BOSTON – A Salvadoran national living in Methuen, Mass. was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Agustin Landaverde-Romero, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 21 months in prison to be served concurrently with Landaverde-Romero’s unrelated state prison sentence. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2025, Landaverde-Romero pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Landaverde-Romero was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
On July 6, 1999, Landaverde-Romero entered the United States without inspection near Brownsville, Texas. He was identified by authorities in July 1999 and ordered to be removed to El Salvador on Sept. 23, 1999. On Oct. 7, 1999, he was removed from the United States.
Sometime thereafter, Landaverde-Romero illegally reentered the United States. In July 2020, he was arrested and charged with rape of child and rape of child by force in Essex County Superior Court. He was subsequently convicted of the charges and, in May 2023, was sentenced to 20-25 years in state prison. On June 23, 2023, while serving his sentence, Landaverde-Romero was encountered by immigration authorities during a screening of inmates and determined to have unlawfully reentered the United States.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
BOSTON – Two Jamaican nationals were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for their involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering organization that laundered more than $6 million in drug trafficking proceeds from Colombian cartels through the United States, Caribbean and European banking systems.
St. Devon Anthony Cover, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 42 months in prison. In January 2025 Cover was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy and seven counts of laundering of monetary instruments. Dennis Raymond Rowe, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 52 months in prison. In January 2025 Rowe was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering and two counts of laundering of monetary instruments. Both defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of their imposed sentences.
The defendants were among 20 individuals from Colombia, Jamaica and Florida who were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2022 in connection with the money laundering conspiracy.
Over the course of the investigation, $1 million was seized from corporate bank accounts and other investigative activity. Nearly 3,000 kilograms of cocaine – with a street value of over $90 million – was traced back to the money laundering organization. This includes approximately 1,193 kilograms of cocaine seized at sea 60 miles south of Jamaica in July 2019, as well as 1,555 kilograms of cocaine seized in nine scrap metal shipping containers at the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia in March 2019.
In or about October 2016, law enforcement began an investigation into a sophisticated money laundering organization located primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia. During an extensive five-year investigation, the organization laundered over $6 million in drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the United States, including banks in Massachusetts, as well as additional proceeds through banks in the Caribbean and Europe by use of the Colombian Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE). By using the BMPE, the defendants and their co-conspirators sought to conceal drug trafficking activity and proceeds from law enforcement as well as evade currency exchange requirements in the United States and Colombia through the illegal currency exchange process. As part of the conspiracy, members of the organization held roles and responsibilities relative to the needs and opportunities of the scheme, such as drug suppliers, peso brokers, money couriers and business owners/dollar purchasers.
Through the BMPE, Colombian drug trafficking organizations with drug proceeds generated in the United States use third parties – generally referred to as “peso brokers” that are also based in Colombia – who agree to exchange Colombian pesos they control for the drug supplier’s dollar proceeds. Peso brokers then use money couriers in the United States and elsewhere to physically secure the drug proceeds, often in suitcases or bags on the street, and transfer the proceeds into the United States banking system. To avoid detection, peso brokers deposit the drug proceeds into bank accounts in company or individual names intended to appear as legitimate business activity, or through multiple small deposits into different bank accounts which are then consolidated into larger accounts. As a result, Colombian peso brokers control a pool of drug-derived proceeds in United States bank accounts. These dollar proceeds are then purchased by individuals or companies in Colombia seeking to exchange pesos for United States dollars at a favorable exchange rate and in a manner that avoids currency exchange and income reporting requirements. The dollar drug proceeds are transferred at the direction of the purchaser, and often end up in bank accounts of individuals or companies who appear to have no direct involvement in drug trafficking crimes.
During the course of the conspiracy, Cover laundered approximately $268,000 and Rowe laundered over $600,000 by delivering bulk cash drug proceeds to undercover law enforcement.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Aura Liliana Trujillo Rojas, Delegate for Criminal Finance for the Colombian Attorney General’s Office; Ricardo Sánchez Silvestre, Brigadier General of the Colombian National Police Anti-Narcotics Directorate; Jervis Moore, Chief of the Narcotics Division for the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and Colonel Geoffrey Noble of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of Cover, Rowe, and other co-defendants from Colombia and Jamaica. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Three students with ties to the University of Connecticut have recently earned National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (NSF-GRFP). The trio includes one current graduate student and two recent alumni, one of whom is currently enrolled in UConn’s Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates Program (RaMP).
The oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the NSF-GRFP was first awarded in 1952. The program recognizes and supports outstanding students in NSF-supported disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited institutions in the United States. In addition to a three-year annual stipend of $37,000, plus another $16,000 paid to the student’s home institution, fellows have access to a wide range of professional development opportunities over the course of their graduate careers.
The Graduate Research Fellowships, always highly competitive, became even more so this year as the NSF drastically reduced the number of fellowships it awarded. Over the past decade, the NSF awarded approximately 2,100 fellowships per year out of an annual pool of nearly 14,000 applications – an acceptance rate of about 15%. In 2025, the NSF awarded just 1,000 fellowships.
“Nearly three quarters of a century after its creation, the NSF-GRFP remains the gold standard of graduate fellowships supporting advanced study in STEM disciplines,” says Vin Moscardelli, director of UConn’s Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. “Fellows are recognized not only for their academic and scholarly promise but for their demonstrated commitment to making an impact beyond their research endeavors. Earning an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship this year – when the total number of awards was reduced by more than half – is a testament to the remarkable promise shown by all three of these future scientists.”
UConn’s 13 combined recipients in 2024 and 2025 lead all New England public universities. The school also had three undergraduate students, four graduate students, and nine recent alumni who earned Honorable Mention in this cycle.
UConn’s most recent National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awardees Savanna Brown and Hailey Baranowski along with their faculty mentor ecology and evolutionary biology professor Elizabeth Jockusch. (Contributed photo)
The two students currently at UConn are:
Hailey Baranowski ’24 (CAHNR, CLAS) was a member of the RaMP program and worked in the lab of ecology and evolutionary biology professor Elizabeth Jockusch. There they researched the developmental and morphological function of novel genes in red flour beetles.
Baranowski will begin doctoral studies at the University of Illinois this fall and will continue research on bee health while pursuing a doctorate in entomology.
“Bees are vital to food security and the beauty of our world,” says Baranowski. “This fellowship allows me to pursue the questions that need to be answered to help save them and us.
“The support I received from my connections at UConn made this possible. As an undergraduate, I completed my first research project using a SURF grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research and worked with a wide variety of faculty and external collaborators who have continued to support me beyond graduation.”
Savanna Brown is a second-year graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology and is also mentored by Jockusch. Her research focuses on treehoppers and leafhoppers – a group of charismatic and morphologically captivating insects that thrive in nearly every corner of the world.
“Being awarded the NSF-GRFP is an incredible honor, especially during a time when the value of science and our work at research institutions is doubted by many,” says Brown. “As a first-generation college student who has faced significant obstacles in my journey through academia, I feel profoundly grateful that this fellowship recognizes me not only for the value of my research, but more holistically as a human whose contributions to the scientific community go beyond intellectual merit alone.”
Jockush, who is currently department head in ecology and evolutionary biology, described Baranowski and Brown as “a dynamic duo in the lab this year.”
“Savanna is intellectually voracious. She is also a keen observer, self-starter and quick learner who embraces opportunities to be mentored and to serve as a mentor,” says Jockush. “I’m sure I have already learned as much from Savanna as she has from me. Savanna would probably say the same about Hailey, whom she mentors.
“Little about Hailey’s UConn journey has been predictable. She’s been a beekeeper, a student farmer, and a host of a WHUS radio show ‘the Hive,’ which features fun facts about bees along with music. Hailey’s outsized enthusiasm for bees, along with their seemingly effortless ability to connect with people, makes them the glue of multiple communities, including this year’s post-baccalaureate research cohort.
“In different ways, Savanna and Hailey have both earned this honor and the freedom it brings to pursue their curiosity.”
In addition to Baranowski and Brown, Abigail Yu ’20 (CLAS), who earned her undergraduate degree in physiology and neurobiology, also received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. She is currently a graduate student at UCLA in the school’s interdepartmental doctorate program for neuroscience.
TheOffice of National Scholarships & Fellowships(ONSF) is a resource for students interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and other prestigious scholarships and fellowships that support graduate study in all fields. ONSF is part of Enrichment Programs and is open to all graduate and undergraduate students at the University, including students at the regional campuses. For more information contact Vin Moscardelli, Director of UConn’sOffice of National Scholarships and Fellowships.
On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The agency said it would approve new versions of the vaccine only for adults 65 years of age and older as well as for people with one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. These risk factors include medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes.
However, healthy younger adults and children who fall outside of these groups may not be eligible to receive the COVID-19 shot this fall. Vaccine manufacturers will have to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate that the vaccine benefits low-risk groups.
The Conversation U.S. asked Libby Richards, a nursing professor involved in public health promotion, to explain why the changes were made and what they mean for the general public.
According to Makary and Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration is moving away from these universal recommendations and instead taking a risk-based approach based on its interpretation of public health trends – specifically, the declining COVID-19 booster uptake, a lack of strong evidence that repeated boosters improve health outcomes for healthy people and the fact that natural immunity from past COVID-19 infections is widespread.
The FDA states it wants to ensure the vaccine is backed by solid clinical trial data, especially for low-risk groups.
Was this a controversial decision or a clear consensus?
The FDA’s decision to adopt a risk-based framework for the COVID-19 vaccine aligns with the expected recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an advisory group of vaccine experts offering expert guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy, which is scheduled to meet in June 2025. But while this advisory committee was also expected to recommend allowing low-risk people to get annual COVID-19 vaccines if they want to, the FDA’s policy will likely make that difficult.
Although the FDA states that its new policy aims to promote greater transparency and evidenced-based decision-making, the change is controversial – in part because it circumvents the usual process for evaluating vaccine recommendations. The FDA is enacting this policy change by limiting its approval of the vaccine to high-risk groups, and it is doing so without any new data supporting its decision. Usually, however, the FDA broadly approves a vaccine based on whether it is safe and effective, and decisions on who should be eligible to receive it are left to the CDC, which receives research-based guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Another question is how health officials’ positions on COVID-19 vaccines affect public perception. Makary and Prasad noted that COVID-19 vaccination campaigns may have actually eroded public trust in vaccination. But some vaccine experts have expressed concerns that limiting COVID-19 vaccine access might further fuel vaccine hesitancy because any barrier to vaccine access can reduce uptake and hinder efforts to achieve widespread immunity.
What conditions count as risk factors?
The New England Journal of Medicine article includes a lengthy list of conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and notes that about 100 million to 200 million people will fall into this category and will thus be eligible to get the vaccine.
Pregnancy is included. Some items on the list, however, are unclear. For example, the list includes asthma, but the data that asthma is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 is scant.
Also on the list is physical inactivity, which likely applies to a vast swath of Americans and is difficult to define. Studies have found links between regular physical activity and reduced risk of severe COVID-19 infection, but it’s unclear how health care providers will define and measure physical inactivity when assessing a patient’s eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines.
The FDA is moving to risk-based access for COVID-19 vaccines.
The FDA is requiring vaccine manufactures to conduct additional large randomized clinical trials to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters for healthy adults and children. These trials will primarily test whether the vaccines prevent symptomatic infections, and secondarily whether they prevent hospitalization and death. Such trials are more complex, costly and time-consuming than the more common approach of testing for immunological response.
This requirement will likely delay both the timeliness and the availability of COVID-19 vaccine boosters and slow public health decision-making.
Will low-risk people be able to get a COVID-19 shot?
Not automatically. Under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will face obstacles. Health care providers can administer vaccines “off-label”, but insurance coverage is widely based on FDA recommendations. The new, narrower FDA approval will likely reduce both access to COVID-19 vaccines for the general public and insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines.
The FDA’s focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits. Communities with higher vaccination rates have fewer opportunities to spread the virus.
What about vaccines for children?
High-risk children age 6 months and older who have conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are still eligible for the vaccine under the new framework. As of now, healthy children age 6 months and older without underlying medical conditions will not have routine access to COVID-19 vaccines until further clinical trial data is available.
Existing vaccines already on the market will remain available, but it is unclear how long they will stay authorized and how the change will affect childhood vaccination overall.
Libby Richards has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Nurses Foundation, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
Teachers in England set to receive a 4% pay award from September.
Teachers will receive a 4% pay boost from September, after the Education Secretary accepted the teachers’ pay body recommendation in full today (22 May) marking a major step toward delivering 6,500 teachers by the end of Parliament.
The independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) recommended a pay award of 4% for 2025/26 academic year, building on the 5.5% pay award made last year.
Like the rest of the public sector, schools will need to play their part in getting maximum value from every pound of public money. Schools will be expected to find the first 1% of the pay award through improved productivity and smarter spending with the government providing significant additional investment of £615 million. Many schools are already making savings and driving costs down including the 400 schools who took part in the department’s new energy deal which will save them 36% on average.
The government has also taken tough but fair choices to afford the above inflation pay award – ending tax breaks for private schools, as well as programmes offering poor value for money and driving efficiency through boosting digital capability, so every pound is spent on driving high and rising standards for our children.
The pay boost builds on the work already underway to deliver on the government’s commitment as part of its Plan for Change to drive high and rising standards for every child, in every school. This includes a stronger accountability system through reforms to Ofsted inspection, new regional improvement teams to tackle poorly performing schools, and a new, rich and broad curriculum so pupils are set up for life, work and the future.
£160 million will also be provided to colleges and providers of 16-19 education. The cash will help them to address immediate priorities, including recruiting and retaining expert teachers in subject areas such as construction and manufacturing so more young people gain the skills needed to drive economic growth and deliver the workforce which businesses and public services need.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
Teachers have been overstretched and undervalued for far too long but from my first day in office, I have made it my priority to back them so that teaching is restored as the highly valued profession it should be.
This pay award for schools backed by major investment alongside funding for further education is in recognition of the crucial role teachers play in breaking the link between background and success and will support schools and colleges to invest in the workforce they need, so every young person achieves and thrives.
As part of our Plan for Change, we are already seeing green shoots, with two thousand more secondary school teachers training this year than last and more teachers forecasted to stay in the profession.
Through its Plan for Change the government is determined to ensure there are more expert teachers in front of classrooms, so every child and young person has access to an excellent education.
Hundreds of millions of pounds are also being invested to offer tax free financial incentives and professional development to attract and keep the best and brightest teachers across the country, alongside targeted action to improve teachers’ workload and wellbeing.
There are encouraging signs that this is working with two thousand more secondary school teachers training this year than last, a 25% increase in the number of people accepting teacher training places in STEM subjects, and more teachers forecasted to stay in the profession.
Alongside the significant investment announced today the government has been clear that it will support leaders to get best value from their funding including by offering schools a suite of productivity initiatives to help them slash the costs on things like energy, banking and recruitment so every penny is invested on delivering opportunities for young people.
Through its landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government is also legislating so every parent can be confident of a core high quality education offer for their child – ensuring that all children learn from a cutting-edge curriculum and are taught by an excellent qualified teacher.
The brightest, hottest and happiest season is here…hello summer!! For children and young people across the borough, it’s that long-awaited season of freedom. It’s goodbye school, hello pool; it’s memories made in flip flops, topped off with ice-cream, picnics and never-ending days of playing and exploring!
Let the experienced and energised getactiveabc coaches make it a summer to remember with a wonder world of summer experiences!
Multi-sports, gymnastics and dance camps
Through energetic sessions that feel more like fun than fitness, kids will learn about movement, co-ordination, teamwork and self-expression, all of which will boost their confidence (suitable for 5–11-year-olds. Various locations available). Find out more!
Wet and wild watersports
In, on and off the water, make a splash with South Lake Watersports! Hit the water or the road with kayak, paddleboard and bicycle hire (free for getactiveabc members); dip your toe into something new with the ‘Learn to’ sessions; achieve your ‘Start, Discover and Paddle Safer’ qualification from Paddle UK; join South Lake Paddlers Club; take on the giant inflatable (free for getactiveabc members) or have a blast at the multi-activity sessions of wet and dry adrenaline pumping fun with aqua inflatables, archery, mountain bikes, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing! Find out more!
Stay cool in the pool!
Our crazy £2 swims at Banbridge, Orchard and South Lake Leisure Centres are here! Boost water confidence with swimming courses and lessons, gain a lifeguard qualification and take on ‘The Beast’ – the new 50m indoor inflatable obstacle course that lets you bounce, slide and giggle through the challenge! Additional needs and quiet sessions are also available. Find out more!
Craigavon Golf & Ski Centre
Summer fun specials continue at Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre for kids, families, parties and youth clubs. Individual/family/group tubing and footgolf mean lots of laughs and fun for everyone on and off the slopes! Find out more!
Inclusive summer scheme
The ABC Inclusive Summer Schemes, taking place in Dromore and Richhill, provide inclusive sports and physical activity opportunities for children with a disability, along with siblings and friends. Find out more!
The getactiveabc sizzling programme of activities and events continues to soar throughout the summer! Watch out for special offers and more with Love Parks Week, The South Lake Junior Triathlon, indoor inflatables, Craigavon Lake Run, Bike Week, Oxford Island Nature activities, Men’s Health Week, All Out Trekking at Gosford, Teen Gym, Get Girls Moving, golf at Loughgall and Silverwood and much more!
Bin Collections & Recycling Centres Operating as Normal Over May Bank Holiday
22 May 2025
Derry City and Strabane District Council is reminding residents that bin collections and Recycling Centres will continue as normal on the upcoming May Bank Holiday, Monday 26th May 2025.
Residents are advised to leave out their bins as usual on collection day. The Council is encouraging everyone to stay committed to recycling by using Blue and Brown bins correctly, helping reduce household waste over the holiday weekend.
Please note that Council offices on Strand Road, Derry, and Derry Road, Strabane, will be closed on Monday 26th May and will reopen on Tuesday 27th May. Registry Offices in both Derry and Strabane will also be closed on the Monday, reopening the following day.
For those enjoying local attractions, the Guildhall and Tower Museum will remain open and welcoming visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Council-operated cemeteries will remain open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm throughout the holiday period.
The Council’s Out of Hours Dog Warden Service will be in operation to respond to ongoing dog attacks on people or animals. To report an incident, call 07734 128096. Please note that while the Council is not obligated to respond to other reports outside of normal hours, serious voicemails will be assessed.
All Council parks and greenways will be open, and the public is encouraged to enjoy these spaces responsibly keeping them clean by using the bins provided.
The Alley Theatre will also be open throughout the weekend, with Encore’s The Little Mermaid showing on Saturday 24th May.
Open: Bishop’s Field, Templemore Sports Complex, Riversdale Leisure Centre, Melvin Sports Complex, Derg Valley Leisure Centre
Closed: Brooke Park, City Baths, Foyle Arena, Brandywell
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, encouraged residents to make the most of the long weekend:
“I’d like to wish everyone across our city and district a relaxing and enjoyable Bank Holiday. Let’s continue taking pride in our beautiful environment by recycling, respecting public spaces, and supporting our local attractions and services.”
The Highland Council has launched a statutory Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 consultation giving the Inverness residents until 15 July 2025 to respond to a proposal to dispose, by lease, and change the use of an area within common good land for the development of a green hydrogen production facility.
The area of land subject to the consultation is located at the former waste landfill site at East Longman, Inverness. The area is no longer used for landfill however parts of it continue to be restricted under statutory controls in terms of development and public access. In 2022 the restriction was removed in part within the former landfill site and therefore has become available for development.
The former landfill site is owned by the Council in terms of the Royal Charter of King James VI dated 1591, and as such, considered to be common good land.
Storegga Hydrogen (Cromarty) Limited has approached the Council seeking to lease an area of available common good land to construct and operate a green hydrogen production facility. Using renewable energy sources, the development would produce approximately 6,400 tonnes of electrolytic hydrogen annually, with production planned to play a vital role in the decarbonisation of a large industrial site within the Longman Industrial Estate. Hydrogen would also be supplied to other users. The facility could reduce carbon emissions by 45,000 tonnes of CO2e per year – equivalent to removing 32,000 fossil fuelled cars from Scotland’s roads.
The Council is keen to hear the views of Inverness residents on the proposal utilising common good land. All submissions will be given full regard before a decision is taken. If following the consultation, the Council wish to proceed with the proposal, they must seek the consent of the Sheriff Court.
The consultation representations and responses including the final decision will be published on the Council’s website.
The consultation is specifically related to common good requirements. Should the proposed development proceed, further statutory consents will be required, including those related to planning.
Please submit written responses by close of play 15 July 2025 either by email – common.good@highland.gov.uk or by post – Common Good Fund Officer, The Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.
The work underway to ensure that Highland communities can benefit from profits being generated by renewable developments will be under the spotlight at next week’s meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
At the meeting on Thursday 29 May, Members will receive an update on progress with the Highland Social Value Charter, which aims to ensure that if developments get the go ahead there is a clear community benefit. Members will also be asked to agree to continue to make representations to both the Scottish and UK Governments on the need for mandatory community benefit.
The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans has written formally to Scottish Renewables seeking their immediate engagement with the Social Value Charter.
He said: “Once they have planning permission, developers are not obliged to follow through on providing community benefit. As a result, companies can make empty promises and let down our communities. This has to change.
“Given the scale of the on-shore and off shore energy pipeline being anticipated in the Highlands and the concerns of communities about potential impacts of these plans, it is important that public and private sector partners work together, so our communities can benefit for years to come.”
Councillor Gowans added: “Engagement with Scottish and Southern Energy Transmission to sign up to the Charter is underway and we will be pressing ahead to finalise the commitment from them and other developers to fully support the Charter. I look forward to discussing the Charter in more detail as part of the Committee next Thursday.”
The Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC) was agreed by the Council and Community Planning Partnership Board in June 2024. The Charter articulates the expectations of the Highland area for any renewables and green energy developments. Included within this are fundamental principles that all communities across Highland should benefit from renewables investment and that in addition to direct benefit to local areas, support to wider infrastructure should form part of the ask on developers.
The Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, has welcomed the announcement that a Highland project has been successful in applying for funding support under the latest round of funding from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).
Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) in Drumnadrochit has been awarded £602,500 to redevelop and remodel Glen Urquhart public hall into a thriving and more energy efficient community hub. The refurbished hall will include flexible spaces (including meeting rooms) with increased capacity to meet the needs of a wider range of groups and users. (Total project cost £1,580,187)
Cllr Ken Gowans said: “It is terrific news that this very worthy community-led project is set to benefit from RCGF funding support. There is a lot of competition across the whole of Scotland to get a share of the fund so to have over £600k awarded in the Highlands is good news.
“The RCGF is all about targeting financial support to provide a boost to social and economic regeneration. I wish everyone involved in this project well as they now press ahead with their plans. This is an ambitious project to make a real difference, so I look forward to seeing the benefit it brings to the local community.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
10 new Joint Cadet Centres delivered in Wales
10 new Joint Cadet Centres are being delivered in Wales as part of a national effort to modernise the reserve and cadet estate.
Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers outside their new Joint Cadet Centre in Caldicot. Copyright: RFCA for Wales.
Under the Secretary of State-directed Reserve Estates Optimisation Programme (REOP), a number of sites across Wales were identified for development as new shared Joint Cadet Centres. As a result, 10 new centres are being created either as refurbished sites or brand-new modular builds, e.g. Caldicot in the south.
The project is RFCA for Wales’ contribution to the government’s drive to improve the cadet and reserve estate across the UK. This comes after a national review of the reserve and cadet estate in 2020, which examined the reach, condition, suitability and value-for-money of every cadet and reserve building in the UK.
While the initiative is being led by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the council of RFCAs, regional RFCAs and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) are closely involved. The REOP has so far delivered 59 out of 88 planned projects, which will amount to c. £45 million invested once complete, and just over £5 million invested across the 10 sites in Wales.
RFCA for Wales Head of Estates, Mr Phil Young, said:
We are adapting and improving our estate to ensure we have the right buildings in the right locations to meet the needs of cadets in the future.
The programme in Wales has meant that 12 cadet and reserve sites are being disposed of, contributing to a more efficient estate. One of the latest developments is a new Joint Cadet Centre in Penarth, where 2 existing air cadet buildings were extended and reconfigured to create one building. The local army cadets also make use of the new shared accommodation.
In Caldicot, the old Army Cadet Force building in Mill Lane was razed to the ground to make way for a bespoke £1.2 million building which opened its doors last summer, with space for collaborative training between the army and air cadets.
Kerris Drew, Staff Sergeant Instructor of Caldicot ACF, said:
This new state-of-art building is great – it’s so much bigger than the old one with better facilities, including more classrooms which allow us to carry out more efficient and targeted training with the cadets. Outside there is a parade area for drill practice and a garden with wildlife boxes. It also has a spacious stores room, offices and even air conditioning.
5 new centres have already been created at Blaina, Blackwood, Caldicot, Penarth and Pengam-Cascade, and a further 5 are in the works at Tredegar, Bangor, Bridgend, Ammanford and Ebbw Vale.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
April 2025 Transaction Data
This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in April 2025.
NicoElNino/Shutterstock.com
Please note this data shows what HM Land Registry has been able to process during the time period covered and is not necessarily a reflection of market activity.
In April:
HM Land Registry completed over 1,811,920 applications to change or query the Land Register
The South East topped the table of regional applications with 408,047
HM Land Registry completed 1,811,924 applications in April compared with 1,974,155 in March 2025 and 1,953,642 last April 2024, of which:
285,129 were applications for register updates compared with 295,653 in March
1,058,989 were applications for an official copy of a register compared with 1,097,576 in March
158,279 were search and hold queries (official searches) compared with 263,960 in March
78,380 were transactions for value compared with 83,730 in March * 14,592 were postal applications from non-account holders compared with 15,564 in March
Increased funding to help young people away from crime.
Projects supporting young people at risk of being drawn into criminal activities are to receive up to £26 million over the next three years.
The Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme uses money recovered from seized criminal assets to provide crucial support to young people who may be at risk of becoming involved in offending or antisocial behaviour.
Successful projects in the programme’s next stage (2026-2029) will deliver a range of activities and support for those aged 10 to 25, to help tackle some of the underlying causes of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Projects will also provide access to trusted adults who young people can confide in.
Since 2008 CashBack for Communities has invested £156 million and supported around 1.4 million young people across all 32 local authorities in Scotland.
Visiting a project based at Glasgow’s Easterhouse Sports Centre, Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said:
“CashBack for Communities is inspiring. It turns the proceeds of crime into life-changing opportunities for the thousands of young people who take part in projects across Scotland every year.
“Over the course of the next three years of the programme, we are providing £26 million to organisations to deliver diversionary and support work with children and young people. By learning new skills and boosting their confidence, it helps young people in our communities who are at risk of becoming involved in crime be diverted from that path and realise their potential.
“Since its inception more than a million young people have received support to turn their lives around, with opportunities provided into employment, education or volunteering. CashBack’s success is also testament to the work of law enforcement partners in disrupting organised crime groups – bringing them to justice and seizing their ill-gotten gains, using them to deliver a successful programme across the country.”
Background
CashBack for Communities is a Scottish Government initiative which takes funds recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and invests them back into communities. It supports delivery of Scottish Government’s Vision for Justice in Scotland.
More information on the CashBack for Communities programme. Applications for funding open on 12 June 2025.
The launch of LGBTQIA+ Awareness Week took place last week with a special event and exhibition of a section of the Pride Quilt, created over thirty years ago.
The event was attended by members of UNISON who first initiated Awareness Week, LGBTQIA support organisations Rainbow and Foyle Pride, and members of the Council’s recently established LGBTQIA+ Working Group, plus many friends and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The section of the Quilt on display is a tribute to those who sadly lost their lives to AIDS and members of the family of one of the event’s founders Patrick Doherty were present at the launch. Patrick, who died from the disease, was fondly remembered by his family at the event, in particular his sister Karen who gave a moving speech about the ongoing need for support for the LGBTQIA+ community locally.
Also speaking at the launch, Martin McConnelogue and Michael McLaughlin, fellow co-founders of LGBTQIA+ Awareness Week, stressed the importance of providing support for a marginalized community. They welcomed the event and the presence of the Doherty family and also thanked local organisations and Council for making a local launch possible. This was echoed by Jason Dunne of Foyle Pride.
Funding from the Scottish Government to assist major projects in Dundee is being welcome by senior councillors.
Awards will be used to support development of the Dundee Museum of Transport at the former Maryfield tram depot and assist efforts to improve the Lochee area of the city.
£1 million is coming from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for the museum of transport. (link to museum news release on website)
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government’s Vacant & Derelict Land Investment Programme is awarding £695,000 towards the ongoing Lochee Placemaking Project.
This will support work to improve and unlock a number of vacant sites along Lochee High Street.
Scottish Government investment will allow the addition of a major new water and drainage system in the High Street to allow development of social housing.
Councillor Steven Rome, Dundee City Council convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure, said: “I am delighted that the Dundee Museum of Transport is receiving another major award to help in the journey to redevelop the former tram depot into a new attraction..
“There is real excitement building around the project and I would like to congratulate all connected with the museum for this significant step forward.”
Depute convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cllr Siobhan Tolland, added: “I welcome funding from the Scottish Government which will help us to invest in the future of Lochee.
“This will assist in transforming currently derelict sites making them viable for the development of much needed social housing in the area.”
“The Lochee Placemaking project, which will be taken forward with Scottish Water, will provide drainage solutions at locations on Lochee High Street, Bank Street and the former Bright Street church.
“It will allow us to take forward positive projects for the area and its people.”
The Lochee Placemaking Project is already underway with refurbishment of two shop units, while preparation work is taking place for a major new mural at Bank Street.
A new landscaped area will be provided at the corner of Bank Street and High Street and a heritage trail will be established.
Construction works are expected to start in autumn and will continue into early next year.
Support has come from the Lochee Residents and Tenants association and Love Lochee who have raised funds for the heritage trail and mural and assisted the council in efforts to attract funding.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Regulator to investigate Seven Dials Playhouse over financial concerns
The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Seven Dials Playhouse due to ongoing concerns over its long-term financial viability.
Seven Dials Playhouse’s purpose is to advance education and the arts for public benefit through research, discussions, seminars and vocational training. It also has a purpose to provide facilities for the arts (especially theatre), and to produce educational plays.
The Commission has been engaging with the charity since 2024 regarding its decision to sell its Central London property, wider concerns around its finances, and how the charity is being managed.
The Commission continued its engagement to further assess financial concerns as part of a regulatory compliance case. As part of this engagement, the charity has provided several revised drafts of a business plan to the Commission. However, this has failed to reassure the regulator of the charity’s long-term financial viability and has therefore raised concerns about significant risks to the charity’s funds.
The regulator has now launched a statutory inquiry, enabling it to use its full suite of regulatory powers to investigate Seven Dials Playhouse.
The Inquiry will examine if the trustees have complied with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance and management of the charity, and in particular:
the charity’s financial management, including the trustees’ plans for its future financial sustainability
whether the charity is being managed in accordance with its governing document and is operating in furtherance of its objects
whether there has been misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees
The scope of the inquiry may be extended if additional regulatory issues emerge during the Commission’s investigation.
Ends
Notes to editors:
The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more.
On 6 May 2025, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011(‘the Act’) as a result of its regulatory concerns that there is or has been misconduct and/ or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation.
An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns.
Despite numerous warnings to bushwalkers of being prepared, police were again required to rescue two walkers from the west coast wilderness today. Police search and rescue personnel including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were deployed to rescue a party of two who had become lost in the Savage River Regional Reserve. The party had entered the area with insufficient equipment and limited knowledge of the area. After two days in the area, they attempted to call triple zero for assistance however were unable to get phone coverage in the remote area. They eventually were able to hike to high ground and call for assistance. “Police cannot reiterate enough that If hiking in a remote area ensure you not only have a mobile phone with adequate battery and backup battery but also carry navigation devices that work even when out of cellular coverage and a personal locator beacon,” Inspector Steve Jones said. “Never solely rely on a mobile phone. Always carry enough adequate equipment and supplies for the intended journey and additional emergency supplies to survive when a trip does not go as intended.”
Works to make the Drummond Arms safe in accordance with Dangerous Building Notice (DBN) will commence week beginning 26 May. The Contractor will be setting up their site compound with removal works commencing on 2 June 2025.
The first stage will be to remove the partially collapsed outbuilding to the rear. The contractor will then commence the second stage of DBN works, which is to remove unsafe parts of the roof and chimney stack of the former bank building.
All due diligence in relation to the work has been carried out there will be no road or footpath closures whilst the DBN works are underway.
We are having to clear some vegetation/scrub which is lying against the boundary to the west for the wall to be surveyed.
This work will also begin on Monday 26 May 2025 and will be carried out by Perth and Kinross Council. All scrub/vegetation will be removed from the site upon completion.
To mark National Volunteer Week, approximately 100 City of Greater Bendigo volunteers were acknowledged at a celebratory morning tea held today at Ulumbarra Theatre.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the event was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the vital contributions of volunteers and to celebrate the spirit of National Volunteer Week.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate and dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom have been with us for years,” Cr Metcalf said.
“This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Communities’, truly reflects the power of volunteering to bring people together. Volunteering fosters meaningful relationships, enriches lives, and builds a sense of connection and belonging.
“Through these connections, our volunteers play a key role in creating inclusive and thriving communities.”
The City currently has around 445 volunteers supporting a wide range of services and activities that benefit the community.
“Whether it is welcoming visitors at our Visitor Centres, ushering guests at our theatres, sharing knowledge at the Gallery or Town Hall, helping run events for all ages, caring for the environment, or contributing through advisory groups—our volunteers’ time, energy, and enthusiasm are deeply appreciated,” Cr Metcalf said.
“We simply couldn’t achieve all that we do without them. Their passion, commitment, and generosity are invaluable, and we’re always looking for more people to join our volunteer team.
“Volunteering not only strengthens our community—it’s also proven to boost mental wellbeing. It’s a chance to connect with others, be part of a team, learn new skills, and build confidence.
“The City offers a well-established volunteering program with excellent training and support. If you’re considering volunteering, I encourage you to visit our website and explore the many opportunities available. I encourage you to give it a go.”
Volunteers support the City across a variety of services, including:
Bendigo Animal Relief Centre
Bendigo Art Gallery
Bendigo Venues & Events
Bendigo Visitor Centre
Heathcote Visitor Centre
Bendigo Writers Festival
Bendigo Easter Festival
Community Grants Advisory Panel
Disability Inclusion Reference Committee
Heritage Advisory Committee
Intercultural Ambassador Program
Yo Bendigo
Positive Ageing Advisory Committee
Youth Council
The City also partners with numerous volunteer groups to deliver events and deeply values this important collaboration in the community.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Multi-million defence investment creates 700 jobs days after UK-EU security pact
Hundreds of high-skilled jobs created at defence firm MBDA’s expanded Bolton site.
Hundreds of high-skilled jobs created at defence firm MBDA’s expanded Bolton site, working on cutting-edge missile system manufacturing technology
Announcement comes just days after the Government signs new Security and Defence Partnership that will boost defence procurement opportunities for UK.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit site and hail investment as latest vote of confidence in Government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.
Britain’s defence industry received yet another boost this week as 700 high-skilled jobs are set to be created following a £200 million investment from European defence company MBDA at its site in Bolton.
The announcement follows new Security and Defence Partnership signed at this week’s EU-UK Summit which will open the door to the EU’s new weapons scheme, leading to significant opportunities for the UK’s world-leading defence industries, driving growth and supporting 430,000 British jobs and livelihoods.
This is the latest win for the UK’s leading defence and advanced manufacturing sectors and is further proof the Government’s Plan for Change is working.
It also represents a major vote of confidence in the upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, which will drive investment in the UK’s high-growth sectors by giving businesses the certainty they need to commit to the UK.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit MBDA’s Bolton site today (22 May) to formally announce the investment, which forms part of a wider £500 million commitment from the company to expand its UK manufacturing and technologies.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
This is great news for Bolton and another win for our world-class defence sector, which will create hundreds of good, well-paid jobs and ensure the UK continues to lead the way on the cutting-edge technologies of the future.
Our new Security and Defence Partnership will unlock access to the EU’s proposed new £150 billion defence fund for UK firms. Coupled with the launch of our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, communities across the country will see how our Plan for Change is working – delivering growth at home and strength abroad.
The investment from MBDA, a leading missile systems manufacturer, will more than double its Bolton footprint by 2028 and grow its apprenticeship and STEM outreach programme, which already includes over 400 early-career professionals UK-wide.
It also supports MBDA’s goal to deliver £10 billion of UK exports by 2032, cementing the UK’s position as a leader in the manufacturing and export of complex weapons systems, and comes after the Government announced a £6.5 billion complex weapons partnership with MBDA in July 2024.
MBDA UK Managing Director Chris Allam said:
We are proud and excited to be building a world class engineering and manufacturing campus in the north-west of England, the centre of complex weapons manufacturing for the UK, and our associated recruitment and training will extend our already great workforce.
MBDA is privileged to have a 10-year Complex Weapons portfolio agreement with the UK Government. This gives us the confidence to invest and better support the UK and its allies. It also helps our supply chain and over 700 SMEs who work with MBDA in the UK. When we expand, they expand with us.
Megan, a manufacturing apprentice at MBDA’s Bolton site, said:
It’s great that our site is expanding and there will be more early-careers opportunities for young people. Becoming an apprentice was an obvious choice for me. Having the chance to learn as part of my full-time job and achieve a recognised qualification and career made it a very easy decision.
Apprenticeships can be unique experience for each person. They provide the chance to excel in industries people are passionate about, and the experiences they get will shape their future. Making the most out of my apprenticeship has led to reward and recognition for my hard work, and I always encourage others to study STEM subjects and do the same.
UK Export Finance CEO Tim Reid said:
Pioneering companies like MBDA UK investing in their people and technologies for the long-term underscore why we are a world leader in defence.
Thanks to our multi-billion-pound direct lending uplift, we can support even more defence firms to expand their production lines and take on more international orders from allies – leading to greater economic growth, stronger supply chains and local jobs back here at home.
The Government is backing the defence sector to deliver skilled jobs and growth across the country as part of its Plan for Change and is providing significant financial support to UK defence companies through UK Export Finance (UKEF).
In March this year, the Chancellor announced a £2 billion increase in UKEF’s Direct Lending capacity for defence exports, taking its overall lending capability to £10 billion.
The UK is one of the largest exporters of defence equipment in the world, and in 2023 the UK won defence contracts worth £14.5 billion.
The Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, the largest-ever construction project to be led by the City of Greater Bendigo, will proceed.
A flythrough video released today highlights stage one of the redevelopment and how it will transform the Gallery and deliver on the original scope of the project, which includes a second floor blockbuster exhibition space, an innovative learning centre, theatrette and Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural materials.
The City is seeking to deliver stage one for $45M and will call for expressions of interest in June for a head contractor for the project.
The Gallery is expected to remain open until November this year while the procurement process takes place. Construction is expected to start in early 2026 and take approximately two years to complete, with the aim of re-opening in early 2028.
To complete the project in its entirety, the City and Gallery will continue to seek $15M from the Federal Government to deliver stage two. An application for $15M still sits with the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, as the process was not completed before the Federal election.
Stage two includes a dedicated gallery for Australian art (an additional 400m² of gallery space that was not part of the original project scope) and an elevated hospitality offering, featuring an improved café/restaurant incorporated into a redesigned sculpture annex and second floor function facility and terrace.
To deliver stages one and two during the planned construction period, Federal funding would need to be confirmed by the end of this year. Although any additional funding secured would always be accommodated.
The total project cost remains $54M. All funds raised to date have been put towards construction, however if Federal funding is secured it would mean some of the already committed funds can be reallocated to future programming for the new gallery spaces.
City Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney said the Gallery redevelopment was an investment in the cultural and economic future of the region.
“It is exciting to make this announcement today and confirm this city-defining project is going ahead. Over the past several months we have worked to refine the project scope and I am so pleased we can move forward with the budget available and deliver a fantastic outcome, with the option of a second stage should additional funding be secured,” Mr Cooney said.
“Today’s announcement intends to give certainty to our community, particularly the many businesses that benefit from the tourism generated by the Gallery. The project will cement the Gallery’s reputation as a leading cultural institution in Australia and will trigger increased visitation to our region.
“This news is also expected to encourage greater private sector investment in our city centre. Business owners can now be confident about the project’s future, factoring this into their current operations or potentially plan for other complementary business ventures.”
Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said a number of small changes to the design had achieved important savings for the project.
“This project will meet key objectives and realise our original vision to deliver ‘The People’s Gallery’ – a place that empowers the Bendigo and broader Victorian community through accessibility, education, shared economic benefit and celebrating Traditional Owners. The redevelopment will establish the Gallery as an international, world-class cultural facility for future generations,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“Savings were achieved by rearranging some of the features of the redevelopment, reducing back of house areas and locating offsite storage. Other minor structural changes also helped save on material and engineering costs.
“The project was granted the necessary planning permits from the City and Heritage Victoria in 2024 to proceed, and has been reviewed favourably by the Office of the Victorian Architect.”
As part of the redevelopment, the Gallery will become a trusted Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural material and the façade of the building will feature a design by a Dja Dja Wurrung artist.
Dja Dja Wurrung Group Chief Executive Officer Rodney Carter said he was excited by the opportunities presented by the redevelopment.
“The Gallery’s commitment to celebrating and preserving Dja Dja Wurrung culture and art is a significant benefit that supports outcomes across the Closing the Gap framework. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Gallery through a dedicated Place of Keeping, and fully support additional funding for the redevelopment to be fully realised,” Mr Carter said.
It is widely recognised the Gallery is an important economic driver for Greater Bendigo and both the City and Gallery continue to plan for event attraction that will support tourism and businesses during the closure.
“In the coming months, the City and Gallery look forward to announcing a family-friendly exhibition that will be staged in partnership with the Discovery Science and Technology Centre from March to November next year, as well as sharing highlights of the 2026 major events and activation calendar,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“Gallery staff are also planning now for how they will continue to deliver a public program that allows residents, visitors and students to engage with the arts in other locations while the Gallery is closed.
“For now, it is business as usual and residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the Frida Kahlo – In her own image exhibition before it closes on Sunday July 13.”
The construction budget is made up of $21M from the Victorian Government, $9M from the City of Greater Bendigo, $4M from the Gallery Board and $9.35M from philanthropic donations, and is enough for the project to proceed.
A dedicated philanthropic fundraising campaign has ensured the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment can proceed.
Led by the Sidney Myer Fund and The Ian Potter Foundation, contributing $4M and $3M respectively, together with a number of private donors, the philanthropic campaign has achieved a total of $9.35M to date. The largest private donation of $1.5M has come from arts philanthropist, Dr Mark Nelson, who has connections to the Bendigo region.
The campaign, driven by the Gallery and a philanthropic fundraising committee chaired by Andrew Myer AM, has generated the largest-ever private investment in the development of civic infrastructure owned and operated by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said this incredible financial support reflected the value of the Gallery to Greater Bendigo and to the state of Victoria.
“Two of Australia’s most respected philanthropic foundations connected to the arts have embraced the opportunity to support our redevelopment, recognising the vital connection of culture and creativity to our community and the local economy,” Cr Metcalf said.
“In particular, we are delighted to have the support of the Sidney Myer Fund, a name that has had a long connection to Bendigo and also to the Gallery, including the Sidney Myer Work on Paper Gallery added in 2014.
“We sincerely thank Andrew Myer for chairing the fundraising committee and for his incredible enthusiasm for this project and the legacy it will leave.
“Philanthropy is an incredible, living gift for those in the fortunate position to contribute in this way, and the City and Gallery are truly grateful to the foundations and individuals who have kindly chosen to contribute to this next chapter in the history of our esteemed Gallery.”
Sidney Myer Fund Chairman Andrew Myer AM said his grandfather, Sidney Myer, opened the first Myer store in Bendigo 125 years ago and the city had been part of his family’s DNA ever since.
“My grandfather believed strongly that art, culture and creativity were vital to a good life, and that everyone in the community deserved to have access. Bendigo Art Gallery puts that belief into action and the Sidney Myer Fund is delighted to be able to support this major redevelopment that will serve the people of Bendigo for decades to come,” Mr Myer said.
The Ian Potter Foundation CEO Paul Conroy said the Foundation was delighted to support a regional gallery with such a strong reputation.
“The redevelopment plans are impressive and focus on the Gallery’s ability to grow visitation and participation, including education programs. Investing in this project strengthens this community asset that will provide further benefits for the wider Bendigo community through access to the arts, increased tourism and subsequent economic growth,” Mr Conroy said.
Bendigo Art Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said this level of philanthropic support was unprecedented for Bendigo Art Gallery.
“It is an acknowledgement of the transformative impact arts and culture can have on a regional community and we truly appreciate our donors’ investment in the Gallery and Greater Bendigo,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“During the construction phase, residents and patrons of the Gallery will have the opportunity to be part of this exciting project and make a philanthropic contribution of their own, with further details to be shared on how these funds will be used.
“At the heart of this project has been a vision to ensure the redevelopment delivers ‘The People’s Gallery’ – a space that is dynamic, inviting, accessible and inspiring for all who visit.
“We know the Gallery is treasured by our community and there will be many people, no matter the size of their donation, who will want to contribute to this transformative project for the Gallery and Greater Bendigo.”
The construction budget is made up of $21M from the Victorian Government, $9M from the City of Greater Bendigo, $4M from the Gallery Board and $9.35M from philanthropic donations, and is enough for the project to proceed.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mitchell Sarkies, Senior Lecturer, Horizon Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Floodwaters have engulfed large parts of New South Wales, with at least one person dead and almost 50,000 evacuated after days of heavy rainfall in a “one-in-500-year” flood event. The scale of the disaster is still unfolding and affected communities will be recovering for some time to come.
One question worth asking is: how ready are our hospitals to cope when disaster strikes?
A growing body of research, including our own, has looked at how hospitals might contend with disasters like floods, bushfires, heatwaves, cyclones or even mass injury events such as a stadium collapse. The answer? There’s room for improvement.
Australia is already prone to natural disasters, which are expected to become more frequent and severe as the climate changes.
Research around the world shows hospital administrators can better plan for how they’d cope if a disaster or terrorist attack wiped out their hospital’s capacity to function normally.
When flood strikes, large parts of the hospital stop working
In March 2022, rapidly rising floodwaters on Australia’s east coast posed an imminent threat to Ballina Hospital, on the NSW far north coast.
With a few hours’ notice, staff safely evacuated the whole hospital to a nearby high school. This included 55 patients, essential equipment, supplies and medications.
Our study documented this remarkable achievement via seven interviews with doctors and nurses integral to the evacuation.
Several key themes emerged:
communication was disrupted: there was no mobile phone reception. Field hospital staff requested a satellite phone, but it was sent without any battery charge or a charging device
staff shortages: flooded roads prevented doctors and nurses from reaching the hospital. However, they could get to the high school field hospital, which still had road access
managing volunteers was tricky: community support was praised. However, there were so many volunteers, security was called to ensure volunteers didn’t get into spaces that would compromise the patient confidentiality, privacy and safety
patient tracking was a challenge: it was hard to keep track of vulnerable evacuated patients with cognitive decline or behavioural impairment
transport had to be improvised: cars, buses and taxis were used to transport equipment, medication and supplies
triage for patient transfers and discharging was crucial: health professionals prioritised less critical patients first, as they often make up the majority. By swiftly addressing their needs, staff could then concentrate on the smaller group of patients requiring intensive care.
Some workers, dealing with their own personal losses during the evacuation, had to be sent home. One staff member told us:
There were a couple of nursing staff who also lived within the flood risk area, and they had children at home, so we needed to let them go home.
Another said:
We did end up with almost too many people wanting to help, which is lovely, but it becomes a problem because we don’t need this many people.
A third staff member said:
Everybody was accounted for. We had a list of patients at one end and then when they got there, they put a new list of who was there and who was coming; that was all written on a big whiteboard.
Disaster simulation: when a semi-trailer crash causes a stadium collapse
Natural disasters aren’t the only kind of catastrophe for which hospitals must prepare.
Our research has also looked at how hospitals might contend with a human-made disaster such as a mass casualty or injury event.
More than 200 hospital staff participated in the three‐hour long exercise, which simulated a semi‐trailer crashing into a stadium grandstand. Some 120 “patients” were taken to the hospital with crush, burn, smoke inhalation and other injuries.
In the simulation, clinicians had to adapt quickly. New patients were continuously coming via the ambulance ramp and private cars.
Participants had to make rapid collective decisions on treatment and transfers based on patient conditions and severity.
During the exercise, additional random disruptive scenarios were introduced to test the clinicians’ ongoing responses. This included the city mayor repeatedly calling the Hospital Emergency Operations Centre for updates.
Some key challenges included:
some of the hypothetical patients died from a lack of critical care equipment
an overwhelming number of minor injuries had to be managed
clinicians were uncertain about how many casualties were en route to the hospital and how many beds to make available for them
a shortage of orderlies to accompany transfers from the emergency department to surgical theatres or for scans
difficulties in keeping track of patients and bed allocations.
We also observed hospital staff adapting to the situation. This included:
paediatricians treating adult patients with minor injuries
staff fast‐tracking triage
staff manually ventilating patients using a specialised resuscitation balloon when mechanical ventilation equipment was unavailable
running scans and imaging in batches instead of individually, due to the limited number of orderlies.
A growing body of research
Research shows that despite many hospitals having excellent, longstanding hospital disaster management plans, things can still go wrong. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, nearly half of evacuated stroke and renal failure patients died in vehicles or on arrival to another hospital.
Overall, our research shows many Australian hospitals have excellent disaster preparedness planning. However, some areas require improvement well before disaster strikes. Adapting on-the-fly as your hospital is inundated with floodwater or struck by another disaster means things have been left too late.
Faran Naru is the recipient of a Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (20203593). He works for the Australian government’s National Emergency Management Agency. This article reflects his work as a researcher, not the views of his employer.
Janet Long, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Kate Churruca, and Mitchell Sarkies do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Timothy Gaston said:
“Earlier this week I exposed the fact that the Department of Finance’s so-called “media monitoring unit” — a unit that operates in the shadows and which the public didn’t know about, is diverting civil servants away from actual governance to the task of transcribing opposition voices on radio shows. That operation already stinks of political paranoia and waste.
“But now, we learn that the Assembly Commission is putting out a tender — at a cost to the taxpayer of £35,000 — for yet another media monitoring contract, on top of the existing Executive-wide service provided by the Department of Finance.
“ Not one, but two layers of taxpayer-funded media monitoring operating from Stormont. This latest contract, funded by the public through the Assembly Commission, would have to have been agreed by the parties which sit on the commission – Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance, the UUP and the SDLP. Not only has the Commission not explained why it needs this service but without the Belfast Telegraph uncovering the tender we wouldn’t even know about it.
Have none of the establishment parties any regard for the public purse?
We are facing crises in our health service, our education system is under pressure, and public services are being stretched to breaking point. But the Assembly Commission — charged with the stewardship of Stormont — can find £35,000 of public money to transcribe criticism of the Assembly on the media. It’s outrageous.
“If £35,000 can be casually spent duplicating media monitoring then the public is entitled to ask whether this place is truly serving them, or simply serving itself.
“This is not about good governance. It is about control. It is about shielding those in power from scrutiny by keeping tabs on those who dare to question them. The use of public funds for political surveillance under the guise of “monitoring” is not merely wasteful — it is profoundly dangerous.
“The TUV will not be cowed. We will continue to speak out, even if every word is being logged, filed, and whispered about in backrooms. But let us be absolutely clear: this is an abuse of public money, a duplication of resources, and a betrayal of the public trust.
“It is time for the Assembly Commission to explain itself — or pull the tender.”
Around 4 million Australians experience back problems and people are increasingly calling ambulances and presenting to emergency departments to manage back pain.
Yet most of these cases of back pain don’t require emergency care. Back pain is a symptom rather than a disease. When symptoms last more than 12 weeks it is referred to as chronic back pain. The most common form of back pain is non-specific back pain – this term is given when no tissue or structure can be identified as the cause.
Once people with non-serious back pain contact emergency health services, they are more likely to receive care that isn’t recommended and is considered low-value and, sometimes, harmful.
This may include unnecessary laboratory investigations, such as blood tests, and imaging, such as x-rays, CT scans or MRIs. One-third of imaging requests for back pain in emergency departments aren’t clinically warranted and are judged as inappropriate.
However, in some instances it is recommended that people with back pain contact an ambulance or present to the emergency department. This includes when back pain is a result of trauma, when people live alone without access to carers, when people have other complex presentations, and when people show signs of potentially serious conditions.
Unnecessary hospital admissions are costly to the health system and can cause patients harm. Almost one in four (24%) of those admitted to hospital for back pain acquire infections or experience falls.
Medications prescribed in hospital can also have negative consequences for the patient. Nearly one in ten patients with back pain are still taking opioids after discharge, with risk of dependency and overdose. One in three patients continue to use opioids one month after their emergency department visit.
The influx of back pain presentations to emergency health services also has ramifications for emergency department overcrowding and ambulance ramping. This means other ambulance patients cannot enter the emergency department and results in longer waiting times.
Why is this happening?
In primary health care, the management of back pain is well established in clinical practice guidelines. But emergency health services don’t have guidelines specific to low back pain. This is likely due to the lack of evidence from these settings (though the evidence-base has increased over the past five years).
The lack of specific guidance means there is a high likelihood of people both missing out on the right care and receiving the wrong care.
A key challenge for emergency clinicians is discriminating between patients with back pain that require emergency care from those who do not.
One Australian study found 38% of patients in the emergency department who were initially diagnosed with non-serious back pain were later found to have a specific pathology, such as an infection, during hospital admission. In cases such as these, further diagnostic investigation and emergency care is necessary.
But nearly half of ambulance and emergency department patients without serious pathology receive unnecessary care. Our recent study found 81% of people who presented to ambulance service with non-traumatic back pain were transferred to the emergency department.
If you call an ambulance or go to an emergency department for non-specific back pain, you’re more likely to receive unnecessary care. Shutterstock
Once in the emergency department, 46% of ambulance patients received opioids, 59% received imaging and 50% were admitted. However, it’s unclear what proportion actually required emergency department care.
Clinicians are required to make quick decisions about patient care. For paramedics, limited scope of medications and access to community health services, particularly outside of business hours, ultimately leaves them with no other option but to transport the patient to hospital.
Emergency department clinicians have to manage people with complex presentations and multiple conditions and address patient expectations about opioids and imaging. This can influence their decisions about care.
How can emergency back pain care be improved?
A key area for improvement is reducing the use of opioids. An New South Wales trial reduced opioid use for back pain in emergency departments by 43% by introducing a new model of care. The model involved clinician education, implementation of non-opioid provisions such as heat packs, and timely referrals to outpatient services such as specialist back clinics.
This approach will now be scaled up to include 44 emergency departments across NSW. If successful, it could be rolled out across the country.
Virtual hospitals have also been implemented to reduce in-person presentations to emergency departments for back pain, which often means people with back pain can receive care while remaining in their home. However, the effectiveness and safety of this new service has not yet been established, though research is underway.
The Australian government has promised to open more Urgent Care Clinics, where people with urgent but not life-threatening complaints can be managed by a doctor, nurse, or in some cases, a physiotherapist. The service allows people with back pain to still receive in-person care while diverting them away from the emergency department. But while they seem like a good idea, we have little or no evidence on their value.
To reduce the burden that back pain places on emergency health services, changes need to be made across all health system-levels. But these changes must be backed by reliable research evidence.
Better information for patients and clinicians
The general public needs to be aware when and where to seek appropriate care for back pain. This can be achieved through successful health promotion initiatives.
For clinicians, specific guidelines for back pain need to be developed and implemented into ambulance and hospital emergency departments to improve decision-making and reduce unnecessary care escalation. Policymakers, health service managers and stakeholders need to revise current policy to align with the most recent evidence.
Additionally, easy-to-access referral pathways need to be developed between emergency health and community health services to keep people with non-serious back pain out of hospital, to reduce their risk of receiving unnecessary and costly care.
Simon Vella receives grant funding from HCF Research Foundation, Health Service Research Grant Scheme and the Australian Chiropractors Education Research Foundation. Simon is a board member of Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation.
Christopher Maher has a research fellowship from National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, New South Wales Health, Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation, HCF Research Foundation, ArthritisAustralia, Australian Rheumatology Association, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Sao Paulo Research Foundation.
Gustavo Machado has an investigator grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council. He also holds research grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, and HCF Research Foundation.
At least one person is confirmed dead, three people are missing and tens of thousands are isolated after record-breaking floods continue to wreak havoc on the New South Wales coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that heavy to locally intense rain would continue on the NSW Mid North Coast on Thursday, and that heavy rain would develop around the southern Hunter region, the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands on Thursday night.
The below maps show the extent of current and predicted NSW floods. Red indicates immediate danger, purple is current flooding, and yellow is predicted flooding. The striped red area shows where residents should be prepared for storms.
A trough is sitting over the Mid North Coast, bringing rain and unstable conditions. Winds from the east are also bringing moisture to the coast. And since Sunday, all this has been compounded by a “cut-off low” in the upper atmosphere. The combination of the trough, and low pressure at higher levels, can cause air to converge and rise. As air rises it cools, moisture condenses and rain occurs.
The NSW State Emergency Service advises that people:
don’t drive, ride or walk through floodwater
keep clear of creeks and storm drains
seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescuing
be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks
stay vigilant and monitor conditions
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
Digital Storytelling Team does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher and Sustainable Future Lead, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University
Australia’s plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is in trouble. A new report by the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) shows we are likely to miss this ambitious target by a huge margin.
At the current pace, the council forecasts we will fall about 262,000 homes short of the goal. In other words, for every five homes we need, we’re only on track to build about four.
No state or territory is building enough to meet its share. This is more than just a number; it means the housing affordability crisis will continue unless we act fast.
The report lays out five areas of priority for reform. But implementing its recommendations will require bolder action than we’re currently seeing.
Think about that: half of your income gets spent on maintaining a roof over your head. That’s well above one common measure of “housing stress” for lower-income households: spending more than 30% of gross income on housing.
Anyone planning to purchase their first home faces an average savings period that extends beyond ten years just for their deposit.
For renters, the report found it now takes 33% of median household income to cover the cost of a new lease.
It doesn’t help that rental vacancy rates are near record lows, around 1.8% nationwide. This means renters are competing fiercely for very few available homes. This drives rents even higher.
Higher housing costs can force renters to cut back on other essentials – such as heating. nikkimeel/Shutterstock
Why is housing so unaffordable?
Australians can see the daily reality this report describes. And it can have disproportionate negative impacts on vulnerable groups in society.
For example, the rate of homelessness among First Nations people has been about 8.8 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians.
Supply remains a key factor underpinning Australia’s housing crisis. We simply aren’t building enough homes. Australia completed approximately 177,000 new dwellings in 2024 but that fell short of demand for about 223,000 new homes.
And the report predicts we will remain behind our targets for upcoming years. Under current policy settings, a forecast total of 938,000 new homes will be built between mid-2024 and mid-2029, well short of the Housing Accord’s 1.2 million home target.
The report identifies five essential action areas needed to restore Australia’s housing system to proper functioning.
1. Lift social and affordable housing to 6% of all homes
In 2021, only about 4% of dwellings were for social or affordable housing. Governments and not-for-profits must add many more low-rent homes so people on modest incomes aren’t trapped on long waitlists.
Quicker approvals, firm deadlines and updated zoning would let builders put taller or denser housing near transport, jobs and schools. Governments also need to bundle and service big sites so work can start without years of red tape.
4. Support for renters
The report calls on governments to support better outcomes for renters, and to fully implement National Cabinet’s “Better Deal for Renters” agreement.
This includes through fair notice requirements, no-fault eviction limits and longer leases.
It also calls for more support for institutional investment. Tax settings that attract super funds and insurers into large build-to-rent projects would add professionally managed apartments and steady rents.
Paying a small yearly land charge instead of a huge upfront stamp duty lets people move or downsize with less of a financial hit, freeing under-used homes and smoothing the market.
Change won’t be easy
The council’s proposed solutions seem excellent when studied theoretically, but their practical application will prove challenging.
One big challenge is the construction workforce. The current workforce lacks enough skilled tradespeople to build homes at the necessary speed. This can result in major delays – even when funding exists.
Another barrier is the planning system itself. Changing planning and zoning regulations faces significant political challenges.
Higher-density developments face community resistance because of the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) problem while councils tend to move slowly in updating their regulations.
However, the report notes signs of progress in some states. The New South Wales government has accelerated approval processes and also emphasises “transit-oriented development” – putting new homes near planned and existing transport infrastructure.
Similarly, moving to land tax is easier said than done: State governments generate revenue from stamp duty and a shift to an alternative system would require many years to implement. The absence of federal backing and state incentive payments risks delaying this reform.
What the new government should do
NHSAC’s report doesn’t just diagnose the problem, it offers a roadmap to a healthier housing system.
But those recommendations require bold action. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government has a crucial opportunity to turn words into deeds.
Australia’s housing woes didn’t appear overnight, they are the result of decades of under-supply and policy missteps. Turning things around won’t be instant – but it is achievable with sustained effort.
Ehsan Noroozinejad has received funding from both national and international organisations to support research addressing housing and climate crises. His most recent funding on integrated housing and climate policy comes from the James Martin Institute for Public Policy (soon to be the Australian Public Policy Institute).
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
World news story
UK and South Korea sign first of its kind agreement to support global infrastructure development and Ukraine’s reconstruction
The UK has signed a MoU with South Korea to jointly support Ukraine’s reconstruction and global infrastructure, boosting trade and sustainable development.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The MoU enhances cooperation between the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Korean Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) to work on Ukrainian reconstruction projects, as well as global infrastructure development in other markets.
This first of its kind agreement signals an exciting opportunity for British and South Korean businesses to make a difference in Ukraine, as well as demonstrate their expertise to the global market, boosting both countries’ economies while being a force for good.
This agreement was signed in the Old Admiralty Building in London on Thursday 22nd May 2025, between the UK Business and Trade Minister, Gareth Thomas MP, and the KIND CEO, Mr. Bok Hwan Kim. It is KIND’s inaugural MoU with DBT and the UK Government.
The MoU will promote new UK-South Korean business partnerships across third markets in the fields of sustainable transport, healthcare infrastructure, smart cities and urban development, clean energy, water and waste management, and sustainable infrastructure and related technologies. In Ukraine, this agreement will kickstart urgent repairs to critical national infrastructure, including housing, hospitals and power generators.
The partnership will advance the UK’s strong diplomatic and trade ties with the Republic of Korea as set out in the 2023 Downing Street Accord. It is also underpinned by £16.3 billion in bilateral trade and supported through the existing UK-ROK Free Trade Agreement, which the Government has committed to upgrading.
The agreement also builds on the UK’s landmark 100-Year Partnership with Ukraine, whereby reconstruction programmes form a key part of the £5bn the UK Government has provided to Ukraine in non-military support.
Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said:
This agreement is the first of its kind and strengthens our relationship with the Republic of Korea.
As part of our Plan for Change it will secure vital opportunities for UK businesses to work with KIND and South Korean companies in overseas infrastructure and deepen our commitment to supporting Ukrainian reconstruction efforts.
KIND CEO, Bok Hwan KIM, said:
This Memorandum of Understanding with the UK government marks a historic moment that elevates infrastructure cooperation between Korea and the United Kingdom to a new level. KIND is delighted to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction and sustainable infrastructure development worldwide through this partnership. By combining our countries’ expertise and technological capabilities, we can make a tangible impact across various sectors, from critical infrastructure repairs to clean energy and smart cities. This collaboration goes beyond business opportunities—it represents our joint response to global challenges, and we are honoured to embark on this important journey alongside British companies.
Background
KIND was established in June 2018 by the Government of the Republic of Korea to support Korean companies for project planning, feasibility studies, project information and project bankability.
The UK works with partner countries to jointly deliver high-quality infrastructure projects in third markets through the Third Country Cooperation (TCC) model.
The TCC partnership builds on the complementary strengths of both countries: South Korea brings globally recognised contracting expertise and cost-effective project delivery; the UK offers advisory services, engineering, project finance (including through UK Export Finance), and high-tech solutions.
Ukraine is a priority TCC market for both sides, although the agreement will also allow cooperation with other third countries.
Early reconstruction is vital to Ukraine’s resilience and ultimate victory, and the UK government is committed to mobilising British businesses to support this effort – helping to rebuild critical infrastructure, drive investment, and ensure Ukraine emerges stronger in the face of Russian aggression.
According to the World Bank’s Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), as of 31 December 2024, the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $524 billion (€506 billion) over the next decade, which is approximately 2.8 times the estimated nominal GDP of Ukraine for 2024.
The RDNA4 finds that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached $176 billion (€170 billion), up from $152 billion (€138 billion) in the RDNA3 of February 2024, with housing, transport, energy, commerce and industry, and education as the most affected sectors.
We have developed strong relationships with Ukrainian ministers, local mayors, and officials to identify immediate reconstruction needs, as prioritised by the Government of Ukraine. By promoting the expertise and capabilities of UK businesses, we can ensure UK companies are well-positioned to maximise their contribution to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 22, 2025.
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‘Perfect bodies and perfect lives’: how selfie-editing tools are distorting how young people see themselves Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Coffey, Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Newcastle Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock Like many of her peers, Abigail (21) takes a lot of selfies, tweaks them with purpose-made apps, and posts them on social media. But, she says, the selfie-editing apps do more than they were designed for:
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Australia’s Wong condemns ‘abhorrent, outrageous’ Israeli comments over blocked aid Asia Pacific Report Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has released a statement saying “the Israeli government cannot allow the suffering to continue” after the UN’s aid chief said thousands of babies were at risk of dying if they did not receive food immediately. “Australia joins international partners in calling on Israel to allow a full
The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield Al Jazeera How global power struggles are impacting in local communities, culture and sovereignty in Kanaky, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Samoa. In episode one, The Battlefield, tensions between the United States and China over the Pacific escalate, affecting the lives of Pacific Islanders. Key figures like former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and tour
Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Hoeksema, Professor of Ecology, University of Mississippi Birds are drawn to the mirror effect of windows. That can turn deadly when they think they see trees. CCahill/iStock/Getty Images Plus When wood thrushes arrive in northern Mississippi on their spring migration and begin to serenade my neighborhood
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View from The Hill: Coalition split puts Victorian and NSW Nationals Senate seats at high risk Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Victorian and NSW Nationals senators due to face the voters at the 2028 election will struggle to hold their seats if the former partners do not re-form the Coalition before then. Under usual Coalition arrangements, Bridget McKenzie, from Victoria,
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NSW is copping rain and flooding while parts of Australia are in drought. What’s going on? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne Emergency crews were scrambling to rescue residents trapped by floodwaters on Wednesday as heavy rain pummelled the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. In some areas, more
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