Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services has revealed the latest HIV numbers in the country to a development partner roundtable discussing the national response.
The minister reported 490 new HIV cases between October and December last year, bringing the 2024 total to 1583.
“Included in this number are 32 newborns diagnosed with HIV acquired through mother-to-child transmission,” Dr Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu said.
Fiji declared an outbreak of the disease in January. The Fiji Sun reported around 115 HIV-related deaths in the January-September 2024 period.
Fiji’s Central Division reported 1100 new cases in 2024, with 427 in the Western Division and 50 in the Northern Division.
Of the newly recorded cases, less than half — 770 — have been successfully linked to care, of which 711 have been commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Just over half were aged in their twenties, and 70 percent of cases were male.
Increase in TB, HIV co-infection Dr Lalabalavu said the increase in HIV cases was also seeing an increase in tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, with 160 individuals in a year.
He said the ministry strongly encouraged individuals to get tested, know their status, and if it was positive, seek treatment.
Fiji Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu . . . strongly encourages individuals to get tested. Image: Ministry of Health & Medical Services/FB/RNZ Pacific
And if it is negative, to maintain that negative status.
“I will reiterate what I have said before to all Fijians – HIV should not be a death sentence in Fiji,” he said.
In the Western Pacific, the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reached 1.9 million in 2020, up from 1.4 million in 2010.
At the time, the World Health Organisation said that over the previous two decades, HIV prevalence in the Western Pacific had remained low at 0.1 percent.
However, the low prevalence in the general population masked high levels of HIV infection among key populations.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s request to Congress to rescind nearly $10 billion in previously-enacted funding.
“The Trump administration is seeking to codify its evisceration of American foreign assistance. Make no mistake: doing so will make Americans less safe, less secure, and less prosperous.
“Gutting global health programs like PEPFAR and slashing food and other life-saving assistance will cause mass death and starvation and compromise our health and safety here at home. Decimating economic and development programs abroad and abandoning global bodies like the United Nations will make it harder to advance American interests while at the same time paving the way for China to expand its influence.
“I’m open to making changes to the budget in ways that benefit Americans and the country. But the way to make changes to what we invest in and by how much is through bipartisan appropriations bills – which we’re currently negotiating – not by jamming them through a partisan process that hasn’t been used in decades.”
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON — In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) warned that the Republican tax bill would raise costs for working families and cut critical programs like Medicaid and food assistance in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
“No one asked for this. No one asked for the biggest wealth transfer in American history — from the poorest people in the country to the richest people to ever exist. No one asked for the biggest ever cuts to Medicaid — to kick 14 million people off of health insurance and raise out-of-pocket costs for 20 million people. No one asked for food assistance to be slashed for millions of children and low-income families. No one asked for higher prices at the pump or on their electricity bills. No one asked for students across the country to lose federal financial aid,” Senator Schatz began. “I don’t think Trump voters asked for this. I know Harris voters didn’t. I don’t think anybody wants this.”
“It is quite hard to believe that you would cut food assistance and cut health care and cut help for regular working people in order to shovel money to people making more than $4 million a year. But that is exactly what they’re doing. It is as if they designed this bill in a lab to make the maximum number of people angry. It’s unpopular. It is unnecessary. And they’re doing it anyway,” Senator Schatz continued. “Do [billionaires] need $300,000? Because I know people who need $300. I know people who actually won’t be able to stay on any health care at all if these [Obamacare] subsidies go away.”
The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.
No one asked for this. No one asked for the biggest wealth transfer in American history — from the poorest people in the country to the richest people to ever exist. No one asked for the biggest ever cuts to Medicaid — to kick 14 million people off of health insurance and raise out-of-pocket costs for 20 million people. No one asked for food assistance to be slashed for millions of children and low-income families. No one asked for higher prices at the pump or on their electricity bills. No one asked for students across the country to lose federal financial aid. No one asked for any of this, and I really mean that. That’s not just a rhetorical flourish. I don’t think Trump voters asked for this. I know Harris voters did not ask for this. I don’t think anybody really wants this.
I think the reason that all of these crazy, harmful policies are about to be enacted is for one simple reason — and that is to generate enough revenue to satisfy the insatiable desire for tax cuts for people who make more than $4 million a year. They are literally taking money out of food assistance and Medicaid and Affordable Care Act monthly subsidies. By the way, you don’t know if you get a subsidy or not. You just go on the exchange, and you pay the thing. The thing is, that thing is probably four, five, six hundred dollars a month less than it used to be because of the subsidies.
So it’s one thing to say 14 million people are going to get kicked off of Medicaid — and they will. It’s another thing to say, because of those Medicaid cuts, a bunch of clinics and hospitals in rural communities are going to shut down — and they will. I think what’s a little underrated is many, many more millions of people are going to pay not 50 bucks more a year, not $100 more per month, but many hundreds of dollars more per month. Why? Because when you yank that money out of the system — it is what is called a pay-for. It means it generates a ton of revenue. How does it generate that revenue? By screwing regular people.
They are racing to pass a bill that does all of these things, that raises the deficit — excuse me, the debt — by many, many trillions of dollars. And I think the problem that some of us have — and I really appreciate the presiding officer, and when we agree we work really well together, and when we disagree we are at least able to stay civil, and so I’m trying to take the edge off of this — but one of the reasons that it sounds like I’m frothing at the mouth and saying a bunch of partisan talking points is that it’s kind of hard to believe that any political party would actually do this on purpose.
It is quite hard to believe that you would cut food assistance and cut health care and cut help for regular working people in order to shovel money to people making more than $4 million a year. But that is exactly what they’re doing. It is as if they designed this bill in a lab to make the maximum number of people angry. It’s unpopular. It is unnecessary. And they’re doing it anyway.
Hospitals serving rural and low-income communities will be forced to shutter because they won’t be adequately compensated for their services. And by the way — again, not a talking point — go and visit any rural clinic or hospital, ask them what percentage of their payer mix comes from Medicaid and what would happen if they lost a big chunk of that. A lot of them say — the big ones (big is relative, but in the state of Hawai‘i our big institutions say), “Well, we could stay afloat. We’d just have to deliver a lot less care, and then everybody would end up in the ER.” Right? The Queen’s Medical Center — the sort of number one trauma center right in the middle of Honolulu — is already bursting at the seams. You’ve got multiple people in the hallways, all of the rooms, all of the beds are taken. It was just a couple of months ago that they finally figured out a way not to release the psychiatric emergencies right onto Punchbowl Avenue in their hospital gowns. That’s before they do this to the hospitals.
After the ACA passed, you go on the exchange, select a plan, and pay a fraction of what you used to pay. And I think one of the things is that the Obamacare is now so old that people forgot how horrible it was before then — really horrible. And so now you just go on and you’re kind of irritated because it’s still money, and it still feels like too much, and it still feels like your HMO or your provider, you know, kind of nitpicks you and, you know, doesn’t cover a bunch of care, and the co-pays are too high. But it is way, way, way better than it used to be. And so this whole enterprise is for one single purpose — and that is to generate enough money to cut taxes for billionaire corporations and people who make $4 million or more in revenue. It’s very, very few people benefiting and tens of millions of people being screwed.
There’s little in this bill that will help regular people who are already struggling to meet their monthly obligations, but there are plenty of rewards for the ultra-wealthy. Millionaires stand to gain roughly $70,000 in tax cuts, while billionaires in the top 1% will see close to $300,000 in benefits. And how do they find that money to shovel to the millionaires and billionaires?
I don’t mind a millionaire or a billionaire. I know like two billionaires — not close, but I’ve like met them — and I’m sure I know many millionaires. There are a number of colleagues in the Senate who are in that category, so it’s not like I’m not trying to demonize anybody. I’m just saying — do they need $300,000? Because I know people who need $300. I know people who actually won’t be able to stay on any health care at all if these subsidies go away.
This is not the closing of loopholes. This is not fiscal discipline. And I want to make this point as clearly as I can: we would be in a harder position to argue against this bill if it were actually deficit neutral, right? Because traditionally the accusation against Democrats is — they want to bust the budget, and Republicans want to be responsible. But this one’s weird, because this is like — under the guise of “we’ve got to do austerity, we’ve got to do tough stuff, we’ve got to cut” — and then they come up with a bill that actually increases the deficit over baseline. Even when they do their kind of nonsensical accounting where they basically have stopped counting the tax cuts that are in place because that — “Oh no, that’s the baseline.”
And so the whole enterprise — and everybody needs to understand this — they are making everything more expensive. That is food, that is medicine, that is groceries, that is gasoline, that is electricity. And the reason they’re making it more expensive is because they are either indifferent to the suffering, or — more importantly — they just need the money. And they don’t need the money to — you know, we’ve raised taxes in the past as a country to fight a war, right? To beat Nazism. Or we’ve raised taxes in the past to shrink the deficit. Or we’ve raised taxes and raised costs for people to invest in something important. That’s not what we’re doing here.
We are blowing up the budget, and we are harming regular people in order to provide tax cuts for people who literally didn’t ask for it.
Source: Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
Exclusive international exhibition brings global icons to Auckland from Saturday 28 June
This month, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum welcomes the spectacular international exhibition DIVA, with a new opening date announced for Saturday 28 June 2025.
Exclusive to Auckland, DIVA is a bold celebration of iconic performers who have defined eras, challenged norms and changed the world through the power of performance.
Developed by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), DIVA showcases over 280 objects, including fashion, photography, costumes, music, and design, featuring trailblazing performers who have made their voices heard from the 19th century to today.
Through theatrical staging and an immersive musical soundtrack experience, DIVA explores stories of the creativity, ambition, and resilience of some the world’s best-known divas, from opera goddesses and silent movie stars to Hollywood leg
The Government is boosting economic growth in the regions by supporting Hawke’s Bay Trails and the Remutaka Cycle Trail to set up e-bike charging stations with more regions set to benefit from a second funding round, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. “We launched the $3 million Electrifying the Great Rides Fund last year to make our cycle trails more accessible and appealing, both to international tourists and kiwis looking to explore more of their backyard,” Louise Upston says. “They play an absolutely crucial role in attracting visitors to our regions, supporting our local businesses, jobs and communities. “We’re pleased to be supporting investment in our Great Rides and hope more trails will take up the opportunity with the second round of funding opening shortly.” The first round of the Electrifying the Great Rides Fund approved $478,750 of co-funding to install 10 e-bike charging stations on two Great Rides. Hawke’s Bay Trails will install e-bike charging stations at six locations outside adjacent business premises and i-SITEs, as will the Remutaka Cycle Trail at four popular business premises along that trail. “In the second round of funding, we’ve expanded the eligibility criteria to include not only the Great Rides but the Heartland and Connector Rides which are part of the wider Ngā Haerenga, New Zealand Cycle Trail network,” Louise Upston says. “By opening up the criteria, we’re able to make our rural and remote trails much more accessible to visitors wanting to see more of our beautiful country.” The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is also working with sector partners to refresh the broader New Zealand Cycle Trail programme. “Demand for nature-based tourism experiences is only increasing – which means our cycle trails are even more important as people seek out more environmentally friendly experiences,” Louise Upston says. “By investing in our cycle trails we are directly supporting our local tourism operators and driving economic growth in our regions.” The second round will open on 1 August 2025 for one month. Applicants will be able to find more information on the MBIE website from 30 June 2025. Opening up the fund to Heartland and Connector Rides means that territorial authorities and community groups supported by their local council will be eligible to apply.
Installation view of French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on display from June 6 to October 5, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy
Impressionism is the world’s favourite art movement.
Impressionist paintings create an oasis of beauty into which a viewer can escape from a sometimes dark and troubling world, or simply from the mundane boredom of urban living.
The Impressionist master, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, once famously observed:
To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty. Yes, pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them.
The new Impressionism exhibition at the National Gallery of Victory brings together over a 100 of these pleasant, cheerful and pretty paintings and graphics. It features some of the greatest names in French Impressionism, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Édouard Manet, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Paul Signac and Alfred Sisley.
Initially, the Impressionist painters had difficulty in selling their work amid the torrent of negative criticism.
But then their Parisian art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel established a gallery in New York City, and the American artist Mary Cassatt – who worked with the Impressionists in Paris – found increasing popularity. By the 1880s and 1890s, American collectors started to buy Impressionist paintings by many of the top French artists.
This explains why the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston possesses such an outstanding collection of Impressionist paintings. Yet, unlike the museums in New York, the Boston museum is less well known and Australians are seeing many of these paintings for the first time.
To say that most works in this exhibition have never been previously seen in Australia is only partially true. Four years ago, just before Melbourne was locked down for COVID, the NGV launched a similar show. Apart from a handful of art lovers posing as media, that show expired under lockdown and was packed up and returned to Boston without being widely exposed to Australian audiences.
The new reiteration is supplemented with six additional paintings, including the early and deeply moving painting by Degas of Degas’s Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans Playing the Guitar (1869–72).
Edgar Degas, French, 1834–1917, Degas’s Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans Playing the Guitar, about 1869–72. Museum of Fine Arts Boston
The whole exhibition has been totally reimagined as part of an immersive interior design. It moves far away from the clinical white cube of a modern exhibition space and closer to the 19th century posh domestic interiors in which the paintings first appeared.
An extensive and in-depth exhibition
Chronologically, the exhibition charts the development of French Impressionism from the mid-19th century and the so-called Barbizon school and realism, through to late Impressionism in the early 20th century.
It includes the great paintings by Cézanne and Manet, and memorable paintings from early to late Impressionism. There is an abundance of important works by the main Impressionist masters including Monet (16 of his canvases in one room), Degas, Sisley, Renoir, Pissarro, Cassatt and Morisot, and a few unexpected gems by van Gogh and Signac.
Installation view of French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on display from June 6 to October 5, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy
It is an extensive and in-depth exhibition.
The depth of the Boston collection enables rare insights. For example, when we see Édouard Manet’s Street Singer (1862), we may be aware that he employed his favourite model Victorine Meurent. Apart from being a model, Meurent was also an artist in her own right and in the same exhibition there is a self-portrait of her from 1876.
Strictly speaking, perhaps neither painting can be described as “Impressionist”. But it is a wonderful encounter of a woman being observed and, in the same exhibition, this woman looking out of the picture space and doing the observing. The self-portrait is one of those additions that was not in the original show.
If we glance at a handful of some of the outstanding paintings in the show – including Monet’s Grainstack (snow effect) (1891), The water lily pond (1900), or Water lilies (1905); Renoir’s Dance at Bougival (1883) or The Seine at Chatou (1881); Pissarro’s Spring pasture (1889); Degas’s Racehorses at Longchamp (1871/1874); and Morisot’s Embroidery (1889) – we have all of the beloved features of French Impressionism.
While the French Impressionists were not a monolithic group, their art was generally characterised by three things.
Firstly, a lighter and brighter palette with a conscious move to the ultraviolet end of the colour spectrum.
Secondly, a divisionist application of colour with juxtaposed dabs of pigment allowing for colour to blend in the eye rather than on a mirror-smooth surface of the canvas.
Finally, a move to a more democratic subject matter with landscapes, gardens, drinking parties, picnics and street scenes easily outnumbering images of pagan gods in complicated embraces.
Australian audiences never seem to tire of French Impressionism. This exhibition brings a fresh crop of rarely seen major paintings and graphics of the highest order.
If you love Impressionism, French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is a must-see exhibition. This new exhibition will change the history of Australian art exhibitions from Australia’s greatest Impressionist show that no one had seen, to Australia’s greatest Impressionist exhibition that everyone has seen.
French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is at the National Gallery of Victoria until October 5.
Sasha Grishin 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.
This followed the death of another person in Victoria last month who was hit and killed by a modified e-bike which police alleged could travel at 90 kilometres per hour.
A study published earlier this week also found nearly 180 e-scooter injuries in young people aged five to 15 at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in 2023 and 2024. One in ten injuries were life-threatening or potentially life-threatening.
For these risks to be properly addressed, an overhaul of regulations covering e-bikes and e-scooters is urgently needed.
All to do with power
E-bikes have a battery-powered motor to assist the rider. The key word there is “assist”: to be legal the rider has to be pedalling to get the power assistance.
E-scooters are a new variant of the once humble children’s kick scooter. They are more sturdy to support an adult rider, and the battery-powered motor provides all the power.
Some e-bikes and e-scooters have throttles, which enable riders to accelerate to higher speeds without pedalling. Technically, these are illegal.
These new forms of urban transport are surging in popularity. This year alone, about 150,000 e-bikes are forecast to be sold across the country. An estimated 350,000 Australians – about 1.3% of the population – owned an e-scooter in 2024.
Regulations governing e-bikes and e-scooters were historically designed with reference to the power required to ride a regular bicycle.
A person needs to provide power equal to 220 watts to propel a regular bicycle at 32km/h on a flat road without a headwind.
The figure of 250 watts emerged as the baseline in Europe for the power limit on e-bikes. It is 500 watts in Canada and 750 watts in the United States.
The regulations specify that power-assisted e-bikes can have a motor up to 250 watts. But the rider must pedal to get the power assistance and it must cut out above 25km/h.
E-bikes can travel faster than 25km/h. But the rider has to be providing all the power above that speed.
The same power limit was applied to e-scooters. But given their design and smaller wheels, regulators in Australia were more conservative, specifying a 20km/h maximum speed.
There are two main problems with the existing system of regulations. First, there is nothing to stop the import of high-performance e-bikes and e-scooters from overseas. Second, enforcement is difficult and rarely occurs, because the police don’t have the equipment to easily test motor power.
The federal government has a clear role to play in stemming the import of e-bikes and e-scooters that exceed the legal limits for public use in Australia.
However there is no evidence the government has engaged with the issue. This is inconsistent with its commitment to the National Road Safety Strategy and the approach taken to the management of vehicle safety and import regulations which apply to motor vehicles.
State and territory governments must revise and simplify their e-bike and e-scooter regulations.
Tasmania is on the front foot with its review of e-bike regulations. But e-scooter regulations also need reform – to make them easier for the public to understand, to ensure these devices offer a viable travel option for people and, importantly, to enable efficient enforcement.
Local government and road authorities should have the power to set speed limits for e-bike and e-scooter riders on shared paths. Cromo Digital/Shutterstock
A few changes to the rules could then make a big difference.
For a start, references to motor power should be removed because the severity of a crash depends on speed not the power of the device. Having the regulations framed in terms of power is a complication for enforcement and we don’t use it to regulate motor vehicles.
Then we need to focus on where, and how fast, these vehicles can be ridden.
A good first step would be to follow the lead of Queensland and Tasmania and legalise footpath riding, subject to a 12km/h or 15km/h speed limit as is the case in those states.
Restricting e-scooters to low-speed roads (up to 50km/h), and with a lower speed limit when ridden on the footpath, would minimise the risk of dangerous collisions with pedestrians and reduce the risk of dangerous collisions with cars on high-speed roads.
Specifying a max speed under power assistance for e-bikes of 32km/h would bring us in line with the regulations for countries that have cities similar to Australia’s such as Canada and New Zealand.
This would open our market to more models from overseas. It would also ensure e-bikes are better able to keep up with traffic when ridden on roads and are more competitive in terms of travel time relative to the car, to help further reduce car use.
When it comes to e-scooters, moving to a 25km/h speed limit (as is the case in Queensland), combined with restricting their use to roads of up to 50km/h, would improve their compatibility with the flow of motor vehicles on local streets.
Local government and road authorities should also have the power to declare areas where footpath riding is not permitted – for example, inner-city footpaths with heavy pedestrian activity. They should also have the power to set speed limits for riders on shared paths and bicycle lanes where there is likely to be interaction with pedestrians.
With those changes in place, police would be able to enforce displayed speed limits for e-bikes and e-scooters using radar guns, as is already done in Queensland, and issue fines where appropriate.
Geoff Rose has received in-kind support for his research, in the form of data, from shared e-scooter operating companies; he has served on the oversight panel for the Victorian Government’s shared e-scooter trial and he has consulted to the Tasmanian Department of State Growth on e-bike regulations.
It’s not every day a TV icon and one of Aotearoa’s most loved scientist personalities turns your local park into a lab – but that’s exactly what happened when Ruud Kleinpaste, a.k.a the Bug Man, hit Kohuora Park in Papatoetoe.
Ruud is a naturalist, entomologist (a scientist who studies insects) and host of the Animal Planet series Buggin’ with Ruud.
On 2 May, over 120 students, teachers, and the Sustainable Schools team gathered at Kohuora Park for a day of discovery, connection, and environmental action, made possible with funding from Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.
Board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia says, “We need to care for and protect our public green spaces so that flora and fauna can thrive – so we don’t have to visit a zoo or head deep into the bush to experience wildlife right here in our urban areas.”
Thumbs up and all hands on deck! Photo credit: Sustainable Schools.
From kindergartens to colleges, schools across Puhinui came together in one of Papatoetoe’s best-kept secrets – Kohuora Park, a 34-million-year-old volcanic crater turned thriving wetland. Teeming with native wildlife, rich history, and cultural stories, Kohuora – meaning “mist of life”, honours the giant god Matāoho, whose footsteps shaped Tāmaki Makaurau’s volcanic landscape.
A young scientist marvels at what he has discovered with Ruud.
Ruud shares why, if we truly care about the planet, we need to ask ourselves some honest questions: How do the other species we share Earth with see us? Are we kind, generous, and respectful – or are we falling short?
“Over the years, I’ve come to believe that true environmental education is the foundation for becoming nature-literate. And it starts with empowering our teachers to teach outdoors. When we do that, we create generation after generation of children who not only understand nature but learn from it.
Bug Man in action! Ruud inspires curious minds at Kohuora Park. Photo credit: Sustainable Schools.
“Because that’s the heart of it: we don’t just learn about nature or in nature – we learn from nature. We begin to see the connections in everything. Nature runs on sunlight, uses only what it needs, and wastes nothing. It thrives on diversity, local wisdom, and life-friendly chemistry. It’s humbling and inspiring. What an incredible planet – and what an extraordinary outdoor classroom we have right at our feet,” says Ruud.
The day began with a warm welcome from Ngāti Tahinga Wilson of Ngāti Te Ahiwaru, who share the park’s cultural importance as a historic portage site. Image: Sustainable Schools.
Guided by Mātātahi Taiao – a Māori-led youth climate initiative in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Council Rangatahi Advisors, and leading scientists like fungi expert Dr. Peter Buchanan, students explored ecosystems through a Māori lens and hands-on science stations covering insects, birds, trees, fungi, pest control, and water quality.
Kohuora Park, Papatoetoe. A thriving natural habitat.
Why It Matters
Sustainable school’s advisor Cate Jessep says, “It was a valuable hands-on opportunity for teachers, students, and the wider community to connect with this special local place during Saturday’s community day. This work is more than just science, it’s about identity, guardianship, real world learning, inclusion and future leadership. As tamariki (children) engage with their local environment, they discover that they are part of it, and that they can protect it.”
Throughout the day, they learned new kupu (words), deepened their connection to nature, and strengthened their understanding of how to care for te taiao (the environment).
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Today’s opening of a new 596-bed facility at Waikeria Prison will ensure Corrections can safely manage the rising prison population and provide effective services to help reduce reoffending, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government has restored proper consequences for crime. Because of that, there has been an increase in the prison population and fewer victims of crime. “As the prison population continues to increase, this new facility will help ensure Corrections has the right level of capacity and resources to keep its staff, people in prison, and the public safe. “The facility is modern and fit-for-purpose. It adds 500 high-security beds to New Zealand’s prison system as well as 96 dedicated mental health and addiction beds. “There is also a new education and rehabilitation hub with ten classrooms to support offenders with opportunities that put them on a better path away from crime.” The new facility, consisting of 28 buildings, has been built across 21 hectares of land at Waikeria Prison, which is located 14 kilometres south of Te Awamutu in Waikato. Surrounded by a secure 1.7 km long perimeter fence, the new facility sits adjacent to the prison’s existing low security facility. Key features include:
High-security accommodation for 500 men A dedicated mental health and addiction service within a new 96-bed facility An education and rehabilitation hub Large kitchen and laundry, a new waste and recycling centre, and more industry training spaces for prisoners Single point of entry with secure perimeter Advanced biometric security Two main visitation areas A modern medical centre
“Corrections have already recruited 300 additional frontline staff for when it is ready to take prisoners in the coming months, following final assurance checks,” Mr Mitchell says. “Preparations are also underway for a further expansion of Waikeria Prison, which is due to be completed in 2029 and will add a further 810 beds to New Zealand’s prison system. “Ongoing investment in our prisons will keep us ahead of the increasing prison population and enable Corrections to focus on safety and effective rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Australia almost guaranteed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating Japan on Thursday night.
Veteran defender Aziz Behich scored the only goal in the 90th minute to steer the Socceroos to a 1-0 victory over Japan at Perth Stadium in Western Australia.
The result means that Australia has a six-point and +10 goal difference advantage over Saudi Arabia in the race for second place in Group C in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
In order to secure second place and qualification for a sixth consecutive World Cup, the Socceroos need only to avoid a heavy defeat against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday, or for Saudi Arabia to fail to beat Bahrain later on Thursday.
Behich’s goal, his third for Australia and his first since 2012, came against the run of play after Japan had dominated possession throughout the match.
The chance was created by midfielder Riley McGree, who made a run inside Japan’s defensive box before sending his cross between five teammates.
Behich, making his 80th appearance for the national team, was the quickest to react and fired a shot from his weaker right foot into the far-right corner, causing the capacity crowd of 57,226 to erupt.
It marked the Socceroos’ first win against Japan since 2009 and ended Japan’s 21-game unbeaten run.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Argentina captain Lionel Messi could start on the bench in his team’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chile, Albiceleste head coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday.
Thursday’s clash in Santiago will have little consequence for Scaloni’s men, who have already secured a spot in football’s showpiece tournament next year.
Lionel Messi (center) of Argentina vies with Jackson Irvine of Australia during their Round of 16 match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Dec 3, 2022. (LI GA / XINHUA)
Chile, meanwhile, is last in the 10-team South American group and must win to have an outside chance of qualifying.
“We haven’t decided yet whether he’ll play from the start or not,” Scaloni said of 37 year-old Messi, who has been in impressive form for his club Inter Miami.
“It would be good to know how he’s feeling physically. It’s clear that today we’re in a position to try other things. In principle, he’s available to play, and we’ll decide later.”
Scaloni will already be without several key players for the duel at Estadio Nacional, including injured Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and suspended duo Enzo Fernandez and Nico Gonzalez.
Also missing will be Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who will be rested after the Italian club’s 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
“We’re going to have a lot of players out,” Scaloni said. “If some of the guys we call up are fit and ready to play, they’ll get their chance.”
“I don’t have the starting eleven confirmed yet, but we will give some playing time to players who haven’t played much and who we believe are ready to play.”
“Although the result is always important, we don’t think it’s crucial today. We’ll probably try to help these players settle in and give them the chance to get some playing time with the team.”
Despite sitting top of the South American group with 31 points, eight clear of second-placed Ecuador with four qualifiers remaining, Scaloni said he was focused on obtaining “positive results” against Chile and also Colombia in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
“We want to play, it’s good for us to see other players, even those who are playing well. A match is never inopportune,” he said.
“It’s not that we national teams play so much that we would say we don’t want to play this match. On the contrary. We think it’s a nice match to play, with its difficulties. We are in a good position.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The draw for the ninth FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup was announced Wednesday, with the 2025 edition set to feature 24 teams for the first time.
The tournament will take place in Rabat, Morocco, from October 17 to November 8.
It will also mark the first time the global event is held in Africa, with the draw ceremony staged at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat.
Host Morocco will compete in Group A alongside Brazil, Costa Rica and Italy. Defending champion Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has been drawn into Group B with Cameroon, Mexico and the Netherlands.
China is in Group C with Ecuador, Norway and the United States. Group D includes Canada, France, Nigeria and Samoa.
Group E features Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, South Korea and Spain, while Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay and Zambia make up Group F.
The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China suffered its first loss at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Beijing leg on Thursday, falling to Poland 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21) in a tightly contested match at the National Indoor Stadium.
Poland opposite Magdalena Stysiak and outside hitter Martyna Czyrnianska each scored 20 points to fire their team to victory. Captain and middle blocker Agnieszka Korneluk added 17, while fellow middle blocker Aleksandra Gryka had 12.
Magdalena Stysiak (L) of Poland spikes the ball during the Pool 3 match between China and Poland at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, June 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
After dropping a closely fought opening set, China responded with a spirited performance in the second, making lineup adjustments and gaining momentum through effective blocking and fast-paced attacks. Outside hitters Tang Xin and Wu Mengjie played key roles as the team leveled the scores at one set apiece.
Zhuang Yushan scored a team-high 17 points, Wu earned 13 points, while Tang contributed 12 points overall, including seven in the second set alone.
“At the beginning, I felt I performed even better than I did in training,” said Tang, 21. “But later on, I got a bit too excited and started to lose focus. Poland adjusted quickly, especially in the third set – their blockers began targeting me more directly, and I had trouble adapting.”
The third set saw both teams battling point-for-point early on, but Poland pulled ahead midway with solid defense and consistent execution, eventually taking it 25-19. In the fourth, China made a strong start, racing into a 3-0 lead, but Poland quickly turned the tide with a 14-10 advantage and maintained a narrow lead down the stretch. Despite China’s late push to save a match point, Poland closed out the set 25-21 to seal their second straight win in Beijing.
“We’re very happy with this win. Coming into the match, we knew it would be difficult, even though we only had a few recent matches to study this ‘new’ Chinese team. Still, we could tell that their players have incredible quality. The younger players may lack experience, but they’ve already shown great technique, talent, and character,” said Poland head coach Stefano Lavarini.
Lavarini noted that the second set slipped away due to a drop in serving quality and missed opportunities in attack, especially against single blocks. However, he added that in the third set, his team regained its rhythm by stabilizing service and playing with more consistency.
“We tried to get back to the level we had in the first set. In the fourth set, China changed many players, so we made some tactical adjustments as well – especially in how we adapted to their different middle blockers and attackers,” the 46-year-old Italian explained.
With the result, Poland improve to 2-0 in the current leg, while China drops to 1-1. Both teams will have a rest day on Friday before returning to action over the weekend.
Earlier in the day, Belgium earned its first win of the Beijing leg with a 3-1 victory over Thailand (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-22).
Belgium captain Britt Herbots led the scorers with 31 points, while opposite Pauline Martin added 19. Middle blocker Nathalie Lemmens contributed 14 points, including five blocks, as Belgium’s offensive trio proved decisive.
“It was a very tough and long match from every perspective,” said Herbots. “Thailand has a unique style of play. There were a lot of fast combinations and long rallies – very tiring on defense. But I’m really happy we got the win. Everyone fulfilled their role, and that’s really important for a team.”
Belgium will next play against France on Friday, while Thailand will face Türkiye.
National road freight organisation Transporting New Zealand says this Saturday’s official opening of the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway is great news for the freight industry, and the region’s communities.
Chief executive Dom Kalasih says the highway will deliver a safe, reliable and resilient connection between the Manawatū and Tararua districts. [Traffic will be able to use the highway from next week.]
The highway replaces the Manawatū Gorge route, closed in 2017 due to slips.
The new 11.5km highway is a major milestone for the freight sector and regional communities. It will take about 13 minutes to drive by car, or around 18 minutes for freight vehicles, to move between the districts.
Kalasih says it will be a relief for people who have had to use the challenging Saddle Road detour for nearly 8 years.
“This new highway will make a real difference to the flow of freight and to the lives of drivers.”
“We also think it is a win that this is a non-tolled road,’ he says.
Transporting New Zealand strongly opposed a proposed toll, noting the Saddle Road was never fit for purpose and the region deserved a safe, free alternative.
“This is a replacement road, not a luxury upgrade,” Kalasih says. “Our members were clear – tolling this essential link would be unfair and would raise the cost of freight, hitting consumers across the board.”
Kalasih says all the engineering that’s gone into the build is impressive.
The project involved:
6.5 million cubic metres of earthworks
30,000 cubic metres of concrete
3.5 million mahi hours
2,500 workers
Nearly 2 million native plants planted for environmental
restoration.
The highway holds deep cultural importance, following a historic Māori travel route between the coasts and is named after Te Ahu a Turanga – the former resting place of Turanga-i-Mua, the son of the Aotea waka captain Turi who was killed in a battle there.
One of the standout physical features is the Parahaki Bridge near Ashhurst – at 300 metres long and 30 metres wide, it spans the fast-flowing Manawatū River on a fault line and in one of the windiest areas of the North Island.
“It’s taken years of commitment, coordination and skill to complete such a complex build in an ecologically sensitive and geologically challenging location,” says Kalasih.
“Well done to all who played a part in making this happen.”
In the linked video, project director Tony Adams, the project director for the Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway, talks about the build.
Whether you’re making family dinner, heating up leftovers, packing lunch for the kids, or having friends over for a barbecue, New Zealand Food Safety has great science-backed tips to keep everyone safe.
“Every year, thousands of New Zealanders get food poisoning. Many of these foodborne illnesses are due to poor food preparation, cooking, or storage at home,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“There’s a wide range of symptoms, ranging from the inconvenient to the life-threatening for people vulnerable to illness.
“New Zealand Food Safety already has a wealth of science-based information on its Food safety at home webpages to help you prevent getting foodborne illnesses. This year, to coincide with World Food Safety Day tomorrow, we have distilled all this expertise into a new booklet of simple tips for avoiding foodborne illness in the home.”
From the store to your table, the ‘Food safety at home’ booklet is packed with science-based food-safety advice. It contains:
The latest evidence-based recommendations for preparing, cooking, storing, and transporting food safely. Did you know: Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent foodborne illness. Washing them before preparing or eating food helps prevent germs spreading to your food.
Updated advice on handling and cooking raw meat and meat products; barbecuing and eating outdoors; keeping at-risk people safe; and how long you can keep leftovers. Did you know: You can keep leftovers for up to 4 days in the fridge if you are going to eat them hot. But leftovers of cooked meals you won’t be reheating – like pasta salad – should only be kept for 2 days.
Dedicated sections on use-by and best-before dates and advice for shellfish gatherers. Did you know: If a food is past its use-by date, throw it away as it’s not safe to eat. But if it’s past its best-before and it smells and looks okay, it probably is. Check it, sniff it, taste it – don’t waste it.
World Food Safety Day – jointly led by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – highlights the importance of food safety for the health, prosperity and wellbeing of people around the world. The theme for 2025 is “Science in action”.
“Our advice is based on up-to-date science, it’s now up to you to take action,” says Mr Arbuckle.
You can download your own ‘Food safety at home’ booklet on our website. And, to celebrate World Food Safety Day, try our quiz on Facebook tomorrow to see how food safety savvy you are.
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Neilson:
A 38-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Hamilton woman Jayde Gilbert.
Jayde, aged 30, was struck by a vehicle at the corner of Ohaupo Road and Kahikatea Drive on 15 May.
The man charged with her murder was arrested today and will appear in Hamilton District Court this afternoon.
On behalf of the investigation team, I would like to thank the people who assisted Jayde after she was struck by the vehicle, and the many members of our community who responded to our appeals for information.
As this is now before the court, further comment is not available.
Inland Revenue (IR) has begun issuing income tax assessments to New Zealanders, kicking off the annual cycle of tax refunds and chasing up tax owned.
With cybercriminals known to exploit this period, Norton experts are warning that Kiwis will soon be targeted with a range of tax scams, from phishing emails to phone impersonations and fake refund promises.
“New Zealand is one of the most heavily impacted countries by a new wave of AI-driven, hyper-personalised cyber threats. That makes tax time an especially risky period,” says Mark Gorrie, Managing Director Norton APAC.
“Our latest Q1 2025 Threat Report points out that breached data and AI tools are giving cybercriminals just enough personal information and design sophistication to easily manipulate people.”
Key tips for protecting yourself:
IR never includes refund amounts or login links in emails or texts
Be wary of terms like “fiscal activity”, “excess payment” or “Department of Taxes”
Never give out personal info over the phone unless you’ve verified the caller – hang up and call IR back using their official number
Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and secure personal documents.
Limit what you share online. Scammers can use social media info to guess security questions or build convincing fake messages.
Consider enrolling in an identity protection service. These services can monitor your financial and personal data, alert you to unusual activity, and help you recover more quickly if your identity is compromised.
Common types of tax scams:
Phishing emails impersonating IR, often claiming issues with your refund or tax return
Fake IR calls demanding immediate payment for tax debts that don’t exist
Identity theft, with scammers using your IR number to lodge fraudulent returns
Social media scams offering fake tax help or posing as IR reps
Emails with fake tax documents that install malware when opened
Bogus refund offers used to harvest personal or banking info
Scam charities asking for “deductible” donations
Tax payment scams involving prepaid gift cards or unusual repayment methods.
Prices will increase across Northland’s public transport network from Friday 01 August with authorities saying they have been left with little choice in the matter.
Northland Regional Council member Joe Carr, who chairs the Northland Regional Transport Committee, says fares on Whangārei’s CityLink service will revert to their 2018 level of $3 for adults and $2 for children, an increase of $1 per journey on the present fares.
Fares on the rural BusLink services will rise by 50 cents per journey from Friday 01 August.
Infants up to four years of age will continue to travel free of charge. Concessions for Community Service Card and Gold Card holders remain in place for CityLink and BusLink routes.
From 01 August these concessions will also apply for the first time to BusLink’s Bream Bay Link and Hikurangi Link, which had not previously been able to offer these discounts.
“Council recognises that cost of living pressures are impacting on Northlanders and has for many years made every effort to keep bus fares as low as possible,” Chair Carr says.
However, he says the council – which administers the services – had been left with very little option, but to review fares.
“Regional councils nationwide are having to find additional forms of funding to cover bus operational, infrastructure and administration costs in keeping with the Government Policy on Land Transport 2024.”.
During Covid and to assist with the cost-of-living crisis, the government had funded several fare reduction schemes across the country, but this funding had ceased in 2023.
Chair Carr says even with the increased fares, Northland’s charges are still largely in line with other parts of New Zealand.
He says over the past two years CityLink has also made several improvements to the service, including the introduction of the SchoolLink service and extension to Route 3, an online bus tracking system, and the Rose Street bus hub redevelopment currently underway with Whangarei District Council.
The council will run an awareness campaign shortly to inform passengers of the intended increases.
PACIFIC OCEAN, Friday, 6 June 2025 – Greenpeace activists have disrupted an industrial longlining fishing operation in the South Pacific Ocean, seizing almost 20 kilometers of fishing gear and freeing nine sharks, including an endangered mako, near Australia and New Zealand.
With an expert team on a small boat releasing more than a dozen animals, crew aboard Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior retrieved the entire longline and more than 210 baited hooks from a EU-flagged industrial fishing vessel, including an endangered longfin mako shark, eight near-threatened blue sharks and four swordfish. The crew also documented the vessel catching endangered sharks during its longlining operation.
The at-sea action followsnew Greenpeace Australia Pacific analysisexposing the extent of shark catch from industrial longlining in parts of the Pacific Ocean. Latest fisheries data showed that almost 70% of EU vessels’ catch was blue shark in 2023 alone. It comes ahead of next week’s UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where world leaders will discuss ocean protection and the Global Ocean Treaty.
Georgia Whitaker, Senior Campaigner, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:
“These longliners are industrial killing machines. Greenpeace Australia Pacific took peaceful and direct action to disrupt this attack on marine life. We saved important species that would otherwise have been killed or left to die on hooks.”
“The scale of industrial fishing – still legal on the high seas – is astronomical. These vessels claim to be targeting swordfish or tuna, but we witnessed shark after shark being hauled up by these industrial fleets, including three endangered sharks in just half an hour. Greenpeace is calling on world leaders at the UN Ocean Conference to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 from this wanton destruction.”
GreenpeaceAotearoa is calling on the New Zealand Government to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty and help create global ocean sanctuaries, including in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand signed the agreement in 2023.
More than two-thirds of sharks worldwide are endangered, and a third of those are at risk of extinction from overfishing. Over the last three weeks, the Rainbow Warrior has been documenting longlining vessels and practices off Australia’s east coast, including from Spain and China.
Master Plumbers’ concerns that cheap online plumbing products will not comply with new regulations to make drinking water safer have proven justified.
A recent test undertaken by Consumer NZ showed that one of six kitchen tap mixers purchased from a variety of retailers resulted in lead levels in the water higher than is permitted in the Australian/New Zealand testing standard.
Lead is a cumulative toxin, which makes ongoing exposure through drinking water a particular concern.
“No level of lead is acceptable,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace. “Young children are especially vulnerable to the toxin, with even low levels of exposure linked to learning disabilities and nervous system damage.”
The tap mixer that failed was purchased from global retailer Amazon, which ships a wide range of product to New Zealand. This highlights the dangers of buying tapware online where the market is largely unregulated and unpoliced.
From May 2026, new requirements for plumbing products that deliver drinking water come into force, in line with an update to the building code. These products, which include kitchen and bathroom tapware, as well as valves and fittings connected to domestic drinking water pipes, must not contain more than 0.25% lead.
Master Plumbers welcomes the transition to lead free plumbing products in New Zealand but wants more to be done to give consumers confidence.
“We want to see compulsory ‘lead free’ marking being placed either on the product or the packaging of relevant plumbing products, to allow consumers and tradespeople to easily identify that they are lead-free,” says Wallace. “It is the plumber installing the product who is held responsible, so installers should have a way to easily determine if the product is compliant.”
Compulsory marking would allow for the policing of non-compliant or falsely declared products through Commerce Commission regulations. As it stands, the current building product information requirement (BPIR) regulations rely on self-reporting and do not have a proactive enforcement system in place-which is particularly concerning for the regulation of online retailers that may be importing international products.
Master Plumbers has been raising the alarm about lead in tapware for years. In 2018, the organisation commissioned independent testing of five tapware products sold in this country and found the level of lead leaching from one product to be 70% higher than the allowable limit in drinking water product standard AS/NZS 4020.
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc (Master Plumbers) is the national membership organisation for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, with 18 regional Associations and Branches across New Zealand. Companies go through a Quality Assurance programme in order to become a member. We provide members with a wide range of resources and training opportunities to support them in staying up with the latest technologies, products and compliance requirements. We advocate on behalf of our members and our industry.
Masterlink, a group training scheme owned by Master Plumbers, provides managed mentored apprenticeships across New Zealand, with Regional Managers supporting the apprentices and the businesses who host them during their training.
Newly arrived refugee and migrant communities want Australia’s multicultural policies and infrastructure to provide more practical help rather than just ‘food and festivals’, a survey has found.
A focus group of 32 community leaders in 21 key cohort migrant and refugee groups in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide said that while they value the nation’s commitment to multiculturalism, their communities struggled with employment opportunities and access to government services exacerbated by a lack of interpreters and gender issues.
They reported social cohesion is under stress, partly because of international events, including the conflict in Gaza, and a rise in the cost of living, the survey, commissioned by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, found.
While 70 per cent of the community leaders surveyed agreed Australia was a ‘successful multicultural community’, there was a need for more access to employment opportunities and careers support for skilled migrants and refugees.
First-language learning capacity in schools was also identified as a need, while libraries, local government programs and community education and training programs were identified as the services that are valued.
Sixty per cent of respondents agreed that global events were having an impact on social cohesion and community harmony, with conflict in Gaza, repression in Afghanistan and the US’ crackdown on migrants cited as some of the factors.
A need for better access to government services was also identified. Only 55 per cent of survey respondents said they had ‘good’ access to government services.
The community leaders identified ‘universal and equitable practices, protocols and standards across the public services; more representation of diverse communities within the public service; and a multicultural ombudsman or complaints process’ as ways of improving access to services.
Asked ‘what could be done to improve community harmony, the most common responses were: support for multi-faith events and festivals, support for multi-faith groups and more employment opportunities from emerging communities.
Only 50 per cent of community leaders said government communicated ‘well’ with their communities, while 30 per cent communication was not effective.
They identified a need range of interventions to tackle poor knowledge and engagement through programs and resources co-designed by communities themselves.
Thirty per cent of respondents said they had experienced racism or discrimination, a similar proportion said they had not faced discrimination while 40 per cent said they faced discrimination ‘sometimes’.
Community leaders cited ‘more transparency on race hate crimes and positive fact-base narratives to counter allegations of criminality in some communities’ as ways of combating racism and discrimination.
Sixty per cent of survey respondents believed there was cultural understanding and respect between communities in Australia. They identified holding festivals and events that attracted multiple communities, more access to affordable gathering places; and funding and capacity building for inter-faith groups and dialogues as ways of improving community connections.
Female community leaders were more likely to raise issues about Australia’s multicultural architecture than male respondents.
The survey found a general consensus that the focus of multicultural programs should be less about ‘food and festivals’ and more about employment, equity, access to services and opportunities as well as Inter-community and inter-faith dialogue.
The surveyed community leaders said social cohesion was underpinned by social equity and access to opportunity.
Among the suggested interventions were:
Improved access to services Intercultural and inter-faith opportunities for communities to build networks outside their own; More opportunities for employment and education; More access to affordable spaces to gather; Grants systems that is more sustainable and easier to navigate; Broader representation of communities on multicultural bodies; Standard multicultural policies and practices across all departments; A multicultural ombudsman or complaints mechanism.
AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the survey showed there was an appetite to reimagine Australia’s multicultural policies and infrastructure.
“There seem to be a consensus that people would like to see more support in terms of accessing services and opportunities for multicultural communities; and there is a desire to see communities better connect with each other and with the broader community,” Ms Scarth said.
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Jerusalem, 5 June 2025 – In southern Gaza, displacement orders and movement restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on Nasser hospital are pushing this vital medical facility on the brink of becoming non-functional, warns Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
Ordering hospitals to refuse new patients and making it harder for people to reach places of care has been a pattern aimed at bringing down the hospitals by the Israeli forces through this war. Nasser is the only last remaining vital lifeline for the people in need, and its full functionality must be restored immediately and preserved.
On 3 June, our teams were told that any movement to Nasser hospital would require authorisation and this would have to be requested with at least 24 hours’ notice. This meant that medical staff due on the day shift could not reach the hospital. The staff from the previous night had to continue working. They ended up staying on shift for 48 consecutive hours.
The outpatient department remained closed for the whole day. Ambulances that were able to carry patients to the hospital did so at great risk, as there was a danger they would be shot at because they lacked authorisation. Nasser’s location on the frontline hampers both staff and patient’s ability to access this vital remaining hospital.
This is happening while people are exhausted, their lives shattered by 20 months of extremely violent war and a suffocating siege where even the distribution of minimal amounts of aid results in devastating massacres. In this context, any remaining medical facility is of critical importance and must be protected.
The attacks on healthcare are not only carried out through military action. They happen through limitations imposed on the importation of medical supplies, forcing doctors to ration pain relief medicine. They happen through displacement orders, leading to entire hospitals having to shut down at short notice. They happen through harassment and confusing orders issued by Israeli authorities, making it more and more difficult to provide lifesaving care.
“We have seen this pattern before”, says Jose Mas, head of MSF emergency programmes. “It happened to facilities like Al Awda and the Indonesian hospital, in northern Gaza, where they were first asked to not admit more patients, and a few days later were attacked and practically shut down. Putting Nasser hospital out of service would equate to a death sentence for the most severe patients among wounded adults and children, critically ill patients, and women in need of emergency obstetric care.”
Nasser hospital is a large referral hospital with many specialist wards not found anywhere else in the south of Gaza including operating theatres, an oxygen plant, ventilators, a blood bank, and incubators. Reducing access to this hospital and blocking the referral of patients who need specialist, emergency care, stops people from receiving treatment that may safe their life.
In the past few months, MSF medical teams in Nasser hospital have provided care to over 500 patients in the maternity ward, including women requiring surgical care, as well as to more than 400 newborn babies and paediatric patients. The hospital is full of patients with burns and severe trauma.
Healthcare is under attack everywhere in Gaza. In the morning of 4 June, Israeli forces struck the MSF supported Al Aqsa hospital three times, the main facility in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. Although no casualties were reported, it is a stark reminder of how patients, medical staff and health facilities are constantly at great risk in Gaza.
Our teams have received patients who have been critically injured while trying to get food, as a result of the shootings which have taken place around the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation food distribution centres. This is in addition to the people who have been wounded in the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Hospitals are overflowing with patients.
It’s essential that Israeli authorities protect Nasser hospital and guarantee full and unimpeded access to patients and medical staff alike, to avoid more deaths.
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis.
In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au
June 5, 2025 – Paris, France – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, this week concluded his participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) and World Trade Organization (WTO) mini-ministerial meeting, in Paris, France.
At the OECD MCM, Minister Sidhu reaffirmed Canada’s support for the rules-based global trading system and its underpinning values. These include reinforcing the open, stable markets that ensure predictability amidst economic uncertainty, responsibly developing artificial intelligence and standing up for Ukraine. Canada served as vice-chair of the OECD MCM alongside Australia and Lithuania, under the chairship of Costa Rica.
At the meeting, Canada and the Philippines formally took on the role of the 2025 to 2028 co-chairs of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP), a program that was created to address economic and development challenges in Southeast Asia. Minister Sidhu announced that Canada will contribute $2 million to support SEARP’s activities, which align with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.
At the WTO mini-ministerial meeting, Minister Sidhu advocated for deep and meaningful reforms of the WTO to ensure its rules are modernized and continue to support a rules-based global trading system. Canada also called for a pragmatic approach to the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference that considers current economic challenges.
While in Paris, the Minister also hosted a business round table with Canadian companies active in the French market. As Canada seeks to strengthen its collaboration with reliable trading partners, the Minister heard the business representatives’ first-hand perspectives on the opportunities for Canadian businesses in France.
Exciting news! Bendigo and Heathcote have been shortlisted as category finalists in the 2025 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards for the fifth year in a row.
Bendigo has been shortlisted in the ‘top tourism town’ category, with Heathcote being shortlisted in the ‘small tourism town’ category, and now it’s time for the public to add their vote.
In 2024, Bendigo scooped gold and Heathcote won bronze at the Victorian Awards. Bendigo went on to compete at national level and won silver in the Top Tourism Town category of the Australia Top Tourism Awards.
City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy and Experience James Myatt said it was fantastic news for the Greater Bendigo region to be recognised again as finalists in these prestigious awards.
“We are very excited that Bendigo and Heathcote are finalists for the fifth year in a row, recognising them as must-see visitor destinations that deliver amazing and memorable experiences,” Mr Myatt said.
“We are hoping to bring home the gold again with the public vote now open until Friday June 27.
“The final result is a combination of public voting, user reviews, a video promotion and suggested itineraries, so it means so much for Bendigo and Heathcote to be recognised in this way.
“We have an incredibly passionate tourism industry, including attractions, accommodation, retail and hospitality providers who offer unique experiences for people of all ages and interests.
“To be named the top tourism town or small tourism town, we need our community to vote.
“It’s easy to do, visit the Victoria Tourism Industry Council website, click ‘vote now’ and select Bendigo and Heathcote. You can also enter your details to go into the draw to win a prize.
“So, vote for Bendigo and Heathcote today!”
To make your vote count, and be entered into the prize draw, you need to vote by 5pm Friday June 27.
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, has today released his decisions on 17 recommendations referred to him by Christchurch City Council on its Intensification Planning Instrument (Plan Change 14).
“In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panel’s (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD),” Minister Bishop says.
“These recommendations were incorporated into its district plan. The Council rejected 20 of the IHP’s recommendations and referred them, along with its own alternative recommendations, to me for a final decision in early 2025.
“I have carefully considered this matter and taken extensive advice from officials. The law requires that I only consider matters that the IHP could have taken into account when making its recommendations.
“I have made decisions on 17 of the 20 recommendations referred to me by the Council, which relate to a range of issues including qualifying matters, zoning and built form standards.
“Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City’s urban centres as required by Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD.
“I have not made decisions on three recommendations relating to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall and the Piko Residential Character Area.
“I intend to consider these recommendations once the Council has decided on the zoning of these areas. The Council may refer these decisions to me again ahead of deciding on the balance of Plan Change 14.
“I thank the Councillors, the Independent Hearings Panel and Council staff for the work undertaken on the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process so far.”
Minister Bishop’s decisions, made under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, are final and cannot be appealed to the Environment Court.
Editor’s note:
A table outlining the decisions is attached as a separate document.
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological SurveyHawaiian Volcano Observatoryscientists and affiliates. This week’s article is by Mike Cappos, a gas field engineer with HVO.
Image of burning hydrogen above the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu taken during the evening of May 21, 2025. USGS photo.
During pauses between the high fountaining episodes of the ongoing Kīlauea volcano summit eruption, which began on December 23, 2024, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) scientists—and astute watchers of the HVO livestream cameras—have periodically observed yellow to orange-colored flames emanating from the two vents inside of Halemaʻumaʻu. These flames, which look most impressive at night, are the result of burning hydrogen gas.
Flames of this nature have been observed in and near eruptive vents during past eruptions of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, and at other volcanoes around the world—often basaltic ones like ours in Hawaii. Flames were observed at Kīlauea in the early 1900s by Thomas Jaggar, the original founder of HVO, while he was observing eruptions inside Halemaʻumaʻu.
Other occurrences of flames have been observed during the 1969–1974 Maunaulu eruption, the 1986–2018 Puʻuʻōʻō eruptive era on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone, the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, the 2021–2022 Kīlauea summit eruption, and others.
Image of burning methane (blue flames in foreground) from ground cracks taken during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea in Leilani Estates subdivision. USGS photo.
Hydrogen gas is a minor constituent of volcanic gases. Water—which is made of hydrogen and oxygen—is a major component of volcanic gases, but in oxygen-poor magmas, some hydrogen that might otherwise be part of water remains as hydrogen itself in very small amounts.
How do we get flames from that hydrogen though? The temperature at which hydrogen ignites in air depends on its concentration. Generally, the higher the concentration of hydrogen present, the lower the temperature required for ignition.
One example of this was the Hindenburg airship disaster of 1937. The gas envelope of the Hindenburg was filled with pure hydrogen gas, which caught fire and exploded from only a stray spark when the airship was beginning to land, all at normal ambient temperatures in the atmosphere near the ground surface.
The low concentrations (less than 2%) of hydrogen gas present in and near volcanic vents requires significantly higher temperatures for ignition to be achieved. Hydrogen gas such low concentrations needs temperatures above about 1380°F (around 750°C). Eruptive vents at Kīlauea have temperatures in excess of 1,830°F (1,000°C), which is more than sufficient to ignite the hydrogen.
However, we believe another key player for hydrogen to be efficiently ignited at the vent is the vent geometry. In most cases, flames are observed emanating from a hornito or small spatter cone within the vent. In this sort of geometry, water-rich magmatic gas can accumulate inside the orifice and stay in an oxygen-poor state because it has not yet mixed with the oxygen-rich ambient atmosphere. The hornito or small spatter cone effectively acts as a super-hot nozzle to help induce the combustion of hydrogen, which creates the flames we have seen recently, and during earlier eruptions.
But what about blue flames? The yellow/orange hydrogen flames in volcanic vents are somewhat elusive compared to the blue flames that are commonly observed around active lava flows.
Lava flows themselves typically don’t emit flames. Their broad surfaces disperse any remaining volcanic gases quickly and temperatures are too low to ignite any further diluted levels of hydrogen gas at the surface of the flow.
Blue flames that are sometimes seen around lava flows are more likely to be caused by the burning of methane gas, which is produced by the “cooking” of vegetation beneath the lava flow. This was a common observation during Kīlauea’s 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption in the Leilani Estates subdivision. Although those dancing blue methane flames may seem beautiful… they are dangerous themselves and can even create a secondary danger. As methane gets trapped beneath the lava flow, the methane may not just burn, it may explode in and around lava flows in vegetated areas. This is a constant danger to those in close proximity to a lava flow and extreme caution must be maintained.
Volcanic flames are an interesting offshoot of volcanic degassing; their intriguing presence is an informative clue about vent or lava flow conditions. Still, they are dangerous. So, we’re happy to have our current flames mesmerizing us from a safe distance away but easy to see in HVO livestreams.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.8 earthquake 20 km (12 mi) S of Pa‘auilo at 25 km (15 mi) depth on June 1 at 8:22 a.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Representative Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced the bipartisan Protection for Reservation Occupants Against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act to combat drug trafficking in tribal communities. The PROTECT Act would expand Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) to allow tribal nations to prosecute non-Native offenders for drug trafficking. It would also allow tribal courts to execute warrants for electronic material to better combat drug traffickers and other criminals.
“The opioid epidemic has devastated Northwest Washington,” said Rep. Larsen. “Tribes in my district have continually told me about the unique challenges their courts and law enforcement face to stop drug trafficking on Tribal land. This bill would give Tribes the tools they need to protect tribal sovereignty, save lives and keep Tribes and communities across Northwest Washington safe,” said Larsen.
Read the bill text HERE.
Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (D-Wash.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) also joined as original cosponsors of the bill.
Statements of Support:
“The opioid and fentanyl epidemic is harming all citizens in Washington State. Our reservations are no different. Our Tribal lands are being targeted by organized crime because of the jurisdictional complexities and other vulnerabilities. The PROTECT Act of 2025 restores Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians for drug trafficking within our reservation boundaries, helping protect not only the residents on our reservation, but all Washingtonians,” said Teri Gobin, Chairwoman, Tulalip Tribes.
“The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians supports the PROTECT Act of 2025, a bill that strengthens tribal criminal justice systems to help combat the opioid-fentanyl epidemic that is devastating our tribal communities. We urge Congress to move swiftly on this bill,” said Leonard Forsman, President, ATNI.
“For the past few years, Tribes have been urging Congress to move forward with legislative fixes that recognize our sovereignty and restore jurisdiction over non-tribal predatory drug dealers who are causing great harm at Lummi Nation. We thank everyone who has played a part in making this happen,” said Anthony Hillaire, Chairman, Lummi Nation.
“This legislation is important for three key reasons. First, this bill will enhance our ability to investigate crimes, which in turn will help ensure the safety of our community. This bill will allow our Tribal law enforcement to utilize the prompt review by a Swinomish Court judge of a request for a search warrant of social media platforms that will be honored by the platforms, and as a result we can quickly tackle incoming drugs and other illegal activity. Second, this bill helps restore the inherent sovereignty of Tribes by recognizing Tribal criminal jurisdiction over offenses involving drugs and firearms. Restoring Tribal criminal jurisdiction over these offenses will allow for swift and certain repercussions for those who are violating the criminal drug and firearms laws of the Tribe. Third and finally, the ability to utilize the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program (BOP) provides access to a potentially useful resource for Tribes,” said Steve Edwards, Chairman, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
“The Colville Tribes’ law enforcement agency has long been hampered by the omission in federal law that does not allow our tribal courts to compel social media companies to turn over information necessary for our officers to investigate crimes. The PROTECT Act would provide tribal courts this authority and, in the process, allow investigations to proceed faster and more efficiently,” said Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
“Any additional tools that Congress can provide us to keep our community safe is a welcome change. The amendments in this bill will assist tribes in fighting the fentanyl epidemic, which will help Indian Country and surrounding communities. We are all safer if we can reduce the effects of drug crimes and related violence that is taking out our youth in unprecedented numbers,” said Dustin Klatush, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
Larsen Is Focused on Combating Opioid Crisis in Northwest Washington
Rep. Larsen is focused on supporting local efforts to combat the opioid crisis and save lives. Last Congress, he introduced a districtwide opioid report outlining a comprehensive framework to combat the crisis. He built on this report by introducing four pieces of legislation:
The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act, which would codify, strengthen, and expand pilot grant funding for community partnerships that promote employment for those recovering from substance use, help workers transition to occupations that support those affected by substance use, and provide supportive services to program participants, such as substance use treatment, peer support services, and mentorship opportunities.
The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, which would expand access to lifesaving, community-based harm reduction initiatives and services and enhance the federal response to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.
Larsen plans to reintroduce all of his opioid-related bills to provide communities with the resources they need to regain the momentum to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives.
Police are working to locate the driver of a red ute involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a woman seriously injured in Rotorua last night.
The crash happened about 9pm, near the intersection of Haupapa Street and Tuanekai Street.
After striking the victim, the vehicle drove east on Haupapa Street towards Fenton Street, Detective Sergeant Philip Wilkinson said.
The vehicle involved was still being sought by Police.
“This incident easily could have been fatal, and it’s important we hear from anyone who saw it happen, and anyone who witnessed an interaction between a woman and the driver of a red ute immediately prior.
“We are reviewing CCTV from the area, but if you have any information or cell phone footage, please contact us as soon as possible.”
If you have information that may assist, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report”, or call 105.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Schiff, Heinrich, Huffman Call on Trump Admin to Reverse Unlawful Approval of Mining in Mojave National Preserve
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate ENR Committee, and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, expressed serious concern over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) unlawful approval of mining activities by Dateline Resources inside the Mojave National Preserve and demanded they rescind their approval. In their letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the lawmakers also called on Interior to comply with federal mining law, conduct a full mineral validity exam, reaffirm the National Park Service’s (NPS) authority over mining operations in the Preserve, and explain their legal rationale for permitting Dateline Resources mining activity.
“We write with serious concern regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent press release announcing BLM’s ‘approval’ of mining activity by Dateline Resources within Mojave National Preserve,” wrote the lawmakers. “This action appears to violate federal law, disregards National Park Service (NPS) authority, and sets a dangerous precedent for industrial development in lands that Congress has designated as worthy of inclusion in the National Park System.”
Congress created the Mojave National Preserve in 1994 through the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s California Desert Protection Act (CDPA), which transferred the land from BLM to NPS, helping support rare plant species and vital wildlife corridors. The law clearly states that any mining within the Preserve must comply with the Mining in the Parks Act, meaning companies with preexisting claims must conduct a mineral validity exam and obtain an NPS-approved plan of operations before any surface-disturbing activity can occur.
Despite these requirements, BLM recently approved rare earth mineral exploration by Dateline Resources, an Australian company, based on a 1985 BLM plan of operations that predates the Preserve’s creation and only covers the extraction of gold. Dateline recently announced plans to begin exploratory drilling, despite lacking a valid NPS-approved plan or proof of the existence of a valuable mineral deposit, as the Mining in the Parks Act requires.
“Congress set aside these lands and entrusted them to the NPS for permanent protection, not as a zone for future industrial exploitation,” continued the lawmakers.
The lawmakers also criticized Secretary Burgum for backtracking on his commitments to safeguard America’s national parks.
“This is not only illegal, but it directly contradicts a commitment you made during your confirmation hearing to ‘protect every inch of our national parks.’ Approving a foreign-owned company’s speculative mining project inside a national park in this way is clearly inconsistent with that promise and threatens future speculative actions across other national parks,” added the lawmakers.
Local leaders expressed their strong support for Padilla, Schiff, Heinrich, and Huffman’s effort to protect the Mojave National Preserve from this unlawful mining activity.
“We applaud Senator Padilla and congressional leaders for defending our beloved Mojave National Preserve from unchecked destruction by the Trump administration,” said Chance Wilcox, California Desert Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “In promoting speculative, damaging mining in our National Park System, the administration is pushing aside not only the legal protections afforded to this biodiverse landscape, but also the American people who love their parks. The administration’s misguided effort gives an Australian company a free pass to mining in one of America’s largest national park sites while saddling taxpayers with the clean-up costs.”
“I spent my entire career in the National Park Service and was Superintendent of Mojave National Preserve for over a decade,” said Mary Martin, Retired National Park Service Official. “Speculative mining should have no place in our country’s most spectacular places – our national parks. It is infuriating that the Trump administration is urging an Australian mining company to drill and bulldoze this national park. This is nothing short of illegal and a betrayal of all Americans who own these national parks.”
“The Clark mountain range is one of California’s most botanically important areas, estimated to harbor the second-highest density of rare plants of any of the state’s mountain ranges,” said Jim Andre, Director of UC Riverside’s Granite Mountains Desert Research Center. “The eastern Mojave Desert is also a global hotspot for new species discovery, where 15% of the vascular plant species have yet to be discovered. Will we know what we’ve lost if we bulldoze this area? They’re not just prized luxury items, they’re actually a functional part of the ecosystem that are supposed to be protected for the benefit of all Americans.”
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Burgum,
We write with serious concern regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recent press release announcing BLM’s “approval” of mining activity by Dateline Resources within Mojave National Preserve. This action appears to violate federal law, disregards National Park Service (NPS) authority, and sets a dangerous precedent for industrial development in lands that Congress has designated as worthy of inclusion in the National Park System.
Congress created the Mojave National Preserve in 1994 via the California Desert Protection Act (CDPA), elevating this cherished landscape to a National Park because of its outstanding ecological and cultural values, including in the Clark Mountain region, which supports rare plant species and critical wildlife corridors. Congress set aside these lands and entrusted them to the NPS for permanent protection, not as a zone for future industrial exploitation.
The CDPA clearly states that any mining within the Mojave Preserve must comply with the Mining in the Parks Act, which requires a mineral validity examination and an NPS-approved plan of operations. However, it appears that BLM is attempting to circumvent this law and instead authorize Dateline’s project based on a 1985 plan originally approved by BLM for different minerals, under different ownership, and issued before the Preserve existed.
To date, no mineral examination has been completed to validate Dateline Resource’s claims. Meanwhile, the NPS has repeatedly objected to Dateline’s unauthorized activities on lands within the Mojave National Preserve, including road grading and vegetation clearing, and requested over $200,000 in damages. Still, BLM appears to have acted unilaterally, greenlighting the company’s efforts to evade the law and ignore NPS oversight and review. In May, Dateline announced plans to begin exploratory drilling, despite lacking a valid NPS-approved plan of operations or proof of a valuable mineral deposit, as required by the Mining in the Parks Act. The original 1985 plan was for gold extraction, but Dateline is now touting rare earth elements – a major pivot that lacks any new environmental review or mineral validity determination.
This is not only illegal, but it directly contradicts a commitment you made during your confirmation hearing to “protect every inch of our national parks.” Approving a foreign-owned company’s speculative mining project inside a national park in this way is clearly inconsistent with that promise and threatens future speculative actions across other national parks.
Therefore, we urge you to:
Revoke BLM’s reliance on the outdated 1985 plan;
Affirm NPS’s jurisdiction and require compliance with the Mining in the Parks Act;
Conduct a full mineral validity exam; and
Provide, by June 20, 2025, the Department’s legal rationale for this decision, a copy of the 1985 plan of operations, and a clear statement on whether the Department supports industrial mining within national parks.
We strongly urge you to reverse this decision and uphold the integrity of the Mojave National Preserve and the National Park System.
