The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially declared the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025 for undergraduate medical courses. In a proud moment for Rajasthan, Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Hanumangarh, has emerged as the All India Topper, scoring 686 out of 720 marks.
Mahesh, who had been preparing for the past three years at a renowned career institute in Sikar, secured the top rank in the highly competitive medical entrance examination.
His consistent dedication, along with the guidance provided by his institute, helped him rise to the top among over 20 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam across India on May 4 this year.
Coming from a humble background, Mahesh’s parents are both government employees. His academic journey has been marked by perseverance and discipline.
His success has not only made his family and hometown proud but has also added another feather to the cap of Sikar, which has become a rising hub for medical and engineering exam preparations.
The NEET UG 2025 result, along with the final answer key, has been made available on the official websites — [neet.nta.nic.in](https://neet.nta.nic.in) and [nta.ac.in](https://nta.ac.in).
Candidates can check their subject-wise scores, total marks, percentile rank, and qualifying status using their login credentials.
In addition to the results, the NTA is also expected to release the cut-off scores required for MBBS and BDS admissions.
Last year, the cut-off percentile was 50 for the general category and 40 for OBC, SC, and ST candidates. The 2025 percentile will be based on the highest marks secured in the all-India merit list.
Students who qualify in NEET UG 2025 will be eligible to participate in centralised counselling for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other undergraduate medical programmes. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will conduct All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, while states will carry out their own counselling for state-quota seats.
All qualified candidates are advised to download and preserve their scorecards, as these will be required during the admission and counselling process. They should also regularly check the official NEET websites for updates on counselling schedules and cut-off announcements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) today (June 14) held its Annual Donor Award Ceremony to commend outstanding regular blood donors. The BTS also announced that a total of 4 081 donors gave blood 25 times or in its multiples in 2024/25, which breaks the BTS record for three consecutive years. This highlights the growing awareness and embrace of blood donation culture in Hong Kong. The BTS expressed its sincerest gratitude to all the enthusiastic blood donors.Prudential Hong Kong Limited Sino Group Nan Fung Group Link Asset Management Services Limited Sun Hung Kai Properties LimitedTsz Shan Monastery Rotary International District 3450 Scout Association of Hong Kong Evangelical Free Church of China – Yan Fook ChurchWhampoa Garden Management Limited Lung Mun Oasis Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation The Chinese University of Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong Metropolitan University Hong Kong Baptist University The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyShatin College West Island School Po Leung Kuk Wu Chung College Discovery College Buddhist Hung Sean Chau Memorial College F.D.B.W.A. Szeto Ho Secondary School Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School King’s College PHC Wing Kwong College Lai Chack Middle School
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH organises symposium on “A New Era for Dental Services in Hong Kong” to celebrate 80th anniversary of its Dental Services The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the incumbent Consultant in-charge of the Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse; and four former Consultant in-charge of the Dental Services of the DH officiated at the opening ceremony of the symposium.
In his address, Professor Lo said, “Oral health is vital to overall health. At the end of last year, the Government released the final report of the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care, shifting the focus of Hong Kong’s oral health and dental care system from treatment-oriented to an approach targeting prevention, early identification and timely intervention. The Government adopts the strategies of widely promoting among citizens across all age groups prevention-oriented primary oral healthcare, and provides essential curative dental care services targeting underprivileged groups.”
He stressed that the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents launched by the Government in March 2025 is an initiative of widely promoting among citizens, encouraging adolescents to prevent dental diseases while the Community Dental Support Programme launched last month is an initiative focusing on enhancing dental services for the underprivileged (including elderly who have financial difficulties). The Government looks forward to collaborating with the dental professionals, training institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the members of the public to usher in a new era of dental services in Hong Kong, and continue to enhance various initiatives to promote oral health for all.
Dr Lam said in his welcoming speech, “Since its establishment in 1945, the Dental Services of the DH has achieved significant development over the past 80 years. From providing emergency dental extraction service during the post-war period to introducing fluoridation of drinking water in Hong Kong in 1961 to combat and prevent dental diseases; to rolling out the prevention-oriented School Dental Care Service for all primary school students in Hong Kong in 1980, which has been well-received by parents; to providing specialist dental services to patients with special healthcare needs; and to implementing various community dental care programmes to cater for the needs of the elderly and underprivileged, etc. The Dental Services is expanding to meet the needs of the society, enhancing both the quality and quantity of services.”
He added that the Dental Services of the DH endeavours to grow alongside Hong Kong, and will continue to actively implement the Oral Health Action Plan through policy innovations, leveraging on technology and community collaboration, with emphasis on providing preventive care to the public and special community dental services to underprivileged groups, in order to promote oral health and the retention of natural teeth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, also delivered a video message for the symposium. The keynote speakers were Professor Hiroshi Ogawa, the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Translation of Oral Health Science; Professor Zheng Shuguo, the Chairman of the Department of Preventive Dentistry of the School of Stomatology of Peking University; and Dr Navdeep Kumar, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry of University College London. They shared insights on topics such as the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health (2023-2030), the Mainland’s policy and efforts to promote global oral health, and the challenges and innovations in providing dental care to adult patients with special needs.
Sixteen NGOs and partners who have been actively participating in government-subsidised dental programmes such as Outreach Dental Care Programme for the Elderly, Healthy Teeth Collaboration and Special Oral Care Service, were invited to attend the symposium to share their fruitful achievements in serving the elderly and persons with special needs.
Apart from the symposium, the Bright Smiles Mobile Classroom of the DH’s Oral Health Promotion Division, decorated with a theme celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Dental Services, will tour around Hong Kong districts to promote oral health to the public. Details will be announced on the Facebook fan page of “愛牙 Love Teeth HKIssued at HKT 17:00
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a three-nation tour from June 15 to 19, covering Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia. The high-profile visit aims to deepen India’s bilateral ties and broaden strategic engagement with the European Union, the Mediterranean region, and G-7 partners.
In the first leg of his tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Cyprus from June 15 to 16 at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. This marks the first visit by the Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades.
During his stay in Nicosia, PM Modi will hold official talks with President Christodoulides and later address a gathering of business leaders in Limassol. The visit is expected to reaffirm the shared commitment between India and Cyprus to bolster bilateral cooperation and expand India’s presence in the Mediterranean region.
Following his engagements in Cyprus, the PM will travel to Canada on June 16–17 to attend the G-7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, this will be PM Modi’s sixth consecutive participation in the summit.
At the G-7, he is scheduled to engage in discussions with leaders from G-7 nations, invited outreach partners, and heads of key international organisations. Topics on the agenda include energy security, emerging technologies, and global innovation challenges, with a particular focus on the AI-energy nexus and developments in quantum technology. Several bilateral meetings are also planned on the sidelines of the summit.
The final leg of the Prime Minister’s tour will take him to Croatia on June 18, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. This marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia and is expected to be a milestone in bilateral relations.
PM Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Plenković and meet Croatian President Zoran Milanović. The visit is aimed at enhancing India’s partnership with European Union nations and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Croatia.
The three-nation visit highlights India’s growing global engagement and underscores the country’s strategic intent to strengthen cooperation across Europe and North America.
Iran’s strikes against Israel will continue,with targets set to expand to include U.S. bases in the regionin the coming days, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Saturday, citing senior Iranian military officials.
“This confrontation will not end with last night’s limited actions and Iran’s strikes will continue, and this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors,” Fars reported, citing senior military officials.
They were quoted saying that the war would “spread in the coming days to all areas occupied by this (Israeli) regime and American bases in the region”.
The threat of a wider war comes as Iran and Israel continue targeting each other on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever air offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Police can confirm one person has died following a serious crash this evening in Dargaville.
At around 5.20pm, Police were notified of a single vehicle crash on Jervois Street.
Despite best efforts from emergency services, one person died at the scene.
A scene examination has been completed and the road has reopened.
While enquiries into the crash are ongoing, initial indications suggest this is a suspected medical event and the death will be referred to the Coroner.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong attended Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France, on Friday where he toured the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion and gave a keynote speech at a seminar and networking reception.
In his keynote speech, Prof Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been introducing agile policies, building world-class infrastructure and facilitating global I&T collaboration.
In addition to noting that the flagship research and development (R&D) initiative, InnoHK, fosters global R&D collaboration, he underscored that Hong Kong is also carrying out meticulous planning for building an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, such as the Hong Kong AI Research & Development Institute to be established.
While highlighting that Hong Kong is an ideal gateway for global enterprises to enter the Mainland market, Prof Sun said that companies choosing Hong Kong for their international headquarters exemplifies the city’s important role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” between Mainland China and the rest of the world, serving as a two-way springboard for attracting overseas enterprises and helping Mainland enterprises to go global.
During the seminar and networking reception organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Prof Sun exchanged views with members of the local innovation and technology (I&T) sector, investors and startups’ founders, on I&T development and collaboration.
Prof Sun also visited the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, comprising 20 startups from the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport to showcase cutting-edge solutions and innovations in areas of AI, robotics, HealthTech, sustainable and ClimateTech, and Fintech.
Additionally, Prof Sun toured the pavilion set up by Canada, which was selected as country of the year for VivaTech 2025, the China Pavilion and the pavilions of other leading enterprises and startups to learn more about the innovative solutions of the participating organisations.
In the evening, while Prof Sun met La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen Chairman Emmanuel Carcassonne, he stressed that Hong Kong is a reliable partner for French startups to settle and expand businesses in Hong Kong.
He described La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen as a community dedicated to supporting the development of the French startup ecosystem both in France and internationally.
On Friday afternoon, Prof Sun paid a courtesy call on Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in France Chen Li to brief him on the work of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre as well as the city’s ongoing efforts in integrating into national I&T development.
Investigative teams from various agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), reached the crash site of Air India Flight AI-171 on Saturday to examine the debris.
Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) also inspected the wreckage of the ill-fated London-bound aircraft.
Residents of the neighbourhood where the plane crashed recalled their harrowing experience, describing it as feeling like an earthquake or a bomb blast.
Rekha Kshtriya, a local resident for over 13 years, said she was doing her regular chores when she heard a deafening noise. She immediately rushed outside toward the site. She recalled that around 1:30 PM, the sound was so intense it felt like her eardrums would burst. Her house and furniture began to shake violently, and the noise resembled a bomb explosion. Upon stepping outside, she saw wreckage scattered everywhere, the sky filled with black smoke, and tall flames rising from the crash site.
Another resident, Priyanshu, said the entire area was engulfed in smoke and the fire quickly spread from one building to another. He too described it as feeling like an earthquake or a blast.
Bahadur Kshtriya, who lives about 500 metres from the crash site, said he and a few friends, along with security personnel, helped rescue five individuals from the rubble. He noted that the survivors were in extremely critical condition. He added that when they arrived, smoke and fire were everywhere. Near a student mess, they found people shouting for help. With assistance from Army personnel, they managed to pull out five students alive. Later, they found a body buried in the debris in a severely damaged condition.
The AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft, en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. According to the airline, only one of the 242 people on board survived the crash.
Labour MP for Te Atatu Phil Twyford criticsed the New Zealand government today for failing to take stronger action against Israel over its genocide and starvation strategy in Gaza, saying that at the very least the ambassador should be expelled.
Speaking at a rally in Henderson organised by the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa in West Auckland suburbs for the first time in the 88th week of protest, Twyford said: “The Israeli government is operating in an apartheid state.
“They subject the Palestinian people under their military.
“People who are under international law they are obliged to protect,” he told about 500 protesters.
“They are subjecting them to the most ruthless, most brutal system of apartheid.”
It was a story of “ethnic cleansing, dispossesion, terror routinely visited upon Palestinian people on a daily basis in their land”, said Twyford, who is Labour Party spokesperson on immigration, disarmament and foreign affairs.
“And it is being done, not only by the forces of Zionism, but by the Western world complicit, knowing, understanding and actively conniving in that dispossession and repression.”
Widely condemned move Twyford referred to the government’s move this week alongside four other countries to impose sanctions on two far-right ministers in the the Israeli cabinet, illegal settlers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, which has been widely condemned as too little and too late.
Labour MP Phil Twyford speaking at the Henderson pro-Palestinian humanitarian rally today . . . Palestinians are subjected by Israel to “the most ruthless, most brutal, system of apartheid.” Image: Asia Pacific Report
Leading British journalist Jonathan Cook this week criticised Britain, Australia, Canada and Norway along with New Zealand, saying they may have been “seeking strength in numbers” to withstand retaliation from Israel and the United States.
“But in truth, they have selected the most limited and symbolic of all the possible sanctions they could have imposed on the Israeli government.”
Israel was also condemned by speakers at the rally for its “unprovoked attack” on Iran and its strategy of forced starvation on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the repression in occupied West Bank.
The death toll in Gaza was almost 62,000 Palestinians — more than 17,000 of them children — and Israel had also killed at least 78 people in the first waves of attacks on Iran.
Meanwhile, in a statement today, the PSNA said it was appalled at the deportation of a Palestinian New Zealander from Egypt.
PSNA said it had conveyed to the Egyptian government its “shock and anger” at the deportation of Rana Hamida who had travelled to Egypt to take part in the Global March to Gaza.
“This Jew stands for Palestine” and “Sanction Israel now” placards at today’s Henderson rally. Image: APR
Egyptian deportations over ‘global march’ Egyptian authorities have deported dozens of people, including Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Moroccan, Greek and US citizens.
The Global March to Gaza is due to start this weekend in Egypt with thousands of people from throughout the world taking part.
PSNA co-chair John Minto said the march was to “express humanity’s outrage” at the ongoing Gaza-wide bombing and starving of the Palestinian population by Israel.
“Egypt’s action in deporting activists can only be seen as assisting Israel’s attacks against the Palestinian population,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Egypt has a long history of collaboration with the US and Israel to stifle the Palestine liberation struggle. This is in sharp contrast to the Egyptian people who are as appalled and angry as the rest of humanity at Israel’s horrendous war crimes.”
Minto said the following message from Rana as she returned to New Zealand — she was due at Auckland International Airport this afternoon:
‘The more we will roar’ “The Egyptian authorities, along with other governments, think that blocking humanity from this act of solidarity will stop because of them blocking people from being there and doing the job that they continue failing to do.
“They are so mistaken — the more complicit and enabling they get in their inaction and in this case their active participation, the more we will rise, and roar.
“We are escalating as you awaken the dragons within us.
“We will sing louder and we will walk longer — with our hiking shoes in the Sinai desert, or barefoot towards your embassies.
“We will disrupt your meetings, we will crowd your phone with calls and emails, and we will be the light that blinds your robotic heart and melts it alongside the lies you stand for.
“This is not about us, it is about HUMANITY within us that is dying and being oppressed in various forms, it is about the humans enduring hell in Gaza, West Bank and Falastine as a whole.
“Muslims, Jews and Christians together.
“It is about NEVER AGAIN.
“Boycott, divest — we will not stop we will not rest.”
Pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide protesters at the Henderson rally today with Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford speaking. Image: APR
Expel Israeli ambassador call In an earlier statement in the wake of Israel’s attack on Iran, PSNA called on the government to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador from New Zealand.
Minto said Israel’s strikes on Iran were “unprovoked, unilateral and a massive threat to humanity everywhere”.
“This is such a dangerous action, that diplomatic weasel words about Israel are not acceptable. Israel is an out-of-control rogue state playing with the future of humanity. We must send it the strongest possible message.”
“Israel’s using its often repeated lies and misinformation to attempt to justify it’s unconscionable violence and aggression.”
Minto pointed to Iran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
“Even US intelligence officials have made is clear very recently that Iran is NOT on the way to produce a nuclear weapon.”
“And neither is Iran committed to the ‘annihilation’ of Israel.
‘Liberation for Palestine’ “Iran does not support Israel as a racist, apartheid state and wants to see liberation for Palestine.
“In this, Iran has, along with the overwhelming majority of countries in the world, called for an end to Israel’s military occupation of Palestine, the end of its apartheid policies directed against Palestinians and the return of Palestinian refugees.”
New Zealand had the same policies, Minto said.
However, he condemned NZ’s “appeasement of this apartheid state, as our government and other Western countries have done over 20 months”.
A “Save the world from evil Zionism” placard at the Henderson rally today. Image: APR
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A musical performance marking the 75th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations was held at Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in Yangon on Friday and was broadcast live across the country through multiple MRTV channels.
Myanmar’s Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, Yangon region chief minister U Soe Thein, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia, Chinese Minister Counselor Zheng Zhihong, and over 100 people of the Chinese and Myanmar communities attended the event.
Myanmar singers and bands performed, singing popular Chinese and Myanmar songs that conveyed the deep friendship between the two nations and celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties.
During the event, the China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar donated 1,500 bags of cement to Myanmar’s Ministry of Information to support post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.
The government has constituted a high-level multi-disciplinary committee to examine the causes that led to the crash of Air India Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport (London) on June 12, which left 241 people dead.
According to an order issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the committee will examine the causes of the crash, review existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued to prevent and handle such incidents, and suggest comprehensive measures for the future. The order clarified that this panel will not serve as a substitute for other inquiries already underway by relevant organisations but will focus specifically on the formulation of preventive SOPs and post-crash protocols.
The committee will have access to all relevant records, including flight data, cockpit voice recordings, aircraft maintenance logs, air traffic control logs, and witness testimonies. It is expected to submit its report within three months.
The committee will be chaired by the Union Home Secretary and will include officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Air Force, the Gujarat Home Department, the State Disaster Response Authority, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, among others. Aviation experts, accident investigators, and legal advisors may also be brought in, as deemed necessary.
As part of its mandate, the committee will assess the emergency response by all stakeholders, including rescue operations and inter-agency coordination at both the central and state levels. It will also examine existing guidelines, study past air crashes in India, and recommend policy changes, operational improvements, and training enhancements.
The panel will develop a comprehensive SOP that incorporates international best practices, outlining clear roles for all relevant central and state government agencies in managing and responding to air crash incidents.
The government confirmed that the committee will conduct site inspections and interviews with crew members, air traffic controllers, and other personnel. In case of foreign nationals or aircraft manufacturers being involved, the committee will coordinate with international agencies as well.
Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. Out of the 242 people on board, only one survived.
In the aftermath of the crash, the Tata Group, which owns Air India, has set up a dedicated helpline number (1800 5691 444) for inquiries. International callers can reach the airline at +91 8062779200. The group has also announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of each deceased passenger.
After weeks of extreme heatwave conditions, North India is finally expected to get some relief starting Saturday, according to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A shift in weather patterns is set to bring cooler temperatures, cloud cover, and rainfall to several states, easing the impact of the scorching summer.
From Saturday, temperatures are expected to drop notably. The maximum temperature is likely to decrease to around 41 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to settle near 29 degrees Celsius.
The cooling trend will intensify further on Saturday, June 15, with the maximum temperature forecast to drop to 40 degrees Celsius, and the minimum to 28 degrees Celsius.
Thunderstorms accompanied by rain are forecast over the coming days, contributing to relief from the oppressive heat.
Delhi, currently grappling with temperatures hovering around 44 degrees Celsius, is also expected to experience a noticeable dip. By June 15 or 16, the national capital’s daytime temperature could fall to approximately 40 degrees Celsius, with light to very light rainfall and thunderstorm activity forecast in some areas.
The IMD has predicted that on June 16 and 17, the sky will remain mostly cloudy across much of North India, with light to moderate rainfall likely in several regions, further improving weather conditions.
However, despite the approaching relief, the IMD has issued a series of alerts. Punjab and Haryana remain under a Red Alert for the next two days due to persistent heat and possible thunderstorms.
Rajasthan was under a Red Alert on Friday, shifting to an Orange Alert for the following two days. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are on Orange Alert through the weekend.
Authorities are urging residents to continue taking precautions, stay indoors during peak heat hours, remain hydrated, and monitor official weather updates regularly.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen reached the semifinals on grass for the first time in her career as she knocked out home sensation Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-4 at the Queen’s Club Championships here on Friday.
Zheng, 22, entered the WTA 500 tournament as the top seed and received a bye in the first round.
She needed two hours and 11 minutes to beat McCartney Kessler from the United States 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the second round on Thursday and seemed to repeat the story on Friday as she was broken twice at the beginning of the second set.
“My first serves dropped a lot since the start of the second set and it’s kind of destructive on grass court,” said Zheng after the match. “My opponent was actually in a low period, but I gave her chances to come back.”
“But I adjust quicker than I did in my previous match and I’m pleased that I could turn around the table in the second set,” adde the world No. 5.
When Raducanu was facing breaking points in the sixth game of the first set, Zheng asked for a timeout to change for a pair of new trainers before breaking Raducanu for the first time.
“I couldn’t keep going as I have slipped a few times,” Zheng explained. “Since I arrived here, I was wearing the shoes from last year’s Wimbledon. I know exactly when I should change shoes either on the hard court or the clay court, but I’m not sure while playing on grass. I did ask for opinion from my coach ahead of my first match. He said maybe later and I felt all right yesterday.”
Zheng suffered first-round exit at the Wimbledon Championships in the past two years, but she believed she has already gained more experience from the two matches she played this year.
“I have better understanding while playing on grass and I know which shot I should use in different situations,” said Zheng. “But I need to keep winning on grass and have more matches to play on the surface.”
Zheng will face Amanda Anisimova on Saturday as the American defeated Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-3.
The other semifinal will be between Australian Open champion Madison Keys from the United States and German qualifier Tatjana Maria. Enditem
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Olympic gold medalist Gong Xiangyu confirmed on Friday her signing with League One Volleyball (LOVB) for the upcoming season, marking her first overseas club venture.
The 28-year-old opposite hitter, a key member of China’s 2016 Rio Olympic and 2019 World Cup winning teams, will join the league in the United States after completing domestic duties with the Jiangsu team at this year’s Chinese National Games.
“LOVB represents an invaluable opportunity to experience a new volleyball culture,” said Gong. “My primary goals are skill development, broadening my perspective, and enhancing my overall performance to better contribute to the national team,” Gong said.
Gong expressed deep gratitude to her long-time club, Jiangsu, where she has played since age 18 and won two Chinese volleyball league titles.
“The Jiangsu team provided the platform that launched my career and gave me the chance to be selected by the national team. Their cultivation and support also made this move possible,” she acknowledged.
The three-time Olympian emphasized her enduring commitment to representing China.
“Wearing the national jersey remains my greatest honor. A lot of thanks to the Chinese Volleyball Association and national team leadership for their strong backing of this transfer.”
Currently preparing for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Hong Kong leg, Gong is also expected to compete in the World Women’s Volleyball Championship, which is slated for August 22 to September 7.
LOVB, a new professional women’s league in the United States, is scheduled to announce its next season’s fixtures this fall. Enditem
In the lead-up to the International Day of Yoga (IDY), the Ministry of Ayush is hosting the high-profile global summit ‘Yoga Connect’ at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday. The event brings together wellness leaders and yoga experts from across the world to exchange ideas, research, and innovations in holistic health.
Organised in a hybrid format, the event aims to bring together influential voices from the world of yoga and holistic wellness to share ideas, research, and innovations.
The summit, coordinated by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), has attracted participation from internationally renowned yoga masters and wellness leaders.
Prominent figures such as Dr H.R. Nagendra, Bikkhu Sanghasena, Bharath Bhushan, Baba Ramdev, and Acharya Balakrishna are expected to share their insights during the sessions.
According to the Ministry of Ayush, more than 1,000 participants are attending the event in person, while a large virtual audience is joining from across the globe.
Delegates include yoga practitioners, researchers, health professionals, policymakers, business leaders, and wellness advocates from countries including the US, United Kingdom, South Korea, and Bahrain, among others.
The summit is part of a series of build-up events leading to the International Day of Yoga on June 21, which will feature over one lakh coordinated yoga sessions across India and abroad. These events, based on a common yoga protocol, will take place simultaneously from 6:30 AM to 7:40 AM, highlighting the 2025 theme: ‘One Earth, One Health.’
Union AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav announced that the main International Day of Yoga celebration this year will be hosted in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the event.
Over 65,000 organisations across India have registered to participate in this nationwide wellness movement, now recognised as one of the largest global health initiatives.
Representatives from around 40 countries are expected to attend the Visakhapatnam event, underlining the growing international stature of the Yoga Day celebrations.
In the national capital, Delhi will mark the day with yoga events at 111 iconic locations, including the Red Fort, Kartavya Path, and Lodhi Garden.
Since being officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, the International Day of Yoga has evolved into a global celebration of India’s ancient tradition that promotes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday evening, during which the two leaders discussed the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. The conversation comes in the backdrop of “Operation Rising Lion” — Israel’s latest offensive targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu briefed PM Modi on the latest developments. The PM conveyed New Delhi’s deep concern over the unfolding situation and stressed the need for “early restoration of peace and stability in the region.” The two leaders agreed to remain in touch, the statement said.
Later, in a post on X, PM Modi said, “Received a phone call from PM Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He briefed me on the evolving situation. I shared India’s concerns and emphasised the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also received a call from his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. In a separate post on X, Jaishankar said: “Received a call this afternoon from FM Gideon Sa’ar of Israel regarding ongoing developments.”
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was “deeply concerned” about the rising tensions and reports of attacks on nuclear facilities. “We are closely monitoring the evolving situation,” the MEA said in a statement, calling on both countries to avoid any steps that could escalate the crisis.
India also reiterated its readiness to support peace efforts, stating that “existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards de-escalation and resolving underlying issues.”
“India enjoys close and friendly relations with both countries and stands ready to extend all possible support,” the MEA added.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Friday said they had carried out a “precise, preemptive strike” in Iran, claiming the attacks were aimed at disrupting Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and came in response to continued “aggression” from the Iranian regime.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility to close Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (June 14) announced that as the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility will be closed at 2.20pm until further notice. Issued at HKT 12:58
Iran launched a large-scale retaliatory missile and drone attack on Israel late Friday night, marking one of the most significant military confrontations between the two nations in recent history. Tehran named the assault “Operation Severe Punishment,” claiming it was a direct response to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and top military leaders.
The barrage triggered air raid sirens across Israel, sending millions of civilians rushing into bomb shelters. Explosions were reported in major cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with live footage capturing fireballs lighting up the night sky.
Background of the Escalation
The Iranian offensive came just hours after Israeli fighter jets conducted a surprise strike on Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear facility—widely believed to be at the core of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The attack, which Israeli officials framed as a preemptive measure to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons development, also resulted in the assassination of key Iranian military figures, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In response, Iran launched what officials described as “hundreds of missiles and drones,” targeting Israeli airbases, cities, and strategic infrastructure.
Impact on Israel
Israel’s Home Front Command declared a nationwide state of emergency, stating that “all of Israel is under attack.” The Iron Dome and other air defense systems were activated, but several projectiles still managed to breach Israeli defenses.
Ben Gurion International Airport was shut down, and tens of thousands of Israeli troops were called into active service as part of a full-scale mobilization. In Tel Aviv, direct hits were reported in central areas. Paramedics treated at least five people for shrapnel wounds, and damage from missile debris was evident in several neighborhoods.
This marks the first time Iranian missiles have successfully reached major Israeli population centers, heightening concerns of an extended and broader regional conflict.
Iran’s Position
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Israel had “initiated war” and warned that the Islamic Republic’s retaliation would be “painful and unrelenting.” Iranian state media framed the missile attack as just the beginning of a prolonged military campaign.
“The Zionist regime has crossed all red lines,” one senior Iranian official told IRNA, the state news agency. “This retaliation is only the first step.”
The IRGC confirmed it was fully mobilized for continued operations and warned that more strikes could follow, depending on Israel’s next move.
International Concerns Mount
The situation has drawn alarm from global powers, with calls for restraint amid fears that the tit-for-tat strikes could ignite a full-scale regional war. Both the United States and the United Nations have called for de-escalation, though neither side appears willing to back down at this stage.
All government and private schools in Rajkot district will remain shut on Saturday as a mark of respect following the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the Air India Flight AI-171 crash near Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The Rajkot district administration made the announcement late Friday evening and requested all educational institutions to observe a two-minute silence in Rupani’s memory.
Rupani, 68, was among the 241 people on board the flight headed to London’s Gatwick Airport when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the Meghani Nagar area. The crash left several dead and many others injured.
Rupani, who began his political career in Rajkot and represented the city as an MLA for multiple terms, served as Gujarat CM between 2016 and 2021. During his tenure, he was credited with initiating key infrastructure and administrative reforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash site on Friday, also met survivors undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Later, he visited Rupani’s family at the GujSail building and offered condolences.
“Vijaybhai’s passing is unimaginable. We worked together for decades, including during very difficult times,” the PM said on X.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel called the incident a “tragedy beyond words” and said the state had responded swiftly and with empathy, under the guidance of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Soon after the crash, over 600 fire personnel and more than 100 ambulances were rushed to the site. Rescue efforts involved teams from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, RAF, police, and fire services. A green corridor was created to ensure the quick transfer of the injured to hospitals.
Senior IAS officers, counsellors, forensic and DNA teams were also deployed to support victim identification and provide psychological support to affected families. Emergency control rooms at Civil Hospital and the SEOC remain operational round-the-clock.
The incident has sparked widespread grief across the political spectrum, with tributes pouring in for Rupani, remembered by many as a grounded and affable leader who maintained strong ties with his constituency till the end.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Friday as Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel in retaliation for attacks on its nuclear facilities, prompting the UN nuclear watchdog chief to warn of “grave consequences” from military strikes on atomic sites.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated, “Any military action that jeopardises the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond.”
He added that the IAEA’s General Conference had declared military attacks on nuclear facilities to be in violation of the UN Charter and international law.
UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, addressing the emergency session requested by Iran, said, “We must at all costs avoid a growing conflagration which would have enormous global consequences.”
She noted that Israel launched the attack on Iran at a time when “significant diplomatic developments” were underway, including scheduled talks between Washington and Tehran in Oman on Sunday. Iran has since withdrawn from those negotiations.
“A peaceful resolution through negotiations remains the best means to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme,” she emphasised.
A senior US State Department official, McCoy Pitt, told the Council that the United States remained open to diplomacy.
“We seek a secure peace,” Pitt said. “As President Trump stated, the violence must come to an end, and Iran should make a deal so there is ‘no more death, no more destruction’. The United States will continue to seek a diplomatic resolution that ensures Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon or pose a threat to stability in the Middle East.”
“Iran’s leadership would be wise to negotiate at this time,” he added.
During his first term, President Trump withdrew from an international agreement that aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for easing sanctions. However, in recent months, he had been pursuing a new agreement with Tehran—efforts that now appear to have been derailed by Israel’s strike.
Iran’s Permanent Representative, Amir Saeid Iravani, said the Israeli attack was intended “to kill diplomacy, sabotage negotiations, and drag the region into a wider conflict.”
He also accused Washington of complicity in the attack.
Pitt denied that the US was involved, though he acknowledged that Washington had been informed in advance.
Israel’s Permanent Representative, Danny Danon, defended the operation as “an act of national preservation.” He presented a photo of a countdown clock in Tehran, allegedly tied to a plan to annihilate Israel.
Israel’s mission, he said, was to “neutralise the Iranian regime’s ability to follow through on its repeated public promise to destroy the State of Israel.”
Danon claimed the strikes were precise and specifically targeted nuclear facilities.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
URUMQI, June 14 (Xinhua) — Trucks loaded with “Made in China” products such as NEV cars, yachts, electromechanical equipment passed through the Irkeshtam port on the China-Kyrgyzstan border in early June, while trucks from Kyrgyzstan also lined up to enter China. Irkeshtam, China’s westernmost land port, has seen booming trade between China and Central Asia.
The Irkeshtam border crossing is located in Ucha County of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Northwest China) and approximately 200 km from Kyrgyzstan’s Osh Region.
According to data as of June 4, since the beginning of 2025, the total volume of passenger traffic through the Irkeshtam checkpoint and the number of vehicles that have passed customs and border checks in both directions at this border crossing amounted to more than 109 thousand person-times and 102 thousand units, respectively, which is approximately 80 percent more in annual terms for both indicators.
“Currently, the efficiency of customs clearance has increased significantly, and the volume of transportation and cargo has also increased,” said Vokibek Ashim, a customs broker who has been working at the Irkeshtam checkpoint for 13 years.
On June 1, the Irkeshtam checkpoint officially launched a trial 24/7 customs clearance regime /24 hours a day, 7 days a week/. Thus, Irkeshtam became the second border checkpoint in Xinjiang to ensure continuous operation in the area of customs clearance of goods, following the Khorgos checkpoint.
This regime has increased the efficiency of customs clearance and reduced costs for local transport companies.
After the continuous operation mode was implemented, the volume of coal imported from Kyrgyzstan increased from “one batch per day” to “three batches in two days,” said Chen Tao, an employee of a local coal transportation company. “The efficiency has improved and the import cost has actually decreased,” he added.
The efficient operation of the checkpoint has brought tangible benefits to both Central Asians and Chinese residents.
“Cross-border transportation makes my life better and better,” said Gao Pengshan, who has been driving trucks with NEVs between China and Uzbekistan for years. And Uzbek driver Sardorbek Khamidov’s monthly income has jumped from more than 3,000 yuan to nearly 10,000 yuan.
“The continuous customs clearance regime gives me confidence in cross-border transportation between Uzbekistan and China,” said Sardorbek Khamidov, adding that it will also allow a greater range of high-quality agricultural products from Uzbekistan to enter the Chinese market.
In the port area, at an altitude of over 2,800 meters above sea level, construction is underway on a new border and customs complex. This state-of-the-art facility, expected to open in 2026, will take customs clearance potential between China and Central Asia to new heights.
“The checkpoint is no longer just a cargo channel. Every truck that passes through the checkpoint is a witness to the aspiration of the people of the two countries for a better life,” said checkpoint employee Irkeshtam Van Ping. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China will expedite pilot programs to further open up its services sector in key areas such as cloud computing, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, as part of broader efforts to create a more favorable environment for foreign investment, said a senior commerce official on Friday.
Li Yongjie, deputy China international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will work with relevant government branches to gradually expand opening-up in more service areas and revise China’s Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Li said the updated catalog will include more opportunities in strategic emerging sectors.
The government is studying new policy measures to encourage reinvestment by foreign companies and will ensure that foreign-invested firms can participate on an equal footing in government procurement, as well as in nationwide programs such as large-scale equipment upgrades and the trade-in of consumer goods initiative, she added.
To encourage more global businesses to invest in China, the sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit will be convened from June 18 to 20 in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong province. A total of 557 guests, including executives of multinational corporations, heads of international organizations and government officials, will attend the event.
In addition to traditional markets such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, Germany and France, this year’s summit has seen increased participation from emerging markets, including member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and countries from the Middle East and Africa, said Wang Lei, director of Shandong’s provincial department of commerce.
“For the first time, companies from nine countries, such as Vietnam and Egypt, will attend the event,” she said.
A delegation of 35 representatives from 22 multinational companies based in the Middle East will also participate in the summit, seeking new cooperation opportunities in areas such as fund investment, new energy, modern agriculture and seawater desalination, Wang said.
Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said global firms see China as a key pillar in their long-term growth strategies amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
An increasing number of global companies are recalibrating their strategies to capitalize on new opportunities driven by China’s consumption upgrade, digital transformation and green development efforts, said Gao.
That sentiment aligns with the latest data.
China’s actual use of foreign direct investment in high-tech industries reached 96.71 billion yuan ($13.47 billion) in the first four months of 2025, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.
In the meantime, FDI in e-commerce services surged 137 percent year-on-year, while investment in aerospace equipment manufacturing rose 86.2 percent on a yearly basis.
Malaysia’s state-owned energy group Petronas said it will further expand its presence in the country, as it views China as a key strategic market in its global growth plans.
Shamsairi Ibrahim, vice-president of Petronas’ LNG marketing and trading, gas and maritime business, said Petronas will accelerate the expansion of its global liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to support China’s growing energy needs, as the nation deepens efforts to shift toward cleaner fuels and strengthen energy security.
Ibrahim said that Petronas will also advance marine LNG solutions such as bunkering services and the expansion of its LNG fleet.
Four of Petronas’ new LNG carriers are now being built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a major shipyard based in Shanghai, he added.
Xu Daquan, president of China unit at German industrial conglomerate Bosch Group, said China is becoming a major innovation hub for Bosch and many of its latest innovations will enter mass production in China this year.
“The innovation and experience we gain here will not only serve the Chinese market, but also be applied to other countries as demand evolves,” he said.
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 14 (Xinhua) — China will continue to act as an important driving force for global connectivity, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Friday.
Currently, China-Europe international freight railway routes link 128 cities in China with 229 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, representing cooperation in connectivity between China and the world, he said at a regular press briefing.
This is how the Chinese diplomat commented on the statement that the China-Europe international freight railway routes have become an “accelerator” of economic and trade cooperation between the countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative.
According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, the China-Europe international freight train service, which runs every 30 minutes or less, is one of the major achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative. It operates efficiently, smoothly and stably, not only serving as a bridge for economic and trade exchanges between Asia and Europe, but also providing a driving force for the development of countries along the Belt and Road.
The China-Laos Railway and the New Land-Sea Multimodal Transport Corridor in Western China are operating smoothly, and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway is under construction. According to Lin Jian, these projects are examples of how new logistics routes improve the efficiency of cross-border logistics, promote people-to-people and trade exchanges, and deepen industrial coordination and value chain integration, promoting industrial transformation and upgrading in the countries concerned and bringing a real sense of fulfillment to local residents.
“Connectivity is one of the key areas of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative,” Lin Jian added, noting that China will firmly adhere to the principles of joint consultation, joint construction and shared benefits, continue to act as an important driving force for global connectivity, and benefit the world through its own development and achieve multilateral win-win results. -0-
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)
BOLTON, MS – Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has awarded more than $3.1 million in Airport Infrastructure Program (AIP) grants to airports across Mississippi’s Second Congressional District. These federal investments will support critical airport improvement projects aimed at enhancing safety, supporting aviation operations, and extending the useful life of essential airport infrastructure.
The following awards were announced:
Carthage-Leake County Airport – Carthage, MS Amount: $404,519 Construction of a new 9,500 sq. ft. sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage, helping the airport become more self-sustaining.
Ruleville-Drew Airport – Drew, MS Amount: $506,988 Construction of a new 2,013-foot paved Taxiway A to meet current FAA standards.
Grenada Municipal Airport – Grenada, MS Amount: $595,646 Reconstruction of Runway 13/31 and Taxiway A lighting and signage, replacing infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life.
Fletcher Field – Clarksdale, MS Amount: $150,000 Installation of a new Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) Type III-P/T to provide accurate, site-specific weather information.
C.A. Moore Airport – Lexington, MS Amount: $106,099 Reconstruction of the existing soil foundation to address erosion control issues at the end of their useful life.
Indianola Municipal Airport – Indianola, MS Amount: $97,800 Reconstruction of 120 feet of perimeter fencing and gates, along with improvements to the Taxiway A safety area.
Greenville Mid-Delta Airport – Greenville, MS Amount: $186,000 Rehabilitation of 2,000 feet of Taxiway B pavement. This grant funds the first phase of the project, which consists of design.
Hawkins Field – Jackson, MS Amount: $158,334 Rehabilitation of 133,333 square yards of west apron pavement. This award funds a portion of the total project.
John Bell Williams Airport – Raymond, MS Amount: $450,000 Resealing of 6,495 feet of Taxiway A and 5,499 feet of Runway 12/30 pavement at this nonprimary airport to extend pavement life.
All projects are funded through the FAA’s Airport Infrastructure Grant Program and represent the remaining eligible portions of previously approved improvement plans.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs and a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, today issued the following statement on the Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
“The deadly crash of this Air India flight is devastating, and my heart is with the victims and their families, and all who are affected by this horrible tragedy. I am deeply saddened by the large loss of life and I’m praying for all who have lost loved ones.
I thank the first responders who rushed to the scene of the accident, and my office stands ready to assist constituents who may have family members that have been impacted.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement regarding the DOI announcement that the US is taking first steps toward a potential critical minerals lease, initiating an upcoming public comment process:
“I’ve listened to our people in recent town hall meetings, and first and foremost I represent you. I stand with you. In light of Thursday’s announcement by the DOI, while I understand the national security and energy emergencies we face as a country, and American Samoans proudly and patriotically serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at one of the highest per capita rates in the nation, we also have a deep cultural tie to the ocean in American Samoa as an island people.
“Notwithstanding the objections of the people of American Samoa whom I represent, along with the questions I’ve raised, and other local leadership, we recognize that the federal government has the ability to engage in some form of activity in the geographic area. It is extremely important therefore that DOI and BOEM have proper consultation with our Governor and FONO. I will encourage our people to take part in the upcoming public comment period.
“In American Samoa, we are a people of strong faith and prayer for God’s wisdom and guidance for ourselves and all national leaders.
“I want to thank BOEM Principal Deputy Director Matt Giacona for stating that the administration is fully committed to an open process that ensures the people of American Samoa are heard and respected.
“I also spoke to Deputy Secretary of the Interior Katharine MacGregor and appreciate that conversation, her willingness to hear out my concerns and questions, and have future dialogue with DOI.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California
WASHINGTON – Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced the Open America’s Waters Act today to deregulate America’s coastal trade and alleviate the energy crisis by repealing the outdated Jones Act. U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
“The Jones Act is outdated in a global economy. It enriches a very small special interest at the expense of every consumer in America,” said Rep. McClintock. “Repealing this restrictive and counterproductive law is vital for the new golden age that President Trump has envisioned.”
“Outdated regulations from the Jones Act have deepened the energy crisis and heightened prices for Americans on goods from our own country,” said Senator Mike Lee. “American producers have been forced into dangerous workarounds like importing their energy resources from Russia. The Open America’s Waters Act will cut this 105-year-old red tape to alleviate the energy crisis, bring prices down for Americans, and protect our national security from adversarial nations.”
Background:
The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the Jones Act, an outdated and particularly demanding regulation on America’s coastal trade. The Jones Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel that was constructed and registered in the U.S., and is both owned and primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.
While these requirements were originally touted in 1920 as necessary for America’s national security, they have actually endangered it by severely limiting access to critical energy sources and incentivizing American companies to contract with adversarial nations in their efforts to comply with its stipulations. Additionally, the elevated costs associated with compliance result in higher prices for Americans on goods produced in their own country.
Attempts to comply with the Jones Act have forced American producers to choose expensive and even politically risky transportation options. For example, cattle ranchers in Hawaii have opted for expensive planes rather than boats to transport cattle to the mainland. Puerto Rico imports jet fuel from Venezuela – benefitting the human rights-violating Maduro regime – rather than nearby Gulf Coast refineries. And because there are no compliant specialty carriers capable of transporting LNG or propane gas, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico have had to import LNG from adversarial Russia.
The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the outdated Jones Act regulations to cut red tape for American producers, improve national security by disincentivizing contracts with adversarial nations, and bring down prices for American consumers.
The Open America’s Waters Act would:
• Repeal the 105-year-old Jones Act regulations requiring all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel: (1) Constructed in the U.S., (2) Registered in the U.S., (3) Owned by U.S. Citizens, and (4) Primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Another trial project on hydrogen fuel technology given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel The said project concerns an application jointly submitted by the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited and Chi Shing New Energy Technology Co., Limited, involving provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment to support the operation of electrical equipment at a recreation facility of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at Fan Kam Road, Fanling, for the golf event of the 15th National Games to be held in November.
The spokesperson of the EEB stated, “The Working Group has promptly initiated the examination process upon receipt of detailed information of the trial project. After seeking members’ agreement through circulation, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to the application on June 13.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke on the House floor before the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, which codifies President Trump’s DOGE cuts to root out waste, fraud, and abuse from federal overspending. Leader Scalise emphasized that Democrats’ ‘no’ vote is a vote to prioritize far-left foreign programs over lowering inflation, paying down our debt, and strengthening social services for Americans.
Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks. Leader Scalise’s remarks:“I thank my friend, our conference chair, Ms. McClain, for managing this time on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, a lot of people come up here and they talk about trying to get America’s fiscal house in order, about the idea of getting back to balanced federal budgets. I don’t know many people here who are against it. I know when we later in this Congress put a bill on the floor to require a balanced federal budget, there will be many Democrats, Mr. Speaker, who will vote no on that, because when it comes time to actually put your votes on the board to back up the principles that most Americans relish, they walk away. They won’t be there when it actually matters. Everybody could talk about cutting wasteful spending. Even if you don’t necessarily agree that it’s wasteful spending, and what we’re bringing today is wasteful spending, but even if you think, ‘Okay, might not be as bad as some other things you don’t agree with,’ we all have to agree, Mr. Speaker, that as we just saw a few weeks ago, Moody’s downgraded the credit rating of the United States. Wasn’t a recommendation, Mr. Speaker. Wasn’t a warning that, gee whiz, if you folks don’t get your fiscal house in order, this might happen. They actually did it. They downgraded the credit rating in the United States because spending has to get under control. The party over there that spent the last four years under President Biden spending like drunken sailors, and all due respect to drunken sailors, because they don’t spend this bad. But the trillions of dollars of debt that were racked up had consequences, Mr. Speaker. “It had consequences not only in terms of our national debt, it affected the pocketbooks of families all across America because that spending, bloated spending in Washington, money we don’t have, by the way, increased inflation to the point where people couldn’t even go to the grocery store to fill up their carts. They couldn’t afford to go to the gas station to fill up their cars. They couldn’t afford to take out a loan to buy a house because interest rates had gotten so high that today we’re spending more money servicing our interest than we are on America’s national debt. These are all real, dramatic facts that concern most Americans. They say, thank goodness, Congress is finally bringing a bill to the floor to start cutting some spending that aren’t priorities. Call it wasteful if you want, call it whatever you want, but these aren’t things that we can afford to spend, even if you agree with them. Because it’s not money we have in the bank. It’s all borrowed money, Mr. Speaker. And so, where did we start? “Well, the White House laid out a number of things. They looked at that USAID program – they didn’t gut the whole thing, but they said there are a number of things that are being done that just don’t represent the values of the United States. And are being done in foreign countries while we don’t have our fiscal house in order here in America. So, how about we start there? I know the Democrats on the other side are acting like, ‘Oh, my God, the world’s going to stop spinning on its axis if this spending goes away.’ So why don’t we talk about some of the spending that will go away? Again, borrowed money, not money we just took out of the bank, money we borrowed from countries like China to spend on that is a debt to our kids. Each one of these I list, Mr. Speaker, you should ask, if you vote ‘yes,’ you’re finally relieving that debt burden. But if you vote ‘no,’ you think it’s okay to send this bill to our kids. “We’re not paying for it today, Mr. Speaker, but our kids would if we keep doing it. If the other side votes ‘no,’ they want to keep borrowing money from our children to spend a million dollars on voter ID in Haiti. The same party that doesn’t want voter ID in America – calls it racist – wants to fund voter ID in Haiti. $6 million for net-zero cities in Mexico. I know some of their best supporters are waving a Mexican flag at an American city right now, and they support those efforts. Most Americans don’t, Mr. Speaker. “$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street. The minority leader held up a Sesame Street character here on the floor as if Sesame Street somehow is going to go away. I was just watching a commercial on TV yesterday where the Cookie Monster was actually doing an advertisement for Netflix because a private company is paying money to run Sesame Street. It’s not going away. It’s doing just fine. Very lucrative. What will go away is some of the far-left radical views that are being espoused. By the way, when this goes away at NPR, you can still turn on about six or seven other channels and get the same far-left radical views, but they’re all going to be private companies, Mr. Speaker, not taxpayer-funded entities. If somebody wants to pay money to go on one of their services that they stream or get over the top, or however they get their digital content, they can still do that.And there are a lot of options. Never been more options. Some people joke that they buy their services for their cable or whatever else they get, and that there’s 200 channels, and they might only watch four or five of them. There is still going to be a plethora of options for the American people. But if they’re paying their hard-earned dollars to go get content, why should your tax dollars go to only one thing that the other side wants to promote? Let everybody compete on a fair basis. They can still watch Sesame Street in Iraq, but let the Iraqi people pay for it, not the taxpayers of the United States of America’s children. “Today’s taxpayers aren’t paying for it because it’s all borrowed money. $2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa. Five hundred thousand for electric buses in Rwanda. Rwanda is more than free to go buy all the electric buses they want or diesel buses. Why should the taxpayers of America be borrowing money from our children to buy electric buses for Rwanda? $33,000 for being LGBTQI in the Caribbean. Taxpayer money that a ‘no’ vote today says is more important than strengthening a program like Social Security. I say not. $643,000 for LGBTQI+ programs in the Western Balkans. Borrowed money. $567,000, Mr. Speaker, for LGBTQI+ programs in Uganda. $5.1 million to strengthen the ‘resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer global movement.’ Not sure what that global movement is. They can continue that movement in some other way, but just not with the taxpayer dollars of the United States of America’s children. Again, there’s no bank account that $5.1 million came out of. It’s all borrowed money that a ‘no’ vote says is more important than strengthening Social Security. $135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization, which we all saw during COVID, was the mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party. I would imagine if we stopped this $135 million funding, the CCP may pick it up because they were regurgitating their talking points during COVID. “At some point, Mr. Speaker, the question we’ve all got to answer is, number one, do you believe in fiscal responsibility? Maybe some people have other priorities than these they’d like to defund. But if you think these are all things that are worth borrowing money from our children to fund, then that’s what the ‘no’ vote represents. If you think it’s time we start somewhere, here’s the place to start, not to finish, just the beginning, to finally start getting control over spending and respecting those families who are working hard, who are working two shifts at the diner to pay taxes on tips that will soon go away if our One Big Beautiful Bill passes. Or somebody who’s working overtime because you want to send your kid to college, and you find out this is where your taxpayer dollars are going, and you’re disgusted and say, ‘When will somebody do something about it?’ Today’s the day to do something about it. Talk is cheap. Put the action on the floor. Let’s finally get control over spending in a small way. Start a bigger picture towards a balanced budget, but it starts here. Vote yes, get this done, and let’s keep moving forward to strengthen this great country. With that, I urge a yes vote and yield back, Mr. Speaker.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Frank Lucas (R-OK-03) introduced theFood Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Act of 2025, a bipartisan billaimed at improving access to healthy food for tribal communities across the country.
“For many Native families, accessing healthy, affordable food isn’t as simple as driving to the nearest grocery store,” said Davids. “Tribal communities face unique barriers, including long distances to grocery stores and supply chain disruptions that delay or cancel food deliveries. This bipartisan bill helps break down those barriers by ensuring tribal governments can better serve their communities and ensure families don’t go hungry.”
Davids’ bipartisan bill would give tribal governments permanent control over running the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which provides food to eligible families living on reservations and in nearby approved areas, including parts of Oklahoma. It serves as a critical alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for many tribal households that face challenges accessing grocery stores.
The FDPIR pilot program was originally authorized for five years by the 2018 Farm Bill. Participating tribes have indicated that while the pilot program has been successful, the five-year authorization limit makes it difficult for small and mid-sized tribal producers to scale their operations confidently. Permanent authorization would provide the stability needed for long-term planning and strengthen tribal food sovereignty.
“I am very pleased to join my colleague from Kansas to introduce legislation that will ensure we honor our trust and treaty obligations,” said Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK-03). “Tribes should be able to self-contract to administer quality, domestically produced food. Through the USDA’s FDPIR Demonstration Project, the tribes have proven that they are willing and able to successfully administer this program – now it is time to expand access to all tribes.”
Recent challengeswith FDPIR have included delays, canceled shipments, and shortages in food deliveries, partly due to supply chain disruptions and contract management issues. By permanently authorizing the program, this legislation addresses these issues by empowering tribes to manage their food procurement directly, enhancing program reliability and responsiveness.
In 2024, nearly650,000 tribal members relied on FDPIR to gain access to healthy food. USDA purchases and ships USDA Foods to administering agencies, which then store and distribute the foods, determine applicant eligibility, and provide nutrition education to recipients. USDA also provides administering agencies with funds for program administrative costs.
Protein foods, including beef, chicken, fish, pork, eggs, bison products, dried or canned beans, soups, peanuts, and peanut butter.
Grains, including pastas, cereals, rice, cornmeal, and flour.
Dairy, including cheese and milk.
Cooking essentials, including vegetable oil, extra virgin olive oil, and butter.
Seasonal foods, including pumpkin, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes.
Additional tribal-related quotes:
“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma strongly supports the bill to authorize self-determination and self-governance authored by Reps. Davids and Lucas,” said Chief Gary Batton, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “The Choctaw Nation and other Tribes have demonstrated experience successfully administering the food distribution program. Permanently authorizing self-determination contracts and self-governance agreements will provide greater flexibility and autonomy and expanded sourcing of local foods. Most importantly, it would help us allocate resources where they are most needed to build strong economies and improve the overall health of people in our communities.”
“Red Lake has long been committed to achieving food sovereignty and diversifying our agricultural operations,” said Chairman Darrel G. Seki Sr., Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. “Through our commercial fishery, cultivation of wild rice over more than 1,000 acres of our Reservation, eight-acre farm known as Gitigaan Acres, and 300-acre buffalo ranch, Red Lake provides our members access to local, traditional, and healthy foods. We appreciate Rep. Davids and Rep. Lucas for introducing this bill so that we can incorporate these foods into our Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations food packages for our members who need access to affordable food the most.”
“Oneida Nation is proud to be part of the FDPIR Self-Determination demonstration project, and we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our clients and vendors,” said Chairman Tehassi Hill, Oneida Nation. “Through this demonstration project, Oneida Nation and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin partnered together to replace USDA products in our food packages with local, high-quality products from our own tribal communities. This project allows local, indigenous vendors to build capacity while providing healthy foods to our community. Tribal producers have historically faced barriers to accessing markets given their small size, remote locations and lack of infrastructure. Having reliable orders allows producers like Oneida Nation Farms to plan ahead and invest in equipment, staff, and infrastructure to expand capacity. This project demonstrates how federal nutrition funding can be channeled to support local and regional producers, expanding economic opportunity in tribal communities. The current demonstration project is limited in scope and only gives tribes the authority to procure a few specific products in pre-determined quantities. Currently, making any changes to the products we order requires budget modifications and burdensome, time-consuming approvals from the USDA. Expanding to full Self-Governance authority will provide tribes the flexibility we need to quickly adapt and respond to disruptions in food supply, unpredictable growing seasons, and the unique and changing needs of our clients. Through permanent expansion of the demonstration project with full Self-Governance authority, Congress can recognize tribal sovereignty, reduce federal bureaucracy, support tribal economies, increase local control, and help tribes maintain food security in our communities.”
“Tribes are not truly sovereign until they are food sovereign. This is why we, as co-chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition, support the expansion of self-determination contracting and self-governance compacting authorities to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” said Chairman Cole Miller, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Kari Jo Lawrence, CEO of the Intertribal Agriculture Council, co-chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition. “When Tribes have the authority to decide what food they purchase and where they purchase the food from for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Tribes are empowered to prioritize purchasing locally produced, fresh foods that promote the well-being of their members. This authority also opens new Tribal economic development and capacity-building opportunities to Tribes that choose to procure FDPIR products from Tribal farmers and ranchers located in and near Indian Country by supporting new markets and strengthening regional food systems. Tribes have shown time and time again that tribally administered programs are more efficient and effective, and this bipartisan bill is an important step towards food sovereignty.”
“The National Congress of American Indians supports the efforts of Rep. Davids and Rep. Lucas to further expand self-determination contracting and self-governance compacting to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR),” said Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians Executive Director. “To-date, 16 Tribal Nations have utilized the 638 FDPIR pilot program authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill with great success. Not only have Tribal Nations built regional food economies that support Tribal producers, but they have provided access to healthy, traditional foods that promote the health and well-being of Tribal members throughout the country.”
“This legislation is a vital step forward in honoring Tribal sovereignty and expanding the proven success of Self-Governance,” said W. Ron Allen, Tribal Chairman/CEO, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and President, Board of Directors, Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium. “By authorizing both Self-Determination and Self-Governance authority for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), this bill affirms the right of Tribal Nations to design and deliver food assistance in ways that reflect our values, traditions, and community needs. The expansion beyond procurement to the full administration of the program is long overdue and will empower more Tribes to feed their people with dignity and self-determination. I strongly support this effort and urge Congress to act without delay.”
“Cherokee Nation strongly supports the expansion of self-determination and self-governance policies throughout the Federal government and applauds Reps. Davids and Lucas for introducing this important bill,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation. “The Trump Administration and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle wholeheartedly back the growth and enhancement of tribal self-governance, and we see no reason why the upcoming Farm Bill should not include provisions to strengthen tribal sovereignty within the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Cherokee Nation joins tribes across the country in calling for permanence and expanded tribal authority over this successful program and will continue to advocate for its inclusion in the next Farm Bill.”