Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Over 700 job vacancies to be offered at Talent-Wise Inclusive Job Fair More than 40 organisations ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large-scale corporations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering over 700 job vacancies from various industries, including those of information technology, finance, transport, catering, hotel, property management and social services, providing employment opportunities to various types of persons with disabilities.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
EPD convictions in May Five of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, two of the convictions were under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, four were under the Noise Control Ordinance, seven were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, 16 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and two were under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
A company was fined $30,000, which was the heaviest fine in May, for importing controlled waste without a permit. Issued at HKT 15:00
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council is inviting applications for its overseas fellowships and scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.
The fellowships and scholarships aim to encourage outstanding students to pursue further studies at reputable institutions overseas.
Successful candidates are expected to contribute to Hong Kong and be ready to give back to the community upon graduation.
The fellowships are for studies leading to postgraduate degrees either by research or coursework. The maximum value of a fellowship is $300,000 per year, tenable for up to three years for a doctoral degree or two years for a master’s degree.
The scholarships are for studies leading to undergraduate degrees with a maximum value of a scholarship $280,000 per year, tenable for up to three years.
Applicants are responsible for fulfilling all application procedures and admission requirements of the academic institutions of their choice.
The application period will end on September 5 and shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend interviews in Hong Kong. The first round of interviews is scheduled for December this year or January next year.
Application forms and guidance notes for the applications are available on the Working Family & Student Financial Assistance Agency’s Student Finance Office website.
Applications have to be completed and submitted online at the GovHK website.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China to announce plans for marking 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism
BEIJING, June 23 — China’s State Council Information Office will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday to unveil plans for marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rating hit about 70 percent last week, a weekly poll showed Monday.
Support for Lee, who took office on June 4, reached 73.4 percent last week, while the negative assessment on Lee’s conduct of state affairs stood at 23.6 percent, according to computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) by local pollster Flower Research.
The ruling liberal Democratic Party’s approval score recorded this year’s high of 53.7 percent, 28.5 percentage points higher than the conservative opposition People Power Party’s 25.2 percent.
Support rate for both the minor left-leaning Rebuilding Korea Party and the minor rightist New Reform Party logged 4.2 percent last week.
The pollster’s separate survey of automated response system (ARS) showed that Lee’s approval rating came to 69.1 percent last week.
Both the CATI and the ARS surveyed 1,006 voters from Friday to Saturday. They had plus and minus 3.1 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Despite a hard-fought loss in her first-ever WTA Tour singles final, China’s Wang Xinyu is leaving Berlin with a career-best result and a “dream week” to build on.
In a grueling three-set final, Wang was edged out by former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-2 in the WTA 500 Berlin Open final on Sunday, but the 23-year-old delivered a career-best performance on grass and signaled her growing presence among the game’s elites.
Wang Xinyu capped off a milestone week at the WTA 500 Berlin Open with a runner-up finish on Sunday, following a fierce three-set battle against former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
“This week has been a dream for me. I’ve been playing unbelievable tennis here,” Wang said.
It marked Wang’s first appearance in a tour-level singles championship match after six previous attempts ended in the semifinal stage.
The journey to the final was a story of resilience and giant-killing upsets.
After navigating two rounds of qualifying, the Chinese ousted world No. 16 Daria Kasatkina in the first round, then stunned newly-crowned French Open champion and world No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 for her first career victory against a top-two player.
In the quarterfinals, Wang took the first set 6-1 before Paula Badosa was forced to retire due to injury. Wang’s subsequent 6-4, 6-1 win over Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals marked her fourth consecutive victory over a top-20 opponent this week.
But Wang’s week almost ended before it truly began.
Behind this string of victories was a moment of doubt that almost sent her home. Wang revealed that her team had to practically force her to continue playing during that first qualifying match.
“Coming to this match [the semifinal], and coming to every match here I wasn’t expecting anything. For me, it’s really just to enjoy the stage. They [My team] literally pushed me back out there [in the first qualifying round]. I was walking towards the net, thinking, ‘That’s it, it’s not my day,’ but they said, ‘No, no, no, get back out there and play!’” Wang said.
She got back out there, and reeled off six straight wins.
“Enjoy the match” became her mantra throughout the week. Even after the final loss, Wang was quick to focus on the positives she had built.
“People might focus more on the parts of the match where you didn’t play well, and you remember the tough losses,” Wang reflected. “But I have to remind myself to remember the great shots I played this week, to focus on the positive aspects, and to enjoy the upcoming tournaments.”
This resilient mindset isn’t new.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wang and her mixed doubles partner Zhang Zhizhen made a surprise run to the final. The Chinese mixed doubles pair lost a nailbiter 6-2, 5-7, 10-8 to the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac and nine-time Grand Slam doubles winner and Tokyo women’s doubles gold medalist Katerina Siniakova.
A day later, Wang had already come to terms with the result.
“We had many opportunities to take the lead, and we did our best in those moments. Of course, there are some regrets,” she said at the time. “But looking back, I think we need to give ourselves more encouragement and affirmation.”
It is this calm nature that allows Wang to take wins and losses in stride.
In her own words, it’s a simple philosophy that keeps her moving forward –“If you lose a match, there’s always a new opportunity next week to go chase a victory.”
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Polytechnic University received a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science for the development of scientific and technological infrastructure and technologies in the field of nuclear medicine, nanomedicine and hadron therapy, including the development of high-tech and radiopharmaceutical drugs.
The Polytechnic University has won the competitive selection for the provision of grants in the form of subsidies from the federal budget for the implementation of individual activities of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Synchrotron and Neutron Research and Research Infrastructure for the Period up to 2030 and Beyond. The grant is aimed at developing scientific and technological infrastructure and technologies in the field of nuclear medicine, nanomedicine and hadron therapy, including the development of high-tech and radiopharmaceutical drugs (RPhLD).
A group of scientists from SPbPU, headed by the director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology Andrey Vasin, together with the scientific team of the Department of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI, presented a research program for the competition dedicated to the development of new technologies for the encapsulation and delivery of radionuclides for the diagnosis and therapy of malignant neoplasms.
Currently, in Russia there are practically no original modern technological developments in the field of encapsulation of various radionuclides of therapeutic action, which can be further used to create new RFLPs to combat socially significant diseases, primarily malignant neoplasms. We plan to develop methods for obtaining hybrid nanocarriers for radionuclides and methods for encapsulating radioactive isotopes of radium-224 and iodine-125 in them by the end of 2025. And in the next two years, preclinical studies of the safety of the RFLPs being developed will be conducted and the effectiveness of their use for the treatment of malignant neoplasms in vivo will be studied, – noted Andrey Vasin.
There are also plans to implement an additional professional development program, “Modern methods of delivering radionuclides for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms,” which will allow training personnel for the industry.
We are grateful to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for supporting our project, which has quite a serious groundwork and an excellent team of researchers, including many young scientists. The funds received will also be used to modernize the equipment needed to conduct research in the field of developing RFLP drugs. Preventive maintenance of individual systems of the isochronous cyclotron MGC-20, which is used to produce radioactive isotopes to obtain RFLP, is planned. The plans include equipping areas for quality control of “cold” hybrid nanocarriers and isotopes based on the scientific divisions of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, – commented the curator of the project, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin.
The project is being implemented jointly with the scientific team of the Department of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” – PNPI, which has a research infrastructure for the development and conduct of preclinical studies of radiopharmaceutical drugs. The project will be implemented during 2025-2027, the total funding will be 231 million rubles, including 21 million rubles of the organization’s own funds.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
A working meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the National Research University Moscow State University of Civil Engineering with the management of the State University of Management and the team of the Student Design Bureau “Innovative Solutions” was held at the State University of Management.
Deputy Director of the Department for Coordination of Activities of Educational Organizations Aslan Dambegov and Deputy Head of the Department for Coordination of Activities of Educational Organizations Natalya Trukhacheva came to get acquainted with the work of SKB GUU from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. From NRU MGSU – the operator of the competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia of Student Design Bureaus (SDB) – our university was visited by the Head of the Student Entrepreneurship Center of the Science Policy Department Roza Kazaryan and the Project Manager Kirill Zyuzin.
The Vice-Rectors of the University Maria Karelina and Vitaly Lapshenkov and the team of the Student Design Bureau under the leadership of the Director of the Engineering Project Management Center Vladimir Filatov told the guests about the projects of the SKB “Innovative Solutions” of the State University of Management.
SKB “Innovative Solutions” is a platform where students from the State University of Management and other technical universities develop real projects for industry in the following areas:
The team of the Student Design Bureau of the State University of Management said that in 2025 they plan to implement projects to create 3D models of electric trains and implement unmanned transport control technologies. The parties also considered the possibilities of inter-university collaborations within the framework of the project and support formats from industrial partners.
The visit of the representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the National Research University Moscow State University of Civil Engineering to the State University of Management was the first in a series of meetings with the leaders of the competition of student design bureaus of Russia. In total, 15 universities of the country passed the competitive selection in the areas of “Student Design Leadership” and “Creation and Development of a Student Design Bureau” and became winners.
Let us recall that a new reverse engineering laboratory was recently opened at the State University of Management.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 22, 2025
WASHINGTON—Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday released the following statement on President Trump’s illegal ordering of strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran without congressional authorization:
“Donald Trump, a weak and dangerously reckless president, has put the United States on a path to a war in the Middle East that the country does not want, the law does not allow, and our security does not demand.
“Our president knows nothing about history. And history tells us that the United States’ hubris about the efficacy of military action in the Middle East is almost universally wrong. Trump has been goaded into these strikes by the perpetual cheerleaders of war in the Middle East – the people who know how to start conflicts there but never know how to end them, and the people who profit – politically and financially – from endless war.
“I’ve been briefed on the intelligence – there is no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. That makes this attack illegal. Only Congress can declare preemptive war, and we should vote as soon as possible on legislation to explicitly deny President Trump the authorization to drag us into a conflict in Middle East that could get countless Americans killed and waste trillions of dollars. All my thoughts tonight are for the safety of our personnel in the region.”
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant investment of 1 billion Ghana cedis towards retooling our vital security services. This commitment underscores his dedication to ensuring the safety and security of all Ghanaians.
Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS): Recognising the urgent need for updated equipment, new fire tenders will be acquired to replace ageing and broken-down vehicles, some nearly a decade old. “We understand the frustrations of our citizens when the Fire Service arrives late, and this initiative aims to equip them to respond more effectively to emergencies”, the president noted.
Ghana Police Service: To better combat armed robbery, the Police Service will receive armoured vehicles to ensure the safety of officers during patrols. “We must provide our brave officers with the necessary tools to confront criminals effectively”, he added.
Immigration & Prisons Services: Acknowledging the mobility challenges faced by the Immigration and Prisons Services, new vehicles will be allocated to improve their operational capacity and enhance public safety.
President Mahama also acknowledged security personnel’s difficult working conditions and called for public understanding and support as his government works to build a safer country.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has extended warm congratulations to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, on his election as Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The election of President Bio took place during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his congratulatory message, President Boakai hailed the selection of President Bio as a testament to his steadfast leadership, dedication to democratic governance, and commitment to the collective progress of the West African sub-region. President Boakai commended President Bio’s efforts in fostering peace, security, and stability in Sierra Leone, as well as his active engagement in promoting regional cooperation. He expressed strong confidence that, under President Bio’s stewardship, ECOWAS will be well positioned to address pressing challenges such as insecurity, economic integration, youth unemployment, and climate resilience, while strengthening democratic institutions and good governance.
President Boakai reaffirmed Liberia’s unwavering commitment to the ideals and objectives of ECOWAS and pledged his government’s continued collaboration in advancing the shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated West Africa. “As a close neighbor and sister republic,” President Boakai stated, “Liberia stands in full solidarity with the Government and People of Sierra Leone, and we look forward to working closely with President Bio in his new role to foster unity, development, and the well-being of all ECOWAS citizens.” The Liberian leader extended best wishes to President Bio for a successful tenure and assured him of Liberia’s support as he assumes this vital regional responsibility.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Ugandan troops serving with the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) have recaptured strategic villages of Sabiid and Anole from Al Shabaab.
This win came during a three-day joint operation code-named ‘Operation Silent Storm’, aimed at liberating areas under Al-Shabaab control in the Lower Shabelle region.
Several Al-Shabaab fighters were neutralised during a prolonged siege of their hideouts in various parts of the villages. The forces also seized a substantial amount of ammunition from fleeing militants, clearing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted in communities and supply routes.
“I commend the brave efforts of our gallant AUSSOM Ugandan troops and the Somali National Army in degrading Al-Shabaab. AUSSOM is fully committed to implementing the Somali Transition Plan, which will culminate in the transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces,” said AUSSOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma, following the successful operation.
Sector One Commander Brigadier General Joseph Ssemwanga emphasised that joint operations will continue in Lower Shabelle until Al-Shabaab threats are effectively addressed.
“Sabiid-Anole has become a strategic location since March, where terrorists plan deadly attacks, conceal ammunition, including vehicles for Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs), and establish illegal checkpoints to extort locals,” said Brig. Gen. Ssemwanga.
Major General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, Commander of the Somali National Army’s Land Forces, also confirmed that ‘Operation Silent Storm’ successfully dismantled Al-Shabaab’s presence in the two villages.
AUSSOM and SNA Forces are currently securing the recaptured villages and clearing remaining pockets of Al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Shabelle’s Afgooye district. The operation aims to degrade and eliminate terrorists from Lower Shabelle and neighbouring areas.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has successfully completed a scheduled trial run of the Namo Bharat train across the entire corridor from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut. The full 82 km stretch was covered in under an hour.
During the trial, Namo Bharat trains ran alongside Meerut Metro trains, with both systems performing successfully. This marks a major milestone in the operational readiness of India’s first Namo Bharat corridor, which connects Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut.
The Namo Bharat trains operated smoothly at their maximum operational speed of 160 km per hour, stopping at every station along the route between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram. The journey was completed as per NCRTC’s targeted schedule.
The corridor features the world’s first deployment of the advanced ETCS Level 3 hybrid signalling system over an LTE backbone. The system, which is fully integrated with platform screen doors (PSDs) at every station, passed all tests without any interruptions, underlining the corridor’s technological readiness.
Currently, a 55 km stretch of the corridor, comprising 11 stations, is operational for passengers. Final finishing work and trial runs are underway on the remaining segments — the 4.5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the approximately 23 km section from Meerut South to Modipuram.
This successful trial is a major step toward the full commissioning of the Namo Bharat corridor.
Meanwhile, trial runs of the Meerut Metro between Meerut South and the Modipuram Depot are also progressing rapidly. This project marks the first time in India that local metro services will operate on the same infrastructure as regional rapid transit trains.
The 23 km Meerut Metro section includes 13 stations, with 18 km of elevated track and 5 km running underground.
Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages which had been held in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ 2023 attack, the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
The hostages were identified as civilians Ofra Keidar and Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson. All were killed on the day of the attack, on October 7, 2023, the military said.
With their retrieval, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
The abduction of Samerano, 21 at the time of his death, by a man later identified by Israeli officials as a worker at the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, was caught on CCTV.
Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
The subsequent Israeli campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run strip, displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population, plunged the enclave into humanitarian crisis and left much of the territory in ruins.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
To coincide with the 9th anniversary (23rd June) of the Brexit referendum, TUV leader and North Antrim MP, Jim Allister, has tabled this motion in the House of Commons:-
“This House deplores that 9 years on from the Brexit referendum – the greatest democratic mandate in the nation’s history – Brexit has still not been delivered for Northern Ireland and that instead the United kingdom has been partitioned by a foreign EU customs and regulatory border in the Irish Sea, leaving Northern Ireland under the EU Customs Code and subject in 300 areas of law to EU, not UK, law.
“This House therefore calls on HMG to take back control and sovereignty over the whole United Kingdom and to regulate the international border with the EU through application of the solution of mutual enforcement.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Projects jointly funded by Guangdong-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong under Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme open for application All applications must fit the specific themes/topics, and be submitted simultaneously by the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations to the ITC and relevant Mainland authorities respectively.
To facilitate participating institutes and companies in submitting funding applications, the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme and the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme have been merged as the MHKTCFS to support and encourage collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and Mainland China. There are three categories of projects under the MHKTCFS: Application details for projects jointly funded by the Mainland and Hong Kong will be announced in due course.
Hai Phong (Agenzia Fides) – To accompany adults who have recently received baptism on their journey of faith: with this objective, the Association for the Promotion of Faith was born in the parish of Trang Quan, in the diocese of Hai Phong.The initiative of giving life to this new group came after considering the data on the administration of the sacraments presented by the parish Executive Committee. In the last five years, more than 100 adults have decided to receive baptism in this community.The association was officially presented during a Mass presided over by parish priest Giuse Vu Van Khuong and joins other formation initiatives recently promoted by the parish. In addition to premarital and catechism courses for adults, in recent months, specific training programs for first-level catechists have been launched, which include a certification by the diocese.At the diocesan level, the Church of Hai Phong has promoted extensive training: hundreds of catechists have participated in the various series organized by the Diocesan Catechetical Office. The meetings have offered theological content on the ministry of the catechist and have placed special emphasis on the central role of Sacred Scripture in the transmission of the faith. Some participants have been able to apply their acquired knowledge by completing pastoral internships with children of the Eucharistic Youth Movement. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/6/2025)
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Esmeraldas (Agenzia Fides) – On March 13, 2025, a pipeline rupture in the province of Esmeraldas, northwest Ecuador, caused a huge amount of oil to spill into the river of the same name, which gives the region its name. It reached the Pacific Ocean and altered the biodiversity of unique river and marine ecosystems for kilometers.Most of the region’s population makes a living from fishing. An activity that, several months later, is struggling to restart. According to authorities, more than half a million people are still affected by the environmental disaster: while in March, the oil-related water crisis required rationing and the use of water reserves, in recent weeks, fishermen have struggled to resume their fishing activities as the “oil spill” damaged their equipment. Just over a month later, the same region was hit by an earthquake that caused even more damage.Salesian missionaries, through the Salesian Foundation North Coast and the Salesian Inspectorate Campaign of Ecuador “Together for Emeraldas”, delivered artisanal fishing kits and construction materials last week to areas affected by the oil spill and the recent earthquake, according to the Salesian news agency ANS.Thanks to the support of the Salesian Procurator of Ireland and the active collaboration of the Salesian Works of Ecuador, the kits were distributed to various groups of fishermen on the banks of Santa Cruz and in the Santa Martha II neighborhood. The kits include basic tools for artisanal fishing, such as nets, hooks, ropes, safety devices, and other supplies.At the same time, families affected by the violent earthquake of April 25 received building materials to rebuild their homes. The beneficiary families come from the Santa Martha and 5 de Junio neighborhoods, where the earthquake caused serious structural damage to several homes. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/6/2025)
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sanjoy Paul, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney
The Iranian parliament has approved the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could further escalate the Israel/Iran war.
The strait lies between Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbours and is used to transport about 20 million barrels per day of oil – the equivalent of 20% of global daily oil consumption.
Since 2020, this critical route has been used to transport an average of 14.8 million barrels a day of crude oil and natural gas liquids, 5.5 million barrels a day of petroleum products and 10.8 billion cubic feet per day of LNG.
The closure of the strait, which will not take effect until endorsed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, will significantly impact global oil and gas supplies and could potentially create energy crises.
An important route for Asia
In 2024, 84% of the crude oil and natural gas liquids, and 83% of the LNG passed through this channel were destined for Asian countries including China, India, Japan and South Korea.
In the first quarter of 2025, China alone imported about 38% of crude oil shipped through the strait.
It is likely these countries will be directly impacted by a closure.
What it means for Australia
Only about 15% of Australia’s crude oil and 5% of petroleum products are imported from Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, 30% of Australia’s refined oil effectively transits through the Strait of Hormuz. This is because Australia sources refined oil from the Republic of Korea and Singapore that is refined from crude oil from the Middle East.
If Australia’s key suppliers are affected by the closure, there could be devastating flow-on effects for the country’s oil supply.
Since the conflict between Iran and Israel started, the oil price has increased by 10%. The closure of the strait could further inflate the oil price globally
Though Australia does not rely directly on crude oil from the Middle East, its reliance on South Korea and Singapore for refined oil is significant. The increased oil price and its impact on the cost of goods and services could also hurt Australia’s fight to control inflation.
Past tensions in the strait
The Strait of Hormuz has never been fully closed. However, it has been disrupted a few times leading to reduced capacity.
Notable disruptions include attacks on commercial ships including oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and the tension in the strait between Iranian and US navies in 2007.
None of these disruptions led to the closure of the channel so the impact of these disruptions on global oil supply was minimal.
Bypassing the strait
Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have established oil pipelines that could bypass the Strait of Hormuz if it is closed or compromised.
Saudi Arabia’s pipeline can carry five million barrels per day and the emirates’ capacity is 1.5 million barrels per day. This is compared to their production capacities of nine and 3.3 million barrels per day respectively.
This could significantly slow down the transportation of crude oil from both countries.
Qatar relies on the Strait of Hormuz to transport nearly all of its LNG shipments. Last week Qatar instructed all LNG carriers to hold off transiting through the strait until the day before loading and to remain east of Hormuz. This has kept their carriers outside the impacted regions.
The limited alternative options and reduced capacities of pipelines could potentially disrupt the global oil and LNG supply.
Potential strategies
If the strait is fully closed, the impacts could be severe, especially for Asian countries which rely on energy from the Middle East.
Many countries, such as China, have oil reserves that can sustain their current oil consumption for about five years. However, many developing countries don’t keep supply inventories.
Supply countries should focus on expanding alternative routes such as pipelines connected to alternative ports.
Most importantly, countries should focus on creating renewable energy sources and speed up their adoption to meet energy needs. In future, renewable energies will be the most viable alternatives to crude oil and LNG amid geopolitical tensions.
Sanjoy Paul does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
According to new data from the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, 91% of Australia’s top chief executive officers (CEOs) received some form of performance bonus last year. That elevated their pay well above their base salaries (which were already over A$1 million). Only five CEOs out of 142 eligible for a bonus received zero.
The fact nearly all of Australia’s top CEOs are receiving these performance bonuses shows performance pay is more about rewarding conformity and discipline than risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
Do we really believe 91% of our CEOs made big bets that paid off last year? A more plausible explanation is that we simply reward executives for not stuffing up. Their customer base is growing in line with population growth and their prices are rising faster than their cost of production, which means profits rise without too much effort.
Not keeping up with change
Take the electricity industry for example. It’s hard to imagine an industry in which change is more inevitable than the industry responsible for transitioning away from gas and coal-fired power stations to renewable energy.
But according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the electricity, gas and water industry spends a mere 0.24% of sales on research and development each year. That is half the economy-wide average.
Unfortunately, innovation does not appear to be a prerequisite for CEOs being rewarded with large bonuses. According to Energy Australia, its CEO Mark Collette (base salary over $1 million) recently challenged a room full of other well-paid leaders at Australian Energy Week to continuously ask themselves: “Will this make energy cheaper?”
However instead of focusing on keeping costs down for consumers, companies have sometimes resorted to misleading statements. Energy Australia recently admitted to misleading customers by claiming the coal and gas-fired electricity it was selling was “carbon neutral”.
Companies purchase carbon credits to offset emissions elsewhere in their businesses. tech_BG/Shutterstock
Energy Australia was buying widely used carbon offsets to make the claim the fossil-fuel fired electricity it was selling was carbon neutral. In its apology Energy Australia conceded “offsets do not prevent or undo the harms caused by burning fossil fuels for a customer’s energy use”.
While it is clear Energy Australia’s spending on carbon credits did nothing to make the company’s energy cheaper, it is not yet clear if the board will award a “performance bonus”.
Leading the world – in pay packets
Another example of the lack of relationship between CEO pay and organisational performance is Australia’s university sector. The vice chancellors of Australian universities are among the best paid in the world, with over a dozen Australian earning more than the head of Cambridge University.
But there is no correlation between student satisfaction and vice chancellor pay.
And while Australian vice chancellor pay has been soaring, Australian universities have been slipping steadily down international rankings for university quality.
Inequality is rising
While performance-based bonuses and incentives are common among CEOs and vice chancellors, the same is not true for lower-paid staff.
Instead, these staff are often asked to “do more, with less” even as their real wages have declined. Universities have seen a notable decline in academic staff per student while the gap between the pay of lecturers and vice chancellors has skyrocketed.
Extremely high salaries for CEOs and vice chancellors have done nothing to boost Australian productivity growth, or our performance in global rankings for our universities, research and development or innovation. Paying out large bonuses for average performance has done little to help either.
Inequality in Australia is rising. As long as CEO pay is rising faster than the minimum wages, that gap will continue to widen. The latest data showed CEO salaries are 55 times that of the average worker.
Just doing their job
While it is true it is hard to measure the performance of a CEO, it’s also hard to measure the care and attention provided by a childcare worker, the compassion of an aged care nurse, the helpfulness of a call centre operator or the enthusiasm of a lecturer.
Few CEOs think we need bonuses to motivate the vast majority of Australian workers. But it is heresy to suggest those at the top of a big organisation could simply work diligently without a giant bonus.
So, it’s not just income that is unequal in Australia. We expect a lot more self-motivation from those at the bottom of the income distribution than those at the very top.
Richard Denniss does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The controversial extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project off Western Australia faces two legal challenges. Both raise significant concerns about the validity of government approvals. One could even seek an injunction, preventing federal environment minister Murray Watt from making a final decision.
The first battle is being fought along climate lines. Enormous amounts of greenhouse gases will be released when gas from the project is exported and burned overseas. The Friends of Australian Rock Art group now argues the then WA environment minister Reece Whitby should have taken this pollution into account when approving the extension in December.
The second concerns ancient Aboriginal rock art in the Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula. There’s evidence greenhouse gas emissions released during extraction of fossil fuels is damaging the artwork, and Traditional Owners are seeking a protection order.
The decision to grant the extension appears at odds with national heritage and state environment laws. Both cases will be a closely watched test of these legal protections.
What’s the North West Shelf approval about?
Approval for the North West Shelf gas processing plant in Karratha, WA, was to expire in 2030. Woodside Energy sought to extend the project to 2070.
The state government gave approval to the extension in December, and the federal government gave conditional approval last month.
Watt gave Woodside ten business days to respond to “strict conditions particularly relating to the impact of air emissions” on nearby rock art, but that deadline was not met. Woodside has been given more time to review the conditions.
Meanwhile, two legal challenges have been mounted.
Judicial review is where courts review government decisions to ensure they are lawful and fair. The case is yet to be heard in the WA Supreme Court.
The group argues the state failed to give proper regard to the climate impact of the proposal, as required under the WA Environment Protection Act.
Specifically, the group argues the approval did not fully examine the climate impacts of so-called “scope three” emissions. These occur when the exported gas is burned overseas.
Under WA state law, the minister must consider whether a proposal will have a significant effect on the environment. This is a broad requirement and the climate effects of a decision are relevant.
The WA Office of Environmental Protection makes this clear in a statement of objectives, which include minimising “the risk of environmental harm associated with climate change by reducing greenhouse gases as far as practicable”.
Guidelines published in November to help implement this objective set out that where scope three emissions are likely to exceed 100,000 tonnes a year, extra information must be provided to government. This includes “a summary of where the scope three emissions will be emitted (domestic or international), and whether they are or are reasonably likely to be subject to emission reduction requirements as scope 1 or 2 emissions”.
The guidelines further state that the EPA’s usual minimum expectation for proposals is for “deep, substantial and sustained emission reductions” this decade – with net zero no later than 2050, and reductions occurring along a linear trajectory (at minimum) from 2030.
Co-convener of the Friends group, Judith Hugo, said the minister did not give adequate regard to the guidelines and failed to consider the project’s full impact on the climate, as well as the nearby rock art.
While litigation on scope three emissions is relatively new, it is gaining traction globally. It has become an increasingly significant factor underlying corporate climate action and policy development.
Announcing the legal challenge on June 17, 2025 (Friends of Australian Rock Art)
2. The Traditional Owner case
Raelene Cooper is a Mardathoonera woman and founder of the group Save our Songlines. She filed legal action in the Federal Court in 2022, seeking temporary protection from industrial emissions for the art.
Murujuga has some of the planet’s oldest known rock art, dating back 40,000 years. Research has shown rocks closer to the industrial operations have been degraded by past emissions.
On May 23 this year, Cooper called for an “urgent assessment of the ongoing impacts of all industry on the Burrup” before the federal government decided on Woodside’s proposed extension.
She had filed a motion in the Federal Court seeking to compel Watt to make a determination of her Murujuga Section 10 cultural heritage assessment. But Watt announced conditional approval for the Woodside extension on May 28.
Watt reportedly promised to give Cooper three days’ notice of the approval. That would have given Cooper an opportunity to file an injunction preventing the minister from making a final decision to approve the North West Shelf prior to resolving her section 10 protection order.
Resolution of the protection order is particularly important given the art has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage listing. The World Heritage Committee referred the nomination back to the federal government so as to “prevent any further industrial development adjacent to, and within, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape”.
This referral occurred before the project extension was approved. If the approval is finalised, the nomination may fail, because the government cannot ensure the area will be protected.
Saving Murujuga Rock Art (The Australia Institute)
High stakes and delicate decision-making
These legal actions reflect deep public concern over the North West Shelf gas project extension.
In the context of a worsening climate emergency and damage to ancient rock art, properly adhering to the legal requirements for the assessment of such projects couldn’t be more crucial.
Samantha Hepburn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals as Manchester City comfortably dispatched Emirati club Al-Ain 6-0 on Sunday to ease into the knockout stage of the Club World Cup from Group G along with Juventus.
The German midfielder found the net in the ninth and 73rd minutes while Argentine teenager Claudio Etcheverri also fired home a free kick and Erling Haaland a penalty before the break.
Substitutes Oscar Bobb and new signing Rayan Cherki sealed the emphatic victory in the last 10 minutes to draw City level on goal difference with Juventus, who beat Wydad Casablanca 4-1 earlier on Sunday.
City and Juventus meet in their final group match in Orlando on Thursday to decide which of them progresses to the round of 16 as group winners.
“A really good performance,” said Gundogan. “I think we had our moments in the first half, and then also the second part of the second half.
“I think the result speaks for itself, and in the end, fully deserved.”
City manager Pep Guardiola illustrated the depth of his squad by making 11 changes, and Gundogan made the most of his start by opening the scoring with a chipped cross that floated over the head of Al-Ain keeper Khalid Eisa and into the net.
Al-Ain were showing more ambition than they had in their 5-0 loss to Juventus and winger Nassim Chadli had a chance to equalise in the 15th minute but City keeper Stefan Ortega Moreno managed to push it wide.
Etcheverri, making his first start for City, doubled the lead in the 27th minute when he bent a free kick around a poorly-placed defensive wall and past the hapless Eisa.
Haaland almost immediately created a chance for himself by dispossessing the final defender but he took the ball too wide to get around Eisa and his shot went across the goal.
The big Norwegian went through on goal again in the 41st minute before again angling his shot wide of the far post but made no mistake from the spot with his third chance to score in first-half stoppage time.
Egyptian Ramy Rabia wrestled Manuel Akanji to the ground from a corner and after VAR informed the referee of the offence, Haaland sent Eisa to the left and banged the ball into the right-hand corner for his 32nd goal of the season.
City kept up the pressure in the second half and forward Matheus Nunes turned and volleyed the ball past the post just after the hour mark before Eisa finally showed his quality by twice denying Haaland from close range.
Chadli had another chance in the 69th minute but fired his shot high over the bar and Gundogan soon ended any hopes of a comeback with his second goal.
Bernardo Silva drifted across the edge of the box before drilling a pass towards the penalty spot and Gundogan got a great first touch to take him past the defence before lifting the ball over Eisa.
Bobb cut inside the box onto his left foot to beat Eisa at his near post eight minutes from time before his fellow winger Cherki sealed the rout with a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday paid homage to the 329 victims of the 1985 Air India ‘Kanishka’ bombing, marking the 40th anniversary of one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in history.
Reiterating India’s firm stance against terrorism, Jaishankar underscored the need for global zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism. He called the tragedy a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of allowing such ideologies to persist.
“On the 40th anniversary of Air India 182 ‘Kanishka’ bombing, we honour the memory of the 329 lives lost in one of the worst acts of terrorism. A stark reminder of why the world must show zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Air India Flight 182 was en route from Montreal to Mumbai via London and Delhi when it was destroyed mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean on June 23, 1985, after a bomb exploded in its cargo hold.
The Boeing 747 aircraft, named after Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty, had just completed a scheduled stop at Montreal’s Mirabel Airport, where additional passengers boarded. The flight then resumed its journey toward London Heathrow before vanishing from radar shortly after establishing contact with Shannon Air Traffic Control in Ireland.
The mid-air explosion occurred off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board, including 22 crew members. The investigation later revealed that the bomb had been placed in luggage originating from Vancouver, pointing to a transnational terror plot.
The attack was attributed to the Khalistani extremist outfit Babbar Khalsa. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a British-Canadian national, pleaded guilty in 2003 for his role in assembling the explosive device. Another key conspirator, Talwinder Singh Parmar, a founding member of Babbar Khalsa, was believed to be the mastermind behind the bombing.
To mark the solemn anniversary, a high-level Indian delegation led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri arrived in Ireland on Sunday to participate in the memorial service at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork.
The delegation includes BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and elected representatives from five Indian states: Arvinder Singh Lovely (Delhi MLA), Baldev Singh Aulakh (Minister from Uttar Pradesh), Gurveer Singh Brar (MLA from Rajasthan), Trilok Singh Cheema (MLA from Uttarakhand), and Narinder Singh Raina (MLA from Jammu & Kashmir).
The commemorative event is being held on Monday at the memorial site, in the presence of Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Canadian Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and several other international dignitaries.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The China-Russia-Mongolia New Landscape of International Communications Academic Forum was held in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, from June 21 to 22, where participants jointly discussed the new architecture and new opportunities in international communication, Zhongxinshe News Agency reported.
The event featured a total of 5 sub-forums, covering topics such as mutual learning and content dissemination among media outlets of the three countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Northern Corridor in the digital era, the global value of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and the mission of the media of China, Russia and Mongolia.
Renmin University of China professor Wang Bin said local media should rely on news topics and specific practices to project to the world an image of China that is trustworthy, commendable and respected.
According to Zhang Jun, director of Inner Mongolia Normal University, his university will take this event as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation between higher education institutions in China, Russia and Mongolia, and accelerate the practical application of its achievements in scientific research.
The forum was organized by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Normal University.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Community of Shared Future Study Center was established in Tianjin, north China, local newspaper Tianjin Ribao reported on Saturday.
The new research center is based at Tianjin Foreign Studies University (TFISU). Its establishment was initiated by TFISU together with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences.
According to the publication, the center will combine the scientific and external relations resources of the above-mentioned three organizations. It is planned that within the framework of the joint meeting mechanism, the center will annually convene a plenary meeting 1-2 times, and working meetings – on an unspecified schedule.
The work of the center will be aimed at providing intellectual support in achieving the goals of sustainable development of the SCO and realizing the vision of building a closer community of a common destiny of the SCO, as well as creating a platform of new types of analytical centers with international influence.
The center will focus on studying the theory and practice related to the SCO community of shared destiny, international cooperation in education and training of specialists in multilateral governance, inheriting and developing the core values of the “Shanghai Spirit”, researching issues of regional governance and multilateral cooperation, and serving state strategies and regional development, the newspaper notes.
Let us recall that the next SCO summit is planned to be held in Tianjin this fall. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The number of freight train departures on China-Central Asia international freight routes increased 23 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, according to China Railways (CR).
According to the department, from January to May this year, the China-Europe freight train sector maintained stable dynamics, with 6,046 China-Central Asia freight train trips completed.
In addition, an increase in the volume of freight transportation was recorded. In January-May of this year, about 1.64 billion tons of freight were transported by rail, which is 3.1 percent more in annual terms.
During the reporting period, the average daily number of loaded wagons amounted to 181 thousand units, which is 4.2 percent more than in January-May last year, according to KZhD data. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.
According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.
“With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.
“The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.
According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.
“With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.
“The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on President Trump’s unilateral military action in Iran:
“Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization. I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the Administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region.”
On Friday 20 June 2025, Mental Health Australia provided an Incoming Government Brief on psychosocial disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to Minister for Disability and the NDIS, the Hon Mark Butler MP and Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister.
The brief acknowledges that while the NDIS has been life changing for many people with psychosocial disability, their family, carers and kin, it is clear that overall there is a need for a more tailored and effective use of the funding committed to the NDIS for people with psychosocial disability. The brief outlines practical solutions to deliver this approach and recommends priority actions for the first 100 days and first year of this government, informed by sector and lived experience expertise. Actions include introducing a new approach to NDIS support for people with psychosocial disability, getting navigation reforms right for people with psychosocial disability, understanding the recent decline in NDIS access rates, shifting from encouraging dependence to supporting recovery, ensuring psychosocial expertise is informing NDIS reforms and fixing NDIS pricing. The brief also discusses implementation of General Foundational Supports for people with psychosocial disability and addressing the unmet need for psychosocial support outside the NDIS.
Read the full Incoming Government Brief by clicking on the PDF link below.