Source: Reserve Bank of India
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In the underwriting auction conducted on June 20, 2025, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/567 |
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Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh starting Friday.
During his visit to Bihar and Odisha on Friday, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a series of major development projects aimed at boosting infrastructure and regional growth.
On Saturday, he will travel to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, where he will lead the International Yoga Day – Mass Yoga Demonstration.
Sharing details of his upcoming engagements, PM Modi said on X: “Over the next two days, I will be attending programmes in Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. These programmes cover a wide range of sectors.”
Bihar: Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Clean Energy Push
In Bihar, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project worth over ₹400 crore and flag off a new train service on this route. In a significant boost to regional connectivity, he will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.
Taking forward the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ vision, PM Modi will flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. This marks the first export locomotive from this factory, equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomic cab designs, and regenerative braking technology.
Reinforcing his commitment to the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the Prime Minister will inaugurate six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over ₹1,800 crore, aimed at serving the sanitation needs of the region.
He will also lay the foundation stone for water supply, sanitation, and STP projects across various towns in Bihar, worth over ₹3,000 crore, to provide clean and safe drinking water to residents.
In a major initiative to modernize power infrastructure, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bihar. These standalone BESS units will be installed at 15 grid substations across locations like Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan, with each unit having a capacity of 20 to 80 MWh. This initiative will help reduce electricity costs for distribution companies and benefit consumers by supplying stored energy back to the grid during peak demand.
As part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U), PM Modi will release the first instalment to over 53,600 beneficiaries in Bihar. He will also hand over keys to selected beneficiaries, symbolizing the Grih Pravesh (housewarming) ceremony for more than 6,600 completed homes under the scheme.
Odisha: Development Projects and Cultural Heritage
From Bihar, the Prime Minister will proceed to Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to mark one year of the current state government. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹18,600 crore, spanning sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, agriculture infrastructure, healthcare, rural roads and bridges, national highways, and railway expansion.
In a significant move, he will flag off new train services extending rail connectivity to Boudh district for the first time—marking its integration into the national railway network.
In line with the government’s clean energy and urban mobility goals, PM Modi will also flag off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly urban transport.
The Prime Minister will unveil the Odisha Vision Document, which outlines a forward-looking development roadmap leading up to 2036—when Odisha celebrates 100 years as India’s first linguistic state—and 2047, marking 100 years of India’s independence.
To honour the legacies of eminent Odias, PM Modi will launch the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’, an initiative to transform the birthplaces of prominent personalities into cultural heritage sites with museums, statues, interpretation centres, libraries, and public spaces. This effort aims to promote cultural tourism while preserving Odisha’s rich heritage.
Celebrating women’s empowerment, PM Modi will felicitate women achievers under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, which has enabled more than 16.5 lakh women in Odisha to achieve financial self-reliance and prosperity.
Andhra Pradesh: International Yoga Day Celebration
On June 21, the Prime Minister will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations from the beachfront of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, joining nearly five lakh participants in the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session.
Simultaneously, Yoga Sangam events will be held at more than 3.5 lakh locations across India. This year’s special initiatives include contests such as Yoga with Family and youth-centric programmes under Yoga Unplugged, launched through platforms like MyGov and MyBharat to encourage mass participation.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, reflecting the interconnectedness of human well-being and planetary health. It aligns with India’s ancient philosophy of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be free from disease).
Since 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal to observe June 21 as International Day of Yoga, PM Modi has led the celebrations from iconic locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York (UN Headquarters), and Srinagar.
(With inputs from IANS)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
In the run-up to the 11th International Day of Yoga, thousands of schoolchildren from across Panipat participated in a marathon on Friday to promote awareness about the benefits of yoga.
The event, flagged off by nodal officer Sneh Lata at Shivaji Stadium, was part of a district-level rehearsal for Saturday’s celebrations.
“Tomorrow marks the 11th International Yoga Day, and Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana will be present as the chief guest. Today’s marathon is more than just a physical exercise — it carries a message,” said Lata. “These children are helping raise awareness about the value of yoga in everyday life.”
District Education Officer Rakesh Boora said that over 4,000 students from 22 schools will take part in Saturday’s programme. “Yoga is a time-tested tool for improving physical and mental well-being. Our students are helping take that message to the community,” he said.
The central theme for this year’s International Yoga Day is “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underlining the connection between individual wellness and planetary health.
Now in its 11th year, International Yoga Day was first observed in 2015 following a resolution moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations in 2014. The inaugural celebration in New Delhi set two Guinness World Records — one for the largest yoga session and another for the most nationalities participating in a single event.
This year, the Centre has lined up 10 key initiatives including Yoga Sangam, a nationwide demonstration drive at 1 lakh locations. Other events include Yoga Bandhan, Yoga Park, Harit Yoga, and Yoga Mahakumbh.
IANS
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing man in Stanley (with photo)
Cheng Chi-yan Samuel, aged 37, went missing after he was last seen in Stanley last night (June 19). His family made a report to Police today.
He is about 1.68 metres tall, 68 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a red cap, a grey layering short-and-long-sleeved T-shirt, green trousers, red and black sneakers and carrying a black crossbody bag and a khaki backpack.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1174 or 6103 4963 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Issued at HKT 12:27
NNNN
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
In the run-up to the International Day of Yoga, over 1,000 NCC cadets and Armed Forces personnel gathered on Friday at the NCC Group headquarters in Ahmedabad, sending a powerful message of unity, health, and environmental consciousness.
The event, held ahead of the global celebration on June 21, echoed this year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” with participants performing various asanas in unison, symbolising the harmony between human health and planetary well-being.
Speaking to IANS, an NCC cadet said, “Yoga Day is celebrated not just in India but across the world. It benefits both our health and the environment. It’s a reminder to take care of ourselves and our planet.”
Another cadet noted, “All of us NCC cadets are proud to celebrate Yoga Day. But yoga isn’t just about one day — it’s a lifestyle. It strengthens the body and the mind. We must make it part of our daily routine.”
This year marks the 11th edition of the International Day of Yoga since it was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the United Nations in 2014. June 21, the summer solstice, was chosen to symbolise balance and harmony.
The main event, Yoga Sangam, is scheduled for Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at the Vijaya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Krishna district, Visakhapatnam, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to lead the celebrations.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is expected to lead a yoga session along the banks of the Yamuna, with events planned at 11 locations across the capital.
IANS
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
In the run-up to the International Day of Yoga, over 1,000 NCC cadets and Armed Forces personnel gathered on Friday at the NCC Group headquarters in Ahmedabad, sending a powerful message of unity, health, and environmental consciousness.
The event, held ahead of the global celebration on June 21, echoed this year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” with participants performing various asanas in unison, symbolising the harmony between human health and planetary well-being.
Speaking to IANS, an NCC cadet said, “Yoga Day is celebrated not just in India but across the world. It benefits both our health and the environment. It’s a reminder to take care of ourselves and our planet.”
Another cadet noted, “All of us NCC cadets are proud to celebrate Yoga Day. But yoga isn’t just about one day — it’s a lifestyle. It strengthens the body and the mind. We must make it part of our daily routine.”
This year marks the 11th edition of the International Day of Yoga since it was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the United Nations in 2014. June 21, the summer solstice, was chosen to symbolise balance and harmony.
The main event, Yoga Sangam, is scheduled for Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at the Vijaya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Krishna district, Visakhapatnam, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to lead the celebrations.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is expected to lead a yoga session along the banks of the Yamuna, with events planned at 11 locations across the capital.
IANS
Source: ASEAN
JAKARTA, 20 June 2025 – At the initiative of the Indian Mission to ASEAN, the International Day of Yoga was held at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, and participated by ASEAN Secretariat staff and members of the diplomatic corps.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Nararya Sanggramawijaya Soeprapto, kicked off the occasion with his welcoming remarks, emphasising the significance of yoga for both individual and collective well-being. He underscored ASEAN’s commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and cross-cultural understanding, as demonstrated by today’s celebration.
Yoga, originating in ancient India, has transcended geographical boundaries and become a cherished practice worldwide, including in ASEAN Member States. Its holistic approach – combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, offers a multitude of benefits. From improving flexibility and strength to reducing stress and enhancing mental clarity, yoga empowers individuals to achieve a harmonious balance between mind, body and spirit.
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Photo credit : Indian Mission to ASEAN
The post International Day of Yoga celebrated at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: US Marshals Service
Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) captured two Memphis first-degree murder fugitives, in different states, on the same day.
In the early morning of June 17, 2025, the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) arrested Marco, McGhee, 19, at a residence in the 200 block of First Avenue in Memphis.
McGhee’s alleged crime is related to a call around 4 p.m., on October 15, 2024, when the Memphis Police Department (MPD) responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of Bellevue Boulevard. Officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the front room of a residence. Following an investigation by MPD, McGhee was indicted, and a warrant was issued on June 6, 2025, through Shelby County Criminal Court for First-Degree Murder.
In an unrelated crime, the USMS arrested Kaylon Spivey, 24, also on the morning of June 17, 2025, in Indiana. The TRVFTF developed information and provided investigative leads to the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. They arrested Spivey in the 5000 block of Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis where he was working at a fast-food restaurant.
Spivey’s alleged crimes stem from a shooting investigation on September 6, 2020, when MPD responded to a shooting at Gill Avenue and Pillow Street. An unresponsive male was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Following an investigation by MPD, Spivey was indicted, and warrants were issued on April 28, 2025, through Shelby County Criminal Court for First-Degree Murder, Carjacking, and Especially Aggravated Robbery.
Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee said, “We commend the investigative work of the Memphis Police Department in solving these two heinous crimes. The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to support our partners in removing dangerous offenders from the streets, no matter where they think they can hide.”
The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Israel and Iran’s air war entered a second week on Friday and European officials sought to draw Tehran back to the negotiating table after President Donald Trump said any decision on potential U.S. involvement would be made within two weeks.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, said the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Those killed include the military’s top echelon and nuclear scientists. Israel has said at least two dozen Israeli civilians have died in Iranian missile attacks.
Israel has targeted nuclear sites and missile capabilities, and sought to shatter the government of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Western and regional officials.
“Are we targeting the downfall of the regime? That may be a result, but it’s up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
Iran has said it is targeting military and defence-related sites in Israel, although it has also hit a hospital and other civilian sites.
Israel accused Iran on Thursday of deliberately targeting civilians through the use of cluster munitions, which disperse small bombs over a wide area. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With neither country backing down, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany along with the European Union foreign policy chief were due to meet in Geneva with Iran’s foreign minister to try to de-escalate the conflict on Friday.
“Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one,” said British Foreign Minister David Lammy ahead of their joint meeting with Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met Lammy on Thursday and held separate calls with his counterparts from Australia, France and Italy to discuss the conflict.
The U.S. State Department said that Rubio and the foreign ministers agreed that “Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Lammy said the same on X while adding that the situation in the Middle East “remained perilous” and a “window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both condemned Israel and agreed that de-escalation is needed, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
The role of the United States remained uncertain. Lammy also met Trump’s special envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff, on Thursday in Washington, and said they had discussed a possible deal.
Witkoff has spoken with Araqchi several times since last week, sources say.
The White House said Trump will take part in a national security meeting on Friday morning. The president has alternated between threatening Tehran and urging it to resume nuclear talks that were suspended over the conflict.
Trump has mused about striking Iran, possibly with a “bunker buster” bomb that could destroy nuclear sites built deep underground. The White House said Trump would decide in the next two weeks whether to get involved in the war.
That may not be a firm deadline. Trump has commonly used “two weeks” as a time frame for making decisions and has allowed other economic and diplomatic deadlines to slide.
With the Islamic Republic facing one of its greatest external threats since the 1979 revolution, any direct challenge to its 46-year-long rule would likely require some form of popular uprising.
But activists involved in previous bouts of protest say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest, even against a system they hate, with their nation under attack.
“How are people supposed to pour into the streets? In such horrifying circumstances, people are solely focused on saving themselves, their families, their compatriots, and even their pets,” said Atena Daemi, a prominent activist who spent six years in prison before leaving Iran.
(Reuters)
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
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 20 (Xinhua) — Hong Kong is becoming increasingly attractive as an international financial center, with a growing magnetic attraction for foreign enterprises and individuals to invest and do business, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Thursday, commenting at the request of the media on Hong Kong’s rise in the World Competitiveness Index 2025 released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Hong Kong rose to third place in the annual ranking, returning to the top three for the first time since 2019.
The IMD yearbook was a “recognition of Hong Kong’s unique position and advantages, as well as the prospects of the ‘one country, two systems’ concept,” Guo Jiakun said.
Hong Kong continues to be one of the freest economies and one of the most competitive regions in the world, he noted, citing data according to which the financial holding Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) ranked first in the world in terms of funds raised in the first half of 2025 – US$14 billion. Hong Kong’s overseas tourist flow increased by 18 percent in the first 5 months of 2025 compared to the same period last year; several large international companies redomiciled to Hong Kong.
All this is “a vote of confidence in Hong Kong from the international community,” said a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Pointing to the upcoming 5th anniversary of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Guo Jiakun expressed confidence that with the institutional guarantee of “one country, two systems”, the unique advantage of supporting the motherland and having extensive connections with the world, as well as a more secure environment that supports high-quality development, Hong Kong will definitely have a brighter future.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government published the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Gazette today (June 20).
The Bill seeks to amend the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108) and relevant subsidiary legislation to provide for a regulatory framework for basketball betting, which includes granting the power to the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs to issue a licence for conducting basketball betting and to impose licensing conditions; the calculation and collection of betting duty (which is charged at 50 per cent of the net stake receipts, same as that for the football betting duty); and expanding the functions of the Betting and Lotteries Commission to cover matters relating to the regulation of basketball betting.
A spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said, “As a matter of policy, the Government does not encourage gambling. The Government adopts a multipronged strategy to address gambling-related problems, including law enforcement against illegal gambling activities, public education on the harms of gambling addiction, provision of counselling and support services for people in need, as well as regulation of gambling activities through legislation. On the regulation of gambling activities through legislation, the policy objective of providing authorised gambling outlets is to address the public demand for certain gambling activities, preventing people from turning to illegal operators.”
The spokesman added, “If the Bill is enacted, we will, by making reference to the current regime of horse race betting and football betting, issue a licence for basketball betting to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and to impose licensing conditions so as to minimise the negative impact of gambling on the public, especially on young people.
“We will continue to closely collaborate with the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee to strengthen publicity and counselling for young people. To this end, in addition to the existing four funded counselling centres, we will allocate additional resources to establish a new centre dedicated to providing counselling and support services for youth. Public education efforts will also be strengthened to emphasise to young people that participating in illegal gambling or placing bets with an illegal bookmaker is already a criminal offence.”
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading on July 2.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Siwan district of Bihar today (Friday), where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure and development projects.
The Prime Minister will address a public gathering after the launch event, scheduled around 12 noon. In a significant push for railway infrastructure, PM Modi will inaugurate the Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over Rs 400 crore.
A new train service will also be flagged off on this route. The visit will also witness the flagging off of the Patliputra-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express, via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, marking a new chapter in high-speed rail connectivity in North Bihar.
In a major milestone under the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ initiative, PM Modi will flag off the first export locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra Plant. The locomotive is destined for the Republic of Guinea and features high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion, regenerative braking, and microprocessor-based controls.
In alignment with his commitment to Ganga rejuvenation, the Prime Minister will inaugurate six new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange program, collectively worth Rs 1,800 crore. These projects aim to significantly reduce pollution and improve sanitation in towns across Bihar.
PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for STPs, sanitation, and water supply projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore in several towns of the state, ensuring safe and clean drinking water for thousands of households.
Taking a leap in renewable energy efficiency, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). These standalone storage units will be installed at 15 substations, including Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, and Motihari, with capacities ranging from 20 MWh to 80 MWh.
Continuing support to housing for all, the Prime Minister will release the first instalment of assistance to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).
Additionally, PM Modi will hand over keys to select beneficiaries of 6,600 newly completed houses, marking their Grih Pravesh (housewarming). This visit marks PM Modi’s second trip to Bihar in less than a month and his fifth this year, reflecting the Centre’s growing focus on Bihar’s development in the lead-up to the state assembly elections. (IANS)
Source: Government of Singapore
Singapore, 20 June 2025 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) celebrated the graduation of the second cohort of the YOUth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Leaders Programme today. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, commended the 34 graduates and urged perseverance and resilience towards Singapore’s green and sustainability agenda.
Empowering Youths for Sustainability
2 Introduced in 2023, the YES Leaders Programme is part of NEA’s YOUth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Movement, a nationwide initiative designed to engage youths, nurture their interest in environmental issues, and deepen their knowledge of sustainability within Singapore’s context. Through the YES Movement, NEA collaborates with partners and stakeholders to create meaningful opportunities for youths to contribute to a Clean & Green Singapore. The programme also supports the Singapore Green Plan 2030’s Sustainable Living pillar by fostering active green citizenry among youths [1].
3 The YES Leaders Programme empowers passionate youths with the skills and knowledge to lead impactful environmental projects in their communities. Over the past year, the 34 YES Leaders successfully championed 16 projects, addressing diverse sustainability challenges. Their graduation marks not an end but a beginning, as NEA pledges continued support for their future environmental initiatives.
4 Mr Loo Deliang, Head of the Sustainability Strategy Unit for the National University of Singapore’s University Campus Infrastructure and a YES Advisor, said, “Seeing passionate youths bring their ideas to life, from the drawing board to real-world practice, is deeply satisfying. As educational institutions, we should provide our campuses as real-world canvases for young people to realise their passion and ideas.”
5 Mr Shane Tan Tsiat Siong, an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) mentor from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said, “The YES Leaders Programme offers a purposeful learning ground for young environmental stalwarts to pursue their passions and curiosity as change-makers of today and tomorrow.”
6 Ms Samantha Thian, Founder of Seastainable and a YES Advisor, added, “As a strong advocate for youth development, it has been deeply meaningful to support the YES Leaders Programme over the past two years. This programme equips young leaders with the tools, networks, mentorship, and courage to think outside the box and take bold action to rethink sustainability in Singapore.”
Championing Diverse Environmental Causes
7 The second cohort of YES Leaders, with diverse academic backgrounds and interests, embarked on projects that engaged the community on topics such as public hygiene, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability.
8 Graduates have continued their sustainability journey beyond YES Leaders Programme. For example:
Welcoming the Next Cohort
9 The graduation ceremony also marked the start of the third YES Leaders Programme cohort’s journey. NEA welcomed 37 YES leaders-in-training, nominated by their institutions of higher learning and selected through a rigorous process. Starting 25 June 2025, the new cohort will participate in learning opportunities with policy makers and campaign developers from government agencies, and experts from corporate and non-governmental partners, including CapitaLand, MeTech, EnviroGreen, Chye Thiam Maintenance, Razer, Pan Pacific Hotel Group, Sustainable Living Lab, and Our Tampines Hub. The third cohort will be embarking on their own projects to engage the community to develop innovative ideas on sustainable living.
Launch of YES Festival
10 NEA, with the support of CapitaLand, also launched the inaugural YES Festival (YES Fest) at Funan from 20–22 June 2025. This mini-carnival, organised with the involvement of YES Leaders and student volunteers, offers everyone an opportunity to learn about sustainability through project showcases and hands-on workshops conducted by YES Leaders. The event begins at 12 noon on Friday, 20 June 2025. More information and registration for complimentary workshops are available at go.gov.sg/yesfestsg2025.
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[1] For more information on the YES Movement, visit go.gov.sg/yesmovement.
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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
About the Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Leaders Programme
Launched in September 2023, the NEA YES Leaders Programme provides a platform for passionate and active youth leaders to learn from local policy makers, regulators, developers of national campaigns and programmes, as well as industry experts. They will develop key knowledge surrounding sustainability issues and approaches in Singapore, and build their skills to develop and run sustainability projects within their Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and communities. In addition, NEA YES Leaders will also receive guidance from YES Advisors, comprising individuals who are accomplished in driving sustainability initiatives in local contexts.
YES Advisor Loo Deliang is currently the Head of Sustainability Strategy Unit for the National University of Singapore’s University Campus Infrastructure. Responsible for spearheading the implementation of the Campus Sustainability Roadmap 2030 and its sustainability programmes, he oversees campus infrastructure sustainability, sustainability roadmap development and implementation, engineering and technology for decarbonisation, and sustainability reporting and disclosure.
He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2019 and NEA’s “Ecofriend Award” in 2022 for his community work to promote environmental stewardship
YES Advisor Pek Hai Lin is currently senior manager for sustainability at the Singapore Institute of Technology. Since her time with NGO Zero Waste SG in 2017, she has led several projects and initiatives driving the circular economy in Singapore and Southeast Asia. In 2019, she was awarded the NEA EcoFriend for coordinating the Bring Your Own Singapore movement which had since onboarded more than 135 partner brands and 1,000 retail and F&B outlets. Her work at SIT has since broadened to look at Environment, Social and Governance impact, and through her commitment to further sustainable development, she hopes to continue to engage people and organisations to relook and disrupt business as usual.
YES Advisor Samantha Thian is currently serving as Deputy Head of Operations at the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II Technical Support Unit, hosted at Singapore Management University. Samantha is also the founder of Seastainable, a social enterprise sustainability consultancy that she founded in 2017.
Recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (Social Impact) and the NEA EcoFriend Awards in 2021, Samantha has represented Singapore at the G20 Youth Summit (Y20), as part of Singapore’s COP28 and 29 Youth Delegations, and various regional climate forums.
YES Advisor Veerappan Swaminathan is the founder and director of Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), a consultancy that helps organisations innovate for environmental, economic, and social sustainability. He is also the CEO and director of edm8ker, which trains teachers to impart “maker education” to youths. Additionally, Veera contributes to various initiatives and platforms that promote sustainability, innovation, and social impact. Repair Kopitiam is one such initiative that he had started, to promote the habit of repairing items and combat today’s ‘buy-and-throw’ culture. He received the NUS Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2019, 2018 Joseph Jaworski Next Generation Foresight Asia Special Award, the EcoFriend Award 2016, the Young Enterprise For Sustainable Development Award 2015, and the President’s Challenge Youth Social Enterprise Award 2015.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government published in the Gazette today (June 20) the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Order 2025 (the Amendment Order), which takes effect on the same day. The Amendment Order aims to put the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC) and three financial infrastructure-related institutions (namely, the Hong Kong FMI Services Limited (HKFMI), the OTC Clearing Hong Kong Limited (OTC Clear) and the CMU OmniClear Limited (CMU OmniClear)) under the regulatory regime of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201) (the Ordinance).
The Amendment Order specifies the HKIC, the HKFMI, the OTC Clear and the CMU OmniClear as public bodies that are subject to various restrictions under the Ordinance. Furthermore, persons doing business with the four public bodies are subject to the relevant sections of the Ordinance.
A spokesperson for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, “The HKIC is entrusted by the Government to support the development of innovation and technology, as well as strategic industries in Hong Kong through investment. The other three financial infrastructure-related institutions have public functions to manage and operate financial market infrastructures. In view of the important role played by the four public bodies in Hong Kong’s financial system and economic development, it is in the public interest to cover them under the regulation of the Ordinance.”
The Amendment Order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on June 25 for negative vetting.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Government today (June 20) published in the Gazette the District Cooling Services Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 2) Notice 2025. The Notice seeks to revise the service area of the Kai Tak District Cooling System (DCS) and include the DCS in Kwu Tung North New Development Area (Kwu Tung North) and Tung Chung New Town Extension (East) (Tung Chung East) in the scope of the District Cooling Services Ordinance (Cap. 624) (the Ordinance).
A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, “The amendments will adjust the service area of the Kai Tak DCS by including the redevelopment area surrounded by To Kwa Wan Road, Ma Tau Kok Road, Mok Cheong Street and Kowloon City Road, as well as potential user buildings of the DCS surrounded by Wang Kwong Road and Kai Cheung Road, so that the Kai Tak DCS may serve more non-domestic developments in the vicinity. In addition, the two DCS projects in Kwu Tung North and Tung Chung East are expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027 respectively. The amendments will include the two DCS projects in the scope of the Ordinance, including their capacity charge rates and consumption charge rates, to ensure the timely provision of district cooling services in Kwu Tung North and Tung Chung East. The charges, which are subject to annual adjustments according to the changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index and electricity tariff, aim to recover the capital cost and the operating cost of the DCS respectively.”
The Government will table the Notice before the Legislative Council at its sitting on June 25. Upon the completion of negative vetting, the amendments will come into effect on September 5.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Registered Contractors’ Disciplinary Board has completed a disciplinary inquiry under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) and decided that a Registered General Building Contractor (RGBC) and its Authorized Signatory (AS) should be disciplined for having been negligent and/or misconducted themselves in building works (including foundation and superstructure works).
The Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $170,000, and the AS be reprimanded. Also, the RGBC and its AS are to pay $148,200 extra in total, being the costs of the Board and the Buildings Department (BD) for conducting the inquiry.
The Board’s written decision and order issued on June 10, was published in the Gazette today (June 20). Details are available at the following link: www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20252925/egn202529253644.pdf.
The case involved a construction site at Tai Shu Ha Road West in Yuen Long. Upon investigation by the BD, it was found that the RGBC and its AS had knowledge of the construction of unauthorised concrete walls below the ground floor of all houses and the club house at the site, which deviated from the approved plans in a material way. In view of the investigation results, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC and its AS under the provisions of sections 13(1) and 13(3) of the BO.
A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractors who have been negligent or have misconducted themselves in building works may be subject to disciplinary action under the BO.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn delivers a speech during the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 19, 2025. The forum, held under the theme “New Areas, New Engines, New Opportunities” on Thursday, brought together officials, diplomats, and business leaders to explore new paths for inclusive and sustainable growth. [Photo/Xinhua]
ASEAN and China must pioneer a forward-looking partnership, anchored in resilient and equitable value-chain integration as well as climate and tech-responsive infrastructure, to chart a more inclusive and sustainable course in today’s fragmented world, said ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn here on Thursday.
Speaking at the Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations, Kao highlighted five strategic areas he believed to be pivotal in redefining the future of ASEAN-China relations: digital economy, green transition, supply chain connectivity and resilience, transport connectivity, and tourism cooperation.
The ASEAN-China partnership has delivered substantial economic achievements. Two-way trade surged dramatically from 105.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2004 to 770 billion dollars in 2024, accounting for 20 percent of ASEAN’s total trade, Kao said.
Both ASEAN and China attach great importance to cooperation in emerging industries, and advance it as a priority area, said Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi.
“We must implement the consensus reached by our leaders and deepen cooperation in areas such as digital economy, digital transformation, scientific and technological innovation, artificial intelligence, big data, and smart cities,” said Hou.
The development and growth of emerging areas require a more open, inclusive and orderly international economic and trade environment, Hou added.
The Jakarta Forum on ASEAN-China Relations, held under the theme “New Areas, New Engines, New Opportunities” on Thursday, brought together officials, diplomats, and business leaders to explore new paths for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
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 20 (Xinhua) — China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesman Liu Dejun on Thursday warned the Philippines that any attempt to encroach on China’s territorial sovereignty is doomed to fail.
The BOC took action against the recent illegal activities of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea in accordance with the law and professional standards of conduct according to the situation, Liu Dejun said.
From Sunday to Wednesday, the Philippines sent several vessels to conduct illegal operations in waters adjacent to the Nansha Islands, including Banyue Reef and Jianzhang Reef, in the South China Sea, he said.
“Philippine vessels have repeatedly committed illegal violations and provocations under the pretext of ‘protecting fisheries’, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he stressed.
He stressed that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Banyue and Jianzhang Reefs, and the adjacent waters.
According to Liu Dejun, the BOC will continue to conduct regular law enforcement operations in waters under China’s jurisdiction to protect China’s national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BISHKEK, June 20 /Xinhua/ — The development of modern China opens a unique “window of opportunity” for Central Asia: from industrialization and market expansion to sustainable development and investment in human capital, Kyrgyz political scientist, professor of international relations at Ala-Too International University Kubanychbek Taabaldiev said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.
“China, given its sustainable development and the weight it has acquired in global politics and economics, is capable of becoming an example in many areas, such as economic modernization, poverty reduction, technological progress and the development of information technology, and the transition from an economy of raw materials supplies to the production of high-tech products,” he noted.
One of the most important factors for this, according to the political scientist, is the colossal domestic market of China. The countries of Central Asia can increase their supplies to the Chinese market not only of natural raw materials and energy resources, but also of finished goods, including environmentally friendly agricultural products.
According to K. Taabaldiev, China demonstrates a very high readiness to develop relations with all Central Asian countries. “China takes into account the strategy of the countries of the region as a whole and demonstrates a persistent desire to combine the Belt and Road Initiative with the interests of the five Central Asian countries,” he said, adding that the country also expressed its support for the national development plans of the region.
According to the expert, the infrastructure projects being implemented in Central Asia stand out especially brightly – the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which should lead to noticeable changes in the logistical structure of the region’s economy.
As an example in this area, the political scientist also cited the construction of an alternative North-South highway in Kyrgyzstan. “The highway will not only allow the development of Kyrgyzstan’s internal regions, but will also enable many countries to deliver international transit cargo by the shortest route,” he said.
As K. Taabaldiev emphasized, given the economic growth in the Central Asian countries, China is interested in implementing joint projects in such areas as the implementation of renewable energy sources, initiated a project to develop the digital Silk Road and at the same time emphasizes its interest in the sustainable development of all of Central Asia.
Speaking about the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and the Central Asian Countries, signed on Tuesday during the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, the expert believes that the document allows the countries of the region and China to jointly create a well-thought-out basis for coordinated strategic planning of joint development.
“The Astana summit demonstrated a unified spirit of mutual trust among its participants,” he concluded. –0–
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appointments to Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Expert Group announced
In accordance with the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance (Cap. 607), the Expert Group shall consider and advise on the administration of the Ordinance.
The new term of membership of the Expert Group is as follows:
Chairman
Professor Chow King-lau
Members
Mr Chan Ka-tung
Ms Chick Hiu-lai
Ms Chiu Yuk-lin
Mr Chong Yan-kit
Dr Chui Pui-yi
Professor Jonathan Julio Fong
Dr Jennifer Go Le-lin*
Professor Jerome Hui Ho-lam
Dr Tommy Hui Tin-yan*
Ms Kiffany Ng Shan-shan
Dr Angie Ng Ying-sim
Professor Qiu Jian-wen
Mr Tse Tsz-fung
Dr Creany Wong Ka-wai
Dr Yau Chi-ping
Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Conservation)
Assistant Director of Health with Principal Medical and Health Officer as alternate member
Principal Assistant Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Nature Conservation) with Assistant Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Nature Conservation) 1 as alternate member
*New member
Issued at HKT 10:00
NNNN
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Lecturer in Criminal Law and International Law, Curtin University
Earlier this year, the European Union, the Council of Europe, Ukraine and an international coalition of states agreed to establish a new special tribunal.
The tribunal will eventually be tasked with holding Russia accountable for the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It’s expected to start operating in 2026.
Human rights organisations, international lawyers and some (mostly European) states have long been calling for the establishment of such a tribunal. Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer, called the establishment of the tribunal:
an important breakthrough for the international justice community and especially for the millions of Ukrainians who have been harmed by the Russian aggression.
However, important questions remain about if it could truly hold senior Russian officials accountable.
So, how will this new special tribunal work, and will it be effective – or necessary?
This tribunal is separate to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The ICC can prosecute individuals charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Russian war on Ukraine. So far, it has issued arrest warrants against four Russian senior officials, including President Vladimir Putin.
Because Russia is not a member state to the court, the court can’t exercise legal authority over what’s known in international law as a crime of aggression (when leaders of a state launch or plan a war). For the ICC to be able to exercise this jurisdiction, the aggressor state also must be a member state of the court.
The ICJ is a different court altogether. It primarily deals with and adjudicates disputes between states, not limited to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It can’t hold individuals accountable, and can only exercise jurisdiction over a dispute if both states to a dispute agree.
While the ICC seeks to establish individual criminal responsibility, the ICJ may establish state responsibility for a violation of international law.
Currently, there are also two cases between Ukraine and Russia before the ICJ.
Neither deals with the question of the legality of Russia’s use of force in its invasion in February 2022. Both Ukraine and Russia would need to consent to bring this issue before the court.
Yes, because the crime of aggression currently can’t be addressed by any other international court or tribunal.
Given the limitations of what the ICJ and ICC can do, a dedicated tribunal seems the obvious solution to hold those responsible for the illegal use of force against Ukraine accountable.
And it’s not uncommon for specialised tribunals with limited jurisdiction over a specific situation to be created.
Other historical examples include the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Given the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, the new special tribunal would complement the court’s existing investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The exact content and specifics of this new tribunal will remain unknown until the draft statute of the tribunal is published. That’s a document that outlines details including the tribunal’s jurisdiction, the applicable definition of aggression and how the tribunal will function.
At this stage, the Council of Europe has confirmed the tribunal will work within its legal framework and principles. It will be funded by an international coalition of supportive states.
A management committee of members and associate members of the tribunal will be responsible for the election of the tribunal’s judges and prosecutors. The management committee is made up of the Council of Europe’s council of ministers and Ukraine.
Diplomatic discussions are still ongoing at this point, but the legal process for establishing the special tribunal can begin now.
Political, legal and practical challenges for the special tribunal remain. It’s unclear if the most senior Russian state officials can and will be able to be brought to trial for the crime of aggression.
Nothing, so far, suggests the statute of the tribunal will contain an exception to state immunity enjoyed by heads of state, heads of governments and foreign ministers while in power.
That means these office holders can only be prosecuted if they are no longer in power or the Russian government expressly waives their immunity.
It’s also unclear whether states will be willing to arrest those sought by the special tribunal.
The ICC has long faced this challenge trying to get states to act on its arrest warrants.
Hungary, for instance, did not arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited in April, despite an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.
For the special tribunal to be effective, according to Oleksandra Matviichuk, it:
must not become a remote and hollow entity that does not engage with the Ukrainian victims.
Overall, much remains unclear. Will this new special tribunal be able to hold the likes of Putin accountable for the crime of aggression? Or will it become another empty promise?
Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria 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.
– ref. A new special tribunal will investigate Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Will it be effective? – https://theconversation.com/a-new-special-tribunal-will-investigate-russias-aggression-against-ukraine-will-it-be-effective-257823
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China and neighboring countries expand cross-border railways for greater cooperation
BEIJING, June 19 — The railway linking Ganqmod Port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Mongolia’s Gashuun Sukhait started construction in mid-June, marking the second cross-border railway between the two countries since the first one opened nearly 70 years ago.
As the global economy becomes increasingly integrated and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to advance, cross-border railway construction between China and its neighboring countries is ushering in new development opportunities.
Recently, multiple cross-border railway projects, including the Ganqmod-Gashuun Sukhait Railway, have achieved significant milestones. China is steadily building a modern railway network that connects it with neighboring countries such as Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam and Laos, boosting regional links, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.
STRENGTHENING REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY
Planned for completion in 2027, the Chinese section of the Ganqmod-Gashuun Sukhait railway project is invested and being constructed by China Energy Investment Corporation Co., Ltd. (CHN Energy).
“The new railway is projected to transport approximately 30 million tonnes of cargo annually, significantly enhancing connectivity between the two countries and enabling more efficient transportation of mineral and energy resources,” said Wang Shangjun, chairman of the Ganqmod Railway Investment Co., Ltd. under CHN Energy.
Beyond the China-Mongolia railway breakthrough, 2025 has witnessed accelerated progress on multiple rail corridors. The mainline construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project entered the substantive construction phase in late April.
Earlier in the year, Vietnam ratified a project to extend rail connectivity from Vietnam’s Haiphong to the China-Vietnam border. Meanwhile, Thailand approved Phase II of the China-Thailand high-speed rail project, with the tendering process expected to be completed within the year.
“These cross-border railways serve as vital corridors connecting China northward to Mongolia, westward to Central and West Asia, and southward to Southeast Asia,” said Fan Lijun, director of the BRI research institute at the Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences.
“Their construction will enhance infrastructure connectivity and economic exchanges among participating countries, while upgrading cross-border logistics, industrial parks, and border trade services. This holds profound significance for advancing regional cooperation and development,” Fan added.
This vision has been vividly demonstrated across multiple cross-border railway projects. The China-Laos Railway, a model project under the BRI, has transported more than 52.7 million passengers since its launch over three years ago, including over 510,000 cross-border travelers, and carried over 59.4 million tonnes of cargo, with cross-border shipments exceeding 13.7 million tonnes.
The railway authorities of China and Laos have been actively exploring new models for international transportation. By linking the China-Laos Railway with the China-Europe Railway Express network, they have reduced the rail transit time from Laos, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to Europe to just 15 days.
This cross-border freight service now covers the 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as 19 countries and regions including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, with transported goods expanding to over 3,000 categories.
CATALYST FOR SHARED PROSPERITY
Yu Chen, a staff member with the Erenhot railway station, has witnessed the remarkable changes in his hometown Erenhot in Inner Mongolia, the Chinese terminus of the first cross-border railway between China and Mongolia.
“It’s said that in its early years, Erenhot had just one main street, with only three major buildings in the whole area — the train station, the customs office, and the border inspection facility,” Yu said.
Now, leveraging the cross-border railway, Erenhot has emerged as a pivotal hub city along the BRI, with over 200 logistics companies, a crisscross network of urban streets, and towering high-rises.
The China-Mongolia railway has not only boosted Erenhot’s development but also driven industrial transformation and upgrading in the hinterland areas of the border port. In a national logistics hub park spanning Erenhot and Ulanqab, another border city in Inner Mongolia, export-oriented processing industries for specialty agricultural products including sunflower seeds, corn, fruits and vegetables, as well as import-processing industries for flaxseed, oats and meat products, are experiencing robust growth.
“By transforming our geographical advantages into competitiveness in logistics, we have laid a solid foundation for the development of specialty agricultural product industries,” said Zhao Dongyang, director of the economic development bureau under the management committee of the logistics hub park.
A growing number of cross-border railways are thriving as economic arteries, powering development in cities along their routes. A freight train carrying Russian rapeseed recently arrived at the border residents’ mutual trade zone of Manzhouli, a border city in Inner Mongolia profoundly shaped by the China-Russia railway.
Upon the cargo’s arrival, Manzhouli Xinfeng Grain and Oil Industry Co., Ltd. immediately initiated the production process of rapeseed oil. “Russian rapeseed boasts unique advantages such as low acid value and high smoke point, which enable the extraction of premium-quality rapeseed oil that is highly favored in China’s edible oil market,” said Yang Zhihong, deputy general manager of the company.
As China’s largest land port, Manzhouli is evolving from its traditional role as a “transit station” into a regional industrial hub by promoting local processing of grain, oil and timber.
“By sourcing raw materials through the border residents’ mutual trade channel, we have achieved significant cost reductions — saving approximately 500 yuan (about 69.71 U.S. dollars) per tonne on average, with cumulative savings exceeding 8 million yuan to date,” Yang said.
According to Xie Ruijie, deputy director of the management committee of the Manzhouli China-Russia mutual trade zone, border trade in Manzhouli had surpassed 100 million yuan as of April 20 this year, with more than 3,600 border residents participating, bringing in over 1 million yuan in income for locals and contributing nearly 2 million yuan in tax revenue to the city.
DEEPENING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
During the May Day holiday last year, despite the swirling snowflakes on the platform of Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, Kang Zhenning, chief conductor of the China-Mongolia international passenger train carefully assisted Mongolian passengers returning home after medical treatment in Inner Mongolia’s capital Hohhot.
To better serve Mongolian passengers, Kang mastered the Mongolian language through studying books and online videos and learning from Mongolian colleagues. He also led his crew in establishing a Mongolian-Chinese bilingual service station onboard, which offers translation services for international travelers.
“Thanks to the crew’s consistent and attentive service, this train has become like an ‘ambulance’ for patients like me,” said Mongolian passenger Urtu, who frequently takes this train to Hohhot for medical treatment.
While the China-Mongolia Railway serves as a lifeline for cross-border medical care, many railway services in southern China have become a vibrant corridor for cultural tourism, bringing peoples from China and its neighboring countries closer.
The waiting hall of Hekou North Railway Station, which is close to the China-Vietnam border, was bustling on an April afternoon. Vietnamese tour guide Hoang Tien waited there with a group of 11 Vietnamese tourists.
“The high-speed trains here are very punctual,” Hoang told his group, “With the streamlined boarding process, you only need to arrive at the station just 40 minutes before departure.”
As a frequent visitor to the railway station, Hoang leads tour groups here every few days. He marveled at how the China-Vietnam railway connects Yunnan’s picturesque landscapes, and had observed the growing number of Vietnamese tourists eager to explore China’s natural wonders and cultural heritage.
In 2024, the number of Vietnamese tour groups arriving at and departing from Hekou Port increased by 40.7 percent from 2023. In the first three months of this year, more than 10,000 group tourists traveled from Hekou North Railway Station to other Chinese destinations, a surge of more than 180 percent over the same period last year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson on Thursday warned the Philippines that any attempts to infringe upon China’s territorial sovereignty are futile.
The CCG has taken measures against the recent illegal activities of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea in accordance with the law and the professional code of conduct, said Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson.
From Sunday to Wednesday, the Philippines dispatched multiple vessels to carry out illegal operations near Banyue Jiao and Jianzhang Jiao of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, according to Liu.
“The Philippine vessels have repeatedly engaged in illegal infringement and provocations under the pretext of ‘fishery protection,’ undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
He emphasized that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Banyue Jiao and Jianzhang Jiao, as well as their adjacent waters.
The CCG will continue conducting regular law enforcement operations in the waters under China’s jurisdiction to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and maritime rights, Liu said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Winners of the SIFF Project honors were revealed on June 17 during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), concluding the four-day event aimed at supporting young filmmakers in bringing their projects to fruition.
Winners of the SIFF Project honors pose for a group photo on stage with the jury during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]
The Annual Focus Committee was chaired by director, screenwriter and producer Wen Muye, with producer-screenwriter Ying Luojia and director-screenwriter Anselm Chan serving as members. Over four days, the committee reviewed projects for creativity, artistic quality and market potential.
During the presentations, committee members discussed projects with teams, offering feedback on story, visuals, themes and pacing. They highlighted each project’s strengths in stylistic vision and direction, and offered specific suggestions for improving character development and contemporary relevance where needed.
After deliberation, the committee announced five main awards. The best genre project honor went to Cai Kunyu’s “Dog Bite Dog.” The annual focus honor was awarded to Yuan Yuan’s “Heading South.” The best talent project went to Guo Xiaodong’s “A Perfect Life.” “Wintertime in a Small Town” by Wu Chu received the most creative project award, and best work-in-progress project went to Emetraj Memet’s “Good Drink Pub.” The jury also gave a special honor to Dong Jie’s “Zoom In, Zoom Out” for outstanding achievement.
SIFF Project was held in Shanghai from June 14 to 17, featuring public presentations of 19 selected projects and discussions with 34 shortlisted entries. The event drew strong industry participation, with many sessions fully booked in advance and additional meetings requested. In total, 175 production, investment and distribution companies took part, resulting in 636 project meetings.
This year’s SIFF Project received 534 valid submissions, a 39% increase from last year. The event introduced a new genre project section to encourage innovation within established formats, attracting entries in comedy, adventure, road movies and other genres.
After the selection process, 34 entries were shortlisted, highlighting a broad thematic range that includes explorations of history and traditional culture, the integration of technology and modern life, intimate personal stories and examinations of broader societal issues.
Among the notable projects beyond this year’s award winners are “General’s Order,” a historical costume drama; “He Who Longs to Travel the World,” which delves into digitally constructed realities; and “Huadan Rapper Go Go Go,” a work that blends Chinese opera with rap. Several projects draw on personal stories, such as “Test of Confucius,” inspired by art exam experiences, “The Daughter from Shanghai,” which traces a family’s history, and “The Last Firework,” set in early 2000s Beijing.
Since its launch in 2007, SIFF Project has seen 112 projects move into production. Of these, 77 have screened at international film festivals, 56 have competed in or been showcased at competitive feature festivals, and 74 have secured theatrical releases worldwide.
This year, SIFF Project partnered with eight organizations to provide a total of 1.75 million yuan ($243,000) in cash and services for selected projects. Mahua FunAge and Damai Entertainment each awarded 150,000 yuan to a project in early development, with “Dog Bite Dog” receiving the Mahua FunAge award and “Find Your Way” winning the Damai Entertainment award.
Phenom Films, Mofei Pictures and Image Forest awarded post-production services to “The Daughter from Shanghai,” “Good Drink Pub” and “Test of Confucius,” respectively. InBetween granted design services to “He Who Longs to Travel the World” and “Good Drink Pub,” while Aputure will provide lighting equipment to “Snow Falling on Cedars.” China Film Co., Ltd. awarded venue and location services to “Back to Basics.”
Chen Guo, managing director of Shanghai International Film and TV Events, emphasized SIFF’s ongoing commitment to Asia, Chinese cinema and emerging talent. After three decades of development, the festival has established a progressive talent cultivation system that supports filmmakers at all stages of their careers through a range of awards and initiatives.
“As a crucial part of this system, SIFF Project continues to connect all stages of the creative process, supporting young filmmakers’ growth and fostering a healthy ecosystem from project incubation to industry integration,” she said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s surging technology innovation is rewriting the playbook for foreign investors, with the country’s booming tech sector having reshaped expectations regarding its long-term growth potential.
The latest example came as Goldman Sachs unveiled a list of what it has identified as China’s Prominent 10, a move reminiscent of the Magnificent Seven, a group of high-performing and influential stocks in the U.S. tech sector.
The top 10 Chinese stocks, most of which are affiliated with tech giants, are expected to significantly expand their share of China’s equity market over the coming two years.
Among these 10 are internet behemoth Tencent, e-commerce giant Alibaba, smartphone maker Xiaomi, electric car manufacturer BYD, digital shopping platform Meituan and pharmaceutical company Hengrui.
They “embody the theme of AI/Tech development, self-sufficiency, going global, services and new forms of consumption, and China’s improving shareholder returns,” according the investment bank’s research findings.
Behind the stock picks spreadsheets of Wall Street economists lies a deeper recalibration, with those observers who once declared “peak China” now overhauling their models, and transitioning to a view which sees tech innovation as driving a new wave of substantial expansion in China.
Last month, MSCI added five A-share stocks, including VeriSilicon, Baili-Pharm and APT Medical, to its China Index. These new constituents are mostly in tech and biotech sectors, reflecting global index compilers’ recognition of China’s economic transformation.
Top global investors, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, have turned bullish on China’s market — driven by global investor interest in Chinese equities due to the country’s AI push, led by DeepSeek. This month, notably, major investment banks have raised their growth forecasts for the Chinese economy.
As of May 29, the Hang Seng Tech Index had surged over 40 percent year on year, outperforming major global tech indices. Of the top ten most actively traded Hong Kong stocks, seven are Hang Seng Tech constituents, with the three most active being Tencent, Alibaba and Xiaomi.
China’s AI breakthroughs highlight its supply chain and innovation strengths, supported by a robust ecosystem of infrastructure, data, talent and energy, said Xing Ziqiang, Morgan Stanley’s chief economist for China.
“China’s tech innovations are shifting from isolated breakthroughs to systematic integration, with many fields experiencing their ‘DeepSeek moment’ and some emerging tech firms achieving a global presence from the start,” said Wu Qing, head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, at a forum in east China’s Shanghai on Wednesday.
Additionally, tech stars like DeepSeek and Huawei weren’t included in Goldman Sachs’ stock picks only because they’re not publicly traded. Beyond these giants, many Chinese startups are rising to prominence. China now has more than 400 unicorn companies, nearly one-third of the global total.
The country’s recent economic data also support such an outlook.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that China’s high-tech manufacturing added value grew by 8.6 percent in May, outpacing the overall growth of large-scale industrial added value by 2.8 percentage points.
Within this sector, production of 3D printing equipment, industrial robots and new energy vehicles increased by 40.0, 35.5 and 31.7 percent, respectively.
China is not only the largest market but arguably also the world’s innovation hub, propelling cost efficiencies and next-gen robotics development, said a Morgan Stanley research note recently.
“It is becoming apparent that national support for ’embodied AI’ may be far greater in China than in any other nation, driving continued innovation and capital formation,” said Zhong Sheng, Morgan Stanley’s head of industrials research.
“The continuing AI and technology breakthroughs have rewritten the narrative and brightened the growth prospects” for China’s privately-owned enterprises, who also lead the charge of “China’s ‘Going Global’ ambition,” according to the Goldman Sachs report.
This year, overseas demand for China’s AI-driven tech products has surged. Data from AliExpress reveals that during its March promotion, sales of AR/VR glasses, led by brands like XREAL and Rokid, had jumped 600 percent from the previous month.
“Last year, our AR glasses’ overseas business accounted for nearly 70 percent of total sales, with overseas sales growing by 30 percent year on year,” said Zhang Longjie, global sales head of consumer-grade AR glasses firm XREAL.
Despite global uncertainties, China’s high-tech product exports performed strongly in the first five months of 2025 — rising 6.1 percent year on year in U.S.-dollar terms, according to the General Administration of Customs data.
Source: Premier of Victoria
Former Federal Finance Minister and Senate Leader, The Hon. Simon Birmingham, will join the Australian Banking Association as Chief Executive Officer.
ABA Chair and National Australia Bank CEO Andrew Irvine today announced Mr Birmingham’s appointment, replacing retiring CEO, The Hon. Anna Bligh AC.
“We are delighted to have Simon lead our industry and help ensure Australian banks continue making the right decisions for customers and the broader economy,” Mr Irvine said.
“He is a recognised leader who has had deep involvement in significant and long-lasting policy decisions and actions throughout his career that have helped to shape our country.
“Simon’s ability to navigate difficult and complex environments, bringing together varied interests and perspectives, makes him ideal for this role. He will be a sensible, consistent and respected voice on behalf of the industry.”
Mr Birmingham served in the Australian Parliament as a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 2007 to 2025. His roles included Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Education and Training and Manager of Government Business in the Senate. He was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 until his retirement from the Senate.
Prior to politics, he worked with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia and the Australian Hotels Association. He is currently ANZ’s Head of Asia Pacific Engagement and Chairman, South Australia. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide.
“I thank the ABA board for their vote of confidence in my ability to lead this industry. As the ABA CEO I will always put trust in Australia’s banking system first, pursue a competitive regulatory environment, and work to ensure innovation in banking strengthens Australia’s financial interests. I also want to acknowledge ANZ for their support and encouragement through this process,” Mr Birmingham said.
“Banks are central to our economy, essential to businesses of all sizes and entrusted by Australians with their personal financial wellbeing. From trade and capital flows from large and international banks, to the choice offered by smaller banks, regional banks and customer-owned organisations, a strong, healthy, customer-focused financial services sector is vital for all Australians.”
Mr Birmingham will start on 18 August. Ms Bligh, who announced in February that she would retire after eight years as ABA CEO, will finish on 22 August.
“Anna has had a remarkable and lasting impact on this industry and how we look after our customers,” Mr Irvine said. We are enormously grateful for her time advocating for customers, particularly the disadvantaged, across financial services.”
For more information, visit the ABA’s website here.
Contact: Mark Alexander, National Australia Bank (as ABA Chair bank), 0412 171 447
For all media enquiries, please contact the NAB Media Line on 03 7035 5015
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson on Thursday warned the Philippines that any attempts to infringe upon China’s territorial sovereignty are futile.
The CCG has taken measures against the recent illegal activities of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea in accordance with the law and the professional code of conduct, said Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson.
From Sunday to Wednesday, the Philippines dispatched multiple vessels to carry out illegal operations near Banyue Jiao and Jianzhang Jiao of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, according to Liu.
“The Philippine vessels have repeatedly engaged in illegal infringement and provocations under the pretext of ‘fishery protection,’ undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
He emphasized that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Banyue Jiao and Jianzhang Jiao, as well as their adjacent waters.
The CCG will continue conducting regular law enforcement operations in the waters under China’s jurisdiction to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and maritime rights, Liu said.
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COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle
The surprise US-Israeli attack on Iran is literally and figuratively designed to unleash centrifugal forces in the Islamic Republic.
Two nuclear powers are currently involved in the bombing of the nuclear facilities of a third state. One of them, the US has — for the moment — limited itself to handling mid-air refuelling, bombs and an array of intelligence.
If successful they will destroy or, more likely, destabilise the uranium enrichment centrifuges at Natanz and possibly the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, causing them to vibrate and spin uncontrollably, generating centrifugal forces that could rupture containment systems.
Spinning at more than 50,000 rpm it wouldn’t take much of a shockwave from a blast or some other act of sabotage to do this.
There may be about half a tonne of enriched uranium and several tonnes of lower-grade material underground.
If a cascade of bunker-busting bombs like the US GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators got through, the heat generated would be in the hundreds, even thousands, of degrees Celsius. This would destroy the centrifuges, converting the uranium hexafluoride gas into a toxic aerosol, leading to serious radiological contamination over a wide area.
The head of the IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, warned repeatedly of the dangers over the past few days. How many people would be killed, contaminated or forced to evacuate should not have to be calculated — it should be avoided at all cost.
Divided opinions
Some people think this attack is a very good idea; some think this is an act of madness by two rogue states.
On June 18, Israeli media were reporting that the US had rushed an aerial armada loaded with bunker busters to Israel while the US continued its sham denials of involvement in the war.
Analysts Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Sybil Fares warned this week of “Israel bringing the world to the brink of nuclear Armageddon in pursuit of its illegal and extremist aims”. They point out that for some decades now Netanyahu has warned that Iran is weeks or even days away from having the bomb, begging successive presidents for permission to wage Judeo-Christian jihad.
In Donald Trump — the MAGA Peace Candidate — he finally got his green light.
The centrifugal forces destabilising the Iranian state
The other — and possibly more significant — centrifugal force that has been unleashed is a hybrid attack on the Iranian state itself. The Americans, Israelis and their European allies hope to trigger regime change.
There are many Iranians inside and outside the country who would welcome such a development. Other Iranians suggest they should be careful of what they wish for, pointing to the human misery that follows, as night follows day, wherever post 9/11 America’s project to bring “democracy, goodness and niceness” leads. If you can’t quickly think of half a dozen examples, this must be your first visit to Planet Earth.
Is regime change in Iran possible?
So, are the Americans and Israelis on to something or not? This week prominent anti-regime writer Sohrab Ahmari added a caveat to his long-standing call for an end to the regime. Ahmari, an Iranian, who is the US editor of the geopolitical analysis platform UnHerd said: “The potential nightmare scenarios are as numerous as they are appalling: regime collapse that leads not to the restoration of the Pahlavi dynasty and the ascent to the Peacock Throne of its chubby dauphin, Reza, but warlordism and ethno-sectarian warfare that drives millions of refugees into Europe.
“Or a Chinese intervention in favour of a crucial energy partner and anchor of the new Eurasian bloc led by Beijing . . . A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on the Persian Gulf monarchies.”
Despite these risks, there are indeed Iranians who are cheering for Uncle Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu). Some have little sympathy for the Palestinians because their government poured millions into supporting Hamas and Hezbollah — money that could have eased hardship inside Iran, caused, it must be added, by both the US-imposed sanctions and the regime’s own mismanagement, some say corruption.
As I pointed out in an article The West’s War on Iran shortly after the Israelis launched the war: the regime appears to have a core support base of around 20 percent. This was true in 2018 when I last visited Iran and was still the case in the most recent polling I could find.
I quoted an Iranian contact who shortly after the attack told me they had scanned reactions inside Iran and found people were upset, angry and overwhelmingly supportive of the government at this critical moment. Like many, I suggested Iranians would — as typically happens when countries are attacked — rally round the flag. Shortly after the article was published this statement was challenged by other Iranians who dispute that there will be any “rallying to the flag” — as that is the flag of the Islamic Republic and a great many Iranians are sick to the back teeth of it.
Some others demur:
“The killing of at least 224 Iranians has once again significantly damaged Israel’s claim that it avoids targeting civilians,” Dr Shirin Saeidi, author of Women and the Islamic Republic, an associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas, told The New Arab on June 16. “Israel’s illegal attack on the Iranian people will definitely not result in a popular uprising against the Iranian state. On the contrary, Iranians are coming together behind the Islamic Republic.”
To be honest, I can’t discern who is correct. In the last few of days I have also had contact with people inside Iran (all these contacts must, for obvious reasons, be anonymous). One of them welcomed the attack on the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps). I also got this message relayed to me from someone else in Iran as a response to my article:
“Some Iranians are pro-regime and have condemned Israeli attacks and want the government to respond strongly. Some Iranians are pro-Israel and happy that Israel has attacked and killed some of their murderers and want regime change, [but the] majority of Iranians dislike both sides.
They dislike the regime in Iran, and they are patriotic so they don’t want a foreign country like Israel invading them and killing people. They feel hopeless and defenceless as they know both sides have failed or will fail them.”
Calculating the incalculable: regime survival or collapse?
Only a little over half of Iran is Persian. Minorities include Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs, Balochis, Turkmen, Armenians and one of the region’s few post-Nakba Jewish congregations outside of Israel today.
Mossad, MI6 and various branches of the US state have poured billions into opposition groups, including various monarchist factions, but from a distance they appear fragmented. The Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) armed opposition group has been an irritant but so far not a major disruptor.
The most effective terrorist attacks inside Iran have been launched by Israel, the US and the British — including the assassination of a string of Iranian peace negotiators, the leader of the political wing of Hamas, nuclear scientists and their families, and various regime figures.
How numerous the active strands of anti-regime elements are is hard to estimate. Equally hard to calculate is how many will move into open confrontation with the regime. Conversely, how unified, durable — or brittle — is the regime? How cohesive is the leadership of the IRGC and the Basij militias? Will they work effectively together in the trying times ahead? In particular, how successful has the CIA, MI6 and Mossad been at penetrating their structures and buying generals?
Both Iran’s nuclear programme and its government — in fact, the whole edifice and foundation of the Islamic Republic — is at the beginning of the greatest stress test of its existence. If the centrifugal forces prove too great, I can’t help but think of the words of William Butler Yeats:
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Peace and prosperity to all the people of Iran. And let’s never forget the people of Palestine as they endure genocide.
Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He contributes to Asia Pacific Report and Café Pacific, and hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University
As the war between Israel and Iran escalates, Israel is increasing its calls on the United States to become involved in the conflict.
Former Israeli officials are appearing on U.S. news outlets, exhorting the American public to support Israel’s actions.
President Donald Trump has signalled a willingness for the U.S. to become involved in the conflict. He’s gone so far, in fact, to suggest in social media posts that he could kill Iran’s supreme leader if he wanted to.
The American military could certainly make an impact in any air campaign against Iran. The problem from a military standpoint, however, is that the U.S., based on its forces’ deployment, will almost certainly seek to keep its involvement limited to its air force to avoid another Iraq-like quagmire.
While doing so could almost certainly disrupt Iran’s nuclear program, it will likely fall short of Israel’s goal of regime change.
In fact, it could reinforce the Iranian government and draw the U.S. into a costly ground war.
Read more:
Why is there so much concern over Iran’s nuclear program? And where could it go from here?
The initial stated reason for Israel’s bombing campaign — Iran’s nuclear capabilities — appears specious at best.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued several times in the past, without evidence, that Iran is close to achieving a nuclear weapon. U.S. intelligence, however, have assessed that Iran is three years away from deploying a nuclear weapon.
Regardless of the veracity of the claims, Israel initiated the offensive and now requires American support.
Israel’s need for U.S. assistance rests on two circumstances:
While Israel succeeded in eliminating key figures from the Iranian military in its initial strikes, Iran’s response appears to have exceeded Israel’s expectations with their Arrow missile interceptors nearing depletion.
Israel’s air strikes can only achieve so much in disrupting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Most analysts note that Israel’s bombings are only likely to delay the Iranian nuclear program by a few months. This is due to the fact that Israeli missiles are incapable of penetrating the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which estimates place close to 300 feet underground.
The United States, however, possesses munitions that could damage, or even destroy, the Fordow facility. Most notably, the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (more commonly known as a bunker buster) has a penetration capability of 200 feet.
Multiple strikes by said munition would render Fordow inoperable, if not outright destroyed.
The efficacy of air power has been vastly overrated in the popular media and various air forces of the world. Air power is great at disrupting an opponent, but has significant limitations in influencing the outcome of a war.
Specifically, air power is likely to prove an inadequate tool for one of the supposed Israeli and American objectives in the war: regime change. For air power to be effective at bringing about regime change, it needs to demoralize the Iranian people to the point that they’re willing to oppose their own government.
Early air enthusiasts believed that a population’s demoralization would be an inevitable consequence of aerial bombardment. Italian general Giulio Douhet, a prominent air power theorist, argued that air power was so mighty that it could destroy cities and demoralize an opponent into surrendering.
Douhet was correct on the first point. He was wrong on the second.
Recent history provides evidence. While considerable ink has been spilled to demonstrate the efficacy of air power during the Second World War, close examination of the facts demonstrate that it had a minimal impact. In fact, Allied bombing of German cities in several instances created the opposite effect.
More recent bombing campaigns replicated this failure. The U.S. bombing of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War did not significantly damage North Vietnamese morale or war effort. NATO’s bombing of Serbia in 1999, likewise, rallied support for the unpopular Slobodan Milosevic due to its perceived injustice — and continues to evoke strong emotions to this day.
Iran’s political regime may be unpopular with many Iranians, but Israeli and potentially American bombing may shore up support for the Iranian government.
Nationalism is a potent force, particularly when people are under attack. Israel’s bombing of Iran will rally segments of the population to the government that would otherwise oppose it.
The limitations of air power to fuel significant political change in Iran should give Trump pause about intervening in the conflict.
Some American support, such as providing weapons, is a given due to the close relationship between the U.S. and Israel. But any realization of American and Israeli aspirations of a non-nuclear Iran and a new government will likely require ground forces.
Recent American experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq show such a ground forces operation won’t lead to the swift victory that Trump desires, but could potentially stretch on for decades.
James Horncastle 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.
– ref. Why Israel — and potentially the U.S. — is sure to encounter the limits of air power in Iran – https://theconversation.com/why-israel-and-potentially-the-u-s-is-sure-to-encounter-the-limits-of-air-power-in-iran-259348