Source: New Zealand Police
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on State Highway 3, Te Mapara earlier today.
The wo-vehicle crash was reported at around 11:30am.
The Serious Crash Unit attended and have completed a scene examination.
State Highway 3 has since re-opened.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
A three-car crash on Hillsborough Road around 5pm is causing major traffic delays in Mt Roskill.
Emergency services are onsite tending one person who has sustained moderate injuries.
One driver left the scene and attempts to locate that person are underway.
Road closures are in place between James Tyler Crescent and Dominion Road.
The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and motorists are asked to avoid the area.
ENDS
Nicole Bremner/NZ Police
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 22-year-old male in relation to a criminal damage incident that occurred at a restaurant in the Alice Springs CBD on Tuesday, where significant damage was caused to the premises.
The offender was located and arrested by Alice Springs police a short time ago in The Gap.
He remains in custody and is expected to be charged with Damage to property, Armed with an offensive weapon and Possession of a prohibited weapon.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Over 1.45 lakh devotees have undertaken the Amarnath Yatra in the first eight days, with another batch of 6,482 pilgrims leaving for the Kashmir Valley from Jammu on Friday.
According to officials, more than 1.45 lakh pilgrims have had ‘darshan’ at the holy cave shrine.
“Another batch of 6,482 Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley today. The first convoy, comprising 107 vehicles and carrying 2,353 Yatris, departed at 3:20 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy, consisting of 161 vehicles and carrying 4,129 Yatris, left at 4:04 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” officials said.
The Bhumi Pujan of the ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on Thursday.
The Chhari Mubarak was brought to Pahalgam by a group of sadhus led by its sole custodian, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its traditional seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar.
In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was first taken to the Gauri Shankar Temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was performed. It was then carried to the Martand Sun Temple, where another puja was held, followed by a ceremonial dip in the holy spring at the temple.
The Chhari Mubarak will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of this year’s Yatra.
In addition to those arriving at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, many pilgrims are also reporting directly at the Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps for on-the-spot registration.
Authorities have made extensive multi-tiered security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
To ensure safety, an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to strengthen the presence of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police.
All transit camps en route to the two base camps, as well as the entire stretch from Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu to the holy cave shrine, are under strict security coverage.
This year, the Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
(With inputs from IANS)
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The NT Police Force are calling for information in relation to an assault that occurred at the intersection of Dick Ward Drive and Progress Drive yesterday evening.
About 10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a female was allegedly physically and sexually assaulted by a male who then ran from the area.
Members of the public intervened and assisted police in locating the suspect, who was arrested a short time later. The 19-year-old male was taken into police custody and investigations are ongoing. The detail of any relationship between the parties forms part of the investigation.
The victim was conveyed to the Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment.
Detective Senior Sergeant Caragh Hen said, “This incident occurred in a very public place, in full view of pedestrians and motorists. The reported offending is abhorrent and brazen and has no place in our Community.”
Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and reference job number NTP2500070146. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
If you have CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, it may be uploaded here: https://ntpol.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ntp2500070146
The NT Police Force thanks the witnesses who intervened on this occasion to protect the victim and prevent further violence.
If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (131 114).
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.
Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.
The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.
With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.
“Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.
The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.
The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security.
Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.
“The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.
During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).
They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.
They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:
Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:
The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.
“China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”
Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.
“China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”
The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.
IAEA safety standards
The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
Source: New Zealand Police
A burial for a newborn baby who was found deceased at an Auckland recycling plant almost four years ago will be held next month.
Baby Anahera, as she has been named by the community, was discovered at an Auckland recycling plant on August 16, 2021.
Auckland City CIB’s Detective Inspector Scott Beard says despite extensive enquires over the years investigators have been unable to identify the mother, father, or wider family.
“We have worked with the Coroner so that she can be laid to rest,” he says.
“Now she can be released, we will work through the arrangements for a community service for her.”
Police is aware of community plans for a service on 16 August, which will mark four years since she was found.
No matter how much time has passed, Detective Inspector Beard wants to reiterate to the family Police want to help resolve this for the baby and her family.
“It’s not too late for the baby’s mother or someone within her immediate circle of family or friends to come forward,” he says.
“We urge them and anyone else who might know what happened to do the right thing and talk to somebody, whether it’s Police or someone who can notify us on their behalf.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact 105 quoting file number 210816/2825 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
A lead foot motorist who attempted to branch out and hide from Police has been caught up a tree in Haruru.
At about 8am yesterday, a vehicle travelling on Puketona Road sped away after noticing a nearby Police car.
Far North Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Richard Garton, says the vehicle was not signalled to stop and a short time later the driver lost control and crashed.
“Officers then observed the man get out of the vehicle and flee on foot.
“The Police Dog Unit was contacted and managed to track the man, who was located a short distance away hiding up a tree.”
The man was taken into custody without further incident.
“Thankfully no one was injured, however these types of situations are extremely concerning for our staff and I hope our quick response reassures the community that we have absolutely no tolerance for incidents like these.”
A 36-year-old man appeared in Kaikohe District Court charged with dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are now in a position to release the name of the man who died following a fatal crash in Seddon on 18 June.
She was Lorena Vargas Burgos, 48, from Blenheim
Police extends our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New South Wales – News
A former UK Soldier turned police officer, a sexual offences investigator, and a counter terrorism specialist are just some of the backgrounds of the experienced overseas and interstate officers graduating from the South Australia Police (SAPOL) Academy today.
Course 4 of the SAPOL 15-week transition program includes 20 experienced officers from across the UK, Republic of Ireland, and interstate. Collectively, this course brings over 130 years of policing experience to South Australia.
The majority have transferred from general patrol and road policing positions with others bringing specialist policing expertise across areas such as Domestic Abuse, Neighbourhood Response, and Organised Crime.
Among the graduates is Lewis, who previously served as an emergency response officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary and spent nearly nine years as a frontline soldier in the British Army.
“I’m just very proud to be able to call Australia our home after trying to get here for 10 years,” he said.
“To be able to do the same job I loved in the UK but for such a great organisation in a truly stunning place – it’s changed our lives.”
Amy, who served as a Police Constable with Police Scotland for 15 years across a range of investigative and specialist roles –which include the Divisional Rape Investigation and Domestic Abuse Investigation — is graduating alongside her husband, Cameron, who is also bringing 12 years’ experience.
“We had never visited Australia before moving here, and we are looking forward to exploring our new country as a family,” Amy said.
“SAPOL offers so many opportunities – from good career progression to better salary and working conditions. Although the procedures are different, the skills we gained back home will help us to proudly serve and support our new communities.”
Today’s graduates will be posted across metropolitan and regional South Australia, including the Limestone Coast, Murray Mallee and the Eyre and Western regions.
Alongside domestic recruiting, SAPOL continues to actively recruit experienced officers from interstate and overseas jurisdictions, offering competitive salaries, six weeks’ annual leave, and a supportive transition program.
STP4 Graduates Lewis and Amy
STP4 Graduates Amy and her husband Cameron
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill was published in the Government Gazette today.
The bill fulfils the obligation of the Government under Article 14 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights (BOR14) – as declared by the Court of Final Appeal in the case of Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice – whereby an “alternative framework” will be established through legislation for legal recognition of same-sex partnerships, while providing for appropriate rights and obligations attendant on such recognition.
The bill aims to establish a registration system for same-sex partnerships. It covers the setting up of a same-sex partnership registry, the conditions for registration of same-sex partnerships, the mode of application for registration and revocation of registration, and offences and penalties related to the registration mechanism.
The bill also amends certain provisions in other legislation to provide for rights and obligations attendant on the recognition of same-sex partnerships.
The Government said it respects the court’s judgment, and will fulfil its obligation under BOR14 by establishing an alternative framework through legislation. It stressed that the current proposal fully accounts for the actual situation and overall interests of Hong Kong, and strives to achieve an appropriate balance.
The Government added that it will continue to maintain close communication with the Legislative Council to implement the bill.
It reiterated that establishing the alternative framework to introduce a registration system for same-sex partnerships will not compromise the Government’s established position on upholding Hong Kong’s monogamous and heterosexual marriage system.
The bill will be introduced in LegCo for first reading on July 16.
Responding to a National Assembly-approved amendment to the Cambodian Constitution that allows for the revocation of Khmer citizenship, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer said:
“As the proposal moves closer to becoming reality, anyone who speaks out against or opposes the ruling party will be at risk of having their citizenship revoked. We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crackdown on its critics and make them stateless.
“Revoking citizenship can violate many rights, including the rights to a nationality, to enter your own country and to take part in the conduct of public affairs. Without citizenship, people may not be able to access healthcare, get a job, go to school, migrate or get married. Stateless individuals often face social exclusion, discrimination and are at risk of exploitation and abuse. For many Cambodians, their Khmer citizenship is akin to their identity.
“Despite this repressive amendment moving forward, it comes against a backdrop where the Cambodian authorities have completely failed to safeguard the independence and integrity of the country’s courts – a failure further compounded by the Constitutional Council stating an amendment was possible. Judicial independence is key to safeguarding people’s rights including the right to nationality and reversing a culture of impunity. This has enabled the government’s authoritarian practices to continue unchecked, such as its persecution of opposition leaders, activists and independent journalists.
“Revoking citizenship often violates human rights, and when done in a way that renders people stateless is a dangerous step that is prohibited under international law. Revoking a person’s citizenship must not become a political tool to silence and intimidate critical voices, and Cambodian authorities must immediately reverse the amendment, end their authoritarian practices and uphold their international human rights obligations and the rule of law. The international community should publicly condemn the Cambodian government’s heinous proposed amendment to the constitution.”
Background
On 11 July, an extraordinary session of the National Assembly was convened in which a draft amendment to the Constitution that would allow for the revocation of Khmer citizenship was debated and approved.
President of the Senate, Hun Sen, had previously called on Cambodia’s Minister of Justice to consider the proposal to amend the Constitution. On 27 June, he said in a speech that this proposal was to “revoke citizenship from Cambodians who side with foreign nations to harm our country”.
The National Assembly-approved amendment to the constitution adds in new language to the effect of “[r]eceiving and losing and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law.”
The Constitutional Council of Cambodia said on 2 July that a proposed amendment to Article 33 of the Cambodian Constitution was possible. Article 33, before amendment, stated that: “Khmer citizens shall not be deprived of their nationality … [and] Khmer citizens residing abroad enjoy the protection of the State. The acquisition of Cambodian nationality is determined by law.”
Cambodia has been ruled for decades by the Cambodian People’s Party, which controls the judiciary and military.
Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing
An estate agent’s representative is facing disciplinary action this month after allegedly using pressure sales tactics and lying to vulnerable homeowners.
Akashdeep Singh Purba, 33, of Craigieburn, worked at VSS Estate Agents Pty Ltd (trading as The ELEET) when he allegedly committed the breaches between February and April 2023.
Purba door-knocked people’s homes with offers to sell their properties. It’s alleged he convinced them to sign sales contracts described as non-binding. They in fact had hefty costs, including commissions, if they withdrew. Those who tried to pull out of contracts were left with unexpected debts, including commissions – and in some cases, were prevented from selling with anyone else.
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) alleges that Purba:
The matter is scheduled for a directions hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on 22 July 2025.
CAV is reminding people that if they receive a knock on the door from a real estate agent, they have the right to ask them to leave immediately. If let in, they can also be asked to leave at any time.
Consumers wanting to sell their property through a real estate agent, should also do their research to choose one who meets expectations.
Disciplinary proceedings can result in reprimands, fines, and licence suspension or cancellation.
Learn more about selling your property.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
Republic of Korea (ROK) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Kim Myung-soo, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, and Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide convened the 22nd Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD) Meeting on July 11, 2025, in Seoul. The three chiefs of defense recognized the importance of close trilateral cooperation in addressing security challenges on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-pacific and beyond.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
Republic of Korea (ROK) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Kim Myung-soo, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, and Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide convened the 22nd Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD) Meeting on July 11, 2025, in Seoul. The three chiefs of defense recognized the importance of close trilateral cooperation in addressing security challenges on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-pacific and beyond.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now formally release the name of the young person who died in a crash near Kumeū on 27 June.
He was Elliot Ellis New, aged 16, of Whangamatā who was a passenger in the vehicle.
Several investigations remain ongoing into the circumstances of the crash which occurred on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway at 8.20pm.
“Our thoughts remain with Elliot’s family after the tragedy that has unfolded,” Waitematā District Commander, Superintendent Naila Hassan says.
“The investigation team will continue to keep all the families updated as these investigations make progress.
“Police is focused on running a comprehensive investigation and it will take time for this important process to be completed.”
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now formally release the name of the young person who died in a crash near Kumeū on 27 June.
He was Elliot Ellis New, aged 16, of Whangamatā who was a passenger in the vehicle.
Several investigations remain ongoing into the circumstances of the crash which occurred on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway at 8.20pm.
“Our thoughts remain with Elliot’s family after the tragedy that has unfolded,” Waitematā District Commander, Superintendent Naila Hassan says.
“The investigation team will continue to keep all the families updated as these investigations make progress.
“Police is focused on running a comprehensive investigation and it will take time for this important process to be completed.”
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: United States Coast Guard
| News Release |
U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District PA Detachment Astoria |
07/10/2025 11:02 PM EDT
SEATTLE – A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Oregon, rescued a man
Source: United States Coast Guard
| News Release |
U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District PA Detachment Astoria |
07/10/2025 11:02 PM EDT
SEATTLE – A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Oregon, rescued a man
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 11, 2025.
‘Storm clouds are gathering’: 40 years on from the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior
From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today. The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of
Dawn service held 40 years on from Rainbow Warrior bombing
TVNZ 1News The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior has sailed into Auckland to mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior in 1985. Greenpeace’s vessel, which had been protesting nuclear testing in the Pacific, sank after French government agents planted explosives on its hull, killing Portuguese-Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira. Today, 40 years
What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Clarence, Law Lecturer, RMIT University During the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping routes. Would that be possible, and what effects would it have? The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point
Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Draper, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canterbury The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable. Headgear was
Trump has flagged 200% tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals. What do we produce here, and what’s at risk?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joe Carrello, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Tanya Dol/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Australia’s pharmaceutical exports to the United States has raised alarm among industry and government leaders. There are fears that, if implemented, the tariffs could cost the Australian economy up to
‘Fashion helped the pride come out’: First Nations fashion as resistance, culture and connection
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design and Society, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images of deceased people. First Nations garments have always held deep meaning. What we wear tells stories about culture, Country and
Does AI actually boost productivity? The evidence is murky
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Whittle, Director, Data61, CSIRO Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock There’s been much talk recently – especially among politicians – about productivity. And for good reason: Australia’s labour productivity growth sits at a 60-year low. To address this, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened a productivity round table next month.
Albanese’s China mission – managing a complex relationship in a world of shifting alliances
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Laurenceson, Director and Professor, Australia-China Relations Institute (UTS:ACRI), University of Technology Sydney Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves for China on Saturday, confident most Australians back the government’s handling of relations with our most important economic partner and the leading strategic power in Asia. Albanese’s domestic critics
NZ’s new AI strategy is long on ‘economic opportunity’ but short on managing ethical and social risk
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Lensen, Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images The government’s newly unveiled National AI Strategy is all about what its title says: “Investing with Confidence”. It tells businesses that Aotearoa New Zealand is open for AI use, and
Will my private health insurance cover my surgery? What if my claim is rejected?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yuting Zhang, Professor of Health Economics, The University of Melbourne shurkin_son/Shutterstock The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has fined Bupa A$35 million for unlawfully rejecting thousands of health insurance claims over more than five years. Between May 2018 and August 2023 Bupa incorrectly rejected claims from
Grattan on Friday: childcare is a ‘canary in mine’ warning for wider problems in policy delivery
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It’s such a familiar pattern. When a big scandal breaks publicly, governments jump into action, ministers rush out to say they’ll “do something” instantly. But how come they hadn’t seen problems that had been in plain sight? Who can forget
The special envoy’s antisemitism plan is ambitious, but fails to reckon with the hardest questions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matteo Vergani, Associate Professor, Deakin University On July 6, an arson attack targeted the East Melbourne Synagogue. It was the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents recorded across Australia since October 7 2023, when Hamas carried out a horrific terrorist attack, killing about 1,200 Israelis. These
Queensland’s horrific lion attack shows wild animals should not be kept for our amusement
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgette Leah Burns, Associate Professor, Griffith School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been operating for
Does Donald Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? We asked 5 experts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the president is “forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one
Does Australia really take too long to approve medicines, as the US says?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Australia’s drug approval system is under fire, with critics in the United States claiming it is too slow to approve life-saving medicines. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration balances speed with a rigorous assessment of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness. So
Skorts revolutionised how women and girls play sport. But in 2025, are they regressive?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer E. Cheng, Researcher and Lecturer in Sociology, Western Sydney University If you watched any of the 2025 Wimbledon womens’ matches, you’ll have noticed many players donning a skort: a garment in which shorts are concealed under a skirt, or a front panel resembling a skirt. You
First the dire wolf, now NZ’s giant moa: why real ‘de-extinction’ is unlikely to fly
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Colossal Biosciences, CC BY-SA The announcement that New Zealand’s moa nunui (giant moa) is the next “de-extinction” target for Colossal Biosciences, in partnership with Canterbury Museum, the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and filmmaker Peter Jackson, caused widespread
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Larissa Waters on why we deserve more than a government that just tinkers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Greens had a poor election. They lost three of their four lower house seats including that of their leader Adam Bandt. This despite their overall vote remaining mostly steady. But they did retain all their Senate spots – though
Envoy’s plan to fight antisemitism would put universities on notice over funding
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has recommended universities that fail to properly deal with the issue should have government funding terminated. In her Plan to Combat Antisemitism, launched Thursday, Segal says she will prepare a report
Keith Rankin Analysis – Public Debt, Japan, and Wilful Blindness
Analysis by Keith Rankin. I just heard on Radio New Zealand a claim by a British commentator, Hugo Gye (Political Editor of The i Paper), that the United Kingdom (among other countries) has a major public debt crisis, and that if nothing is done about it (such as what Rachel Reeves – Chancellor of the
From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today.
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of a voyager on board, Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, was both a tragic and a seminal moment in the long campaign for a nuclear-free Pacific.
It was so startling that many of us still remember where we were when the news came through. I was in Zimbabwe on my way to join the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Women in Nairobi. In Harare I met for the first time New Zealand Anglican priest Father Michael Lapsley who, in that same city in 1990, was severely disabled by a parcel bomb delivered by the intelligence service of the apartheid regime in South Africa. These two bombings, of the Rainbow Warrior and of Michael, have been sad reminders to me of the price so many have paid for their commitment to peace and justice.
It was also very poignant for me to meet Fernando’s daughter, Marelle, in Auckland in 2005. Her family suffered a loss which no family should have to bear. In August 1985, I was at the meeting of the Labour Party caucus when it was made known that the police had identified a woman in their custody as a French intelligence officer. Then in September, French prime minister Laurent Fabius confirmed that French secret agents had indeed sunk the Rainbow Warrior. The following year, a UN-mediated agreement saw the convicted agents leave New Zealand and a formal apology, a small amount of compensation, and undertakings on trade given by France — the latter after New Zealand perishable goods had been damaged in port in France.
Both 1985 and 1986 were momentous years for New Zealand’s assertion of its nuclear-free positioning which was seen as provocative by its nuclear-armed allies. On 4 February 1985, the United States was advised that its naval vessel, the Buchanan, could not enter a New Zealand port because it was nuclear weapons-capable and the US “neither confirm nor deny” policy meant that New Zealand could not establish whether it was nuclear weapons-armed or not.
In Manila in July 1986, a meeting between prime minister David Lange and US Secretary of State George Schultz confirmed that neither New Zealand nor the US were prepared to change their positions and that New Zealand’s engagement in ANZUS was at an end. Secretary Schultz famously said that “We part company as friends, but we part company as far as the alliance is concerned”.
Pour les 40 ans de l’attentat de la France contre le Rainbow Warrior, le journaliste néo-zélandais @DavidRobie publie une nouvelle édition de son livre sur le dernier voyage du navire de Greenpeace. Préfacée par Helen Clark, ex-PM de Nouvelle-Zélandehttps://t.co/n1v8Nduel6
— Edwy Plenel (@edwyplenel) July 10, 2025
New Zealand passed its Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act in 1987. Since that time, until now, the country has on a largely bipartisan basis maintained its nuclear-free policy as a fundamental tenet of its independent foreign policy. But storm clouds are gathering.
Australia’s decision to enter a nuclear submarine purchase programme with the United States is one of those. There has been much speculation about a potential Pillar Two of the AUKUS agreement which would see others in the region become partners in the development of advanced weaponry. This is occurring in the context of rising tensions between the United States and China.
Many of us share the view that New Zealand should be a voice for deescalation, not for enthusiastic expansion of nuclear submarine fleets in the Pacific and the development of more lethal weaponry.
Nuclear war is an existential threat to humanity. Far from receding, the threat of use of nuclear weapons is ever present. The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists now sits at 89 seconds to midnight. It references the Ukraine theatre where the use of nuclear weapons has been floated by Russia. The arms control architecture for Europe is unravelling, leaving the continent much less secure. India and Pakistan both have nuclear arsenals. The Middle East is a tinder box with the failure of the Iran nuclear deal and with Israel widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. North Korea continues to develop its nuclear weapons capacity. An outright military conflict between China and the United States would be one between two nuclear powers with serious ramifications for East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific, and far beyond.
August 2025 marks the eightieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A survivors’ group, Nihon Hidankyo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. They bear tragic witness to the horror of the use of nuclear weapons. The world must heed their voice now and at all times.
In the current global turbulence, New Zealand needs to reemphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament. New Zealanders were clear — we did not want to be defended by nuclear weapons. We wanted our country to be a force for diplomacy and for dialogue, not for warmongering.
The multilateral system is now in crisis — across all its dimensions. The UN Security Council is paralysed by great power tensions. The United States is unlikely to pay its dues to the UN under the Trump presidency, and others are unlikely to fill the substantial gap which that leaves. Its humanitarian, development, health, human rights, political and peacekeeping, scientific and cultural arms all face fiscal crises.
This is the time for New Zealand to link with the many small and middle powers across regions who have a vision for a world characterised by solidarity and peace and which can rise to the occasion to combat the existential challenges it faces — including of nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence. If our independent foreign policy is to mean anything in the mid-2020s, it must be based on concerted diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.
Movement back towards an out-of-date alliance, from which New Zealand disengaged four decades ago, and its current tentacles, offers no safe harbour — on the contrary, these destabilise the region within which we live and the wide trading relationships we have. May this new edition of David Robie’s Eyes of Fire remind us of our nuclear-free journey and its relevance as a lode star in these current challenging times.
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
From the prologue of the 40th anniversary edition of David Robie’s seminal book on the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (1999-2008) writes about what the bombing on 10 July 1985 means today.
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 and the death of a voyager on board, Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira, was both a tragic and a seminal moment in the long campaign for a nuclear-free Pacific.
It was so startling that many of us still remember where we were when the news came through. I was in Zimbabwe on my way to join the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Women in Nairobi. In Harare I met for the first time New Zealand Anglican priest Father Michael Lapsley who, in that same city in 1990, was severely disabled by a parcel bomb delivered by the intelligence service of the apartheid regime in South Africa. These two bombings, of the Rainbow Warrior and of Michael, have been sad reminders to me of the price so many have paid for their commitment to peace and justice.
It was also very poignant for me to meet Fernando’s daughter, Marelle, in Auckland in 2005. Her family suffered a loss which no family should have to bear. In August 1985, I was at the meeting of the Labour Party caucus when it was made known that the police had identified a woman in their custody as a French intelligence officer. Then in September, French prime minister Laurent Fabius confirmed that French secret agents had indeed sunk the Rainbow Warrior. The following year, a UN-mediated agreement saw the convicted agents leave New Zealand and a formal apology, a small amount of compensation, and undertakings on trade given by France — the latter after New Zealand perishable goods had been damaged in port in France.
Both 1985 and 1986 were momentous years for New Zealand’s assertion of its nuclear-free positioning which was seen as provocative by its nuclear-armed allies. On 4 February 1985, the United States was advised that its naval vessel, the Buchanan, could not enter a New Zealand port because it was nuclear weapons-capable and the US “neither confirm nor deny” policy meant that New Zealand could not establish whether it was nuclear weapons-armed or not.
In Manila in July 1986, a meeting between prime minister David Lange and US Secretary of State George Schultz confirmed that neither New Zealand nor the US were prepared to change their positions and that New Zealand’s engagement in ANZUS was at an end. Secretary Schultz famously said that “We part company as friends, but we part company as far as the alliance is concerned”.
Pour les 40 ans de l’attentat de la France contre le Rainbow Warrior, le journaliste néo-zélandais @DavidRobie publie une nouvelle édition de son livre sur le dernier voyage du navire de Greenpeace. Préfacée par Helen Clark, ex-PM de Nouvelle-Zélandehttps://t.co/n1v8Nduel6
— Edwy Plenel (@edwyplenel) July 10, 2025
New Zealand passed its Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act in 1987. Since that time, until now, the country has on a largely bipartisan basis maintained its nuclear-free policy as a fundamental tenet of its independent foreign policy. But storm clouds are gathering.
Australia’s decision to enter a nuclear submarine purchase programme with the United States is one of those. There has been much speculation about a potential Pillar Two of the AUKUS agreement which would see others in the region become partners in the development of advanced weaponry. This is occurring in the context of rising tensions between the United States and China.
Many of us share the view that New Zealand should be a voice for deescalation, not for enthusiastic expansion of nuclear submarine fleets in the Pacific and the development of more lethal weaponry.
Nuclear war is an existential threat to humanity. Far from receding, the threat of use of nuclear weapons is ever present. The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists now sits at 89 seconds to midnight. It references the Ukraine theatre where the use of nuclear weapons has been floated by Russia. The arms control architecture for Europe is unravelling, leaving the continent much less secure. India and Pakistan both have nuclear arsenals. The Middle East is a tinder box with the failure of the Iran nuclear deal and with Israel widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. North Korea continues to develop its nuclear weapons capacity. An outright military conflict between China and the United States would be one between two nuclear powers with serious ramifications for East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific, and far beyond.
August 2025 marks the eightieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A survivors’ group, Nihon Hidankyo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year. They bear tragic witness to the horror of the use of nuclear weapons. The world must heed their voice now and at all times.
In the current global turbulence, New Zealand needs to reemphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament. New Zealanders were clear — we did not want to be defended by nuclear weapons. We wanted our country to be a force for diplomacy and for dialogue, not for warmongering.
The multilateral system is now in crisis — across all its dimensions. The UN Security Council is paralysed by great power tensions. The United States is unlikely to pay its dues to the UN under the Trump presidency, and others are unlikely to fill the substantial gap which that leaves. Its humanitarian, development, health, human rights, political and peacekeeping, scientific and cultural arms all face fiscal crises.
This is the time for New Zealand to link with the many small and middle powers across regions who have a vision for a world characterised by solidarity and peace and which can rise to the occasion to combat the existential challenges it faces — including of nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence. If our independent foreign policy is to mean anything in the mid-2020s, it must be based on concerted diplomacy for peace and sustainable development.
Movement back towards an out-of-date alliance, from which New Zealand disengaged four decades ago, and its current tentacles, offers no safe harbour — on the contrary, these destabilise the region within which we live and the wide trading relationships we have. May this new edition of David Robie’s Eyes of Fire remind us of our nuclear-free journey and its relevance as a lode star in these current challenging times.
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle East Studies and Associate Professor of Francophone and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Dickinson College. Adjunct Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law., Dickinson College
After a 12-day war launched by Israel and joined briefly by the United States, Iran has emerged weakened and vulnerable. And that has massive implications for another country in the region: Lebanon.
Hezbollah, Tehran’s main ally in Lebanon, had already lost a lot of its fighters, arsenal and popular support during its own war with Israel in October 2024.
Now, Iran’s government has little capacity to continue to finance, support and direct Hezbollah in Lebanon like it has done in the past. Compounding this shift away from Hezbollah’s influence, the U.S. recently laid down terms for a deal that would see the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in return for the total disarmament of the paramilitary group – a proposal seemingly backed by the Lebanese government.
As an expert on Lebanese history and culture, I believe that these changing regional dynamics give the Lebanese state an opening to chart a more neutral orientation and extricate itself from neighboring conflicts that have long exacerbated the divided and fragile country’s chronic problems.
Ideologically, developments in Iran played a major role in shaping the circumstances in which Hezbollah, the Shiite Islamist political party and paramilitary group, was born.
The Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 toppled the widely reviled and corrupt Western-backed monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza and led to the establishment of an Islamic republic. That revolution resonated among the young Shiite population in Lebanon, where a politically sectarian system that was intended to reflect a balanced representation of Muslims and Christians in the country had led to de facto discrimination against underrepresented groups.
Since Lebanon’s independence from France in 1943, most of the power has been concentrated in the hands of the Maronite Christians and Sunnis, leaving Shiite regions in south Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley lacking in development projects, social services and infrastructure.
At the same time, Lebanon for decades had been irreparably changed by the politics of its powerful neighbor in Israel.
In the course of founding its state in 1948, Israel forcibly removed over 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland – what Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or “catastophe.” Many fled to Lebanon, largely in the country’s impoverished south and Bekaa Valley, which became a center of Palestinian resistance to Israel.
In 1978, Israel invaded Lebanon to push Palestinian fighters away from its northern borders and put an end to rockets launched from south Lebanon. This fighting included the massacre of many civilians and the displacement of many Lebanese and Palestinians farther north.
In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon again with the stated purpose of eliminating the Palestinian Liberation Organization that had moved its headquarters to the country’s south. An estimated 17,000 to 19,000 Lebanese and Palestinian civilians and armed personnel were killed during the conflict and the accompanying siege of Beirut.
It was in this cauldron of regional and domestic sectarianism and state abandonment that Hezbollah formed as a paramilitary group in 1985, buoyed by Shiite mobilization following the Iranian revolution and Israel’s invasion and occupation.
Over time and with the continuous support of Iran, Hezbollah become an important player in the Middle East, intervening in the Syrian civil war to support the Assad regime and supporting the Kata’ib Hezbollah, a dominant Iraqi pro-Iranian militia.
In 2016, Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah officially recognized Iran’s role in funding their activities.
With Tehran’s support, Hezbollah was effectively able to operate as a state within a state while using its political clout to veto the vast majority of Lebanese parliamentary decisions it opposed. Amid that backdrop, Lebanon endured three long presidential vacuums: from November 2007 to May 2008; from May 2014 to October 2016; and finally from October 2022 to January 2024.
Lebanon also witnessed a series of political assassinations from 2005 to 2021 that targeted politicians, academics, journalists and other figures who criticized Hezbollah.
It would be an understatement, then, to say that Hezbollah’s and Iran’s weakened positions as a result of their respective conflicts with Israel since late 2023 create major political ramifications for Lebanon.
The most recent vacuum at the presidential level ended amid Hezbollah’s military losses against Israel, with Lebanon electing the former army commander Joseph Aoun as president.
Meanwhile, despite the threat of violence, the Lebanese opposition to Hezbollah, which consists of members of parliament and public figures, has increased its criticism of Hezbollah, openly denouncing its leadership and calling for Lebanon’s political neutrality.
These dissenting voices emerged cautiously during the Syrian civil war in 2011 and have grown after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent war on Gaza.
During the latest Israel-Iran war, the Lebanese opposition felt emboldened to reiterate its call for neutrality. Enabled by the U.S’s growing tutelage over Lebanon, some opposition figures have even called to normalize relations with Israel.
These efforts to keep Lebanon out of the circle of violence are not negligible. In the past, they would have been attacked by Hezbollah and its supporters for what they would have considered high treason. Today, they represent new movement for how leaders are conceiving of politics domestically and diplomacy across the region.
As the political system cautiously changes, Hezbollah is facing unprecedented financial challenges and is unable to meet its fighters’ needs, including the promise to rebuild their destroyed homes. And with its own serious internal challenges, Iran now has much less ability to meaningfully support Hezbollah from abroad.
But none of that means that Hezbollah is defeated as a political and military force, particularly as ongoing skirmishes with Israel give the group an external pretext.
The Hezbollah-Israel war ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France on Nov. 27, 2024. However, Israel has been attacking south Lebanon on an almost daily basis, including three incidents over the course of 10 days from late June to early July that have left several people dead and more than a dozen wounded.
Amid these violations, Hezbollah continues to refuse to disarm and still casts itself as the only defender of Lebanon’s territorial integrity, again undermining the power of the Lebanese army and state.
Lebanon’s other neighbor, Syria, will also be critical. The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 diminished Hezbollah’s powers in the region and land access to Iraq and Iran. And the new Syrian leadership is not interested in supporting the Iranian Shiite ideology in the region but rather in empowering the Sunni community, one that was oppressed under the Assad dictatorship.
While it’s too early to say, border tensions might translate into sectarian violence in Lebanon or even potential land loss. Yet the new Syrian government also has a different approach toward its neighbors than its predecessor. After decades of hostility, Syria seems to be opting for diplomacy with Israel rather than war. It is unclear what these negotiations will entail and how they will impact Lebanon and Hezbollah. However, there are real concerns about new borders in the region.
The U.S. as ever will play a major role in next steps in Lebanon and the region. The U.S. has been pressing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, and the U.S Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack said he was “unbelievably satisfied” by Lebanon’s response thus far. But so far, there has been no fundamental shift on that front.
Meanwhile, despite the calls for neutrality and the U.S pressure on Lebanon, it is hard to envision a new and neutral Lebanon without some serious changes in the region. Any future course for Lebanon will still first require progress toward peace in Gaza and ensuring Iran commits not to use Hezbollah as a proxy in the future.
Mireille Rebeiz is affiliated with American Red Cross.
– ref. A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the region’s conflicts − will it be enough? – https://theconversation.com/a-weakened-iran-and-hezbollah-gives-lebanon-an-opening-to-chart-path-away-from-the-regions-conflicts-will-it-be-enough-260031
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Belinda Clarence, Law Lecturer, RMIT University
During the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping routes.
Would that be possible, and what effects would it have?
The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is used to transport about 20% of global daily oil consumption.
Iran effectively controls this crucial shipping route because it is a coastal state bordering this narrow stretch of water. The strait is too narrow to avoid navigating waters claimed by Iran. This raises thorny legal questions about whether it is really possible for Iran to block the strait, and what recourse other states have if it does.
This geographical reality is far from new, and the legal frameworks governing international maritime activity have developed over centuries. At its heart is the lex mercatoria — the “law of merchants” — a body of transnational commercial law that emerged organically from the practices of traders operating across borders.
Within this broader framework sits the lex maritima, or customary maritime law, which has long adapted to the hazards of shipping across vast oceans.
The lex maritima originated from the shared practices of seafarers and merchants. Its purpose? To manage the unpredictable nature of maritime trade that demands coherent and stable rules.
One of the most enduring principles of this legal tradition is the idea of mare liberum, or “the free sea”, set out by Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius in 1609. He argued the high seas should remain open to all for peaceful navigation and trade. This conveniently legitimised the ambitions of European colonial powers, granting them unfettered access to global maritime routes at a time when control over sea-based trade promised immense economic and strategic advantage.
One of the most fundamental questions in maritime law is: where do a nation’s territorial waters end, and the high seas begin?
After the second world war, a series of conferences culminated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), where the customary 3 nautical miles (5.56km) of territorial waters states could claim as their own was extended. This narrow limit was rooted more in historical naval range – the so-called “cannon shot rule” – than in modern geopolitical or environmental realities.
In 1959, Iran took the unusual step of unilaterally extending its territorial sea to 12 nautical miles, despite not being a party to UNCLOS. Two decades later, following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the US Embassy hostage crisis, Washington grew increasingly anxious about the security of oil flows from the Persian Gulf. These concerns intensified during the Iran-Iraq War, especially as Iran began using small islands in the Strait of Hormuz to deploy military forces and threaten commercial shipping.
One of the key compromises of UNCLOS was an extension of territorial waters for states that ratified the treaty. In exchange, UNCLOS replaced the older concept of “innocent passage” – which allowed only surface navigation through territorial seas – with the broader notion of “transit passage”. Under this regime, vessels and aircraft from other states are granted the right to travel not only on the surface, but also under the sea and through the air above straits used for international navigation.
While 169 states have ratified UNCLOS, both Iran and the United States remain notable holdouts. This means Iran does not enjoy the broader 12-nautical-mile limit recognised under UNCLOS, and the US cannot claim the agreement’s protections for transit passage through strategic choke points.
While the geopolitical and legal tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz may seem far removed from the world of private commerce, the global economy continues to function thanks to a powerful legal tool: the contract. Contracts offer a predictable framework that allows trade across borders without parties needing to trust one another personally.
The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by active, assertive states such as Iran, which means the potential for interstate conflict is relatively high. This doesn’t mean commercial contracts are irrelevant to the recent dispute in the Strait of Hormuz — far from it. But their influence is more indirect.
Without significant political change in Tehran, it’s unlikely either Iran or the US will shift its position on adopting UNCLOS. Yet despite Iran’s repeated threats to close the strait, it has never followed through — and the US Navy continues to maintain a steady presence in the region. For now, a fragile but persistent equilibrium holds.
Belinda Clarence does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for global shipping? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-strait-of-hormuz-and-why-is-it-so-important-for-global-shipping-260920
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Nick Draper, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Canterbury
The widely held view among rugby players, coaches and officials is that headgear can’t prevent concussion. If so, why wear it? It’s hot, it can block vision and hearing, and it can be uncomfortable.
Headgear was originally designed to protect players from cuts and abrasions. But players still hope it will offer them a degree of protection against the collisions they experience in the game. Some players adopt it after previous concussions.
We’re now seeing increasing numbers of professional players opting in. The Irish men’s team, for example, field up to five players each match sporting headgear. In Japan, it’s mandatory for juniors. And more parents in New Zealand are making their children wear it, too.
The exact specifications for rugby match kit – boots, shorts, shoulder pads and
headgear – are regulated through World Rugby’s Law 4 and Regulation 12. In 2019, the governing body launched a trial enabling players to wear headgear with new technical specifications in training and matches.
The specifications have meant manufacturers can take advantage of novel “isotropic” materials that can potentially reduce the impact forces experienced by players.
Conventional headgear is composed of soft foams that flatten when a player’s head collides with the ground or another player. As such, they can only minimally absorb those collision forces.
Isotropic materials behave differently. They can absorb impacts from multiple directions and may offer a level of protection against the effects on a player’s head of a tackle or other collision event.
Given these changes, and in light of recent research, we may need to change the narrative around rugby headgear: while it may not prevent concussion, it might reduce the total contact “burden” experienced by players in a game and over a whole season. And this could have benefits for long-term brain health.
Contact in rugby – through tackles, at the breakdown, and in scrums and lineouts – leads to players experiencing a number of collisions or “head acceleration events”. This contact is most commonly head to ground, head to body or head to head.
By having players use “smart” mouthguards with embedded micro-accelerometers and gyroscopes to capture head movements, researchers can now measure each collision and each player’s contact load in a game – and potentially over a career.
A player’s total contact load is found by adding together the magnitude of the impacts they experience in a game. These are measured as “peak linear accelerations” or “peak rotational accelerations”.
While past research and media attention has focused on concussion, it has become clear the total contact burden in training and matches – the total “sub-concussive knocks” through head acceleration events – may be as important, if not more so.
One of our own research projects involved following 40 under-16 players wearing smart mouthguards for all training and matches across one season. Peak Linear accelerations are measured as a g-force (g). Activities such as such as running, jumping and shaking the head would measure under 8g, for example, whereas heading a soccer ball might measure 31g.
The results of our study showed the players differed greatly in their cumulative exposure over a whole season, from 300g to nearly 14,000g. These differences would be amplified further over an entire rugby career.
Some of the variation is likely due to a player’s team position, with loose forwards having a greater burden than others. But it also seems some players just enjoy the contact aspects of the game more than others.
Researcher Helen Murray at the University of Auckland has highlighted the need for more research into the burden of collisions, rather than just concussions, over a rugby career. In particular, we need to know more about its effect on future brain health.
We hope to contribute to this by following our existing cohort of players through their careers. In the meantime, our research has examined the potential of existing rugby headgear and new isotropic materials to mitigate peak accelerations in rugby collisions.
Using the field data collected from male and female players over the past four seasons, we have designed laboratory testing protocols to compare the conventional and newer materials.
The results suggest the new forms of headgear do have the potential to reduce the impact burden for players.
We found 55–90% of head acceleration events do involve direct contact with the head. As such, collision-mitigation headgear could be beneficial. And our laboratory testing produced an estimated 30% reduction in peak linear accelerations with the headgear compared to without.
The nature of concussion is complex and related to the size of an impact as well as its direction and angle. For instance, we observed the concussions experienced by the junior players occurred between 12g and 62g – well below the male threshold of 70g requiring professional players to be removed from the field for a head injury assessment.
Currently, it seems unlikely headgear can prevent concussion. But it does appear new headgear materials could significantly reduce the total impact burden for players during their careers. And this may help safeguard their future brain health.
Nick Draper receives funding from the Health Research Council, Cure Kids, the Neurological Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Pacific Radiology Group, the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the UC Foundation.
– ref. Rugby headgear can’t prevent concussion – but new materials could soften the blows over a career – https://theconversation.com/rugby-headgear-cant-prevent-concussion-but-new-materials-could-soften-the-blows-over-a-career-258912
Source: New Zealand Police
Rolleston Police investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in the community are appealing for information from the public.
Senior Constable Matt Barraclough says Police are aware of multiple reports of vehicles having been allegedly broken into in the early hours of Monday 8 July and Friday 11 July.
“These have occurred in the Arbor Green, Harrison Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Brenley Drive areas.”
Police are appealing for any information in relation to these incidents including CCTV or dashcam footage in the surrounding areas.
“Specifically, we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a person riding a scooter in the Brenley Drive, Marcoola Crescent, and Harrison Drive areas at around 4am on Friday.”
To ensure their vehicle is not targeted, Police would like to remind the public to lock their vehicles, park in off-street parking or in a well-lit area, remove any valuables that may attract thieves, invest in a steering lock or wheel clamp, and install cameras around and in their vehicle.
If you have any information that may assist us in our enquiries, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250711/3587.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP-25) officially kicks off with the arrival of the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, led by Rear Admiral Todd F. Cimicata, U.S. Pacific Fleet Executive Agent for Pacific Partnership, and the mission commander, U.S. Navy Captain Mark B. Stefanik.
The PP-25 team, embarked aboard the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to make final preparations ahead of its upcoming port visits throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The PP-25 team will conduct medical exchanges, engineering projects, community outreach, and disaster preparedness engagements with host nation partners.
“Pacific Partnership is a testament to what we can achieve together,” said Cimicata. “By working alongside our allies and partners, we strengthen regional capacity and resilience and lay the foundation for a collective response to crises. It’s about preparing in calm to respond in crisis.”
This year’s PP-25 mission will include mission stops in Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, and Vanuatu. Prior to the USS Pearl Harbor’s departure, separate fly-in missions were conducted in the Philippines, Fiji, and Tonga in June.
“This enduring mission provides us the opportunity to build on our relationships, share expertise, and learn from one another,” said Stefanik. “Our shared experiences help create more resilient communities, and I’m proud to lead a team committed to strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.”
Pacific Partnership brings together more than 1,500 personnel from the United States and participating nations including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Activities will include engineering projects at schools and clinics, medical subject matter expert exchanges, and performances by the Pacific Partnership Band, composed of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet and partner nations.
The mission team will work alongside allies and partners to strengthen relationships, bolster host nation capacity to provide essential humanitarian services, and support efforts to reduce the risk of, prepare for, and respond to disasters.
Every day, the U.S. Pacific Fleet operates to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity for the U.S. and our allies and partners. The U.S. Pacific Fleet continues to advance a shared vision, alongside our allies and partners, of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.
Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.
For updates and multimedia from Pacific Partnership 2025, follow #PacificPartnership, #PP25, and #PacificPartnership25 on social media or visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/PacificPartnership
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2025 20:57 |
| Story ID: | 542493 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
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Source: New Zealand Police
Waitematā Police are appealing for information about the whereabouts of a North Shore teenager who has been reported missing.
Tamiya, 15, was last seen in the Torbay area around 1pm on 7 July.
Police and her family members have concerns for her safety.
Tamiya is described as of a thin build and generally wears baggy jeans and hoodies, with a cap and sneakers.
Police are asking anyone with information that can assist in our enquiries to please get in touch online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250709/7653.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Nicole Bremner/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 3, north of Pukenui Road, Mapara, is closed following a serious crash.
At around 11:30am emergency services received reports of a two-vehicle crash.
The road is closed, and motorists should avoid the area and expect significant delays.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Police today (July 10) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.
Lam Wai-ming, aged 59, went missing after he left his residence in Fung Tak Estate on July 8. His family made a report to Police yesterday (July 9).
He is about 1.8 metres tall and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and is bald. He was last seen wearing a dark blue long-sleeved top, grey trousers, black slippers and carrying a light grey recycle bag.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0335 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.