Global Pulse

标签： Oceania

大洋洲

  • Greek court makes shock ruling in case of wanted man James Dalamangas

    Greek court makes shock ruling in case of wanted man James Dalamangas

    After 27 years evading Australian law enforcement, a man accused of a 1999 fatal Sydney stabbing will not face trial in his home country, after a Greek appeals court delivered a surprising ruling that rejects his extradition on statute of limitations grounds.

    James Dalamangas, now 56, was taken into custody last month on a Greek farm, ending one of the country’s longest-running manhunts. He was charged by Australian authorities with the murder of George Giannopoulous in Sydney, a crime he is alleged to have committed before fleeing the country immediately after the incident. His name had been listed on Interpol’s international alert list for decades, and Australian police upped efforts to capture him earlier this year, offering a AU$200,000 reward for information leading to his arrest in January 2024, just months before the 25-year deadline for the case under Australian law approached in April.

    Local Greek media reports confirm that Dalamangas had built a new life under the assumed identity of Antonis Tzimas, living for 18 years in the quiet rural town of Alsos before his capture.

    In a ruling that upends long-running efforts by Australian authorities to bring the fugitive to trial, Greece’s Court of Appeals announced this week that Dalamangas will remain at liberty under restrictive bail conditions, and will not be extradited to Australia to face murder charges.

    Giannis Apostolopoulos, Dalamangas’ Greek defense attorney, told local reporters that the ruling turned on a clear legal principle under both Greek domestic law and the bilateral extradition treaty between Greece and Australia. “The decision was made because the offence is statute-barred in Greece. Our arguments were accepted, particularly the fact that the offence had become time-barred under Greek law,” Apostolopoulos said. “Under both our country’s criminal procedure and the Greece–Australia treaty, if the offence has become time-barred in either country, that constitutes a mandatory ground for refusing extradition.”

    Greek law sets a 25-year statute of limitations for the kind of offence Dalamangas is accused of committing, meaning the 1999 killing fell outside the legal window for prosecution in Greece just months before his arrest. The ruling marks a disappointing development for Australian investigators who spent nearly three decades tracking the fugitive.

  • Six candidates in race to lead UN set for televised debate

    Six candidates in race to lead UN set for televised debate

    As the United Nations grapples with a deep-seated crisis of finance and global confidence, six contenders vying to succeed outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres are preparing to take the stage Thursday for a landmark televised debate in the iconic General Assembly Hall. The event comes exactly one week ahead of the formal launch of the selection process, a procedure that carries enormous consequences for the future of the 78-year-old global institution.

    Scheduled to run for 90 minutes starting at 5:00 pm local time (2100 GMT) and broadcast globally by Bloomberg, the town hall-style debate will see the hopefuls field questions from three key groups: seasoned diplomats, serving UN employees, and representatives from global civil society. Unlike past contests, the 2026 race lacks a clear frontrunner and has so far failed to spark widespread public or diplomatic enthusiasm, even as the organization faces one of its most challenging periods in modern history.

    The six candidates stepping into the spotlight are: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; former Ecuadorian President and UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa; Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi; Costa Rican economist and former UN Under-Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan; Guyanese former foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; and Senegalese President Macky Sall.

    General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock framed the debate as a singular moment for transparency in the selection process. “This UN town hall will provide a rare opportunity to engage with the ideas, priorities and leadership vision of the candidates for one of the world’s most important positions,” she said. Baerbock emphasized the high bar for the next leader, noting that in an increasingly fragmented global order, the UN requires more than just skilled administration. “The United Nations needs not only an exceptional chief administrator who will make the organization fit for the 21st century but also the leadership and integrity of someone willing to vigorously defend the UN Charter and all its three pillars: peace and security, human rights, and development,” she added.

    The race unfolds against a backdrop of growing pressure on the UN from major powers, particularly the United States. During the previous Trump administration, Washington repeatedly accused the organization of reckless spending, overextension into non-core policy areas, and failure to deliver tangible results on its core mandates. While the U.S. has pushed for a refocus on the UN’s founding mission of peace and security, many other member states have pushed back, stressing that human rights and development are equally critical pillars that cannot be sidelined.

    Analysts point out that the 2026 contest has a noticeably different tone than the 2016 selection that elevated Guterres. Richard Gowan, senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, told Agence France-Presse that “the race does seem short on energy” compared to the 2016 campaign, which featured more candidates and widespread political intrigue. “This time around everyone agrees that the race is incredibly important for the future of the UN, but the contest itself has been quite cautious,” Gowan explained. “There is a sense that the candidates are treading carefully to avoid offending the US and other veto powers on the Security Council.”

    Prior to Thursday’s public debate, all six candidates have already undergone three hours of private questioning from representatives of the UN’s 193 member states. Most contenders have aligned on core priorities, stressing the need to advance ongoing internal reforms to boost administrative efficiency, and calling for more active personal engagement from the secretary-general in global peace negotiations and conflict resolution efforts.

    The formal selection process will kick into high gear on July 30, when the 15-member Security Council holds its first closed-door, anonymous straw poll to gauge preference for the candidates. The process will see repeated rounds of non-binding votes until one candidate secures at least nine votes from Council members, and avoids a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France. Once a candidate is endorsed by the Security Council, their name will be sent to the full General Assembly for formal appointment, with the new secretary-general set to take office on January 1, 2027.

    Many diplomats who spoke to AFP remain uncertain about the final outcome, noting that a number of major world capitals have not yet publicly committed to a candidate. Gowan noted that while Grossi remains the most frequently cited potential frontrunner, he has not yet locked in enough support to secure victory. “Other candidates like Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett also have significant numbers of admirers,” Gowan said, adding that a dark horse candidate could still emerge to claim the top post. In fact, unconfirmed speculation has already circulated in UN corridors and media reports, with the New York Post citing unnamed sources claiming former U.S. President Trump has expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to take the helm, though Infantino is not an official candidate in the current race.

    Two longstanding (though not formally binding) traditions are shaping the contest this cycle. First, under the informal geographic rotation framework for the secretary-general post, Latin American states have laid claim to the position this term, after ten years of Guterres, a European. Second, a growing coalition of member states is pushing for the UN to appoint its first female secretary-general in the organization’s history, a demand that has gained traction across many regional blocs.

  • AFL 2026: Essendon star Nate Caddy cleared to play after elevated heart rate scare

    AFL 2026: Essendon star Nate Caddy cleared to play after elevated heart rate scare

    A major health scare that forced Essendon Bombers rising star Nate Caddy to be hospitalized during last weekend’s victory over GWS Giants has been fully resolved, with interim head coach Dean Solomon confirming the key forward faces no risk returning to the field this Saturday.

    Caddy was pulled from the round clash against GWS after developing an unexplained elevated heart rate mid-match, and was immediately transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Medical teams have since completed all necessary testing and cleared the young forward to resume full team activities, clearing the way for his expected starting spot in this weekend’s much-anticipated clash against old rival Hawthorn at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    “From a medical standpoint, he’s been 100% cleared,” Solomon told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday morning. “When the elevated heart rate popped up, the team took the safe step of sending him to hospital for checks, but all results came back normal. He’ll take part in full training today, and he’s ready to go this weekend. We haven’t even talked about limiting his minutes or doing any in-game management – there’s no risk here at all.”

    Caddy has emerged as one of the few bright spots for Essendon in a disappointing 2024 season, quickly establishing himself as a core piece of the club’s future forward line. Solomon added that the young forward has approached his post-scare recovery with intentionality, working closely with club medical staff to understand his health status and remains confident in his ability to compete at full intensity.

    “He’s diligent, he asks a lot of questions, and he’s got a really clear understanding that there’s no ongoing issue,” Solomon said. “I haven’t seen any change in his demeanor or his readiness. He’s confident, we trust our medical team completely, and we’re ready to put him out there.”

    Saturday’s matchup pits two teams with vastly different late-season goals against one another. Hawthorn currently sits in strong position to lock in a top-four finish on the AFL ladder, and is chasing momentum heading into the final month of the regular season as they build toward a premiership run. When asked to assess the 2024 Hawks, Solomon praised the side’s sharp on-field performance and strong leadership ahead of the clash.

    “They’re a very sharp, well-led football side playing a really exciting brand of footy, and they’re going to bring a massive challenge for our group,” Solomon said. “But that’s exactly what our young group is excited for. We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the best teams in the competition this weekend.”

  • What’s the deal with peptides? The hyped market under US review

    What’s the deal with peptides? The hyped market under US review

    Driven by viral hype from wellness influencers, celebrities and biohacking circles, synthetic peptides have exploded in popularity as miracle substances promising everything from wrinkle-free skin and deeper sleep to faster muscle repair and extended lifespan. But this booming, unregulated market is now under formal scrutiny in the United States, as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel convenes this week to weigh whether seven of the most in-demand peptides should be cleared for pharmacy compounding – the custom formulation of drugs by pharmacists or specialized outsourcing facilities.

    The review comes as public interest in peptides has skyrocketed, even as leading medical researchers and safety advocates sound the alarm over a total lack of rigorous clinical evidence confirming the substances are either safe or effective for widespread use. “There’s just not enough clinical data to say whether these peptides are safe and effective,” Alexander Weber, chief of sports medicine at the University of Southern California and an orthopedic surgeon, told AFP. He added that peptides have become a regular topic of conversation in his daily patient consultations, a sign of how deeply mainstream the unproven trend has become.

    The seven peptides up for review – including popular compounds BPC-157, TB-500 and Semax – were already restricted from compounding by the prior Biden administration, primarily due to the absence of gold-standard human clinical trial data. Despite the restrictions, use of the substances has persisted widely: consumers can currently purchase the compounds online from chemical suppliers marketed strictly “for lab use only,” a loophole that enables off-label consumer use.

    Supporters of loosening restrictions, including wellness influencers, peptide industry advocates and even US Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who has publicly stated he uses peptides to treat personal injuries), argue that the current restrictions have created an unregulated gray market flooded with low-quality products from unvetted overseas suppliers. “With the gray market you have no idea if you’re getting a good product,” Kennedy told podcast host Joe Rogan in a recent interview, adding that much of the available product on the market is substandard. However, critics have accused Kennedy of stacking the FDA advisory panel with individuals who hold deep financial and professional ties to the peptide industry, given his personal and political alignment with pro-peptide interests.

    “In ordinary circumstances, I would say that these products are dead,” said Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former FDA official. “But given the way that the committee is stacked, I don’t have that confidence at all.”

    Peptides are naturally occurring short chains of amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of proteins, that act as signaling molecules to regulate core physiological processes ranging from tissue repair to metabolism. Well-known, widely studied peptides include insulin, a life-saver for people with diabetes, and GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes treatments such as Ozempic – both of which have passed extensive FDA testing for safety and efficacy. But the injectable synthetic peptides promoted by wellness influencers have never undergone the large-scale clinical trials the FDA requires to confirm safety and effectiveness.

    FDA career scientists have already published formal analyses warning that even amid the cultural hype, existing evidence is insufficient to justify rolling back restrictions. Their concerns align with a May joint white paper from nonprofits ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), which called the gap between the fast-growing commercial market and limited clinical research “an alarming safety concern.” “The commercial market has grown faster than the clinical evidence base, and the absence of adequate clinical evidence for use in humans is an alarming safety concern,” the paper read. Rita Jew, ISMP president, told AFP there is no new data that would justify approving the seven peptides for compounding.

    Not all medical providers oppose easing restrictions, however. Ed Lee, an Orlando-based endocrinologist and co-founder of the Clinical Peptides Society, has led a petition drive called “Save Peptides” that has collected nearly 10,000 signatures urging federal lawmakers to loosen peptide regulations. Lee is particularly optimistic about the tissue repair benefits touted for BPC-157, and argues that public demand for the compounds is already so high that regulators cannot reverse the trend. “I don’t know how they’re going to put the genie back in the bottle,” he said.

    But critics push back on the argument that consumer demand alone is enough to justify regulatory approval, given the extremely limited scientific backing. “If at the end of the day these products are approved, I see nothing good coming out of it,” Lurie said. Weber acknowledged that many of his patients report positive anecdotal results from peptide use, but warned that anecdotal experiences are not a substitute for rigorous research. Patients who pay out of pocket for the unproven treatments are often biased to believe they work, he noted: “If you’re paying for something, you want it to work.”

  • One Nation capitalises on Mr Joyce’s dog outburst

    One Nation capitalises on Mr Joyce’s dog outburst

    A heated off-script outburst from Australian politician Barnaby Joyce toward his dog during a live televised interview has unexpectedly turned into a viral marketing opportunity for the One Nation party. Three days after the awkward moment spread rapidly across social media, the party has unveiled a playful new merchandise item: the “Sitdown! Barnaby’s Dog Leash,” currently available for pre-order on the party’s official website at a discounted retail price of $10 Australian dollars.

    The viral incident unfolded during an interview with ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson, where Joyce was responding to a question about One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s political direction. Mid-sentence, the politician suddenly turned away from the microphone and shouted, “Well, I think – sit down!” before pausing to explain, “Sorry it’s a dog.” After Ferguson brushed off the interruption and urged Joyce to return to the question, Joyce snapped back, “Don’t be rude. Otherwise, this interview will come to a grinding halt.”

    Within hours of the interview being published, the clipped moment of Joyce’s outburst went viral globally, spawning thousands of memes and sparking widespread online discussion. Animal welfare activists quickly condemned Joyce’s reaction, while the politician later acknowledged he had “verbally assaulted the dog” and said he was “incredibly sorry” for the outburst. Joyce later clarified that his border collie-Staffordshire terrier cross Stella had simply distracted him during the tense exchange.

    Rather than distancing itself from the viral moment, One Nation has leaned into the public attention to create the branded merchandise. In the product description posted on the party’s website, the party frames the outburst as a relatable experience for pet owners everywhere: “Every dog owner knows the feeling. Somewhere important to be, an audience watching and a dog who has quietly decided today is not the day for instructions. Sometimes you just have to say it loud and clear: sit down.”

    The description notes that Stella, a farm dog described as having “near perfect manners,” took the outburst in stride, and that the viral clip brought laughter to audiences around the world. “We figured a dog owner with that kind of conviction deserved a lead to match,” the listing reads. Pre-orders are open now, with the dog leashes scheduled to ship to customers in August. The incident is the latest in a string of viral political moments that have been turned into branded merchandise for Australian political parties, capitalizing on widespread public attention to drive fundraising and engagement.

  • Mum of Perth man burned in robot vacuum explosion gives condition update

    Mum of Perth man burned in robot vacuum explosion gives condition update

    A 23-year-old Western Australian man seriously injured in a rare explosion of his domestic robot vacuum cleaner has reached an important new milestone in his hospital recovery, his mother has confirmed, as community support pours in to help the young victim rebuild his life.

    Lachie Perrem, a resident of Brabham in Perth’s northern suburbs, suffered catastrophic burns across 75% of his body when the robotic cleaning device detonated unexpectedly in his kitchen on July 2 this year. Following the freak accident, Perrem was placed in an induced medical coma for several weeks to stabilize his critical condition, and he only recently regained consciousness to begin the long rehabilitation process.

    In a new upbeat update shared this week, his mother Fiona Perrem said her son is beating expectations and making impressive strides in his recovery at the hospital.

    “His skin grafts are healing very well, and the physiotherapy team is extremely happy with the progress he has made, particularly with regaining movement in his hands,” Fiona Perrem explained. “Today we hit another big milestone: his feeding tube has been successfully removed. His face and neck are also healing far better than we could have hoped at this stage.” She emphasized that every small step forward counts as a major victory for her son, and the family is deeply grateful for both the expert clinical care he is receiving and the overwhelming kindness from the local community.

    The incident upended Perrem’s life entirely, destroying his rented home and leaving him facing a years-long journey of multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and ongoing specialist care. To help offset the enormous unexpected costs of his recovery, the family launched a public fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, which has already attracted donations from nearly 500 different people, raising more than $40,000 — three-quarters of the campaign’s $50,000 target.

    In an earlier post on the fundraising page, Fiona Perrem explained that the campaign aims to remove financial stress from Perrem’s recovery, so he can focus entirely on healing. “While all our energy right now is going to helping him survive and heal, life outside the hospital doesn’t pause,” she wrote. “Bills keep coming, and he still has ongoing financial commitments, including car loan repayments. We want to lift as much of this burden as possible so when he is ready to start the next phase of recovery, he doesn’t have to worry about losing everything he worked so hard to build.”

    The explosion not only caused life-altering injuries to Perrem but also left him, his fiancée, and their housemates homeless after severe damage to their property. “Along with his long road to recovery, they now face the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their lives from scratch,” Fiona Perrem added. “Every message of support gives our family strength during the hardest time of our lives, and every donation, no matter how small, helps cover the extra costs that come with this devastating journey. Thank you all for continuing to stand by Lachie and our family as he fights to recover.”

  • Dutch riders dreaming of crazy party corner of Alpe d’Huez

    Dutch riders dreaming of crazy party corner of Alpe d’Huez

    For cycling fans around the world, few spots in the Tour de France carry the same legendary reputation as Corner Seven on Alpe d’Huez, better known worldwide as Dutch Corner. Every year when the world’s most prestigious cycling race climbs this iconic Alpine mountain, tens of thousands of visitors deck head to toe in the Netherlands’ signature bright orange flood the bend, turning the high-altitude stretch into a days-long, alcohol-fueled celebration that stands out even among the Tour’s most famous mountain pass gatherings. As the 113th edition of the Grande Boucle prepares to tackle Alpe d’Huez’s 21 winding hairpins this Friday, many loyal Dutch supporters have already staked out their spot at Dutch Corner, arriving days early to blast Europop tracks and ready themselves to cheer on their compatriots when the peloton rolls through.

    No other nationality has claimed more Tour de France stage victories on Alpe d’Huez than Dutch riders — a record that even outpaces race host France, turning the climb into something of a personal home mountain for Dutch competitors in this year’s race. For many of these riders, the stretch carries deep personal nostalgia that stretches back to their childhoods, making the upcoming stage an especially emotional milestone.

    “It’s a super special mountain, of course, Dutch Mountain and the famous corner seven,” 26-year-old Thymen Arensman, a Netcompany Ineos rider who claimed two Tour stages in 2023, shared ahead of this year’s race. Arensman is no stranger to Dutch Corner, both from training rides and long before he turned pro. “I have super special memories of this climb because when I was a little kid, like so many other Dutch people, I went there with my parents on holiday,” he explained. “I was really keen and eager as a little child to do this climb also as fast as possible. So (I have) really good memories there from my childhood.”

    Arensman and his teammates already got a head start on preparation, tackling Alpe d’Huez’s hairpins in training before the Tour kicked off. “We did the climb a few times, but the climb is still just as hard as I remember as a little kid,” he added. “The famous corner seven will be amazing.”

    Just reaching Alpe d’Huez in this year’s grueling Tour is already a major accomplishment for riders. The 113th edition has already made history as one of the most challenging in the race’s legacy: a blistering, record-breaking heatwave baked riders through the first 10 stages, while consistently fast average speeds across the race have left competitors more exhausted than ever. The race organizers have saved the most demanding terrain for the final week, with three back-to-back uphill Alpine finishes before the traditional ceremonial procession into Paris this Sunday.

    For many riders, simply crossing the finish line of the Alpe d’Huez stage within the official time limit is the primary goal. “The corner will be nice, the rest of the climb I’m not so sure,” Frank van den Broek, competing in his third Tour, told Agence France-Presse. “It will depend on how the legs feel and how tight the time limit will be that day. But for sure, the corner, I’m looking forward to (it).”

    First-time Tour rider Daan Hoole, a member of the Decathlon CMA CGM team racing alongside teenage French standout Paul Seixas, echoed that mix of anticipation and dread. “It’s a hard stage but it’s special with all the Dutch fans there so that will be for sure nice to see,” he said. Hoole grew up watching the Tour with his brother back in the Netherlands, and the pair would reenact the mountain stages as children after watching the race on television. “I dreamed always of the Tour. When I was watching it when I was younger with my brother, the next day we would play on the bike that we are one of these climbers and do like a small race,” he recalled. “Once you’re in it, in your head you can romanticise it a lot, (but) when you’re riding, it’s also just a lot of suffering.”

    Now standing nearly two meters tall and weighing over 80 kilograms, Hoole grew out of the slim build required to be an elite climber, and he has since made his name as a two-time Dutch national time trial champion. But as a child, he dreamed of following in the footsteps of Luxembourg’s famous Schleck brothers, who carved their own legacy into Alpe d’Huez’s history. Frank Schleck claimed a stage win at the summit of Alpe d’Huez in 2006, while younger brother Andy wore the race leader’s yellow jersey when he climbed the mountain in 2011. “When I was starting watching cycling… Andy Schleck was doing really well and my brother was also cycling,” Hoole said. “So, on the bike, you act a bit (like) you’re the Schleck brothers. But once I became a cyclist, I realised quickly I wasn’t a climber.”

    Even for non-climbers like Hoole, though, rolling through the orange-clad crowds of Dutch Corner remains a bucket-list moment years in the making, a chance to turn childhood dreams into reality amid one of cycling’s most iconic celebrations.

  • Killer whales: orcas blow fish to bits ‘for fun’, study finds

    Killer whales: orcas blow fish to bits ‘for fun’, study finds

    A newly published study has uncovered never-before-documented social behavior among killer whales (orcas) that shines a fresh light on the extraordinary intelligence and complex social lives of these ocean apex predators. The research, released Thursday and published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ethology, details two separate incidents in 2024 and 2025 where a pod of orcas was observed ramming a already-dead sunfish with enough force to tear it apart into small pieces off the coast of the Gulf of California.

    Beneath The Waves, a U.S.-based non-profit marine conservation organization, captured dramatic underwater video of the interaction. The footage shows one orca holding the sunfish’s tail steady while a second member of the pod charges at the large, rotund fish at full speed. The impact splits the mola mola into multiple fragments.

    Researchers have put forward two leading explanations for this unusual behavior. Kathryn Ayres, one of the study’s lead researchers, noted that tearing the large fish into smaller chunks could be a practical step to prepare it for sharing across the pod, especially with younger calves and juvenile orcas that cannot handle large prey. But the behavior may also serve a second, more playful purpose: a long history of observation has confirmed that orcas regularly engage in non-hunting interaction with prey purely for recreation.

    Mark Peter Simmonds, science director at the marine conservation organization OceanCare, drew a parallel between this orca behavior and shared human dining traditions. “It’s like formal human meals where socializing as well as nutrition are in play,” he explained to AFP. “Perhaps it is similar to when the host at a formal gathering carves up a roast for guests.”

    This new documentation adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the sophisticated cognitive and social abilities of killer whales, widely recognized as one of the most intelligent marine species on Earth. Orcas have long been observed using coordinated, complex hunting tactics: one well-documented strategy called “wave washing” sees pods work together to create large waves that knock seals off floating ice sheets, making the prey far easier to capture. They have also been recorded engaging in unexplained playful behaviors, such as wearing dead salmon as hats, and even using tools: 2024 research documented that a critically endangered orca population in the Salish Sea intentionally breaks off pieces of seaweed to use for grooming and social rubbing among group members.

    Rebecca Wellard, a marine scientist at Curtin University in Western Australia who was not part of the new research, told AFP that this observation further underscores how complex these animals are. “It just really shows us how intelligent orcas are,” she said. “I hope that this gives people more respect for these complex creatures that are such effective apex predators in their marine environment.”

    Sunfish, also called mola mola, are known for their unusual flattened, round body shape and can grow to weigh up to 2,000 kilograms. The study notes that the explosive fragmentation observed in these incidents is extremely uncommon for the species, given their dense, heavy bodies. Wellard explained that the sheer force required to tear a sunfish apart in this way confirms the coordinated power of the orcas’ behavior: “They’re a heavy, bony fish, so it must be some severe ramming.”

  • ‘Quite remarkable’: Storm sweat on star playmaker as veteran leader prepares for major milestone

    ‘Quite remarkable’: Storm sweat on star playmaker as veteran leader prepares for major milestone

    The Melbourne Storm is balancing two critical storylines heading into their high-stakes Friday night NRL clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium: waiting on a late fitness call for star halfback Jahrome Hughes, and preparing to honor one-club workhorse Josh King’s 200th career NRL game. Hughes, a former Dally M Medal winner, has been sidelined by a persistent hamstring injury that has limited him to just three appearances since the start of June. He missed the Storm’s round loss to the Sydney Roosters last week as the club managed the nagging issue, but his name has been included in the game day squad ahead of Friday’s crunch fixture – a significant boost for a Melbourne side already crippled by injuries to key players. Five-eighth Cameron Munster is already sidelined, while winger Will Warbrick recently joined the club’s lengthy casualty list with an achilles injury, leaving the Storm thin on playmaking and backline depth. Storm head coach Craig Bellamy confirmed that the final call on Hughes’ availability will not come until after the team’s traditional captain’s run leading up to the match. “He hasn’t done much for a couple of weeks,” Bellamy told reporters of his star halfback. “We’ll just see how he goes today and then we’ll go from there.” Utility back Trent Toelau has been placed on standby to step into the side if Hughes is forced to withdraw late. Regardless of Hughes’ status, the entire Storm squad has highlighted that they are focused on delivering a win to celebrate King’s remarkable milestone. A reliable front-rower, King spent the first six years of his professional career with the Newcastle Knights before making the move south to join Melbourne ahead of the 2022 NRL season. Since crossing clubs, he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most durable and consistent forwards, missing almost no games through injury or form slumps. In his first season with the Storm, King played 25 matches, and he has notched 26 appearances in every subsequent campaign – a feat that is even more impressive given the high physical toll of playing in the middle of the scrum. Bellamy paid an extensive tribute to King, framing the 200-game milestone as a testament to the forward’s relentless work ethic rather than just good fortune. “To play 200 games at NRL level in the position that he plays and the way he plays is quite remarkable in the time that he’s done it,” Bellamy said. “He’s hardly missed any games. That’s not just being lucky, it’s a lot of hard work. The one thing that really struck me when he first came here was how much time and effort he was willing to put into his preparation for games and training. He’s always done the little things and has always been consistent with it. It didn’t matter how long or boring it got, he made sure he did what he thought he had to do.” Bellamy also highlighted King’s quiet, lead-by-example leadership style that saw him emerge as a core part of the club’s leadership group even before he received an official title. “He was a fairly quiet bloke when he first came here, a typical country bloke from Singleton,” Bellamy recalled. “He was a leader before his time in that he didn’t need to say anything. He wouldn’t have said it, but it was basically ‘look at what I do, I’m leading here’ because he was doing all the little things well and was always doing the extras. Whatever he did, he always did it the best he could and as hard as he could and as fast as he could. He was a leader before he even had a title, but now he’s in our leadership group and sets a great example.” The Storm historically lift their performance for milestone matches for long-serving players, and the entire squad has already signaled their intention to put forward their best performance to honor King’s achievement.

  • Venezuelans search for animal companions lost in the quakes

    Venezuelans search for animal companions lost in the quakes

    One month has passed since two powerful back-to-back earthquakes shook Venezuela’s coastal region, leaving a trail of human tragedy and a less-discussed crisis: hundreds of companion animals left homeless, separated from their displaced or grieving owner families.

    On June 24, a 7.2-magnitude tremor and a 7.5-magnitude aftershock struck just 60 seconds apart, devastating the northern coastal state of La Guaira, located just north of the capital Caracas. Official disaster tallies confirm the quakes killed more than 5,000 people, injured roughly 17,000 others, and displaced over 23,000 people from their destroyed homes. For desperate survivors already reeling from the loss of loved ones and livelihoods, the disappearance of beloved pets has added another layer of heartbreak to the disaster.

    Like thousands of other residents, 42-year-old Raquel Ramos was caught off guard by the sudden tremors while in the coastal neighborhood of Tanaguarena with her young son. As the ground shook and buildings began to crumble, the pair fled for safety—but her white-and-orange domestic cat Mia stayed behind. “When the earthquake happened, we ran out and she stayed behind. I haven’t been able to find her since that day,” Ramos told Agence France-Presse during a search of local emergency animal shelters. Today, Tanaguarena, like many coastal communities hit by the quakes, is reduced to nothing but piles of concrete rubble. Wiping away tears as she pulled up a photo of Mia on her mobile phone, Ramos said she would continue checking other emergency shelters across the region in hopes of bringing her cat home.

    Across La Guaira, informal and official emergency shelters have popped up to house displaced pets, offering temporary care while workers connect animals with their owners or new adoptive homes. At one state-run facility, 326 displaced cats, dogs and other animals have been taken in, with roughly 50 already placed with new families. Among the visitors to the shelter was 17-year-old Astrid Ugas, who originally came looking to adopt one companion for her cat, whose original partner went missing during the quakes. She left with four orphaned kittens instead. “I want to help everyone who needs it,” Ugas explained of her decision.

    In one remarkable moment that has renewed hope for separated owners, a rescue team pulled a live black cat from the rubble of a collapsed residential complex nearly four weeks after the disaster. The six 12-to-17-story housing developments in the area were completely leveled by the quakes, making the survival all the more extraordinary. Vets provided emergency care on site before moving the cat to an improvised shelter set up inside a closed local McDonald’s, which has also doubled as a community outpatient medical clinic in the disaster’s aftermath.

    Yanier Veliz, a 20-year-old veterinary student who has volunteered at the shelter since the quakes hit, says the facility treats around 50 animals every day. The roster of patients ranges from common dogs and cats to unexpected survivors: “including dogs, cats, turtles and someone even brought a goat,” Veliz said.

    Back at the state-run main shelter, the new temporary home has even seen litters of kittens born to displaced mother cats, who are now raising their young in the facility’s safety. Amanda Gonzalez, a 25-year-old veterinary student working at the shelter, says most visitors who come looking for lost pets leave with their furry companions. “The reunions have been very emotional. Everyone ends up crying,” she said. “These are animals they might have considered gone, and when they see that they’re here, they’re happy and so are we.”