Noumea tobacco

Record 75-tonne illegal tobacco haul destined for Australia seized by customs officers at Noumea

The ore carrier Kokoo berthed at Noumea. Pictures: French Customs/ABF The Australian Border Force (ABF) has helped French customs officers in Noumea seize a record haul of illegal tobacco bound for Australia. Nearly 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, worth almost A$57m, was found hidden in an ore carrier that authorities believe was intended to serve…

IAEA Ukraine

Safety of Ukraine nuclear power plants off-site plants is dire, says IAEA boss

IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi (no helmet) with Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko (on his right) and his team at a substation. Photo: IAEA Constant fighting around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants is increasing the risks of an accident, the UN’s nuclear watchdog says. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi recently made…