MCCQ Aug 2025 (1)

CONNECT QUEENSLAND

Aug 2025 - Vol 3, Issue 5 Email: info@mccq.org.au

Multicultural Fashion Show lights up Brisbane City Hall with diversity and innovation

creativity as Multicultural Community Connect Queensland Inc. (MCCQ) hosted the inaugural 2025 Multicultural Fashion Show on August 3, under the bold theme: Reimagining Multicultural Belonging and Innovation.

The event delivered more than just fashion—it delivered a message. Through dazzling displays of traditional and contemporary attire, dynamic live performances, storytelling, and cutting-edge

Russian volcano sends ash plume 10-km high in Kamchatka

Moscow, Aug 5 (IANS)

Klyuchevskoy volcano in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula ejected an ash plume reaching 7 kilometres above sea

level on Tuesday, with the cloud drifting southeast toward the Pacific Ocean, local authorities reported.

"There are no settlements in the path of the ash cloud, and no ash fallout has been recorded in populated areas. No registered tourist groups are currently in the vicinity of the volcano," the Kamchatka branch of the Ministry of Emergency Situations said on its Telegram channel. The volcano has been assigned an orange aviation colour code, indicating a high likelihood of ash emissions and potential hazards to aviation.

continued on pg. 3

technology, the show celebrated the rich multicultural identity of Queensland while reimagining a future rooted in inclusion and shared belonging.

The grand venue transformed into a cultural mosaic, where models, designers, and artists from a wide array of cultural backgrounds, age groups, abilities, and lived experiences took centre stage. From uplifting

Brasilia, Aug 5 (IANS) Brazil is preparing to formally challenge the newly imposed US tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO) while keeping the door open to negotiations, officials said. The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on a range of Brazilian exports, including coffee, beef and petrochemicals, set to take effect

Visa applicants may be required to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter US

Washington, Aug 5 (IANS) The US State Department is set to roll out a pilot program that may require foreign nationals seeking business or tourism visas to post a bond of up to 15,000 US dollars

to enter the United States, according to a preview of a bond notice posted on the Federal Register website.

Under the 12-month "visa bond pilot program," consular officers could require certain business and tourist visa applicants to post guarantee bonds of 5,000 U.S. dollars, 10,000 dollars or 15,000 dollars, according to the notice set to be officially published on Tuesday. The program will take effect 15

days after the notice is officially published.

The bonds may be required for travellers from countries that the State Department identifies as having high rates of visa overstays, or deficient screening and vetting information, said the notice.

The notice did not name the countries affected, but said the list will be released online at least 15 days before it takes effect,

Thailand-Cambodia talks on positive track, says Malaysian defence chief

to end conflict in secretariat-level discussions, Malaysia's Chief of Defence Forces General Mohd Nizam Jaffar said.

The talks, scheduled from August 4 to 6 ahead of an extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting on August 7, will also cover the terms of reference for establishing an ASEAN defense attaché monitoring team, Mohd Nizam said on Monday.

"They (Thailand and Cambodia) are now discussing the prerequisites for the team's deployment. If all goes well, we are expecting a very positive resolution by this Thursday," he told reporters after

Empowering Migrants Expo unites communities at Brisbane City Hall

on Wednesday.

The measure affects roughly 35 per cent of Brazil's exports to the United States, though key products such as energy products and certain minerals were excluded.

Brazil's Chamber of Foreign Trade approved a proposal on Monday to begin a formal consultation with the WTO, the first step in a dispute settlement process.

The chamber's council of ministers forwarded the decision to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will determine "how and when" to present the complaint to the trade body.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said that Brazil is working to reduce the new tariff's

impact and has already met with agribusiness representatives to coordinate strategies. The government will also continue talks with affected sectors, reports Xinhua news agency.

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said Brazil remains open to dialogue but will not accept an unequal partnership.

"We won't engage with the US as a colony or satellite -- we're a sovereign nation," Haddad told BandNews in an interview. He called the tariff hike "excessive" and "unreasonable," but said there is room to build a positive bilateral agenda, particularly in areas like critical minerals, technology and data infrastructure.

South Korea to resume inter-Korean projects when contact with North is reestablished: Minister

Seoul, Aug 4 (IANS) South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday the government plans to resume using the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for humanitarian projects in North Korea once bilateral contact is restored, marking a potential thaw in the long-frozen inter-Korean relations.

meeting with both secretariat heads.

He said that Malaysia is only acting as a facilitator ahead of the extraordinary meeting, Xinhua news agecny reported. Meanwhile, a Cambodian defence ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Thai soldiers entered Cambodian territory, deploying barbed wire, despite strong objection from Cambodian armed forces.

Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly

“It is shocking that none of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund was executed last year,” Chung said during a meeting with the NGO Council for Inter-Korean Cooperation. He expressed concern over the halt in engagement and emphasised the need for renewed collaboration through peaceful and humanitarian channels.

The fund, established in 1991, supports economic cooperation as well as social and cultural exchanges between the two Koreas. It has historically served as a key financial mechanism for facilitating dialogue and goodwill on the peninsula. Its budget peaked at 439.7 billion won

(US$317.4 million) in 2007 but has since sharply declined amid North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile provocations and the resulting diplomatic tensions.

The most recent use of the fund was in 2023, when 900 million won was allocated to a child nutrition programme.

However, broader initiatives have remained stalled due to strained ties and lack of formal communication channels.

Chung recently approved revisions to ministry guidelines governing declarations of contact with North Koreans.

Under the new rules, South Korean nationals may freely engage with North Koreans, as long as they report the contact in advance. The new guidelines are part of efforts to increase transparency while fostering greater flexibility in civil society-led interactions. “Just report it and meet them freely,” Chung said, encouraging civic groups to play a more active role in improving frosty inter-Korean relations and paving the way for future cooperation. In response, Choi Chang-nam, Vice Chairman of the NGO Council, said the eased restrictions were a relief for activists who have long sought more autonomy in humanitarian outreach, Yonhap news agency reported.

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 5 (IANS)

Thailand and Cambodia have expressed strong commitments

Brisbane, August 3 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Brisbane City Hall came alive with colour, culture, and

Brisbane, August 4 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Brisbane City Hall and King George Square came alive

on August 3 as Bhartiya Samaj hosted the landmark

Publisher Dr. Noel Kannagaraj

Editor

Dr. Ram Mohan & Pushpa Vaghela

Maria Judith Guillergan

Associate Editor

Dr Devashish Chakraborty

Contributors

Rabindra Mukherjee

Deepika Banerjee

Website Design & Updates Cosmos Media (www.cosmosmedia.info)

Designing Cosmos Media (www.cosmosmedia.info)

Editorial secretary@mccq.org.au

Advertising adverts@mccq.org.au

Multicultural Community Connect Qld Unit 49, 391, WICKHAM TERRACE, Ground Floor, Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD – 4000

UN humanitarians alarmed by intensifying conflict, mounting civilian casualties in Sudan

United Nations, Aug 5 (IANS) UN humanitarians have said they are alarmed by the intensifying conflict, mounting civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions in Sudan.

The UN Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) updated the humanitarian tragedy unfolding across the country.

"Our humanitarian colleagues note that heavy fighting continues in North Darfur State, with multiple reports of civilian casualties in recent days," OCHA said on Monday, adding that in El Fasher, the state capital, clashes erupted on Friday and Saturday, following earlier fighting between armed groups, including around the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people.

The camp currently houses 25,000 people.

The office said that one year

after famine was confirmed in Zamzam, another camp for the displaced on the outskirts of El Fasher, the city remains under siege, its residents facing starvation. There have not been any food deliveries by road in over a year.

The office said that in North Kordofan State, the town of Um Sumeima reportedly changed hands several times in recent weeks, highlighting the volatility of the front lines. Civilians remain trapped, and their access to aid remains heavily restricted. OCHA said that cholera continues to spread rapidly across Darfur.

Russian volcano sends ash plume 10-km high in Kamchatka

... continued from page 1

The eruption activity intensified on Monday, when the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences recorded four separate ash plumes from Klyuchevskoy, with the highest reaching 9 kilometres above sea level, reports Xinhua news agency.

Authorities have warned that ash emissions of 6 to 10 kilometres remain possible on several active volcanoes in the region and urged residents and tourists to avoid travelling within a 10-kilometre radius of these volcanoes. Standing at 4,754 meters above sea level, Klyuchevskoy is the tallest active volcano in Eurasia and is located in the UstKamchatsky District. Its current eruptive phase began in April.

The volcanic activity follows a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Kamchatka on July 30, which was the strongest in the region since 1952. The quake was felt as far as the northern Kuril Islands, triggering a tsunami warning and prompting a state of emergency in the Severo-Kurilsk district.

"According to our data, the last time such widespread volcanic activity occurred in Kamchatka was in 1737, following a magnitude-9 earthquake," Alexey Ozerov, Director of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying.

Ozerov said the powerful seismic event on July 30 may have reawakened the region's "sleeping giants."

Yury Demyanchuk, head of the volcanology station in the village of Klyuchi, said he had not seen such widespread volcanic activity in his five decades of work in Kamchatka, Xinhua news agency reported.

"On Krasheninnikov Volcano, both summit and central eruptions have begun simultaneously, which may indicate intense internal seismic processes. As for Kambalny Volcano, I last worked on it in 1979. While it has been quiet for decades, it should not be considered extinct," Demyanchuk said. He noted that the previous eruption of Krasheninnikov likely occurred in the 15th century and is known only from layers of volcanic ash. "Of course, no one was monitoring it in the 1400s, so we can say that today we are witnessing truly unique natural phenomena," he added.

Visa applicants may be required to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter US

... continued from page 1

reports Xinhua news agency.

The proposal comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten visa requirements.

Last week, the State Department announced that many visa renewal applicants would have to submit to an additional in-person interview, which was not required in the past.

Recently, the US State Department also directed its diplomatic missions to

screen the social media and online presence of all foreigners applying for student visas.

US diplomatic missions will review applicants' social media and online presence for "any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States," according to a departmental cable quoted by US media.

"Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of

Uganda to host nearly

all student and exchange visitor applicants," the department said. The screening will apply to both new and returning student visa applicants, and applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts' privacy settings to "public" may be rejected.

On Wednesday, the department also authorised its outposts to resume the process for foreigners applying for student visas, which had been suspended since May 27.

2 million refugees by end of 2025 due to escalating crises: UN

Aug 5 (IANS)

home to 1.93

verge

by

and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been driving an average of 600 people to cross the border daily in search of safety and lifesaving aid, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing on Monday, citing the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Haq stated that Uganda is already the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and the third largest globally, Xinhua news agency reported. Uganda's

Afghan refugees face crisis as Pakistan revokes PoR cards

Kabul, Aug 5 (IANS) Thousands of Afghan nationals are facing a humanitarian crisis after Pakistan recently revoked the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards granted to Afghan refugees, triggering arrests and forcible deportation, local media reported.

Meanwhile, the arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees by Pakistani authorities have raised concerns among migrants, fuelling demand for dialogue between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve the situation.

“It was expected that Afghan migrants holding PoR cards would be given at least six months' grace period, but unfortunately, Pakistan’s unilateral decision has resulted in an ongoing crackdown on Afghan migrants,” Afghan media outlet TOLO news quoted Shabana, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, as saying on Tuesday. “The Pakistani government has reversed its previous decision and, in coordination with the Islamic Emirate, has drafted and begun implementing a structured, gradual plan for the return of Afghan migrants,” said another Afghan migrant.

The Embassy of Afghanistan

in Islamabad announced that at least 800 Afghan nationals were arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad over the past three days. Among them, 380 individuals were forcibly deported despite possessing valid refugee documents.

According to the embassy's migration attache, the move was made unilaterally, with no coordination involving the Afghan government, the United Nations, or the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). “Based on reports from our office, 800 Afghan migrants have been arrested by Pakistani forces, 380 of whom held valid cards but were deported nonetheless,” said Ursula Haqqyar, Deputy Attache for Migration Affairs at the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad. “In such circumstances, it is the responsibility of both the current Afghan government and international organisations to defend the rights of migrants, especially those who possess legal documents,” said Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a migrant rights activist. Earlier, a deputy minister from Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation asserted that the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries breaches both international and Islamic law, urging the host countries to respect migrants' rights and dignity.

Brazil to challenge US tariffs at WTO, mulls relief package

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"Brazil holds valuable reserves of rare earths and critical minerals -- resources the US lacks," he said. "We're willing to cooperate on efficient battery production and other strategic technologies."

To offset the tariff's economic impact, Haddad said the government will soon unveil a relief package for domestic businesses, including credit support. He acknowledged the potential fiscal impact but said it would be managed with existing budget rules.

Thailand-Cambodia talks

on positive track,

says Malaysian defence chief

... continued from page 1

Socheata said this act constitutes a flagrant violation of a ceasefire and poses a grave threat to peace and security along the border between the two countries, as well as to the wider region.

progressive refugee policy allows refugees to live, work and access public services, but funding shortfalls are drastically impacting aid delivery and threatening to undo years of progress, he said. Currently, Uganda's refugee response is only 25 per cent funded, and UNHCR is calling for more urgent and sustained international support and solidarity to ensure refugees and their local communities can live safe and more dignified lives, said the spokesperson.

"Cambodia calls on the international community, particularly partner countries that have worked tirelessly to help achieve this hard-won ceasefire and wish to see it fully and effectively implemented, to demand that Thailand immediately stop its aggressive actions and strictly respect international law, especially Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Socheata added.

In response to Cambodia's accusation that Thai military personnel entered the area referred to as "An Sae," which Cambodia claims as its territory, the Thai Army on Monday clarified through the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs

that the area refers to "Chong An Ma area," which lies within Thailand's territory.

The Thai Army said that Cambodia has previously encroached upon this area by constructing unauthorized structures and settlements. The Thai side has issued multiple formal protests regarding these violations, none of which have elicited corrective action from Cambodia.

In recent operations, Thai forces have re-established a full control over Chong An Ma. Measures were being taken to reinforce security and restore order, including the clearance of landmines, said the Thai Army. On July 24, armed clashes broke out between soldiers of Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed border. The two countries agreed on a ceasefire in the afternoon of July 28, taking effect at the midnight of the same day.

United Nations,

Uganda, already

million refugees, is on the

of hosting 2 million refugees

the end of 2025 due to escalating crises in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a UN spokesperson said. The crises in Sudan, South Sudan

Multicultural Employment Expo boosts job opportunities on Gold Coast

Brisbane, July 8 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The recent Multicultural Employment Expo, organised by the Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast, was a resounding success — bringing together job seekers from culturally diverse backgrounds and a wide range of local employers

and service providers.

With the Gold Coast’s unemployment rate sitting at 3.4% in April 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Expo aimed to support economic stability in the region by bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. Attendees explored job openings,

engaged with community services, and accessed career advice tailored to their needs.

The event created a platform for meaningful engagement between employers and job seekers, helping people from migrant and refugee backgrounds gain better access to the local labour market. It also showcased the

ongoing efforts of Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast in empowering individuals through employment and training pathways.

The Expo was made possible through the support of local leaders, including MP Hermann Vorster and Councillor Glenn Tozer, as well as major partners and sponsors such as SBS,

City of Gold Coast, Local Jobs Program, and the Queensland Government's Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.

Local sponsors Resolve Migration, Expert Education, Nationwide Education & Human Resource Training, and GC Migration also contributed to the event’s success.

Iraqi and Syrian women graduate with first Australian qualification

Brisbane, July 27 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

More than 50 women from Iraq and Syria have earned their first Australian qualification through Multicultural Australia’s ‘Building Skills for the Future’ program, launched in 2023 under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative.

The graduation marks a major milestone for the participants,

many of whom arrived in Australia as refugees or migrants. The program, delivered in partnership with Aurora Training Institute (RTO 32237), focuses on developing essential language, literacy, numeracy (LLN), and digital skills to help participants integrate into the workforce and broader society. Funded by the Queensland Government through the

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, the initiative is part of a broader commitment to improving employment outcomes for people facing barriers to work.

The recent ceremony, held in Brisbane, was a proud moment for the graduates and the employment support teams who guided them through the training. Participants celebrated

in full academic attire, symbolising not just the completion of a course, but a new beginning in their lives in Australia.

The project has also been named a regional finalist in the 2025 Queensland Training Awards for the Darling Downs and South West Region, an honour that recognises the program’s impact in providing practical pathways to employment for culturally

and linguistically diverse communities.

Multicultural Australia’s continued collaboration with government and training providers highlights the value of targeted support programs in fostering inclusion, independence, and long-term contribution to Queensland’s economy and community.

LUMINOUS Lantern Parade lights up Brisbane in celebration of Multicultural Queensland

Brisbane, August 2 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Queensland’s most iconic celebration of cultural diversity, the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, was organised at South Bank Parklands on August 1, bringing together thousands of people in a vibrant and uplifting evening of unity, music, and light. The free, family-friendly event, which began at 5:30 PM, marked the official launch of Multicultural Queensland Month 2025 and was themed “Putting Inclusion into Action.” The lantern parade showcased the spirit of welcome and belonging

that has defined the event since its beginnings in 2007, when it started as a candlelight walk in support of refugees and asylum seekers.

The parade, presented by Multicultural Australia, started at Little Stanley Street, winding its way through Clem Jones Promenade before concluding at the South Bank Piazza.

Spectators lined the route to witness a colourful and magical display of glowing lanterns, many of which were handmade and symbolised different cultural stories and identities.

The evening featured a wide

array of live music, dance, and cultural performances, representing communities from across the globe. The atmosphere at South Bank was one of inclusion and celebration, as local residents, new Queenslanders, community organisations, and families came together to honour the rich multicultural fabric of the state.

The LUMINOUS Lantern Parade was made possible with the support of key partners, including Suncorp, Brisbane City Council, and the Queensland Government. Organisers said the event has grown into

Queensland’s largest multicultural celebration, with each year building on the last in scale and participation.

In line with its founding values, the parade remains a welcoming space for all. According to information published by Multicultural Australia, the event “is a celebration of Queensland’s diversity and a warm welcome to new Queenslanders.” The organisation invited participants to either walk in the glowing procession or simply enjoy the vibrant cultural showcase.

The parade served not only as a festive gathering but also

as a powerful statement of inclusion, bringing visibility to the contributions and presence of multicultural communities throughout the state. The event was also a kickoff for a monthlong series of Multicultural Queensland Month activities, including community dialogues, exhibitions, and cultural events. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a premier public celebration of diversity, the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade continues to highlight Queensland’s commitment to inclusion, unity, and cultural harmony.

CareerConnectors program graduates celebrated in Brisbane

Brisbane, July 17 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Multicultural Australia recently celebrated the graduation of mentees from its CareerConnectors program in Brisbane. Designed to support new Australians in building career pathways, the program pairs participants with professional

mentors who guide them toward employment success.

Over an intensive eight-week period, Brisbane-based mentors volunteered their time to assist mentees in strengthening their job readiness, refining professional skills, and progressing toward long-term career goals. The initiative focuses on

personalised, one-on-one mentoring to enhance participants’ confidence and opportunities in the local workforce.

The graduation event included a panel discussion where both mentors and mentees reflected on their transformative experiences. Their stories highlighted the value of connection,

encouragement, and professional guidance in helping new arrivals navigate Australia’s employment landscape.

The Deloitte Foundation Brisbane hosted the graduation ceremony and actively supported the program, encouraging staff to engage in mentorship and champion the development

of inclusive employment opportunities.

CareerConnectors is part of Multicultural Australia’s broader mission to foster social and economic inclusion by equipping migrants and refugees with the tools they need to thrive in Queensland.

Hockey fun brings community together in Toowoomba

Brisbane, August 4 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Toowoomba Youth Services, in collaboration with the Toowoomba Hockey Association Inc., hosted a lively Come & Try Hockey event during the school holidays as part of the Multicultural Youth Venture Program (MYVP). Nearly 50 young participants took part, enjoying a day filled with sports, connection, and community

spirit.

The event focused on encouraging physical activity, skill-building, and inclusive play, providing young people—especially from refugee and migrant backgrounds—an opportunity to engage in community sport in a welcoming environment.

This initiative complements the ongoing Belong in Hockey program, now in its seventh month, which continues to

create pathways for diverse youth to transition into competitive sports. Volunteers played a key role in making the day a success, offering weekly support and ensuring transport and participation were accessible. The event was made possible through the support of Dana Bradow and the Queensland Government, and wrapped up on a classic Australian note—with a community sausage sizzle.

Sewing Group empowers Yazidi women through skills and healing in Toowoomba

Brisbane, July 14 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

A weekly sewing group in Toowoomba is transforming into a lifeline for Yazidi women from Iraq and Syria, offering not only skills development but also vital emotional support and social connection.

The SETS Sewing Group, run by Multicultural Australia in partnership with the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT), is helping refugee and migrant women navigate settlement challenges while fostering wellbeing through creativity and community. Many of the participants live with the long-term impacts of trauma and chronic pain, and the group has become a therapeutic space where healing can begin.

Volunteer Penny Hamilton leads the group, which meets weekly to share sewing techniques, develop English language skills, and build social networks. The supportive environment has

made a visible impact on the women’s confidence and sense of belonging.

Adding to its holistic approach, the program includes regular health literacy sessions by Refugee Health Nurse Elizabeth Laverty, equipping women with the knowledge to manage their health in their new home.

A recent donation of fabrics from Hannas Family Department Store has further boosted the group’s capacity to teach practical skills. While the donation is appreciated, the heart of the program lies in the empowerment it provides to women who arrived in Australia with limited formal education but strong ambition and resilience.

The SETS Sewing Group continues to serve as a model for how community partnerships can build inclusive, supportive pathways for refugee women rebuilding their lives in regional Queensland.

Griffith University to lead next phase of anti-racism research in Queensland schools

Brisbane, July 23 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

In a significant development for equity in education, the Queensland Government has commissioned Griffith University to lead the second phase of research into racism in schools, focusing on cultural and linguistic diversity inclusion. This new phase follows initial findings highlighting the impact of racism on students from diverse backgrounds.

On July 23, Lisa Ward, Chief Executive Officer of the Multicultural Communities Council of Queensland, along

with colleague John Bosco, met with key stakeholders including Hayley Stevenson, Assistant Director General of Student Support at the Department of Education. They were joined by Penny Donald and Clio Padayachee from the office of the John-Paul Langbroek MP, Minister for Education and the Arts.

The upcoming research phase aims to translate earlier insights into practical strategies that can effectively counter racism in educational settings. Importantly, the work is rooted in the lived experiences of students, parents,

and community stakeholders whose voices guided the direction of the project from the start. Ward welcomed the announcement, recognising the Queensland Government’s commitment to building a more inclusive education system and commending the collaborative spirit that has defined this initiative. The engagement with Griffith University marks a critical step toward ensuring that all students, regardless of their cultural background, feel safe, respected, and supported throughout their educational journey.

Eritrean cultural gathering in Brisbane strengthens community b onds

Brisbane, July 14 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Eritrean community in Brisbane came together for the 9th Annual Pilgrimage and Cultural Gathering at the St Mary and St Michael Eritrean Orthodox Church, marking a

significant celebration of faith, heritage, and community spirit.

Multicultural Australia's Chief Client Officer, Jo-Ann Cochran, attended the event, which drew members of the Eritrean diaspora for a day rich in tradition, spiritual reflection, and cultural expression. The gathering served as a powerful reminder of how cultural and religious practices help individuals reconnect with their roots and enhance their sense of belonging.

The celebration featured traditional music, rituals, and communal activities, reflecting the deep pride the community holds in its heritage. The event also highlighted the importance of cultural understanding in building inclusive and resilient communities

Somali Independence Day celebrated with culture, unity

Brisbane, July8 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Multicultural Australia joined the Somali Community Association of Queensland in celebrating Somali Independence Day at a vibrant cultural event that honoured resilience, unity, and the growing contributions of Somali Australians to Queensland’s multicultural identity.

The evening featured traditional music, dance, and moving tributes to Somali heritage, drawing community members from across the region. Attendees reflected on the significance of independence while celebrating the strength and spirit of the Somali diaspora.

Sharing their solidarity in a social media message,

Multicultural Australia wrote:

“So proud to stand in solidarity with the Somali community as we remember the past, honour the resilience of the people and look forward to a brighter future. Happy Independence Day to all

and pride in Queensland

Children’s Day celebrates strength and spirit of First Nations youth

Brisbane, August 4 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day was marked across the country on August 4, celebrating the strength, spirit, and bright futures of First Nations children. This year’s theme, Little Footsteps, Big Future, honours

the journeys children take as they grow—guided by culture, community, and deep connections to Country. Established in 1988, the day began during a year of nationwide protest and reflection, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people demanded recognition and justice during

Canberra, July 12 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Multicultural Australia recently conducted specialised training sessions for homelessness service providers in the ACT, aiming to strengthen culturally responsive and person-centred approaches to client care.

The sessions encouraged participants to explore how culture, migration history, language barriers, and systemic challenges intersect to shape the experiences of individuals seeking housing support. Service providers engaged in reflective discussions on how adopting an intersectional framework can

improve outcomes for clients from diverse backgrounds. The training also shed light on the added complexities faced by migrants and refugees during their settlement journeys, especially when navigating housing systems. These conversations highlighted the value of moving beyond one-size-fits-all models in favour of approaches that are tailored to each person’s individual story, strengths, and needs. The initiative reinforces the broader goal of building inclusive, equitable support systems that better meet the needs of Australia’s increasingly diverse communities.

Queensland remembers Rwandan genocide victims at 31st anniversary commemoration

Brisbane, July 8 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Multicultural Australia joined the Rwandan Association of Queensland on July 5 to mark the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, standing in remembrance alongside survivors, community leaders, and Australian UN peacekeepers who served in Rwanda.

Australia’s bicentenary. Since then, August 4 has held deep significance, particularly for members of the Stolen Generations. For many, it is a symbolic birthday—a gesture of recognition for those taken from their families without knowing their birth date.

Children’s Day continues to serve as a powerful platform to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, affirm their identities, and highlight the vital role that family, culture, and community play in shaping their futures. It also provides an opportunity for all Australians to reflect, learn, and stand in solidarity with First Nations communities.

Events and activities across schools, early childhood centres, and community organisations brought children and families together to share stories, cultural performances, art, and song—all celebrating the resilience and hopes of the next generation.

Held in Brisbane, the solemn commemoration honoured the memory of the victims and paid tribute to the resilience of survivors. The event also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of peace, justice, and

human dignity.

The presence of Australian peacekeepers from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda underscored Australia’s role in humanitarian efforts during the crisis and the ongoing commitment to supporting healing and education within the Rwandan community in Queensland.

Multicultural Australia reaffirmed its dedication to building inclusive communities where the lessons of history guide the pursuit of justice, compassion, and unity.

Somalis around the world!” The celebration was a reminder of how cultural expression

fosters belonging and strengthens the social fabric of Australia’s diverse communities.

Multicultural Fashion Show lights up Brisbane City Hall with diversity and innovation

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First Nations voices to promoting disability inclusion, the runway became a space of empowerment and pride.

Senator Paul Scarr, who attended the show, shared on Facebook ahead of the event:

“If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, why not join me tomorrow night at the Multicultural Fashion Show: Celebrating Inclusivity & Diversity! This will be an

unforgettable evening where fashion becomes a powerful expression of identity, unity, and community.”

About her own assessment of the Cultural Fashion Show, Charis Mullen MP wrote on Facebook: “

So much creativity on display at the inaugural 'Cultural Fashion Showcase - Reimagining Multicultural Belonging and Innovation' hosted by Multicultural Community Connect Queensland and supported by the Ethnic

Communities Council of Queensland on the weekend. I was absolutely blown away by the incredible and diverse designers who showcased their creations influenced by an array of cultures including Indian, Filipino, Pasifika, First Nations, African, Polish and so many more… Amazing and energetic cultural performances and the opportunity to wear a beautiful outfit by Mercy.scollection, capped off a truly special night”

The Queensland African

Communities Council also praised the event, writing: “What an incredible Sunday night at Brisbane City Hall for the inaugural 2025 Multicultural Fashion Show! Congratulations to MCCQ for delivering a bold celebration of culture, creativity, and inclusion.”

MCCQ’s vision for the evening was clear: to create a platform that not only showcases multicultural fashion but also amplifies voices and stories often left unheard. And by all

accounts, they succeeded. The event marked a milestone in Queensland’s ongoing journey toward a more inclusive and culturally enriched society. From traditional garments to modern interpretations of heritage, the show was both a visual spectacle and a heartfelt celebration of unity in diversity— showing what’s possible when communities come together with purpose and pride.

Empowering Migrants Expo unites communities at Brisbane City Hall

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Empowering Migrants Expo 2025, a bold celebration of migrant contributions, culture, and community connection. With its inclusive theme and vibrant programming, the expo offered a powerful platform to recognise achievements and strengthen ties across Australia’s multicultural landscape.

The event attracted thousands of visitors throughout the day, transforming the historic Brisbane City Hall into a dynamic exhibition of multicultural talent and services. Nearly 30 community stalls and more than 15 government agencies engaged directly with attendees, offering resources, support, and information for migrants and their families. Outside, King George Square turned into a global food village, where over 20 international food stalls served

up traditional delicacies from diverse cultures, drawing long queues and enthusiastic reviews.

The Main Auditorium of City Hall became a cultural stage where over 20 multicultural dance performances captivated audiences with vibrant costumes and rhythms representing continents from Asia to Africa.

Simultaneously, the Ithaca Auditorium played host to a private networking lunch for 200 community leaders, fostering dialogue and collaboration among representatives from government, non-profit, and community sectors.

A key highlight of the day was the 2025 Migrants Awards Ceremony, which recognised excellence across a wide range of fields. Forty finalists were honoured, with eight winners and four highly commended recipients announced during the formal proceedings. Awards

were presented across categories including Multicultural Community Champion, Community Organisation, Community Leadership, Youth Leadership, Business Excellence, Disability Advocacy, Excellence in Sports, and Creative and Artistic Excellence.

The significance of the event was reflected in the strong turnout of dignitaries and political representatives. Madonna Jarrett MP, Federal Member for Brisbane, represented Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Senator Paul Scarr, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, also attended, alongside Hon. Fiona Simpson MP, who represented Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in her capacity as Minister for Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Multiculturalism.

Consul-General of India in Brisbane Neetu Bhagotia was present on behalf of Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner joined the occasion along with state and federal members of parliament, including Shayne Neumann MP, Charis Mullen MP, and Margie Nightingale MP. Brisbane City Councillors Vicki Howard, Steven Huang, Emily Kim and Penny Wolff were also in attendance.

Prominent figures from key multicultural organisations added their support, including Charlie Shandil, Regional Director of the Department of Home Affairs; Lisa Ward, CEO of the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ); and Jo Nelson, CEO of Multicultural Australia.

Organisers described the expo as an opportunity not only to celebrate culture and community

but also to empower migrants by connecting them to resources, services, and recognition. The event's inclusive vision, creative programming, and recognition of excellence were widely praised by community leaders, attendees, and policymakers alike.

Bhartiya Samaj was lauded for its leadership in organising the inaugural Empowering Migrants Expo. The organisation’s commitment to building bridges between cultures, celebrating achievements, and enhancing a shared sense of belonging has firmly positioned the expo as a major event in Queensland’s multicultural calendar.

As Brisbane moves forward as one of Australia’s most diverse and welcoming cities, events like the Empowering Migrants Expo highlight the strength of unity in diversity — a principle that continues to define and enrich the Australian story.

Beny Aterdit Bol OAM: From adversity to advocacy – inspiring a generation of youth leaders

Brisbane, August 6 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

In Australia, Beny Aterdit Bol OAM's journey from a young refugee to a well-known youth advocate is a stirring tale of tenacity and civic engagement. Bol, who was born in South Sudan, brought the burden of displacement and loss with him when he travelled to

Australia through humanitarian channels in 2007. He continued his education in spite of these obstacles, earning a postgraduate degree in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Government from Griffith University. When Bol was elected as the first Australian-South Sudanese representative to the Commonwealth Youth Forum in 2011, it was an early sign of his leadership. His journey into youth advocacy, community involvement, and intercultural communication began with this milestone.

As president of the Queensland African Communities Council (QACC), Bol assumed a pivotal role, collaborating closely with police and communities during tense times. He called for understanding and collaborative solutions when youth-related violence emerged in Brisbane, emphasising that the issues were not typical of the larger community. Driven by these experiences, Bol established an outreach organisation that is now called Village Support, which operates in Melbourne and Brisbane and offers safe spaces for youth through sports, peer mentoring, evening food programs, and

access to essential support services. These grassroots initiatives are a reflection of Bol's conviction that opportunity and healing begin with presence and connection.

Beny Aterdit Bol was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021. His consistent efforts to mentor young people, foster community cohesion in multicultural settings, and support them were acknowledged with this honour.

His autobiography, The Ambition and Determination of an Orphan, combines survival and adversity stories to encourage those who are going through a difficult time. He considers the life of his late daughter Athiei in Blessed

and Unblessed, whose memory served as the inspiration for the Athiei Foundation. The foundation transforms his personal loss into a legacy of education and empowerment by funding girls' education in South Sudan and Australia.

Whether he is mentoring young people, organising outreach initiatives, or giving speeches in schools, Bol never wavers from a message of hope influenced by his own life. Born out of displacement and tenacity, his leadership keeps bridging communities, encouraging civic engagement, and forming a more inclusive future for multicultural Australia.

Brisbane hosts ‘Drinks with Art’ to unite leaders from arts, business and sport

Brisbane, July 25 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

An inspiring networking evening titled “Drinks with Art”, organised by The Enterprise Network, recently brought together influential figures from education, arts, politics, business, multicultural affairs, and sports in Brisbane. The event featured prominent guests, including John-Paul Langbroek, Queensland’s Minister for Education and the Arts, and NRL legend Darren Lockyer, representing Beyond

the Broncos. Their presence added weight to the evening’s message of unity and collaboration across sectors.

Also in attendance were Gretel

Wilson from Casu Australia and Dr Ram Mohan, president of the Multicultural Community Council of Queensland (MCCQ), both of whom engaged with attendees on topics ranging from cultural leadership to business innovation.

Hosted in an informal setting, the event created space for rich conversations around youth

ECCQ boosts inclusive

development, community empowerment, and the role of creativity and sport in building a more connected Queensland.

The Enterprise Network, known for fostering cross-sector dialogue, used this occasion to promote partnerships between emerging professionals and established leaders in the community.

Events like “Drinks with Art” are fast becoming a hallmark of Brisbane’s commitment to inclusive leadership and cultural growth.

aged care with training and team engagement

Brisbane, August 5 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) recently held its monthly meeting with Multicultural Partners trainers, offering a space to reflect on July’s achievements, exchange updates, and plan ahead. The gathering reinforced team spirit and set the stage for further progress in culturally inclusive aged care.

In a related initiative, ECCQ delivered cultural awareness training to Bolton Clarke, one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit aged care providers. The training aimed to enhance empathy, respect, and communication when engaging with residents and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Multicultural Partners, funded by the Australian Government under the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) and Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Sector Support and Development (SSD), continues to offer aged care providers free access to training, mentoring, and digital resources.

Through these efforts, ECCQ remains committed to strengthening cultural understanding and responsiveness in aged care across Queensland.

Brisbane North unveils 2025–2030 health and wellbeing plan

Brisbane, July 31 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Brisbane North Primary Health Network (PHN) and Metro North

Health and Hospital Services officially launched their Regional Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025–2030 at Victoria Park on

July 30, setting the direction for integrated and inclusive healthcare services over the next five years.

The plan highlights a commitment to improving health outcomes across the region, with a strong emphasis on equity, community collaboration, and culturally responsive care. Key priorities include enhancing access to services, supporting mental health and chronic disease management, and strengthening partnerships with diverse communities.

The launch event brought together healthcare leaders, service providers, and community representatives. Among those attending was the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ), reaffirming its ongoing partnership with Brisbane North PHN to support multicultural Queenslanders.

The plan seeks to address the complex and evolving health needs of the population by fostering innovation, prevention, and coordinated care strategies. The presence of community organisations at the launch underscored the importance of collective action in building a resilient and inclusive health system.

Gold Coast to light up for Multicultural Queensland Month

Brisbane, August 23 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

As part of Multicultural Queensland Month, the Gold Coast will come alive with light, colour and community spirit on August 23, with the Luminous Festival Parade in the Regions. Held under the theme “One Queensland, many stories”, the event celebrates stories of migration, resilience, belonging and shared culture.

The parade will be a centrepiece celebration, featuring spectacular handmade lanterns crafted by diverse cultural groups. Set

against the scenic backdrop of HOTA Lake at Home of the Arts, the event invites people of all backgrounds to come together in a symbolic walk that honours inclusion and unity.

The free event, running from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, is being organised in partnership with Multicultural Australia and supported by Multicultural Affairs Queensland and SBS Australia.

More than just a visual spectacle, the festival aims to build a stronger sense of belonging for migrants and multicultural

Toolkit launched to empower CALD communities in Disasters

August 1

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has launched a comprehensive report and toolkit aimed at empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in times of disaster. The launch marks the culmination of a two-year research project led by Associate Professor Jenny Hou and her team, including Professor Greg Hearn, Professor Kim Johnston, and Dr Kim Osman.

communities, highlighting their contributions to Queensland’s identity and progress.

The project focused on amplifying the voices of CALD community members, highlighting their resilience, lived experiences, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to disaster preparedness and response. The toolkit is designed to support emergency

services, local governments, and community organisations in engaging more effectively with multicultural communities during crises.

The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ), represented by Naome Rusera and Dr John Bosco Ngendakurio, participated in the launch and reaffirmed its commitment to continued collaboration with QUT on initiatives that promote inclusive and responsive community support strategies. This milestone represents a step forward in disaster risk reduction by ensuring CALD communities are not just recipients of aid, but active participants in shaping disaster responses that are culturally informed and community-driven.

Burundian community in Brisbane marks 63rd Independence anniversary

Brisbane, July 30 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Members of Brisbane’s Burundian community recently gathered to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of Burundi’s independence from Belgium. The celebration marked a moment of pride and reflection for the East African nation, which officially gained independence on July 1, 1962.

The event highlighted Burundi’s rich cultural heritage, historical journey, and national identity. Community members also took time to honour the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom, including Prince Louis Rwagasore, the country’s first Prime Minister and widely regarded as the father of the nation.

The gathering was a testament to the enduring spirit and unity of the Burundian diaspora in Australia, as they celebrated their homeland’s achievements while continuing to build strong, connected communities abroad.

Brisbane,

(MCCQ Newsdesk)

Celebrating carers and culture in Moreton Bay during Multicultural month

Brisbane, July 29 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

As part of Queensland’s Multicultural Month celebrations, a free community event will take place on Wednesday, August 27, at the Caboolture Hub in the City of Moreton Bay.

Scheduled from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in Seminar Room 2 at 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture, the event is open to carers, community organisations, service providers, and local residents who wish to engage in meaningful discussions about care and

ECCQ

culture in diverse communities.

The event is organised by the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) under its Multicultural Partners program, in collaboration with Carer Gateway, Wellways, and Homelife. It aims to spotlight the lived experiences of carers from multicultural backgrounds and to raise awareness of the need for culturally inclusive support services. This initiative is designed to empower both carers and the organisations that serve them, encouraging

roundtable

inclusive practices across care and health settings.

A key feature of the program will be a special address by Dr John Bosco Ngendakurio, who will lead an insightful conversation on the topic of “Inclusion and Exclusion in Care and Health Settings.” This discussion will explore the assumptions and challenges faced by culturally diverse carers and will highlight practical strategies for creating more responsive and inclusive systems of care.

Attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate the strength and diversity of Queensland’s multicultural communities while engaging in culture-focused activities that foster understanding and connection. The event will also explore the importance of culturally appropriate support for carers, offering a space to connect with service providers and access vital resources. Light refreshments will be provided, making it a welcoming and accessible gathering for all participants.

Multicultural Partners, a program delivered by ECCQ and funded by the Australian Government, offers free information, training, mentoring, and digital resources to approved aged care providers across Queensland. As part of the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) and Sector Support and Development (SSD) programs, it aims to build inclusive aged care through collaboration, conversation, and community engagement.

Whether you are a carer, a service provider, or a community leader, this event offers an opportunity to be part of a growing movement for culturally informed and inclusive care in Queensland.

with Sussan Ley sparks optimism for multicultural future

Online cultural awareness training boosts inclusive aged care practices

Brisbane, July 25

The Multicultural Partners Team of the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) recently conducted an online Cultural Awareness Training session for Footprints Community, a not-for-profit organisation known for delivering community-based support services across Queensland. This specialised session focused on enhancing language access and the vital role of interpreters in aged care settings. It equipped participants with practical strategies to improve communication with older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Through

the training, attendees explored how inclusive language practices, effective use of interpreters, and culturally responsive approaches can contribute to safer and more respectful care environments. With Queensland’s population becoming increasingly diverse, the session underscored the importance of building aged care services that are not only inclusive but also culturally safe. Ensuring access to interpreters and appropriate language services is essential to supporting both residents and staff, reinforcing the broader goal of delivering care that respects and reflects the cultural needs of all communities.

Councillor Steven Huang meets with ECCQ to dscuss sustainability and inclusion

with community leaders. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities facing culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Queensland and beyond.

ECCQ Chair Elijah Buol OAM described the meeting as a turning point, highlighting the importance of inclusivity, representation, and shared aspirations.

The session was marked by honest exchanges and forward-looking ideas, particularly around the sustainability of multicultural policies and services. Senator Paul Scarr was also present and warmly thanked for his ongoing advocacy and support for multicultural communities across the state.

The event reinforced ECCQ’s commitment to celebrating diversity and ensuring that multiculturalism remains a core strength of Australia’s identity. The Council also acknowledged and appreciated the contributions of its members and community partners who participated and voiced their insights at the roundtable.

Brisbane, July 18 (MCCQ

In a continuing effort to strengthen ties between government and community organisations, the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) recently met with Councillor Steven Huang, Brisbane City Council’s representative for multicultural communities. The meeting provided a platform to exchange insights on the challenges and opportunities facing multicultural organisations across the state. During the discussion, ECCQ shared key findings from its Sustainability of Multicultural Organisations in Queensland research, shedding light on the structural and funding barriers that affect the long-term viability

of community-led initiatives. The conversation also included plans for upcoming co-design workshops under Phase II of the project, aimed at developing collaborative, community-driven solutions.

The ECCQ team also highlighted the organisation’s broad scope of work, spanning health education, aged care, and community advocacy—emphasising its ongoing commitment to empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities across Queensland. The dialogue with Councillor Huang underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building inclusive, sustainable support systems for all Queenslanders.

(MCCQ Newsdesk)

Newsdesk)

Brisbane, July 18 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

In a significant dialogue on Australia’s multicultural future,

the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) hosted Hon Sussan Ley MP, Leader of the Opposition, for a roundtable

Eritrean Orthodox Church marks 9th Annual Pilgrimage with cultural festivities

Brisbane, July 14 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The St Mary and St Michael Eritrean Orthodox Church in

Brisbane recently hosted its 9th Annual Pilgrimage and Cultural gathering, drawing members of the Eritrean community together

to celebrate their rich cultural and spiritual heritage. The occasion also marked the grand opening of the church’s newly renovated facilities, including a youth Cultural Centre and Sunday school activity rooms. The celebration served as a meaningful expression of pride, identity, and unity among Eritrean Australians.

ECCQ’s General Manager of Peak Body, Dr John Bosco Ngendakurio, attended the event and acknowledged the community’s strong connection to tradition and culture. The gathering was seen as not only strengthening bonds within the Eritrean community, but also contributing to broader multicultural understanding and inclusion.

Tamil community launches mental health videos for youth and families

Canberra, August 5 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Anglicare, in collaboration with the Sydney Tamil community, has launched a new initiative aimed at fostering mental health awareness across generations. As

part of this project, three short videos were developed to address the mental health needs of youth, families and women, and seniors within the Tamil community. One of the videos focuses specifically on young people, providing

culturally relevant content to help them better understand and talk about mental health challenges. The initiative recognises the distinct needs of each age group and aims to create safe spaces for open dialogue.

The project is supported through the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Program, a national initiative led by the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA), in partnership with Mental Health Australia and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA). Funding has been provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

New website unveiled for Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance

Canberra, July 28 (MCCQ

The Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance

launched its new branding and website, reflecting a bold, dynamic, and empowering

ECCQ urges universal Medicare access for people seeking protection

Brisbane, July 15 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) has released a new policy paper calling on the federal government to guarantee full Medicare access for all people seeking protection in Australia, regardless of visa status. Medicare, regarded as a cornerstone of Australia's healthcare system, ensures affordable access to essential medical services, including doctor consultations, hospital procedures, and diagnostic tests listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). However, many people seeking protection—often dealing with trauma, chronic health conditions, and the

burdens of uncertain migration journeys—face restricted or even zero access to this lifeline.

ECCQ’s newly released policy paper urges relevant policymakers to extend Medicare access to all individuals seeking asylum in Australia, across all healthcare settings. The paper outlines the ethical and practical necessity of ensuring equity in health access, especially for vulnerable populations.

ECCQ hopes this policy push will prompt legislative change, aligning Australia’s healthcare framework more closely with its humanitarian commitments and ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to health and dignity.

FECCA condemns targeted attacks on Jewish community in Melbourne

identity. The updated visual identity is designed to resonate with the rich cultural diversity of the women AMWA represents, combining a professional and contemporary design with inclusivity at its core.

AMWA serves as the national voice for multicultural women in Australia and is led by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), in partnership with Settlement Services International (SSI) and Media Diversity Australia (MDA). The alliance advocates for gender equity, greater representation, and inclusive policies across all sectors of Australian life.

Guided by community insight, lived experience, and research, AMWA focuses on dismantling systemic barriers and creating meaningful opportunities for women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Through an intersectional approach, the alliance is committed to ensuring multicultural women can fully participate in and contribute to Australia’s development.

Canberra, July 9 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has strongly condemned the recent acts of violence directed at the Jewish community in Melbourne, describing them as dangerous and deeply harmful to Australia’s multicultural fabric.

On July 5, a group of masked individuals reportedly targeted an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD, while the same night saw an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in East Melbourne. These incidents have raised serious concerns over ethnically motivated violence

and public safety. FECCA has reiterated its commitment to supporting efforts by the Federal Government to bolster protections for the Jewish community, including places of worship, cultural institutions, and businesses with cultural significance. It emphasized that social cohesion is a cornerstone of Australian society and must be preserved through strong political and community leadership.

The organisation called on leaders at all levels to work together to ensure such acts of prejudice have no place in Australia’s multicultural future.

Newsdesk)

(AMWA) has

New report highlights inclusive aged care needs for CALD seniors

Canberra, July 15 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

A new report released by the University of Queensland sheds light on the need to better integrate community and family care to support older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The report, the third and final in the ARC Linkage Project series, draws on insights from 40 participants, including service providers, community leaders, and government officials representing 25 cultural backgrounds. It identifies opportunities to improve aged care policies and services through stronger cross-sector collaboration and more culturally responsive practices.

The research highlights the importance of inclusive approaches that respect cultural traditions and promote ageing in place, aiming to reduce the reliance on residential care and support older CALD Australians to age well within their communities.

New resources launched to challenge myths about racism in Australia

Canberra, July 24 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Australian Human Rights Commission has released a new series of factsheets as part of its ‘It Stops With Me’ campaign, aiming to dismantle common myths and misconceptions surrounding racism in Australia. The initiative addresses five persistent misunderstandings: the belief that racism is only about personal attitudes and actions, the idea of a fair and equal meritocracy, the claim of

being "colour-blind" to race, the notion that racism no longer exists, and confusion around what anti-racism truly involves. Each factsheet explains how these misconceptions developed, how they shape daily life and public discourse, and what can be done to counter them. The resources focus on improving public awareness of systemic racism and encouraging individuals and institutions to take practical steps toward meaningful change.

Fil-Aust shines in MCCGC member spotlight

(MCCGC) has featured the Filipino-Australian Community of Gold Coast Inc. (Fil-Aust) in its Member Spotlight series, recognising the group’s longstanding contribution to community life and cultural engagement on the Gold Coast. Fil-Aust has been active for over 30 years, promoting Filipino culture and supporting community members through a range of activities. These include major cultural events such as the Philippine Festival, Christmas celebrations, and Gala Dinners. The organisation also assists international students, skilled workers, and pilgrims through orientation and support services. Their community work includes pastoral care, peer support, tree planting drives, and fundraising walks. Fil-Aust also provides platforms for local artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

As the organisation nears its 35th anniversary, MCCGC highlights its ongoing role in strengthening community ties. Those interested in getting involved can attend events, volunteer, sponsor a program, or stay connected through email at filaust. goldcoast1990@gmail.com. More information about MCCGC membership is available at www.mccgc.org. au.

Sound healing workshop brings calm and connection for women’s group

Brisbane, July 31 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) recently hosted a soothing sound healing session for its Women’s Social Group, led by Rei from Aruna Earth. Held last week, the tranquil workshop offered participants a chance to reconnect with themselves, release stress, and experience deep relaxation through the power of sound. The event, part of MCCGC’s ongoing commitment to wellness and community engagement, was

warmly received by attendees. Participants shared enthusiastic feedback, highlighting how the session helped improve their mental and physical well-being. MCCGC expressed gratitude to Rei for traveling from Brisbane to conduct the session and is looking forward to hosting more healing and wellness activities in the coming months. The next women’s workshop is scheduled for the first Friday of September, continuing the journey of connection and care.

Digital Sisters workshop empowers women with practical tech skills

Brisbane, July 28 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) hosted another successful session of its Digital Sisters workshop this month, bringing together women from diverse backgrounds to build essential digital skills in a supportive and inclusive environment. Participants engaged with the Be Connected website, navigated tools like Google Maps and Google Earth, and received individual assistance on using mobile phone settings. For

those looking to deepen their knowledge, one-on-one sessions focusing on Facebook will also be arranged.

The event was held in partnership with the Multicultural Families Organisation (MFO), reflecting a shared commitment to supporting digital literacy among women. The program is proudly funded by Good Things Foundation Australia and continues to play a key role in helping women become more confident and capable in today’s digital world.

Brisbane, July 22

(MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast

FICQ president Dr Preethi Suraj joins Kairali Soccer Games in Brisbane

Brisbane, July 30 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Kairali Soccer Games brought together sports lovers and the wider Indian community for a spirited day of football and fun in Brisbane. Among the attendees was Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) president Dr Preethi Suraj, who expressed her delight at being part of the lively event.

The tournament, organised by the Kairali community, showcased athletic talent and community spirit, with players and supporters turning out in large numbers. Dr Suraj’s presence added encouragement and highlighted the importance of such events in fostering unity and cultural celebration within Queensland’s multicultural fabric.

Cultures shine at Grand Multicultural Carnival 2025

Brisbane, July 31 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC)

Settlement team and student placements joined in the vibrant celebrations at the Grand Multicultural Carnival 2025 held at Movie World.

The event showcased more than 30 cultural performances and brought together communities

through music, dance, food, and art. Families and cultural groups enjoyed a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, celebrating diversity and tradition.

The carnival offered a valuable platform for MCCGC to connect with the broader community, promote social inclusion, and highlight the services and support available for multicultural communities across the region.

Global Fair showcases strength of multicultural trade in Queensland

Brisbane, August 6 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Global Fair held recently brought together business leaders, community representatives, and international delegates in a vibrant celebration of multiculturalism, trade, and innovation.

Hosted with the goal of strengthening Queensland’s diverse business landscape, the

event offered a rich showcase of global culture through fashion, food, music, and cross-cultural exchange. The lively atmosphere reflected the spirit of unity and the growing strength of multicultural enterprise in the region. Attendees had the opportunity to network with leaders from trade and industry, members of an international delegation, and representatives from key

community organisations.

The event served not only as a celebration but also as a platform for future collaboration, with plans announced for a multicultural trade project set to launch early next year.

A special acknowledgment was given to Tina, a dedicated community supporter, for her ongoing contributions to fostering inclusion and economic

opportunity. Her recognition was warmly received by guests, underlining the critical role of individuals who continue to bridge community and commerce.

The Chamber expressed enthusiasm about upcoming multicultural business initiatives, emphasising that trade partnerships grounded in cultural diversity do more than boost the

economy—they build stronger, more connected communities. The event message resonated strongly: open markets and open minds go hand in hand.

With a growing global network and increasing interest in multicultural business collaborations, the Global Fair highlighted Queensland’s unique position as a hub for culturally inclusive economic development.

Brisbane, July 29 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) Youth Advisory Group recently held a powerful and insightful session during its monthly

meeting, focusing on leadership, advocacy, and relationship-building. The workshop was led by Walters Nkemfack from Queensland Community Alliance and aimed to empower young leaders through the principles

of broad-based community organising. Participants explored how to build relational power for collective action, gaining valuable tools to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills. The session

encouraged self-reflection, highlighting the importance of understanding both personal and shared self-interest. Through storytelling, attendees shared the motivations behind their community work, deepening

Youth group explores leadership and advocacy tools at MCCGC session MCCGC NAIDOC event shares First Nations culture with community

Brisbane, July 25 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) hosted representatives from the Yugambeh Region Aboriginal

Corporation Alliance (YRACA) at its Ashmore office during NAIDOC Week. The session brought together staff, student placements, and community members to learn about First

Nations history, culture, and achievements.

Uncle John delivered a Welcome to Country, followed by a Smoking Ceremony led by Nathan. Cultural workshops were

their commitment and sense of purpose.

The gathering marked a meaningful step in developing the leadership capacity of MCCGC’s youth, strengthening their ability to work collaboratively for community-driven change.

conducted by Nathan, Lalania Tusa, and Zhane, including sessions on painting, weaving, fire making, and a presentation on artefacts and tools.

The event was coordinated by the

MCCGC Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee as part of ongoing efforts to support understanding and education about Indigenous cultures within multicultural communities.

MCCGC Potluck brings together cultures through food and community

Brisbane, July 25 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Staff, volunteers, and student placements at the Multicultural

Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) gathered for a potluck celebration that highlighted cultural diversity and connection. Participants brought and

shared dishes representing their cultural backgrounds, using food as a way to connect and engage.

The event provided a space for participants to share stories and

experiences while recognising the collective efforts of those involved in the organisation. It reflected MCCGC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive

environment where people from diverse backgrounds feel respected and valued.

MCCGC hosts ‘Building Bridges’ panel on multicultural engagement MCCGC joins NAIDOC Week Community Day at Kalwun Corporation

Brisbane, July 16 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast (MCCGC) recently hosted a panel discussion titled “Building Bridges: Community Engagement Strategies for a Multicultural Gold Coast.” The event brought together a diverse group of speakers to discuss ways to strengthen community connections across cultures.

Moderated by Antonella Russo, the panel included youth advocate Masoud Bakhshi, business leader Feli Lacorte, multicultural community leader Anne Vaughn, local government representative Savita Gurung, and academic expert Dr. Saminda Arambewela. Each panellist contributed their insights on how to better engage with multicultural communities and promote inclusivity across the region.

The discussion highlighted the importance of connecting with culturally diverse residents through various approaches, including increased use of digital platforms, the creation of volunteer opportunities that help migrants gain work experience, and the development of inclusive events that support knowledge sharing and community participation. The panellists also spoke about the value of building leadership networks, encouraging cultural competency across services, supporting mentorship programs for young people, and accessing reliable data and government resources to inform decisions.

The event reflected MCCGC’s continued commitment to creating spaces where community voices are heard and respected. The organisation thanked its Community Development team for facilitating the session, the panellists for sharing their perspectives, and the attendees for engaging in a meaningful conversation about the future of a multicultural Gold Coast.

Brisbane RF Fashion Show 2025 blends glamour with a

heartfelt cause

Fundraising for “Simply Human” celebrates

elegance, and community spirit

Brisbane, July 30 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The Brisbane RF Fashion Show 2025 lit up the runway with style, colour, and compassion in a spectacular evening dedicated to fundraising for the local humanitarian organisation Simply Human. The high-profile event beautifully combined fashion with philanthropy, showcasing a powerful message of unity and social impact.

Consul General Neetu Bhagotia attended the event in support of the fundraising efforts. Her presence highlighted the community's growing engagement

with causes promoting inclusion and social welfare.

The fashion show featured an impressive lineup of models and designers, representing the multicultural spirit of Brisbane. From traditional ensembles to contemporary designs, each segment celebrated inclusion, creativity, and cultural pride. Organised by the RF team, the event aimed to raise funds for Simply Human, a not-for-profit initiative that provides dignity kits and essential support to people experiencing crisis and displacement. Proceeds from the evening will help expand

diversity,

the organisation’s outreach and service delivery. Attendees were treated to an evening of stunning visuals, heartfelt moments, and high fashion—all with a strong social message at its core. The runway finale, bursting with vibrant colours and cultural fusion, earned a standing ovation.

The Brisbane RF Fashion Show 2025 successfully demonstrated how fashion can become a force for good—uniting communities, raising awareness, and inspiring action through elegance and empathy.

Brisbane, July 10 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

The MCCGC Community Development and SETS teams took part in the NAIDOC Week Community Day hosted by Kalwun Corporation, which marked the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC with the theme “Strength, Vision, and Legacy.”

The event offered an opportunity

for the MCCGC teams to engage with community members and stallholders. It also served as a space to strengthen relationships and deepen understanding of First Nations cultures. Team members valued the chance to continue their journey of learning and reflection alongside First Nations communities.

National Multicultural Mental Health Month returns this October

Brisbane, August 5 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

Mental Health Foundation

Australia-Queensland has announced the return of National Multicultural Mental Health Month this October, with the official launch scheduled for October 4, 2025.

Now in its seventh year, the event will focus on the theme “Lived Experience Leads the Way.”

The evening will bring together community leaders, creatives,

and advocates to highlight the role of lived experience in shaping multicultural mental health conversations.

The launch will feature personal stories, a digital art showcase, and a live fusion performance combining Western opera and Indian classical music. The event aims to create space for diverse voices and promote cultural understanding in mental health support.

Brisbane kicks off NAIDOC Week 2025 celebrating youth and future leaders

Brisbane, July 14 (MCCQ Newsdesk)

At the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, a QTIC NAIDOC Corporate Breakfast marked the official start of NAIDOC Week 2025. It brought together industry representatives, community leaders, and elders to celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC history and pledge to empower future generations.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) organised the event, which kicked off a week-long celebration of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," this year's theme, acknowledges the cultural resiliency of Indigenous communities and emphasises the significance of raising young First Nations Australians.

Indigenous leaders spoke at the breakfast, which included traditional performances and a Welcome to Country. It also provided a forum for talking about how industries like tourism and education can help

Indigenous people achieve their goals, especially young people. Cultural exhibitions, community award ceremonies, youth days, and gala dinners have all taken place throughout Queensland. The community came together in Toowoomba for an NAIDOC Gala Dinner and Awards Evening to honour leadership, culture, education, and health contributions. Youth events have been held in regional cities like Townsville and Cairns with the goal of enhancing cultural awareness and boosting the

self-esteem of young Indigenous participants.

Storytelling sessions, art exhibits, school programs, and community festivals are being held throughout Australia to commemorate NAIDOC Week.

The Red Centre's cultural experiences, which highlight Indigenous art, food, and customs, are attracting tourists from all over the country to Uluru.

A 1938 demonstration gave rise to NAIDOC Week, which was proclaimed a national holiday in

1975. It now serves as a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, protect their culture, and advance reconciliation. The 50th anniversary is a moment for introspection and rejuvenation. The significance of knowledge transfer between generations and the role of partnerships in generating opportunities for Indigenous Australians are underscored by events such as the QTIC Corporate Breakfast.

Majority of Australians doubt that AUKUS pact will deliver submarines

Canberra, July 30 (IANS) A majority of Australians doubt that the country will ever receive nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS security agreement, a survey has found.

The survey conducted by independent market research firm Essential Research as part of its fortnightly polling on Australian issues, found that 60 per cent of respondents believe it is "not that likely" or "not likely at all" that the US will ever deliver submarines to Australia under AUKUS. Six per cent of respondents to the survey, which is published by the Australian online edition

of UK-based newspaper The Guardian, said they believe it is "very likely" that the AUKUS pact will deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, and 34 per cent said it is "quite likely," Xinhua news agency reported. A majority of respondents, among all age groups and genders, said they believe it is unlikely that Australia will receive the submarines. Respondents aged 55 and above were the most doubtful, with 65 per cent saying the delivery of the submarines is "not that likely" or "not likely at all."

Asked about Australia's relationship with other countries, 40 per cent rated that with the US as "positive," down from 65 per cent in November 2023.

On July 26, Australia and the UK signed a 50-year commitment to the AUKUS defence treaty despite

the United States' ongoing review of the pact.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Secretary John Healey signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty) at their meeting in Geelong, Victoria.

"The Geelong Treaty is a historic agreement, the commitment for the next 50 years of UKAustralian bilateral defence cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I," Marles and Healey said in a joint statement.

The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of their SSN-AUKUS submarines, according to the statement.

48th session of Australia’s federal parliament officially opened

Canberra, July 22 (IANS)

Australia's 48th federal parliament officially opened on Tuesday in the capital Canberra, following May's general election. The commencement of the parliament comes more than two months after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party won a second term in government in a landslide victory at the May 3 election.

As part of Tuesday's proceedings, Milton Dick was re-elected as the speaker of the House of Representatives, which is the lower house of parliament, and Sue Lines was re-elected president of the Senate, the upper house.

The duo, both from the Labor Party, will be charged with

overseeing debates in their respective houses and maintaining order and rules, Xinhua news agency reported.

Both speakers are entitled to continue attending party meetings, but Dick will only be able to vote on legislation in the event of a tie in the lower house, while Lines can vote on all matters before the Senate.

Addressing a ceremony in the Great Hall at Parliament House on Tuesday morning after a traditional Aboriginal acknowledgement, Albanese urged all 226 elected members of the federal parliament to write Australia's "next chapter" with grace and courage.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that every day in the new parliament would be an "opportunity" for his government to deliver for Australians.

The first day of a new parliament's agenda is filled with formalities, with the Great Hall ceremony followed by swearing-in proceedings for the elected members of the lower

and upper houses.

Among those newly elected members is Labor's 21-year-old Charlotte Walker, who will represent the state of South Australia as the youngest senator in Australian history.

Following the election, Labor held 94 out of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, the equal-most by any party in history, and 29 of the 76 seats in the Senate.

The conservative LiberalNational Coalition holds 43 lower house seats and 27 in the Senate.

Coalition leader Sussan Ley said on Tuesday morning that the opposition party is at a "low point" in the wake of the historic election defeat but promised to work hard to hold the government to account.

The 48th parliament will turn to legislative affairs on Wednesday. Albanese has previously said his re-elected government's first priority will be legislation to deliver its election promise to cut higher education student loan debts by 20 per cent.

South Australian Premier requests millions in federal funding to respond to toxic algae crisis

Canberra, July 21 (IANS) The Premier of South Australia (SA) said he has asked the federal government for significant funding to help the state respond to a toxic algae outbreak causing widespread marine destruction. Peter Malinauskas on Monday said that he has held conversations with the federal government in recent days to ask for millions of dollars in emergency funding in response to the toxic algal bloom.

Since it was first identified in March, the outbreak of the toxic algae Karenia mikimotoi off the coast of SA has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of sea creatures, including

sharks, penguins and octopuses, along hundreds of kilometers of coastline.

"This is a natural disaster. It should be treated as a natural disaster and I've made my view known very clearly to the federal government this morning," Malinauskas told News Corp Australia newspapers.

He said that federal government money would build upon state government relief measures for commercial fishers and fund further scientific testing as well as recovery efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to experts, the algal bloom is linked to an ongoing marine heatwave off the SA coast and will not dissipate until there is a significant shift in environmental conditions.

The premier's comments came as Murray Watt, federal environment minister, on Monday inspected areas affected by the algae.

Climate change raises hailstorm risks for Australian major cities

Sydney, July 29 (IANS) Australian cities may see more severe and frequent hailstorms as the climate warms, new research finds.

Major urban centres like Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Perth are expected to experience larger hailstones and a greater risk of damaging hail events due to climate change, according to a statement released Tuesday by Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW). The study, which examined simulated weather patterns in a warming climate, also shows hailstorms become more frequent in Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hailstone sizes are expected to rise in several of these cities, and more intense storms in the future could increase the chances of large-diameter hail, said the study's lead author, Tim Raupach from UNSW's Institute for Climate Risk and Response. The study finds that in Melbourne, 10 cm hailstones

- previously seen only every 20 years - could strike every three years as the climate warms.

Hail damage has made up over 20 per cent of insured losses in Australia from 1967 to 2023, mainly because stronger storm updrafts produce larger, more destructive hailstones, said the study detailed in Geophysical Research Letters published by the American Geophysical Union. While hail can occur nationwide, Australia's east coast is especially vulnerable. Remote areas like Western Australia's goldfields and the Gulf of Carpentaria also see severe hail, though data there is limited, it said.

Researchers noted that Australia's growing solar industry is increasingly vulnerable to hail damage, but experts say this should encourage stronger infrastructure and resilience, not deter investment in renewables.

The authors said current Australian building standards lack hail resilience measures, leaving many properties vulnerable, adding that although hail warnings and insurance exist, physical precautions like covered parking and strong roofing remain crucial for protection. Raupach stressed reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate worsening severe weather, and called for further research on how urban design could limit hailstorm risk in the future

Google threatens legal action if YouTube is included in Australia’s social media ban for children

Canberra, July 28 (IANS)

Politicians, marine experts and conservation groups have urged the federal government to declare the algal bloom as a national disaster, which would streamline government activities and unlock financial assistance for affected communities.

Nina Wootton, a marine scientist from SA's University of Adelaide, said in a media release on Monday that the algal bloom is a major ecological crisis that is "crying out for help" from the government. "While not yet formally declared a national disaster, the scale of this event, spanning hundreds of kilometers of coastline and devastating huge numbers of marine life, is unprecedented for the region and demands national attention," she said.

Malinauskas has called a meeting of the state government's Emergency Management Cabinet Committee on Tuesday to prepare an action plan.

Google has threatened to take legal action against any move by the Australian government to include YouTube in its worldfirst social ban for children younger than 16.

In a letter to the Minister for Communications Anika Wells, executives from Google and YouTube's Australian office said the technology giant is "considering its legal options" if the federal government reneges on its previous decision to exempt YouTube from the social media ban.

The letter, which was published by News Corp Australia newspapers, argues that YouTube is a video streaming platform rather than a social media platform and flags a legal challenge against its inclusion in the ban on constitutional grounds, Xinhua news agency reported. Under the ban, which will take effect in December, platforms including Meta, TikTok and Snapchat will be required to

take "reasonable steps" to prevent children younger than 16 from creating or accessing accounts. The federal government initially decided not to include YouTube in the ban due to its education and health content, but Australia's top online safety adviser, the eSafety Commissioner, in June said that no platform should be exempt.

Asked on Monday about Google's threat of legal action, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said that the government would not be "bullied" by technology companies.

"We will do whatever we have to make sure Australian kids are kept safe," she told Seven Network television.

"We're not going to be bullied out of taking action by any social media giant."

Representatives from Meta, TikTok and Snapchat in March made submissions to the federal government criticising the decision to exempt YouTube from the ban.

OUR TAKE

Enough of the silence

Even though they are far from our homes, some conflicts ought to be very much on our minds. Among them is the situation that is developing in Sudan. It is neither novel nor simple. However, the nation's decline into anarchy in recent months has crossed a moral line that should worry not just regional powers or international diplomats but also regular people everywhere. Even though the numbers are startling, they don't fully convey the tragedy. The UN has issued a warning that this is the world's largest internal displacement crisis, with over 10 million people already displaced. Once teeming with daily life, cities like El Fasher in Darfur have been reduced to charred landscapes of sorrow. Hospitals were bombed. The markets were shelled. Families were split apart in the crossfire between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Over 25 million Sudanese, or more than half of the population, currently require humanitarian aid, according to UN agencies. 14 million children are included in that.

The magnitude of the disaster, however, is perhaps not what is most startling. It's the silence that envelops it.

Sudan is moving into the blind spot of the world. The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine naturally garner the most attention, but Sudan's suffering hardly ever makes the news or is given the diplomatic urgency it deserves. Funding for aid appeals is still woefully inadequate. Promises of a ceasefire are made and then broken. Civilians, particularly women and children, are forced to live with an intolerable reality while humanitarian workers are refused entry. Fixing every war is not the world's responsibility. However, the least we can do is pay attention when global institutions, such as the UN, are repeatedly and clearly raising the alarm. UN representatives like Martin Griffiths and, more recently, Edem Wosornu have been painting

on Sudan Brazil’s rightful stand

a picture for months that should worry both ordinary citizens and decision-makers. They portray a nation where "no one is safe," "laws have collapsed," and "starvation, mass killing, and sexual violence" are now commonplace occurrences for civilians.

How did we arrive here? Due to colonial legacies, the marginalisation of areas like Darfur, cycles of authoritarian rule, and failed democratic transitions, Sudan's crisis has deeply historical roots. However, the current phase, which consists of a vicious power struggle between two military factions, is man-made and, most importantly, avoidable. Money, weapons, and impunity are its main drivers. And a world that is prepared to turn away sustains it. Additionally, there is a threat nearer to home. Humanitarian ideals run the risk of becoming selective in a world shattered by domestic distractions and war fatigue. We cannot afford to let media attention or geographic location dictate who's life matters. Sudan isn't a footnote. It serves as a mirror, reflecting the extent to which the world community has deviated from its own moral compass.

Often in insurmountable situations, the UN has done what it can. But now, more needs to be done by the world's superpowers, particularly those that have sway over the area.

This entails stopping the flow of weapons, safeguarding humanitarian corridors, and applying pressure on both warring parties to engage in substantive dialogue. It also entails fulfilling funding commitments.

Being passive is not neutral. It's a job. Every hour, lives are being lost because of that position.

As a rallying cry against mass atrocities and genocide, we frequently use the phrase "never again." However, "again" has already arrived in Sudan. Whether the world has the moral fortitude to take action is the question.

War does not destroy the human spirit. However, it should never have to endure the apathy of the world.

In the history of international trade, there have been times when a nation's decisions have an impact well beyond its boundaries. One such instance is Brazil's recent decision to challenge the United States over its tariffs at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and to consider a domestic relief package for impacted sectors. It goes beyond simple economic self-defence. It is a statement that the international trading system needs to be just, governed by rules, and, above all, respected, even by its most influential participants.

Brazil's stance is both appropriate and timely in a world where the powerful often violate the rules of trade and the weak suffer the consequences. Under several administrations, the US has imposed a number of tariffs that have affected many different economies around the world, frequently using strategic interest or national security as an excuse. The way these tariffs are formulated and implemented frequently leaves partner economies with little leeway to respond or negotiate, even though some of these worries are not wholly unfounded in a changing geopolitical environment. The tariffs on Brazil's steel and aluminium industries, which are both strategically significant and highly dependent on foreign markets, are the catalyst this time. The powerful South American nation, which is well-known for its abundant mineral and agricultural exports, has long had a complicated but cordial economic partnership with the US. However, it is legal and acceptable for Brazil to seek redress from the multilateral system when that cooperation degenerates into undue pressure.

Some people mistakenly think that opposing a strong economy like the US at the WTO is pointless or needlessly hostile. However, that reasoning is predicated on the idea that the WTO is only a symbolic platform where disagreements are discussed but never settled. That's not totally true. Even though the WTO's dispute resolution process has been under pressure, especially because the United States has blocked appointments to the Appellate Body, the platform is still one of the few places where emerging and smaller economies can assert their rights within a legally agreed-upon framework that is universally recognised. This is not an outburst on the part of Brazil to follow this course. It is a well-thought-out,

legally-restricted reaction to a circumstance that jeopardises its financial interests and goes against values it has long upheld. Brazil, a member of the BRICS alliance and one of the biggest emerging economies in the world, has made a point of stressing the value of South-South cooperation and multilateral institutions. Trade diplomacy is nothing new. Furthermore, the nation seems resolved in this instance to prevent its industries from suffering without redress. However, Brazil is not just depending on Geneva. A government ready to take action both locally and internationally is demonstrated by the Lula administration's concurrent consideration of a domestic relief package for industries impacted by U.S. tariffs. This is a wise policy. The pain for workers, small manufacturers, and exporters is immediate, but legal challenges at the WTO can take years. Between now and any future WTO resolution, a domestic package that offers export incentives, tax breaks, or financial support could be a much-needed stopgap. Critics contend that Brazil must balance preserving diplomatic ties with confronting a significant trading partner. However, international relations are rarely dichotomous. On one issue, nations may have strong disagreements, but on another, they may work closely together. Furthermore, Brazil is making it apparent that this action is a reaffirmation of its own national interests and a wider commitment to fair trade practices, rather than a rejection of the United States. It's also important to remember that Brazil is not the only country that has complaints. Concerns have been voiced by a number of U.S. trading partners, including China, India, Canada, and the European Union, regarding what they perceive to be unilateral and protectionist actions by Washington. The global trade environment has become more fragmented in recent years, whether it is due to export restrictions on semiconductors, tariffs, or subsidies for electric vehicles. In that situation, Brazil's WTO challenge turns into a test case to see if international trade law can still be upheld when the defendant is a superpower, rather than merely a personal position. Naturally, the larger risk is that if the WTO's rulings are disregarded or its procedures are eliminated, it will continue to

lose significance. Furthermore, developing economies are not the only ones at risk. A world where trade disputes are settled by rules rather than retaliation benefits even the United States, which contributed to the system's creation. Countries will turn to alternative strategies, such as regional blocs, tit-for-tat tariffs, or, worse, unilateral economic warfare, if they start to feel that the system is no longer effective. Everyone would lose from that, including American consumers and exporters. Therefore, Brazil's challenge is both appropriate and essential. It puts the WTO's ability to provide recourse to the test. It casts doubt on the notion that economic power can supersede a legal duty. Additionally, it serves as a reminder to the rest of the world that developing nations will not silently consent to policies that jeopardise their sectors, employment, and prospects. However, balance is also necessary at this time. Through its embassy in Washington as well as alliances with other like-minded nations that aim to create a more equitable international trading environment, Brazil must keep up its diplomatic engagement with the United States. It must simultaneously ensure that its relief package is brief, transparent, and targeted in order to assist sectors in adjusting without causing economic distortion or igniting new conflicts. Additionally, it presents a chance for Brazil to intensify its diversification efforts. No matter how big the market, relying too much on it is never a wise course of action. Brazil should take advantage of this disruption to increase trade with its neighbours in South America, Asia, and Africa. It will be less susceptible to unforeseen shocks or political whims if its export base is more diverse.

Ultimately, what really matters is not whether Brazil's decision to join the WTO is the right one. It concerns whether nations that take peaceful, legal action to safeguard their interests will be backed by the rest of the world. Supporting those who follow the rules, even if it means taking on the largest players, is essential if we want a stable, inclusive, and predictable global trading system.

Brazil's stance goes beyond a simple trade dispute. It serves as a reminder that justice is still achievable and worthwhile when it is upheld with dignity and firmness.

After backing Pakistan, China now faces scrutiny over providing military support to Iran: Report

Beijing, Aug 5 (IANS) China, which has for long claimed of having a "noninterference"

foreign policy and not providing direct military assistance to nations engaged in conflict, reportedly supplied batteries for surface-to-air missiles to Iran in exchange for oil during the recent conflict with Israel, a new report has cited. This comes after Beijing is already facing heat for its alleged involvement in Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and backing Pakistan

in its conflict with India in May following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

"As an expert specializing in China's grand strategy, I think it is highly possible that China would offer Iran military support while denying it publicly. Such plausible deniability would allow Beijing to assert military influence and showcase some of its hardware, while deflecting international criticism and preserving diplomatic flexibility," Linggong

Kong, a leading researcher on international relations and China's grand strategy, wrote in 'One World Outlook'.

"But the tactic works only so far. As indirect evidence accumulates, as many suggest it is, such covert action may gradually develop into an open secret –leading to what scholars term 'implausible deniability', where denial is no longer credible even if it is still officially maintained," he added.

Shattering Beijing's claims of not providing arms to any party involved in a war, the writer emphasised that while the Chinese Embassy in Israel has denied the reports of military connection with Tehran stating that China opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and does not export arms to countries at war, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to issue an official statement on the alleged transfer.

Ethiopia seeks alternative coffee markets amid US tariff threat

Addis Ababa, July 18 (IANS)

The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) said Friday that it is changing its market strategy following the 10 per cent tariff imposed by the US government on the country's coffee export. The ECTA said that efforts are being made to expand the Ethiopian coffee export market, especially to the Far East and Middle East regions.

The East African country is

planning to expand the market to 20 countries in the fiscal year that started on July 8, according to Shafi Umer, Deputy Director General of the ECTA.

Ethiopia is taking new measures because the 10 per cent tariff imposed by the US government is affecting the Ethiopian coffee export market system, and new strategies are being developed to strengthen existing markets and create linkages by finding new markets, as per the authority.

Umer told Xinhua news agency that following the US tariff decision, Ethiopia is striving to strengthen trade relations with existing markets such as China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Italy.

Umer stressed that Ethiopia, which is the largest coffee

producer in Africa and the fifth largest exporter of Arabica coffee in the world, has found it necessary to make a policy change as the Trump administration's policy is affecting about 35 per cent of the country's export revenue. The Ethiopian government will not accept any decision that will harm the coffee sector, he added. Ethiopia earned a record 2.65 billion US dollars in revenue from coffee exports during the just-concluded 2024/2025 Ethiopian fiscal year. The East African country exported 468,967 tonnes of coffee to generate revenue, up by more than 170,478 tonnes when compared to the previous fiscal year, according to the ECTA.

South Africa rolls out mpox vaccination programme to curb spread

Johannesburg, July 18 (IANS)

As more laboratory-confirmed mpox cases continue to be detected in South Africa, the National Department of Health has announced plans to commence vaccination to curb the spread of the disease.

"Vaccination helps control

the spread of this preventable and manageable disease, with vaccinated individuals being protected from infection and from developing severe complications," Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said on Wednesday.

Following the recent detection of two new cases in the Western Cape and Gauteng, the department said the mpox vaccine would be made available in the three most affected provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal. According to the department, 10 mpox cases have been recorded since the start of 2025. The

outbreak in South Africa began in May 2024, with over 20 cases reported since then.

Residents of the three most affected provinces will be able to access the vaccine at public health facilities.

"Members of the public are urged to be extra vigilant for mpox symptoms, and those who suspect they are at risk of infection are advised to consult their nearest health facility or healthcare provider for screening and testing, and to find out if they are eligible for this life-saving vaccination," Mohale said.

UNESCO adds Guinea-Bissau’s

Bijagos

Archipelago to World Heritage list

Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), July 14 (IANS) The Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau, a country in West Africa, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Sunday. Named Coastal and Marine

Ecosystems of the Bijagos Archipelago -- Omati Minho, the newly listed site includes a series of coastal and marine ecosystems that represent some of the best-preserved marine and intertidal environments in the region.

Located off the coast of West Africa, the Bijagos Archipelago is

recognised as the only active deltaic archipelago on the African Atlantic coast and one of the few of its kind in the world, reports Xinhua news agency.

The area of the archipelago boasts exceptional biodiversity and is deeply intertwined with traditional local lifestyles. According to UNESCO, the site is home to numerous endangered and rare species, including Green and Leatherback turtles, West African manatees, and several species of dolphins.

More than 870,000 migratory shorebirds use the Bijagos Archipelago as a key stopover or wintering site each year.

India-Namibia deliberate ways to deepen ties in Cheetah conservation

Harare, July 25 (IANS) Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India, Bhupender Yadav, discussed ways to deepen ties in cheetah conservation, while reaffirming commitment towards protecting the

ecosystem, with Indileni Daniel, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia, on the sidelines of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) held in Zimbabwe, on Friday. Taking to X, Yadav said, “Deliberated upon ways to deepen ties in cheetah conservation and also talked about our shared commitment towards protecting wetlands and the ecosystem they sustain.”

Johannesburg, July 19 (IANS)

A total of five people were shot and killed by unknown gunmen on Friday night at a tavern in Olievenhoutbosch, Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, police in Gauteng Province said on Saturday.

According to the police, the gunmen entered a tavern at around 10:30 pm and started shooting randomly, killing the five without saying a word.

"Police are on a lookout for approximately 10 suspects after five people, two females and three males, were shot dead, and three others injured inside a tavern at Shoba informal settlement in Olievenhoutbosch on Friday," said Mavela Masondo, Gauteng Province police spokesperson. He added that the motive for the shooting remains unknown. The police have opened a case of murder and attempted murder for investigation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The spokesperson urged the public to provide information that could assist the police in arresting the suspects.

The MoEFCC also mentioned the discussions about the IndiaNamibia friendship as well as partnership.

“We discussed the longstanding friendship and strong environmental partnership between India and Namibia, built on mutual respect, democratic values, and common priorities for sustainability,” Yadav added on X.

Last month, four people were killed and three others injured in a shooting incident at a minibus taxi rank in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa.

According to a statement by the Western Cape provincial police, the incident occurred at the old taxi rank in Mfuleni, about 30 km east of the city centre.

"Reports indicate that the shooting occurred at about 6:00 am when two gunmen fired shots. The incident is believed to be taxi conflict-related," said police spokesperson Novela Potelwa. "Of the seven victims, one injured is believed to be a commuter."

"Western Cape police have since bolstered deployment at identified taxi ranks in Cape Town," she added.

In the statement, provincial police offered a 100,000 rand (about 5,635 US dollars) reward to anyone who shares vital information on the shooting. "All information received will be handled with care and the identities of those who share information protected," Potelwa said.

Five people shot dead in South Africa’s Pretoria Mozambique

reports three new mpox cases

Maputo, July 16 (IANS)

Mozambican authorities have confirmed three new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, according to Inocencio Impissa, spokesperson for the Council of Ministers. Speaking on Tuesday, Impissa said the cases were three Mozambican citizens who had travelled between Mozambique and neighbouring Malawi and were identified in Niassa province, in northern Mozambique. "What the country has done is to place them in quarantine so that they can be monitored in an isolated setting, preventing them from spreading the disease. The health sector is alert and working to ensure that the cases remain contained in Lago District, Niassa, and do not spread to other areas," Impissa told a press conference in Beira, Sofala province, where the Council of Ministers held its session. With these three new infections, the total number of confirmed mpox cases in Mozambique has risen to 11, according to health authorities. Mozambique recorded its first mpox cases in 2022, in the capital, Maputo, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the World Health Organization, Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and low energy. Most people fully recover, but

some get very sick. Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-tomouth or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and it can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles). People with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk of acquiring mpox.

People can also contract mpox from contaminated objects such as clothing or linen, through needle injuries in health care, or in community settings such as tattoo parlours.

During pregnancy or birth, the virus may be passed to the baby. Contracting mpox during pregnancy can be dangerous for the fetus or newborn infant and can lead to loss of the pregnancy, stillbirth, death of the newborn, or complications for the parent. The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research. The first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1970). Following the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa. Since then, mpox has been reported sporadically in central and east Africa (clade I) and west Africa (clade II). In 2003, an outbreak in the United States of America was linked to imported wild animals (clade II).

On-site aid set up in flood-hit areas of South Korea to facilitate rescue efforts

Seoul, July 22 (IANS) Several South Korean conglomerates have ramped up relief and recovery efforts for residents affected by recent flooding across the country.

Samsung Group said it donated 3 billion won (US$2.17 million) in cash and supplies to support the recovery in the flood-hit areas. Samsung Electronics Co. began offering free inspections and repairs for flooded home appliances and smartphones on Friday.

SK Group contributed 2.3 billion won in cash and supplies to recovery efforts in the affected regions, including Sancheong in South Gyeongsang Province.

Affiliates of the group are also providing on-site assistance.

SK hynix Inc., its chipmaking arm, donated 175 packages of relief tents and floor mats for displaced residents in Asan and Yesan counties in South Chungcheong Province. SK Telecom Co. set up mobile phone charging stations, distributed portable chargers and supplied other emergency goods, Yonhap news agency reported.

LG Group and Hyundai Motor Group each donated 2 billion won to the nationwide recovery efforts.

LG Electronics Inc. established emergency repair centres in South Chungcheong Province to service damaged home appliances. LG H&H Co. provided personal care products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo, while LG Uplus Corp. offered telecommunications services to displaced residents.

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Corp. said they will cut repair charges by up to 50 per cent for vehicles damaged by flooding.

Steelmaker POSCO Group and shipbuilding group HD Hyundai each contributed 2 billion won to relief efforts, while retail giant Lotte Group delivered 1 billion won.

Torrential rains since Wednesday have caused floods and landslides, leaving at least 18 people dead, with the heaviest damage reported in southern regions, including Sancheong.

Authorities have sped up recovery efforts, with about 2,976 of the 6,752 buildings and facilities reported damaged having undergone emergency restoration work.

More than 14,000 people have taken shelter since the heavy rains started, with 2,549 people yet to return to their homes.

South Korea: New unification minister prioritises resuming dialogue with North Korea

Seoul, July 25 (IANS) South Korea’s new Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young on Friday emphasised the need to restore communication channels and resume dialogue with North Korea, calling them his top priorities as he took office.

"Restoring communication channels and resuming dialogue (between the two Koreas) are tasks I must pursue as soon as possible," Chung told reporters ahead of his inauguration ceremony as the first unification minister under President Lee Jae Myung.

The president approved his appointment as the country's top point man on North Korea earlier

in the day, Yonhap news agency reported.

"It has been six years since talks between South and North Korea were suspended, far too long a period," he said.

Chung also said renaming the ministry is not a priority, explaining that recovering its manpower, which was slashed under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, must come first.

Citing the need to increase the chances of dialogue with North Korea, he has repeatedly called for renaming the ministry, suggesting the Korean Peninsula ministry as one option.

"The past three years have marked the worst point in inter-Korean relations, during which both sides responded to each other with animosity and confrontation," he said in a subsequent inauguration speech.

The minister described the recent suspensions of mutual

propaganda broadcasts by the two Koreas as the "first signal" of recovering inter-Korean trust, saying, "It's time for South and North Korea to start rebuilding the trust that has been dismantled, step by step."

"Let us put animosity and confrontation behind us and open an era of reconciliation and cooperation again," the minister said, expressing hope that the two Koreas will hold a joint event to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of pre-division poet Kim So-wol's renowned poetry collection, "Azaleas."

Ahead of the inauguration ceremony, Chung also visited the truce village of Panmunjom near the inter-Korean border.

During the visit, Chung inspected the South's facilities at Panmunjom, a historic venue where some 370 rounds of inter-Korean talks have taken place since 1971.

Taiwan detects Chinese military activity near its territory

Taipei, July 25 (IANS) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 26 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan early Friday.

According to the ministry, 24 out of 26 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to Chinese activity, Taiwan's armed forces

monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, naval vessels and coastal-based system.

In a statement shared on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "26 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 24 out of 26 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."

This latest incursion follows similar activity the previous day when Taiwan's Defence Ministry recorded 48 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels and one official ship near its territory by 6 am (local time) on Thursday. Taiwan's armed forces monitored the situation and responded to Chinese military action.

Seoul, July 22 (IANS) South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday that he will hold so-called "2+2" high-level trade talks with the United States later this week, ahead of the looming August 1 deadline for bilateral negotiations on the US' sweeping tariff measures.

Koo said he and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will head to Washington for the talks set to be held Friday, involving US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.

"With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, relevant ministries have formed a unified team to respond with a well-coordinated and practical strategy for the national interest," Koo told reporters following a meeting on key economic affairs.

When asked about Seoul's negotiation strategy, Koo, who also serves as deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, declined to elaborate, Yonhap news agency reported.

Koo's upcoming visit will mark the first trip to Washington by South Korea's highest economic official since President Lee Jae Myung came into office on June 4. Koo officially assumed his post as finance minister on Monday. The upcoming talks will also mark the first of their kind under

the Lee administration as the last round of "2+2" trade talks held in Washington in April had involved former Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and former Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, both appointed under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The US is set to start imposing 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on South Korean products August 1, in addition to a range of sectoral tariffs, including 25 per cent duties on auto and steel imports, that are already in place.

"The foreign minister and the industry minister will also travel to the United States as early as this week to meet with their respective counterparts in an effort to persuade Washington," Koo said.

The reciprocal tariffs originally took effect on April 9, but Trump paused them the same day for 90 days to allow for negotiations. He later extended the pause, saying the US will start imposing them on August 1.

Asked about the possibility of the deadline being further extended, Koo said the government's current focus is on negotiations.

In an interview with CBS earlier this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said August 1 is a "hard deadline" for Washington's reciprocal tariffs, emphasising that the new tariffs would go into effect as scheduled. However, he added that "nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1."

Yeo later said he will do his utmost to achieve the "best possible" and "constructive" outcome that would benefit both Seoul and Washington before August 1.

Northeast China issues alerts for rainstorms, flooding

July 25 (IANS)

Northeastern Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin on Friday issued alerts for flood and farmland waterlogging as rainstorms have swollen multiple rivers in the region.

"48 PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 36 out of 48 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence stated on Thursday on X.

China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory under the "One China" principle, insisting on its reunification with Beijing. However, Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), governs independently since 1949.

Taiwanese armed forces have remained on high alert, tracking the incursions and responding to them as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the island's sovereignty and maintaining regional stability.

Heavy rainfall is expected from Thursday to Saturday in parts of the Songhua River and Liaohe River basins, including their tributaries, likely causing significant water level rises in multiple rivers across the affected regions, according to the Songhua-Liaohe Water Resources Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources. Authorities overseeing the flood-control work for the two rivers have activated Level IV emergency responses for flood prevention and control, urging particular attention be paid to the safety of small reservoirs as well as the prevention of mountain torrents.

Early on Friday, the Water Resources Department and the meteorological administration in Jilin Province jointly issued an orange alert, indicating a high

likelihood of flood disasters, including river flooding and farmland waterlogging, over the next 24 hours in the southwestern region of Changchun, capital of Jilin, and in the central-western areas of Siping City.

A yellow alert for flood disaster risks was issued later, covering central Changchun and the northern part of Jilin City. Local authorities have been urged to strengthen preventive measures, promptly activate emergency response plans, and ensure public safety.

China has a four-tier weather warning system -- with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.

Heilongjiang issued a red alert for rainstorms at 8 a.m. on Friday.

According to the Heilongjiang Meteorological Observatory, it is expected that some southern townships of the Mongolian Autonomous County of Dorbod could receive accumulated precipitation of up to 100 mm within the space of just three hours, Xinhua news agency reported. Local weather authorities advised all relevant departments to implement emergency flood prevention and disaster response measures -- including the timely evacuation of personnel from high-risk areas.

Changchun,

Afghan forces foil attempts to smuggle drugs in southern province

Kabul, July 22 (IANS) Afghan national army has thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs and detained three alleged drug smugglers in the southern Afghanistan Helmand province, said an army spokesman in the region, Jawed Agha, on Tuesday.

The contraband, which included 730 kg of opium poppy and was placed in the cavities of a vehicle, was identified and confiscated by the army personnel, the official added.

They have also discovered two assault rifles and two satellite phones from the possession of the arrested and handed them to concerned bodies for further

investigation, the official said.

In a similar incident, police set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on Sunday.

The contraband, which included 130 kg of opium poppy, 480 kg of methamphetamine and 660 pieces of stimulant tablets, had been collected over the past two months and was burned publicly, the official added.

Police won't allow anyone to produce, process or traffic illegal drugs, the official further said.

Afghan security forces dismantled two drug processing labs and discovered more than 580 kg of illicit drugs in western Afghanistan's Farah province on Sunday, the office of the Deputy Minister of Interior for CounterNarcotics said in a statement. According to the statement, counter-narcotic police launched separate operations on the

outskirts of the Bakwa district, where they destroyed two drug labs and confiscated 589 kg of illicit substances. Nine suspected drug smugglers were detained, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan interim government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business.

In a similar case, on July 8, the Afghanistan Police thwarted attempts to smuggle 43 kg of illegal opium type drugs and arrested two individuals on charges of involvement in the drug business in eastern Wardak province.

The alleged drug traffickers were attempting to take the contraband, which was smuggled from the northern Balkh, onward to the western Farah province. They were intercepted by police in Wardak's provincial capital, Maidan Shar and drugs confiscated.

Baloch child forcibly disappeared, another killed at the hands of Pakistani forces

Quetta, July 22 (IANS) A 10-year-old child was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani army personnel after being summoned to a Pakistani military camp at Jahoo Zeelag in Balochistan, a human rights group said on Tuesday.

Paank, Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, also accused Pakistani security forces of "committing severe human rights violations in Balochistan, particularly targeting children" during military operations. Additionally, the human rights

organisation also accused Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) of killing another 12-year-old child in Kolwah district of the province.

Paank mentioned that on July 20, 10-year-old Hasil Baloch became the latest victim of enforced disappearance, which has sparked serious concern about his safety.

"Disturbingly, just days earlier, on July 16, his cousin Hameed Baloch was also taken from his home. His lifeless, bullet-riddled body was recovered from the same area on July 21, raising grave concerns for Hasil's safety. The enforced disappearance of a minor, especially in light of the extrajudicial killing of his cousin, reflects a horrifying pattern of state violence in Balochistan," read a statement issued by the human rights body.

It strongly condemned the

abduction of Hasil Baloch and expressed deep concern over the "increasing trend of targeting children in military operations."

The rights body emphasised that "the involvement of minors in enforced disappearances is a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law."

Paank demanded the immediate and safe recovery of Hasil Baloch.

Additionally, the human rights body also condemned the extrajudicial killing of 12-yearold Qamber Aslam by Pakistani forces on July 18 in Kolwah district.

The rights body stated that Qamber Aslam, an agricultural labourer working at a tube well, was fatally shot in the chest by an FC patrol team while heading to plant onions in his fields.

Pak Defence Minister slammed for making ‘shameful’ comments about murdered Baloch couple

Quetta, July 21 (IANS) Human rights activists from Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Monday slammed Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for making shameful comments about the Baloch community after a viral video showed a woman and a man being shot dead in Balochistan in an alleged case of 'honour killing' for marrying against the wishes of their families.

The unidentified couple were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council last month, the video which went viral on social media. Reacting to it, the Pakistani Defence Minister on Sunday instead blamed the Balochs, stating that "the ones responsible for this oppression

are your own brothers". Baloch activists have termed Khawaja Asif's statement as a "matter of regret and shame", stating that the current government minister, instead of acknowledging the Sharif government's incompetence regarding the incident and holding their government accountable for such heinous events caused by state lawlessness, public distrust in the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, and the unchecked proliferation of weapons, is instead trying to shift the burden of their failures onto others "And look at the hypocrisy: if this same incident had occurred during the tenure of an opposing government, these very people would have been the first to point fingers at the government. But since they are in power today, no remorse or shame is visible. When you yourself claim that 'Balochistan is under your control', then how do such incidents happen in broad daylight? You are pushing

221 killed as monsoon rains wreak havoc in Pakistan

Islamabad, July 22 (IANS) At least 221 people have been killed and 592 others injured across Pakistan as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and other rain-related incidents since late June, the country's disaster management authority has said.

In its latest situation report on Monday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the casualties were recorded between June 26 and July 21, with five new deaths and 10 injuries reported in the past 24 hours.

The eastern province of Punjab was the worst affected, with 135 fatalities and 470 injuries. In the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 46 people lost their lives and 69 others were injured.

In southern Sindh province, 22 deaths and 40 injuries were

reported, while the southwestern province of Balochistan recorded 16 fatalities and four injuries.

The NDMA confirmed that one child was wounded in the Islamabad Capital Territory. Authorities have issued flood warnings and are coordinating with provincial governments to carry out relief operations and monitor vulnerable areas amid ongoing rainfall.

As a persistent monsoon continues to hover over Pakistan, authorities issued a series of alerts, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall, rising river flows, and potential flash flooding in vulnerable areas.

Pakistan's NDMA and Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid low-lying and inundated areas.

The monsoon activity, intensified by moisture from the Arabian Sea, remains active across Punjab, where intermittent rainfall in Lahore has contributed to a spike in humidity levels.

Pakistan: Rights body alarmed over wave of forcible disappearances in Balochistan and Sindh

Quetta, July 21 (IANS) A Baloch human rights organisation on Monday strongly condemned the abduction of four civilians by Pakistani security forces amid the ongoing wave of enforced disappearances across the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.

people to lose faith in the state, compelling them to turn to armed groups," said BYC's Sammi Deen Baloch.

Sammi questioned whether the Pakistan government realises the dangerous trend they are promoting. She further recalled an incident that occurred in Awaran district of Balochistan, where the victim's family sought help from an armed group instead of state institutions, and that armed group assisted the girl's family, providing them relief. The human rights activist asked whether the Minister wanted people to lose faith in the State and stressed that this trend is already growing. Raising concern, Sammi stated that there have been several incidents in the past where allegations were made against government Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), but no action was taken against them.

Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that the victims include Muhammad Hussain, a farmer from Naseerabad district in Balochistan, who was taken from his home on July 5, and Zahid Ali, a rickshaw driver from Karachi’s Lyari area who was abducted on July 17.

Additionally, Mesho, from Dera Bugti in Balochistan, was forcibly disappeared in broad daylight on July 19, while Paneeri Bugti, a farmer from Pat Feeder in Naseerabad district, was abducted on June 27 after being summoned to Sui Military Camp in Balochistan.

"These acts are clear violations of human rights and international law. Paank denounces this systematic campaign of abductions and demands the immediate release of all disappeared persons," said the rights body.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) presented its Annual Report for 2024 on Sunday, documenting

an alarming rise in human rights violations across Balochistan. The report revealed that over the course of the year, at least 830 individuals were forcibly disappeared, while 480 were extrajudicially killed. It further highlighted "a brutal and systematic crackdown on peaceful protestors, particularly those demanding justice for missing persons".

"These figures include only reported and verified cases; the actual scale is likely higher due to media censorship, restricted access, and fear among victims’ families," the HRCB stated.

The human rights body asserted that compared to 2023, when HRCB recorded 601 enforced disappearances and 525 killings, 2024 marked a sharp 38 per cent rise in enforced disappearances. However, the crisis has escalated further in 2025. In just the first six months, HRCB documented 814 enforced disappearances — nearly equal to the entire total of 2024 — and 365 killings, already accounting for over 75 per cent of the previous year's total.

Raising concern, the HRCB stated that Pakistan's security forces and intelligence agencies operated with increasing impunity, and the alarming trend reflected "the deepening human rights emergency in Balochistan, with state violence accelerating year after year".

"Victims included students, political activists, women, and children — many abducted from their homes or public spaces without any legal process. In numerous instances, bodies were later found bearing signs of torture. Peaceful protests, particularly those calling for the recovery of missing persons, were met with live fire, arbitrary arrests, and criminal charges, further shrinking the civic space in Balochistan," read the HRCB report.

Philippines

braces for more rains, severe flooding

Manila, July 22 (IANS) The Philippines has been bracing for heavy rainfall as two low-pressure areas may develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours, the state-run weather bureau said on Tuesday.

Weather bureau PAGASA warned that the prevailing southwest monsoon will continue to bring torrential rains and thunderstorms to various areas, which would cause more flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.

On Tuesday, Metro Manila and its adjoining areas remain under a "red" rainfall warning, PAGASA's highest alert level for rainfall, which indicates "serious"

flooding is expected in some areas.

Due to the downpour of rain, the country's Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels on Tuesday in Metro Manila and several other provinces.

In Metro Manila, knee-deep floodwaters led commuters to wade through streets in search of rides, while motorists navigated submerged roads to return home. Government vehicles have been deployed to assist stranded individuals.

Social media has been inundated with images and footage of evacuations late Monday, showing trash floating through inundated communities.

The inclement weather has already had fatal consequences.

In a situational report issued on Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 362,465 families, or 1,266,322 people, were affected nationwide by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Wipha.

Wipha exited the Philippines on Saturday, but its aftermath and the intensified monsoon have caused floods and landslides in various regions, resulting in six deaths, five injuries, and six missing people, said the NDRRMC.

So far, more than 1,500 houses have been damaged, and 173 road sections and 11 bridges have been affected across the archipelago, Xinhua news agency reported.

Estimated agricultural losses have surpassed 54 million pesos (about $947,000), the NDRRMC said.

According to Philippine authorities, three Filipinos were dead and over 300,000 individuals had been affected by Typhoon Wipha.

Typhoon Wipha causes heavy rains, power outages after landfall in Vietnam

Hanoi, July 22 (IANS) Typhoon Wipha made landfall in northern Vietnam on Tuesday morning, bringing torrential rains, power outages, and infrastructure damage, local media reported. The typhoon struck coastal areas between Hung Yen and Ninh Binh provinces, sustaining maximum winds of 88 km per hour, equivalent to level 8-9 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts reaching level 11, according to the National Centre for HydroMeteorological Forecasting, Vietnam News Agency reports. At around 8:30 a.m., a suspension bridge in Dien Bien province partially collapsed due to prolonged heavy rains, injuring

four people, the Voice of Vietnam reported.

Power outages were reported in parts of Tien Hai commune in Hung Yen province.

Residents were seen bringing fuel containers to gas stations to purchase fuel for generators, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local media outlet VnExpress.

Meanwhile, central provinces such as Thanh Hoa and Nghe An recorded rainfall of 150 to 200 mm, raising the risk of landslides and flash floods, local authorities warned.

Earlier on July 21, one person had been confirmed dead and four others injured in central Vietnam's Nghe An province due Typhoon Wipha, local newspaper Lao Dong (Labor) reported on Monday.

The effect of Typhoon Wipha, the third tropical storm to hit Vietnam so far this year,

damaged 357 houses while inundating more than 400 hectares of rice fields and other crops across the province, the report added.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Wipha was expected to strengthen by early Tuesday, affecting northern Vietnam's coastal areas. Local authorities are urging residents to stay alert as the storm continues to approach the mainland, the state-controlled media reported. Typhoon Wipha was expected to affect northern and central parts of Laos, bringing light to moderate thunderstorms in most areas, along with heavy rain and strong winds in some central and southern parts, according to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

India to equip 30 Myanmar security officers with essential peacekeeping skills

Naypyidaw, July 21 (IANS) IndiaMyanmar United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Training Course, which began in Naypyidaw on Monday, will equip 30 mid-level officers of Myanmar security forces with essential peacekeeping skills in conflict situations.

The 14-day training programme, being held from July 21 to August 1, is conducted by New Delhi's Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK), with major focus on de-escalation, conflict management and protection of civilians. The training course would be conducted by a three-member Indian Mobile Training team

from the CUNPK, preparing mid level officers from Myanmar security forces with necessary and essential skills for peacekeeping.

Seven similar training programmes have been conducted between India and Myanmar from 2016 to 2019.

India's Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur and the Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council and Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win inaugurated the training programme on Monday.

The Indian Ambassador recapitulated India's commitment to the programme as well as constitutionalism and federalism in the context of Myanmar's ongoing peace process.

Thakur also mentioned India's significant contribution to international peacekeeping, recalling its assistance with over 290,000

Rising rainfall puts Laos on alert for floods, landslides

Vientiane, July 22 (IANS) As rains continue to sweep across Laos, the government has issued warnings of an increased risk of flash floods and landslides. The warnings were issued as Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms across the country. Citizens were advised to closely follow official forecasts and warnings, according to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, on Tuesday. Natthaphone, a 27-year-old employee based in Lao capital Vientiane, who often travels out of town for seminars and meetings, expressed growing concern over the ongoing rainfall, particularly the risks it poses to travel and safety.

"With the rain continuing, I'm especially concerned about the risk of roadblocks or landslides along the routes. Flooded or damaged roads can delay travel or even lead to accidents," Natthaphone told Xinhua on Tuesday. He also pointed to wider impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and transportation.

Jib, a vendor at a night market in Vientiane, shared her concern

over the ongoing heavy rains, which have kept people off the streets and left her stall quiet.

"Fewer people come out when it's raining hard, and it definitely affects my sales. If this continues, I'm afraid it could hurt the local economy too," she said.

She also fears that strong winds and heavy downpours would damage her stall and lead to further losses.

"In this situation, we all need to stay alert and help each other protect our homes and communities. Everyone has a role to play, whether it's clearing drains, staying informed, or supporting neighbors in need," she added.

In addition to ongoing disaster preparedness efforts, Lao authorities have warned the public, especially those living near riverbanks, to remain vigilant, as heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rising water levels could lead to widespread flooding, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nokkham, a resident of Vientiane, encouraged people to support one another during the difficult rainy season and work together to overcome the challenges ahead.

The Central Disaster Management Committee issued an urgent directive on Monday, urging all authorities to alert the public, designate evacuation sites, safeguard valuables and pets, and closely monitor weather and river levels to stay prepared for landslides, flash floods, and strong winds.

Indonesia cracks down on forest arsonists

Jakarta, July 22 (IANS) The Indonesian government has taken stern legal action against those allegedly responsible for forest fires, aiming to create a deterrent effect and strengthen preventative measures, a top official said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

peacekeepers since 1950, along with over 5000 peacekeepers currently deployed in nine out of 11 active UN Missions.

Focusing on enabling participants with the skills to de-escalate and manage conflicts, rules of engagement for protection of civilians and operational planning in complex peacekeeping operations, the CUNPK will also provide practical insights for executing missions in diverse and challenging conditions and maintaining stability.

Defence cooperation has been a strong pillar of bilateral relations between the two countries.

High-level visits, enhanced training, capacity building and support in provision of specific equipment and technologies have led to a more wholesome relationship and better understanding of mutual security concerns.

Head of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto revealed that a total of 16 individuals have been named as suspects for allegedly setting forest fires.

"The law enforcement task force has already been in action, and 16 people have been named as suspects," he said in the statement.

Suharyanto issued the remarks after conducting an aerial inspection of Riau Province, noting that all districts and cities across the region had experienced forest and land fires as of July 20, Xinhua news agency reported.

The BNPB chief emphasised that efforts to curb forest fires are being carried out in tandem with firm legal enforcement.

"In addition to extinguishing the fires, law enforcement operations are also being conducted so that everything is aligned and

integrated," Suharyanto said. He underscored that any indications of deliberate land burning are being processed according to applicable laws.

Meanwhile, Solok and Limapuluh Kota Regencies in Indonesia's West Sumatra province declared an emergency status for forest and land fires, following a surge in hotspots during the ongoing dry season, according to Ilham Wahab, an official from the West Sumatra Provincial Disaster Management Agency, on Tuesday. "In Solok Regency alone, forest and land fires have occurred in all 14 districts," said Ilham.

He noted that water bombing operations using helicopters have not yet been deployed, as the National Disaster Management Agency is currently prioritising firefighting efforts in Riau and South Sumatra provinces, where the situation is considered more critical.

Rahmadinol, head of the Limapuluh Kota Regency Disaster Management Agency, explained that challenging terrain and limited equipment have hindered firefighting efforts.

"Most of the fire locations in Limapuluh Kota have slopes of 70-90 degrees, which makes firefighting efforts very challenging," Rahmadinol said.

According to the West Sumatra Forestry Service, at least 64 forest and land fire incidents have been recorded across nine regencies and cities from early 2025 to July 19, affecting a total area of 140.87 hectares.

Gita Gopinath to step down from IMF in August, set to rejoin Harvard

Washington, July 22 (IANS)

Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be stepping down from her role in August 2025 to return to academia at Harvard University, the IMF announced.

Gopinath, a trailblazer in international economics, will be taking on the role of the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard.

The IMF’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed Gopinath’s departure and said a successor will be named “in due course.”

Gopinath first joined the IMF in 2019 as Chief Economist, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her leadership

during a time of extraordinary global economic upheaval, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting macroeconomic disruptions, was widely recognised.

In January 2022, she was promoted to First Deputy Managing Director, the Fund’s No. 2 position.

In a post on X, Gopinath reflected on her nearly seven-year tenure at the Fund and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve at one of the world's foremost financial institutions.

“After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots.

On September 1, 2025, I will rejoin @HarvardEcon as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics.

I am truly grateful for my time at @IMFnews, first as Chief Economist and then as First Deputy Managing Director," she wrote.

"I have had the privilege of working closely with the IMF’s

brilliant and committed staff, colleagues in management, the Executive Board, and country authorities. I am especially thankful to @KGeorgieva and her predecessor, @Lagarde, for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the IMF’s membership during a period of unprecedented challenges. I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists." Before joining the IMF, she served as the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.

Under her leadership, the IMF played a key role in shaping the global economic response to crises, including COVID-19, supply chain shocks, debt distress in developing countries, and climate finance challenges. Her successor at the IMF is yet to be announced.

UK launches 50-Day military support campaign for Ukraine

London, July 22 (IANS) British Defence Secretary John Healey announced the launch of a 50-day military support campaign for Ukraine, aligning with a recent warning issued by US President Donald Trump to Russia.

Healey said on social media platform X that at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held on Monday, participating countries reached a new agreement to supply critical air defence ammunition to Ukraine,

"as part of a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table."

Last week, Trump said that he had secured an agreement with NATO allies to facilitate largescale arms deliveries to Ukraine.

He also warned Russia that it would face a second round of tariffs if it fails to reach a peace deal within 50 days, Xinhua news agency reported.

At the UDCG meeting, Healey affirmed Britain's support, saying that Britain "backs this policy" and will fully participate to ensure its success.

Healey also revealed that Britain and Germany have agreed to jointly provide air defence missiles to Ukraine. The partnership is part of a wider European initiative aimed at strengthening

Ukraine's defensive capabilities.

According to a press release from the British Ministry of Defence on Monday, Britain has already delivered more than 150 million pounds ($202.5 million) worth of air defence missiles and artillery to Ukraine over the past two months. The country is also ramping up procurement efforts to provide hundreds more air defence missiles and thousands of artillery shells. In total, Britain is expected to spend at least 700 million pounds on air defence and artillery support for Ukraine this year, including the 150 million pounds worth of equipment already delivered, according to the release. (1 pound = 1.35 US dollars)

Greek PM warns of worsening water shortages amid climate change

Athens, July 24 (IANS) Greek

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that the country is facing a worsening water scarcity crisis due to climate change, as water levels in key reservoirs continue to drop sharply, local media reported Thursday.

According to Kathimerini English edition, Mitsotakis made the remarks on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting focused on long-term water management. He said reservoir levels supplying Athens have fallen by more than 50 per cent since 2022,

placing Greece 19th globally for water scarcity risk, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Water reserves in Attica have decreased dramatically, and dam levels are at historic lows, affecting both supply and energy generation," he noted.

Greece, located in southern Europe's climate-vulnerable zone, saw its warmest winter and summer on record last year, with some regions experiencing months without rain.

To address the crisis, Mitsotakis said over 1,200 water management projects are underway, including desalination, water recycling, and the use of coastal springs. Plans also include merging indebted local water providers to improve efficiency.

Water loss from ageing infrastructure remains a major challenge. Nearly 50 per cent of drinking water is lost due to

Russia hits back at EU sanctions, expands entry ban list

Moscow, July 22 (IANS) Russia has significantly expanded its entry ban list mainly targetting European officials, in response to the European Union's recent 17th and 18th package of sanctions against the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Council of the European Union approved the 17th and 18th packages of sanctions on Russia on May 20 and July 18, respectively, over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"In response to these unfriendly actions, Russia has significantly expanded the list of officials from European institutions, EU member states and a number of European countries that follow Brussels' anti-Russian policy, who are banned from entering Russia based on the Federal Law 114-FZ 'On the Procedure of Exiting and Entering the Russian Federation' from August 15, 1996," read the statement.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, those include citizens of EU member states and some other Western countries, who work for security and government agencies and commercial organisations and are responsible for providing military aid to Kyiv, participate in the delivery of dual-use products to Ukraine, engage in efforts aimed at undermining

the territorial integrity of our country and block the movement of Russian vessels and cargoes in the Baltic Sea.

It further specified that the blacklist also includes officials in EU institutions and the government agencies of EU countries and other European nations who are involved in the persecution of Russian officials for the alleged "illegal arrests" and removal of people from Ukrainian territories.

Additionally the ban was extended to those who are working to create "a tribunal" against the Russian leadership, call for the seizure of Russian state assets and the use of profits from them to the benefit of the Kyiv regime; those behind sanctions on Russia who seek to harm Russia's relations with other countries; civil society activists and members of the academic community who are particularly known for their anti-Russian rhetoric; the lawmakers from EU countries and members of the European Parliament that voted for anti-Russian resolutions and bills, said the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Furthermore, the Ministry asserted that "hostile anti-Russian actions cannot influence" Moscow’s policy. "Russia will continue to pursue a policy aimed at defending its national interests and a new, equitable world order," the statement emphasised. It also stressed that “further sanctions-related decisions by the European Union will also be met with a timely and appropriate response".

Romania on alert as heatwave, storms to sweep across regions

Bucharest, July 22 (IANS)

Romania's National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued multiple weather alerts on Tuesday as the country braces for a combination of extreme heat and unstable atmospheric conditions.

pipe leaks and theft -- twice the European Union's average, official data show.

"This is a national priority. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure water security for the decades ahead," Mitsotakis emphasised.

Earlier in April, Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a 45-day extension to the deadline for clearing overgrown vegetation on private properties, as part of the country's efforts to better prepare for what is expected to be another challenging wildfire season.

Mitsotakis underscored the need for public cooperation in clearing plots of land, calling it a critical line of defence that had proven effective in protecting homes and aiding firefighting efforts last year, when the country experienced devastating fires.

The national weather agency warned of red code alerts, the highest level in its color-coded warning system, for scorching heat in the capital city of Bucharest and several southern counties. Temperatures there are expected to reach 40 to 41 degrees Celsius, with high humidity leading to severe thermal discomfort.

ANM classifies weather alerts into three risk levels: yellow, orange, and red, indicating increasing severity from potential risk to extreme danger.

The orange code alert is in effect in some southeastern regions, with highs of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, several southern and eastern regions are under yellow code alerts, with daytime highs of 34 to 38 degrees and night time lows between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius, Xinhua news agency reported.

In addition to heat-related

alerts, a separate yellow warning has been issued for unstable atmospheric conditions affecting half of the country, particularly in central, eastern, and southern regions, including mountainous areas and parts of the Black Sea coast. Forecasts predict strong winds, thunderstorms, torrential rain, and isolated hail, with rainfall up to 40 liters per square meter. This warning is valid from Tuesday noon to early Wednesday.

According to ANM, the heatwave and thermal discomfort are expected to persist across western, southern, and parts of central Romania until the end of the week.

On July 20, Florinela Georgescu, meteorologist, warned during a live broadcast on a local media outlet that even hotter weather is expected by the middle of next week, with temperatures possibly reaching 40 degrees Celsius in southern Oltenia and Muntenia.

She explained that a hot air mass from northern Africa is driving the extreme heat across much of Europe. "We are on the northeastern edge of this heatwave, but we will still feel its full effects," she said, noting that the highest temperatures are forecast for southern Europe, especially Greece, and also parts of Romania in the coming days. She added that capital Bucharest could also see highs around 40 degrees Celsius by mid-week.

Serbia extends

heatwave

alert as temperatures soar, wildfire risk intensifies

Belgrade, July 25 (IANS) Serbia's national weather service has extended its high-temperature warning as a persistent heatwave continues to grip much of the country, with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 to 42 degrees Celsius and local peaks expected to reach up to 43 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

The Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia (RHMZ) said the heatwave, ongoing since Monday, combined with prolonged drought and parched soil conditions, is significantly increasing the risk of wildfires, especially in southern and eastern regions. The highest risk is forecast for Friday and Saturday in areas

suffering from severe rainfall deficits, where moderate to strong southwesterly winds are likely to accelerate the spread of fires in hilly and mountainous terrain.

Emergency SMS alerts have been issued to residents in the southern and eastern districts of Toplica, Jablanica, Pcinja, Pirot, Nisava, and Zajecar. In Belgrade, temperatures are forecast to reach between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius through the weekend.

Authorities have reiterated calls for the public to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations, warning that the open burning of vegetation or waste remains strictly prohibited.

Inspector Djordje Radulovic of the Ministry of Interior's Sector for Emergency Situations told local media that more than 3,800 fires have been reported across Serbia so far in July, including a single-day peak of 628 fires on July 7.

"In extinguishing these fires, firefighters were assisted by the Helicopter Unit, members of volunteer fire brigades, police officers, and citizens," Radulovic said.

The country already faced a red-level heat alert in late June, when temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius in several eastern cities.

Meteorologists have noted that current temperatures remain significantly above seasonal averages, with hydrological reports also indicating low river levels and elevated water temperatures across major waterways, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, Serbia had declared a nationwide red alert due to a heatwave originating from Africa, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 42 degrees Celsius, according to the country’s Hydrometeorological Institute.

Italian leaders spotlight deepening

ties with India, strategic role of IMEC

Rome, July 25 (IANS) Italy continues to position itself as a key player in the emerging IndiaMiddle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with senior government officials of the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighting the country’s strategic role in connecting Europe with India and the Persian Gulf through enhanced trade infrastructure and diplomatic engagement. Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi, while speaking at an event organised by the Foreign Affairs Department of

the Lega (League) at the Italian Parliament's Montecitorio Press Room, underscored Italy's readiness to anchor itself as the Mediterranean hub of IMEC.

"We are living in an era marked by profound geopolitical changes that are testing the stability of global trade routes. In this context, Italy is ready to do its part," Rixi said.

"IMEC represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen connectivity between Europe, the Persian Gulf, and India, and our country — thanks to its geographical position and infrastructure investments — can become the logistical hub of the Mediterranean," he added.

Rixi emphasised Italy's deepening engagement with India, noting that IMEC is "a more collaborative trade route, developed with the cooperation of like-minded countries — unlike

certain routes like the Belt and Road Initiative, where one's role tends to be more passive."

The conference, titled 'IMEC: A Path for Peace and Stability in the Middle East', was spearheaded by League MP Paolo Formentini, Vice President of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Head of the League's Foreign Affairs Department. "I am firmly convinced that the Corridor represents a strategic opportunity to promote peace, economic cooperation, and lasting stability in the region," Formentini said.

"It is crucial to invest in IMEC, both through diplomatic efforts and by developing national infrastructure, starting with the port of Trieste," stated Formentini.

Senator Marco Dreosto, who represents Friuli Venezia Giulia in the Italian Senate, recalled his early engagement with India on this issue.

Lithuanian govt resigns after PM Paluckas steps down

Vilnius, Aug 4 (IANS) Lithuanian

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down from his post on Monday, triggering the automatic resignation of the entire cabinet.

Paluckas confirmed his decision during an emergency government meeting on Monday morning, the Baltic News Service reported.

"Having made the decision to resign as Prime Minister, I announce that the 19th Government of Lithuania is resigning," Paluckas said at the start of the meeting.

He added that he would formally submit his resignation

to President Gitanas Nauseda later on Monday and expressed gratitude to his ministers for their cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Under Lithuanian law, the Prime Minister's resignation mandates that the President be informed the same day. Nauseda is now expected to accept the resignation via official decree and assign the outgoing government to serve in a caretaker role until a new administration is established. He should also appoint an interim Prime Minister.

Nauseda has up to 15 days to nominate a new Prime Minister, who must then be approved by the parliament, known as the Seimas. The Social Democratic Party, which has the largest representation in the Seimas, is responsible for selecting a nominee. They are scheduled to discuss their candidate at a party presidium meeting on

Uzbek, Russian presidents hold telephone conversation

Tashkent, July 25 (IANS) Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed various topical issues in a telephone conversation on Thursday, the Uzbek president's press service said. During the telephone conversation, "President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin warmly congratulated President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his birthday, wishing him good health, prosperity, and success in his public activities," said the press service in a statement.

The issues the two leaders discussed included the development and strengthening of the Uzbek-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance in the context of the practical implementation of agreements at the highest level, the statement said.

The statement noted that particular attention was paid to maintaining the growth dynamics of mutual trade turnover, promoting cooperation projects between leading enterprises and companies in industry, energy, agriculture, and other priority

areas, and expanding productive cooperation between the regions of the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the conversation, the two leaders expressed satisfaction about the ongoing active cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.

In a similar phone call, earlier on July 8, Mirziyoyev and Putin held another telephone conversation on expanding trade and economic cooperation, the press service of the Uzbek president said in a statement.

Both leaders discussed such issues as strengthening Uzbek-Russian relations within their comprehensive strategic partnership, the press service said.

They also paid special attention to the practical implementation of the agreements at the highest level, primarily in the trade and economic sphere, it added.

The leaders attached importance to continuing coordination and practical interdepartmental cooperation, so as to increase trade turnover, promote industrial cooperation projects in priority sectors, create more productive contacts at the regional level, and enhance cultural, humanitarian and educational exchanges, the statement said.

The two leaders also exchanged views on their international agendas and reviewed their schedules of upcoming events.

Russia accuses Ukraine of targetted attacks on civilians

Wednesday.

Paluckas announced his intention to resign as the country's head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party last Thursday. His departure from office comes amid investigations into his financial dealings and allegedly inappropriate involvement in business, ties to certain businesspeople and failure to pay damages owed to the Vilnius municipality.

Paluckas, however, denied any wrongdoing and called the criticism a "coordinated attack" by political opponents.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda accepted the resignation of PM Paluckas' government and appointed Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius to lead the interim administration. According to the Constitution of Lithuania, when the Prime Minister resigns, his cabinet must resign too, and the President must be notified on the same day.

Moscow, July 24 (IANS) Russia on Thursday accused Ukraine of carrying out deliberate attacks targetting civilians, stating that seven people have been killed and over 120 wounded, including 11 minors, by shelling and UAV strikes over the past week.

"On July 16, a woman was killed when an enemy drone struck a private home in the village of Smorodino; In the village of Novostroevka-Pervaya, a UAV attacked a combine harvester working in the field, injuring the driver; In the villages of Pritsepilovka and Novaya Tavolzhanka, three people were injured as a result of drone strikes," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday.

"Between July 17–22, drones were used against five passenger cars on the roads of the region, killing one person and injuring six civilians. On July 20, two people were injured in shelling and a UAV attack in the city of Shebekino; a woman was injured in the village of Togobiyevka.

On July 22, an enemy shell completely destroyed a residential building in the village of

Ilek-Penkovka, injuring a woman and two teenagers," she added. Zakharova noted that the Ukrainian armed forces continue to target unarmed Russian people who are engaged in their daily affairs.

"On July 22, a drone hit a private bus, leaving three civilians killed and three others injured. Three people were injured in drone strikes on civilian passenger cars in the settlements of Gladkovka and Novaya Kakhovka. Tonight, we received information about a Ukrainian drone attack on the area of Sochi. One woman was killed and at least one other was injured as a result," the Russian diplomat said.

"These are not strikes against the armed forces, nor are they attacks on military personnel or actions against military equipment - these are targeted terrorist attacks on civilians," Zakharova stressed.

She insisted that schoolchildren and preschoolers are also among those targetted by the Ukrainian forces and by pumping Ukraine with weapons, its Western sponsors are categorical in their demand to tighten the mobilization, which is already at an extreme level of violence.

"The listed facts confirm the relevance of a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine and eliminate threats emanating from its territory. All its goals will definitely be achieved, as the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated," said Zakharova.

US-Philippines alliance key to peace and stability in Indo-Pacific: President Marcos

Washington, July 22 (IANS)

Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., currently on a visit to the US, on Tuesday stressed the significance of the Philippines-United States alliance in upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea (SCS) and throughout the IndoPacific region amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Marcos is on a three-day official visit to Washington, DC, scheduled from July 20 to 22. In his bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, the

Philippines' President noted that the enduring partnership between the two countries remains a key pillar for regional security.

"I believe that our alliance, the United States and the Philippines, had formed a great part in terms of preserving the peace, in terms of preserving the stability of the South China Sea. But I would even go as far as to say in the entire Indo-Pacific region," the state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Marcos as saying.

China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has been a growing cause of concern for many Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.

China makes sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, which has untapped natural resources, including oil

and natural gas. The relations between the Philippines and China have nosedived due to the South China Sea standoff. "The Philippines is a model ally, stepping up to modernize its Armed Forces, expand our joint exercises, and support increased rotations of US forces and advanced capabilities — all of which reestablish deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region," Hegseth posted on X Tuesday evening.

During his meeting with the US Defence Secretary, President Marcos cited the significance of sustained dialogue and cooperation, in the backdrop of evolving regional dynamics and security challenges. “We must continue to be in discussion. We must continue to evolve that relationship as the circumstances, the context in which we operate have evolved,” he added.

Canada will defend its workers, businesses: PM Carney responds to Trump’s tariff threat

Ottawa, July 11 (IANS) Canadian

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to defend the country’s workers and businesses in face of the US President Donald Trumps’ proposed 35 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, set to take effect on August 1. The remarks came after Trump announced that a 35 per cent tariff will be placed on all imports from Canada beginning August 1, citing what he described as Canada's failure to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States sufficiently.

“Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work

towards the revised deadline of August 1,” Carney said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America, an issue cited by Trump as justification for the imposition of tariffs.

“We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries. We are building Canada strong. The federal government, provinces and territories are making significant progress in building one Canadian economy. We are poised to build a series of major new projects in the national interest. We are strengthening our trading partnerships throughout the world,” Carney added.

In a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and shared via his social media platform, Trump said the tariff could increase further if Canada responds with retaliatory measures.

He also left the door open for negotiation, stating, “If Canada works with me to stop the flow

of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter.” He added that the tariffs could be revised upward or downward depending on the evolving relationship between the two countries.

Trump has broadened his trade war in recent days, setting new tariffs on a number of countries.

In addition to Canada, Trump has recently imposed new tariffs on Japan and South Korea, and announced a 50 per cent tariff on imported copper.

In a separate interview with NBC News published Thursday, Trump suggested more countries could soon face blanket tariffs ranging from 15 to 20 per cent, depending on their trade practices and cooperation on security-related matters.

The United States had previously levied a 25 per cent tariff on various Canadian goods, though many items were later exempted under the terms of the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It remains unclear whether those exemptions will remain in effect when the new tariffs begin.

US Congressional briefing spotlights plight of people in East Turkistan, Tibet, and Southern Mongolia

Washington, July 22 (IANS)

Turkey's collaboration with the Chinese intelligence to suppress the independence movement of East Turkistan and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ongoing efforts to "divide and co-opt Uyghur organisations abroad" were spotlighted during a US Congressional Briefing on Captive Nations convened in the Rayburn House Office Building of the US Congress to commemorate the 'Captive Nations Week 2025', on Monday, US time. The event gathered representatives from East Turkistan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, US national security experts, and

Congressional staff to address the ongoing occupation, repression, and erasure endured by people of the said region.

"East Turkistan was explicitly named in the 1959 Captive Nations Resolution, not as part of China, but as a nation subjugated by Communist imperialism. That law remains in force. And tragically, so too does our captivity," said Salih Hudayar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Security for the 'East Turkistan Government in Exile', during a compelling keynote address. Giving details of the "ongoing genocide", Hudayar mentioned that while millions have been locked in concentration camps and prisons, between 25,000 to 50,000 Uyghur and Turkic youth are killed annually and their organs sold.Hudayar urged Congress to recognise

Trump says US shifting Africa policy ‘from aid to trade’

Washington, July 10 (IANS) US

President Donald Trump met with leaders from five African nations on Wednesday, noting the United States is shifting its policy toward the continent "from aid to trade".

Meeting with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal at the White House, Trump said there was "great economic potential in Africa", Xinhua news agency reported.

He said the United States was working to "forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations."

"We're shifting from aid to trade," Trump said. "In the long run this will be far more effective and sustainable and beneficial than anything else that we could be doing together."

Trump also suggested that the five countries may be exempt from his administration's plan to impose heightened reciprocal tariffs beginning in August. The mini-summit is scheduled to run for three days, with the

expansion of US access to critical minerals and other natural resources in Africa expected to top the agenda, according to media reports.

According to an official statement, USTR's Office of African Affairs develops and coordinates US trade and investment policy for the 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. It leads the negotiation and implementation of US trade and investment policies and objectives in the region.

The Administration seeks both to expand markets for US goods and services in sub-Saharan Africa and to facilitate efforts to bolster African economic development through increased global, regional, and bilateral trade.

Sub-Saharan Africa presents many opportunities for US businesses as an emerging market for American exports. Many of the fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the International Monetary Fund.

US total goods trade with Africa were an estimated $71.6 billion in 2024.

US goods exports to Africa in 2024 were $32.1 billion, up 11.9 per cent ($3.4 billion) from 2023. US goods imports from Africa in 2024 totaled $39.5 billion, up 1.9 per cent ($0.8 billion) from 2023. The US goods trade deficit with Africa was $7.4 billion in 2024, a 26.4 per cent decrease ($2.6 billion) over 2023.

Reckless decision: Rubio slams France’s recognition of Palestine state

Washington, July 25 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s move to officially recognise the state of Palestine, calling it a “reckless decision”.

East Turkistan as an "occupied nation", conduct hearings on East Turkistan's struggle for independence, and investigate and stop "Chinese infiltration and transnational repression" in the East Turkistani/Uyghur diaspora. "Removing the CCP is not enough. The Chinese empire must be dismantled. The restoration of liberty and independence for East Turkistan is not a dream. It is a duty enshrined in the Captive Nations Resolution," he said. Enacted in 1959, the Captive Nations Resolution identifies nations subjugated by communist imperialism, calling for US support to restore their liberty and independence. It explicitly mentions captive nations, "such as Turkistan and Tibet", urging support for their liberation and the right to self-determination.

“The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,” Rubio said on Friday in a post on X.

The remarks came after French President Macron announced France’s decision to recognise the Palestinian state.

“Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine. I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September. The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian

population,” Macron stated in his social media post.

Condemning the decision, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move” rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.”

“We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” said Netanyahu in a post on X. In a strongly worded statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “The French President's pretension to create by mere words an illusionary arrangement in our land is ridiculous and not serious.

His statement this evening shows that all the conditions that he himself set a few weeks ago - have evaporated.All that remains is the illusionary state he presumes to establish."

"A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state, just as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip twenty years ago led to Hamas taking control of it,” Sa'ar emphasised.

Iran, European countries resume nuclear talks in Istanbul

Tehran, July 25 (IANS) Nuclear talks between Iran and the three European countries of France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, began in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday. The Iranian delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the official news agency IRNA that the talks would be an opportunity for the three European countries to rectify their attitude towards Iran and test their approach to the

country's nuclear program, Xinhua news agency reported.

Speaking previously at a weekly press conference, Baghaei said the talks would focus on the removal of sanctions and issues related to Tehran's "peaceful" nuclear programme, noting that Iran would present its demands seriously at the upcoming meeting.

Since September last year, Iran and the E3 have held six rounds of talks on a range of issues, including Tehran's nuclear programme and the removal of sanctions. The latest round took place in Istanbul in mid-May.

Earlier today, Araghchi reiterated Tehran's commitment to uranium enrichment ahead of resumption of talks with the European nations. He also mentioned that Iran would continue its peaceful nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, stressing the country's inalienable rights under the international law.

On June 13, Israel launched

a massive airstrike targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites in the Operation named "Rising Lion." A week after, the US carried out strikes at three nuclear sites of Iran, a move Tehran said is a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The US and Israel have repeatedly expressed opposition to Iran's peaceful nuclear enrichment activities. However, Iran has defended its sovereign right in conducting nuclear enrichment for peaceful and civilian purposes.

Araghchi expressed Iran's readiness to advance its nuclear programme within a logical and reasonable framework, aiming to build trust with concerned nations. However, he stressed that such trust must be two-way with respect given to Iran's rights to peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment, the Iranian news agency reported.

Hamas reaffirms commitment to peace talks after criticism from US envoy

Gaza, July 25 (IANS) Hamas on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing ceasefire negotiations, following criticism from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on the group's intentions in the talks. In a press statement, Hamas expressed its "astonishment" over the envoy's comments, reaffirming that its engagement in the diplomatic process was aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. "The movement has acted with a sense of national responsibility and flexibility throughout the

negotiations," Hamas said, noting that it has submitted responses to mediators after consulting with Palestinian factions and regional partners.

The group said that it has dealt positively with the comments and proposals it received from mediators, including those from Egypt, Qatar and the United States, adding that it remains open to further negotiations and committed to working within the established mediation framework, Xinhua news agency reported.

Witkoff said Thursday that the United States will seek "alternative options" for a ceasefire in Gaza and the US negotiating team is returning home from Qatar for consultations upon Hamas' latest response, which he called "selfish."

"We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for

consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza," he wrote on the social platform X.

"We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza," he added.

According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports, more than 10,800 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, subjected to torture, starvation, and medical neglect, which has resulted in many deaths

Since July 6, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been taking place in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with US support, in pursuit of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

Iran to consider any nuclear proposal securing uranium enrichment right

Tehran, Aug 4 (IANS) Iran will consider any proposal for the resolution of its nuclear issue that is capable of incorporating and guaranteeing the country's uranium enrichment on its soil, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said here Monday.

"We have always stressed that the issue of uranium enrichment in Iran, as an inseparable part of the country's rights

within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is of very high importance. Thus, any proposal capable of guaranteeing this important component will be worth considering for us," Baghaei said at a weekly press conference. He said that the circumstances for any potential Iran-US talks have drastically changed, and that among the main matters on the agenda are "holding the United States to account and demanding compensation for the military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities," Xinhua news agency reported. Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran on June 13, including nuclear and military sites, followed by US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22. After 12 days of fighting, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was reached on June 24.

Israeli military says it intercepts missile from Yemen

Jerusalem, July 22 (IANS) Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory early Tuesday morning.

"A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israeli Air Force)," the military said in a statement.

The missile triggered air raid sirens across central Israel.

No immediate casualties or damage were reported following the interception, according to local media.

Israel has launched multiple airstrikes on strategic targets in Yemen in recent months, as Houthi forces continue to fire missiles and drones toward Israel to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Most of the projectiles have been intercepted or fallen short of Israeli territory, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, Yemen's Houthi armed group had claimed that it had launched five drone attacks targeting "military and vital" sites in Israel.

In a televised statement broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the targets included Ben Gurion Airport, "a military

target" in Tel Aviv, Eilat port, Ramon Airport, and a "vital target" in the Ashdod area.

"The operation was successful," he claimed without providing evidence, saying the attacks were carried out in support of Palestinians in Gaza and in response to Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah port earlier on Monday.

Sarea also vowed for continued attacks against Israel until what he said "aggression on Gaza stops and blockade on Palestinians is lifted."

There were no immediate comments from Israel regarding Houthis' alleged attacks.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces had said the strikes targeted and dismantled military infrastructure, including engineering equipment used to rebuild port facilities, fuel containers, vessels involved in hostile maritime activity, and other Houthi assets.

The strikes rocked the city, with fire and smoke that could be seen several miles from the port, local residents told Xinhua over the phone.

The Houthi armed group, which controls much of northern Yemen, including Hodeidah port and the capital Sanaa, has been launching attacks against Israeli targets since November 2023 to show solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Migrant boat capsizing off Yemen leaves 68 dead, 74 still missing

Aden, Aug 4 (IANS) The death toll from a migrant boat capsizing off Yemen's coast has risen to 68, with 74 others still missing, as search and rescue operations continue amid rough seas, local officials said.

In recent days, Washington has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran.

On Sunday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) approved the establishment of the country's defence council presided over by President Masoud Pezeshkian, the SNSCaffiliated Nour News reported. The report said the defence council would be responsible for "reviewing in a centralized manner the (country's) defence plans as well as the improvement of the Iranian armed forces' capabilities."

It added that the council comprises the heads of the Iranian government's three branches, namely the executive, judiciary and legislative branches, as well as armed forces' commanders and certain ministries.

Rescue teams have recovered 68 bodies throughout the day along the coastline of southern Abyan province, while 12 survivors were pulled from the water earlier in the morning, according to Abdul Qader Bajamil, director of the health office in Abyan province.

The survivors were immediately transferred to Shaqra General Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Medical staff report that some of the survivors remain in critical condition due to prolonged exposure to seawater and exhaustion, Xinhua news agency reported.

The tragedy occurred Saturday night when a smuggling boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants capsized around 11:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) due to severe weather conditions and strong winds in the waters off Abyan province.

The Abyan security authorities confirmed that all victims and

survivors are of Ethiopian nationality, part of the continuous flow of African migrants attempting to reach Yemen and subsequently travel to Gulf countries in search of better economic opportunities.

Bodies have been discovered scattered across different coastal areas, prompting authorities to expand their search operations and deploy additional rescue teams. Health officials are coordinating with local authorities to arrange proper burial procedures for the recovered victims in designated areas near Zinjibar, the provincial capital.

The incident highlights the ongoing perils faced by African migrants who continue to risk dangerous sea crossings despite Yemen's protracted conflict and severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has repeatedly characterized Yemen's situation as one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

Local Yemeni security officials have renewed calls for urgent international intervention to address the root causes of irregular migration and strengthen maritime safety measures in Yemeni territorial waters.

"This tragedy underscores the need for regional cooperation to prevent such loss of life and address the underlying factors driving these dangerous journeys," an official of the Abyan security department told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Manchester Utd leave out unwanted quartet from U.S. tour squad

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS)

Manchester United have left out Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia from their pre-season tour of the United States of America (USA) in their 32-man squad for the American leg of Tour 2025.

As per reports, all four players are no longer part of head coach Ruben Amorim's plans, and the club is actively working behind the scenes in hopes of securing a sale or a loan deal for the players.

With Marcus Rashford reported to be in Barcelona, after the two clubs agreed on a loan deal for the English forward, these players will be hoping to finalise a solution as soon as possible in hopes of finding some playing time elsewhere. Harry Maguire has also been left out of the squad due to personal reasons. Ruben Amorim's side is competing in the Premier League Summer Series for the first time, with the action kicking off this weekend against West Ham United.

The clash with the Hammers starts at midnight on Sunday morning and is being staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Matches follow against Bournemouth and Everton in the tournament, which provides valuable pre-season preparation for the upcoming campaign.

United's summer signings

Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, and

Bryan Mbeumo are all on the flight.

Mbeumo, who sealed his move from Brentford on Monday night, trained with his new colleagues for the first time ahead of making the journey across the Atlantic.

Manchester United squad: Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Will Murdock, Andre Onana.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Diego Leon, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Reece Munro, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro.

Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Bruno Fernandes, Jack Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte. Forwards: Amad, Matheus Cunha, Rasmus Hojlund, Bendito Mantato, Bryan Mbeumo, Chido Obi, Ethan Williams, Joshua Zirkzee.

Leeds United sign midfielder Anton Stach from Hoffenheim on four-year deal

Leeds, July 22 (IANS) Leeds

United have confirmed a sixth summer arrival for Daniel Farke’s side, announcing German international Anton Stach.

The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road and has joined the team for a reported fee of 17 million pounds from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Stach brings experience and further quality to the midfield areas after playing in the Bundesliga for the last five years. His time at the top-level in Germany was spent with Mainz 05 and TSG Hoffenheim and he previously won promotion from

2. Bundesliga with Greuther Furth.

Giving his first thoughts after signing, Stach told of his desire to play in the Premier League.

"First of all, I am feeling really good. I am excited to join such a good team, such a good Premier League team, and I am looking forward to the next season. My style of play, I would say I am an aggressive player. I am good in duels. I am good at anticipating passes from the opponents and it would be good for the Premier League. Now we will see, I will try my best!

"The biggest target is to stay in the league and personally just develop, adapt to the league, to the speed of course and then get many good experiences hopefully," said Stach to Leeds United's media team.

Leeds' latest addition has made over 250 career appearances

in all competitions and brings further versatility to the team, having operated in both midfield and defence when required.

With two senior caps for his nation Germany to his name, Stach’s international experience previously saw him play alongside fellow summer arrival Lukas Nmecha in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final in 2021, winning 1-0 against Portugal to lift the trophy.

A commanding presence in both boxes and in the centre of the pitch, he brings a goal-threat having netted 26 times in his career so far. Last season, Stach played six matches in the 2024/25 Europa League campaign for Hoffenheim and he scored against eventual champions Tottenham Hotspur, furthering his abilities at the highest levels of the game.

Manchester United sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford on 5-year deal

London, July 22 (IANS)

Manchester United have completed the signing of Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo on a five-year contract until June 2030 for a fee of 65 million pounds (about 88 million USD), with the option to extend for a further year.

The Cameroon international is United's third signing of the summer after the arrivals of striker Matheus Cunha and defender Diego Leon, and the winger arrives when it seems as if Marcus Rashford is on the verge of joining FC Barcelona on a season-long loan.

The transfer ends a saga that

has lasted all summer, with Manchester United making its initial offer a month and a half ago.

"As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams; the team whose shirt I wore growing up," said Mbeumo on the club's official website.

“My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players.

“Everybody told me about the environment that is being created here and how exciting the plans are for the future.

This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies," he added.

Goalkeeper Pau Lopez returns to Real Betis on three-year deal

Sevilla, July 22 (IANS) La Liga side Real Betis announced the signing of goalkeeper Pau Lopez on a three-year deal, which will keep him at the club until 2028. The 30-year-old returns to the club he represented in the 20182019 season, making 33 league appearances and 10 clean sheets before moing to AS Roma. Lopez rejoins Betis on a free transfer after ending his contract with Mexican side Toluca by mutual accord, and he will compete with veteran Adrian San Miguel and possibly Alvaro Valles for the position.

Valles joined the club on a free transfer this summer from Las Palmas, and the Spanish press speculates Betis will either loan him out or sell him before the

end of the transfer window, reports Xinhua.

Lopez has a lot of top-level European experience, playing 76 times for Roma and 127 times for Olympique de Marseille. He has also played twice for the Spain national team, making his debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2019.

Betis returns to the UEFA Europa League after ending last season sixth in La Liga. The club has worked to strengthen its squad with defender Junior Firpo returning from Leeds United, while Nobel Mendy and Natan have also signed along with winger Rodrigo Riquelme, who has moved from Atletico Madrid. Last week, Betis have signed Junior Firpo to its ranks. The defender commited to the Verdiblancos until 2028 and is expected to join the squad in Seville next week.

The full-back, a product of the club's youth academy, returned home following his spells at FC Barcelona and Leeds United FC.

The Dominican, who has Copa del Rey title and a UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Spain among his career achievements, concluded his first spell with the Verdiblancos, having made 43 appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists.

Harith Noah returns to rally at Baja Aragon 2025

New Delhi/Spain, July 24 (IANS)

Harith Noah, representing India, is set to return to competitive action at the 41st edition of Baja Aragon, scheduled from July 25 to 27 in Teruel, Spain.

Mbeumo will now almost certainly form part of United's pre-season tour to the United States that starts on Thursday. Mbeumo scored 70 goals and gave 51 assists in 242 games for Brentford, with 20 of those goals coming last season as the south London club just missed out on a place in Europe. Last season, the 25-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals, the fourth highest in the league, and registered a further eight assists. Since Brentford’s promotion to the top flight, Mbeumo has averaged an impressive 18 goal contributions per season.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United's Director of Football said, “Bryan’s goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him amongst the most productive players in England for the last three seasons.

One of the most demanding and historic cross-country Baja-style rally events, Baja Aragon forms a crucial leg of the FIM Bajas World Cup and the FIA World and European Baja Cups. Riding in the Rally GP category for the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, Noah will use the event to regain race sharpness and rebuild momentum as he prepares for the final rounds of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) later this year.

With its mix of high-speed tracks, rocky climbs, and summer heat, Baja Aragon is widely regarded as a testing ground for both man and machine. The rally features a Prologue Stage on Friday, followed by two long special stages across Saturday and Sunday, offering riders a true test of endurance and navigation. Noah is no stranger to the challenge. He has delivered consistent performances at Baja

Aragon in the past, including a seventh place finish in 2024, following a fifth place result, a year earlier.

“Baja Aragon has always been one of my favourite events, it's fast, technical, and always throws in surprises. I’m excited to be back here, and the goal is to build momentum and enjoy being back on the bike at a race I know well,” said Harith Noah ahead of the rally.

Noah’s outing comes after two consecutive injury setbacks in 2025. In January, Noah was forced to withdraw from the Dakar Rally 2025 following a wrist fracture during the Prologue. He made a return to W2RC circuit in May at the debut South African Safari Rally (W2RC Round 3), only to suffer a crash in Stage 1 (May 18) after colliding with a jackal on course, which led to swelling and loss of grip in his right hand, prompting another early withdrawal.

Initial assessments were inconclusive, but later imaging confirmed fractures, forcing Noah into another recovery phase. He has since completed his rehabilitation.

Smartphones before 13 may raise suicidal thoughts, aggression risk in youth: Study

New genetic test can predict obesity risk in adulthood by age 5

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS)

Children who own a smartphone before the age of 13 are more likely to experience poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people released on Monday.

The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth. Smartphones give early social media access and increase the risks of cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships by adulthood, the team said.

"Our data indicates that early

smartphone ownership -- and the social media access it often brings -- is linked with a profound shift in mental health and well-being in early adulthood," said lead author neuroscientist

Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, the founder and Chief Scientist of US-based Sapien Labs. Thiagarajan called for urgent action to protect the mental health of future generations, as their symptoms are not the traditional depression and anxiety, and can be missed by studies using standard screening procedures.

The researchers urged policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under-13s. They also called for mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability.

In recent years, several countries have banned or restricted the use of cell phones in institutions, including France, the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand. Several states in the US have also passed legislation

requiring schools to have policies that at least limit access to smartphones for children.

For the study, the team at Sapiens mapped the data on 100,000 young adults using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) -- a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being -- to generate an overall mental health score.

Young adults who received their first smartphone before age 13 had lower MHQ scores, with scores progressively declining the younger the age of first ownership.

Younger ownership was also linked with diminished self-image, self-worth, and confidence, and emotional resilience among females, and lower stability, calmness, self-worth, and empathy among males.

"Our evidence suggests that childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AIpowered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mental health and well-being in adulthood, with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing,” Thiagarajan said.

Hearing loss, loneliness accelerate dementia risk in elderly: Study

New Delhi, July 16 (IANS)

Hearing loss combined with the feelings of loneliness accelerates cognitive decline, leading to dementia in older adults, according to a study.

Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland showed that isolation, communication difficulties, reduced alertness, and hearing impairment or loss are a real challenge in daily life.

The findings, published in the journal Communications Psychology, showed that hearing loss accelerates cognitive decline, particularly among individuals who feel lonely, regardless of whether they are socially isolated.

‘‘We found that people who were

not socially isolated but who felt lonely saw their cognitive decline accelerate when they were deaf,’’ said Matthias Kliegel, professor in the Cognitive Ageing Laboratory in UNIGE.

The team analysed data from 33,000 older adults across 12 countries in Europe to examine the combined impact of hearing loss and loneliness on memory.

They found three distinct profiles based on the degree of social isolation and perceived loneliness: individuals who are socially isolated and feel lonely; individuals who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely; and individuals who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely.

The study supports the importance of addressing both hearing loss and the social and emotional dimensions of individuals in efforts to prevent cognitive decline.

This is particularly crucial for people who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough, an international team of researchers has created a genetic test called a polygenic risk score (PGS) that predicts the risk of obesity in early childhood.

The test, which predicts the risk of obesity by age 5, may be key to identifying children and adolescents at higher genetic risk of developing the condition. It may help to target them with preventative strategies, such as lifestyle interventions, at a younger age.

"What makes the score so powerful is its ability to predict, before the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood, well before other risk factors start to shape their weight later in childhood. Intervening at this point can have a huge impact," said lead author Roelof Smit, Assistant Professor from the NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) at the University of Copenhagen and of the research published in Nature Medicine.

"This new polygenic score is a dramatic improvement in predictive power and a leap

-- in such cases, simple hearing interventions, like using a hearing aid, may be enough to help them engage more fully in social life, the researchers said.

“These individuals are already socially integrated, so it’s a matter of removing a sensory barrier in order to reinforce their engagement and protect their cognitive health,” said Charikleia Lampraki, postdoctoral researcher in the Lifespan Lab at UNIGE.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss or impairment by 2050.

More than 25 per cent of people over the age of 60 experience a disabling hearing impairment. In addition to the social challenges, this loss -- or reduction -- can increase the risk of cognitive decline by two to three times, said the team, stressing the need for early and preventive hearing care.

Severe malnourishment in children under five years old can spike antibiotic resistance: Study

New Delhi, Aug 1 (IANS) Children under the age of five with severe malnourishment could be at significant risk of developing antimicrobial resistant bacteria, according to an alarming study. Globally, 45 million children under the age of five are estimated to be severely malnourished. These children are also at a higher risk of developing life-threatening infections such as tuberculosis or sepsis due to their weakened immune systems.

The new study led by researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) has found that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are spreading rapidly among children being treated for severe malnutrition in a hospital facility in Niger. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, showed that 76 per cent of children carried bacteria with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, which can break down many commonly used antibiotics. One in four children (25 per cent) carried bacteria with carbapenemase genes like blaNDM, which confer resistance to some of the most

powerful and last-line antibiotics. “These are some of the most vulnerable children in the world, and we’re seeing them pick up bacteria that don’t respond to life-saving antibiotics,” said lead author Dr Kirsty Sands, Scientific Lead, Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research.

“While our study was focused on one treatment facility in Niger, this situation is likely mirrored in many more hospitals around the world. As AMR continues to increase globally, concurrent humanitarian crises such as wars and climate change are exacerbating malnutrition, leading to overcrowded treatment centres,” Sands added.

forward in the genetic prediction of obesity risk, which brings us much closer to clinically useful genetic testing," added Professor Ruth Loos from the varsity.

The World Obesity Federation expects more than half the global population to develop overweight or obesity by 2035. Obesity is a known precursor to many diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

The PGS test, involving more than 600 scientists from 500 institutions globally, was developed by drawing on genetic data from over five million people. PGS acts like a calculator that combines the effects of the different risk variants that a person carries and provides an overall score.

The team found that their new PGS was twice as effective as the previous best test at predicting a person's risk of developing obesity.

The scientists also investigated the relationship between a person's genetic risk of obesity and the impact of lifestyle weight loss interventions, such as diet and exercise.

They discovered that people with a higher genetic risk of obesity were more responsive to interventions but also regained weight more quickly when the interventions ended.

Study blames high-calorie diet for global rise in obesity

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS)

More than a lack of exercise, a higher caloric intake may be the primary driver of obesity worldwide, finds a study.

While many experts have offered that rising obesity rates are due to declining physical activity as societies become more industrialised, the findings led by researchers from Duke University in the US, show that people in wealthier countries expend just as much -- or even more -- energy daily.

“It’s clear that changes in diet, not reduced activity, are the main cause of obesity,” said Herman Pontzer, principal investigator and Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at the varsity.

In an article recently published in the journal PNAS, the researchers analysed thousands of measurements of daily energy expenditure, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI) from more than 4,200 adults aged 18 to 60 across 34 populations spanning six continents. While a marginal decrease was found in size-adjusted total energy expenditure with economic development, differences in total

energy expenditure explained only a fraction of the increase in body fat that accompanied development, said the researchers.

"This suggests that other factors, such as dietary changes, are driving the increases in body fat that we see with increasing economic development,” explained Amanda McGrosky, lead investigator and postdoctoral researcher at Duke at the time of the study. McGrosky is now an assistant professor of biology at Elon University in the US.

Notably, the findings do not mean that efforts to promote physical activity should be minimised.

Instead, the data support an emerging consensus that both diet and exercise should be prioritised, the researchers said. “Diet and physical activity should be viewed as essential and complementary, rather than interchangeable,” the study noted.

The team will next work to identify which aspects of diet in developed countries are most responsible for the rise in obesity.

Tokyo: Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi meets Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), Admiral Saito Akira, in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Tianjin: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar poses for a group photograph during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, in Tianjin, China on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Canada, Kananaskis: G7 leaders pose for the traditional family photo during the G7 Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, in Kananaskis, Cananda, on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol meets the press at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on Aug. 1, 2025

Crucial Buddhist summit begins in McLeodganj, Dalai Lama likely to mention reincarnation process

Fast-spreading wildfire forces evacuation in Texas

The landscape of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area on the North’s east coast is seen on June 24, 2025, during a ceremony to mark the completion of the resort area known for its beautiful seaside scenery, in this photo released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on June 26. The North’s leader Kim Jong-un attended the ceremony.

Indonesian authorities to review Mount Rinjani climbing safety after Brazilian climber’s death

Buckinghamshire: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pose with the Premier League trophy during PM Modi’s UK visit, in Buckinghamshire on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Paris: Yoga enthusiasts perform yoga during the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations, near the iconic

Real-time transcription platform Otter launches AI chatbot

Migrant boat capsizing off Yemen leaves 68 dead, 74 still missing

Driver critically injured by falling tree amid severe storm in eastern Australia

Selena Gomez celebrates birthday with milestone close to her heart

Singer-actress Selena Gomez is celebrating her birthday with a special milestone. On Tuesday, the actress-singer took to her Instagram, and shared a picture of herself.

In the picture, she can be seen holding her birthday cake. She also penned a long note in the caption, as she shared how her mental health initiative has touched many lives.

She wrote, “5 years ago today, on my birthday, we launched the Rare Impact Fund with a simple goal: to help more young people around the world feel seen, supported, and cared for. Mental health has always been deeply personal to me, and I wanted to build something that could create lasting change. Since then, thanks to your support, we’ve reached over 2 million young people and supported 30 incredible organizations around the globe.”.

She further mentioned, “And this is just the beginning.

To celebrate this milestone (and

Uma Thurman talks about intense physical prep that went for ‘Kill Bill’ movies

Hollywood star Uma Thurman, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming project, The Old Guard 2, has opened up about the intense physical preparation she underwent for “Kill Bill.”

The 55-year-old actress, renowned for her iconic role as The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol 1 and Vol 2, revealed that her return to action films this year came without time for full training.

Thurman told The Sunday Times: “Fortunately I had put in hundreds of hours learning how to hold a sword (for Kill Bill 1 and 2),” she said.

In her new action film The Old Guard 2, a sequel to the 2020 Netflix action hit, Thurman plays Discord, a 5,000-year-old immortal warrior who engages in an epic sword fight opposite Charlize Theron’s character, Andromache, near a secret nuclear facility, reports femalefirst. co.uk. Thurman added about her Kill Bill muscle memory coming in handy during the shoot: “You may not be limber and strong. But if your brain has learnt how to memorise sequences of movements, you can get back in that zone.” For Kill Bill, Thurman trained for eight hours a day across three months in preparation for the role. That experience, she said, proved invaluable when returning to the genre.

Her character in The Old Guard 2 marks her first sword-wielding

performance since Quentin Tarantino’s films, and it has been more than two decades since she last performed choreographed combat on screen.

Thurman’s new film is directed by Victoria Mahoney and follows a group of age-old warriors with supernatural powers who fight to protect humanity.

The original, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, was praised for its blend of grounded drama and stylised violence.

Speaking about the appeal of The Old Guard, Thurman said:

“I thought that first movie was really unusual, a superb female-led action film that had depth, drama and really beauti ful, naturalistic acting.”

She also credited her co-star and producer Charlize Theron, 48, as a major draw for signing on.

Thurman added: “Charlize is a miraculous performer, a very powerful individual and as charismatic in person as on screen. And I liked the idea of playing a supporting role to another actress who I thought had done really signifi cant work in the drama/ action field.”

my birthday), we just launched the Rare Impact Fund Giving Circle, where people can come together, pool their resources, and support organizations doing life-changing work. It’s about believing in the power of community to create lasting change. Let’s build a future where every young person has the mental health support they deserve. Thank you for showing up, for each other, and for the next generation. This is what rare impact looks like”.

Earlier, Selena shot a hilarious video in which she can be seen letting her fiance Benny Blanco do her makeup. However, it didn't go as planned,

and it would be safe to say that his artistic capabilities in the studio don’t quite transfer over to the salon.

In the video, the 'Only Murders in the Building' star gave her enthusiastic fiance free reign over her Rare Beauty products to give her a makeover.

As per 'Billboard', Blanco didn’t inspire a lot of faith in Gomez at the outset.

The producer knocked their camera to the floor during an attempt at pressed powder, but after some repositioning and dusting of his partner’s face, the 'Lose You to Love Me' singer complimented, “That’s good, babe! Now I’m proud".

Jason Momoa shares what he thinks of his son’s debut with ‘Dune: Part Three’

Hollywood star Jason Momoa has an opinion on his son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa film debut. The ‘Game of Thrones’ star thinks his son is in for a "rude awakening" with his first movie role in ‘Dune: Part Three’.

The 16-year-old actor is set to make his screen debut in director Denis Villeneuve's upcoming sci-fi blockbuster as Paul Atreides' (Timothee Chalamet) son Leto II, and his famous dad has admitted he's in for quite the surprise when production begins, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking with Extra, Jason, 45, "A rude awakening is what he’s in for. He’s into the workforce for the first time. It’s going to be good. He did it on his own”.

As per ‘Female First UK’,the ‘A Minecraft Movie’ star added he didn’t want to "help" his son with the job as he wants Nakoa-Wolf to be "better" than him.

Jason added, "I don’t want to help him, and he’s done it all on his own, and good for him. You want your children to be better than you, and I really, actually believe he is. I couldn’t do what he’s doing at his age. There’s no way I could sit in a room with Denis Villeneuve and hold my own. I was on Baywatch at 19. He’s 16 and holding shit down with Denis Villeneuve”.

Margot Robbie, husband Tom Ackerley share romantic moment in Italy

Hollywood actress Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley were seen packing up PDA at a hotel balcony in Naples, Italy.

The couple shared a romantic moment. Ackerley wrapped his arms around Robbie, and planted a kiss on her head, as she drank from a glass water bottle, reports ‘People’ magazine.

The ‘Barbie’ alum wore a strapless dress she has previously been spotted in: the Elephant Tapestry Mini Dress by Kristin Mallison, which retails for $675.

As per ‘People’, Robbie had her hair down in beachy waves, parted down the middle, while Ackerley also kept things casual and breezy in a simple button-down shirt and shorts. The couple’s Italian balcony sighting comes after they welcomed their first baby, a boy, in November.

Since welcoming their son, Robbie and Ackerley have been spotted out and about a few times, including during a beach appearance.

In April, the new parents were spotted spending time on the Gold Coast in Australia with friends. The beach sighting came as Robbie was on break from filming Wuthering Heights on location in the U.K. alongside Jacob Elordi.

In March, Robbie was spotted on the set of the Emerald Fennelldirected adaptation of the classic novel (set to hit theaters in 2026) in an extravagant bridal look, complete with a cinched corset and long, tulle train.

Since welcoming her baby boy, Robbie has been keeping busy with work, and “enjoying motherhood”, a source close to the star previously said.

The source earlier told ‘People’, "Margot has several projects lined up next year. She wants to rest now and spend time with the baby”.

Lindsay Lohan: I’d like to take on some more serious, dramatic roles

Jenna Ortega talks about feeling ‘incredibly misunderstood’

HHollywood actress Lindsay Lohan says she would like to take on some more serious and dramatic roles as she marks her return to the big screen with the bodyswap comedy sequel Freakier Friday.

Lohan told The Hollywood Reporter at the Los Angeles premiere of Freakier Friday: "(I'm) doing a TV show with Hulu that I'm really excited about and I'd like to take on some more serious, dramatic roles.

She agrees that she loves doing romantic comedy because that's where her “home is”.

“And I feel like where my fans want

to see me, but I'd like to take on some things that are different; maybe find something that's an action-packed film. Just really show people a different side of me," added the actress.

Lohan returns along- side co-star Jamie Lee Curtis for the sequel and has promised that it is "bigger" than the original 2003 film Freaky Friday, reports femalefirst. co.uk.

She explained: "We have more stories to tell. It's a four-way swap and there's more music and there's a lot more physical comedy than the first one, which I love. Any moment that I can pull a Lucille Ball, I'm down for it."

Lohan was just 15 when

production started on the original movie and explained that she has always remained close with Jamie as the Halloween star was a "mother figure" to her.

The Mean Girls star said: "She was there for me at a time of my life when my mom was busy with my siblings, and she was kind of like another mother figure to me out here in LA. That's kept us pretty tight-knit over time, and we've always just been in contact."

Curtis explained that she wanted Lohan to feel "love" during the making of the movie.

Curtis recalled: "I said to her from day one, 'I want nothing from you except your own peace and serenity.' And I am safe, I'm a home base; I don't want anything, I'm not going to ask you to come to anything. I don't want her to feel transactional with me, I want her to feel love."

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ makers cast actors for Katniss Everdeen’s parents

The upcoming instalment of the ‘The Hunger Games’ has a new cast member joining the team. The makers of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ have cast Katniss Everdeen’s parents.

The upcoming prequel movie has added Scot Greenan and Grace Ackary as Burdock Everdeen and Asterid March, respectively. They essay the role of the father and mother of Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic heroine from the original ‘Hunger Games’ films, reports

‘Female First UK’.

It has also been announced that Melody Chikakane Brown and Jefferson White have joined

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ as Hattie Meeney and Mr. McCoy, respectively.

‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ will feature Joseph Zada in the lead role of Haymitch Abernathy, the character previously played by Woody Harrelson in the original tetralogy, while Whitney Peak has been cast as his girlfriend,

Lenore Dove Baird.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Maya Hawke will take on the role of Wiress, the former Hunger Games victor who now mentors the tributes of District 12, while Mckenna Grace will portray District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner.

Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ star Ben Wang have also joined the cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, Beetee Latier, and District 12 tribute Wyatt Callow, respectively. Glenn Close has signed on to play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the tributes of District 12, while Billy Porter has been cast as her estranged husband Magno Stift, who serves as the contestants' uninspired designer. Kieran Culkin is set to appear in the movie as Caesar Flickerman, the character first played by Stanley Tucci in the original Hunger Games films, and Elle Fanning has signed on to play Effie Trinket, previously portrayed by Elizabeth Banks. Rounding out the ensemble is Ralph Fiennes, who will step into the role of President Coriolanus Snow, previously played by the late Donald Sutherland in the original movies and by Tom Blyth in the 2023 prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.

Tom Holland says playing James Bond would be ‘pinnacle’ of his career

Hollywood star Tom Holland has shared that playing the role of the suave spy James Bond would be the "pinnacle" of his career.

The Spider-Man star is reportedly set to portray agent 007 in Denis Villeneuve's upcoming movie in the franchise.

Speaking to Gordon Ramsay on

YouTube, he said of the rumours: “Listen, there’s speculation at the moment. We’ll keep it to a minimum for now. We’ll get there one day." Ramsay then pressed Holland on the topic.

He said: “Can you imagine what’s going to happen to your life if you do? First of all, you’d love that opportunity, right?”

ollywood star Jenna Ortega says she feels "incredibly misunderstood" due to other people forming perceptions of her due to the fame she has attained.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ortega said: "I think that's part of my struggle with that side of the job, because you feel incredibly mis- understood. It's almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn't belong to you. I almost don't even resonate with it anymore.”

She said that she hates assumptions, “and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you."

The Wednesday star feels that too much in- formation about performers is revealed to the world nowadays, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She said: "We know too much. And the people feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life where if they were put under the same microscope, they wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable."

Jenna explained that she is particularly frightened of people calling out her name in the street and hears "vile things" at times.

The star said: "Somebody shouting your name in public is insane. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable

Jennifer Winget finally reveals who has her ‘heart’

Renowned television actress Jennifer Winget has finally spilled the beans on who truly has her heart.

Jennifer took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of cuddling a Border Collie.

The actress wrote in the caption section: “THIS GIRL HAS MY HEART.”

The actress will soon be seen in an upcoming mystery thriller with Parineeti Chopra. It is written and directed by Rensil D'Silva, the acclaimed writer-director behind films like “Rang De Basanti” and “Ungli.”

The upcoming untitled mystery thriller will mark Parineeti Chopra’s much-anticipated Netflix series debut. The show is produced by Siddharth P. Malhotra, director of Maharaj,

and Sapna Malhotra of Alchemy Productions.

Jennifer is one of highest-paid television actresses and also the recipient of several accolades including Indian Television Academy Awards. She started her career as a child actor with the 1995 film Akele Hum Akele Tum and made her TV debut in 2002 with Shaka Laka Boom Boom. She gained recognition for her roles as Sneha Bajaj in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Ganga Bhatia in Sangam and Dill Mill Gayye.

The actress established herself as an actress with her portrayal of Kumud Sundari Desai in Saraswatichandra, Maya Mehrotra in the psychological thriller series Beyhadh and Zoya Siddiqui in romantic drama series Bepannah.