Chinese automaker BYD topped electric car sales in Israel in the first two months of 2025, according to figures issued by the Israel Vehicle Importers Association on Sunday.
BYD, currently offering four electric models in Israel, sold 2,386 units in January-February. Last year, The Chinese EV giant ranked first in Israel car sales with 16,690 units sold.
Xpeng Motor, another Chinese EV manufacturer, took the second place, selling 1,592 units of the three models it offers in the country.
Coming third was the Chinese-owned automaker Lynk & Co, which sold 1,075 units in the same period.
Chinese brands made up 86.6 percent of Israel’s electric car sales in January-February, with 9,530 units sold in total, as shown by the data.
Chinese brands also dominated Israel’s imported passenger car sales, which also include gasoline vehicles, with 17,959 units sold in the two months, followed by those of South Korea and Japan.
To be attributed to Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers:
Police are continuing with a critical incident investigation surrounding the events leading up to a man dying after being taken into Police custody in Ōrere Point on 2 March.
Today, Police are in a position to release some further information as those enquiries continue.
This was an incredibly fast-moving and volatile incident which unfolded over a short period of time.
We would like to acknowledge the impact that yesterday’s events will have had on the community and our thoughts are with everyone involved.
We are providing support to staff involved in this incident and there are now several investigations underway, including a critical incident investigation and a policy, practice, and procedure investigation.
As is standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been notified, along with WorkSafe.
Clarification around Sunday’s events:
Police can advise that the vehicle sighted in Papakura on Sunday afternoon was a vehicle of interest in an aggravated robbery at a Takapuna bar on Saturday night.
That investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been laid as yet.
In an earlier release, Police advised the passenger of the vehicle challenged Police staff with a samurai sword.
We can now confirm this was in fact a metal pole.
Officers have then deployed taser and pepper spray however the man has continued to resist arrest and an officer has suffered a serious hand injury after being bitten by the man.
A Police dog was then deployed, and the man was eventually taken into custody but has quickly become unresponsive.
Medical assistance was rendered immediately and a medical helicopter was dispatched, however he was unable to be revived and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Injuries to Police officer:
A Police officer suffered a serious hand injury after being bitten by the passenger of the vehicle.
We are continuing to support this officer after they underwent medical treatment at Middlemore Hospital and have since been discharged.
Further information around the deceased man:
Until the next of kin notifications have been carried out, further details regarding the deceased are unable to be released.
A post mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days, to establish the cause of death, and Police will make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.
Footage at Ōrere Point:
Police are aware members of the public may have filmed the incident at Ōrere Point yesterday afternoon.
Given the man has yet to be formally identified, and next of kin not yet notified, we would encourage people not to share footage.
This is for the family’s sake, and there is a critical incident investigation underway.
Police ask anyone with footage to contact Police to assist with the investigation.
Regular users of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for 2025 need to be ready for a planned closure this Sunday.
The route will be closed for planned maintenance for one night between 9 pm and 4 am, on Sunday, 9 March.
Road crews will be carrying out drainage, culvert maintenance and other general maintenance work, and inspections.
Drivers of light vehicles can book an escorted crossing if they need to travel the route at night. The only alternative detours are via the Pahiatua Track or Saddle Road to the north – a much longer trip. This can be done on the NZTA website.
Bookings are essential. While every effort is made to accommodate drivers on the night, those who do not have a booking may be turned away.
Full closures mean maintenance works can be finished faster, and they are safer for road crews.
Traffic volumes are also lighter at night – while around 7,000 vehicles travel the route daily, fewer than 300 use it at night. It means night works affect fewer drivers and are far less disruptive than day works.
Three more sets of night closures are planned in April, May, and June. Road users, especially those who travel over the Remutaka Hill regularly, should make a note of the planned dates.
Important information for Remutaka Hill closures
Escorted crossings for light vehicles are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
Full access is always available for emergency services.
More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. February – June 2025:
Police have arrested four people following an aggravated robbery in Ōrākei this morning.
Just before 9am, a group of offenders entered a dairy on Kepa Road.
Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, of Auckland City Crime Squad, says the group ran into the store armed with a machete and two hammers making threats towards the attendant working.
“The attendant was chased out of the store,” he says.
“These offenders have taken the store’s cash register as well as other products from the store.
“Following this, the group fled in a stolen vehicle.”
Police were conducting enquiries in the nearby area, when suspicious activity reports were made by local residents.
“A group of offenders were seen abandoning a vehicle and stealing a small van, and this detail was relayed to Police.”
The van was later sighted in the Panmure area, when it fled from staff from an address.
Police did not pursue the vehicle, but the Police Eagle helicopter had deployed and took over monitoring the van.
“It was observed by Eagle travelling at speed south towards Weymouth,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says.
“Eagle has observed the van drop off various occupants at different locations around the area.
“Ground staff have since located all of those occupants, who are young people.
“The driver eventually stopped the van in the Clendon Park and was arrested by Police.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says Police have since recovered the cash register and some items stolen this morning.
Those arrested this morning were aged between 12 and 17. Charges are still to be confirmed.
Police have seized over $2.38 million worth of illicit tobacco and $391,000 in cash in raids last week on premises in regional and metropolitan South Australia.
Members from Serious and Organised Crime Branch, Financial and Cybercrime Investigation Branch and Whyalla searched fourteen premises in metropolitan and regional areas between 24 and 27 February as part of Operation Eclipse investigations.
The locations searched included tobacconists, candy and gift shops, mini marts, commercial storage facilities, vehicles and residential premises.
In searches of commercial storage facilities at Burton and Parafield Gardens, four large shipping containers containing illicit tobacco was located. The value of the tobacco located at these properties was approximately $2 million dollars. Police are aware that these storage facilities are being used to store tobacco, which is then used to supply illicit retail outlets.
Two vehicle stops were also conducted at Port Wakefield and Salisbury resulting in illegal tobacco and cash being seized. These searches resulted in the largest seizure of illicit tobacco to date in South Australia. Investigations into the seizures are ongoing.
Operation Eclipse commander Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said the cash seizures demonstrates the significant amount of money being generated from the illicit tobacco market.
“We seek to continue to disrupt their financial operations and criminal activity and pursue criminal charges where evidence exists”
“SA Police will continue to investigate organised crime syndicates operating statewide through a whole of SA Police response. We will also target people supporting them as they evolve to prevent and suppress serious criminal activity and ensure community safety”
Operations Eclipse has now searched a total of 136 premises and seized approximately $12.5 million in illicit tobacco products.
Anyone with any information on criminal activities surrounding the sale of illicit tobacco is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimstopperssa.com.au, you can remain anonymous.
Despite community resistance and legal push-back, the government isn’t slowing down on its plan to roll back speed limit reductions on many roads. In the process, it’s going against expert advice from transport officials and solid economic evidence showing the benefits of slower speeds.
Documents recently released quietly by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) show Land Transport Director Brent Alderton raised serious concerns in 2024 about the proposed speed limit changes and urged decision makers to rely on evidence rather than ideology:
There is well founded evidence, nationally and internationally, that establishes the link between vehicle speed and the likelihood of a crash occurring, as well as the severity and consequences of any crash.
But the government is also bypassing evidence that contradicts its own justification that raising some speed limits will help increase productivity.
A comprehensive economic assessment prepared by engineering consulting firm WSP for the NZTA in March 2024 (later released under the Official Information Act) analysed the impact of previous speed limit changes implemented between 2020 and 2023 (with one dating back to 2011). It found the reductions delivered substantial economic benefits to New Zealand.
For road corridors with reduced speed limits, nearly 27 fewer deaths and serious injuries per year were recorded: “The crash cost savings generally outweigh the travel time disbenefits by a factor of 2 to 10 (or more).”
In other words, for every dollar lost in slightly increased travel times, the report estimates New Zealand gains between NZ$2 and $10 in reduced crash costs.
Economic benefits of lower speeds
All the road corridors with reduced speed limits in the WSP assessment showed positive benefit-cost ratios using NZTA’s standard methodology. Even under various sensitivity tests, including if crash benefits were reduced or project costs increased, most speed reductions maintained positive ratios.
But despite the local and international evidence showing lower speed limits save lives and money, the government persists in claiming raising some limits will reduce travel times and therefore increase productivity.
In fact, everything points to any productivity gains from faster travel being significantly outweighed by increased crash costs. As of 2023, the Ministry of Transport estimates those costs at $769,400 per serious injury and $14,265,600 per fatality.
When the WSP report was released, it projected traffic would experience mean speed reductions of between 5% and 9% on roads with lowered limits. This projection was based on actual changes in driving speeds recorded using GPS-based traffic data.
The data showed these reductions resulted in actual death and injury savings “much greater than predicted”. While the observed speed reductions aligned with expectations, the projected safety benefits significantly underestimated the actual harm reduction.
For example, on the Blenheim to Nelson stretch of State Highway 6, the predicted death and injury reduction was 22%, but the actual reduction was 82%. On State Highway 51, the reduction was 100% compared to an expected 31%.
Conversely, where speed limits were increased from 100 km/h to 110 km/h, as on the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway in December 2017, deaths and serious injuries rose by 133% compared to pre-increase levels.
In Auckland, dozens of urban corridors will soon see speed limits rise from 50 km/h to 60 km/h. The Auckland Transport agency will also raise the limit on one stretch of Te Irirangi Drive from 60 km/h to 80 km/h – exactly the kind of substantial increase the WSP report linked to dramatically higher crash risks.
Expediency vs evidence
Overall, the WSP report shows speed limit reductions worked better than expected at preventing harm, with significantly lower numbers of deaths and serious injuries annually across the studied corridors.
It is likely the number of lives saved from these speed limit reductions are reflected in the 2024 road fatality statistics, where road deaths across New Zealand were below 300 for the first time in a decade.
The director of land transport can only promise to “monitor” the impacts of the speed limit increases. In reality, there has been sufficient monitoring and measuring already to show speed limit reductions reduce harm as well as deliver economic benefits.
But the speed limit issue fits within a broader pattern of transport policy where ideology or political expediency appear to trump expert advice and economic analysis.
The government has frozen funding for cycling and walking projects, cancelled Auckland’s light rail plan, abandoned regional passenger rail initiatives and prioritised new highway construction over maintenance of existing roads.
This is despite economic assessments consistently showing better benefit-cost ratios for public and active transport investments than for new road projects.
Similarly, economic assessment shows unequivocally that the financial benefits of lower speeds and safer roads far outweigh the costs. If economic rationality were the driving force behind transport policy, speed limit reductions would be expanded rather than rolled back.
Timothy Welch 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.
China commenced construction on a research facility focused on the cold-seep ecosystem on Friday in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. The research facility, designated as one of the country’s major national science and technology infrastructure projects, will support cutting-edge fundamental research and high-tech development. Its scope will encompass the exploration of the origins of life in extreme deep-sea environments and the green development of deep-sea resources. A cold seep is a region on the ocean floor where hydrogen sulfide, methane and other hydrocarbon-rich fluid seep out. These areas are a birthplace for life that can thrive under extreme conditions. The study of cold seep is gaining increasing attention; however one challenge lies in the limitations of short-term, random underwater probes deployed by manned submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. These probes often struggle to capture long-term biological migration and the evolution of the ecosystem. The research facility, combining a manned deep-sea laboratory and a land-based fidelity simulation installation, is set to be completed within five years, according to its builder, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. SCSIO said the facility will play an important role in research on the development of the cold-seep ecosystem, the succession of chemosynthetic organisms and methane phase evolution, and its environmental effects.
Joint operation targets illegal hunting during deer season
Monday, 3 March 2025 – 9:23 am.
Tasmania Police, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), conducted a joint operation in the Central Highlands over the weekend to ensure compliance with hunting regulations and promote public safety. “During the operation, police and NRE Tas officers intercepted and inspected over 140 vehicles. The vast majority of hunters were found to be operating within the law, and we commend those who are adhering to regulations and hunting responsibly,” said Inspector Luke Horne. “We want to make it clear that Tasmania Police supports licensed hunters who follow the rules, but we will not tolerate illegal activity. Those who trespass or cause damage not only put themselves at risk but also undermine the efforts of responsible hunters.” “We appreciate the cooperation of the hunting community and thank the NRE Tas officers involved in this operation.” “Joint enforcement efforts such as this will continue throughout the year to ensure public safety, and raises awareness of firearms and hunting laws.” Hunting related information is available at – https://nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/game-services-tasmania
The Oval Office encounter was expected to be an on-camera meeting between the president and the Ukrainian head of state before the signing of a crucial minerals deal between the two countries that was meant to be a key step toward ending war in Ukraine.
But as reporters described it, the initially routine meeting devolved into a “fiery exchange” in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance “berated” and “harangued” Zelenskyy after he pushed back on Vance’s assertion that Trump’s diplomatic skills would ensure that Russian president Vladimir Putin would honor a cease fire agreement.
Trump’s compulsion to dominate both alliesand enemies seems to have caused him to jettison the negotiation the moment that Zelenskyy declined to perform subservient fealty. The meeting, which was ended by Trump with no agreement signed, illustrated why authoritarians are lousy dealmakers, particularly when autocratic instincts are exacerbated by what’s known as toxic masculinity.
Toxic masculinity is a version of masculinity that discourages empathy, expresses strength through dominance, normalizes violence against women and associates leadership with white patriarchy. It devalues behaviors considered to be “feminine” and suggests that the way to earn others’ respect is to accrue power and status.
Trump’s reaction to Zelenskyy in the Oval Office illustrates how these inclinations stymie the president’s purported dealmaking abilities, undermine democratic values and make the world a more dangerous place.
Excerpts from the Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting, featuring U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Diplomat, dealmaker or mafia don?
Trump staged the public Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy to showcase his ostensible prowess as – in his words – an “arbitrator” and “mediator.” Trump insisted during the first 40 minutes that “my whole life is deals” and asserted that he has what it takes to make Putin conform to a peace agreement with an embattled Ukraine.
Apparently eager to project a persona as a successful diplomat and powerful dealmaker, Trump rejected a reporter’s suggestion that “you align yourself too much with Putin” and not with democratic values.
Trump contended that in order to successfully negotiate, he couldn’t alienate either Putin or Zelenskyy. “If I didn’t align myself with both of them,” he said, “you’d never have a deal.” Instead, he claimed, “I’m aligned with the United States of America and for the good of the world. I’m aligned with the world.”
Vance initially echoed Trump’s message, casting Trump as a consummate diplomat and arguing, “What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy.”
But Vance’s tone shifted the moment Zelenskyy challenged Trump’s framing.
Zelenskyy provided historical examples of U.S. diplomatic failures and observed that Trump and other presidents had been unable to contain Putin. Vance responded by castigating Zelenskyy for not “thanking the president” and repeatedly instructed him to “say thank you” as the exchange grew more volatile.
Trump, seemingly angered after Vance pointed out Zelenskyy’s lack of deference, dropped his diplomatic tone and informed Zelenskyy, “You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
After the meeting, both the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and Slate’s Kaplan compared Trump to a mafia don. The Daily Beast writer David Rothkopf suggested he was more like “the Luca Brasi for mob boss Vladimir Putin,” invoking Don Corleone’s henchman in the movie “The Godfather.”
After Trump suspended negotiations, canceled lunch and expelled the Ukrainian delegation from the White House, Reuters reported that “most Republicans rallied behind Trump and Vance.”
President Donald Trump, center, and Vice President JD Vance meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Feb. 28, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Many of his supporters voted for Trump in 2016 because they wanted a “dealmaker in chief,” as one poll characterized it, who could get things done in a fractured Congress.
In his second term, despite having a Republican congressional majority, Trump has established himself as the nation’s sole authority, embracing toxic masculinity’s theory of power and respect. Doing an end run around Congress and flouting the law, Trump initiated scores of policy changes via executive order and asserted that neither lawmakers nor judges have the authority to challenge or constrain him.
Trump’s blow-up at Zelenskyy is much more than a foreign policy snafu. It’s a preview of what will happen when toxic masculinity drives U.S. foreign policy.
Toxic masculinity on the world stage
A screenshot of various U.K. newspapers’ headlines about the Oval Office meeting. CBS Evening News
Trump initially acknowledged that Russian abuses were “tough stuff,” but concern for Ukrainians seems to have vanished after Zelenskyy politely challenged Trump.
Decrying Zelenskyy’s insufficient gratitude and escalating the conflict, Trump asserted, “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
Vance similarly shifted focus from the needs of Ukrainian civilians to paying homage to Trump, demanding that Zelenskyy “offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
A common tactic employed by abusers is to demand that the person they are bullying show them gratitude.
In their berating, bullying and humiliation of Zelenskyy, the president and vice president of the United States used the language and rhetoric of abusers in an apparent attempt to try to force the proud and dignified leader of a country at war to grovel and get in line.
Their lack of discipline and decorum also upended the negotiation, jeopardizing a deal aimed at halting the fighting in Ukraine and advancing U.S. interests.
In my view, the toxic masculinity on display in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, 2025, was a bald demonstration of something new and alarming to a public accustomed to decorum and diplomacy in that formal setting.
For many, the enduring image of that meeting is an anxious Zelenskyy being hectored by a furious Trump.
But there’s another image that captures equally well the dynamic unfolding in the room. Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova sat in a chair just in front of the assembled members of the press. Papers held steady in her lap with one hand, the normally unflappable member of the diplomatic corps buried her head in her other hand, unable to even look at what was happening.
Karrin Vasby Anderson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Update 1:45pm: The northbound lane is now open, and State Highway 2 is now OPEN in both directions.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while emergency services and contractors responded to the crash.
Update 1.10pm:
The highway’s northbound lane has reopened. However, a closure remains in place for southbound traffic.
Southbound traffic must continue to detour via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
State Highway 2 is currently closed between Masterton and Carterton following a crash early this afternoon.
The two-vehicle crash occurred north of Clareville and was reported shortly after midday.
State Highway 2 is closed between the Wiltons Road roundabout and the Hughes Line intersection.
Local road detours are available via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.
Emergency services are at the scene.
Drivers can expect traffic delays until the crash scene is cleared. Please take extra care when travelling through the area, follow all instructions of emergency services, and allow extra time for your journeys.
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
Marlborough drivers are being asked to take extra care on the region’s roads with the annual grape harvest underway.
Harvest season sees an increase in heavy machinery moving between vineyards from now until mid-April, with activity peaking in the middle of March.
Drivers can expect to see harvesters and an increase in the number of trucks on the roads across the wider Marlborough region, as vineyards bring their grapes in for pressing and processing.
Road users can expect activity on all of the region’s state highways – SH1, SH6, SH62, and SH63 – and on local roads.
Drivers must take extra care on the roads and drive appropriately when they encounter harvesters and trucks.
This especially applies when overtaking. Drivers must check their passing distances, look out for oncoming traffic, and for trucks and harvesters entering and leaving vineyard areas.
Truck drivers carrying grapes for processing are also urged to watch their speed and drive with caution through roundabouts as these have been hot spots for spill incidents in the past.
It’s the multi-million-dollar sports complex, 15 years in the planning and two years to build, but today the UniSA Sport Science Hub opens its doors to its first cohort of university students ready to engage in its world-class teaching and research facilities at South Australia’s new sports precinct.
The Hub is designed to deliver industry-embedded specialist sports science education, greater research opportunities, and cutting-edge solutions for industry, so that all students have authentic learning experiences, scope to engage with leading industry staff and elite athletes, and a career-ready education.
Its state-of-the-art facilities feature:
A biomechanics lab with a VICON motion capture system and force plates that measure movement patterns and show how changes in force production can benefit athletic performance.
An environmental chamber that can simulate humidity, altitude (0 – 5000m above sea level) and temperatures extremes (from -11 to 45°C) to track how body the responds to different environments.
Exercise physiology teaching laboratories housing exercise testing equipment for physiology classes and work integrated learning (plus a BodPod for safely measuring body composition).
An exercise research lab for high performance, intensive exercise research.
An exercise teaching space, housing exercise and resistance training equipment, a 20-metre running track, and an impact wall to train students how to prescribe and deliver exercise training and testing.
Collaborative, flexible teaching spaces to accommodate large and small student groups.
UniSA students test the new training facilities in the UniSA Sports Science Hub.
“UniSA and SASI have had a long-standing relationship for more than 20 years,” Prof Buckley says.
“The new UniSA Sports Science Hub solidifies this, bringing together our world-leading teaching and research capabilities in exercise and sports science, with SASI’s expertise in preparing high-performance athletes, to highlight a partnership that is truly unique.
“For our students, the new facilities will provide a genuine and authentic learning experience, where they’ll be able to interact with SASI staff and athletes as part of their learning, even undertaking analysis and training with data that’s being used by staff at SASI. So, they’ll get very industry-relevant training and exposure to the exercise and sports science sector before they graduate.
“For our researchers, the first-class technology and equipment will both further their research capabilities, and research opportunities with SASI and the broader business sector.
Testing underway in the biomechanics lab.
“Our world-class research equipment and facilities – which include a biomechanics lab, an environmental chamber and a range of specialised research spaces – means that our researchers can deliver exercise and sports science knowledge that can be fed back to SASI to help them better prepare their high-performance athletes to perform at their best.
“Ultimately, our collaboration highlights the integral role that sport plays in Australian society and culture.
“We’re supporting South Australia’s premier athletes, educating the next generation of sports and exercise experts, and generating new research opportunities, which together loop back to create significant social and economic benefits for the State.”
Notes for editors:
Community Open Day: On Sunday 30 March, UniSA’s new Sports Science Hub will be open and on display with the SASI facilities. The event will feature live demonstrations of the SASI building in use, panel discussions, athlete ‘meet and greets’, self-guided tours, sport and recreation activities, food trucks, music, and giveaways. See: https://www.sasi.sa.gov.au
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Historic £1.6bn deal provides thousands of air defence missiles for Ukraine and boosts UK jobs and growth
Deal will create 200 jobs in Northern Ireland and provide 5000 air defence missiles missiles to Ukraine.
200 new jobs will be created and hundreds more supported at one of the UK’s leading defence manufacturers, after a £1.6bn deal was announced by the Prime Minister today to supply thousands of advanced air defence missiles to Ukraine.
The latest measures in the UK’s support for Ukraine to achieve peace through strength, the deal will also provide a major boost to the UK economy and support 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast, which will manufacture more than 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) for Ukraine’s defence. The deal will see production of LMMs at Thales’s factory treble and will also benefit companies in the Thales Supply Chain across the UK – putting more money in working people’s pockets.
It is the largest contract ever received by Thales in Belfast and the second largest MOD has placed with Thales, building on a previous contract with Thales, signed in September 2024 for 650 missiles. The first batch of missiles were delivered before Christmas, and this new contract will continue deliveries.
The deal comes after the Prime Minister announced the Government’s commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 and confirmed an ambition to spend 3% of GDP on defence in the next parliament, in order to keep Britain safe and secure for generations to come. This investment will be an opportunity to translate defence spending into British growth, British jobs, British skills, and British innovation.
The deal helps deliver on the Government’s pledge in its Plan for Change to improve the lives of people in every corner of the UK by growing the economy. By spending more on defence we will deliver the national security that underpins economic growth, and unlock new jobs, skills and opportunities across the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
My support for Ukraine is unwavering. I am determined to find a way forward that brings an end to Russia’s illegal war and guarantees Ukraine a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security.
I am also clear that national security is economic security. As well as levelling up Ukraine’s air defence, this loan will make working people here in the UK better off, boosting our economy and supporting jobs in Northern Ireland and beyond.
By doubling down on our support, working closely with key partners, and ensuring Ukraine has a strong voice at the table, I believe we can achieve a strong, lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace in Ukraine.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
Three years since Putin launched his full-scale invasion, we are now at a critical moment for the future of Ukraine and the security of us all in Europe.
We all want a secure and lasting peace. As today’s meeting has showed, the UK will continue to lead international efforts to support Ukraine in securing a ceasefire and durable peace. And we will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war. This new support will help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks but it will also help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting.
This new deal delivers on the UK’s ironclad commitment to step up military support for Ukraine, whilst boosting jobs and growth at home.
Today’s deal marks a historic step for industrial relations between the UK and Ukraine, building on the 100 Year Partnership signed recently by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in Kyiv. The contract will enable Ukraine to draw on £3.5bn of export finance to acquire military equipment from UK companies, boosting both the UK’s and Ukraine’s defence industrial bases and support investment in further military capabilities.
Ukraine has already put the highly capable LMM missile to use as part of its air defences where it has proven to be incredibly effective in protecting civilians and critical infrastructure from Russia’s bombardment. A £162m contract announced in September last year saw 650 LMM missiles supplied to Ukraine as an initial order to ramp up production – deliveries started in December 2024.
Thales Northern Ireland will deliver the contract – worth an initial £1.16bn with the potential for around a further £500m of work to be added – in collaboration with a Ukrainian industry partner, which will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the missiles in Ukraine.
The contract has been placed by the MOD’s procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support on behalf of the Ukrainian Government, to be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) after a deal signed last year to allow Ukraine to draw on £3.5bn worth of support from UKEF to spend with UK industry.
As set out in the Plan for Change, national security is the first duty of the Government – and a strong economy is built on the bedrock of strong security. Increased defence spending will support highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the whole of the UK. Last year, defence spending supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, the equivalent to one in every 60, and 68% of defence spending goes outside of London and the Southeast, benefitting every nation and region of the country.
Andy Start, DE&S CEO and UK National Armaments Director said:
The UK’s Defence Industry has supported Ukraine from the start of the war and this important contract underlines industry’s ability to scale up production at pace to deliver the world-class defence equipment Ukraine requires.
This contract is a critical next step in the work of Task Force HIRST in developing lasting partnerships between the UK and Ukraine’s defence industries. The substantial increase in LMM production capacity will benefit both Ukraine’s fight tonight, as well as the longer-term security of the UK.
The deal marks the next milestone in the work of the MOD’s Taskforce HIRST and the first of a series of “mega projects” to be delivered for Ukraine, with the HIRST team working to build long-term relationships with Ukrainian industry to restore and modernise their defence industrial base, support its future defence and economic growth.
Earlier this month, the Defence Secretary announced a new £150m military support package to support Ukrainian troops fighting Russia on the frontline, part of the UK’s unprecedented £3 billion annual pledge to Ukraine.
The UK has committed to spending £3bn next financial year to support Ukraine, with an additional £1.5bn from interest on seized assets through the Extraordinary Revenue Accelerator – taking the total to £4.5Bn. This will ensure Ukraine can achieve peace through strength and underscoring the new 100 Year Partnership between the UK and Ukraine.
On Valentine’s Day 2025, heavy rains started to fall in parts of rural Appalachia. Over the course of a few days, residents in eastern Kentucky watched as river levels rose and surpassed flood levels. Emergency teams conducted over 1,000 water rescues. Hundreds, if not thousands of people were displaced from homes, and entire business districts filled with mud.
For some, it was the third time in just four years that their homes had flooded, and the process of disposing of destroyed furniture, cleaning out the muck and starting anew is beginning again.
Historic floods wiped out businesses and homes in eastern Kentucky in February 2021, July 2022 and now February 2025. An even greater scale of destruction hit eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene’s rainfall and flooding decimated towns and washed out parts of major highways.
Scenes of flooding from several locations across Appalachia in February 2025.
Each of these events was considered to be a “thousand-year flood,” with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in a given year. Yet they’re happening more often.
The floods have highlighted the resilience of local people to work together for collective survival in rural Appalachia. But they have also exposed the deep vulnerability of communities, many of which are located along creeks at the base of hills and mountains with poor emergency warning systems. As short-term cleanup leads to long-term recovery efforts, residents can face daunting barriers that leave many facing the same flood risks over and over again.
Exposing a housing crisis
For the past nine years, I have been conducting research on rural health and poverty in Appalachia. It’s a complex region often painted in broad brushstrokes that miss the geographic, socioeconomic and ideological diversity it holds.
There is considerable local inequality that is often overlooked in a region portrayed as one-dimensional. Poverty levels are indeed high. In Perry County, Kentucky, where one of eastern Kentucky’s larger cities, Hazard, is located, nearly 30% of the population lives under the federal poverty line. But the average income of the top 1% of workers in Perry County is nearly US$470,000 – 17 times more than the average income of the remaining 99%.
This income and wealth inequality translates to unequal land ownership – much of eastern Kentucky’s most desirable land remains in the hands of corporations and families with great generational wealth.
When I first moved to eastern Kentucky in 2016, I was struck by the grave lack of affordable, quality housing. I met families paying $200-$300 a month for a small plot to put a mobile home. Others lived in “found housing” – often-distressed properties owned by family members. They had no lease, no equity and no insurance. They had a place to lay one’s head but lacked long-term stability in the event of disagreement or disaster. This reality was rarely acknowledged by local and state governments.
Eastern Kentucky’s 2021 and 2022 floods turned this into a full-blown housing crisis, with 9,000 homes damaged or destroyed in the 2022 flood alone.
“There was no empty housing or empty places for housing,” one resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me. “It just was complete disaster because people just didn’t have a place to go.”
Most homeowners did not have flood insurance to assist with rebuilding costs. While many applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, the amounts they received often did not go far. The maximum aid for temporary housing assistance and repairs is $42,500, plus up to an additional $42,500 for other needs related to the disaster.
The federal government often provides more aid for rebuilding through block grants directed to local and state governments, but that money requires congressional approval and can take months to years to arrive. Local community coalitions and organizations stepped in to fill these gaps, but they did not necessarily have sufficient donations or resources to help such large numbers of displaced people.
Affordable rental housing is hard to find in much of Appalachia. When flooding wipes out homes, as Jackson, Ky., saw in July 2022 and again in February 2025, it becomes even more rare. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
With a dearth of affordable rentals pre-flood, renters who lost their homes had no place to go. And those living in “found housing” that was destroyed were not eligible for federal support for rebuilding.
The sheer level of devastation also posed challenges. One health care professional told me: “In Appalachia, the way it usually works is if you lose your house or something happens, then you go stay with your brother or your mom or your cousin. … But everybody’s mom and brother and cousin also lost their house. There was nowhere to stay.” From her point of view, “our homelessness just skyrocketed.”
The cost of land – social and economic
After the 2022 flood, the Kentucky Department for Local Government earmarked almost $300 million of federal funding to build new, flood-resilient homes in eastern Kentucky. Yet the question of where to build remained. As another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me, “You can give us all the money you want; we don’t have any place to build the house.”
It has always been costly and time-intensive to develop land in Appalachia. Available higher ground tends to be located on former strip mines, and these reclaimed lands require careful geotechnical surveying and sometimes structural reinforcements.
If these areas are remote, the costs of running electric, water and other infrastructure services can also be prohibitive. For this reason, for-profit developers have largely avoided many counties in the region. The head of a nonprofit agency explained to me that, because of this, “The markets have broken. … We have no [housing] market.”
Eastern Kentucky’s mountains are beautiful, but there are few locations for building homes that aren’t near creeks or rivers. Strip-mined land, where mountaintops were flattened, often aren’t easily accessible and come with their own challenges. Posnov/Moment via Getty Images
There is also some risk involved in attempting to build homes on new land that has not previously been developed. A local government could pay for undeveloped land to be surveyed and prepared for development, with the prospect of reimbursement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development if housing is successfully built. But if, after the work to prepare the land, it is still too cost-prohibitive to build a profitable house there, the local government would not receive any reimbursement.
Some counties have found success clearing land for large developments on former strip mine sites. But these former coal mining areas can be considerable distances from towns. Without robust public transportation systems, these distances are especially prohibitive for residents who lack reliable personal transportation.
Another barrier is the high prices that both individual and corporate landowners are asking for properties on higher ground.
The scarcity of desirable land available for sale, combined with increasingly urgent demand, has led to prices unaffordable for most. Another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts explained: “If you paid $5,000 for 30 acres 40 years ago, why won’t you sell that for $100,000? Nope, [they want] $1 million.” That makes it increasingly difficult for both individuals and housing developers to purchase land and build.
One reason for this scarcity is the amount of land that is still owned by outside corporate interests. For example, Kentucky River Properties, formerly Kentucky River Coal Corporation, owns over 270,000 acres across seven counties in the region. While this landholding company leases land to coal, timber and gas companies, it and others like it rarely permit residential development.
But not all unused land is owned by corporations. Some of this land is owned by families with deep roots in the region. People’s attachment to a place often makes them want to stay in their communities, even after disasters. But it can also limit the amount of land available for rebuilding. People are often hesitant to sell land that holds deep significance for their families, even if they are not living there themselves.
Rural communities are often tight-knit. Many residents want to stay despite the risks. AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley
One health care professional expressed feeling torn between selling or keeping their own family property after the 2022 flood: “We have a significant amount of property on top of a mountain. I wouldn’t want to sell it because my papa came from nothing. … His generation thought owning land was the greatest thing. … And for him to provide his children and his grandchildren and their great-grandchildren a plot of land that he worked and sweat and ultimately died to give us – people want to hold onto that.”
She recognized that land was in great demand but couldn’t bring herself to sell what she owned. In cases like hers, higher grounds are owned locally but still remain unused.
Moving toward higher ground, slowly
Two years after the 2022 flood, major government funding for rebuilding still has not resulted in a significant number of homes. The state has planned seven communities on higher ground in eastern Kentucky that aim to house 665 new homes. As of early 2025, 14 houses had been completed.
Progress on providing housing on higher ground is slow, and the need is great.
In the meantime, when I conducted interviews during the summer and fall of 2024, many of the mobile home communities that were decimated in the 2022 flood had begun to fill back up. These were flood-risk areas, but there was simply no other place to go.
Last week, I watched on Facebook a friend’s live video footage showing the waters creeping up the sides of the mobile homes in one of those very communities that had flooded in 2022. Another of my friends mused: “I don’t know who constructed all this, but they did an unjustly favor by not thinking how close these towns was to the river. Can’t anyone in Frankfort help us, or has it gone too far?”
With hundreds more people now displaced by the most recent flood, the need for homes on higher grounds has only expanded, and the wait continues.
Kristina Brant has received funding from the National Science Foundation and United States Department of Agriculture to support her past and ongoing research in rural Appalachia.
For over three years, Ukraine has fought with extraordinary courage and resilience against Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion. This ongoing aggression is not only a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, but also a direct attack on the rules-based international order, freedom, and democracy everywhere. Canada remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine and its people as they continue to defend their independence.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today participated in the Securing our Future Summit in London, United Kingdom. Hosted by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, the Summit brought together Euro-Atlantic and NATO leaders to promote unity, reinforce collective security, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression.
During the Securing our Future Summit, the Prime Minister announced new sanctions against 10 individuals and 21 entities, including paramilitary organizations and their leaders, to help counter Russia’s reliance on third-party organizations and countries to advance its political and military objectives in Ukraine. To date, Canada has imposed sanctions on over 3,000 individuals and entities complicit in Russia’s aggression – and we remain committed to working with our partners to increase economic pressure on Russia.
Throughout the Summit, the Prime Minister engaged with his counterparts on the future of international support for Ukraine, emphasizing the urgent need for continued and co-ordinated action in the face of growing global instability and uncertainty. Together, the leaders agreed that there can be no sustainable peace in Europe without security for Ukraine, that any peaceful end to the conflict must include Ukraine at the negotiating table, and that any peace deal should include robust security guarantees.
At a plenary session, Prime Minister Trudeau underlined that strengthening security and stability in Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic region will remain a top priority for Canada, including as part of our G7 Presidency this year. He underscored our leadership in supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, which includes almost $20 billion in multifaceted assistance ranging from military aid – such as armoured vehicles and drone technology – to humanitarian and financial assistance to help Ukraine rebuild and recover.
The Prime Minister highlighted the ongoing work of members of the Canadian Armed Forces in the United Kingdom and Poland under Operation UNIFIER. Since 2015, they have provided military training to over 44,000 Ukrainian troops. Canada continues to engage closely with Ukraine, Allies, and partners on how best to enhance support through Operation UNIFIER to help Ukraine defend itself.
Prime Minister Trudeau also emphasized the importance of standing together to hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
Canada’s commitment to Ukraine is unwavering. We will continue to stand with Ukraine and work closely with our Allies to provide the necessary military, economic, and humanitarian support to push back against Russian aggression. We are stronger when we work together. And together, we can ensure Ukraine is able to defend itself, rebuild, and secure a just and lasting peace.
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“Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty is a fight for freedom and democracy everywhere. The important discussions we had today reinforced our shared resolve: as Allies, we will remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine. Canada will be there for Ukraine until there is a just and lasting peace. Slava Ukraini!”
Quick Facts
In London, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer. Before returning to Canada tomorrow, he will also have an audience with His Majesty King Charles III.
The new sanctions announced today include nine leaders of post-Wagner paramilitary organizations, one member of the affiliated senior Russian military leadership, nine paramilitary organizations operating in Ukraine and in the Kremlin’s Africa-network, and 12 affiliated organizations that are responsible for resource extraction within this network.
Since the beginning of 2022, Canada has committed almost $20 billion in multifaceted support to Ukraine. This includes:
Over $12.4 billion in direct financial assistance, the highest in the G7 on a per capita basis.
$4.5 billion in military assistance, such as M777 howitzers, Leopard 2 main battle tanks, armoured combat support vehicles, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, thermal clothing, body armour, fuel, and more.
$585 million in development assistance, including support to Ukraine’s energy system.
$372.2 million in humanitarian assistance, including support for emergency health interventions, protection services, and essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation, and food. Programming also addresses child protection, mental health support, and prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence.
Nearly $225 million in security and stabilization assistance.
As announced by the Prime Minister in Kyiv last month, Canada has started delivering on its commitment of a $5 billion contribution toward the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans mechanism. Launched at last year’s G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, the ERA Loans aim to bring forward future revenues from frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide Ukraine with approximately US$50 billion in additional funding as it continues to defend its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
In February 2024, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy signed the historic Agreement on Security Cooperation between Canada and Ukraine, establishing a new strategic security partnership between our two countries. This included $3.02 billion in critical financial and military support to Ukraine for 2024.
Launched by Canada and Ukraine in 2024, the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children co-ordinates joint efforts and co-operation between Ukraine and partner states to address the issue of the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia. To date, 41 states and the Council of Europe have joined the Coalition, helping successfully facilitate the safe return of over 1,000 children.
As part of the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the federal government announced last year its intention to double down on our efforts to support Ukraine, including through proposed legislative changes that will ensure profits from frozen Russian assets are used to rebuild Ukraine.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Canada has welcomed more than 220,000 Ukrainians. We are helping Ukrainian families find a safe, temporary home and have put support services in place for their arrival. This includes temporary financial assistance and access to federally funded settlement services, such as language training and employment-related services.
Canada and Ukraine have long been steadfast partners and close friends. In 1991, Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. Today, 1.3 million people of Ukrainian descent call Canada home – the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the Western world. In 2022, total bilateral trade between our two countries was valued at over $421 million.
This was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 11th official visit to the United Kingdom.
Canada and the United Kingdom share a strong relationship rooted in deep historical ties and common values. We work closely together to advance shared priorities, including sustainable growth, rules-based international trade, gender equality, the fight against climate change, democracy and media freedom, and support for Ukraine.
In 2023, the United Kingdom was Canada’s third-largest destination for goods and services exports, with trade valued at $47 billion.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mahtot Gebresselassie, Assistant Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada
In late 2024, the Ontario legislature passed Bill 212 giving the provincial government significant control over municipal bike lanes. The law requires municipalities to ask the province for its approval to install bike lanes if they would remove a lane for other vehicular traffic. The legislation also allows for the removal of three major bike lanes in Toronto.
Supporters of such moves argue that bike lanes worsen traffic congestion, negatively impact local businesses and delay emergency vehicles from getting where they need to go. However, research shows that bike lanes improve transportation infrastructure, including preventing injuries.
One of the main values of bike lanes is that they promote safety for all road users. Many cities around the world install bike lanes to wholly or partially separate cyclists from larger vehicles. This separation limits the interaction with cars and makes cycling safer.
A 2016 paper that looked at data on bike networks and injuries in 10 Canadian and U.S. cities between 2000 and 2015 showed that an increase in bike networks led to a decrease in fatal and serious injuries.
The safety associated with bike lanes can also encourage more people to take up cycling. A 2020 poll from the Canadian Automobile Association indicates that 40 per cent of Canadians reported they would feel encouraged to cycle on bike lanes physically separated from other vehicles.
More inclusive roads
Bike lanes can make cycling more inclusive for women, children, older adults, people with disabilities and those with limited transportation options.
Fewer women bike compared to men. A 2014 study that surveyed cyclists in five U.S. cities found that more women than men strongly agreed that protected bike lanes made them feel safe and new ones increased how often they cycled.
Older adults and people with disabilities also benefit from bike lanes, as they provide a more suitable cycling environment for riding with limited physical acuity and slower speeds.
Some argue that bike lanes reduce street parking, which can lead to lower economic activity. However, a 2012 study showed that people who cycle, walk and use transit frequent local businesses more and spend the same or more than those who use private cars.
When it comes to congestion, a 2018 study on the impact of installing bike lanes on arterial roads in Toronto found that the most affected street segments would only result in an estimated one-minute delay.
A 2022 study from Melbourne showed a minor effect on traffic when bike lanes were added to residential streets with low speed limits. It also found the “selective inclusion” of safe cycling lanes, in the worst cases, leads to a delay of less than 10 seconds per kilometre for drivers.
In New York, a 2016 study found that adding bike lanes reduced the average time for car travel on major thoroughfares from an average of 4.5 minutes to 3 minutes.
Examples from elsewhere indicate that removing bike lanes would not bode well for Toronto. A well-used bike lane in London, England was removed in December 2020 following residents’ complaints that they caused traffic congestion. A study found that the removal resulted in longer travel time on the street compounded by cars illegally parking in the space previously reserved for the bike lane.
Toronto Fire Services (TFS) response time increased by 30 seconds within the same corridor compared to a two-second increase for the entire city. However, these evaluations were for two months in 2023. In October 2024, TFS Chief Jim Jessop said the Bloor Street West bike lanes did not lead to an increase in response time.
If these bike lanes are removed and replaced with others elsewhere, it could create a poorly connected bike network. The safety and convenience associated with connected bike networks will be lost as a result.
Based on what research tells us, Toronto’s bike lanes should stay. Bike lanes provide various benefits, including making our streets more inclusive of more people.
Bike lanes offer safety on the roads by reducing the risk of fatal or non-life-threatening injuries on roads, and are a tremendous gain for transportation infrastructure.
Even in cases where a bike lane causes a few seconds of delay, politicians and city planners must consider the trade-off — especially if it means saving a person’s life.
The authors 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.
Tasmania Police is investigating after several parked cars were damaged overnight in the vicinity of York Street and Margaret Street in Launceston. Some vehicles appear to have had fuel stolen from them. Police are urging anyone who may have been parked in the area overnight to check their vehicles for potential damage. Anyone who may have seen people acting suspiciously in the area is asked to call Launceston Police on 131444 or you can report the information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperstas.com.au.
The Met is urging anyone planning to attend a farmers’ protest taking place in central London on Tuesday to leave their tractors at home.
Those attending the event will form up in Whitehall from 11:00hrs, with a procession taking place from around midday heading towards Trafalgar Square, turning right into Northumberland Avenue, along the Embankment and back into Whitehall via Westminster Bridge Road and Parliament Street.
A rally will take place in Whitehall from 13:30hrs. It is expected to finish by 15:00hrs.
Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act preventing anyone taking part in the protest from bringing tractors, other than a limited number being arranged by the organisers with the prior permission of the police.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who is commanding the policing operation, said: “Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months.
“The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we’ve used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday.
“We have been in regular contact with the organisers to explain our decision making and I’m grateful for the positive and collaborative approach they have taken.”
The conditions imposed under the Public Order Act are as follows:
Section 14(3) Public Order Act
Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest assembly must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without having obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.
Section 12(3) Public Order Act
Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest procession must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.
It is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so. Anyone doing so may face arrest.
As the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal concludes, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is closely following developments in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“The past six weeks have provided a fragile but vital reprieve, offering a measure of relief to both Palestinians and Israelis,” said the UN chief in a statement issued by his Spokesperson.
During the period of the truce, thousands of trucks carrying life-saving assistance entered Gaza, reaching nearly every person in the Strip.
According to media reports, the six-week long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended earlier on Saturday with further negotiations between the sides still pending.
The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of preventing a return to hostilities, which he described as potentially catastrophic. “It is imperative that all efforts be made to prevent a return to hostilities,” the statement urged.
Mr. Guterres called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to find a way forward on the next phase of the ceasefire. He highlighted the necessity of a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages to prevent further escalation and protect civilians.
“A permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages are essential to preventing escalation and averting more devastating consequences for civilians,” the UN chief said in the statement.
The statement also stressed the need for the humane treatment of all those held under power and the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. The Secretary-General called for the aid to be adequately funded and delivered in a safe environment for civilians and humanitarian workers.
“Humanitarian aid must continue to flow, without impediment, ensuring the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian workers,” he added.
As Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection, begins, Mr. Guterres called for an urgent de-escalation of the situation in the occupied West Bank and an end to all violence.
“The United Nations stands ready to support all such endeavors,” he affirmed and through the statement underscored the commitment of the UN to supporting peace and stability in the region.
Today’s statement comes as the Secretary-General heads to Cairo, Egypt, where he will attend on Tuesday summit-level talks convened by Arab leaders on Gaza’s reconstruction.
The Secretary-General is closely following developments in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory as the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal reaches its conclusion. The past six weeks have provided a fragile but vital reprieve, offering a measure of relief to both Palestinians and Israelis. Thousands of trucks carrying life-saving assistance entered Gaza, with aid having reached nearly every person in the Strip. It is imperative that all efforts be made to prevent a return to hostilities, which would be catastrophic.
The Secretary-General urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and find a way forward on the next phase. A permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages are essential to preventing escalation and averting more devastating consequences for civilians. The Secretary-General continues to call for the dignified, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The parties must ensure humane treatment for all those held under their power. Humanitarian aid must continue to flow, without impediment, be adequately funded, and occur in an environment ensuring the safety and security of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers.
The Secretary-General also calls for an urgent de-escalation of the alarming situation in the occupied West Bank.
As Ramadan — a time of peace and reflection — begins, the Secretary-General calls on all sides to spare no efforts to end all violence. The United Nations stands ready to support all such endeavours.
A new configuration of the TP500 civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an optimized prototype tailored for airworthiness certification, has successfully conducted its maiden flight, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The flight took place recently at an airport in Ruicheng County in north China’s Shanxi Province, marking a major step toward its airworthiness certification, the AVIC said.
The TP500 UAV project is being developed as a large-scale general unmanned cargo platform for use in UAV cargo logistics, emergency rescue, special operations and other areas, according to the developer.
This type of cargo UAV aims to serve regional logistics and transportation by providing low-cost and intelligent solutions for express logistics companies and various short-haul air transportation needs.
It can also be used for specialized missions and emergency rescue operations, addressing market gaps in the regional air cargo transport sector.
With its large-sized cargo hold and dedicated freight transport system, the TP500 UAV is well-equipped for efficient cargo handling and transportation.
In emergency rescue scenarios, it can be swiftly equipped with specialized systems and payloads to support rescue missions, according to the AVIC.
Police will be proceeding against a 25-year-old Bridport man with traffic offences after he was observed hooning and driving dangerously in Bridport on Friday night. About 10.10pm, a grey Mazda 3 sedan was witnessed travelling north on Main Street, Bridport when it reportedly overtook another vehicle at high speed in a 50km/h zone before proceeding through a roundabout and travelling on the incorrect side of the road at speed. At the time there were pedestrians in the area. The vehicle was intercepted by police and the vehicle was clamped for 90 days. Anyone with information about this incident or who has dash cam footage of a grey Mazda 3 sedan travelling on Main Street at this time is urged to contact Scottsdale Police Station on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania anonymously on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au
VANTAGE – Work to replace the Interstate 90 Vantage Bridge deck is underway for a second construction season. Washington State Department of Transportation and contractor crews are replacing the surface of the bridge that was last upgraded in 1992.
Starting March 3, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction around-the-clock, seven days a week with reduced speeds and a 9-foot width restriction.
Prepare for summer travel season
Travelers will experience long delays as traffic volumes increase during the warmer months and during events at The Gorge Amphitheatre. Historically, the longest delays occur eastbound on Fridays and westbound on Sundays. To avoid congestion and longer travel times, alternate routes are encouraged. Drivers may choose to use detour routes up north near Wenatchee, or down south near the Tri Cities to bypass the construction area. Due to limited road capacity, Vantage Highway is not a recommended detour.
Important dates to note:
Work on the bridge will pause from May 23 to July 8 to accommodate the busy travel season between Memorial Day and Independence Day. During this time, travelers on the bridge will have access to the full two lanes in both direction with an occasional single-lane closure.
Following the holiday work pause, travel lanes will again reduce to one lane in each direction around-the-clock starting Tuesday, July 8.
Ramp meters will assist drivers during high-volume traffic times. Ramp meters control how quickly vehicles enter the freeway, reducing collisions and travel time.
The vehicle was bogged and abandoned on the saltpan for almost six weeks.
Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts in the Townsville region are urged to stop driving on saltpans due to the risks of getting bogged and having their vehicles written off.
Recently, a Toyota Hilux was bogged to the axels and most likely written off after being stuck on the saltpans at Cape Cleveland for almost six weeks.
Senior Conservation Officer Craig Dunk from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said the owner tried crossing the saltpan in the Bowling Green Bay National Park.
“We don’t want anyone getting bogged on the saltpans, and there are locations in the Townsville region where people can lawfully test their four-wheel-drive skills and their vehicles,” Mr Dunk said.
“Four-wheel-drive enthusiasts need to protect the environment and their vehicles by staying off the saltpans.
“Unfortunately, the Hilux owner tried to drive about three kilometres across the saltpan to reach a creek on the other side and made it about halfway across before abandoning his vehicle.
“He reported it to the department on 23 September 2024, and unfavourable weather conditions meant it couldn’t be retrieved until 5 November 2024.
“During that time, it was inundated by several king tides and exposed to heavy rain, and it is likely that it will be written off.
“Once the thick saltpan crust is broken a vehicle will quickly sink to the axels, and this is an expensive price to pay for disregarding the environment.”
Mr Dunk said under the Nature Conservation Regulation, it is an offence to drive or ride a vehicle into restricted sections of a protected area and people can be fined for leaving access tracks.
“We have issued a $322 fine to the Hilux owner and issued fines to two other people who recently became bogged in our protected areas,” he said.
“Saltpans in Bowling Green Bay National Park are also listed under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, and the maximum penalty for unauthorised use of a vehicle in a protected area is $3,226.
“Driving on saltpans damages the crust, uproots vegetation, causes soil compaction and erosion, disturbs bird and crustacean populations and has the potential for contamination.
“They are critical parts of our marine ecosystems and support hidden life, including saline or brackish sedgelands, crustaceans, worms and birdlife.”
