after the disaster struck, the summer camp was a scene of devastation. Inside one cabin, mud lines indicating how high the water had risen were at least six feet (1.83 m) from the floor. Bed frames, mattresses and personal belongings caked with mud were scattered inside. Some buildings had broken windows, one had a missing wall.
-REUTERS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling technology came under fire on Sunday after an embarrassing malfunction robbed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of a point during her last-16 victory over Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Centre Court.
Russian Pavlyuchenkova had reached game point at 4-4 in the opening set and Kartal hit a shot that looked clearly long but there was no call and Pavlyuchenkova stopped play.
An automated voice call of “STOP STOP” rang out and confusion reigned as umpire Nico Helwerth sought advice from tournament organisers via telephone.
Television replays showed that Kartal’s shot was clearly out, yet Helwerth ruled that because the Hawk-Eye technology had not tracked the ball, the point must be replayed.
Pavlyuchenkova went on to have her serve broken and was clearly fuming at the changeover, telling the umpire: “Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. You stole the game from me”.
The 34-year-old quickly regrouped and showed the resilience that has marked her long career by reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-6(3) 6-4 win.
But the main talking point was the first big glitch of Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling system that has replaced human line judges this year.
OPERATOR ERROR
Tournament officials later said the problem had been caused by operator error and that the umpire had followed the correct protocols, although Pavlyuchenkova felt that he should have intervened to correct an obvious mistake.
“We were waiting for a decision as the system was down, but I was expecting to hear if they said the ball was in or out,” Pavlyuchenkova told reporters.
“Instead they just said, replay the point. It was tricky especially as it was a very crucial moment in the match.
“I expected a different decision. I just thought also the chair umpire could take the initiative. That’s why he’s there sitting on the chair. He also saw it (was) out, he told me after the match. I thought he would do that, but he didn’t.
“I think it’s also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.”
Asked how she would have felt if the point had cost her the match, Pavlyuchenkova raised a smile: “I would just say that I hate Wimbledon and never come back here.”
KARTAL UNSIGHTED
Kartal said she had been unsighted as to whether her shot was out and was equally confused at the time.
“That situation is a rarity. I don’t think it’s really ever happened,” she said. “It’s tough luck. What can you do? The umpire is trying his best. I think he handled it fine.”
Pavlyuchenkova, who felt a back-up system should be in place, is not the first person this week to question the automated line-calling system.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu claimed there were wrong calls during her loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
“No, I don’t (trust the system) — I think the other players would say the same thing, there were some pretty dodgy ones but what can you do?,” she said after her defeat.
Britain’s Jack Draper also believed it was not 100% accurate while Swiss player Belinda Bencic said this week that it was a hot topic in the locker rooms.
Pavlyuchenkova said it was something that needed to be addressed.
“I think since we have already automatic line-calling and so much invested into this, we should probably look into something else to have better decisions on it,” she said.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling technology came under fire on Sunday after an embarrassing malfunction robbed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of a point during her last-16 victory over Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Centre Court.
Russian Pavlyuchenkova had reached game point at 4-4 in the opening set and Kartal hit a shot that looked clearly long but there was no call and Pavlyuchenkova stopped play.
An automated voice call of “STOP STOP” rang out and confusion reigned as umpire Nico Helwerth sought advice from tournament organisers via telephone.
Television replays showed that Kartal’s shot was clearly out, yet Helwerth ruled that because the Hawk-Eye technology had not tracked the ball, the point must be replayed.
Pavlyuchenkova went on to have her serve broken and was clearly fuming at the changeover, telling the umpire: “Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. You stole the game from me”.
The 34-year-old quickly regrouped and showed the resilience that has marked her long career by reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-6(3) 6-4 win.
But the main talking point was the first big glitch of Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling system that has replaced human line judges this year.
OPERATOR ERROR
Tournament officials later said the problem had been caused by operator error and that the umpire had followed the correct protocols, although Pavlyuchenkova felt that he should have intervened to correct an obvious mistake.
“We were waiting for a decision as the system was down, but I was expecting to hear if they said the ball was in or out,” Pavlyuchenkova told reporters.
“Instead they just said, replay the point. It was tricky especially as it was a very crucial moment in the match.
“I expected a different decision. I just thought also the chair umpire could take the initiative. That’s why he’s there sitting on the chair. He also saw it (was) out, he told me after the match. I thought he would do that, but he didn’t.
“I think it’s also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.”
Asked how she would have felt if the point had cost her the match, Pavlyuchenkova raised a smile: “I would just say that I hate Wimbledon and never come back here.”
KARTAL UNSIGHTED
Kartal said she had been unsighted as to whether her shot was out and was equally confused at the time.
“That situation is a rarity. I don’t think it’s really ever happened,” she said. “It’s tough luck. What can you do? The umpire is trying his best. I think he handled it fine.”
Pavlyuchenkova, who felt a back-up system should be in place, is not the first person this week to question the automated line-calling system.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu claimed there were wrong calls during her loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
“No, I don’t (trust the system) — I think the other players would say the same thing, there were some pretty dodgy ones but what can you do?,” she said after her defeat.
Britain’s Jack Draper also believed it was not 100% accurate while Swiss player Belinda Bencic said this week that it was a hot topic in the locker rooms.
Pavlyuchenkova said it was something that needed to be addressed.
“I think since we have already automatic line-calling and so much invested into this, we should probably look into something else to have better decisions on it,” she said.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling technology came under fire on Sunday after an embarrassing malfunction robbed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of a point during her last-16 victory over Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Centre Court.
Russian Pavlyuchenkova had reached game point at 4-4 in the opening set and Kartal hit a shot that looked clearly long but there was no call and Pavlyuchenkova stopped play.
An automated voice call of “STOP STOP” rang out and confusion reigned as umpire Nico Helwerth sought advice from tournament organisers via telephone.
Television replays showed that Kartal’s shot was clearly out, yet Helwerth ruled that because the Hawk-Eye technology had not tracked the ball, the point must be replayed.
Pavlyuchenkova went on to have her serve broken and was clearly fuming at the changeover, telling the umpire: “Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. You stole the game from me”.
The 34-year-old quickly regrouped and showed the resilience that has marked her long career by reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-6(3) 6-4 win.
But the main talking point was the first big glitch of Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling system that has replaced human line judges this year.
OPERATOR ERROR
Tournament officials later said the problem had been caused by operator error and that the umpire had followed the correct protocols, although Pavlyuchenkova felt that he should have intervened to correct an obvious mistake.
“We were waiting for a decision as the system was down, but I was expecting to hear if they said the ball was in or out,” Pavlyuchenkova told reporters.
“Instead they just said, replay the point. It was tricky especially as it was a very crucial moment in the match.
“I expected a different decision. I just thought also the chair umpire could take the initiative. That’s why he’s there sitting on the chair. He also saw it (was) out, he told me after the match. I thought he would do that, but he didn’t.
“I think it’s also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.”
Asked how she would have felt if the point had cost her the match, Pavlyuchenkova raised a smile: “I would just say that I hate Wimbledon and never come back here.”
KARTAL UNSIGHTED
Kartal said she had been unsighted as to whether her shot was out and was equally confused at the time.
“That situation is a rarity. I don’t think it’s really ever happened,” she said. “It’s tough luck. What can you do? The umpire is trying his best. I think he handled it fine.”
Pavlyuchenkova, who felt a back-up system should be in place, is not the first person this week to question the automated line-calling system.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu claimed there were wrong calls during her loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
“No, I don’t (trust the system) — I think the other players would say the same thing, there were some pretty dodgy ones but what can you do?,” she said after her defeat.
Britain’s Jack Draper also believed it was not 100% accurate while Swiss player Belinda Bencic said this week that it was a hot topic in the locker rooms.
Pavlyuchenkova said it was something that needed to be addressed.
“I think since we have already automatic line-calling and so much invested into this, we should probably look into something else to have better decisions on it,” she said.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling technology came under fire on Sunday after an embarrassing malfunction robbed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of a point during her last-16 victory over Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Centre Court.
Russian Pavlyuchenkova had reached game point at 4-4 in the opening set and Kartal hit a shot that looked clearly long but there was no call and Pavlyuchenkova stopped play.
An automated voice call of “STOP STOP” rang out and confusion reigned as umpire Nico Helwerth sought advice from tournament organisers via telephone.
Television replays showed that Kartal’s shot was clearly out, yet Helwerth ruled that because the Hawk-Eye technology had not tracked the ball, the point must be replayed.
Pavlyuchenkova went on to have her serve broken and was clearly fuming at the changeover, telling the umpire: “Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. You stole the game from me”.
The 34-year-old quickly regrouped and showed the resilience that has marked her long career by reaching the quarter-finals with a 7-6(3) 6-4 win.
But the main talking point was the first big glitch of Wimbledon‘s automated line-calling system that has replaced human line judges this year.
OPERATOR ERROR
Tournament officials later said the problem had been caused by operator error and that the umpire had followed the correct protocols, although Pavlyuchenkova felt that he should have intervened to correct an obvious mistake.
“We were waiting for a decision as the system was down, but I was expecting to hear if they said the ball was in or out,” Pavlyuchenkova told reporters.
“Instead they just said, replay the point. It was tricky especially as it was a very crucial moment in the match.
“I expected a different decision. I just thought also the chair umpire could take the initiative. That’s why he’s there sitting on the chair. He also saw it (was) out, he told me after the match. I thought he would do that, but he didn’t.
“I think it’s also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.”
Asked how she would have felt if the point had cost her the match, Pavlyuchenkova raised a smile: “I would just say that I hate Wimbledon and never come back here.”
KARTAL UNSIGHTED
Kartal said she had been unsighted as to whether her shot was out and was equally confused at the time.
“That situation is a rarity. I don’t think it’s really ever happened,” she said. “It’s tough luck. What can you do? The umpire is trying his best. I think he handled it fine.”
Pavlyuchenkova, who felt a back-up system should be in place, is not the first person this week to question the automated line-calling system.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu claimed there were wrong calls during her loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
“No, I don’t (trust the system) — I think the other players would say the same thing, there were some pretty dodgy ones but what can you do?,” she said after her defeat.
Britain’s Jack Draper also believed it was not 100% accurate while Swiss player Belinda Bencic said this week that it was a hot topic in the locker rooms.
Pavlyuchenkova said it was something that needed to be addressed.
“I think since we have already automatic line-calling and so much invested into this, we should probably look into something else to have better decisions on it,” she said.
-Reuters
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Indian pacer Akash Deep has dedicated India’s historic Test win at Edgbaston to his elder sister, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer for the past two months.
Speaking after India’s victory over England in the second Test, the 27-year-old revealed that he had kept his sister’s illness private, focusing on cricket while his thoughts remained with his family.
“I have not told this to anyone. My elder sister has been suffering from cancer for the last two months. She is stable now and doing fine. I think she will be the happiest seeing my performance. I want to dedicate this match to her. I just wanted to see a smile on her face,” Akash told Sony Sports after the match.
He added, “This is for you. Whenever I held the ball in my hand, your face was on my mind. I want to see happiness on your face. We are all with you.”
Akash Deep produced a match-winning spell at Edgbaston, claiming 10 wickets for 187 runs — four in the first innings and six in the second — to hand India their first-ever Test win at the iconic venue.
His figures broke Chetan Sharma’s long-standing record of 10/188 (1986) for the best Test bowling performance by an Indian in England. He also became only the second Indian pacer to take a 10-wicket match haul on English soil.
Before leaving for England, Akash Deep had spent weeks in hospital corridors attending to his sister. The pacer said his family’s struggle kept him grounded through the tour and that every delivery he bowled carried a prayer for his sister’s recovery.
Behind the milestone, he said, was a simple wish: to see his sister smile.
IANS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Carlos Alcaraz came through a ferocious fourth-round firefight against a red-hot Andrey Rublev to win 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court and keep his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title on track on Sunday.
The Spanish second seed stuttered in his opening three rounds but found his best form to eventually subdue an inspired opponent who once again came up short against the very best.
Rublev rocked Alcaraz by roaring into a 4-1 lead only to be pegged back but the Russian produced some astonishing tennis to snatch the tiebreak and move ahead.
Alcaraz never looked ruffled though and levelled the match after Rublev double-faulted on a break point. Rublev continued throwing everything in his arsenal at the champion in the third set but paid for not taking some early break points as Alcaraz found another gear.
Alcaraz looked impregnable in the fourth set and a single break of serve was enough to seal a 22nd successive match win and set up a last-eight clash with Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
“Andrey is one of the most powerful players we have on Tour and is so aggressive with the ball. It’s really difficult to face him, he forces you to the limit on each point,” Alcaraz, bidding to become only the fourth man to win back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon titles multiple times, said on court.
“Really happy with the way I moved and played intelligent and smart tactically. A really good match all round.”
With so many seeds having fallen early, this was the first match between top-20 players in the men’s singles this year and it did not disappoint as the quality scaled rare heights.
Rublev, 27, has barely been outside of the top 10 since 2022 but has never got close to winning a Grand Slam, losing all 10 quarter-finals that he has contested.
The 14th seed must have sighed when he saw Alcaraz in his way in the fourth round, but he came out in positive fashion, off-loading rockets at the five-time Grand Slam champion.
With the roof closed after earlier thunderstorms the noise of the ball striking strings sounded like rifle shots.
Rublev hit harder, then harder still and at 5-5 in the opening set launched an outrageous backhand winner off a full-blooded Alcaraz forehand and then followed with a powerful forehand of his own to the baseline to move a set ahead.
He barely did anything wrong after that but Alcaraz, finally clicking into gear after three scratchy wins, showed why taking the title off him will be such a tough task.
The turning point came at 3-3 in the third set when Rublev, attempting to save a break point, sent Alcaraz sliding from side to side with a barrage of power only for the Spaniard to whip a forehand cross court winner, before cupping his ear to the crowd who rose as one to salute the moment of genius.
Rublev stuck manfully to his task but he was powerless to prevent an 11th loss from 11 matches against top-five opponents at a Grand Slam.
-REUTERS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Sunday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 2025 BRICS summit, during which the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation among other key issues.
“Good to meet with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the sidelines of #BRICS2025. Discussed bilateral cooperation, West Asia, BRICS and SCO”, the EAM said in a post on X.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X, “Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India @DrSJaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the XVII #BRICS Summit. Rio de Janeiro, July 6.”
Jaishankar also shared a photo with the Russian Foreign Minister.
The meeting took place as BRICS leaders condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed. In response, India’s armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Notably, Russia, besides condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, maintained that it stands in solidarity with India in eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Moscow’s stand was conveyed in May this year when an all-party delegation from India, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, met senior members of the Russian Federation Council, including Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs, in Moscow to reaffirm the united stand against terrorism.
During that meeting, the Russian side strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and reiterated its solidarity with India in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms.
The visit was part of India’s unprecedented diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistan’s sustained role in cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
—IANS