Government Relations and Public Affairs 187 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Media Advisory: Tara H. Jackson is the new Prince George’s County State’s Attorney
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Tara H. Jackson has been selected as the new State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County. Jackson succeeded Angela D. Alsobrooks, who was elected to the U.S. Senate, to serve as the Acting County Executive for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Jackson will serve as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney as Aisha Braveboy will be sworn in as county executive this week.
Jackson’s career includes more than 20 years in the government and legal community. Jackson formerly served as Prince George’s County’s Chief Administrative Officer, beginning in December 2020. She began her career in public service as a prosecutor in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and later took on a role serving as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Government Operations under County Executive Alsobrooks.
Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law, and a Master of Divinity in Leadership Development from the Phoenix Seminary.
Pursuant to Article V of the Maryland Constitution, the circuit court judges of Prince George’s County appointed Jackson to fill the vacancy of State’s Attorney for the remaining term.
Police are seeking witnesses to the events leading up to a crash on Edmund Road, Rotorua on Sunday 15 June at about 2.15pm at a designated pedestrian crossing.
Rotorua Police is investigating after a motorcyclist overtook a stationary vehicle waiting for a pedestrian to cross, and then struck the pedestrian who was on the crossing at the time.
The rider then performed a U-turn, rode back towards the crossing, but did not stop or check on the victim. The rider then fled the scene.
The 24-year-old sight and hearing-impaired victim was injured and flown to Waikato Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Wilkinson of the Rotorua Police is calling on any witnesses to come forward.
“Police have a large team who are currently in the early stages of gathering evidence surrounding the circumstances of the crash, and what led to it happening,” he says.
“Police have obtained CCTV footage of the motorcycle shortly after the crash showing the motorcycle turning left onto Clayton Road and travelling in the direction of Gem Street.
“We would like the rider to do the right thing – come forward and speak to us about what happened.
Someone will know who this rider is and police are appealing to those people to act on their conscience and contact us.
The family of the injured man are understandably upset about this incident and are urging people to come forward.
Police are wanting to hear from any other witnesses to the crash, and we ask them to contact us as soon as possible,” Detective Senior Sergeant Wilkinson says.
We are appealing to anyone who recognises the motorcycle and or the rider pictured to come forward to Police online or call 105 using the file reference number 250615/1168.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 17, 2025.
In view of Trump’s review of AUKUS, should Australia cancel the subs deal? We asked 5 experts Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Andrews, Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University Speculation is swirling around the future of the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, following Washington’s decision to review the nuclear submarine deal to ensure it meets President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was planning
Australians in the bush want tougher penalties on crime. Here’s why – and what’s needed now Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Davey, Lecturer of Criminology, Griffith University New research has found that while Australians generally support strong punishments, people living in the bush are significantly more likely than city dwellers to want to punish more harshly those who break the law. It means Australians living in rural
Judy Davis gives a singularly vivid performance in The Spare Room – but the play falls short Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Moya Costello, Adjunct Lecturer in Creative Writing, Southern Cross University Brett Boardman/Belvoir In The Spare Room, Judy Davis lights up the stage with a singularly vivid performance. Adapted by Eamon Flack from Helen Garner’s 2008 novel of the same name, Davis plays sharp-tongued Helen (or Hel) to
US travel ban on Pacific 3 – countries have right to decide over borders, Peters says RNZ Pacific New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But opposition Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the foreign minister should push
Attack on Iran’s state media – Israel bombs IRIB building in new war crime Pacific Media Watch Israel targeted one of the buildings of the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran on the fourth day of attacks on Iran, interrupting a live news broadcast, reports Press TV. The attack, involving at least four bombs, struck the central building housing IRIB’s news department, while a live news
What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep –
New research shows Australians see influencers as major sources of misinformation Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sora Park, Professor of Communication, News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra As consumption of traditional news continues to fall, audiences are turning to social media personalities and influencers for their information. These figures are increasingly shaping public debates. But Australian news audiences are sceptical. More
Why does my phone sometimes not ring when people call? A communications expert explains Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jairo Gutierrez, Professor, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Tada Images There’s a certain feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I’m waiting for an important call to come through. You know the type – maybe a call from your
Wetland restoration is seen as sunk cost – but new research shows why it should be considered an investment Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wei Yang, Senior Scientist in Environmental Economics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators As extreme weather intensifies globally, governments are seeking nature-based solutions that deliver both climate and economic benefits. The restoration of wetlands is an often overlooked opportunity. As our recent study shows,
Jaws at 50: a cinematic masterpiece – and an incredible piece of propaganda Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Political Communications, Nottingham Trent University Jaws turns 50 on June 20. Last year, Quentin Tarantino called Stephen Spielberg’s film “possibly the greatest movie ever made”. Though he was quick to add that it isn’t the best film in terms of script, cinematography
Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alistair Evans, Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University Witsawat.S/Shutterstock Imagine a lush forest with tree-ferns, their trunks capped by ribbon-like fronds. Conifers tower overhead, bearing triangular leaves almost sharp enough to pierce skin. Flowering plants are both small and rare. You’re standing in what is now
When new dads struggle, their kids’ health can suffer. Tackling mental distress early can help Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Delyse Hutchinson, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, SEED Centre for Lifespan Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University D-BASE/Getty In Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal
A weird group of boronias puzzled botanists for decades. Now we’ve solved the pollination mystery Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Douglas Hilton, Chief Executive, CSIRO Andy Young Boronias, known for their showy flowers and strong scent, are a quintessential part of the Australian bush. They led Traditional Owners to the best water sources and inspired Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs to pen one of her
Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Rawpixel/ Getty Images About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect. This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they
Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Wilkins, Aboriginal Cultural Educator, Trainer and Facilitator, Indigenous Knowledge Artist’s impression of Dargan Shelter as it would have looked during the last Ice Age. Painting by Leanne Watson Redpath Travel back 20,000 years into the last Ice Age, to a time when the upper reaches of
‘Be brave’ warning to nations against deepsea mining from UNOC By Laura Bergamo in Nice, France The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) concluded today with significant progress made towards the ratification of the High Seas Treaty and a strong statement on a new plastics treaty signed by 95 governments. Once ratified, it will be the only legal tool that can create protected areas in international waters,
Samoan fashion designer fatally shot at Salt Lake City ‘no kings’ protest RNZ Pacific A renowned Samoan fashion designer was fatally shot at the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has confirmed. Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, known as Afa Ah Loo, an “innocent bystander” at the protest, died despite efforts by paramedics to save his life, police
Israelis ‘now realise’ what Palestinians and Lebanese have been suffering, says analyst Asia Pacific Report A Paris-based military and political analyst, Elijah Magnier, says he believes the hostilities between Israel and Iran will only get worse, but that Israeli support for the war may wane if the destruction continues. “I think it’s going to continue escalating because we are just in the first days of the war
What is uranium enrichment and how is it used for nuclear bombs? A scientist explains Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlin Cook, DECRA Fellow, Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Australian National University Uranium ore. RHJPhtotos/Shutterstock Late last week, Israel targeted three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities – Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, killing several Iranian nuclear scientists. The facilities are heavily fortified and largely underground, and
Issa Amro: Youth Against Settlements – ‘life is very hard, the Israeli soldiers act like militia’ RNZ News Palestinian advocate Issa Amro has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year for his decades of work advocating for peaceful resistance against Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The settlements are illegal under international law — and a record 45 were established last year under cover of the war
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has allocated $19.8 million in funding to the NeoSmelt project to investigate the development of Australia’s largest ironmaking electric smelting furnace pilot plant at Kwinana, Western Australia.
NeoSmelt is a groundbreaking joint venture, combining the expertise of BlueScope, BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside and Mitsui Iron Ore Development. ARENA funding will go towards a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the NeoSmelt project to progress the direct reduced iron-electric smelting furnace (DRI-ESF) route for lower-emissions steelmaking.
The DRI-ESF route is a transformative concept with the potential to overcome barriers using Australian iron ore in future lower-emissions steelmaking. Using the electric smelting furnace technology, the project aims to prove that it is possible to produce lower-carbon emission molten iron from Pilbara iron ore.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said to decarbonise mining and metal production in Australia, collaboration and partnership across industry is crucial.
“Globally, the steelmaking industry makes up around eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so the decarbonisation opportunity is huge,” Mr Miller said.
“The NeoSmelt project brings together some of the world’s largest players in the mining, metals and energy industries, in a collaborative effort to reduce emissions in the sector. This represents what the energy transition is all about – working together to achieve the most efficient and effective outcome for Australia’s key export industry to transition into a lower-emissions economy.”
“As the world’s largest producer of iron ore, Australia has an important role to play in reducing emissions across the steel value chain. We’re excited by the insights this project expects to provide. This is a positive step towards building a lower-emissions steel industry here in Australia.”
Late last year, the Kwinana Industrial Area, south of Perth, was announced as the preferred location to develop the first of a kind pilot plant. The FEED study, to be supported by funding from ARENA, is expected to help inform a final investment decision for the pilot plant to be built.
BlueScope Chief Executive Australia, Tania Archibald, on behalf of the joint venture said today marks a significant step forward in developing a technology for lower-carbon emissions steelmaking using Pilbara ore and we’re delighted by ARENA’s $19.8 million commitment to support the feasibility phase of this groundbreaking R&D pilot plant.
“We also officially welcome Woodside Energy and Mitsui Iron Ore Development to the NeoSmelt joint venture, joining founding participants BlueScope, BHP and Rio Tinto. With this backing from government and industry leaders, we now have the opportunity to develop world leading technology that will have potential application across the global steel industry and provides the foundation for a future Australian lower-carbon emissions iron export industry.”
The project builds on ARENA’s priority in low emissions metals and is being delivered under the Industrial Transformation Stream. Round 2 of the Industrial Transformation Stream is currently open to new applications and is expected to close 15 July 2025.
For more information, including program guidelines, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the funding page.
New research has found that while Australians generally support strong punishments, people living in the bush are significantly more likely than city dwellers to want to punish more harshly those who break the law.
It means Australians living in rural and regional areas are more likely to support tougher penalties for crime than those in the cities.
However, it’s not for the reasons you might expect.
So, what drives this divide?
In short: fear of crime and a lack of confidence in the justice system.
Our research, published today in the Journal of Rural Studies, surveyed a representative sample of Australians to better understand their views on punishment and what shaped their views.
We found city residents with tough attitudes toward crime tend to focus on the individual and personal blame, thinking offenders commit crime due to internal attributes (such as having “a poor moral compass”). They tended to see lawbreakers as lacking the capacity to redeem themselves.
But in rural areas, people are more likely to focus on what’s happening around them. Specifically, we found support for tougher penalties for crime was related to wider concerns about rising crime rates and a general lack of confidence in the criminal justice system.
Consider the role of ‘rurality’
To understand these differences, we thought about how living in rural areas may shape punitive attitudes.
Contrary to popular belief, crimes occur at higher rates in many rural communities than in some urban areas.
Crime may also be more visible and more confronting because towns are smaller. Personal relationships are denser, meaning people often know the victims or the offenders.
This closeness creates a stronger emotional response and a heightened sense of risk at the local level – even if the actual chances of being victimised are statistically low.
There’s also the issue of access to the criminal justice system. Courts may sit infrequently, meaning it can take a long time to get a case heard in court. In some cases, victims and offenders are forced to share courtroom space due to limited facilities.
Police stations might not be staffed around the clock.
Add to this long wait times for justice, and it’s no wonder rural Australians may feel the system isn’t working for them.
The power of perception
It’s important to understand perception doesn’t always match reality.
Urban areas often have more total crime, but rural areas may have higher rates of certain offences, especially violent ones.
But what really matters in shaping public opinion is not necessarily the total numbers, but how close, immediate and personal crime feels.
Other research has found people who feel crime is psychologically “close” – meaning, that’s likely to happen to them or someone they know – are much more worried about it.
That worry can translate into calls for tougher sentencing, stricter laws, and less tolerance for rehabilitation.
This fear is made worse by a lack of confidence in the justice system. Many rural residents feel the system is too slow, too distant, or simply doesn’t understand local issues.
When people feel justice won’t be done, they’re more likely to demand punishment that feels immediate and severe.
Why it matters
These findings are more than just a snapshot of attitudes; they have real implications for public policy.
Politicians often draw on public opinion when shaping criminal justice policies.
If rural voters are more likely to support tough-on-crime platforms, that can influence laws that affect the whole country.
But one-size-fits-all solutions won’t work.
The factors shaping crime perceptions in Brisbane or Sydney are very different from those in Longreach or Wagga Wagga.
To build trust and improve safety, we need justice strategies that take into account local realities, especially in rural areas.
This means investing in better access to police and courts, improving communication between justice systems and rural communities, and helping the public understand what crime is really happening and what’s not.
Australians in rural areas aren’t more punitive because they’re harsher people. Our research shows they are more worried, feel less supported, and have less confidence in the system designed to protect them.
Understanding this difference is key to building smarter, fairer justice policies because when people feel seen, heard, and safe, they’re less likely to demand punishment to solve feelings of insecurity and more likely to support holistic solutions.
What’s needed now
Rural communities need tailored strategies that improve access to justice, rebuild trust, and respond to their unique experiences of crime.
That means policymakers need to go beyond reactive, headline-driven responses.
Rural justice strategies should include mobile court services, better resourcing for regional police and victim support, and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous communities.
Community education campaigns can also help close the gap between crime perception and reality.
Importantly, involving local voices in justice reform, through consultation and community partnerships, can help rebuild trust and ensure policies reflect rural realities, not just urban assumptions.
As political debate over law and order grows, especially in rural communities, leaders must address the divide in how city and country Australians view crime and punishment.
Kyle Mulrooney is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and co-director of the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England.
Caitlin Davey and Sue Watt 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.
Speculation is swirling around the future of the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, following Washington’s decision to review the nuclear submarine deal to ensure it meets President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was planning to use talks with Trump at the G7 to demand the US continue to back the deal – but the meeting has been cancelled.
With the Pentagon taking another look at AUKUS, we ask five experts whether the government should rethink Australia’s own commitment to the pact.
Jennifer Parker
Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University
Absolutely not. Another review would consume time and capacity better spent delivering AUKUS on its tight timelines.
To understand why, we must put the decision in context.
The leaked details of the US Department of Defense review does not alter the position of any of the three AUKUS partners. Much of the commentary has missed the broader picture: Washington is undertaking its regular review of defence strategy.
It makes sense the Pentagon would also assess AUKUS – a central element of its Indo-Pacific posture.
While some have fixated on Colby’s supposed scepticism, the reality is different. In March, Colby told the US Senate Armed Services Committee the US should do everything in its power to make AUKUS work.
Why now? Because the strategy review is being accelerated under the new administration. As for the leak, it is plausible it was designed to apply pressure to Australia over its defence spending commitments.
The more important question is: what is the likely outcome? While nothing is certain, AUKUS enjoys strong bipartisan support in the US, as it does in Australia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called it a “blueprint” for cooperation, echoed by other senior officials.
Crucially, the real driver of this so-called “America First” review is what the US gets out of AUKUS. The answer is quite a lot. It secures access to Southeast and Northeast Asia from a location beyond the range of most Chinese missiles, adds a fourth maintenance site for Virginia-class submarines, and delivers an ally with an independent nuclear-powered submarine industrial base.
Beyond AUKUS, Australia has expanded its support for Marine and bomber rotations and other posture initiatives. Australia is central to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific. They need us as much as we need them. All signs point to a constructive outcome from this short, sharp review.
While AUKUS carries risks and Australia must remain clear-eyed, alarmism is unhelpful. Much of the public debate has taken that tone. Nothing fundamental has changed since the optimal pathway was announced in 2023. The risks we face now were known then.
There is no basis for an Australian review at this point. It would only distract from delivering this ambitious program. If core assumptions materially change, then a review may be warranted. But until then, such talk is a distraction.
Albert Palazzo
Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney
The AUKUS review should be welcomed by all Australians as an opportunity for the Albanese government to scrap the agreement and wean itself off US dependency.
The review is a chance for our political leaders to exercise their most important responsibility: asserting the nation’s sovereignty and equipping Australia to provide for its national security on its own.
Since AUKUS already contains clauses the US could use to cancel the pact, a termination now would benefit Australia. It would save the nation huge sums of money, and force the government to formulate a more useful and appropriate security policy.
Elbridge Colby has previously questioned the logic of “giving away” America’s “crown jewels”, namely its nuclear-powered submarines, and argued the US will need all its boats against China.
Elbridge Colby is in charge of the AUKUS review.
More alarmingly, in his book The Strategy of Denial, Colby concludes the ideal way for the US to deny China regional hegemony is to use its allies to minimise its own “risks, commitment and expense”. Additionally, he says the US needs to retain the opportunity to walk away from a China conflict if that proves to be in America’s best interest.
Colby’s track record suggests he will recommend Australia make a larger military contribution to the alliance — as his boss Pete Hegseth demanded at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This is even as the US reserves its right to desert us at a time of its own choosing, as the United Kingdom did during the second world war with the Singapore Strategy.
At one time, the existing defence policy of reliance on the US made a degree of sense. But that is no longer the case. Instead, Australia’s leaders have an opportunity to recalibrate defence policy from one of dependency to one of self-defence.
As I outline in my forthcoming book, The Big Fix, Australia should adopt the philosophy of “strategic defensive”. This is a method of waging war in which the defender only needs to prevent an aggressor from achieving its objectives.
This would eliminate the risks and enormous cost of AUKUS while securing the nation’s future. A strategic defensive approach is well within Australia’s capabilities to implement on its own.
While it would be an ironic act of dependency if the US was to save Australia from itself by either cancelling AUKUS or by making it too unpalatable to swallow, the chance to reconsider should not be missed.
AUKUS remains an affront to Australian sovereignty.
Ian Langford
Executive Director, Security & Defence PLuS and Professor, UNSW Sydney
Australia should not walk away from AUKUS in light of the Pentagon’s newly announced review. However, it should seize the moment to increase defence spending to meet short-term challenges not addressed by the submarine deal.
Despite the noise, AUKUS remains Australia’s most straightforward path to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, deepening strategic interoperability with the United States and United Kingdom, and embedding itself in the advanced defence technology ecosystems of its closest allies.
But clinging to AUKUS without confronting the deeper risks it now exposes would be a strategic mistake. From an Australian perspective, the submarine pathway is on a slow fuse: first deliveries are not expected until the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, the risk of major power conflict in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating, with a potential flashpoint involving China and the US as early as 2027. Naval brinkmanship in the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas is already routine.
Submarines that arrive too late do little to shape the strategic balance in the next five years. Canberra must therefore confront a hard truth: AUKUS may enhance Australia’s deterrence posture in the 2030s, but it does little to prepare the ADF for a near-term fight.
That fight, should it come, will demand capabilities the ADF currently lacks in sufficient quantity: long-range missiles, deployable air defence, survivable command and control, and more surface combatants.
Yet under current spending plans, Australia is trying to fund both the AUKUS build and short-term deterrence within a constrained budget. It will not work. Even after recent increases, defence spending remains around 2% of GDP. This is well below the level needed to fund both long-term deterrence and immediate readiness.
Without a step change – closer to 2.5–3% of GDP – or a major reprioritisation of big-ticket programs, the ADF faces a dangerous capability gap through the second half of this decade.
Australia should hold firm on AUKUS. The strategic upside is real, and the alliance commitments it reinforces are indispensable. But we should not pretend it is cost-free.
Unless the defence budget is significantly expanded, AUKUS risks hollowing out the rest of the Defence Force. The result would be a future submarine fleet paired with an underpowered ADF, unready to meet the threats of today.
In reaffirming AUKUS, Australia must confront the complex reality that it won’t address the threats of this decade, and should plan accordingly.
Maria Rost Rublee
Professor, International Relations Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Let’s be honest – Australia is not going to withdraw from AUKUS.
The United States is our most important military and diplomatic partner; in the words of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, “our alliance with the US remains fundamental to Australia’s national security”.
Unilaterally extracting ourselves from AUKUS would significantly damage our relationship with the US. Given the bipartisan and public support for the alliance within Australia, it simply won’t happen.
As we navigate the complexities of AUKUS under Trump 2.0, we should remember that as a defence industrial agreement, AUKUS creates numerous benefits for Australia. In both Pillar I (nuclear submarines) and Pillar II (advanced defence capabilities), Australia is developing deep partnerships, collaboration and even integration with both the US and the UK in shipbuilding, advanced technology, and stronger supply chains.
In addition, a rarely discussed benefit of AUKUS is the total life-cycle climate impacts, given nuclear submarines are superior to diesel alternatives. Diesel is a non-renewable energy source with significant global warming potential, while nuclear power is generally acknowledged to be low-carbon.
However, AUKUS does offer very significant risks for Australia. Flexibility is baked into the arrangement for the three partner nations – leading to the very situation we are in today. There are significant concerns Washington may not sell nuclear Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s, as agreed.
We have known for years the US is not producing enough nuclear attack submarines for its own domestic use, but we seem to have hoped this would change or the US would sell us the subs anyway.
The current US review of AUKUS makes it clear Australia needs to think seriously about other options for submarines. Without the Virginia-class, we will be without any subs at all, at least until the SSN-AUKUS submarines are delivered by the mid-2040s.
Our current ageing Collins-class subs, already beset with operational problems, will not be fit for purpose much past mid-2030. At this point, the most likely viable option is off-the-shelf conventional submarines from Japan or South Korea.
The fact is, while Australia is unlikely to withdraw from AUKUS, the US may force the issue by refusing to sell us its nuclear-powered submarines. Refusing to acknowledge this does not change the risks.
President Donald Trumps wants US allies to lift their defence spending. Rawpixel/Shutterstock
David Andrews
Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University
I want AUKUS to succeed. It offers a unique opportunity to substantially upgrade Australia’s maritime capabilities with access to world-leading submarine technology and a suite of advanced and emerging technologies.
However, we cannot realistically pursue “AUKUS at any cost”. There must be an upper limit to how much time, effort and resources are committed before the costs – financial, political and strategic – outweigh the potential long-term benefits.
Of course, the government must not be hasty. Any decision should wait until the completion of the US review. Likewise, AUKUS should not be abandoned merely because it is being reviewed.
Reviews are not inherently negative processes. A review after four years of a project of this size and significance is not a particularly surprising development. As seen in the UK, reviews can refocus efforts and commit greater resources, if needed.
However, it doesn’t look like that’s what the US review is setting out to do. Rather, it’s focused on ensuring AUKUS is aligned with the America First agenda. That indicates an altogether different set of considerations.
People often describe Trump as a “dealmaker” or “transactional”, but these are misleading euphemisms. This review, and recent language from senior US officials, gives the impression of a shakedown – of coercion, not partnership.
The need to “win” and extract money from alliances is antithetical to their purpose. It misunderstands their nature and the fundamental importance of trust between partners. AUKUS is not an ATM.
Past behaviour suggests no deal Trump makes will last without further demands being imposed. No amount of money is likely to be satisfactory. Even if Australia’s defence spending was lifted to 3.5% of GDP, the question would be “why isn’t it 5%?” For AUKUS, there is no such thing as an offer he cannot refuse.
I do not say this lightly, but if the outcome of this process is a series of gratuitous or untenable demands by the US, the Albanese government should strongly consider walking away from AUKUS.
The consequences would be significant, so the threshold of such a decision would need to be similarly calibrated. But no single project should be put above the integrity of our wider defence enterprise and the sovereign decision-making of our government.
David Andrews has not personally received funding from any relevant external bodies, but he has previously worked on projects funded by the Australian Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs, and Defence. David is a member of the Australian Labor Party and Australian Institute of International Affairs, and previously worked for the Australian Department of Defence.
Albert Palazzo is not a member of a political party but does occasional volunteer work for The Greens. In 2019, he retired from the Department of Defence. He was the long-serving Director of War Studies for the Australian Army.
Ian Langford is affiliated with Security & Defence PLuS, a collaboration between the University of New South Wales, Arizona State University and Kings College, London.
Maria Rost Rublee has received grant funding from the Australian Department of Defence and the US Institute of Peace. She is affiliated with Women in International Security-Australia and Women in Nuclear-Australia.
Jennifer Parker 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.
There’s a certain feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I’m waiting for an important call to come through. You know the type – maybe a call from your boss, a potential new employer or news of a loved one who’s due to give birth.
In these situations, I usually stare at my phone, willing it to ring. I make sure – over and again – it’s not on silent or “do not disturb” mode. When the screen is out of my sight, I imagine I can hear the familiar ringtone.
Then it pops up – the missed call notification. But the phone never rang. What happened?
How do mobile calls work?
When making a mobile call using 4G or 5G networks, the caller dials a number and their network operator (Telstra or OneNZ, for example) routes the request to the recipient’s device.
For this to work, both phones must be registered with an IP Multimedia Subsystem – or IMS – which automatically happens when you turn on your phone. IMS is the system that allows the combination of voice calls, messages and video communications.
Both phones must also be connected to a 4G or 5G cell phone tower. The caller’s network sends an invite to the recipient’s device, which will then start to ring.
This process is usually very fast. But as generations of cellular networks have evolved (remember 3G?), becoming faster and with greater capacity, they have also become more complex, with new potential points of failure.
From phone failures to ‘dead zones’
Mobile phones use Voice over LTE (VoLTE) for 4G networks or Voice over New Radio (VoNR) for 5G. These are technologies that enable voice calls over those two types of networks and they use the above mentioned IMS.
In some countries such as New Zealand, if either of these aren’t enabled or supported on your device (some phones have VoLTE disabled by default), it may attempt to fall back to the 3G network, which was switched off in Australia in 2024 and is currently being phased out in New Zealand.
If this fallback fails or is delayed, the recipient’s phone may not ring or may go straight to voicemail.
Another possibility is that your phone may have failed to register with the IMS network. If this happens – due to something like a software glitch, SIM issue, or network problem – a phone won’t receive the call signal and won’t ring.
Then there are handover issues. Each cell phone tower covers a particular area, and if you are moving, your call will be handed over to the tower that provides the best coverage. Sometimes your phone uses 5G for data but 4G for voice; if the handover between 5G and 4G is slow or fails, the call might not ring. If 5G is used for both data and voice, VoNR is used, which is still not widely supported and may fail.
Mobile apps introduce other potential problems. For example, on Android, aggressive battery-saving features can restrict background processes, including the phone app, preventing it from responding to incoming calls. Third-party apps such as call blockers, antivirus tools, or even messaging apps can also interfere with call notifications.
Finally, if your phone is in an area with poor reception, it may not receive the call signal in time to ring. These so-called “dead zones” are more common than telcos would like to admit. I live at the end of a long driveway in a well-covered suburb of Auckland in New Zealand. But, depending on where I am in the house, I still experience dead zones and often the WiFi-enabled phone apps will more reliably cause the phone to ring.
Battery-saving features on phones can restrict background processes, including the phone app, preventing it from responding to incoming calls. ymgerman/Shutterstock
What can I do to fix it?
If your phone frequently doesn’t ring on 4G or 5G there are a few things you can do:
make sure VolTE/VoNR is enabled in your network settings
restart your phone and toggle airplane mode to refresh network registration
check battery optimisation settings and exclude the phone app you are using
contact your carrier to confirm VoLTE/VoNR support and provisioning.
But ultimately, sometimes a call will just fail – and there’s very little an everyday person can do about it. Which yes, is annoying. But it also means you have a failsafe, expert-approved excuse for missing a call from your boss.
Jairo Gutierrez 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 Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.
The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:
pick a random word (such as “cake”)
focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
visualise each word as you go along
when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.
It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?
Where did this idea come from?
The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.
One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.
Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:
and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.
a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).
Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.
While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.
People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.
Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off. fran_kie/Shutterstock
Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff
Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.
In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.
Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.
Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.
Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.
Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.
In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.
By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.
And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have foundserial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.
However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.
It didn’t work. Now what?
As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.
Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.
And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.
Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:
keeping a consistent pre-bedtime routine, so your brain can wind down
writing down worries or to-do lists earlier in the day so you don’t think about them at bedtime.
If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.
Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.
Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University
If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.
The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:
pick a random word (such as “cake”)
focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
visualise each word as you go along
when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.
It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?
Where did this idea come from?
The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.
One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.
Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:
and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.
a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).
Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.
While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.
People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.
Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off. fran_kie/Shutterstock
Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff
Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.
In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.
Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.
Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.
Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.
Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.
In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.
By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.
And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have foundserial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.
However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.
It didn’t work. Now what?
As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.
Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.
And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.
Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:
keeping a consistent pre-bedtime routine, so your brain can wind down
writing down worries or to-do lists earlier in the day so you don’t think about them at bedtime.
If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.
Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.
Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Lei Jun, founder and chairman of Xiaomi, speaks to the media at Xiaomi’s automobile factory in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2025. Located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, China’s tech giant Xiaomi’s automobile factory sprawls across over 700,000 square meters. Integrating research, testing, production and sales, the factory is open to the public to showcase its cutting-edge automotive production capabilities. [Photo/Xinhua]
Inside a workshop at Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) factory, the scene is a stark contrast to what one might expect to see on a factory floor.
With few workers in sight, robotic arms move with precision and speed, seamlessly assembling vehicle body components. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) glide across the floor, efficiently transporting materials to their designated stations.
Xiaomi entered the EV market in 2021, setting up a state-of-the-art factory spanning some 720,000 square meters in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town — a key innovation hub for China’s autonomous driving industry. The market newcomer unveiled its SU7 model in March 2024.
Every 76 seconds, a new Xiaomi vehicle rolls off the production line at the factory, with over 700 robots operating around the clock to enable the full automation of key processes such as large-scale die casting.
The factory embodies Xiaomi’s vision for smart manufacturing, in which intelligent machines take the lead and automation fuels both quality and efficiency.
To Lei Jun, founder and chairman of Xiaomi, the importance of sustained investment in innovation is self-evident.
“Upholding our unwavering principle of ‘technology as the foundation,’ Xiaomi has invested over 100 billion yuan (about 13.93 billion U.S. dollars) in R&D over the past five years, making significant strides in many core capabilities. In the next five years, we plan to invest another 200 billion yuan to pursue new heights in global next-generation hard tech,” Lei said.
“Over the past five years, we have steadfastly pursued our high-end strategy,” Lei noted, adding that amid intense competition in the auto market, Xiaomi remains committed to long-term thinking — strengthening its core competitiveness, meeting diverse consumer demands, and advancing up the value chain in close collaboration with industry partners in an expansive, fast-evolving market.
Since March 2024, Xiaomi has delivered over 250,000 vehicles, quickly emerging as a key player in China’s rapidly growing new energy vehicle market by leveraging advanced smart manufacturing and a favorable policy environment to fuel its rapid ascent.
“Xiaomi owes its growth and success to the fertile ground for innovation that Beijing provides,” Lei said. “Supportive ‘soft’ environments and robust ‘hard’ policies have nurtured a group of innovative companies like Xiaomi, enabling them to forge ahead on new development tracks.”
Data shows that Beijing’s R&D intensity — measured as the ratio of total R&D spending to GDP — has remained above 6 percent for six consecutive years, reflecting the city’s strong commitment to innovation. This dedication is also recognized globally: according to a report released earlier this year, Beijing ranks among the world’s top 10 innovation cities.
The report, published in January, was compiled by the Shenzhen International Science and Technology Information Center, the Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance of Tsinghua University, and research publishing and information analytics company Elsevier.
“Manufacturing is the foundation of our nation and the cornerstone of a strong country. As both a contributor to and a beneficiary of China’s manufacturing development, we aim not only to bring the benefits of technology to consumers, but also to continue advancing on the path of innovation,” Lei noted.
Robots work at Xiaomi’s automobile factory in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2025. Located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, China’s tech giant Xiaomi’s automobile factory sprawls across over 700,000 square meters. Integrating research, testing, production and sales, the factory is open to the public to showcase its cutting-edge automotive production capabilities. [Photo/Xinhua]
Visitors learn about a new energy vehicle at Xiaomi’s automobile factory in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2025. Located in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, China’s tech giant Xiaomi’s automobile factory sprawls across over 700,000 square meters. Integrating research, testing, production and sales, the factory is open to the public to showcase its cutting-edge automotive production capabilities. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This video screenshot taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong leaving China’s orbiting space station for extravehicular activities. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen)
Imagine living and working hundreds of miles above Earth for over 50 days. This sci-fi scene has been a reality for China’s Shenzhou-20 crew — Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie — aboard the Tiangong Space Station.
Far from a quiet getaway, a short video released by China’s state television broadcaster CCTV on Monday showed their “space business trip,” which is packed with vital scientific work, health checks, and station upkeep, all of which are crucial for future space exploration.
The astronaut trio are in good condition and the multi-disciplinary space science experiments are advancing smoothly, according to the CCTV report.
The crew, commanded by veteran astronaut Chen Dong, was launched into orbit on April 24 for a six-month mission.
Over the past week, they devoted substantial time to space medicine research. During their research, they have explored fundamental aspects of cognitive function in microgravity, focusing on teamwork dynamics, self-awareness in isolation and how astronauts perceive motion, depth, and relationships absent Earth’s gravity. These studies are critical for ensuring safe operations during spacewalks and complex tasks.
In addition, they also conducted routine vascular ultrasound scans tracked changes in cardiovascular function over time and used apparatus to capture subtle changes in control and coordination during precise tasks like equipment operation or sample handling, according to the report.
On the front of life science, they focused on the “effects and mechanisms of space microgravity on microorganisms” experiment.
The video showed that in Tiangong’s specialized biotechnology experiment rack, the crew observed the growth, developmental patterns, and bioactive compound synthesis of Streptomyces bacteria in weightlessness.
This research is expected to reveal new biological adaptations and potential applications for space-based pharmaceutical research.
The crew carefully sampled liquid cultures, preserving the samples for their eventual journey back to Earth.
Another highlight of their daily routine, in addition to the meticulous space station upkeep, is their rigorous exercise to counter the physical toll of microgravity. The video captures the astronauts running on a treadmill in the space module.
Beyond exercise, the crew undergoes regular checkups like detailed heart monitoring and blood pressure tracking. They also participate in unique health assessments based on traditional Chinese medicine principles, according to the report.
China’s space station has now hosted over 200 scientific projects, with nearly 2 tonnes of scientific materials and applied equipment sent to orbit and nearly 100 experimental samples returned to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to the Netherlands on June 15 (Amsterdam time).
Professor Sun visited a start-up incubator and community workspace, Amsterdam Venture Studios Startup Village, built with containers being turned into offices. The village currently brings together 35 start-ups focusing on AI and quantum technology, with an aim to promoting interaction, collaboration and knowledge exchange among science, business and start-up ecosystem.
Professor Sun visited Omni Wind Tech BV in the community, a Dutch start-up that focuses on the innovative development of patented power generation technology by compact wind turbines to promote the high-performance application of wind energy in commercial and community settings. He was briefed on the company’s development strategies and core technologies, and learned about its practical mode of promoting sustainable development of clean energy through green innovation.
Professor Sun then visited Nearfield Instruments to learn about its latest technologies and global businesses. The company is a supplier of advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry, focusing on high-precision measurement technology to support manufacturing in the high-end nano-electronics industry.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun met with Deputy Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Ms Yvette Van Eechoud, to exchange views on promoting innovation and technology (I&T) collaboration. Professor Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to maintaining relations with European countries, including the Netherlands. He emphasised that as an international city, Hong Kong has all along been playing the roles and functions of “super connector” and “super value-adder”. The current-term Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre and there is a broad room of collaboration between the two places in the fields of I&T.
Professor Sun also called on Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, Mr He Shiqing, to brief him on Hong Kong’s efforts in “deepening international exchanges and co-operation and better integration into the national development”. Professor Sun expressed his gratitude to the Embassy for supporting the enhanced co-operation between Hong Kong and the Netherlands in I&T development and attracting enterprises and investments.
Professor Sun concluded his visit to the Netherlands and will return to Hong Kong in the morning on June 18 (Hong Kong time).
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold talks at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to contribute more to regional and world peace and development with stability and positive energy of bilateral ties.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ahead of the second China-Central Asia Summit.
Xi pointed out that China-Kazakhstan relations have withstood the test of international changes and have consistently maintained a high level of development. This is due to the geographical proximity and the long-standing friendship between the two peoples, as well as the inevitable choice for the two countries to pursue development together, he said.
In recent years under joint planning of the two leaders, Xi said, the China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future has become more substantial and richer in content, with tangible and people-centered outcomes continuously emerging, effectively enhancing the sense of fulfillment among the two peoples.
China has always viewed and developed its relationship with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to work together with Kazakhstan to unswervingly consolidate the friendship between the two countries, he said.
Xi emphasized that both China and Kazakhstan are at crucial stages of their respective development and revitalization, and the two countries should work together to advance comprehensive cooperation.
First, high-level strategic mutual trust should guide the development of bilateral relations, Xi said, urging both countries to continue to support each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, to promote synergy of their development strategies, to be strong supporters of each other amid the turbulent international situation, and to be helpful partners in their respective development and revitalization.
Second, he said, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation should be used to improve bilateral cooperation. Efforts should be made to consolidate strengths of traditional cooperation in trade, investment and energy, advance the construction of cross-border railway projects and the upgrading of port infrastructure, promote connectivity, high-tech cooperation as well as green and sustainable development, Xi said.
Third, he said, comprehensive security cooperation should be carried out to safeguard peace and stability of the two countries. This includes expanding law enforcement and defense exchanges, jointly combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, and deepening cooperation in emergency management as well as disaster prevention and mitigation, Xi said.
Fourth, Xi noted, diversified people-to-people exchanges should be carried out to solidify the foundation of China-Kazakhstan friendship. He also called for organizing well the China tourism year in Kazakhstan and encouraging more exchanges among youth, media and think tanks as well as at the local level.
Xi pointed out that in the face of the international situation intertwined with changes and chaos, China and Kazakhstan should firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, practice true multilateralism, and resolutely safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
China commends Kazakhstan for the extensive preparatory work it has done for the second China-Central Asia Summit, and believes that this meeting will write a new chapter in cooperation between China and Central Asia, Xi said.
Meanwhile, as the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China is willing to work with all member states to take this year’s Tianjin summit as an opportunity to strengthen the organization and demonstrate new development, new breakthroughs and new looks.
For his part, Tokayev said that China is a friendly neighbor, close friend and reliable partner of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership is entering a new golden age, driving the sustainable economic and social development of both countries, benefiting the two peoples, and serving as a model of relations between countries, he said.
Noting that Kazakhstan and China share a strong political will to enhance cooperation, Tokayev said the two countries have always supported each other on issues concerning their core interests, such as sovereignty and security, regardless of changes in the international landscape.
Under the wise leadership of President Xi, great achievements have been made in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, he said.
Kazakhstan is sincerely glad for these achievements and firmly believes that China will continue to achieve greater development accomplishments, Tokayev said, adding that Kazakhstan is willing to deepen strategic mutual trust and all-round mutually beneficial cooperation with China and elevate bilateral relations to a new level.
The two sides should jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy and transportation, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges in culture, education, sports and tourism, he added.
The Kazakh side highly appreciates and actively supports China’s commitment and efforts to safeguard international fairness and justice, and is ready to continue close cooperation and mutual support with China within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the SCO, BRICS, the China-Central Asia mechanism, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, so as to push forward the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.
Following the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the exchange of more than 10 bilateral cooperation documents covering areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, customs, tourism, and media.
Councils have a mountain to climb to win back the trust of rural ratepayers, Federated Farmers says – and that starts with cutting wasteful spending and sharing the burden more fairly.
“At the same time, councils deserve an overhaul of their funding tools and other changes to central government policy,” Feds local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says.
“Council rates hikes have climbed well above inflation for several decades, but the pressure on ratepayers has only worsened.
“When elections happen this October, voters should back candidates who commit to capping general rate increases at inflation – unless there’s a genuinely extraordinary reason not to,” Faulkner says.
She says rural ratepayers are fed up with footing the bill for urban-centric services they don’t use and aren’t connected to.
“It’s time to scrap unfair rating differentials and shift towards targeted uniform charges and annual general charges to reduce reliance on property value-based rates.”
Federated Farmers is also calling for legislation changes that would require binding referenda on any council commercial projects that cost more than $500 per rateable property.
“We’re not talking about sewage treatment plants, bridges or other such essential infrastructure,” Faulkner says.
“We’re meaning commercial ventures like stadiums, conference centres and marinas that are beyond core council purposes and can destroy balance sheets.
“It’s not to say these projects can’t happen, but ratepayers should get to make the final call.”
Councils could also save money by sticking to their lane and leaving climate policy to central government, Faulkner says.
“Councils should stop duplicating effort – and wasting ratepayer dollars – by setting climate policies.
“To do something positive for the environment, councils that haven’t already should bring in a rates remission policy for land under QEII covenants, Significant Natural Areas and Outstanding Natural Landscapes.
“Given that public conservation values are protected by these mechanisms, farmers deserve rates relief,” Faulkner says.
Federated Farmers supports RMA and local planning reform that reduces delays, costs and uncertainty, and utilises tools like farm plans rather than consents.
Significant Natural Area and environmental rules must be science-based and farmer-friendly.
Faulkner says central government also has a major role in the drive for council efficiency and fairness.
Federated Farmers believes road users, rather than property owners, should be paying for local roads and bridges – as is the case for State Highways.
“We’re calling for 90% of local roading maintenance and renewal costs to come from fuel excise tax and road user charges, rather than rates. Currently, the average is only 53%.
“Property value rates are a particularly poor mechanism to fund roads for the same reason as general taxation: it doesn’t tie those who use roads with those who pay for roads.
“This system also lacks logic. In areas with a lot of tourism or freight, for example, locals are left paying for roading networks that serve a wider regional or national purpose.”
The 10% cost share left with ratepayers would lock in a district say on local road priorities.
Other steps from central government are also needed to relieve cost pressures on council, Faulkner says.
“Crown land should be rateable, the 30% cap on council uniform annual general charges should be scrapped, and the Beehive should stop unfunded mandates – piling extra responsibilities onto councils with no corresponding funding.”
Faulkner says with council elections looming, now’s a great chance to ask some tough questions of councillors seeking re-election – and those challenging them for seats – on how they’ll lessen the rural rates burden.
The restoration of wetlands is an often overlooked opportunity. As our recent study shows, wetlands have long been treated as environmental “add-ons” but are in fact rising economic assets, delivering more value as they mature.
Restored coastal wetlands, particularly mangroves and saltmarshes, offer growing returns in the form of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and storm buffering. These benefits build up gradually, sometimes exponentially, over time.
But planning frameworks treat restorations as static costs, rather than compounding investments.
Using international data and economic modelling, we developed a framework to capture how wetland benefits evolve over decades. While we draw on global datasets, this approach can be applied in New Zealand to understand the value of local restoration projects.
Timing matters for wetland investment
Traditional cost-benefit analyses treat wetland restoration as a one-off expense with fixed returns. Our research shows this misses the bigger, long-term picture.
For example, coastal mangroves initially store a modest amount of carbon while seedlings develop. But as root systems establish and capture sediment, there is a critical threshold when carbon sequestration accelerates dramatically. Mature restored mangroves can store three times more carbon annually than during early years.
Saltmarshes follow a similar pattern. They develop from basic habitat into complex networks that buffer storm surges, filter nutrients and support productive fisheries.
For New Zealand, where many wetlands were historically drained or degraded, the implication is clear. Early investment in restoration is critical and will deliver increasing returns over time.
Our study highlights mangroves and saltmarshes as priority systems, but also points to peatlands and freshwater marshes as promising candidates.
The law review and freshwater policy consultations present both opportunities and challenges for wetland valuation.
The amendment to the Resource Management Act regarding freshwater proposes:
quick, targeted changes which will reduce the regulatory burden on key sectors, including farming, mining and other primary industries.
While this may reduce the regulatory burden, it highlight the need for robust valuation tools that can weigh long-term benefits against immediate development returns.
The current consultation outlines specific changes, including clarifying the definition of a wetland. The amended definition would exclude wetlands “unintentionally created” through activities such as irrigation, while constructed wetlands would have a new set of objectives and consent pathways.
Councils would also no longer need to map wetlands by 2030, while restrictions on non-intensive grazing of beef cattle and deer in wetlands would be removed.
These definition changes could exclude wetlands that accumulate significant climate and biodiversity benefits over time, regardless of their origin. As our research suggests, the ecological and economic value of wetlands often increases substantially as systems mature.
The valuation gap
Despite growing international recognition of “blue carbon” initiatives (which store carbon in coastal and marine ecosystems), New Zealand lacks frameworks to capture the dynamic value of wetlands.
New Zealand has no wetland-specific financial instruments to attract private investment and wetlands are not integrated into the Emissions Trading Scheme, the government’s main tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This creates a fundamental mismatch. Policy frameworks treat restoration as static costs while science reveals appreciating assets.
Our modelling framework offers a pathway to bridge this gap. By tracking how different wetland types accumulate benefits over time, decision makers can better understand long-term returns on restoration investment.
Australia is already developing wetland carbon markets. International blue carbon financial initiatives are emerging and recognising that today’s restoration investment delivers tomorrow’s climate benefits.
For New Zealand, this could mean:
integrating wetland valuation into environmental assessments, moving beyond upfront costs to consider decades of accumulating benefits across different wetland types
aligning finance with restoration timelines and developing funding mechanisms that capture growing value rather than treating restoration as sunk costs
building regional datasets and generating location-specific data on how New Zealand’s diverse wetlands develop benefits over time, reducing investment uncertainty.
With sea-level rise accelerating and extreme weather becoming more frequent, wetlands represent critical infrastructure for climate adaptation. Unlike built infrastructure (stop banks, for example) that depreciates, wetlands appreciate, becoming more valuable as they mature.
The current policy consultation period offers an opportunity to embed this thinking into New Zealand’s environmental frameworks. Rather than viewing wetlands as regulatory constraints, dynamic valuation could reveal them as appreciating assets that increase resilience for coastal communities.
Restoring coastal wetlands is not just about repairing nature. It’s about investing in a living, compounding asset that ameliorates climate impacts and protects our coasts and communities.
Wei Yang was funded by a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour grant.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jairo Gutierrez, Professor, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University of Technology
There’s a certain feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I’m waiting for an important call to come through. You know the type – maybe a call from your boss, a potential new employer or news of a loved one who’s due to give birth.
In these situations, I usually stare at my phone, willing it to ring. I make sure – over and again – it’s not on silent or “do not disturb” mode. When the screen is out of my sight, I imagine I can hear the familiar ringtone.
Then it pops up – the missed call notification. But the phone never rang. What happened?
How do mobile calls work?
When making a mobile call using 4G or 5G networks, the caller dials a number and their network operator (Telstra or OneNZ, for example) routes the request to the recipient’s device.
For this to work, both phones must be registered with an IP Multimedia Subsystem – or IMS – which automatically happens when you turn on your phone. IMS is the system that allows the combination of voice calls, messages and video communications.
Both phones must also be connected to a 4G or 5G cell phone tower. The caller’s network sends an invite to the recipient’s device, which will then start to ring.
This process is usually very fast. But as generations of cellular networks have evolved (remember 3G?), becoming faster and with greater capacity, they have also become more complex, with new potential points of failure.
From phone failures to ‘dead zones’
Mobile phones use Voice over LTE (VoLTE) for 4G networks or Voice over New Radio (VoNR) for 5G. These are technologies that enable voice calls over those two types of networks and they use the above mentioned IMS.
In some countries such as New Zealand, if either of these aren’t enabled or supported on your device (some phones have VoLTE disabled by default), it may attempt to fall back to the 3G network, which was switched off in Australia in 2024 and is currently being phased out in New Zealand.
If this fallback fails or is delayed, the recipient’s phone may not ring or may go straight to voicemail.
Another possibility is that your phone may have failed to register with the IMS network. If this happens – due to something like a software glitch, SIM issue, or network problem – a phone won’t receive the call signal and won’t ring.
Then there are handover issues. Each cell phone tower covers a particular area, and if you are moving, your call will be handed over to the tower that provides the best coverage. Sometimes your phone uses 5G for data but 4G for voice; if the handover between 5G and 4G is slow or fails, the call might not ring. If 5G is used for both data and voice, VoNR is used, which is still not widely supported and may fail.
Mobile apps introduce other potential problems. For example, on Android, aggressive battery-saving features can restrict background processes, including the phone app, preventing it from responding to incoming calls. Third-party apps such as call blockers, antivirus tools, or even messaging apps can also interfere with call notifications.
Finally, if your phone is in an area with poor reception, it may not receive the call signal in time to ring. These so-called “dead zones” are more common than telcos would like to admit. I live at the end of a long driveway in a well-covered suburb of Auckland in New Zealand. But, depending on where I am in the house, I still experience dead zones and often the WiFi-enabled phone apps will more reliably cause the phone to ring.
Battery-saving features on phones can restrict background processes, including the phone app, preventing it from responding to incoming calls. ymgerman/Shutterstock
What can I do to fix it?
If your phone frequently doesn’t ring on 4G or 5G there are a few things you can do:
make sure VolTE/VoNR is enabled in your network settings
restart your phone and toggle airplane mode to refresh network registration
check battery optimisation settings and exclude the phone app you are using
contact your carrier to confirm VoLTE/VoNR support and provisioning.
But ultimately, sometimes a call will just fail – and there’s very little an everyday person can do about it. Which yes, is annoying. But it also means you have a failsafe, expert-approved excuse for missing a call from your boss.
Jairo Gutierrez 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.
Challenging classrooms are producing fresh ideas as the new school year gets underway for the four teachers we will follow throughout 2025.
Lilly Maynard
Year 5–6 teacher, Ulverstone Primary School, Tasmania
Year 5–6 teacher Ulverstone Primary School, Tasmania
For Lilly Maynard, now in her second year as a graduate teacher at Ulverstone Primary School on Tasmania’s northwest coast, additional funding would be transformative.
Teaching a Year 5 to 6 class, Maynard says the school’s resources, particularly in technology, fall short of meeting student needs.
“We have one device for every two to three students,” she says. “I’d love to see one-to-one devices because, by the time they reach Year 5 or 6, many students still don’t know basic technology skills like saving a document or changing fonts.”
To bridge this gap, Maynard and other Year 5 and 6 teachers are rolling out a new technology unit in 2025 to cover foundational skills for Microsoft Word, Teams and Canva.
Funding impacts more than technology. She reflects on the benefits of having extra teacher aides in the classroom.
“Last year, I had a Year 6 student who struggled academically. With the limited aide time we had, we focused on intensive small-group work, going back to sentence structure and the elements of narrative writing,” she says.
“Having more support would mean not only helping those who are struggling but also extending students who are ready to be challenged.”
A legacy of safety
Maynard was inspired to teach by her kindergarten teacher, whom she describes as creating a caring and safe presence for students: “I’ve always wanted to be that person for others.”
This aspiration now shapes her classroom priorities, in which building resilience and fostering a safe learning environment are central. “We do a lot of social and emotional learning activities, teaching students how to handle conflicts or deal with challenges,” she says. “It’s amazing to watch them start resolving small issues on their own.”
A one-year part-time paid teaching internship, which she completed in the last year of her university studies, helped her segue into teaching.
Learning on Sea Country
Maynard’s school’s connection to its local environment is a highlight. Late last year, about one third of Ulverstone’s 380 students participated in the education department’s Sea Country program, which integrates Palawa perspectives into learning.
“We did pre-teaching activities about what Sea Country means and, on the excursion, it was incredible to see students reflecting on the land’s historical and cultural significance.”
This year, Maynard aims to continue refining her skills and exploring innovative assessment techniques. “I want to build on my trials of formative assessments like exit tickets I had success with last year.”
“My goal as a teacher is to nurture curiosity, foster creativity, and instil a lifelong love of learning.”
With additional funding, Maynard says these aspirations could become a reality for every student in her class.12 May 2025
Challenging classrooms are producing fresh ideas as the new school year gets underway for the four teachers we will follow throughout 2025.
Bry Knife
English teacher, Mabel Park State High School, Logan, QLD
Homeschool to high school
Bry Knife’s teaching career reflects education’s evolving landscape, where personal experience and advocacy play vital roles in meeting the diverse needs of today’s classrooms.
Knife’s school days were outside of the mainstream experience. The child of a missionary and pastor, Knife was home-schooled in Ethiopia from Years 3 to 10.
“Because I didn’t have a traditional education, I feel I can relate to the diversity of students at my school,” says Knife.
Studying at his own speed through homeschooling taught them that “everyone works at their own pace”. For Knife, that means embracing organisational strategies such as using a bullet journal and medication to manage ADHD.
Knife identifies as a non-binary, trans-masculine teacher. He prefers to use a combination of pronouns – he/him and they/them – to reflect his identity and experience of gender.
At university, Knife found themself “figuring out that I was queer in a very conservative space”. He completed an accelerated liberal arts bachelor’s and teaching master’s degrees in four-and-a-half years. After graduating, Knife was guaranteed permanency through the Teacher Education Centre of Excellence Program.
Embracing diversity
This year marks Knife’s fifth as a teacher. He joined Mabel Park High just over two years ago. The school has almost 1800 students and can be “complex”, says Knife, particularly with behaviour management issues. In 2025, Knife expects to continue teaching English to students in Years 7 to 12.
“My identity wasn’t as supported early in my teaching career,” Knife says. “Now, I’m much more myself. I’m supported and even celebrated, such as on Wear It Purple Day. I can project a steadiness to my students, who won’t feel safe or comfortable if the adult in the room is anxious and jittery.”
Knife credits the Queensland Teachers’ Union with the support provided to facilitate their transfer. Knife now holds multiple union roles, including QTU activist and Pride Committee member, and has helped advocate for solutions to address the teacher shortage.
“Offering permanency is no longer an incentive because the shortage makes that easy to get,” Knife says.
Bridging gaps
Proper funding for resources remains a major challenge, particularly as Mabel Park High works to “close the digital divide”.
“There are Year 7 students at my school who don’t know how to use computers, research on the internet, or type up an assessment. As we roll out a bring-your-own device program, we’re finding that many parents can’t afford computers and don’t have one at home. More funding would bridge that gap,” he says.
Lottie Smith
Year 7–10 teacher, Centre of Deaf Education, Adelaide, SA
Lottie Smith still feels pride over a student’s achievement in her first year of teaching.
The Year 8 student, who is deaf and has an intellectual disability, won the speech contest on the theme “black, loud and proud” during Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reconciliation Week.
Smith, who teaches a Year 7 to 10 class at Avenues College in Adelaide, thought of the student as soon as she heard about the contest.
“I sat with him and broke down the question, and we worked out a speech in sign language and practised it,” she says.
“On the day, I stood in front of him holding big cue cards. He used sign language, and an interpreter voiced his words.”
Smith grows emotional recalling the moment: “He did this in front of the Aboriginal Youth Commissioner, a panel of Elders, and young people. His competitors, the other contestants, used a microphone.”
Support that’s needed
The achievement highlights Smith’s dedication and one-on-one coaching. She teaches four other students who are deaf or hard of hearing and have complex additional needs such as autism or intellectual disabilities. Smith works with the support of one Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO).
“Extra funding would mean more support staff,” she says. “One-on-one support is critical for meeting the needs of our complex student cohort.”
Smith also believes in upskilling SLSOs, who often work closely with the students with the highest needs. “SLSOs have limited access to professional training, and that needs to change,” she says.
Out-of-pocket costs
Smith is grateful for a partial subsidy she received to pursue Certificates II and III in Auslan, a prerequisite for her master’s degree in teaching hearing-impaired students. However, the financial burden of further qualifications has been significant.
“The government offers a scholarship for one unit per semester of the Auslan course, which means doing it part-time,” she says. “But I studied my master’s full-time alongside Auslan, so I was automatically out-of-pocket by a few thousand dollars, but only just found out I could have applied for a scholarship.”
The lack of funding support is unfair and unethical, says Smith.
“I went out of my way to gain these qualifications, adding to my HECS debt for a hard-to-fill role,” she says.
Last year Smith was awarded SA Early Career Educator of the Year 2024 on World Teachers Day in recognition of her work with Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf (SA).
Smith says developing her students’ Auslan and English language skills drives her.
“I look forward to continuing celebrating my students’ small wins that contribute to their confidence, skills and independence.”
Amelia Evans
Physical education and science teacher, University of Canberra High School Kaleen, ACT
The opportunity to take on leadership roles and make a positive community impact drew ACT teacher Amelia Evans into teaching.
Recalling her school days, the sixth-generation teacher says: “I didn’t always love school, but I enjoyed the positive relationships I had with my PE teachers, making school a bit more fun every day.”
After Year 12, Evans completed a year in the Royal Australian Navy, “squirrelling away my pay” before starting her teaching degree.
Despite juggling multiple jobs, she finished her degree in three years instead of four, without a scholarship.
Inclusive PE
Now in her third year of high-school physical education teaching at the University of Canberra High School Kaleen, Evans faces ongoing challenges.
“In each class, I have 30 young people with diverse abilities and needs, but we’re all working towards the same goal: ensuring everyone can succeed,” she says.
For example, last year, she adapted PE lessons so a blind student who loves to run could participate.
“We’d go out onto the oval and play ‘tips’. I got a whole class set of little bells for the other students to wear, so she knows they’re about to try to tag her.”
Funding wish list
Evans says more funding would improve equipment, facilities, and accessibility for schools like hers.
“Some of the gear only lasts a term. Things get thrown on the roof, then you put a fragile badminton racket in the hands of a 13-year-old who’s never used one before – one will break every couple of lessons.”
Boosting funding would also mean “extra hands to create tasks to help students who need differentiated learning”.
Limited facilities remain a problem, too.
“Our school ovals aren’t good enough for PE, so we use the public ovals 500 metres away, which takes more of our teaching time,” she says.
Wet weather brings further challenges, with up to six PE classes crammed into a gym designed for two.
Despite these hurdles, Evans’ dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was nominated for an ACT teaching award last year for co-founding a Year 8 and 9 girls’ empowerment group. About 20 students attend twice-weekly sessions, which include lunch, music, and resilience-building activities.
“A parent has twice run workshops on saying ‘no’ – what to do if you’re approached in the street – and how to walk and look tougher than you feel,” Evans says.
Last year, she co-ordinated the transition of Year 6 students into high school. Additionally, she is studying a Certificate IV in mental health at her own expense to upskill in wellbeing support.
“It will help me have an input in decision-making for the benefit of all students and staff. I want to help lead my school in a positive direction,” Evans says.
EIT Emeritus Professor (One Welfare) Nat Waran has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to equine welfare, research and education, in the United Kingdom’s King’s Birthday Honours list.
The prestigious honour was announced on June 13 in the United Kingdom and recognises Professor Waran’s global contribution to equine welfare through education, research and advocacy.
EIT Emeritus Professor Nat Waran has been awarded an OBE in the UK King’s Birthday Honours for her services to equine welfare, research and education.
Professor Waran, who previously served as Executive Dean at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), said the award was an unexpected but deeply meaningful recognition.
“This reflects not only my work but, most importantly, the collaborative efforts of colleagues, students and organisations who have worked so hard to advance horse welfare and better understand their needs,” she said.
“EIT has played a significant part in this achievement by supporting my animal welfare work, both during my time as Executive Dean and now as an Emeritus Professor.”
Originally from the United Kingdom, Professor Waran began her academic career at the University of Edinburgh, where she launched the world’s first postgraduate programme in animal behaviour and welfare. Over the decades, her academic and advocacy work has taken her across continents, influencing education and practice in both developed and developing countries.
At EIT, she championed the One Welfare framework, which recognises the interconnected wellbeing of animals, people and the environment. She also led major research initiatives and supported global collaboration in animal welfare science.
Professor Waran remains based in Hawke’s Bay and is Director of the Good Life for Animals Centre at Companion Animals New Zealand. Her current work includes international research on equine emotion and welfare, the role of exercise in canine wellbeing and the impact of indoor living on cats.
“I’ve always been driven by a deep commitment to improving animal welfare. I don’t need an award to stay passionate about the work, but I do hope this recognition helps bring greater visibility to the importance of research, education and compassion in how we treat animals around the world.”
EIT Operations Lead Glen Harkness congratulated Professor Waran on her achievement.
“Nat has achieved remarkable success across multiple domains, but her transformative work in equine welfare stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to evidence-based practice,” he said.
“Her contributions at EIT and internationally have not only improved animal welfare standards but have fundamentally shaped how we educate, advocate and innovate in this space.”
Professor Waran is expected to travel to the UK later this year to receive the honour at an official investiture ceremony.
Pharmac’s Board has appointed a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation.
Canadian Natalie McMurtry will join Pharmac on Monday 15 September after an extensive recruitment search within New Zealand and overseas.
Board Chair Paula Bennett says Ms McMurtry brings significant front-line and health leadership experience to the Pharmac role.
“The level of interest in this role and the calibre of applicants was really high but in the end the Board was impressed by Natalie McMurtry’s depth of strategic and operational experience, intelligence, people focus and empathetic approach.
“This is exactly what Pharmac needs as a more transparent, inclusive and outward-focused organisation.”
Natalie McMurtry is currently the Chief Transition Officer responsible for launching a new Acute Care Agency in Alberta, Canada. Prior to that she was the Assistant Deputy Minister for Pharmaceutical and Supplementary Health Benefits with the Alberta Government. She began her career as a paediatric critical care pharmacist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and has since held a variety of strategic and operational roles across the health system. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Dalhousie University and an MBA in Innovation Leadership.
She says she is looking forward to joining Pharmac.
“I am honoured and excited to be joining the Pharmac team at such a pivotal time. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that plays such a vital role in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.”
Ms McMurtry will replace Acting Chief Executive Brendan Boyle, who was appointed for a fixed term while recruitment was underway to fill the vacancy left by former Chief Executive Sarah Fitt. Paula Bennett thanked Brendan Boyle for his work in the interim.
“We have been very fortunate to have his extensive public sector experience available to lay strong foundations for the new Chief Executive.”
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ASTANA, June 16 (Xinhua) — China hopes to make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and around the world together with Kazakhstan through stability and positive energy in bilateral relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Astana on Monday.
Xi Jinping made the corresponding statement during talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before the start of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit.
The Chinese leader noted that Chinese-Kazakh relations have stood the test of changes in the international situation and always maintain a high level of development. This is explained by the geographical proximity and long-standing friendship between the peoples of the two countries, and is also a logical choice in the desire of both countries for joint development, the PRC Chairman stated.
According to Xi Jinping, in recent years, thanks to the joint planning of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Kazakhstan community of shared future has become more valuable in quality and richer in content. Tangible and beneficial results have been constantly emerging, which has greatly increased the sense of satisfaction of the people of both countries.
China always views and develops its relations with Kazakhstan from a strategic height and in the long term, and is willing to steadily strengthen the friendship between the two countries, Xi Jinping said.
Both China and Kazakhstan are at key stages of their development and rise, he stressed, adding that the two countries should jointly advance comprehensive cooperation.
First, as the Chinese President pointed out, high-level strategic mutual trust should guide the development of bilateral relations. The two countries should continue to support each other on issues affecting their core interests and major concerns, promote the alignment of development strategies, be a reliable backbone for each other in an unstable international situation, and provide mutual assistance for the development and rise of both countries.
Secondly, Xi Jinping said that high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road should be used to qualitatively improve bilateral cooperation. Efforts should be made to strengthen the strengths of traditional cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and energy, promote cross-border railway projects and the upgrading of checkpoint infrastructure, enhance connectivity, expand high-tech cooperation, and promote green and sustainable development.
Thirdly, the Chinese President continued, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive cooperation in the field of security to maintain peace and stability in both countries, expand exchanges in the areas of law enforcement and defense, jointly combat the “three evil forces” (terrorism, separatism and extremism), deepen cooperation in the field of emergency management, disaster prevention and minimization.
Fourth, Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to conduct various cultural and humanitarian exchanges to consolidate the foundation of China-Kazakhstan friendship. He called for properly organizing the China Tourism Year in Kazakhstan, encouraging more active youth, media, inter-regional and think tank exchanges.
Xi Jinping stressed that in the context of chaotic changes in the international situation, China and Kazakhstan should firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, put genuine multilateralism into practice, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
China highly appreciates the extensive preparatory work done by Kazakhstan ahead of the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit and believes that the current summit will write a new chapter in the history of cooperation between China and Central Asia, the Chinese President said.
In addition, China, as the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), is willing to work with all SCO member countries to take advantage of the organization’s upcoming summit in Tianjin this year to strengthen the SCO and showcase its new development, new breakthroughs and new image, Xi added.
K.-Zh. Tokayev, for his part, stated that China is a friendly neighbor, close friend and reliable partner of Kazakhstan.
According to him, the Kazakh-Chinese relations of eternal comprehensive strategic partnership are entering a new golden era, contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of both countries, benefiting their peoples and setting a model for interstate relations.
Noting that Kazakhstan and China have a strong political will to strengthen cooperation, K.-Zh Tokayev noted that the two countries invariably support each other on issues affecting their core interests, such as sovereignty and security, regardless of changes in the international situation.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that under the wise leadership of Chairman Xi Jinping, tremendous successes have been achieved in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Kazakhstan is sincerely pleased with these achievements and firmly believes that China will continue to achieve even greater success in development, K.-Zh. Tokayev emphasized, adding that Kazakhstan is ready to deepen strategic mutual trust and comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with China, taking bilateral relations to a new level.
The two sides, he continued, should jointly promote high-quality cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road, expand cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy and transportation, and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges in such areas as culture, education, sports and tourism.
The Kazakh side highly values and actively supports China’s responsibility and efforts to ensure international fairness and justice, and is ready to continue to closely cooperate with China and support each other within the framework of multilateral structures such as the UN, SCO, BRICS, the China-Central Asia mechanism, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, in order to advance the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, K.-Zh. Tokayev pointed out.
Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of more than 10 documents on bilateral cooperation, covering areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, customs, tourism and media. –0–
Nasdaq Board Re-elects Adena T. Friedman as Chair of the Board
NEW YORK, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ) shareholders elected all nominated directors at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. All directors will serve one-year terms. The elected board members are:
Melissa M. Arnoldi, EVP and General Manager for Business Solutions, AT&T Inc.
Charlene T. Begley, Retired SVP and CIO, General Electric Company
Adena T. Friedman, Chair and CEO, Nasdaq
Essa Kazim, Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre
Thomas A. Kloet, Retired CEO and Executive Director, TMX Group Limited
Kathryn A. Koch, President and CEO, The TCW Group, Inc.
Holden Spaht, Managing Partner, Thoma Bravo
Michael R. Splinter, Retired Chairman and CEO, Applied Materials, Inc.
Johan Torgeby, President and CEO, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC)
Jeffery W. Yabuki, Chairman and CEO, InvestCloud; Chairman and Founding Partner, Motive Partners
Alfred W. Zollar, Former Executive Partner, Siris Capital Group, LLC
The Nasdaq Board of Directors also re-elected Adena T. Friedman as Chair of the Board for a one-year term.
In addition, Nasdaq shareholders approved the following proposals:
The company’s executive compensation on an advisory basis;
Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Nasdaq’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and
An amendment to Nasdaq’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to allow for the limited exculpation of officers of Nasdaq.
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.
Nasdaq Board Re-elects Adena T. Friedman as Chair of the Board
NEW YORK, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ) shareholders elected all nominated directors at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. All directors will serve one-year terms. The elected board members are:
Melissa M. Arnoldi, EVP and General Manager for Business Solutions, AT&T Inc.
Charlene T. Begley, Retired SVP and CIO, General Electric Company
Adena T. Friedman, Chair and CEO, Nasdaq
Essa Kazim, Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre
Thomas A. Kloet, Retired CEO and Executive Director, TMX Group Limited
Kathryn A. Koch, President and CEO, The TCW Group, Inc.
Holden Spaht, Managing Partner, Thoma Bravo
Michael R. Splinter, Retired Chairman and CEO, Applied Materials, Inc.
Johan Torgeby, President and CEO, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC)
Jeffery W. Yabuki, Chairman and CEO, InvestCloud; Chairman and Founding Partner, Motive Partners
Alfred W. Zollar, Former Executive Partner, Siris Capital Group, LLC
The Nasdaq Board of Directors also re-elected Adena T. Friedman as Chair of the Board for a one-year term.
In addition, Nasdaq shareholders approved the following proposals:
The company’s executive compensation on an advisory basis;
Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Nasdaq’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and
An amendment to Nasdaq’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to allow for the limited exculpation of officers of Nasdaq.
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.
Boronias, known for their showy flowers and strong scent, are a quintessential part of the Australian bush. They led Traditional Owners to the best water sources and inspired Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs to pen one of her earliest books, Boronia Babies.
But a weird group of boronias has puzzled botanists for decades. They have closed flowers that thwart most insect visitors. Those that do gain entry may encounter alternating sterile and fertile anthers (the male part that produces pollen) and sometimes, an enlarged stigma (the female part that receives pollen).
Since the early 1960s, scientists speculated this group of boronias relied on an “unusual agent for effective pollination”. Moths were occasionally mentioned in the botanical literature as potential pollinators, but the full story remained elusive – until now.
As my colleagues and I detail in our new research, moths are indeed the mystery pollinators of this strange group of flowers. This knowledge is crucial to ensuring their long-term survival.
My interest in the boronia pollinators began 15 years ago. I was studying a family of moths in my spare time, with a group of friends.
These moths, called Heliozelidae, are tiny. Their wings are just a few millimetres long, smaller than a grain of rice.
They fly during the day and are seldom attracted to lights, so they are poorly represented in museum collections. The best way to find them is to sweep plants with a butterfly net then look inside it.
The author searching for moths in Western Australia. Douglas Hilton
After sweeping plants all over Australia, we discovered this country is a hotspot for Heliozelidae. Hundreds – if not thousands – of these species are new to science and yet to be described. In comparison, only 90 species of Heliozelidae have been described from the rest of the world.
We consistently found one group of 15 moth species on the boronias with the weird flowers in the biodiversity hotspot of Western Australia’s South West. Each moth species was found only on a specific boronia species.
When we took a closer look, we found each of the 15 Heliozelidae has an intricate structure at the tip of its abdomen that collects pollen. There’s nothing else quite like this in the 150,000 known species of moths and butterflies. At last, the mystery of the boronia pollinators was solved.
Pollen-collecting structure, replete with pollen, on the dorsal tip of the abdomen of the moth that pollinates Boronia crenulata. Dr Qike Wang
The process of pollinating boronias
In spring, female moths lay many eggs inside flowers. While moving about inside the flower, she collects pollen in the little structure on her abdomen. She enters and exits multiple flowers, pollinating as she goes.
When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat some of the flowers’ developing seeds. When they are fully grown, they leave the flower and burrow into the soil to pupate in a cocoon. When they emerge in spring as moths, the flowers are blooming again and the life cycle repeats.
For some species, such as brown boronia, the moths may be the only visitor the flowers ever receive. This suggests the moth and the plant have a reciprocal relationship, depending on each other for reproduction and ultimately, survival.
This is unusual in nature. The poster-child for this type of relationship is the figs and fig wasps.
Tiny metallic day-flying moths are the boronia pollinators. Andy Young
What’s in a name?
When a scientist discovers and officially describes a new species in the academic literature, they have to name it. Scientific names have two parts. The first part is the genus or group of closely related species and the second identifies the individual species.
We built a family tree which included the new pollinating moths using their DNA sequences. We showed the pollinators belong to the genus Prophylactis meaning “to guard before”, which previously contained four non-pollinating species. This gives us the first part of the name.
For the second part, we used the name of the plant each moth pollinates and added the suffix -allax, meaning “alternately” or “in exchange”. This shows their close relationship to the plant.
So, the moth that pollinates Boronia megastigma is called Prophylactis megastigmallax. The moth that pollinates the endangered Boronia clavata is Prophylactis clavatallax – and so on.
Much to learn
The pollinating moths are more closely related to each other than to other species in the Prophylactis genus. This suggests they inherited their pollen-collecting structure from a long-gone common ancestor.
As with all good science, this research leads to new questions. For example, we are now studying which moth-plant pairs fully depend on each other.
Other Australian plant species may also have intimate relationships with moths.
Current field work is exploring which of Australia’s 486 plant species in the citrus-family (Rutaceae) are linked to moths and how often moths have evolved to pollinate them.
Bush secrets brought to life
Our research shows just how much of Australia’s biodiversity is yet to be understood and protected.
As climate change and land-clearing drive biodiversity loss at an unprecedented rate, this is a challenge we must tackle with renewed urgency. Otherwise our children and grandchildren may only experience the full glory of Gibb’s characters on a page, and not in the natural world.
Douglas Hilton works for CSIRO. The work highlighted in this article received funding from The Hermon Slade Foundation, which supports high quality biological research by scientists in Australian universities and research institutes. The research was made possible through a group of generous collaborators and co-authors including Andy Young, Liz Milla, Mengjie Jin, Stephen Wilcox, Qike Wang, Verena Wimmer, Jinny Chang, Henning Kallies, Andie Hall, Marina Watowich, Carly Busch, Jordan Wilcox, Aileen Swarbrick, Marlene Walter, Don Sands, Davina Paterson, David Lees, Marco Duretto, Adnan Moussalli, Mike Halsey and Axel Kallies.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Delyse Hutchinson, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, SEED Centre for Lifespan Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University
In Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal period).
Alongside emotional ups and downs and exhaustion, new dads may also be facing greater practical demands, such as caring for the baby, supporting their partner, and providing financially.
It’s not surprising, then, that becoming a dad may be linked to increased psychological distress. But it’s concerning because many men don’t access help. There’s also growing evidence a father’s mental state may affect his developing child in the short and long term.
Our new review brings together the international evidence about the relationship between fathers’ mental health and children’s development for the first time.
We found consistent associations between dads’ psychological distress before and after birth and poorer outcomes in children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development, from birth until the early teens.
The good news? There are effective ways to intervene early.
Barriers to getting help
There are complex reasons why new fathers might not access help for mental distress.
Men may also feel they need to be strong and push past tough emotions to “get on” with looking after the family.
They may be reluctant to acknowledge their own difficulties, and instead avoid the issue, through strategies such as working excessively, or using alcohol or other drugs.
As a result, men may have trouble recognising mental distress and it may go undetected by the people around them and in the wider health-care system.
We don’t know the true impact
Research on early risk factors for poorer child development is around 17 times more likely to focus on mothers’ health and lifestyle, compared to fathers.
This focus is understandable, given up to one in five women experience perinatal anxiety or depression in the transition to motherhood.
Strong evidence links mothers’ mental distress to poorer child outcomes. For example, mothers experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression may withdraw and find it difficult to interact with their child. This may be linked to delays in children’s developing social and emotional skills.
Yet similar research on fathers has been lacking.
This imbalance affects health policy and clinical practice, leaving many fathers feeling excluded from family health care. The impact on their children has also been poorly understood.
What we looked at
Our new research aimed to understand how men’s mental health before and after birth is related to their child’s development, from birth through adolescence.
We looked at the findings from 84 longitudinal studies which track people over long periods of time, including from Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
The review included any study that measured an association between perinatal depression, anxiety or stress in fathers (biological or adoptive) and child development. These included social and emotional skills, thinking and problem-solving, language, physical development and motor skills.
Our study had three main findings
First, mental distress in fathers during pregnancy and after birth was consistently linked to poorer development in their children.
Specifically, this included lower ratings on social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills, such as the capacity to interact with others, understand feelings, process information and communicate. It also affected physical health outcomes, such as body weight, sleep and eating patterns.
Second, associations were evident from early development (infancy) through to the early teens (13 years). This suggests that, without support, a father’s perinatal mental distress may be related to child development well beyond infancy.
Third, fathers’ mental distress after birth was more strongly related to how children developed than their mental distress during pregnancy.
This is not surprising, because it’s when fathers begin to interact with infants and may more directly influence their development.
So, what should change?
Our findings underscore that getting in early to support dads – both before and soon after the arrival of a new child – is crucial.
Routine screening for signs of mental distress is effective in identifying mothers who might benefit from help. This could be extended to all parents, through family planning, antenatal and postpartum clinics, and GP check-ups.
Research shows 80% of men see a GP or allied health practitioner in the year before having a baby. Asking about other aspects of wellbeing – such as sleep quality – can be an effective and non-stigmatising way to ease into conversations about mental health.
This can help connect men with support services earlier, to improve their health and their children’s.
What should men look out for?
Studies suggest men may often express their distress through relationship strain, rather than sadness. They may also report self-harm, suicidal ideation and feeling isolated.
Options for men who want more support include counselling, peer group support and online apps that use mindfulness and cognitive behaviour therapy to help manage moods.
For fathers needing more immediate support, crisis support services offer 24/7 live counselling via chat, telephone or video:
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency in Australia, call triple 0.
Delyse Hutchinson receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Jacqui Macdonald receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research Future Fund and the Australian Research Council. She convenes the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and she is on the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee.
Samantha Teague receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Genevieve Le Bas and Stephanie Aarsman 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.
Imagine a lush forest with tree-ferns, their trunks capped by ribbon-like fronds. Conifers tower overhead, bearing triangular leaves almost sharp enough to pierce skin. Flowering plants are both small and rare.
You’re standing in what is now Victoria, Australia, about 127 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. Slightly to your south, a massive river – more than a kilometre wide – separates you from Tasmania. This river flows along the valley forming between Australia and Antarctica as the two continents begin to split apart.
During the Early Cretaceous, southeastern Australia was some of the closest land to the South Pole. Here, the night lasted for three months in winter, contrasting with three months of daytime in summer. Despite this extreme day-night cycle, various kinds of dinosaurs still thrived here, as did flies, wasps and dragonflies.
And, as our recently published research in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology reveals, termites also chewed through the decaying wood of fallen trees. This is the first record of termites living in a polar region – and their presence provides key insights into what these ancient forests were like.
But these wood-eating bugs are a key part of many environments, freeing up nutrients contained in dead plants. They are one of the best organisms at breaking down large amounts of wood, and significantly speed up the decay of fallen wood in forests.
Ancient polar forests roughly 120 million years ago in southeastern Australia were dominated by conifer trees. Bob Nicholls
The breakdown of wood by termites makes it easier for further consumption by other animals and fungi.
Their role in ancient Victoria’s polar forests would have been just as important, as the natural decay of wood is very slow in cold conditions.
Although the cold winters would have slowed termites too, they may have thrived during long periods of darkness, just as modern termites are more active during the night.
The oldest termite nest in Australia
Our new paper, led by Monash University palaeontology research associate Jonathan Edwards, reports the discovery of an ancient termite nest near the coastal town of Inverloch in southeastern Victoria. Preserved in a 80-centimetre-long piece of fossilised log, the nest tunnels carved out by termites were first spotted by local fossil-hunter extraordinaire Melissa Lowery.
Without its discoverers knowing what it was then, the log was brought into the lab and we began investigating the origins of its structures.
Understanding the nest was challenging at first: the tunnels exposed on the surface were filled with what looked like tiny grains of rice, each around 2 millimetres long. We suspected they were most likely the coprolites (fossilised poo) of the nest-makers. Once we took a look under the microscope we noticed something very interesting: this poo was hexagonal.
Termite poo has a distinct hexagonal shape, as seen in these thin sections of the fossilised log we examined. Jonathan Edwards & William Parker
How did this shape point to termites as the “poopetrators”?
Modern termites have a gut with three sets of muscle bands. Just before excretion, their waste is squeezed to save as much water as possible, giving an almost perfect hexagonal shape to the pellets.
The size, shape, distribution and quantity of coprolites meant we had just discovered the oldest termite nest in Australia – and perhaps the largest termite wood nest from dinosaur times.
A global distribution
We continued to investigate the nest with more specific methods.
For example, we scanned parts of it with the Australian Synchrotron – a research facility that uses X-rays and infrared radiation to see the structure and composition of materials. This showed us what the unweathered coprolites inside the log looked like.
MicroCT imagery of termite coprolites within the nest. Jonathan Edwards
We also made very thin slices of the nest and looked at these slices with high-powered microscopes. And we analysed the chemistry of the log, which further supported our original theory of the nest’s identity.
The oldest fossilised termites have been found in the northern hemisphere about 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic Period.
What is exciting is that our trace fossils show they had reached the southernmost landmasses by 127 million years ago. This presence means they had likely spread all over Earth by this point.
The termites weren’t alone
Surprisingly, these termites also had smaller wood-eating companions.
During our investigation, we also noticed coprolites more than ten times smaller than those made by termites. These pellets likely belonged to wood-eating oribatid mites – minuscule arachnids with fossils dating back almost 400 million years. Many of their tunnels ring those left by the termites, telling us they inhabited this nest after the termites abandoned it.
CT reconstructions of termite and mite coprolites show the huge difference in size between them. Jonathan Edwards
Termite tunnels may have acted as mite highways, taking them deeper into the log. Moreover, because both groups ate the toughest parts of wood, these two invertebrates might have directly competed at the time. Modern oribatid mites only eat wood affected by fungi.
Regardless, our study documents the first known interaction of wood-nesting termites and oribatid mites in the fossil record.
This nest also provides important support for the idea that Australia’s polar forests weren’t dominated by ice, as modern termites can’t tolerate prolonged freezing.
This is the first record of termites living in a polar region, and their presence suggests relatively mild polar winters — something like 6°C on average. Termites would’ve been key players in these ecosystems, kickstarting wood breakdown and nutrient cycling in an otherwise slow environment.
So maybe next time you spot a termite nest, you’ll see a builder, not a bulldozer.
The authors would like to acknowledge the work of Jonathan Edwards who led the research and helped prepare this article.
Alistair Evans receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Monash University, and is an Honorary Research Affiliate with Museums Victoria.
Anthony J. Martin 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: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On June 16, 2025, Artek celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Dear friends!
I congratulate you on this wonderful anniversary – the 100th anniversary of the International Children’s Center “Artek”.
Over a century of history, full of bright events, the tent camp on the seashore has become a major international center, raising more than one generation of active, goal-oriented young citizens.
Today, Artek is a flagship in the field of children’s recreation and health improvement, its popularity is constantly growing. Every year, thousands of children from different regions of Russia and foreign countries strive to get here. A modern educational environment has been formed here, combining the best pedagogical traditions with innovative methods and technologies. Unique conditions and an atmosphere have been created where each child feels like part of a large and friendly family, can reveal their talents, master advanced knowledge, develop abilities in science, creativity and sports. Children learn to respect the history and cultural heritage of our multinational country, understand each other, find friends, sometimes for life. Following the motto – “An Artek student today is an Artek student forever.”
I would like to express special gratitude to the teachers, mentors, counselors and staff of the center. Thanks to your high professionalism, inexhaustible energy and individual approach, the children receive vivid impressions and develop a broad outlook. Your work is a contribution to the future of Russia, which your students will build.
I wish the Artek team further success in implementing large-scale projects, good health and well-being.
M. Mishustin
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov awarded the staff of the International Children’s Center “Artek” on its 100th anniversary. The event took place in the Suuk-Su Palace in Gurzuf.
The Deputy Prime Minister also read out a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, which, in particular, noted: “Today, Artek is a flagship in the field of children’s recreation and health improvement, its popularity is constantly growing. Every year, thousands of children from different regions of Russia and foreign countries strive to get here. A modern educational environment has been formed here, combining the best pedagogical traditions with innovative methods and technologies. Unique conditions and an atmosphere have been created where each child feels like part of a large and friendly family, can reveal their talents, master advanced knowledge, develop abilities in science, creativity and sports. Children learn to respect the history and cultural heritage of our multinational country, understand each other, find friends, sometimes for life. Following the motto – “An Artek student today is an Artek student forever.”
Sergei Kravtsov also congratulated the employees of the International Children’s Center “Artek”.
“Dear staff of the International Children’s Center “Artek”! I congratulate everyone on the anniversary and want to sincerely thank you for your work, professionalism and service to children. “Artek” is one of the best children’s centers of the international level. Today, there is a part of it in almost every school, in every college. Advisors to directors on education are trained in “Artek” and work using its unique technologies. “Artek” began with several canvas tents and today has been transformed into a unique international children’s center, which continues to develop,” the Minister of Education noted.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister also assessed the space of the “City of Childhood” master classes. Artek teachers and thematic partners of the center presented 80 sites of various focuses in three blocks: past, present and future. The festival of creativity, sports and knowledge brought together more than 3 thousand participants of the sixth anniversary shift from all regions of Russia, as well as 29 foreign countries.
At the “City of Childhood” site, Artek children were able to do pyrography, beadwork, scrapbooking, painting, embroidery, create a digital drawing, an Artek souvenir, play the guitar, play gorodki, write a retro letter and much more. The historical direction was widely represented: the children’s center children walked Artek routes, studied the literary map of “Artek”. A separate direction was the marine theme – for example, those who wished were able to master the technique of tying knots. The children were also interested in the sites of thematic partners of “Artek”. Representatives of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps held master classes dedicated to safety.
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kravtsov left memorable notes in the book of honored guests.
In addition, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister and Director of the International Children’s Center “Artek” Konstantin Fedorenko assessed the exhibition of the IT festival “From Dream to Progress”. The exhibition is held in the children’s camps “Lesnoy” and “Polevoy” and includes branded zones of the companies participating in the festival, where master classes on the development of mobile applications, programming, working with artificial intelligence are presented, as well as information on the latest Russian IT technologies in various industries – construction, agriculture, space industry, medicine and others.
“Today we celebrate 100 years of Artek – an entire era of friendship, discoveries and inspiration. Here, in this amazing place, children from all over the world learn to understand each other, preserving traditions. Artek is not just a children’s center, but, as children say, a home where faith in goodness, justice and one’s own strength is born. Thank you to everyone who created and continues this history: veterans, teachers, children. Your hearts make Artek a symbol of childhood, joy and unity. Let our anniversary be the beginning of new victories, and the fire of friendship never go out. Happy holiday, Artek! Forward – to new heights! ” – Konstantin Fedorenko congratulated those gathered.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced five appointments to various boards and commissions. Governor Kehoe filed the official appointment letters for these individuals on Friday, June 13.
Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
Former Senator Curls currently serves as the deputy director of the Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City. She most recently served as commissioner for Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in Jefferson City, having been appointed by Governor Parson in 2020. Prior to her appointment, she served in the Missouri legislature for 13 years, representing the people of Jackson County in the Missouri House and Senate. Curls serves on the board of Jobs for America’s Graduates, Community Builders of Kansas City, University Health Hospital, and more. She received her education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Logan Hobbs, of Jefferson City, was appointed as chair of the State Board of Mediation.
Mr. Hobbs serves as the director of labor standards for the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, managing a division of over 30 state government workers to ensure state labor standards are enforced throughout the State of Missouri. He previously served as the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ legislative liaison, representing the Department’s interests in the state capitol. Hobbs has also served as the supervisor of English instructors for a private English academy in the Republic of Korea, as well as assisted in maintaining his family cow-calf operation in McDonald County. Mr. Hobbs earned his degree in political science and international relations from Truman State University in Kirksville.
Rhonda Mammen, of Springfield, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Ms. Mammen previously served as director of school counseling services for the Springfield School District and an instructor for in-person and online courses for master’s level students in the School Counseling Program at Missouri State University. She has served on the Child Abuse and Neglect Collaborative and the Underage Drinking Task Force of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks. Mammen actively volunteers for organizations such as the Council of Churches Crosslines Food Pantry, O’Reilly Center for Hope, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more. She holds a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in school counseling from Missouri State University.
Jennifer Schoonover, of Trimble, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Ms. Schoonover is the vice president of clinical services at Synergy Services, Inc., a non-profit mental health center helping survivors of family violence and creating safe communities. She is a certified counselor with the National Board of Certified Counselors. She is also an active member of the Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Schoonover received a bachelor’s degree in psychology rehabilitation and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from University of Central Missouri.
Kristen Tuohy, of Rogersville, was reappointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Ms. Tuohy serves as the Prosecuting Attorney for Christian County. Touhy previously served as the First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Christian County and Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement celebrating President Trump’s move to undo the Biden Administration’s flawed “Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative.”
“President Trump is demonstrating once again his commitment to listening to the will of people on the ground and the sound science that backs the current state of the dams,” said Crapo. “The Biden Administration’s controversial proposal was doomed from the start. The flawed initiative ignored congressional authority over the dams, as well as the views and feedback of regional stakeholders and constituents in Idaho. The path forward for a solution to salmon recovery must include a truly collaborative approach that involves all–including both public and private–stakeholders in the region.”
Crapo is a co-sponsor of Senator Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) S. 182, Northwest Energy Security Act, which would require the federal government to ensure the Lower Snake River dams remain operational and continue to support the region’s energy needs.
On November 21, 2023, Crapo joined Risch and Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) in sending a letter to then-President Biden voicing severe concerns regarding the Administration’s efforts to breach the dams.
NASA is seeking information from U.S. and international companies about Earth proximity relay communication and navigation capabilities as the agency aims to use private industry satellite communications services for emerging agency science missions. “As part of NASA’s Communications Services Project, the agency is working with private industry to solve challenges for future exploration,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s SCaN Program. “Through this effort, NASA missions will have a greater ability to command spacecraft, resolve issues in flight, and bring home more data and scientific discoveries collected across the solar system.” In November 2024, NASA announced the TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) system, the agency’s network of satellites relaying communications from the International Space Station, ground controls on Earth, and spacecraft, will support only existing missions. NASA, as one of many customers, will obtain commercial satellite services rather than owning and operating a replacement for the existing satellite system. As NASA transitions to commercial relay services, the agency will leverage commercial capabilities to ensure support for future missions and stimulate private investment into the Earth proximity region. Commercial service offerings could become available to NASA missions as early as 2028 and will continue to be demonstrated and validated through 2031. NASA’s SCaN issued a Request for Information on May 30. Responses are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 11.NASA’s SCaN Program serves as the management office for the agency’s space communications and navigation. More than 100 NASA and non-NASA missions rely on SCaN’s two networks, the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network, to support astronauts aboard the International Space Station and future Artemis missions, monitor Earth’s weather, support lunar exploration, and uncover the solar system and beyond. Learn more about NASA’s SCaN Program at: https://www.nasa.gov/scan
