Cancer rising: Investigating the deadly increase in cancers in younger people
As cancer diagnoses in the under-50s soar, researchers are focusing on environmental as well as dietary causes – including a possible link between microplastics and bowel cancer, writes Sarah Catherall.
When David Shorter was diagnosed with aggressive stage four colorectal cancer early last year, the now 44-year-old looked back on his life searching for clues on what caused it. The Aucklander was fit and healthy enough, with no family history of bowel cancer. So, like many other cancer patients, he
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1News
04-06-2025
- 1News
'If I can't beat him, I should retire' - Nyika's next opponent named
David Nyika will make his comeback from his devastating knockout loss against Jai Opetaia six months ago against Nik Charalampous — an Aucklander who today described the Kiwi Olympian as "overrated". The man known within New Zealand boxing circles as "Nik the Greek" said that for effect in a press conference today but will almost certainly believe the opposite. The 32-year-old Charalampous, a fulltime boxing coach who has a 23-6-2 record as a professional and went the full 10 rounds against the now cruiserweight world champion Opetaia six years ago, is too experienced to truly think that. "I've known David for a long time," Charalampous told 1News. "We've done heaps of sparring over the years. We know each other very well. It would have been nice to have been given 10 weeks' notice for the fight, but I have been consistently training so my body is ready to go into that next gear." ADVERTISEMENT Charalampous, a father of a 12-year-old daughter and 17-month-old son, last week signed off on the fight, to be on the undercard of the Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen main event grudge match in Sydney on July 16. His last fight in a high-profile event was on the undercard of the Nyika v Tommy Karpency main event in Auckland in September last year. Charalampous's opponent was former All Black Liam Messam and the result was a draw, but he arrived out of shape at 107kg and there is no doubt he will take this assignment against a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist far more seriously, albeit at catchweight. (He is likely to tip the scales at around 95kg, with Nyika likely to make the cruiserweight limit of 90.72kg.) Nik Charalampous knows the odds are against him. (Source: Photosport) His defeat by decision in Sydney to Australian-Samoan Opetaia — widely considered the best cruiserweight in the world — remains one of his best achievements in the ring. "I just remember before the fight watching the highlights of him knocking everyone out," Charalampous said. "I was pretty nervous… I'm happy I lasted the 10 rounds with him. I'm not going to be a world champion or anything but when I talk to my grandkids or people I train with, I can say I fought some of the best of my generation." ADVERTISEMENT For his part, Nyika, who was viciously knocked out in the fourth round by Opetaia on the Gold Coast in January after taking the world title fight on short notice, left no doubt about his goal. "If I can't get past Nik I should probably retire," Nyika, now 10-1 as a professional, said. "It won't be an easy fight. I know what Nik is capable of and how much trouble he's given the top guys. For me, it's very much an opportunity to prove what I can do. If I can't stop Nik, it won't be a success for me but, if I lose the fight, it makes it a very hard comeback. "My eyes are still set on the world title and that re-match with Jai… the setback is just another ingredient to the stew. We have so much further to go. "It's not easy to come back from a loss and this was a big loss. This is my livelihood and a big part of my identity today… it's a big step towards the ultimate goal of becoming a world champion." Charalampous, who recently took several of his boxers to Golden Gloves success, is a classic journeyman comeback opponent for a world-class fighter who has suffered a setback. His relatively late signing is also an indication that few potential opponents were willing to sign on for the money on offer, but promoter David Higgins today said he thought Charalampous would do his job well. ADVERTISEMENT The initial plan was for Nyika, who revealed recently to 1News that he couldn't remember being knocked out by Opetaia in the IBF world title fight, to make his comeback on the Gold Coast this month. "Nik is tough," Higgins said. "He's very durable – he's never been put down by a punch. He's very experienced and is used to being on the big stage." Nyika's trainer Noel Thornberry thought the same. "David needs rounds – he's never been past five rounds and Nik could be the one to provide them," he said. "There's no time like ring time."
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Bid to protect Canterbury seabirds lands award
Efforts to protect Kaikōura's Hutton's shearwaters from bright lights have led to a top astronomy award. Nicky McArthur was recently awarded the Bright Star Award by the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand after her efforts to help the iconic native bird. She is a founding member of the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, which was successful in obtaining international dark sky sanctuary status for the Kaikōura district from Dark-Sky International in September last year. Kaikōura is the ''last place on earth'' for the Hutton's shearwaters (tītī), with just two remaining wild colonies - including one on Mrs McArthur's property, Puhi Peaks. When the ''pigeon sized'' seabirds fledge from the mountains, they are often confused by the street lights and crash land in the town, she said. ''For me personally, this journey has been a gift of learning and appreciation of how important protecting the natural darkness of the night sky is, including the ongoing protection of dark skies and quiet skies in the wider conversation. ''But what a challenge we are facing in this crazy 21st century, where science is taking our learning deeper and deeper into space while daily being threatened by space junk and the rest.'' Mrs McArthur said the award was the result of team work, as the small Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust team received support from dark sky enthusiasts from around New Zealand and overseas. The Kaikōura application was just the third international dark sky sanctuary in New Zealand to be approved, after Aotea Great Barrier Island and Rakiura Stewart Island, with Kaikōura being by far the largest at more than 2000 square kilometres. Mrs McArthur was nominated by Aucklander Gareth Davies, a member of Dark-Sky International's dark sky places committee, which reviews and approves dark sky applications. ''It is very clear to me that this application's success was in the greatest part due to Nicky's leadership, which resulted in funding being found to hire a project manager and an environmental consultant,'' Mr Davies said. The trust produced a private plan change to the Kaikōura District Plan, which led to new lighting rules and was adopted by the Kaikōura District Council last year. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Scoop
Top Astronomy Award For Kaikōura Dark Skies Advocate
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Kaikura Dark Sky Trust founding member Nicky McArthur is the recipient of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand's Bright Star Award. Efforts to protect Kaikōura's Hutton's shearwaters from bright lights have led to a top astronomy award. Nicky McArthur was recently awarded the Bright Star Award by the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand after her efforts to help the iconic native bird. She is a founding member of the Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust, which was successful in obtaining international dark sky sanctuary status for the Kaikōura district from Dark-Sky International in September last year. Kaikōura is the ''last place on earth'' for the Hutton's shearwaters (tītī), with just two remaining wild colonies – including one on Mrs McArthur's property, Puhi Peaks. When the ''pigeon sized'' seabirds fledge from the mountains, they are often confused by the street lights and crash land in the town, she said. ''For me personally, this journey has been a gift of learning and appreciation of how important protecting the natural darkness of the night sky is, including the ongoing protection of dark skies and quiet skies in the wider conversation. ''But what a challenge we are facing in this crazy 21st century, where science is taking our learning deeper and deeper into space while daily being threatened by space junk and the rest.'' Mrs McArthur said the award was the result of team work, as the small Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust team received support from dark sky enthusiasts from around New Zealand and overseas. The Kaikōura application was just the third international dark sky sanctuary in New Zealand to be approved, after Aotea Great Barrier Island and Rakiura Stewart Island, with Kaikōura being by far the largest at more than 2000 square kilometres. Mrs McArthur was nominated by Aucklander Gareth Davies, a member of Dark-Sky International's dark sky places committee, which reviews and approves dark sky applications. ''It is very clear to me that this application's success was in the greatest part due to Nicky's leadership, which resulted in funding being found to hire a project manager and an environmental consultant,'' Mr Davies said. The trust produced a private plan change to the Kaikōura District Plan, which led to new lighting rules and was adopted by the Kaikōura District Council last year. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
