Category: World News

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New Zealander in Abu Dhabi: ‘It’s a little bit hairy, but so far, so good’

Source: Radio New Zealand

A plume of smoke rises from the Zayed Port following a reported Iranian strike in Abu Dhabi. AFP / RYAN LIM

A New Zealander living very near a military base in the Middle East which is critical to the US says he feels safe enough for the moment – but his family has an overland evacuation plan just in case.

The US State Department today issued a “depart now” warning to Americans living in more than a dozen locations in the Middle East.

A number of Arab states that host strategic American assets have been targeted by Iran in the wake of the US-Israel lead attack against the Islamic republic.

Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have all been hit.

Just outside the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi is a military base that hosts US troops that has reportedly been a target of retaliatory strikes.

Jordon Buchanan, his wife and two young children moved to Abu Dhabi about 10 months ago to expand his construction recruitment business, and now find themselves in a conflict zone.

Buchanan told Checkpoint that the family was woken up about 2.30am this morning by some loud shockwaves, but the defence system in the area was very good.

“It’s a little bit hairy, being out of your control. But so far, so good, they seem to be intercepting everything, pretty much.”

He said the blasts started on Saturday, but Monday was fairly quiet.

“We heard one sound in the morning, but then nothing, and people were going about their business. The government has basically said ‘continue on as normal’, the public and private sector have been told to stay at home and work for the next three days.”

He said while it currently felt very safe, there is a contingency plan to drive to Oman – about two hours away – if they need to get out of the region.

“There is a big group of New Zealanders and Australians that live in our local community and we’re just going to go in a big convoy together if things start to get more hairy, but for now, no-one I know has actually left the country or tried to escape.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Live: Australia’s Middle East military HQ hit in Iranian drone attack, Qatar halts LNG production

Source: Radio New Zealand

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US President Donald Trump is warning ‘a big wave’ of strikes against Iran is yet to come.

Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasdn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard.

Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, with multiple countries threatening escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Top members of the Trump administration have spoken publicly about ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for the first time at a Pentagon press conference. The US said the goal of the war was not regime change, despite the deaths of top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was not ruling out any options in the war, but promised, “This is not Iraq … This is not endless”.

Meanwhile, Iran said it was ready for a “long war” and has targeted US military bases in other Gulf states.

Kuwait said it accidentally shot down “several” US military aircraft in friendly fire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows, prompting the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities and call on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

Trump has said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Live: Trump says ‘big wave’ in Iran is yet to come as conflict widens, Qatar halts LNG production

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest with our live blog above

US President Donald Trump is warning what he is describing as ‘a big wave’ of strikes against Iran is yet to come.

Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard yet.

Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, with multiple countries threatening escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Top members of the Trump administration have spoken publicly about ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for the first time at a Pentagon press conference. The US said the goal of the war was not regime change, despite the deaths of top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was not ruling out any options in the war, but promised, “This is not Iraq … This is not endless”.

Meanwhile, Iran said it was ready for a “long war” and has targeted US military bases in other Gulf states.

Kuwait said it accidentally shot down “several” US military aircraft in friendly fire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows, prompting the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities and call on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

Trump has said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Live: Trump says ‘big wave’ in Iran is yet to come as conflict widens

Source: Radio New Zealand

[liveblog ]https://rnz.liveblog.pro/lb-rnz/blogs/69a55551b6f113bca370435e/index.html

Follow the latest with our live blog above

US President Donald Trump is warning what he is describing as ‘a big wave’ is still to come in the war with Iran.

Speaking to CNN, Trump said the US hasn’t even begun to hit the Iranian regime hard yet.

Missile strikes continued to fly over the Middle East overnight, with multiple countries threatening escalation of the ongoing conflict.

Top members of the Trump administration have spoken publicly about ‘Operation Epic Fury’ for the first time at a Pentagon press conference. The US said the goal of the war was not regime change, despite the deaths of top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States was not ruling out any options in the war, but promised, “This is not Iraq … This is not endless”.

Meanwhile, Iran said it was ready for a “long war” and has targeted US military bases in other Gulf states.

Kuwait said it accidentally shot down “several” US military aircraft in friendly fire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows, prompting the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities and call on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

Trump has said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of this page.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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US-Israeli strikes on Iran could last ‘weeks’, 48 Iranian leaders and 3 US soldiers killed

Source: Radio New Zealand

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Israel and the US have begun a fresh waves of strikes on Iran, with Israel saying it is continuing large-scale strikes against targets across Tehran.

The US military says it has sunk nine Iranian warships and is “going after the rest” in attacks which US President Donald Trump says have killed 48 top Iranian leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says the government has not taken a position on whether or not it is in support of the US and Israeli led attacks on Iran.

Australia has ruled out deploying troops if the conflict escalates.

The attacks have sparked warnings about KiwiSaver, fuel and inflation in New Zealand.

Major Middle Eastern airports have been shut and regional gateways including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were closed.

MFAT is advising New Zealanders in affected areas to shelter in place and leave when it is possible to do so.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks on Saturday, which US President Donald Trump said were aimed at overturning Tehran’s government.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Actor Awards 2026: See which nominees are taking home a win

Source: Radio New Zealand

Now, it’s time for the Actors.

The show formerly known as the SAG Awards is taking place, as the last major stop for many nominees before the Oscars on 15 March. The Actor Awards are voted on by members of the Screen Actors Guild, which this year placed Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another ahead of the pack with seven nominations total.

Sinners from director Ryan Coogler scored five nods, with individual recognition for recent BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku, along with Michael B. Jordan – who pulled double duty playing twins – and newcomer Miles Caton. The acclaimed vampire-period hybrid film is also nominated for its ensemble as a whole, as well as for best stunt ensemble.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Live: US-Israeli strikes on Iran could last ‘weeks’, 48 Iranian leaders and 3 US soldiers killed

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow the latest with our live blog above

Israel and the US have begun a fresh waves of strikes on Iran, targetting the Iranian leadership, its air defences and its ballistic missile capabilities.

The US military says it has sunk nine Iranian warships and is “going after the rest” in attacks which US President Donald Trump says have killed 48 top Iranian leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Three US service members have also been killed and five seriously injured.

Trump said he envisages the conflict could last four weeks.

The attacks have sparked warnings about KiwiSaver, fuel and inflation in New Zealand.

Major Middle Eastern airports have been shut and regional gateways including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were closed.

MFAT is advising New Zealanders in affected areas to shelter in place and leave when it is possible to do so.ces and its ballistic missile capabilities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks on Saturday, which US President Donald Trump said were aimed at overturning Tehran’s government.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of the page

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Live: Israel says its airforce strikes Iran again, Iran continues to retaliate

Source: Radio New Zealand

Residents watch from the roofs of their houses as plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran AFP / ATTA KENARE

Follow the latest with our live blog above

Israel has begun a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targetting the Iranian leadership, its air defences and its ballistic missile capabilities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks on Saturday, which US President Donald Trump said were aimed at overturning Tehran’s government.

The strikes have killed hundreds of people in Iran, according to Iranian state media.

Iran has launched retaliatory missile strikes against American military bases across the Middle East, as well as Israel.

New Zealanders in Dubai say they are trapped in the country, with the airport shut down.

Follow the latest with our live blog at the top of the page

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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What’s the link between talcum powder and cancer?

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than 1300 Victorians have joined a class action against Johnson & Johnson alleging its talcum powder products left them with ovarian cancer, mesothelioma (cancer affecting the lungs) and other cancers affecting the reproductive organs.

This follows lawsuits in the United Kingdom and the United States, including a prominent case in California. In December 2025, Johnson & Johnson was forced to pay two women US$40 million after a jury found its baby powder was dangerous and that it had failed to warn consumers.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral mined in many parts of the world. People can come into contact with it during mining and processing, industrial applications, and more commonly, through its use in cosmetics and body powders.

People use talc on their genitals to absorb moisture, reduce friction, disguise odours, or to reduce skin rashes and chafing. Talc increases the opaqueness of face powders and cosmetics, leaving skin feeling smooth and soft.

So how is it linked to cancer? And what does the scientific evidence say?

Contamination with asbestos

Since the 1970s, questions have emerged about whether talc could be contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is a cancer-causing agent that can affect the lungs when inhaled.

Talc and asbestos are minerals often found close to each other in the Earth, so there is potential for talc to be contaminated with asbestos during the mining process.

Since the 1970s, manufacturers have attempted to produce pure talcum powder free from asbestos. However, it’s unclear how routinely samples are tested and the extent of contamination over the past 50 years.

In 2023, Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc in its products worldwide, including in Australia, switching instead to a cornflour base. Other manufacturers still sell talcum powder and it’s still used in cosmetics, as well as industrially.

What does the science say about the cancer link?

Two cancers have a possible link with talc use:

Some human studies have found products containing talc are linked with higher rates of ovarian cancer. Other studies have found no link.

Studies that examined the use of talc on the genital area found no evidence to suggest a link between talc and uterine or cervical cancer.

But there are several challenges to overcome when studying the link between talcum powder and cancer. It can be difficult to recall details about talc use (brand, amount, and so on) many years later. Some people who developed cancer will have died before being identified and studied, so won’t be included.

However, when researchers investigated how often participants used talc powder and compared those who used it frequently with those who didn’t, they found an increased risk of ovarian cancer among frequent users.

So what does it all mean?

When there are differing results from multiple studies, those results can be summarised together to answer the research question. So what does all the currently available evidence say about the relationship between talc usage and ovarian cancer?

This summary study concludes there appears to be a weak risk of some types of ovarian cancer, meaning it’s linked to a small increase in risk, but the reasons why remain unclear.

The evidence suggests talc does not increase the risk of other gynaecological cancers, such as uterine and cervical.

Talc contaminated with asbestos is clearly linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. However, cosmetic use of talc doesn’t seem to increase the risk of lung cancer because users don’t breathe it in.

In 2024 the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its advice to say that talc is “probably carcinogenic” which means it probably causes cancer in humans. This is the second-highest risk level for cancer, which includes the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) and red meat.

If you use talcum powder and are concerned about an increased risk of cancer, it’s recommended you stop using it or limit how much you use. As with all decisions in life, consider the balance between potential harms and benefits, especially if you’ve used talc for a long time and want to minimise your risk of getting cancer.

Tam Ha is an Associate Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, University of Wollongong.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Red alert issued for Vanuatu province as Cyclone Urmil passes nearby

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tropical cyclone Urmil near Vanuatu, 28 February 2026 Zoom Earth

Vanuatu’s national disaster management office has issued a red alert for TAFEA province as a tropical cyclone hovers near the province.

Tropical Cyclone Urmil formed southwest of Port Vila on Friday.

It has now been upgraded to a Category 2 according to the Fiji Meteorological Service.

“At 5am local time, 28 February, analysis put this cyclone at 20 degrees South, 169.9 degree East, and that is roughly south east of Tanna island in the TAFEA province,” according to the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazard Department’s Tropical Cyclone Supervisor, Jerry Timothy.

TAFEA province is made up of the islands of Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa.

Timothy said the cyclone moved into the TAFEA province from the West, from the Western side of the island group, there.

“Most probably the first island, Erromango hasn’t that much of the cyclone, maybe to the west of the island, but Tanna, which is the island in the middle, the tropical cyclone came very close to the south of the island, moving to the south,” he said.

The latest cyclone warning bulletin from the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazard Department said damaging gale force winds of 90km/h will continue to affect Tafea Province today.

It said heavy rainfalls with flash flooding are expected over low lying areas and areas close to river banks, including coastal flooding over TAFEA today. Very rough seas with heavy to phenomenal swells are expected over the area mention above.

A marine strong wind warning is also current for central and southern waters of Vanuatu. High Seas wind warning is also current for all open waters of Vanuatu. People, including sea going vessels are advised to take precautions.

Jerry Timothy said people can expect wind gusts of up to 105km/h.

Communities on Tanna island were preparing for a night of heavy weather as Tropical cyclone Urmil passed close-by.

Mora Kapum of White Grass Ocean Resort in Lenakel told RNZ Pacific that there was heavy rain and strong winds last night, leading to some minor flooding.

She said there is no serious damage there but there is a lot of cleaning up today, and it’s still very windy.

Red alert

When a RED ALERT is issued, you need to stay in a safe shelter:

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand