Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services were called to an address on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway at around 8:20pm to reports of a car crashing into a house.
Initial indications suggest that four people have serious to critical injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.
The road is currently closed, motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible, and follow diversions.
ENDS.
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Amnesty International
In response to today’s execution in Japan of a man convicted of the murder of nine people, Chiara Sangiorgio, Death Penalty Advisor at Amnesty International, said:
“The execution of Takahiro Shiraishi – the first in Japan in nearly three years – is the latest callous attack on the right to life in Japan and a major setback for the country’s human rights record.
“Last year’s acquittal of Hakamada Iwao, formerly the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner, laid bare the unfairness of Japan’s criminal justice system and use of the death penalty and was an ideal opportunity to change course.
“But instead of moving to reform and ensure full protection of human rights, the government has chosen to resume executions. This is a significant setback to efforts to end the use of the death penalty in Japan.
“As of today, 113 countries worldwide have completely abolished the death penalty in law, and more than 144 have abandoned it in law or practice, yet Japan continues to use this inhuman punishment.
“The secrecy that continues to surround the notification of executions make the use of this punishment in Japan additionally cruel. The Japanese authorities must immediately introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolishing the death penalty entirely —and commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment.”
Background
According to Japan’s Ministry of Justice, the execution of Takahiro Shiraishi was carried out on 27 June 2025.
Shiraishi was convicted in 2020 of the killing of nine people in 2017 by Tokyo District Court and sentenced to death.
This is the first execution under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who came to power in October 2024, and the first since July 2022.
Executions in Japan are shrouded in secrecy, with prisoners typically given only a few hours’ notice and given no warning at all before their death sentences are carried out. Their families are usually notified about the execution only after it has taken place.
Japan is one of a small group of countries that has carried out executions in recent years. Amnesty International recorded 1,518 executions in 15 countries in 2024 (excluding the thousands believed to have been carried out in China), an increase by 32% from the 1,153 recorded in 2023 largely driven by a spike in three countries in the Middle East – Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
On 26 September 2024, a long-awaited ruling was delivered by Shizuoka District Court to acquit Hakamada Iwao, described as the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual, or the method used by the state to carry out the execution.
Source: Government of Portugal (PM)
António Costa took stock of the government’s action in the last eight years, where he was Prime Minister, during a press conference held in the official residence.<.>
António Costa also referred to the financial system’s greater stability. “The state-owned bank, which many felt should be privatised and that it would be impossible to capitalise, is today not only solvent, but also generated due revenue for the Portuguese economy and citizens”, the Prime Minister claimed.
The wildland fires crisis
The second crisis noted by the Prime Minister was that of wildland fires, the answer to which included restructuring the civil protection system and a budget reform, which offered prevention a clear priority over fighting. As a result, “if we were to add up the entire area burnt down in the six years between 2018 and 2023 [the result] is 60.7% of the area burnt down in 2017 alone”, he stressed.
The Covid-19 pandemic
The country’s response to this third crisis was “worthy of note”, claimed the Prime Minister. “We were the first country in the world to reach a vaccination coverage of 85%. And the efforts to support the economy and households allowed us to be one of the countries that best came out of the pandemic”, he added.
The inflationist crisis
The fourth crisis arose from the effects of the pandemic, which was still felt, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. This conflict “worsened a situation that came from the pandemic, with the breakdown in supply chains, which led us to the greatest inflationist crisis of the last 30 years”.
The rises in interest rates by the European Central Bank to respond to rising inflation “in a society such as hours where mortgages have a high significance and the variable rates are clearly dominant”, together with rising food costs, shot up household costs.
“From the start of 2022 to October 2022, inflation soared. We hit 10.1% inflation in October 2022 and since then we have been on a slow, yet sure, trajectory to lower inflation, until we hit 2.1% last February and the forecast is we will remain on that lowering trajectory”, said the Prime Minister.
SEVEN STRUCTURAL SHITS
Higher growth
The Prime Minister stated that between 2000 and 2015 the country alternated between recession and stagnation. “Only in one year of these 15 did we grow above the European average: in 2009. From 2016 onwards, the reality has been quite different “, he said. “In these eight years, the country grew ten times more than what it had grown in the previous 15”, he signalled, noting the 2.1% growth, including in the two pandemic years, “where product naturally fell drastically”.
More jobs and more income
The creation of jobs and improvement in employment conditions contributed to this economic growth. “Today, we have a record number of people working in Portugal: 5 million people. That is an additional 629 thousand jobs than in 2015. And in a context where it was possible to not just to have minimum wages grow 62%, but also average wages having grown 27.7%”, the Prime Minister indicated.
In addition to the rise in the minimum wage, the Prime Minister also noted rising pensions and improvement in net income.
Always in line with the Social Security Basis Law, in these eight years, average pensions rose 23.3%, “with all the rises set down in the law, as well as extraordinary rises to counter inflation”.
The improvement in net income came from the “successive drops in income tax IRS” and the “successive measures of non-monetary transfers that cut household expenses”, such as making school books free, reforming the costs of public transports, increasing the number of households that benefit from energy social rates and the “significant” cut in pubic university fees, that went from more than one thousand euros to 697 euros per annum.
A more qualified country
This was the shift the Prime Minister considered “perhaps brings the greatest consequences for the future”. António Costa mentioned the “highly significant” drop in early dropouts, where this year we are below the EU average for 2030, and the rise in the number of youths aged 30 to 34 years who completed higher educaiton in 2015, which can only rise, since “if we look at the youths who are 20 years old, 39% attended university in 2015, and today it’s 54%”.
A more competitive economy
“Every year, we beat records in attracting foreign direct investment. Every year, we beat corporate investment records and corporate investment went up 85% between 2015 and 2023”, the Prime Minister stated, advocating that “what offers a modern economy competitiveness is its capacity to have qualified jobs, being more innovative, and this is what enables that innovation”.
António Costa also added that the rise in exports, which in 2022 accounted for more than 50% of GDP, and the change in the nature of exports. “Exports of high and medium tech goods increased 71% over these last eight years, which means that complexifying, qualifying, and the added value of our economy have been clearly on the rise”.
Less inequality
“Today we have 600 thousand people less in poverty or social exclusion, and especially 226 thousand children less living in poverty or social exclusion”, said the Prime Minister.
Taking the lead in fighting climate change
The sixth shift had to do with the country’s position in taking the lead in fighting climate change. “We were the first country in the world, at the2016 Marrakesh COP to undertake the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Our Climate Law imposed on us a greater ambition of hitting that target in 2045 rather than 2050”.
Since 2017, Portugal has cut back its GHG emissions by 17% “due to the public transport policy and bringing targets such as closing down coal-fuelled power stations forward and increasing the capacity to generate energy using renewables”, the Prime Minister signalled.
Advances in the State reform
The last structural shift mentioned by the Prime Minister had to do with the advances in the State reform, namely concerning the decentralisation of powers, such as transferring the PSP’s traffic tasks to the Lisbon and Porto municipal police, making Carri or STCP (public transport) municipal, or the agreement with the National Portuguese Municipalities Association (ANMP) to transfer powers. Lastly, António Costa referred to the reform of the Regional Development Coordination Committees (CCDR), that are now more democratised and with greater autonomy.
View the Prime Minister’s presentation here
Source: Government of Portugal (PM)
António Costa took stock of the government’s action in the last eight years, where he was Prime Minister, during a press conference held in the official residence.<.>
António Costa also referred to the financial system’s greater stability. “The state-owned bank, which many felt should be privatised and that it would be impossible to capitalise, is today not only solvent, but also generated due revenue for the Portuguese economy and citizens”, the Prime Minister claimed.
The wildland fires crisis
The second crisis noted by the Prime Minister was that of wildland fires, the answer to which included restructuring the civil protection system and a budget reform, which offered prevention a clear priority over fighting. As a result, “if we were to add up the entire area burnt down in the six years between 2018 and 2023 [the result] is 60.7% of the area burnt down in 2017 alone”, he stressed.
The Covid-19 pandemic
The country’s response to this third crisis was “worthy of note”, claimed the Prime Minister. “We were the first country in the world to reach a vaccination coverage of 85%. And the efforts to support the economy and households allowed us to be one of the countries that best came out of the pandemic”, he added.
The inflationist crisis
The fourth crisis arose from the effects of the pandemic, which was still felt, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. This conflict “worsened a situation that came from the pandemic, with the breakdown in supply chains, which led us to the greatest inflationist crisis of the last 30 years”.
The rises in interest rates by the European Central Bank to respond to rising inflation “in a society such as hours where mortgages have a high significance and the variable rates are clearly dominant”, together with rising food costs, shot up household costs.
“From the start of 2022 to October 2022, inflation soared. We hit 10.1% inflation in October 2022 and since then we have been on a slow, yet sure, trajectory to lower inflation, until we hit 2.1% last February and the forecast is we will remain on that lowering trajectory”, said the Prime Minister.
SEVEN STRUCTURAL SHITS
Higher growth
The Prime Minister stated that between 2000 and 2015 the country alternated between recession and stagnation. “Only in one year of these 15 did we grow above the European average: in 2009. From 2016 onwards, the reality has been quite different “, he said. “In these eight years, the country grew ten times more than what it had grown in the previous 15”, he signalled, noting the 2.1% growth, including in the two pandemic years, “where product naturally fell drastically”.
More jobs and more income
The creation of jobs and improvement in employment conditions contributed to this economic growth. “Today, we have a record number of people working in Portugal: 5 million people. That is an additional 629 thousand jobs than in 2015. And in a context where it was possible to not just to have minimum wages grow 62%, but also average wages having grown 27.7%”, the Prime Minister indicated.
In addition to the rise in the minimum wage, the Prime Minister also noted rising pensions and improvement in net income.
Always in line with the Social Security Basis Law, in these eight years, average pensions rose 23.3%, “with all the rises set down in the law, as well as extraordinary rises to counter inflation”.
The improvement in net income came from the “successive drops in income tax IRS” and the “successive measures of non-monetary transfers that cut household expenses”, such as making school books free, reforming the costs of public transports, increasing the number of households that benefit from energy social rates and the “significant” cut in pubic university fees, that went from more than one thousand euros to 697 euros per annum.
A more qualified country
This was the shift the Prime Minister considered “perhaps brings the greatest consequences for the future”. António Costa mentioned the “highly significant” drop in early dropouts, where this year we are below the EU average for 2030, and the rise in the number of youths aged 30 to 34 years who completed higher educaiton in 2015, which can only rise, since “if we look at the youths who are 20 years old, 39% attended university in 2015, and today it’s 54%”.
A more competitive economy
“Every year, we beat records in attracting foreign direct investment. Every year, we beat corporate investment records and corporate investment went up 85% between 2015 and 2023”, the Prime Minister stated, advocating that “what offers a modern economy competitiveness is its capacity to have qualified jobs, being more innovative, and this is what enables that innovation”.
António Costa also added that the rise in exports, which in 2022 accounted for more than 50% of GDP, and the change in the nature of exports. “Exports of high and medium tech goods increased 71% over these last eight years, which means that complexifying, qualifying, and the added value of our economy have been clearly on the rise”.
Less inequality
“Today we have 600 thousand people less in poverty or social exclusion, and especially 226 thousand children less living in poverty or social exclusion”, said the Prime Minister.
Taking the lead in fighting climate change
The sixth shift had to do with the country’s position in taking the lead in fighting climate change. “We were the first country in the world, at the2016 Marrakesh COP to undertake the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Our Climate Law imposed on us a greater ambition of hitting that target in 2045 rather than 2050”.
Since 2017, Portugal has cut back its GHG emissions by 17% “due to the public transport policy and bringing targets such as closing down coal-fuelled power stations forward and increasing the capacity to generate energy using renewables”, the Prime Minister signalled.
Advances in the State reform
The last structural shift mentioned by the Prime Minister had to do with the advances in the State reform, namely concerning the decentralisation of powers, such as transferring the PSP’s traffic tasks to the Lisbon and Porto municipal police, making Carri or STCP (public transport) municipal, or the agreement with the National Portuguese Municipalities Association (ANMP) to transfer powers. Lastly, António Costa referred to the reform of the Regional Development Coordination Committees (CCDR), that are now more democratised and with greater autonomy.
View the Prime Minister’s presentation here
Source: South Africa News Agency
Former attorney convicted of stealing RAF payouts
A former attorney has been convicted on four counts of theft by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after defrauding clients of their Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela, committed the crimes when she was practising as a sole practitioner between June 2019 and March 2022.
“The accused lodged claims against the Road Accident Fund on behalf of her clients, which were subsequently paid out. The money was paid by the Road Accident Fund into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys for the benefit of her clients, totalling an amount of over R4.1 million.
“The incident came to light after one of the victims reported that Mmela failed to pay her. An investigation ensued and led to the arrest of the accused in 2022,” the NPA said in a statement.
Mmela was subsequently granted bail. However, after absconding, she was re-arrested and remained in custody.
“During trial, the accused pleaded not guilty, and Senior State Advocate Henry Nxumalo presented evidence of the witnesses to prove the allegations levelled against her. The accused was convicted on four counts of theft, and the matter was postponed to 21 August 2025 for sentencing in the same court.
“The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the conviction as a significant step in the fight against the theft of trust monies by attorneys as breach of trust, more so the victims of motor vehicle accidents. The collaboration against fighting such crimes yielded positive results in this matter.
“The NPA remains committed to fighting financial crimes and ensuring that those who deprive claimants of their monies are prosecuted,” the NPA said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney
In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.
This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.
While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.
The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.
The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.
The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.
For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.
For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.
The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.
Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.
By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.
When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.
The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.
Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?
Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.
It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.
There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.
Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.
By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.
As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.
It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.
With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.
Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.
– ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Med Tech Regs blog, June 2025: A focus on Software and AI.
Marinos Ioannides, Head of Software and AI Medical Devices, at the London Healthcare Innovation Forum earlier this year.
Marinos Ioannides, Head of Software and AI Medical Devices:
If you’re anything like me, Summer in Britain is a season of transformation and hope. Gone are the frozen, damp morning dog walks in darkness. Coats and jackets are locked away, half-empty half-forgotten tubes of sun cream emerge from deep cupboards, radiators are joyfully turned off.
The same feeling suffuses the Software and AI team here at the MHRA. Our recent AI Airlock webinar and this week’s opening of our new call for applications boldly announces a new year of inspiration, exploration and progress in innovative regulation. Building on the successes of last year’s excellent pilot programme, we’re eager to unlock and expand insights with industry and see first hand how innovative products and teams can help identify regulatory challenges in the Software as Medical Devices space.
The Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs) are further enhancing MHRA delivery. RADIANT announced their Innovator Support Programme, giving companies the opportunity to trial open-source tools, educational materials and workshops to demystify regulations and make sure that regulatory complexity does not stand between patients and life-changing technologies.
For clarity, the two programmes deliver subtly different changes “behind the scenes” here at MHRA. The direct engagement MHRA has with members of the AI Airlock allows the findings to inform our foundational thinking for the regulation of Software and AI Medical Devices. The information and detail delivered by RADIANT is downstream of this – augmenting what tools, educational material and guidance is provided to help innovators navigate the broader regulatory landscape.
Not to be outdone, CERSI-AI have also ramped up their productivity, coordinating key meetings between academics, clinicians and MHRA to unpick the nuances of AI regulation, now and in the future. With a clear path to sustainability and deliverables already being met, both CERSIs continue to improve and inform this rapidly developing space.
This is part of a broader perspective at MHRA – that innovation and patient safety are not in opposition. Rather, innovation, driven by competition, delivers better products which make patients safer. Demands for patient safety, through clear documentation and proportionate regulation that provides a level playing field and secure, protective framework, create a more transparent market ensuring innovative products excel.
In the spirit of Summer, our work alongside Health AI presents a real growth opportunity. This week we were proud to announce that we became the first country in the world to join Health AI’s new global network of health regulators focussed on the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare. As a founding pioneer nation, we will work with regulators around the world to share early warnings on safety, monitor how AI tools perform in practice, and shape international standards together – helping make AI in healthcare safer and more effective for patients around the world.
Our work in the Digital Mental Health space continues to bear fruit. As we progress and deliver key, actionable insights through our specific guidance, we continue our engagement with experts to direct and augment our publications. If you’re attending the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Conference in Newport this week, you’ll see MHRA representatives there, eager to hear how we can enhance our work to deliver useful insights in this essential HealthTech space.
Just as no good summer holiday is possible without a translation phrasebook, we will shortly be publishing our Good Machine Learning Practice (GMLP) guidance to ease translation between regulatory frameworks. By transparently outlining our logic, we hope that industry, users and other regulators will be reassured of our alignment with international principles in this emergent space and get insights into our thinking and processes. As we refine this piece of keystone guidance, we also continue to progress our CyberSecurity and AI development and deployment guidance and we look forward to publishing that soon.
Beyond software, the innovative devices team moves from success to success with a clear, tangible deliverable from our accelerated Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP). Revolutionary technologies like HistoSonics’ ultrasound device, which breaks up tumours without surgery or radiation, is the sort of thing once considered science fiction. Yet, thanks to the excellent work of IDAP partners and MHRA colleagues, patients now have access to a game changing treatment for liver cancer – an example of smart, agile regulation in action.
And, of course, no Summer would be complete without London Tech Week. It’s a genuine pleasure to see the wonders that innovators continue to create. The opportunity to exchange ideas, debate economics and regulations, and get hands-on experiences with new developments is a real privilege. Presenting our regulatory strategy alongside leaders like David Lawson from the Department of Health and Social Care and Richard Phillips from the Association of British HealthTech Industries at Australia House was an opportunity only surpassed by a chance to see the Lord Mayor of the City of London in the flesh – bedecked with full ceremonial chain and garb!
Whether you’re out in a park turning red while trying to get a year’s supply of Vitamin D, or gritting your teeth as your laptop overheats, don’t curse the season of the sun. The MHRA are here learning, innovating and applying international best practices to maximise patient safety today and tomorrow, whatever the weather!
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 27) the appointment of 34 members to the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. The term will take effect from July 1 and end on June 30, 2027.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “The Council was established in 2023, comprising members who are distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields, or internationally renowned scholars or experts. They have been providing me with valuable insights and wise counsel to the benefit of the strategic development of Hong Kong. I look forward to Council members continuing to offer advice on strategic issues such as how Hong Kong can further consolidate its competitiveness during the period of economic restructuring, actively dovetail with national strategies and integrate into the national development, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and enhance regional co-operation, with a view to building a better Hong Kong together.”
The membership of the Council is as follows:
Chairperson
Chief Executive
Members (in alphabetical order of surnames, with the new members marked with an asterisk (*))
Economic advancement and sustainability
Mr Brian David Li Man-bun
Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang
Mr Robert Ng Chee-siong
Mr Andrew Sheng Len-tao
Mr Jack So Chak-kwong
Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen
Mr Jean-Pascal Tricoire
Mr Peter Woo Kwong-ching
Ms Marjorie Yang Mun-tak
Mr John Zhao
Dr Zhu Min*
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu
Mr Shing Chow Shing-yuk
Dr Han Bi-cheng*
Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu
Dr Lee Kai-fu
Mr Shan Weijian
Professor Michael Spence
Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, SC
Mr Joseph Tsai
Mr Wang Xing-xing*
Dr Allan Wong Chi-yun
Dr Allan Zeman
Regional and global collaborations
Mr Guy Bradley
Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan
Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum
Mr Victor Chu Lap-lik
Dr Victor Fung Kwok-king
Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng
Mr Colm Kelleher
Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok
Dr Edmund Tse Sze-wing
Mr Mark Tucker
Mr Andrew Tung Lieh-cheung
In attendance
Chief Secretary for Administration
Financial Secretary
Secretary for Justice
Director, Chief Executive’s Office
Head, Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU)
Biographical notes on the three new members of the Council are in the annex.
The Council is a high-level advisory body to advise the Chief Executive on the strategic development of Hong Kong, leveraging on opportunities from national and global developments. The Council is organised along three broad streams, namely economic advancement and sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as regional and global collaborations to facilitate more focused and in-depth dialogues. As the Secretariat of the Council, the CEPU is responsible for providing research and secretariat support to the Council.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney
In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.
This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.
While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.
The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.
The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.
The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.
For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.
For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.
The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.
Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.
By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.
When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.
The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.
Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?
Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.
It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.
There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.
Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.
By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.
As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.
It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.
With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.
Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.
– ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney
In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.
This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.
While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.
The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.
The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.
The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.
For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.
For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.
The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.
Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.
By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.
When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.
The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.
Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?
Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.
It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.
There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.
Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.
By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.
As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.
It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.
With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.
Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.
– ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Ahmedabad on Friday, seamlessly blending centuries-old tradition with state-of-the-art security arrangements.
Held annually on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (Ashadhi Bij), the Rath Yatra is India’s second-largest chariot festival after Puri, attracting lakhs of devotees from across Gujarat and beyond.
The day began with the sacred Mangla Aarti, performed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at around 4:00 a.m., continuing his longstanding personal tradition.
Soon after, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the symbolic ‘Pahind Vidhi’—the ceremonial sweeping of the road with a golden broom—before officially flagging off the Yatra by pulling Lord Jagannath’s chariot from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur.
The Yatra follows a 16-kilometre route through key parts of Ahmedabad’s walled city, with the holy chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra passing landmarks such as Jamalpur Chakla, Khadia, Kalupur Circle, and Saraspur, where locals traditionally host a grand feast for the deities and devotees.
The procession will be monitored through heightened surveillance.
This year, the Rath Yatra has evolved into a full-fledged Lokotsav (people’s festival), showcasing Gujarat’s rich cultural heritage. The grand spectacle features 18 decorated elephants, 100 tableau trucks, 30 akhadas performing martial arts, along with bhajan mandalis, raas-garba troupes, and traditional music bands.
The sacred duty of pulling the chariots continues to be led by the Khalashi community, upholding a revered centuries-old tradition.
To ensure safety and smooth conduct, the Ahmedabad Police have implemented one of the most extensive security operations in recent years. More than 23,800 personnel, including State Reserve Police (SRP) battalions, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Chetak Commandos, are deployed. An additional 4,500 police officers are escorting the procession, with 1,000 traffic police managing vehicular movement across the city.
For the first time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used for crowd management, enabling real-time monitoring of overcrowding and fire hazards.
A comprehensive surveillance system has been put in place with 227 CCTV cameras, 41 drones, 2,872 body-worn cameras, and 25 watchtowers keeping constant watch along the route. Precautionary barricading has been erected around 484 structurally weak buildings, and public assistance centers have been activated to support the crowd.
The run-up to the Yatra saw extensive community engagement efforts by the police, who conducted over 450 outreach meetings, including Peace Committees, Mohalla Committees, and Women’s Committees. In addition, interactive events such as cricket matches, blood donation camps, and volleyball tournaments were organised to foster civic unity and communal harmony.
(With inputs from IANS)
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology
After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue.
It’s not a retirement, though, as Wintour will maintain a leadership position at global fashion and lifestyle publisher Condé Nast (the owner of Vogue and other publications, such as Vanity Fair and Glamour).
Nonetheless, Wintour’s departure from the US edition of the magazine is a big moment for the fashion industry – one which she has single-handedly changed forever.
Fashion magazines as we know them today were first formalised in the 19th century. They helped establish the “trickle down theory” of fashion, wherein trends were traditionally dictated by certain industry elites, including major magazine editors.
In Australia, getting your hands on a monthly issue meant rare exposure to the latest European or American fashion trends.
Vogue itself was established in New York in 1892 by businessman Arthur Baldwin Turnure. The magazine targeted the city’s elite class, initially covering various aspects of high-society life. In 1909, Vogue was acquired by Condé Nast. From then, the magazine increasingly cemented itself as a cornerstone of the fashion publishing.
The period following the second world war particularly opened the doors to mass fashion consumerism and an expanding fashion magazine culture.
Wintour came on as editor of Vogue in 1988, at which point the magazine became less conservative, and more culturally significant.
Fashion publishing changed as a result of Wintour’s bold editorial choices – especially when it came to the magazine’s covers. Her choices both reflected, and dictated, shifts in fashion culture.
Wintour’s first cover at Vogue, published in 1988, mixed couture garments (Christian Lacroix) with mainstream brands (stonewashed Guess jeans) – something which had never been done before. It was also the first time a Vogue cover had featured jeans at all – perfectly setting the scene for a long career spent pushing the magazine into new domains.
Wintour also pioneered the centring of celebrities (rather than just models) within fashion discourse. And while she leveraged big names such as Beyonce, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, she also featured rising stars as cover models – often helping propel their careers in the process.
Wintour’s legacy at Vogue involved elevating fashion from a frivolous runway to a powerful industry, which is not scared to make a statement. Nowhere is this truer than at the Met Gala, which is held each year to celebrate the opening of a new fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
The event started as a simple fundraiser for the Met in 1948, before being linked to a fashion exhibit for the first time in 1974.
Wintour took over its organisation in 1995. Her focus on securing exclusive celebrity guests helped propel it to the prestigious event it is today.
This year’s theme for the event was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. In a time where the US faces great political instability, Wintour was celebrated for her role in helping elevate Black history through the event.
However, while her cultural influence can’t be doubted, Wintour’s legacy at American Vogue is not without fault.
Notably, her ongoing feud with animal rights organisation PETA – due to the her unwavering support for fur – has bubbled in the background since the heydays of the anti-fur movement.
Wintour has been targeted directly by anti-fur activists, both physically (she was hit with a tofu cream pie in 2005 while leaving a Chloe show) and through numerous protests.
This issue was never resolved. Vogue has continued to showcase and feature fur clothing, even as the social license for using animal materials starts to run out.
Fashion continues to grow increasingly political. How magazines such as Vogue will engage with this shift remains to be seen.
The rise of fashion blogging in recent decades has led to a wave of fashion influencers, with throngs of followers, who are challenging the unidirectional “trickle-down” structure of the fashion industry.
Today, social media platforms have overtaken traditional media influence both within and outside of fashion. And with this, the power of fashion editors such as Wintour is diminishing significantly.
Many words will flow regarding Wintour’s departure as editor-in-chief, but nowhere near as many as what she oversaw at the helm of the world’s biggest fashion magazine.
Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne has been affiliated with the Animal Justice Party.
Jye Marshall 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.
– ref. Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue – https://theconversation.com/celebrities-blue-jeans-and-couture-how-anna-wintour-changed-fashion-over-37-years-at-vogue-259989
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) — The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China on Friday voted to adopt the revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which will take effect on Oct. 15, 2025.
The revised document consists of five chapters, including general provisions, actions falling under the definition of “unfair competition”, investigations into suspected such practices, legal liability and additional provisions.
The law stipulates that China will improve the rules and systems for combating unfair competition, strengthen law enforcement and judicial work in this area, maintain the order of market competition, and improve a unified, open, competitive and orderly market system. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) — The current session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Friday voted to adopt the revised Law on Punishment for Disrupting Public Order.
The revised document, consisting of 6 chapters and 144 articles, will enter into force on January 1, 2026.
Following the revision, new forms of conduct affecting public order were introduced into the scope of regulation, and procedural rules for considering cases related to public safety were improved.
The current version of the law was developed in 2005 and came into force on March 1, 2006. This is the first major revision of the document since its adoption. -0-
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology
After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue.
It’s not a retirement, though, as Wintour will maintain a leadership position at global fashion and lifestyle publisher Condé Nast (the owner of Vogue and other publications, such as Vanity Fair and Glamour).
Nonetheless, Wintour’s departure from the US edition of the magazine is a big moment for the fashion industry – one which she has single-handedly changed forever.
Fashion magazines as we know them today were first formalised in the 19th century. They helped establish the “trickle down theory” of fashion, wherein trends were traditionally dictated by certain industry elites, including major magazine editors.
In Australia, getting your hands on a monthly issue meant rare exposure to the latest European or American fashion trends.
Vogue itself was established in New York in 1892 by businessman Arthur Baldwin Turnure. The magazine targeted the city’s elite class, initially covering various aspects of high-society life. In 1909, Vogue was acquired by Condé Nast. From then, the magazine increasingly cemented itself as a cornerstone of the fashion publishing.
The period following the second world war particularly opened the doors to mass fashion consumerism and an expanding fashion magazine culture.
Wintour came on as editor of Vogue in 1988, at which point the magazine became less conservative, and more culturally significant.
Fashion publishing changed as a result of Wintour’s bold editorial choices – especially when it came to the magazine’s covers. Her choices both reflected, and dictated, shifts in fashion culture.
Wintour’s first cover at Vogue, published in 1988, mixed couture garments (Christian Lacroix) with mainstream brands (stonewashed Guess jeans) – something which had never been done before. It was also the first time a Vogue cover had featured jeans at all – perfectly setting the scene for a long career spent pushing the magazine into new domains.
Wintour also pioneered the centring of celebrities (rather than just models) within fashion discourse. And while she leveraged big names such as Beyonce, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, she also featured rising stars as cover models – often helping propel their careers in the process.
Wintour’s legacy at Vogue involved elevating fashion from a frivolous runway to a powerful industry, which is not scared to make a statement. Nowhere is this truer than at the Met Gala, which is held each year to celebrate the opening of a new fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
The event started as a simple fundraiser for the Met in 1948, before being linked to a fashion exhibit for the first time in 1974.
Wintour took over its organisation in 1995. Her focus on securing exclusive celebrity guests helped propel it to the prestigious event it is today.
This year’s theme for the event was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. In a time where the US faces great political instability, Wintour was celebrated for her role in helping elevate Black history through the event.
However, while her cultural influence can’t be doubted, Wintour’s legacy at American Vogue is not without fault.
Notably, her ongoing feud with animal rights organisation PETA – due to the her unwavering support for fur – has bubbled in the background since the heydays of the anti-fur movement.
Wintour has been targeted directly by anti-fur activists, both physically (she was hit with a tofu cream pie in 2005 while leaving a Chloe show) and through numerous protests.
This issue was never resolved. Vogue has continued to showcase and feature fur clothing, even as the social license for using animal materials starts to run out.
Fashion continues to grow increasingly political. How magazines such as Vogue will engage with this shift remains to be seen.
The rise of fashion blogging in recent decades has led to a wave of fashion influencers, with throngs of followers, who are challenging the unidirectional “trickle-down” structure of the fashion industry.
Today, social media platforms have overtaken traditional media influence both within and outside of fashion. And with this, the power of fashion editors such as Wintour is diminishing significantly.
Many words will flow regarding Wintour’s departure as editor-in-chief, but nowhere near as many as what she oversaw at the helm of the world’s biggest fashion magazine.
Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne has been affiliated with the Animal Justice Party.
Jye Marshall 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.
– ref. Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue – https://theconversation.com/celebrities-blue-jeans-and-couture-how-anna-wintour-changed-fashion-over-37-years-at-vogue-259989
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Supporting media development: OSCE promotes legal training for journalists in Kazakhstan
Participants work through theoretical concepts under the guidance of the expert at the legal training for journalists held in Astana, 16–17 June 2025. (OSCE/Assylbek Assylkhanov) Photo details
On 16 and 17 June in Astana as well as on 19 and 20 June 2025 in Almaty, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in partnership with the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center” and Internews in Kazakhstan, organized two-day training workshops on “Legal Check-Up for Journalists.”
The event brought together 39 participants, including journalists from different regions of Kazakhstan, aiming to enhance their legal awareness and strengthen professional competencies in an evolving regulatory and technological environment. The workshop served as a platform to examine the practical implications of the updated Law on Mass Media, while also addressing broader challenges journalists face – such as navigating defamation and privacy legislation, understanding copyright in the digital age, and responding to the growing use of AI in media production.
Yuri Fenopetov, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, highlighted: “Modern journalists work in conditions where technological changes are happening rapidly, and the legal and ethical burden on the profession is growing. In these conditions, it is especially important that journalists have access to up-to-date knowledge about legislation, tools for protecting their rights and responsibilities arising from the status of a professional communicator.”
The training combined theoretical presentations with practical group exercises, enabling participants to apply their knowledge through simulated case scenarios. In addition, experts covered critical aspects of journalists’ safety – both digital and physical – ethical journalism standards, and international principles on freedom of expression, offering participants tools to apply these concepts in their daily work.
Diana Okremova, Director of the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center”, emphasized the importance of such training: “Such trainings are an opportunity for journalists to strengthen their knowledge, better understand the legal nuances of the profession, and structure their work taking into account modern challenges and professional standards.”
Based on an interactive and hands-on approach, all participants successfully completed final practical assignments and are now prepared to share their knowledge with their journalist colleagues. The event also served as a space for exchanging experiences and developing practical recommendations to support sustainable improvements in media practice in Kazakhstan.
The training workshop highlights the OSCE’s commitment to supporting media freedom and strengthening journalists’ capacities to operate effectively and safely in a legal and digital environment.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Supporting media development: OSCE promotes legal training for journalists in Kazakhstan
Participants work through theoretical concepts under the guidance of the expert at the legal training for journalists held in Astana, 16–17 June 2025. (OSCE/Assylbek Assylkhanov) Photo details
On 16 and 17 June in Astana as well as on 19 and 20 June 2025 in Almaty, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in partnership with the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center” and Internews in Kazakhstan, organized two-day training workshops on “Legal Check-Up for Journalists.”
The event brought together 39 participants, including journalists from different regions of Kazakhstan, aiming to enhance their legal awareness and strengthen professional competencies in an evolving regulatory and technological environment. The workshop served as a platform to examine the practical implications of the updated Law on Mass Media, while also addressing broader challenges journalists face – such as navigating defamation and privacy legislation, understanding copyright in the digital age, and responding to the growing use of AI in media production.
Yuri Fenopetov, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, highlighted: “Modern journalists work in conditions where technological changes are happening rapidly, and the legal and ethical burden on the profession is growing. In these conditions, it is especially important that journalists have access to up-to-date knowledge about legislation, tools for protecting their rights and responsibilities arising from the status of a professional communicator.”
The training combined theoretical presentations with practical group exercises, enabling participants to apply their knowledge through simulated case scenarios. In addition, experts covered critical aspects of journalists’ safety – both digital and physical – ethical journalism standards, and international principles on freedom of expression, offering participants tools to apply these concepts in their daily work.
Diana Okremova, Director of the Public Foundation “Legal Media Center”, emphasized the importance of such training: “Such trainings are an opportunity for journalists to strengthen their knowledge, better understand the legal nuances of the profession, and structure their work taking into account modern challenges and professional standards.”
Based on an interactive and hands-on approach, all participants successfully completed final practical assignments and are now prepared to share their knowledge with their journalist colleagues. The event also served as a space for exchanging experiences and developing practical recommendations to support sustainable improvements in media practice in Kazakhstan.
The training workshop highlights the OSCE’s commitment to supporting media freedom and strengthening journalists’ capacities to operate effectively and safely in a legal and digital environment.
Source: New Zealand Police
A man is due back in court in two weeks charged with offending relating to alleged road rage in Tauranga last month.
On 20 May, Police received a number of reports from members of the public about the manner of driving of a utility vehicle, including an instance where the driver allegedly brandished a knife at a motorist.
Inspector Logan Marsh, Relieving Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander, says this week’s arrest comes after significant Police enquiries to locate the alleged offender, which culminated in Police executing a search warrant at a Welcome Bay address this week.
A 52-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday and appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday, charged with operating a motor vehicle recklessly, and possession of an offensive weapon.
He has been remanded in custody to reappear on 11 July.
“We’d like to thank the public for the information they provided, which was a key component to our investigation,” Inspector Marsh says.
“Our teams have worked to locate the person responsible and I’d like to acknowledge their hard work.
“Police will continue to take action where we can against any dangerous driving activity on our roads,” he says.
Police continue to urge anybody who witnesses any dangerous or illegal behaviour to report it to Police.
Please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report via 105 if it is after the fact. Information can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New South Wales – News
Three people were arrested today following investigations into a violent assault in the city earlier this week.
About 6.30pm on Tuesday 24 June, a 29-year-old man was assaulted in a car park at Topham Mall, Waymouth Street, Adelaide.
It will be alleged he was set upon by three young males armed with a knife and a bottle and sustained significant lacerations. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Following investigations, Youth and Street Gangs Task Force attended a northern suburbs home today (Friday 27 June) and arrested three suspects.
A 15-year-old boy from Blakeview, a 16-year-old boy from Semaphore Park and a 20-year-old man from Brahma Lodge were all charged with aggravated assault cause harm.
The youths were refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on Monday 30 June.
The 20-year-old man was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 10 August.
Police wish to reassure the public that this was not a random incident.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
    Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Pat Heung in the small hours today (June 27) in which a man died.
At about 2.10am, a taxi driven by a 63-year-old man was travelling along Fan Kam Road towards Sheung Shui, while a private car driven by a 54-year-old man was travelling along Fan Kam Road towards Yuen Long. When reaching the vicinity of Wang Toi Shan Chuk Hang Chuen, the two vehicles reportedly collided head-on.
   The taxi driver and two male passengers, aged 41 and 43 respectively, were trapped inside the taxi and rescued by firemen. The 41-year-old male passenger sustained serious injuries and was rushed to North District Hospital in unconscious state, and was certified dead at 3.02am.
    The taxi driver sustained serious injuries to his chest and limbs and was sent to Prince of Wales Hospital in conscious state; the 43-year-old male taxi passenger sustained injuries to his head and hand and was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital in conscious state; while the private car driver sustained injuries to his waist and was sent to North District Hospital in conscious state.
    Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North is under way.
    Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3857.
Source: New Zealand Police
An alleged car thief in Napier picked the wrong location to try her luck – getting arrested within 10 minutes of stealing a vehicle parked opposite the Police station.
Shortly before 10am today, a courier driver was delivering a parcel to a premises on Station Street, opposite the Napier Police Station.
Senior Sergeant Su Robinson says the driver left his vehicle running, as was his usual practice, when a woman got into the vehicle and drove off with the van loaded full of parcels.
“The driver has urgently run into the front counter of the Police Station and let front desk staff know,” she says.
“An immediate call went out to all staff on the radio with the details, and staff have sprung into action.”
Officers have made area enquiries, and located both the van and the woman on Masefield Avenue.
The 27-year-old woman was arrested, and she is due in Napier District Court on 3 July charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Senior Sergeant Robinson says the woman will also face a burglary charge, after the arresting officer located property on her relating to a previous burglary.
“While officers were fortunate to make an incredibly quick arrest on this occasion, we’d urge anyone leaving their vehicle even for a short time to please ensure it is locked – as it only takes a second for someone to steal it.”
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Auckland City Police is continuing to look for Solomon Kapua Apihai.
The 41-year-old man has a warrant for his arrest and is continuing to evade Police.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk says Police staff have been actively searching for Apihai in recent days.
“He is wanted to arrest for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” she says.
“We are advising the public to contact us if they see Apihai, and not to approach him.”
Apihai is known to frequent areas around Mt Roskill and Auckland’s CBD.
“We know Apihai is also a frequent user of the bus network, so we are asking anyone who sees him to contact us,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kirk says.
If you see Apihai, please call 111.
Anyone with further information on his whereabouts can update Police online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250623/5869.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force attended a large disturbance at Willowra community yesterday afternoon.
About 5pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of up to 60 people armed with various weapons involved in a disturbance. Two vehicles are also believed to have been deliberately set on fire.
Ti-Tree Police deployed to the community and the group dispersed.
Investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to make contact on 131 444. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.
Source: New South Wales – News
Investigations are continuing into the murder of a 39-year-old man in Port Lincoln earlier this month.
Police wish to reassure the public that the accused a, 34-year-old local woman Tamika Chesser, remains in custody charged with murder, and that this was not a random incident.
Just before 3.30pm on Thursday 19 June, police and emergency services were called to a unit on Flinders Highway, Port Lincoln after reports of a small fire.
When police entered the property, they located a deceased man. He is believed to be the occupant and Tamika’s partner, Julian Story, 39 years old.
It was a confronting scene for police and emergency services personnel as Julian’s body had been dismembered. Julian’s head had been removed during the dismemberment and, despite extensive searches, has not yet been located.
Investigators believe Julian was killed around midnight on the Tuesday 17 June.
Police are trying to track Tamika’s movements in the week of the murder, particularly between midnight on Tuesday night and the report of the fire at 3.30 pm on Thursday afternoon.
Major Crime detectives have released images of the clothing she was wearing during this time in the hope that it will jog people’s memories. Police are appealing to local residents to review any CCTV or dashcam footage they have which may assist the investigation. (Images below)
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said, “All murders cause pain and grief for victims’ families and friends. The circumstances of this murder are particularly harrowing, confronting and distressing. Major Crime detectives have spoken with Julian’s family who are devastated by his loss and also by the circumstances surrounding his death.
“We are releasing the details of this horrific crime because it is vital for Julian’s family to peacefully lay him to rest.
“We know that Tamika did not drive a vehicle and regularly walked around the township of Port Lincoln. We are appealing to anyone who can help us to identify Tamika’s movements to please contact police.”
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.
CO2500025517
Statement from Julian Story’s family:
On behalf of our family, we want to sincerely thank the South Australian Police, emergency services, and first responders for their compassion and professionalism during this devastating time. We are navigating an unimaginable loss, and your care has brought comfort amid the chaos. We are also deeply grateful to our family and friends and this extraordinary community whose kindness and support have helped carry us through. Your prayers, presence, and quiet strength mean more than words can say.
This will be our only statement. For any further information, please direct all enquiries to the South Australian Police.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today issued a strong condemnation of remarks by Consul General of the US to Hong Kong Gregory May, stating that they are untrue, biased and deliberately intended to mislead the public and smear the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Hong Kong SAR’s work to safeguard national security.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that as legal proceedings in the case involving Lai Chee-ying are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case. It urged US politicians to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power by its courts.
The statement emphasised that governments have an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, in accordance with international law and international practice based on the UN Charter.
It added that as the US has at least 21 laws safeguarding national security, US politicians who point fingers at the Hong Kong SAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms display only hypocrisy and double standards while entirely disregarding the constitutional and practical needs of Hong Kong, as well as the positive effects brought about by Hong Kong’s national security legislation on its economic development and protection of human rights.
The Hong Kong SAR Government highlighted that Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law, and that such actions have nothing to do the political views, backgrounds or occupations of persons or entities concerned. It added that anyone charged with a criminal offence in Hong Kong will receive a fair trial as protected by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.
The statement charged that attempts by any country, organisation, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in Hong Kong to procure a defendant’s evasion of criminal justice amount to blatant acts undermining the rule of law and should be condemned.
It said the notion that people or organisations with certain backgrounds should be immune from legal sanction for their illegal acts is tantamount to granting them privileges to break the law, perverts the course of justice, and runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.
The Hong Kong SAR Government also outlined that extraterritorial effect for offences under the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) fully aligns with the principles of international law and international practice, and is both necessary and legitimate.
It added that absconders hiding in the US and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, such as inciting secession and requesting that foreign countries impose “sanctions” or blockades and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. Such persons, it emphasised, continue to collude with external forces to cover their evil deeds, making it necessary for Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies to take all lawful measures to combat these acts.
The Hong Kong SAR Government said that that it will resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the National Security Law, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security.
It added that it will concurrently uphold the rights and freedoms of its people in accordance with the law so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The NT Police Force arrested an 18-year-old male after he allegedly assaulted a shop attendant in Millner yesterday afternoon.
About 2pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of male allegedly threatening shop attendants at a local grocery shop on Sabine Road. The male allegedly went behind the counter and attempted to open the register before the shop attendants and members of the public intervened.
One of the shop attendants was struck with a stapler that was thrown at his head causing a minor laceration. The male fled the scene before police arrival.
The Dog Operations Unit and Territory Safety Division officers responded. Patrol Dog Wedge was deployed and tracked the male to a location nearby where he was arrested without incident.
The 18-year-old male has since been charged with Assault with intent to steal, Assault a worker – Suffers harm and two counts of Assault a worker. He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.
Strike Force Trident has carriage of the investigation.
Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact police on 131 444. You can make an anonymous report via Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Associated Press: Sen. Grassley calls delays at a benefits program for deceased officers ‘absolutely unacceptable’
By Ryan Foley
June 24, 2025
A powerful U.S. senator on Tuesday called on the Trump administration to fix a growing backlog and longtime management problems at the program that promises benefits when police and firefighters die or become disabled in the line of duty.
Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program is failing the spouses and children of deceased and disabled first responders and needs new leadership. He said the mismanagement has caused significant hardship for grieving families, who often experience yearslong delays in processing and approving claims.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” he wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, in which he suggested she consider replacing longtime program leader Hope Janke.
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Grassley cited a Government Accountability Office report issued last year that detailed deficiencies in the program’s management dating back to 2009. He said the program had failed to make changes recommended by outside reviewers but that “government bureaucrats” such as Janke have never been held accountable.
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Grassley demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) provide updates and documents within two weeks related to the status of those changes.
Texas widow Lisa Afolayan, who is still fighting the program for benefits 16 years after her husband died while training for the Border Patrol, welcomed Grassley’s oversight of the program.
“We need movement. We need change and not only for my family,” she said. “They’ve lost sight of why the program was started.”
Read the full article HERE.
Read Grassley’s letter to DOJ HERE.
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