Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on State Highway 5, Mamaku.
The single vehicle crash was reported at about 3:50pm.
The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.
State Highway 5 remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director, Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute and Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, RMIT University
The Fair Work Commission has found award pay rates in five industrial awards covering a range of female-dominated occupations and industries do not provide equal pay.
This important decision should narrow the gender pay gap.
The commission proposed significant increases to award pay rates covering thousands of workers including pharmacists, early childhood education and care workers, psychologists, physiotherapists and some other health workers.
The Fair Work Commission’s review of the five “priority” awards was undertaken following the Labor government’s changes to the Fair Work Act in 2022. The changes require the commission to take account of the need to achieve gender equality in setting modern award rates of pay.
The five priority modern awards reviewed by the expert panel are:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020
Children’s Services Award 2010
Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020
Pharmacy Industry Award 2020
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010.
The commission examined the evidence and found many pay rates in the five modern awards do not reflect the value of the work undertaken in these female-dominated occupations and industries.
The commission found pay rates in these awards are not equal to pay rates for comparable work, due to the work largely being done by women.
Skills typically required to work with and to provide care and support to people, sometimes referred to as “soft” skills, have not been valued as much as the so-called “hard” skills required in male-dominated technical roles.
Before the Labor government’s 2022 changes to the Fair Work Act, almost all attempts by unions to have industrial tribunals address gender pay inequity failed.
One major barrier to success was a requirement that discrimination be demonstrated. The need to prove gender undervaluation of work largely done by women by referring to “comparable” jobs largely undertaken by men has also been a problem.
Now, under an amended Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission is able to examine the skills required in feminised jobs to assess the work’s value without needing to find a male comparison.
The commission’s decision that a total increase of 14% in award rates for pharmacists is justified will take effect in three phases, starting in July 2025.
The commission’s decisions on pay increases for workers covered by the other four awards, including proposed increases of 23% for Certificate III qualified childcare workers, have been put forward as provisional views only. The expert panel will begin consultations on these views in May.
The commission’s proposal for remedying gender undervaluation in one of the awards, covering a broad range of workers in social and community services, including disability workers, is puzzling.
The remedy appears to risk undermining past pay gains won for many social and community services workers because of proposed changes in the classification structure. These changes may not take account of the complexity and diversity of skills used by workers in the wide range of roles covered by the award.
Reflecting this, unions have expressed concerns the proposals for changes to this award may have the unintended consequence of reducing pay and hurting careers for some workers.
The final pay increases and their timing for workers covered by the four awards other than the pharmacy award will be made following consultations with unions, employers and funding bodies, including federal and state governments.
Following last week’s decision, one large employer group is arguing employers in private hospitals and the early childhood education and care sectors cannot afford the proposed pay increases.
They are calling on the government to fund increases in the industries that are largely government funded, including the early childhood education and care sector.
The Labor government supported the Fair Work Commission’s gender undervaluation review when it was announced in 2024. At the time the government also made clear it was their view any large pay increases would need to be phased in.
The government did fully fund increases for aged care workers, which it said came to a total investment of A$17.7 billion.
The government has also funded a 15% pay increases for early childhood workers gained through a multi-enterprise agreement covering hundreds of centres. The first increase of 10% came into effect in December, with a further 5% increase due in December 2025.
Better pay in care and support occupations was identified by the Labor government as essential to the sustainability and growth of the care and support economy.
The Coalition has not made any commitments regarding funding for any pay increases awarded in the gender undervaluation proceedings. The Coalition spokeswoman on workplace relations, Michaelia Cash, said the Coalition would examine the decision and its implications.
The Coalition did not support the larger Same Job Same Pay legislation that included the gender equality changes.
Fiona Macdonald appeared as an expert witness in the Fair Work Commission’s hearing on the review of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award.
– ref. A landmark ruling will tackle the gender pay gap for thousands of workers – https://theconversation.com/a-landmark-ruling-will-tackle-the-gender-pay-gap-for-thousands-of-workers-254798
Source: Reserve Bank of India
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/148 |
Source: ASEAN
Siem Reap, 22 April 2025 – Senior Officials of ASEAN and the United States (U.S.) reaffirmed their commitment to further advance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the 37th ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue held today in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Both sides took stock of the progress made in ASEAN-U.S. cooperation across all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and noted with satisfaction the robust implementation of all measures under the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-United States Strategic Partnership (2021-2025) and its Annex ahead of their expiration at the end of 2025.
The U.S. reiterated its support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN’s central role in the evolving regional architecture. ASEAN looked forward to enhancing practical cooperation in the priority areas under the AOIP and encouraged the U.S.’ continued constructive role in promoting dialogue for regional peace, security and stability through its participation in various ASEAN-led mechanisms. Both sides looked forward to enhanced cooperation in the areas of transnational crime, including combatting drug trafficking and online scam; defence; counterterrorism; and cybersecurity.
Valuing the U.S. as one of ASEAN’s largest trading partners and its largest source of foreign direct investment, ASEAN expressed its intention to engage the U.S. in a constructive dialogue to address trade-related concerns and maintain strong and mutually beneficial trade relations with the U.S. ASEAN is also committed to exploring avenues to work with the U.S., including through existing economic platforms such as the ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, the Expanded Economic Engagement Work Plan, as well as dialogue and engagement between the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the U.S. Trade Representative to explore mutually acceptable solutions of common interest. ASEAN welcomed deeper collaboration with the U.S. across strategic, high-value sectors, including digital services and knowledge industries, food and agriculture, green technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and transport. ASEAN also looked forward to the U.S.’ sustained support for the ASEAN Single Window, ASEAN Power Grid, and ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Acknowledging the strong people-to-people linkages between ASEAN and the U.S., both sides looked forward to further harnessing the linkages, including through the continuation of the Fulbright U.S.-ASEAN Visiting Scholar Program, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, International Visitors Leadership Program and other emerging leadership programmes. The Senior Officials also commended the important role of the ASEAN-U.S. Center in Washington, D.C. in promoting awareness of ASEAN in the U.S.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including the situations in Myanmar, South China Sea, Korean Peninsula, Middle East and Ukraine. They agreed to enhance collaboration in addressing security challenges and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Secretary of State and the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader of Cambodia, Kung Phoak, and Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and Acting U.S. SOM Leader, Sean O’Neill, co-chaired the Dialogue. Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, and their respective delegations were in attendance. Timor-Leste participated as Observer.
*****
photo credit: ASEAN Secretariat
The post ASEAN and United States reaffirm commitment to strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthis Auger, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania
Beneath the surface of the Southern Ocean, vast volumes of cold, dense water plunge off the Antarctic continental shelf, cascading down underwater cliffs to the ocean floor thousands of metres below. These hidden waterfalls are a key part of the global ocean’s overturning circulation – a vast conveyor belt of currents that moves heat, carbon, and nutrients around the world, helping to regulate Earth’s climate.
For decades, scientists have struggled to observe these underwater waterfalls of dense water around Antarctica. They occur in some of the most remote and stormy waters on the planet, often shrouded by sea ice and funnelled through narrow canyons that are easily missed by research ships.
But our new research shows that satellites, orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth, can detect these sub-sea falls.
By measuring tiny dips in sea level – just a few centimetres – we can now track the dense water cascades from space. This breakthrough lets us monitor the deepest branches of the ocean circulation, which are slowing down as Antarctic ice melts and surface waters warm.
Antarctic dense water is formed when sea ice grows, in the process making nearby water saltier and more dense. This heavy water then spreads across the continental shelf until it finds a path to spill over the edge, plunging down steep underwater slopes into the deep.
As the dense water flows northward along the seafloor, it brings oxygen and nutrients into the abyss – as well as carbon and heat drawn from the atmosphere.
But this crucial process is under threat. Climate change is melting the Antarctic ice sheet, adding fresh meltwater into the ocean and making it harder for dense water to form.
Past research has shown the abyssal circulation has already slowed by 30%, and is likely to weaken further in the years ahead. This could reduce the ocean’s ability to absorb heat and carbon, accelerating climate change.
Our research provides a new technique that can provide easy, direct observations of future changes in the Southern Ocean abyssal overturning circulation.
Until now, tracking dense water cascades around Antarctica has relied on moorings, ship-based surveys, and even sensors attached to seals. While these methods deliver valuable local insights, they are costly, logistically demanding, carbon-intensive, and only cover a limited area.
Satellite data offers an alternative. Using radar, satellites such as CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3A can measure changes in sea surface height to within a few centimetres.
And thanks to recent advances in data processing, we can now extract reliable measurements even in ice-covered regions – by peering at the sea surface through cracks and openings in the sea ice.
In our study, we combined nearly a decade of satellite observations with high-resolution ocean models focused on the Ross Sea. This is a critical hotspot for Antarctic dense water formation.
We discovered that dense water cascades leave a telltale surface signal: a subtle but consistent dip in sea level, caused by the cold, heavy water sinking beneath it.
By tracking these subtle sea level dips, we developed a new way to monitor year-to-year changes in dense water cascades along the Antarctic continental shelf. The satellite signal we identified aligns well with observations collected by other means, giving us confidence that this method can reliably detect meaningful shifts in deep ocean circulation.
This is the first time Antarctic dense water cascades have been monitored from space. What makes this approach so powerful is its ability to deliver long-term, wide-reaching observations at low cost and with zero carbon emissions – using satellites that are already in orbit.
These innovations are especially important as we work to monitor a rapidly changing climate system. The strength of deep Antarctic currents remains one of the major uncertainties in global climate projections.
Gaining the ability to track their changes from space offers a powerful new way to monitor our changing climate – and to shape more effective strategies for adaptation.
Matthis Auger receives funding from the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative, Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.
– ref. Tiny dips in sea level reveal flow of climate-regulating underwater waterfalls – https://theconversation.com/tiny-dips-in-sea-level-reveal-flow-of-climate-regulating-underwater-waterfalls-253940
Source: Family First
MEDIA RELEASE
22 April 2025
Family First NZ is calling on both the National Party and the ACT Party to fast-track NZ First’s Member’s Bill that would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law, and adopt it as a Government bill.
The What is a woman? campaign last year called for ‘woman’ to be defined as ‘an adult human female’ in all our laws, public policies and regulations and was signed by more than 23,500 people and presented to Parliament last August. We are still awaiting a response from the Select Committee.
An appropriate bill would state that:
● an individual’s “sex” means an individual’s sex at birth, either male or female;
● a “female” means an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova; who has, had, will have or would have, but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.
● a “male” means an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilise the ova of a female who has, had, will have or would have, but for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization.;
● “woman” and “girl” refer to human females, and “man” and “boy” refer to human males;
● “mother” means a parent of the female sex, and “father” means a parent of the male sex; and
● with respect to biological sex, separate accommodations are not inherently unequal.
The bill would require and state that distinctions between the sexes be considered substantially related to the important governmental objectives of protecting the health, safety, and privacy of individuals, with respect to the following areas:
● schools;
● sports;
● prisons or other detention facilities;
● domestic violence centers;
● rape crisis centers;
● changing rooms;
● toilets; and
● other areas where biology, safety, or privacy are implicated that result in separate accommodations.
Individuals born with a medically verifiable diagnosis of disorder/differences in sex development should be provided appropriate legal protections.
How do we target specific women’s health issues or target the gender pay gap, or violence against women, or support the Women’s Refuge, or uphold our nation’s history of fighting for women’s rights if we can’t define the target audience in the first place?
A ’woman’ always has been, always will be, our beloved mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts – an adult human female.
Given the recent decision by the UK Supreme Court, it’s time that NZ’s Government also removes the confusion and returns to simple biological reality.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 5 is closed just north of Mamaku following a crash.
The single vehicle crash between Galaxy Road and Barker Road was reported at about 3:50pm.
Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.
State Highway 5 is expected to remain closed for some time.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area, and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: China State Council Information Office
China and Indonesia pledged shared efforts to ensure the peace and stability of the South China Sea, expand security cooperation and uphold the multilateral trading system during their first joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers, also known as the “2+2” dialogue, in Beijing on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
The dialogue mechanism between Beijing and Jakarta is the first of its kind that China has established with a foreign country.
The two sides agreed to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and set an example in maritime cooperation, Wang told a news conference after the meeting, adding that the coast guard agencies of both countries signed a maritime security cooperation agreement.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to accelerating consultations on a Code of Conduct.
Wang stressed that as each other’s major trading partners, the two countries should remain committed to opposing any kind of unilateralism or trade protectionism.
“We believe that abusing tariffs will seriously undermine the normal trade exchanges between countries, and we pledged to jointly promote regional economic integration, ensure stable and smooth supply and industrial chains and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South,” Wang said.
In terms of security cooperation, he said that Beijing and Jakarta agreed to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism on disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control.
They also agreed to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation and jointly combat transnational crimes, such as transnational gambling and online and telecommunication fraud, and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, Wang noted.
Speaking of defense cooperation, Dong called on the two sides to have more substantive cooperation in areas including strategic communication, exchanges between services, equipment and technology, and maritime security.
Calling the meeting a milestone in bilateral ties, Sugiono said that Indonesia is willing to work with China to further consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination under multilateral frameworks such as ASEAN-China cooperation.
Indonesia firmly upholds the one-China policy and opposes any foreign intervention in China’s domestic affairs, he added.
Sjamsoeddin said that Indonesia is committed to enhancing strategic trust with China through transparent and equitable defense cooperation.
Indonesia is the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years.
In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded $147.8 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.1 percent, according to Wang Lutong, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.
Xu Liping, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Center for Southeast Asian Studies, said that the establishment of the joint foreign and defense ministerial dialogue will help expand China’s neighborhood diplomacy.
The mechanism places greater emphasis on deepening China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership and translating it into concrete actions, Xu said.
During President Xi Jinping’s Southeast Asian tour last week, China and Malaysia, and China and Cambodia agreed respectively to establish joint foreign and defense dialogue mechanisms, while the strategic dialogue mechanism of diplomacy, national defense and public security was upgraded to the ministerial level with Vietnam.
Such arrangements show that strategic security dialogues and cooperation with neighboring countries have become increasingly institutionalized and mature, Xu said, adding that this brings greater stability and predictability to regional peace and prosperity.
Source: NewzEngine.com
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Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Two people are before the courts after Police executed two search warrants at addresses in Te Karaka, in relation to unlawful hunting in the region.
The warrants were executed on Thursday 17 April, resulting in Police locating and seizing a firearm, ammunition, and a large amount of cannabis.
Two men, aged 32 and 40, are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow (23 April), facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful hunting and cultivating cannabis.
Poaching and unlawful hunting continues to be an ongoing issue across the wider district, not only for personal safety reasons but also for the flow on effect from the damage caused to the forestry and farmers properties.
These two arrests are a pleasing result, and Police will continue to work hard to hold offenders to account.
Police urge anybody who has been a victim of poaching to make a report to Police via 105.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Labour Party
The Government must support Northland hapū who have resorted to rakes and buckets to try to control a devastating invasive seaweed that threatens the local economy and environment.
“The Government’s expectation that local Bay of Islands hapū fight a tsunami of caulerpa, a pest seaweed species, with garden rakes is unrealistic,” Labour biosecurity spokesperson Jo Luxton said.
“Government funding of $15 million to combat caulerpa in Northland is not enough. Tonnes of it have washed up on shores following Cyclone Tam.
“Caulerpa is a seaweed that smothers the seafloor and competes with other species for space. It could potentially devastate the local aquaculture industry, and stifle opportunities for the local Māori economy and jobs.
“Local hapū are crying out for government resourcing to control the weed but are being ignored. Instead, they must resort to rakes and buckets to clean up a multimillion-dollar mess.
“Overseas, infested areas have halved local fish stocks and heavily affected tourism jobs.
“Māori aren’t after compensation but want their efforts to be resourced and to be involved in decision making. By ignoring their calls, this is just another kick in the guts for Māori from this government.
“There are opportunities for the local Māori economy and jobs that could be lost because of this Government’s incompetent response,” Jo Luxton said.
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Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Source: ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning welcomed H.E. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. At their bilateral meeting, they exchanged views to seek ways to further enhance ASEAN-Denmark relations in mutually beneficial areas, both bilaterally and within the framework of ASEAN-EU cooperation.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are responding to reports of a two vehicle crash on State Highway 1 in Dome Forest.
The crash, near Sheepworld Farm Park, was reported to Police just before 2.30pm.
Early indications suggest there are no serious injuries.
Both north and southbound lanes are blocked
Diversions are in place and motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
On April 21, following the Holy See’s announcement of the passing of Pope Francis, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) stated that upon hearing the news, President Lai Ching-te expressed deepest sympathies and extended sincere condolences to the Holy See on behalf of Taiwan’s people and government. At the same time, President Lai directed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan. The Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy to the Holy See also conveyed a message from President Lai expressing the nation’s grief and sympathies.
Spokesperson Kuo stated that President Lai has fond memories of Pope Francis’s friendly, close interactions with Taiwan during his papacy, and especially his focus on social justice and advocacy for environmental sustainability, as well as his concern for issues regarding immigrants, child labor, and violence against women. His proposals and appeals regarding world peace have resonated with all humanity. The spokesperson said that the passing of Pope Francis is a loss for the international community, and prayed that he may rest in peace. She added that Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with the Holy See and the Catholic Church in humanitarian efforts and continue to strengthen the friendly ties between Taiwan and the Vatican. The Presidential Office and Executive Yuan will fly the national flag at half-mast for two days to express the sympathies of the people and government of Taiwan.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Carr, Associate Professor, Strategy and Australian Defence Policy, Australian National University
In 2024, the National Defence Strategy made deterrence Australia’s “primary strategic defence objective”.
With writing now underway for the 2026 National Defence Strategy, can Australia actually deter threats to the nation?
Traditionally, our defence strategy only asked that our military capabilities “command respect”. In today’s world, however, Australia needs a far more active military posture to defend itself.
To effectively deter an adversary, Australia needs the equipment, signals and processes to convince a potentially hostile nation to reconsider the cost of militarily threatening us.
A deterrence strategy promises to reduce the likelihood of conflict. It reduces the opportunities for an adversary to score “cheap” wins by communicating how we could “deny” their main goal and potentially “punish” them for their aggression.
It forces an adversary to make a choice: back down or risk failing at your objective and starting a more significant confrontation.
While we don’t know exactly how a future adversary might react, Australia must do more to make our intent clear on how we would respond to a provocation.
We are part of an international team researching the ways to do this. This is what we think is needed in the next National Defence Strategy.
Creating a credible deterrence posture is not easy. The 2024 defence strategy lists a wide variety of actions that could change an adversary’s risk assessment.
Some of these things are specific (surveilling and protecting Australia’s sea lanes of communication). Others are vague and loosely connected to deterrence (supporting the global rules-based order).
To make sure our deterrence message is as clear and effective as possible, the 2026 strategy will need a much tighter policy framework around where Australia would have the power to deter an adversary, and how we would do so.
It will also need to detail the specific defence preparations Australia has undertaken to credibly deter threats.
Vagueness in language or generalities in proposed actions will not cut it.
The scholarly literature on how to implement an effective deterrence is largely drawn from Cold War history.
Many times, the US and USSR made deliberate efforts to send deterrence signals to the other side. They did this by acquiring new capabilities (such as longer-range missiles) and expanding their nuclear stockpiles, or by conducting military exercises and deploying forces around the world. These messages, however, were often misunderstood.
Sometimes, these signals – such as US President John F. Kennedy’s reinforcement of West Berlin with an additional battalion during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 – made political sense, but less so militarily.
One way for Australia to approach this deterrence question is considering the adversary’s theory of victory – how they seek to achieve their goal – and then identifying ways to explicitly and publicly show we can disrupt it.
For example, after winning the 1982 Falkland Islands War against Argentina, Britain invested significant resources into the Mount Pleasant Air Base on the islands. They are now home to up to 2,000 personnel, enabling significant and rapid reinforcements in the event of future hostilities.
Australia is now acquiring significant new strike capabilities. However, even if we increase our defence spending beyond the 3% of GDP currently being discussed, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will not be able to defend everything across the entire region and the waters around us.
We will need to find low-cost defensive actions.
Deterring an adversary from attempting a “cheap win” against Australia, for instance, might require the “forward presence” of Australian troops far from our own shores. Even if they would not be able to defend against an attack on their own, they could serve as a “trip wire” force. This means if they were attacked, it would likely compel Australia to go to war.
So, let’s say Australia has a “forward presence” of troops stationed in the Cocos Islands, Papua New Guinea or even the Philippines. This signals a credible commitment to use those forces to protect ourselves and our regional partners against a threat. And should these soldiers be killed, it would likely generate public anger and a political insistence on a significant response.
While a lot of contemporary military thinking is about how to put robots and drones in harm’s way instead of our fellow citizens, some tasks, such as a “forward presence” deterrence, can likely only be done by humans.
All of this means that deterrence is not just about a country’s capabilities – going to war is ultimately about politics, and human emotion.
As such, credibility also depends on practical rituals – such as Britain holding Cabinet meetings in the Falklands and NATO hosting flag parades in the Baltics. These convey a belief over what matters enough to go to war.
For Australian deterrence to be more credible, the next iteration of the National Defence Strategy will have to be more explicit than its predecessor in spelling out what Australia would be willing to go to war over.
If our government cannot address this now, how are we going to communicate this to an adversary – and convince them of it – in a crisis?
The government is understandably reluctant to be specific about the commitments and threats it is willing and able to make in a public document, or to acknowledge the limits to Australia’s abilities.
But deterring without communicating is a contradiction in terms. We need to be explicit about what would cause Australia to resist or retaliate, even at the cost of war, in order to credibly deter an adversary from taking such an action.
This must be at the core of how the 2026 National Defence Strategy approaches deterrence as Australia’s “primary defence objective”.
This piece is part of a series on the future of defence in Australia. Read the other stories here.
Andrew Carr receives funding from the Department of Defence on a research project on ‘Pathways of Deterrence’.
Stephan Fruehling receives funding from the Department of Defence on a research project on ‘Pathways of Deterrence’.
– ref. What would Australia be willing to go to war over? This needs to be made clear in our defence strategy – https://theconversation.com/what-would-australia-be-willing-to-go-to-war-over-this-needs-to-be-made-clear-in-our-defence-strategy-253246
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –
COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone
Pope Francis has died after using his Easter Sunday address to call for peace in Gaza. I don’t know who the cardinals will pick to replace him, but I do know with absolute certainty that there are transnational intelligence operations in the works to make sure they select a more reliable supporter of Israel.
They’ve probably been working on it since his health started failing.
Anyone who’s been reading me for a while knows my attitude toward Roman Catholicism can be described as openly hostile because of my family history with the Church’s sexual abuses under Cardinal Pell, but as far as popes go this one was decent.
Francis had been an influential critic of Israel’s mass atrocities in Gaza, calling for investigation of genocide allegations and denouncing the bombing of hospitals and the murder of humanitarian workers and civilians. He’d been personally calling the only Catholic parish in Gaza by phone every night during the Israeli onslaught, even as his health deteriorated.
In other words, he was a PR problem for Israel.
I hope another compassionate human being is announced as the next leader of the Church, but there are definitely forces pushing for a different outcome right now. There is no shortage of terrible men who could be chosen for the position.
❖
The most wholesome thing on the internet right now is Yemeni forces keeping a running tally of the US MQ-9 Reaper drones they’ve been destroying. These things are 30 million dollars apiece. pic.twitter.com/hJNHtkVgm1
— Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz) April 19, 2025
❖
Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Omer Dostri told Israel’s Channel 12 News on Saturday that a deal with Hamas to release all hostages was a non-starter for the Israeli government, because it would require a commitment to lasting peace.
“At the moment, there can’t be one deal since Hamas isn’t saying: ‘Come get your hostages and that’s that,’ it’s demanding an end to the war,” Dostri said in the interview.
This comes as Hamas offers to return all hostages, stop digging tunnels, and put away its weapons in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. This is what Israel is dismissing as unacceptable.
The Pope has died Video/audio: Caitlin Johnstone
The Gaza holocaust was never about freeing the hostages. This has been clear ever since Israel began aggressively bombing the place where the hostages are living, and it’s gotten clearer and clearer ever since. Last month Netanyahu made it clear that Israel intends to carry out Trump’s ethnic cleansing plans for the enclave even if Hamas fully surrenders.
When Washington’s podium people say the “war” in Gaza can end if Hamas releases the hostages and lays down their arms, they are lying. They are lying to ensure that the genocide continues.
When Israel apologists say “Release the hostages!” in response to criticisms of Israeli atrocities, they are lying. They know this has never had anything to do with hostages. They are lying to help Israel commit more atrocities.
It was never about the hostages. It was never about Hamas. What it’s really about was obvious from day one: purging Palestinians from Palestinian land. That’s all this has ever been.
❖
After executing 15 medical workers in Gaza and getting caught lying about it, the IDF has investigated itself and attributed the massacre to “professional failures” and “operational misunderstandings”, finding no evidence of any violation of its code of ethics.
It’s crazy to think about how much investigative journalism went into exposing this atrocity only to have Israel go “Yeah turns out we did an oopsie, no further action required, thank you to our allies for the latest shipment of bombs.”
❖
The death toll from Trump’s terrorist attack on a Yemen fuel port is now up to 80, with 150 wounded. Again, the US has not even tried to claim this was a military target. They said they targeted this critical civilian infrastructure to hurt the economic interests of the Houthis.
Those who are truly anti-war don’t support Trump. Those who support Trump aren’t truly anti-war.
I still get people telling me I need to be nicer to Trump supporters because they’re potential allies in resisting war, which to me is just so silly. What are they even talking about? Trump supporters, per definition, currently support the one person who is most singularly responsible for the horrific acts of war we are seeing in the middle east right now. Telling me they’re my allies is exactly as absurd as telling me Biden supporters were my allies last year would have been, except nobody was ever dumb enough to try to make that argument.
If you still support Trump in April 2025 after seeing all his monstrous behavior in Gaza and Yemen, then we are on completely opposite sides. You might think you’re on the same side as me because you oppose war in theory, but when the rubber meets the road it turns out you’ll go along with any acts of mass military slaughter no matter how evil so long as they are done by a Republican. We are not allies, we are enemies. You side with the most egregious warmonger in the world right now, and I want your side to fail.
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People say “It’s the Muslims!” or “It’s the Jews!”
No, it’s the Americans. The US-centralised empire is responsible for most of our world’s problems.
It says so much about the strength of the imperial propaganda machine that this isn’t more obvious to more people.
Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.
This article was first published on Café Pacific.
Source: Surgical Trial Network – New Zealand
Supported by Network Manager Kayley King, based at Whangārei Hospital, Te Tai Tokerau, the network offers personalised support to help professionals navigate the research process and connect with global collaborators.
Source: New Zealand Government
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Board’s endorsement of the Tauriko West Road of National Significance investment case is great news for jobs and growth in the western Bay of Plenty, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
“Western Bay of Plenty is growing strongly and the government is committed to unlocking its potential. The new Tauriko West Road of National Significance will support economic growth, increase productivity and connectivity to Bay of Plenty, and boost housing and commercial development,” Mr Bishop says.
“State Highway 29 (SH29) and State Highway 29A (SH29A) are the primary inter-regional and freight connections between Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. These state highways are essential for growth and prosperity in the upper North Island.”
The NZTA Board has endorsed the investment case for the new Tauriko West Road of National Significance, consisting of:
The NZTA Board has also approved $97.2 million in funding for route protection.
“As part of the SH29 Tauriko West RONS, a new SH29 will be built and SH29A widened to support economic growth, productivity, commercial and residential development, protect the strategic freight route, and improve resilience and reliability, and safety for all users,” Mr Bishop says.
“These upgrades will support the Tauriko Business Estate extension and enable the potential development of 30,000 new houses in the Western Corridor by 2063. Other benefits of the project include a 40 per cent improvement in travel time reliability, 13 min reduction on SH29 and 6 min reduction on SH29A, and a projected 50 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries.”
The Tauriko West project will be delivered in four phases:
Phase 1: Ōmanawa Bridge replacement (SH29) – The replacement of the Ōmanawa Bridge, realignment of the connections on SH29 around the bridge and minor improvements to the Ōmanawa Road Intersection. Construction is expected to start later this year.
Phase 2: Route protection for SH29 and SH29A – Designating, consenting and progressing property acquisition so NZTA is ready to proceed with the detailed design and construction when funding is made available. This also protects the route from being built out in the upcoming development of the area.
Phase 3: SH29 offline – Constructing a new 4-lane SH29 from north of Ōmanawa Bridge to connect to Takitimu North Link Interchange including Takitimu Drive Toll Road, and revocation of the existing SH29 (indicative design and construction timeframe, subject to funding).
Phase 4: Widening existing SH29A – From Takitimu Drive Toll Road to Barkes Corner and a new interchange at Barkes Corner.
“With the NZTA Board’s endorsement of the investment case, the SH29 Tauriko West RoNS can now progress to designate and consent a new route between Ōmanawa Bridge and Takitimu North Link in the western Bay of Plenty, for future construction.
“Protecting the Tauriko West route provides certainty for this significant growth area and ensures NZTA is best placed to move forward when funding for design and construction becomes available. It also protects the route from being built out in the upcoming development of the area.
“The investment case endorsed by the NZTA Board sets a budget envelope of between $2.8 billion to $3.3 billion for the overall project, with decisions to unlock funding made by the NZTA Board as each phase of the project progresses.
“Phase 1 and 2 of the project to replace the Ōmanawa Bridge and start route protection for the SH29/SH29A corridor are underway, with phase 3 and 4 covering the construction of a new four lane SH29 and widening of the existing SH29A.
“The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS 24) requires NZTA to consider tolling for all new RoNS. The investment case supported tolling to help fund the construction and maintenance of the road, and the NZTA Board will consider further information before making a final recommendation to the Government. If tolled, Tauriko West has a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.7.
“The SH29 Tauriko West RoNS project is a critical part of the Government’s plan to boost economic growth and productivity, increase the availability of much needed housing and industrial development, and improve safety on our roads.”
SH29 Tauriko West Project scope
A new, offline 4-lane SH29 corridor between Redwood Lane and TNL, designed to accommodate speeds of 110km/h (tolled or untolled). Includes widening Takitimu Drive Toll Road to 4 lanes.
Upgrading SH29A with a design speed to allow for 100km/hr and 4–lanes for general traffic.
Seven intersection improvements, including three grade separated interchanges at Redwood Lane, Takitimu Drive and Barkes Corner.
Intersection upgrades at Tauriko Village, Cambridge Road, and SH29A/SH36 Takitimu roundabout to be at-grade signalised intersections.
Replacement grade-separated walking and cycling crossing at Barkes Corner to provide safe access across SH29A.
Walking and cycling connections at Redwood Road, Cambridge Road and Barkes Corner to provide safe access across SH29.
SH29 Revocation – agreed future Urban Connector function on day of handover reflects a higher place function and a reduced movement function.
Route protection on SH29A and SH36 to accommodate future growth
Project outcomes
Economic growth and productivity (travel time): 40% improvement in travel time reliability (13min reduction on SH29, and 6min reduction on SH29A) at all times of the day from 2035 to 2063 on SH29 and SH29A to key destinations, such as the Port of Tauranga.
Economic growth and productivity (housing): The transport system support the completion of Tauriko West (3600-4000 new houses), the remainder of the Tauriko Business Estate extension, and potential development of 30,000 houses in the Western Corridor by 2063.
Safety: 50% reduction in DSIs, and improved network resilience on SH29 and SH29A with increased lane capacity, safety interventions, and alternative routes
Source: Panasonic
Headline: Panasonic in Numbers: Over 1 Million Trees Planted in Just 3 Years by Panasonic Vietnam
Panasonic Vietnam has planted over 1 million trees in only 3 years, making it the fastest foreign company in Vietnam to achieve this goal. Based on estimates from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture & Environment (MOAE), the initiative, which planted 1,071,300 trees in 20 provinces, is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 108,000 tons over ten years. Totally, Panasonic Vietnam has planted 1,346,390 trees in 11 years.
Besides actively promoting environmental activities as part of Panasonic’s global ECO RELAY project, Panasonic Vietnam launched the “Live Wellness, Contribute Green” tree planting program in 2022, which invited customer contribution through a scheme: a tree is planted each time a customer buys a Panasonic product under Wellness category.
Panasonic Vietnam will continue to support the Panasonic Group’s long-term environmental vision “Panasonic GREEN IMPACT” and contribute to creating a bright future of wellness for Vietnamese people through healthy living and sustainable development.
The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.
Source: China State Council Information Office
File photo shows investors pay attention to the stock market trends at a securities firm in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
With rising strategic importance in terms of improving expectations and boosting confidence, China’s capital market now provides opportunities for both Chinese and foreign investors as global economic growth stagnates due to Sino-US trade frictions, experts said.
Their comments followed messages delivered during a State Council executive meeting on Friday, which included making continuous efforts to stabilize the stock market and advance the sound and stable development of the property sector. Once related measures are introduced, they should affect targeted companies and individuals directly. The implementation efficiency of the measures should be improved and their effect ensured, according to the meeting.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.45 percent on Monday while the Shenzhen Component Index closed up 1.27 percent. The tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen jumped 1.59 percent.
The A-share market is crucial for lifting market confidence during trade tensions. Investors should be confident in China’s dedication to safeguarding the stability of its capital markets, said Qiu Xiang, chief A-share market strategist at CITIC Securities.
Economic resilience is crucial during the ongoing stalemate. China has more choices and room for more policies, helping it to last longer during the tensions. But the huge amount of government debt that will mature or need refinancing before July will serve as the first turning point for US tariff policies, said Qiu.
Against such a backdrop, self-reliant technology companies, sectors benefiting from Europe’s increasing capital expenditure, consumer staple providers and companies generating stable dividends are worth looking at in the A-share market, he added.
Market turmoil and volatility continued in overseas markets last week, indicating continued external pressure. But the Chinese market is stable, thanks to its recovering economic fundamentals and quick responses to recent uncertainties, said Zhang Qiyao, chief strategy analyst at Industrial Securities.
Meanwhile, China’s dual circulation development pattern and the country’s strategic focus will help to anchor market stability, said Zhang.
Experts from Huaxi Securities wrote in a recent report that the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong stock markets may serve as havens for foreign investors, while other markets are undergoing more drastic fluctuations in the short term and global economic growth faces more uncertainties.
The Chinese government has been dedicated to advancing supply side reform and deeper restructuring. Combined with its continued efforts in expanding domestic demand, Chinese firms are provided with a better environment, which means new investment opportunities, Huaxi said.
In addition, Chinese equity assets now enjoy more valuation advantages compared to their foreign peers. The former’s investment value over the mid to long term is especially noticeable. The market should not underestimate policymakers’ resolution to stabilize market performance and investor expectations, they added.
During a forum on Sunday, Liu Yuhui, a council member of the China Chief Economist Forum, said that now is a good time to invest in the A-share market, as it is projected to enjoy longer-term prosperity. Investors are especially advised to look for opportunities in core China assets, whose investment value has been manifested during the China-US trade frictions, he said.
Fu Si, China portfolio strategist at Goldman Sachs, said that global actively managed funds and overseas hedge funds have increased their exposure to A shares since the beginning of the year, mainly driven by the rapid development of Chinese artificial intelligence technology. But their current exposure is still lower than historic levels, while selling room is limited. Therefore, global capital will flow back to the A-share market in the mid to long term, Fu said.
As of the end of March, qualified foreign institutional investors have increased their holdings in A shares — both in terms of volume and market value — on a quarterly basis, according to market tracker Wind Info. QFII held at least 500 million yuan ($68.6 million) worth of shares in Zijin Mining, Centre Testing International Group and China XD Group each, with the latter — a transmission and distribution equipment maker — seeing the most rapid increase of QFII holdings in the past three months.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 22, 2025.
How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Following the death of Pope Francis, we’ll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave – a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals – is due to meet in a matter of weeks to elect
Haka in the House: what will Te Pāti Māori’s protest mean for tikanga in parliament?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside parliament, November 19, 2024. Getty
Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
ANALYSIS: By Joel Hodge, Australian Catholic University and Antonia Pizzey, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began: “Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the
Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action. Under Trump, the
Is a corporation a slave? Many philosophers think so
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duncan Ian Wallace, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University f11photo/Shutterstock If you’ve ever heard the term “wage slave”, you’ll know many modern workers – perhaps even you – sometimes feel enslaved to the organisation at which they work. But here’s a different way of thinking about it:
Rates will never be enough – councils need the power to raise money in other ways
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Guy C. Charlton, Adjunct Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology and Associate Professor, University of New England Getty Images You might have recently received voting papers for your local body elections. Going by our historically low participation rates, many of those envelopes will remain unopened. This
Early voting opens in the federal election – but it brings some problems for voters and parties
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Monash University More than 18 million Australians are enrolled to vote at the federal election on May 3. A fair proportion of them – perhaps as many as half – will take advantage of early voting, which
‘I’m a failure’: how schema therapy tackles the deep-rooted beliefs that affect our mental health
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, you’re not alone. More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. Many are linked to
Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five?
Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Lucasfilm Ltd™ Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining moments of the second Trump presidency.
Election Diary: Albanese government stays mum over whatever Russia may have said to Indonesia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The imbroglio over the reported Russian request to Indonesia to base planes in Papua initially tripped Peter Dutton, and now is dogging Anthony Albanese. After the respected military site Janes said a request had been made, the Australian government quickly
How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Cardinals attend Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013, in Vatican City. Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Image With the death of
Twinkling star reveals the shocking secrets of turbulent plasma in our cosmic neighbourhood
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Reardon, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pulsar Timing and Gravitational Waves, Swinburne University of Technology Artist’s impression of a pulsar bow shock scattering a radio beam. Carl Knox/Swinburne/OzGrav With the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere, we have observed a twinkling star and discovered an abundance of
Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began:
Pope Francis tried to change the Catholic Church for women, with mixed success
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracy McEwan, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. On Easter Sunday, he used his message and blessing to appeal for peace in Middle East and
ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 21, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 21, 2025.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
A nurse works at a maternal and child health care hospital in Huai’an City, east China’s Jiangsu province, May 12, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
At least eight provincial-level regions in China reported growth in their resident populations last year amid rapid urbanization, according to data released by local authorities and experts.
The regions that reported population growth are the Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions, and Shaanxi province in western China; Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian provinces in the east; and Guangdong and Hainan provinces in the south, according to statistics from regional authorities.
Meanwhile, the populations of Jiangsu province and Tianjin remained stable from the previous year, while 19 provincial-level regions reported a decline. Heilongjiang province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region have yet to release their demographic data for last year.
China’s total population declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, falling by 1.39 million to 1.408 billion, largely due to lower birth rates and a shrinking number of women of childbearing age.
Population changes at the regional level are shaped by natural shifts — defined as the difference between births and deaths — as well as internal migration.
Wang Jinying, a professor at Hebei University’s School of Economics and a demography expert, said provinces that saw population increases last year follow three distinct growth models.
“Thanks to their thriving economies and ample job opportunities, provinces such as Zhejiang and Guangdong witnessed significant influxes of migrants from other regions, leading to an increase in their resident populations,” he said.
Official data show Guangdong’s population grew by 740,000 to reach 127.8 million, while Zhejiang’s increased by 430,000 to 66.7 million.
Xinjiang also followed this pattern, Wang said. The frontier region bordering Central Asia has become a key hub of the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years, drawing residents with increased economic and trade opportunities.
In addition, provinces such as Anhui, Shaanxi and Fujian — once beset by a high number of out-migrants due to underdeveloped economies — have seen accelerated economic growth in recent years, Wang said.
“This has not only curbed outward migration but also spurred a return of residents, boosting their resident population figures,” he said.
However, the population growth in these regions remains relatively modest. Shaanxi and Anhui each recorded a year-on-year increase of fewer than 20,000 people, while Fujian’s population rose by 100,000.
The third growth model is exemplified by Xizang, Yunnan and Hainan, where population increases are largely due to natural growth, with birth rates exceeding death rates, Wang said.
Among the regions experiencing population decline last year are Jilin and Liaoning provinces in Northeast China. The region has seen the steepest declines in recent years due to large-scale emigration and low fertility rates.
Still, both provinces recorded a modest rebound in the number of newborns, with each reporting about 9,000 more births year-on-year.
Nationwide, China also saw a slight uptick in the number of newborns last year, rising by 520,000 to reach 9.54 million.
“The increase in these regions, as well as the national figure, can be attributed to a sizable number of people who had postponed marriage and childbearing deciding to tie the knot and have babies,” Wang said. “Other contributing factors include the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the auspicious Year of the Dragon in 2024. But the overall scale of the increase remains modest.”
Experts said China’s urban population has been steadily growing and is expected to continue expanding as more people move to cities. However, Northeast China’s population is likely to keep shrinking.
A recent study by Liu Houlian, a researcher at the China Population and Development Research Center, projected that China’s urbanization rate will reach 75.4 percent by 2035, up from 67 percent in 2024.
The study noted a significant population increase in cities along the Yangtze River and coastal areas, as well as in provincial capitals. Meanwhile, the trend of population decline has spread from northeastern provinces to some central and western regions.
“Driven by high-quality economic development, scientific innovation and improved public services, it is expected that the populations of economically vibrant cities in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions will continue to grow,” the study said. “Conversely, less developed small and medium-sized cities are likely to face continued population shrinkage.”
Wang said China’s total population will likely continue to decline, intensifying competition among regions for labor and widening the divergence in regional development.
To address the trend, he suggested promoting high-quality, balanced regional development, with a focus on cultivating more central cities and urban clusters.
“Hefei in Anhui province serves as a prime illustration of how an emerging economic hub can draw in population. An increasing number of people, previously concentrated in urban giants such as Shanghai, have opted to settle down in the city instead,” he said.
Wang added that expanding public services, such as fertility support policies, healthcare and education, is essential to accommodate the influx of people into urban areas.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China has decided to impose sanctions on some United States lawmakers, government officials and heads of NGOs for their egregious actions on issues related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The move is in response to Washington’s abuse of illegal and unilateral sanctions on officials representing the central government in Hong Kong and officials of the SAR government, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular news conference in Beijing.
On March 31, the US Department of State announced its sanctions against six Chinese officials for allegedly “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy”. The sanctions block any transactions on property, funds or deals within the US made by these individuals.
“The US’ unilateral sanctions gravely interfere in China’s internal affairs, including Hong Kong affairs, and violate the principles of international law and basic norms governing international relations. China strongly condemns this despicable move,” Guo said.
According to the spokesman, China’s decision was made in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which was passed in 2021 to counter foreign sanctions. It gives China legal support and guarantee to counter discriminatory measures by a foreign country in accordance with the law.
Guo reminded the US that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, which “brook no US interference”.
“Any wrong action taken by the US on Hong Kong-related issues will be met with a resolute response and reciprocal countermeasures by China,” he said.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police are currently investigating an assault that occurred during a Council-sanctioned cycling race in Poukawa at the weekend and are seeking information from the public.
At around 2:45pm on Saturday 19 April, the occupants of a black Ford Ranger ute were seen throwing bottles from their vehicle towards participants of the cycle race on Munity Road.
A young person was hit by a bottle and fell off their bike, fortunately the injuries sustained were not serious.
The vehicle then drove towards Middle Road and continued travelling south. The vehicle had large off-road tyres and a roll bar on the back.
If anyone has information in relation to the vehicle involved, or the incident itself, please contact Police on 105, either over the phone or online.
Please reference file number 250419/9446.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
The release of a draft New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) strategy for consultation will help drive better support for the Deaf community, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says.
The draft NZSL Strategy went out for consultation today, with Minister Upston describing it as an important step forward.
“NZSL is an official language of New Zealand and the first language for many Deaf New Zealanders.
“Unfortunately, Deaf people are not always able to access public services or community events using NZSL.
“The strategy will drive the work of the NZSL Board for the next five years as they strive to ensure members of the Deaf community have the assistance they need.
“This draft strategy represents a fresh look at what needs to be done to ensure all New Zealanders can use, support and value NZSL.
“The Government is committed to better public services and delivering services and supports that meet the needs of the Deaf community.
“From census information, we know the number of NZSL users has increased since 2013, with about 25,000 using NZSL in Census 2023. The same census indicated that around 5,700 people in New Zealand could not hear at all
“I acknowledge the work of the Board to ensure that NZSL goes further and is futureproofed as a strong, vibrant language recognised and embraced by Kiwis,” Louise Upston says.
Consultation on the draft NZSL strategy is open until 2 June 2025. Minister Upston will report the strategy back to Cabinet for approval later this year.
For an NZSL translation of this media release, see here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJc1I__mDr0
Further information can be found on the NZSL Board website here:
https://www.nzsl.govt.nz/strategy/draft-nzsl-strategy-consultation
Source: New Zealand Government
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to the United Kingdom and Türkiye next week, visiting London, Gallipoli, and Istanbul.
“New Zealand has enduring bonds with both the UK and Türkiye, forged through our shared history. I’m looking forward to reinforcing these bonds,” Mr Luxon says.
While in London, Mr Luxon will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to talk trade, security, and the geopolitical backdrop in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
“New Zealand is a champion for free trade, and I look forward to talking to Sir Keir Starmer about what our countries can do together to support the rules-based trading system.”
His visit will also reaffirm New Zealand’s strong defence and security partnership with the UK.
“The UK is one of New Zealand’s closest and most trusted partners, and for many Kiwis, it is where they base themselves on their OE.
“The UK is also important to New Zealand’s prosperity. Our exports there grew by more than 20 per cent in 2024 and are still growing.”
Following the UK, Mr Luxon will make his first official visit to Türkiye.
“This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to Türkiye since 2015. It also coincides with the 110th anniversary of the ANZAC landings.
“I am travelling to Gallipoli to honour the commitment and sacrifice of all New Zealand war veterans.”
He leaves New Zealand on 19 April.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China, Indonesia hold First Ministerial Meeting of Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing
BEIJING, April 21 — China and Indonesia held the First Ministerial Meeting of Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing on Monday.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun chaired the meeting, together with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Wang said the two heads of state have met twice in the past year, and jointly outlined a blueprint for the development of China-Indonesia relations in the new era. Under the personal attention of the two heads of state, China and Indonesia have established and launched the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue, he added.
Noting that this is the first Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue between China and a foreign country, Wang said it reflects the high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, and also further enriches the connotation of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global impact.
Wang called on the two sides to push bilateral relations to higher level, under the strategic guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state.
Dong said China is willing to work with Indonesia to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and build a new pattern of defense and security cooperation characterized by deeper strategic mutual trust, better institutional frameworks, more robust coordination, and stronger foundation in addressing challenges.
Sugiono noted that Indonesia is willing to work with China to further strengthen political mutual trust, enhance exchanges at all levels, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and collaboration within multilateral frameworks.
Sjafrie expressed Indonesia’s willingness to enhance cooperation with China in fields including defense and maritime security to maintain regional peace and stability.
The two sides engaged in in-depth communication on international and regional issues of mutual concern.
After the meeting, Wang and Sugiono signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing a comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism between the Chinese and Indonesian governments.
During the meeting, the two sides signed documents on cooperation in maritime security and other areas.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police are continuing to follow several lines of enquiry in the homicide investigation launched in St Johns during Easter Weekend.
Detectives have been working over recent days to piece together the violent events that unfolded on the night of 19 April.
Police have had several members of the public come forward with information.
Today, Police are appealing for witnesses in a vehicle to come forward in the investigation.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin says Police are seeking the driver of a white Toyota ute who may have been cut off by a vehicle carrying the offenders.
It has been established that prior to the fatal attack, the dark coloured SUV turned around further down St Johns Road at around 9.51pm.
“While doing so, a member of the public has had to bring their vehicle to an abrupt stop,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
“This vehicle was a white Toyota ute with a black sports bar attached on the back, heading in a westerly direction towards the Meadowbank Shops from College Road.
“I would like to stress that the occupants of this white ute are witnesses, and they are not involved in the homicide.”
Police urge those occupants to come forward.
“I’m confident that someone will remember being cut off while they drove along St Johns Road,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
“I urge any occupants of that vehicle to contact us as you may have crucial information to our investigation.”
Meanwhile, Police are still piecing together the victim’s movements throughout Saturday.
Police can confirm the victim had purchased items from a nearby supermarket at around 9.40pm.
He then walked on foot to the bus shelter on St Johns Road, about 400 metres away, before the assault occurred just before 10pm.
Detective Inspector Baldwin says: “The victim was subjected to a senseless attack, leaving him with multiple head injuries.
“No one should be subjected to the appalling level of violence that the victim suffered on Saturday night.
“As yet, the weapon used in the assault has not been located.”
Detective Inspector Baldwin says Police are keeping an open mind about why the attack occurred.
“We have had a number of people contact us in recent days with information, and the investigation team are working through this with some urgency.
“I acknowledge them for coming forward, and I continue to ask anyone with additional information to get in touch.”
Police are not yet in a position to formally release the victim’s name.
“We are still working through the formal identification process with the Coroner’s Office and are speaking to his family who live overseas,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
“The family are still in the process of notifying loved ones of what has occurred.
“It’s the news no one should have to receive, so out of respect for them I won’t be releasing further information today.”
Police would still like any information on a black SUV that was at the scene and left at speed following the fatal attack.
“This vehicle came to a stop near the bus shelter, with at least two offenders exiting the vehicle,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
“There is possibly a third offender and or other occupants may have been driving this vehicle at the time, and this is forming part of the investigation.”
The vehicle fled the scene at speed towards College Road.
Anyone who saw this vehicle around the St Johns area on Saturday night is asked to contact Police.
Please contact Police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
