Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ULAN BATOR, June 13 (Xinhua) — Mongolian Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Gombojavyn Zandanshatar was appointed as the new prime minister of Mongolia on Friday following a plenary session of the State Great Khural (parliament) of the country.
His candidacy was submitted to the deputies for consideration by the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. 92.3 percent of legislators voted for the candidacy of G. Zandanshatar. –0–
Former French President Jacques Chirac encounters a protest from members during an official visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in July 1995. (European Parliament)
In recent months, the viability of France’s nuclear arsenal has been making headlines with talk of a French “nuclear umbrella” that might shield its allies on the European continent. In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements regarding the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in that conflict, the question of how to best defend Europe has taken on an urgency not seen since the height of the Cold War.
In June 1995, French President Jacques Chirac announced that France would resume testing nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Just weeks after being elected to office, Chirac ended a three-year moratorium on testing that his predecessor, François Mitterrand, had put into effect in April 1992.
Chirac insisted this additional series of weapons tests was essential to France’s national security and the continued independence of its nuclear deterrent. The eight planned detonations scheduled to take place over the next several months would, he claimed, provide the data needed to move from real-world detonations to computer simulations in the future. He also said it would enable France to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT) banning all nuclear explosions, for military or other purposes, by the fall of 1996.
France’s history of nuclear tests
A report on France’s nuclear tests in the South Pacific. (Disclose)
Representatives from the world’s other nuclear-armed states expressed concern that France was choosing to conduct further tests so close to a comprehensive ban. The governments of Australia, New Zealand and Japan also registered their staunch opposition, issuing diplomatic statements, calling for the boycott of French goods and pursuing other measures of rebuke.
A defensive posture had been a pillar of France’s nuclear weapons policy since the nation first entered the atomic club in 1960 with the detonation of Gerboise Bleue, a 70-kiloton bomb, at Reggane in Algeria. The following three atmospheric and 13 underground Saharan tests resulted in serious long-term health and environmental consequences for the region’s inhabitants.
In 1966, France’s nuclear testing program relocated to Maō’hui Nui, colonially known as “French Polynesia.”
The next 26 years saw a further 187 French nuclear and thermonuclear detonations above and beneath the Pacific atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa. They exposed the local population to dangerous levels of radiation, contaminating food and water supplies, and harming corals and other forms of ocean life.
These experiments — along with the final six underground detonations the French carried out in 1995 and 1996 — left a toxic legacy for generations to come.
Inadequate compensation for lingering harm
When Chirac shared his rationale for France’s latest nuclear test series with a room full of journalists gathered at the Elysée Palace in June 1995, he was adamant that these planned tests, and all of France’s nuclear detonations, had absolutely no ecological consequences.
Today, we know this claim was more than incorrect. It was a falsehood reliant on data and conclusions that grossly underestimated the harmful impact that France’s nuclear testing program had on the health of French soldiers and non-military personnel onsite, inhabitants in the surrounding areas and the environments where these explosions took place.
Most recently, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, there was an evident deep contradiction between “French Polynesia” as a tourist paradise and idyllic location for the Games’ surf competitions and a space of continuing injustice for test victims that highlights the history of France’s nuclear imperialism in the region.
In 2010, the French government passed the Morin law ostensibly aimed at addressing the suffering of those significantly harmed by radiation during France’s nuclear weapons detonations from 1960 through 1996.
The number of people who have been successful in their applications for recognition and compensation remains inadequate, particularly in Algeria. Out of the 2,846 applications submitted by only a fraction of the thousands of estimated victims, just over 400 people in Maō’hui Nui and only one Algerian have received compensation since 2010.
The findings of a recent French parliamentary commission on the effects of testing in the Pacific, scheduled to be released soon, may contribute to greater transparency and justice for victims in the future.
In Maō’hui Nui, demands for acknowledgement and restitution have been intertwined with the independence movement, while confronting the impact and legacies of the nuclear detonations in Algeria has been fraught with tensions between Algeria and France over the colonial past.
Future of the test ban treaty
In January 1996, France conducted its last nuclear test by detonating a 120-kiloton bomb underground in the South Pacific. In September, France added its signature to the CTBT, joining the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China and 66 other states without nuclear weapons in their commitment not to engage in further nuclear explosions in any context.
Almost 30 years later, the CTBT has still not come into force. While most signatories have ratified the treaty, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the U.S. are among the nine that have not. Meanwhile, Russia withdrew its own ratification in 2023. Key non-signatories include India, North Korea and Pakistan — all nuclear-armed states that have conducted their own tests since 1996.
Given these crucial exceptions to a test ban, the prospects for something as ambitious as the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which not a single nuclear weapons state has signed to date, remain uncertain, to say the least.
Roxanne Panchasi has previously received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
WASHINGTON — During today’s House Appropriations subcommittee markup of the 2026 Homeland Security funding bill, Ranking Member Lauren Underwood (IL-14) delivered the following remarks:
“Good evening, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think we can all agree that whether it is at the border, the airport, our country’s shorelines, or in cyberspace, the Department of Homeland Security cannot fail.
But I also believe the Department cannot fail the ideals and values that make America the greatest nation in the world. Under the Trump Administration, DHS is out of control: illegally spending hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars and flagrantly violating the rights and civil liberties of Americans.
Under this administration, due process and the limitations that the Constitution puts on our government are being ignored, and this bill does nothing to protect Americans from being targeted.
It fails to protect American citizens from deportation.
It does nothing to protect American citizens from being confronted in their homes and offices, or having their property seized, as this Administration’s deportation policies ignore legal safeguards.
It allows ICE agents to continue to grab people in places of worship and in our schools without a warrant, and it punishes legal immigrants who speak their minds all while rewarding for-profit detention centers with billions of taxpayer dollars.
As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional responsibility to keep this Administration accountable in both how it spends taxpayer dollars and how it operates.
We saw this year after our FEMA hearing what this Department does when anyone speaks truth to power. I am deeply concerned that if this bill passes and the Trump-Noem DHS goes unchecked, the United States of America will become a country that our own citizens will seek refuge from because of the repeated attacks on our basic freedoms and rights.
Giving unchecked power to this Administration is bad enough, but unfortunately, the bill makes things worse, by leaving Americans more vulnerable to catastrophic cyber threats and burdening state and local governments. The bill adopts DOGE staffing cuts to CISA and FEMA personnel by roughly $130 million and $93 million, respectively.
The burden to respond to the next ransomware attack on your local hospital or deadly hurricane in your district – will increasingly fall to state and local leaders who lack the resources to protect your sensitive health care information from hackers. States don’t have the ability to rebuild after disasters on their own. This bill abandons our neighbors after a crisis.
Both the Acting Administrator and the recently named Acting Deputy Administrator of FEMA have little to no emergency management experience.
Let me say that again: the two most senior people running FEMA are severely-under qualified at a time when an above-average hurricane season is forecasted, and when the disaster relief fund is already expected to end fiscal year 2025 with an $8 billion deficit.
Listen, as recently as last week, the White House had to clean up after the brand new FEMA Administrator was caught supposedly joking about the upcoming hurricane season. We are also heading into wildfire season in the West, and friends, the funding level provided in this bill is insufficient to help us dig out of this hole, and it all but guarantees that FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund will be at a dangerously low level again by next summer.
Meanwhile, the White House requested zero dollars to supplement this critical fund that all Americans rely on to recover from major disasters, and fails to acknowledge an urgent $8 billion dollar deficit in the Disaster Relief Fund.
The bill fails to address the catastrophic cybersecurity threats facing our critical infrastructure: our hospitals, banks, schools, and secure government systems.
And it does nothing to protect Americans from growing attacks on their privacy. The only people who benefit from this bill’s failure to invest here are cybercriminals in China, Russia, and around the world who will now find it easier to attack Americans.
Finally, the bill does not include funding for the Citizenship and Integration Program that has been running for more than a decade by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
This initiative funds faith-based organizations and community-focused organizations that help legal immigrants prepare to become citizens by preparing them for the citizenship exam and helping them learn English.
Mr. Chairman, we make America stronger and more secure when we make investments in our communities stronger, and when we uphold our values. But this bill does neither, and I cannot support it.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to note for the Record that Ms. Escobar is not able to attend today’s markup due to a canceled flight from Texas. I know she would join me in opposing this bill if she were here and I would like that to be reflected.”
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced a legislative package of four bills that would counter malicious efforts to disrupt American prosperity by Communist China and other adversaries. The package includes the No Capital Gains Allowance for Americans Adversaries Act, the PRC Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act, the No China in Index Funds Act, and the Protecting Endowments from our Adversaries Act (PEOAA). This legislative package limits the ability of adversaries like Communist China from taking advantage of America’s economic strength and tax benefits intended for Americans.
“Communist China is the greatest threat to the American way of life,” said Ricketts. ”Communist China is actively threatening a rules-based system that has maintained peace and prosperity for over 80 years. America’s markets are supposed to benefit Americans. We can’t allow our markets to fund our adversaries like Communist China.”
The No Capital Gains Allowance for Americans Adversaries Act would:
Treat capital gains on all Chinese, Russian, Belarusian, Iranian, and North Korean stocks as ordinary income. Such investments would then not be eligible for the lower capital gains tax rates.
Eliminate the “step-up in basis” for Chinese, Russian, Belarusian, Iranian, and North Korean assets inherited at death – which reduces an heir’s tax liability by ignoring gains that occurred before inheritance.
Direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to maintain a public list of securities covered by this Act and require that sellers of covered securities disclosure to customers that sales of those securities will be treated as ordinary income.
The PRC Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act would:
Direct the President to compile and maintain a single public list of sanctioned companies and their affiliates.
These lists include those that target human rights violators, including companies that utilize coerced labor in production, companies that proliferate dangerous technologies, and those that have connections to the Chinese military and intelligence services.
Prevent U.S. persons from purchasing, selling, or holding:
A publicly-traded security issued by a sanctioned company or affiliate of the sanctioned company;
A publicly-traded security that is a derivative of a publicly issued security issued by a sanctioned company or affiliate of the sanctioned company;
A security that provides investment exposure to a publicly-traded security issued by a sanctioned company or affiliate of the sanctioned company.
Give a U.S. person 180 days after enactment to divest from the prohibited securities.
The No China in Index Funds Act would:
Prohibit index funds from investing in Chinese companies and require them to divest from such investments within 180 days after date of enactment.
The Protecting Endowments from Our Adversaries Act (PEOAA) would:
Apply to private college and university endowments over $1,000,000,000
Disincentivize endowments from investing (directly or indirectly) in adversarial entities that are on any of the following US Government Lists (USG):
Entity List
Military End User (MEU) List
Unverified List
FCC Covered List
Impose a 50% excise tax on the principal investment at the time of acquisition if an endowment invests in a company that is listed.
Impose a 100% excise tax on the realized gains derived from listed investments one year after an entity is listed.
BACKGROUND:
Other countries have investment incentives not applicable to some foreign investments. For instance, China provides investment incentives through its tax code, but foreign investments are eligible only with the pre-approval of the Chinese government.
Companies that have their business relations with the United States cut off or strictly restricted should not be allowed to sell securities in the U.S., or to U.S. persons, whether directly or indirectly through a mutual fund or ETF.
Index mutual funds minimize their expenses by simply investing in all the companies in a certain market sector, without looking closely at the individual companies. There are unique difficulties in evaluating the risks of investing in Chinese companies. Americans should not invest in these companies without carefully evaluating the risk. This bill will keep these hard-to-evaluate Chinese stocks out of index mutual funds.
University and college endowments are funds or assets donated to support various activities of the institution. These institutions often invest billions from their endowments into organizations and companies listed on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List. While maintaining a tax advantage, endowments can fund these entities even if they pose national security concerns.
Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to discuss President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” and how the Senate needs to pass it quickly to enact historic tax cuts for Americans. Senator Tuberville also discussed the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers and shared how President Trump’s tariffs are delivering positive results in Alabama.
Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s interview can be found below and the full interview can be found on Rumble or YouTube.
KUDLOW: “Joining us now is Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, [the] great Senator Tommy Tuberville. Senator, welcome back as always. I just wanna try this thesis out in you. Mr. Trump acted so decisively to stop the riots in Los Angeles, to protect the work of ICE, to keep the deportations going, to make it very clear that criminals would be thrown into jail, if you spit on somebody, you’re going to jail, etc., etc. That was a big win, I mean, I think it was a big win and a big loss for Democrats. But here’s my questions there. I think that kind of action, which is so popular—it’s like an 80/20 issue—plays into passage of the one big, beautiful bill because people want promises made, promises kept. They want the Trump agenda, and they see that he is unhesitatingly defending the Trump agenda on which he was elected last November. What you think? I’m going from LA to one big, beautiful bill.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, if you just think about this summer coming up, it’s probably gonna be the ‘summer of hate’ instead of the ‘summer of love,’ Larry. We got huge problems. 1,400 protests just this weekend, but at the end of the day, President Trump never hesitated with this. He goes in—this is a third world country run by a communist governor. And the guy should be in jail, and also the mayor. This is an absolute disgrace. The American people—actually the citizens of California—should be treated a lot better than this. But at the end of the day, it is really gonna help, I think, also, as you said, coming back to the big, beautiful bill, President Trump means business. If you look at this bill, about ¾ of it is tax cuts for all Americans. Tax cuts.”
KUDLOW: “Mhmm.”
TUBERVILLE: “And that’s what we need. We gotta get that done. The other—there’s some things in there, that I don’t agree with all of it—a little bit too much spending, but the one thing we have to get done is the tax cuts and all those other things will work itself out as we go through this bill and another reconciliation down the road. But, yeah, President Trump means business. He knows what he’s doing. He’s got huge backing from really smart people like [Secretary Scott] Bessent and [Secretary Howard] Lutnick, and all the people that are working, all the trade and tariff deals. I’m fired up about the big, beautiful bill being passed here in the very near future.”
KUDLOW: “I mean, you—look, you’ve probably seen some of these numbers from the White House Legislative Affairs, but a 15% tax cut to working families, [has] 82% [support], [support for the] child tax credit [is even] higher, [at] 81% percent. Ending taxes on tips, [has] 77% [support] to 18% [non-support]. Cutting taxes on overtime, [has] 74% [support] to 18% [non-support]. I mean, these are like 75% to 80% [support] to 20% [non-support] issues. You know what they’re like, Senator. They’re like law and order, punishing criminals, or deporting murderers and sex traffickers[which are all popular issues]. They’re 80/20 issues too. And I’m just saying, to me it all kind of comes together—I know LA seems a long way from one big, beautiful bill, but in the public’s mind, the guy they hired to be president is doing what folks want, and I think there’s been momentum. That’s why I wanna get the one big, beautiful bill done as soon as possible, sir.”
TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Take our country back like he’s doing in California. Take our economy back like he’s gonna do with this bill. This bill is gonna help a lot of people, Larry, and it’s gonna build growth. You know, just last week, I talked to a group in Alabama that President Trump saved 300 jobs at this manufacturing textile mill because of what he did with tariffs.”
KUDLOW: “Mhmm.”
TUBERVILLE: “That’s gonna happen. Biden, Obama, Clinton, they all sold our manufacturing out. Anywhere you drive in this country, you’re gonna see manufacturing plants that are just old, dilapidated. Nobody’s working there—small towns gone to heck in a hand basket. But at the end of the day, President Trump means business. He’s gonna get people to come back. He’s gonna tariff everybody that’s against this country, especially China. And we’re gonna get manufacturing back and take care of ourself instead of other people.”
KUDLOW: “Well, you know, full cost expense is gonna help that. But the bigger story is the tariff inflation is missing in action. And I think these exporting countries with their unfair trading practices—you know, Senator, I think they’re eating the tariff. That’s what I think is happening because there’s no inflation. It’s only 1.4% for the past four months. That’s remarkable. Every economist practically in the liberal media was completely wrong.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, the Democrats have been hollering, ‘Chicken little, the sky is falling. The sky is falling,’ and all we have to do is look at really what’s going on and everything is getting better. You know, we might not have improved a lot, but we haven’t tanked like the Democrats were expecting because look at all the things we’re having to go through, the tariffs, the wars, all these protests. They’re doing everything they can to slow President Trump down. It’s not working. He’s not listening to the nonsense anymore. The media can do what they want to, but he’s gonna do exactly what he told American people he’s gonna do. He’s gonna stick with it. He’s got a game plan. And I’m looking forward to this game plan continuing on. When we get these tax cuts done, the country is gonna take off in the right direction, and you don’t have to worry about inflation. We’re gonna be on the way up.”
KUDLOW: “Senator Tuberville, President Trump is hinting at putting in a new Fed chairman. I mean, this guy, Jay Powell, should have been cutting rates with the absence of inflation. How about you running the Federal Reserve System? A commonsense guy like you—businessman, you know the farm community. We need somebody. I know your eye—you got your eye on the Alabama governorship. I got the Federal Reserve checked off for you.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, the one thing I will tell you and [you] hit it on one of those ideas there, Larry. The interest rates are killing our farmers. We’re gonna lose our farmers if we don’t get this interest rate down. It’s costing them a fortune. They can’t make a profit. And what happens when we lose our farmers like we did manufacturing, we’re gone go south. And we cannot allow that to happen. We gotta protect our farmers. Yeah, let’s drop the interest rates. Drop them now. They were way too high for way too long.”
KUDLOW: “Senator Tommy Tuberville, that’s the best. Thank you for your wisdom, sir.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) participated in a Ways and Means committee hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The Congresswoman focused her comments on the success of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill in fixing the Democrat-imposed 1099-K $600 reporting threshold and Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. A video of the Congresswoman’s questions followed by Secretary Bessent’s responses can be foundhere and is transcribed below.
Congresswoman Miller began by voicing support for the One, Big, Beautiful Bill’s inclusion of herSaving Gig Economy Taxpayers Actand asking Secretary Bessent about how reverting back to the time-tested standard of $20,000 and 200 transactions for 1099-K will positively affect taxpayers.
“One of my top priorities in the tax package is to repeal the Democrat’s absurd 1099-K threshold. Under the Biden Administration, Democrats changed the time-tested standard of $20,000 and 200 transactions to $600 when determining whether a taxpayer receives a 1099-K or not. Before this committee, your predecessor acknowledged that this new threshold would be difficult to administer and lead to the taxpayer’s confusion. Instead of working with us to fix it, the Biden Treasury unconstitutionally delayed implementation and then changed the threshold to try and ease the taxpayer’s confusion in the election year. Unfortunately, there are still millions more 1099-K forms that were sent out and Republicans have worked to restore the 1099-K threshold to the time-tested standard of $20,000 and 200 transactions by including my Saving Gig Economy Taxpayers Act in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. Can you shed some light on how this policy and others being produced from your Department will make life easier for taxpayers?” asked Congresswoman Carol Miller. “Representative, thank you for discussing these very important issues. As I said, I believe the underappreciated part of President Trump’s economic plan is the deregulation and what you were describing, the cutting back on paperwork that putting thresholds at proper level, is indeed deregulation, lower paperwork. And I think you correctly pointed out that the previous administration, I’m not sure that anyone ever signed […] the front of a paycheck or the back of a paycheck. I think they mostly received direct deposit from the US government because they’re always government employees. So, if you have never made payroll, if you were not processing paperwork, you don’t understand the costs that are inherent in this. If you are a small business person, if you or someone with a lawn care business. [… A]s you said, we have a completely new economy today with the gig economy, whether it is Uber drivers, delivery people, the contract workers who work from home […] in programming fields. So I think that it was tone deaf, completely tone deaf for the nature of the new economy,” replied Secretary Bessent.
Congresswoman Miller concluded by sharing her support for President Trump’s ongoing trade negotiations and requested Secretary Bessent’s support to secure fairness for America’s domestic steel industry. “I also want to voice my support for the ongoing trade negotiations that the President and you are working on. For too long, our trusted trade partners have quietly taken advantage of the United States. I am a firm believer that trade truly is the great equalizer and a powerful tool to bring the world together. However, that tool can’t be used effectively if there isn’t fairness within trade deals. I am particularly interested in the domestic steel industry. West Virginia has been producing quality steel for decades, some in my hometown of Huntington, and my district is currently ramping up steel production even further with addition of new mills in Mason County. I am very supportive of the Section 232 tariffs on steel that the President has pursued and am eager to work together with the administration to ensure that a level playing field is also applied to the U.S.-U.K. Economic Prosperity Deal. The U.K. has a history of subsidizing its steel industry – which in turn often undercuts our domestic steel producers. Secretary Bessent, can you commit to continuing working to secure fairness for our domestic steel industry across trade deals?” asked Congresswoman Carol Miller.
“Representative Miller, I had the privilege of being with the President at the U.S. steel factory in Pittsburgh a week ago Friday, and I can tell you that the President’s commitment to the U.S. steel industry is unwavering [and] that we are bringing back domestic production. And that what we have seen, and one of the previous questions about ‘is China a reliable partner?’, what we have seen during COVID since then is that there are strategic industries, strategic industries in the United States where we must have an industrial base, and I would put steel in the top three,” replied Secretary Bessent.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
YEREVAN, June 12 (Xinhua) — The death toll from a gas explosion in an apartment building in the eastern Armenian city of Chambarak has risen to six, the press service of the Armenian Health Ministry said on Thursday.
As reported, on Thursday a 69-year-old man, who was taken there the day before, died in one of the capital’s hospitals.
It is noted that the condition of two more hospitalized victims is assessed as moderate.
An explosion occurred in a house in Chambarak on Wednesday morning, causing three floors of apartments to collapse. Five bodies were found at the scene, and 11 people were taken to hospitals. According to preliminary data, a gas leak was the cause of the incident. –0–
Amsterdam, June 12, 2025 – Aegon Ltd.’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) today approved all resolutions on the agenda. This included the final dividend for 2024 of EUR 0.19 per common share, bringing Aegon’s total dividend for 2024 to EUR 0.35 per common share. The meeting also approved all proposed appointments to the Board of Directors, including the reappointment of three existing members and the election of three new members.
The full details of the resolutions approved during the AGM can be found in the AGM archive on Aegon.com.
Aegon is an international financial services holding company. Aegon’s ambition is to build leading businesses that offer their customers investment, protection, and retirement solutions. Aegon’s portfolio of businesses includes fully owned businesses in the United States and United Kingdom, and a global asset manager. Aegon also creates value by combining its international expertise with strong local partners via insurance joint-ventures in Spain & Portugal, China, and Brazil, and via asset management partnerships in France and China. In addition, Aegon owns a Bermuda-based life insurer and generates value via a strategic shareholding in a market leading Dutch insurance and pensions company.
Aegon’s purpose of helping people live their best lives runs through all its activities. As a leading global investor and employer, Aegon seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues. Aegon is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, domiciled in Bermuda, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange. More information can be found at aegon.com.
Forward-looking statements The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, any statements that refer to sustainability, environmental and social targets, commitments, goals, efforts and expectations and other events or circumstances that are partially dependent on future events are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:
Changes in general economic and/or governmental conditions, particularly in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom and in relation to Aegon’s shareholding in ASR Nederland N.V. and asset management business, the Netherlands;
Civil unrest, (geo-) political tensions, military action or other instability in a countries or geographic regions that affect our operations or that affect global markets;
Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to:
The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegon’s fixed income investment portfolios;
The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds;
The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that Aegon holds;
The impact from volatility in credit, equity, and interest rates;
Changes in the performance of Aegon’s investment portfolio and decline in ratings of Aegon’s counterparties;
The effect of tariffs and potential trade wars on trading markets and on economic growth, globally and in the markets where Aegon operates.
Lowering of one or more of Aegon’s debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on Aegon’s ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;
Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of Aegon’s insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the written premium, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of its insurance subsidiaries;
The effect of applicable Bermuda solvency requirements, the European Union’s Solvency II requirements, and applicable equivalent solvency requirements and other regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital Aegon is required to maintain and our ability to pay dividends;
Changes in the European Commissions’ or European regulator’s position on the equivalence of the supervisory regime for insurance and reinsurance undertakings in force in Bermuda;
Changes affecting interest rate levels and low or rapidly changing interest rate levels;
Changes affecting currency exchange rates, in particular the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates;
The effects of global inflation, or inflation in the markets where Aegon operates;
Changes in the availability of, and costs associated with, liquidity sources such as bank and capital markets funding, as well as conditions in the credit markets in general such as changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness;
Increasing levels of competition, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, emerging markets and in relation to Aegon’s shareholding in ASR Nederland N.V. and asset management business, the Netherlands;
Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, including by way of example acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt Aegon’s business;
The frequency and severity of insured loss events;
Changes affecting longevity, mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors that may impact the profitability of Aegon’s insurance products and management of derivatives;
Aegon’s projected results are highly sensitive to complex mathematical models of financial markets, mortality, longevity, and other dynamic systems subject to shocks and unpredictable volatility. Should assumptions to these models later prove incorrect, or should errors in those models escape the controls in place to detect them, future performance will vary from projected results;
Reinsurers to whom Aegon has ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;
Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products Aegon sells, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;
Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;
Third-party information used by us may prove to be inaccurate and change over time as methodologies and data availability and quality continue to evolve impacting our results and disclosures;
As Aegon’s operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, operational risks such as system disruptions or failures, security or data privacy breaches, cyberattacks, human error, failure to safeguard personally identifiable information, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including with respect to third parties with which Aegon does business, may disrupt Aegon’s business, damage its reputation and adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;
Aegon’s failure to swiftly, effectively, and securely adapt and integrate emerging technologies;
The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including Aegon’s ability to complete, or obtain regulatory approval for, acquisitions and divestitures, integrate acquisitions, and realize anticipated results from such transactions, and its ability to separate businesses as part of divestitures;
Aegon’s failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies, as well as other management initiatives related to cost savings, Cash Capital at Holding, gross financial leverage and free cash flow;
Changes in the policies of central banks and/or governments;
Litigation or regulatory action that could require Aegon to pay significant damages or change the way Aegon does business;
Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect profitability, the distribution cost of or demand for Aegon’s products;
Consequences of an actual or potential break-up of the European Monetary Union in whole or in part, or further consequences of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and potential consequences if other European Union countries leave the European Union;
Changes in laws and regulations, or the interpretation thereof by regulators and courts, including as a result of comprehensive reform or shifts away from multilateral approaches to regulation of global or national operations, particularly regarding those laws and regulations related to ESG matters, those affecting Aegon’s operations’ ability to hire and retain key personnel, taxation of Aegon companies, the products Aegon sells, the attractiveness of certain products to its consumers and Aegon’s intellectual property;
Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, insurance industries and enforcing adjustments in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;
Standard setting initiatives of supranational standard setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or changes to such standards that may have an impact on regional (such as EU), national (such as Bermuda) or US federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to Aegon;
Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by Aegon in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, which may affect Aegon’s reported results, shareholders’ equity or regulatory capital adequacy levels;
The rapidly changing landscape for ESG responsibilities, leading to potential challenges by private parties and governmental authorities, and/or changes in ESG standards and requirements, including assumptions, methodology and materiality, or a change by Aegon in applying such standards and requirements, voluntarily or otherwise, may affect Aegon’s ability to meet evolving standards and requirements, or Aegon’s ability to meet its sustainability and ESG-related goals, or related public expectations, which may also negatively affect Aegon’s reputation or the reputation of its board of directors or its management;
Unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against Aegon’s environmental, climate, or other ESG targets, goals and commitments, and changes in laws or regulations affecting us, such as changes in data privacy, environmental, health and safety laws; and
Reliance on third-party information in certain of Aegon’s disclosures, which may change over time as methodologies and data availability and quality continue to evolve. These factors, as well as any inaccuracies in third-party information used by Aegon, including in estimates or assumptions, may cause results to differ materially and adversely from statements, estimates, and beliefs made by Aegon or third-parties. Moreover, Aegon’s disclosures based on any standards may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability of information, changes in its business or applicable governmental policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond Aegon’s control. Additionally, Aegon’s discussion of various ESG and other sustainability issues in this document or in other locations, including on our corporate website, may be informed by the interests of various stakeholders, as well as various ESG standards, frameworks, and regulations (including for the measurement and assessment of underlying data). As such, our disclosures on such issues, including climate-related disclosures, may include information that is not necessarily “material” under US securities laws for SEC reporting purposes, even if we use words such as “material” or “materiality” in relation to those statements. ESG expectations continue to evolve, often quickly, including for matters outside of our control; our disclosures are inherently dependent on the methodology (including any related assumptions or estimates) and data used, and there can be no guarantee that such disclosures will necessarily reflect or be consistent with the preferred practices or interpretations of particular stakeholders, either currently or in future.
Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2024 Integrated Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegon’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – “China is willing to work together with the Vatican to promote the continuous improvement of China-Vatican relations (…) This appointment has enhanced understanding and mutual trust through constructive dialogue”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing held today, Thursday, June 12.Following the “satisfaction” reported by the Director of the Vatican press office Matteo Bruni after the “recognition of the civil effects and the taking possession of the Office” of Joseph Lin Yuntuan as Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou, the Chinese government has also presented this first episcopal appointment regarding a Chinese bishop by Pope Leo XIV as a new and significant step in the ongoing dialogue between Beijing and the Holy See.Pope Leo XIV appointed Lin Yuntuan as Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou on June 5, less than a month after the beginning of his Pontificate. Lin Jian remarked that “China and the Vatican have maintained communication and enhanced understanding and mutual trust through constructive dialogue strengthened mutual in recent years”.The official installation ceremony took place yesterday, June 11, on the feast of the Apostle Barnabas, and was presided over by Vincent Zhan Silu, Bishop of Mindong, who had participated in the Synod of Bishops Assembly in Rome last October. Following the inauguration ceremony, a Holy Mass was celebrated, presided over by Joseph Cai Bingrui, Bishop of Fuzhou. Several Bishops from the dioceses of Fujian Province took part in the concelebration: in addition to Bishop Zhan Silu, Bishop Lin Yuntang and Bishop Wu Yishun of Minbei, along with about 80 priests and more than 200 nuns and lay people.Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, China has shown a cautious openness toward a Pope of American origin, at a time when relations between China and the USA are going through a complicated phase from a geopolitical point of view. Yesterday’s event and the statements from both sides suggest that the path between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China can continue on the path of dialogue.After the election of Pope Prevost, Lin Jian himself, as the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed in a singular way the congratulations on behalf of China, starting with the unusual length of the text pronounced: “China congratulates Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as the new Pope. We hope that, under his leadership, the Vatican will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with China, engage in in-depth communication on international issues of common concern, jointly promote the continued improvement of China-Vatican relations, and contribute to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the world”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 12/6/2025)
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TRA proposes keeping measure on Chinese ceramic kitchenware
The TRA has proposed that an anti-dumping measure on ceramic tableware and kitchenware from China be maintained until 16 July 2029.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (12 June 2025) published initial findings proposing that an anti-dumping measure on certain ceramic tableware and kitchenware products imported from China be maintained for an additional five years, until 16 July 2029.
Extending this measure will ensure that the UK’s industry, which produces and sells around £100m worth of ceramic tableware and kitchenware each year, continues to be protected from unfair competition.
The reviewed products include a variety of commonly used ceramic kitchen and tableware consumer items, such as plates, bowls, mugs, and cups. Detailed information about these products can be found in the investigation’s public file.
In its Statement of Essential Facts (SEF), the TRA found that dumping would be likely to continue in increased volumes if the measures were removed, and that injury to UK industry would be likely as a result. The investigation revealed that Chinese exports were entering the UK market at significantly lower prices, approximately 75% cheaper than similar products sold by UK manufacturers.
The estimated size of the ceramic tableware and kitchenware market in the UK is around £350 million, with Chinese imports accounting for 67% of all imports to the UK in 2024.
Current anti-dumping duties on Chinese ceramic tableware and kitchenware imports range from 13.1% to 36.1%, depending on the exporter.
Businesses that may be affected by these findings can submit comments to the TRA by 03 July 2025 and can do so through the TRA’s public file.
Background information:
The initial findings published today follow a transition review that was initiated on 15 May 2024.
The Trade Remedies Authority is the independent UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
The TRA is an arm’s length body of the Department for Business and Trade.
Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to act against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market.
The period of investigation (POI) was 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. To assess injury, the TRA chose the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2024 as the injury period (IP).
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 12 — The 14th China-Switzerland defense policy coordination dialogue was held in Beijing on June 12, 2025.
Leader of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China’s Ministry of National Defense co-chaired the dialogue with the Deputy State Secretary of the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS) and head of SEPOS’s Strategy and Cooperation Division, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS), Switzerland.
The two sides had view exchanges on China-Switzerland relations, military-to-military ties, international and regional situations, and other issues of common concern.
May and March–May were much warmer than normal for the globe.
Global land average precipitation in May was record high, according to preliminary data.
Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent was below-normal for the month.
Sea ice extent was below average for both poles.
Global tropical cyclone activity was below normal with two named storms.
Map of global selected significant climate anomalies and events in May 2025.
Temperature
Globally, May 2025 was the second-warmest May in NOAA’s 176-year record, with a temperature 1.98°F (1.10°C) higher than the 20th-century baseline. This is 0.14°F (0.08°C) cooler than the record set last May (2024). According to NCEI’s Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is very likely that 2025 will rank among the five warmest years on record, with less than a 1% chance of ranking as the warmest year on record.
Land and Ocean Temperature Percentiles for May 2025 (°C). Red indicates warmer than average and blue indicates colder than average.
May temperatures were above average across much of the globe’s surface, in particular across most ocean areas and parts of every continent. Warm temperature departures were most notable in northern North America, the central and southern parts of South America, the British Isles and surrounding ocean, northern and southwestern Asia and across much of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Pockets of below-average temperatures were present across parts of Alaska, eastern Europe, India and Antarctica.
Regionally, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and the Arctic all saw their May temperature rank among the 10 highest on record. Europe, Oceania and the Antarctic region also had above-average May temperatures, although they did not rank among the 20 warmest on record. India, parts of the northern Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and southeastern Pacific Ocean, central and eastern Europe and eastern Antarctica had May temperatures that were below average.
Globally, the March–May 2025 surface temperature was the second-highest in NOAA’s 176-year record, just behind the record set in 2024. This three-month period, defined as meteorological spring for the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, was also the second warmest on record for both hemispheres individually.
Surface Temperature Departure from the 1991–2020 Average for May 2025 (°C). Red indicates warmer than average and blue indicates colder than average.
Precipitation
May saw varied precipitation patterns globally. Many regions experienced drier-than-average conditions, including parts of North and South America, as well as northern Europe, southwestern Asia, southern Australia and areas in Russia and China. Southern Alaska, the eastern U.S., northern and southern parts of South America, northern and southeastern Australia and widespread parts of Asia had wetter-than-average conditions. Preliminary data indicate that the May 2025 globe land, averaged as a whole, had the wettest May in the historical record, which spans from 1979 to present.
Snow Cover
The Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent was the 15th-smallest May extent on record, with 370,000 square miles below average. Snow cover over North America and Greenland was below average by 200,000 square miles and was the 10th-smallest snow cover extent in the 59-year record. Eurasia was also below average by 170,000 square miles–the 16th-smallest extent for May. Below-normal snow cover was observed over Canada, parts of the Rockies in the United States and northern parts of Eurasia, as well as a band from western Mongolia through western China.
Sea Ice
Global sea ice extent was 550,000 square miles below the 1991–2020 average, ranking as the fifth-smallest May extent in the historical record. Arctic sea ice extent was also below average by 140,000 square miles, tying with 2004 as the seventh-smallest extent in the 47-year record. The Barents, Okhotsk and Bering Seas had lower than normal sea ice extent. The Antarctic sea ice extent was the fifth-smallest for May at 410,000 square miles below average.
Map of the Arctic (left) and Antarctic (right) sea ice extent in May 2025.
Tropical Cyclones
Globally, tropical cyclone activity was below normal during May, with only two named storms. Neither storm reached tropical cyclone strength. One storm formed in the East Pacific basin, while the other formed in the Australian region.
For a more complete summary of climate conditions and events, see our May 2025 Global Climate Report or explore our Climate at a Glance Global Time Series.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 12 /Xinhua/ — Moscow is open to joint painstaking work on settling the situation in Ukraine, including eliminating the root causes of the crisis, and on the rest of the extensive agenda of Russian-American relations, which have begun to gradually “unfreeze.” The choice between scenarios of confrontation and pragmatic interaction between Russia and the United States is up to the American side. This was stated in an interview with TASS on Wednesday by the new Russian ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev.
“After the pogrom in Russian-American relations, caused by the previous administration, which openly declared that it would seek to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, the intention declared by the new team in the White House to restore interstate relations and bring common sense to them gives a certain hope for the best,” noted A. Darchiev.
He noted that the tasks set for him as the Russian ambassador are to take full advantage of the opened “window of opportunity” to improve bilateral cooperation. It is also necessary to remove numerous barriers and sanctions restrictions, focusing in the long term on the two countries moving towards a model of non-confrontational coexistence, the ambassador added.
According to him, it is difficult to do this overnight due to a number of problematic issues. At the same time, the Russian side is persistently working on specific areas of normalization of bilateral relations. “We are talking, in particular, about the State Department easing the absurd restrictions on communication with Russian diplomats and participation in joint public events,” A. Darchiev explained.
He noted that, within the framework of the permanent mechanism of regular consultations, a negotiation process has been launched on the return of six diplomatic properties belonging to Russia that were actually confiscated by the US authorities in 2016-2018.
In addition, A. Darchiev pointed out that another priority area is the restoration of direct air traffic between Russia and the United States, interrupted by Washington in 2022 with the closure of its airspace and subsequent reciprocal steps by the Russian side. “This is a multifaceted matter that requires negotiations with the involvement of aviation authorities, which we expect to launch in the near future,” the ambassador said, adding that a substantive discussion is also underway on simplifying the visa issuance procedure, which currently takes up to a year or more. –0–
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today officiated at the opening ceremony of the “5th Anniversary of Promulgation & Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law Thematic Exhibition” at the Museum of History.
Mr Lam reiterated the three “must-nots” – must not forget history, turn a blind eye to reality and stand idly by.
He said traditional Chinese wisdom has it that “history, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future”.
“We all surely remember the 2019 legislative amendment turmoil, which posed a grave threat to national security and severely undermined the peaceful and stable environment we took for granted.”
Mr Lam also stated that “remain vigilant in times of peace” is another traditional Chinese wisdom.
“Although Hong Kong society has restored stability and national security, threats are often not immediately visible. It is obvious that hostile states and forces continue to try to suppress our country’s development.
“Since national security is closely related to individuals’ well-being, people must naturally take concrete steps and shoulder responsibilities in safeguarding national security.”
Mr Lam pointed out that a robust legal system has long been the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success. It is the prerequisite for the city to thrive as an international financial, trade, and shipping centre.
On the foundation of three “must-nots”, Hong Kong must uphold the rule of law in safeguarding national security, he added.
Also officiating at the ceremony, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests is not only a constitutional duty of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but also a fundamental obligation of every citizen.
Mr Tang further stated that hostile forces have not given up and he reminded citizens to remain vigilant against the risks.
The security chief explained that external hostile forces continue to attempt to undermine national security through smears and “sanctions” while anti-China destabilising elements in the city who have fled overseas continue to engage in activities and behaviours that threaten national security.
Local terrorism and “soft resistance”, where individuals with ulterior motives exploit fake news and misinformation to divide society and incite hatred are the other risks, Mr Tang added.
The exhibition is now open, with the aim to facilitate the public’s understanding of and appreciation for the hard-won situation that Hong Kong is now enjoying, and to motivate all to work together to help the city shine on the global stage.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TIANJIN, June 12 (Xinhua) — The added value of China’s seaport cities in the port economy will reach 6.7 trillion yuan (about 933 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, up 360.6 billion yuan from 2023, according to a report released at the 3rd Tianjin International Shipping Expo that opened here on Thursday.
The report, compiled by the Planning and Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport of China, provides a comprehensive assessment of the development level of port economies in 59 Chinese seaport cities.
According to the report, the port economy refers to the set of economic activities that operate in port cities and are based on ports. The port economy accounts for 13.6 percent of the total economy of 59 Chinese port cities.
The seaport cities located in the Yangtze River Delta account for 44.9 percent of the added value in the national port economy, demonstrating the region’s leading role in the national port economy.
According to the authors of the report, ports have played a key role in the development of the secondary sector of the economy of coastal cities. Rapid growth rates have been observed in emerging industries of strategic importance, such as the production of computers, communications equipment and electronic equipment. Ports are increasingly supporting the industrial modernization of the country’s interior.
“We strongly believe that the port economy still has great development potential. China’s port economy will become a powerful engine for the implementation of a new development paradigm,” said Liu Zhanshan, deputy director of the institute. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — China calls on the United States to strictly abide by the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and work together with China to promote stable and sustainable development of the two countries’ economic and trade relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, He Yadong, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said on Thursday.
He made this statement at a regular departmental press conference in response to a journalist’s question on the matter, emphasizing that China’s position against a unilateral increase in customs duties remains unchanged.
According to him, from June 9 to 10, the negotiating teams on trade and economic issues between China and the United States held the first meeting in London within the framework of the mechanism of trade and economic consultations between the two countries.
At the meeting, the two sides reached fundamental agreement on implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their telephone conversation on June 5 and on the framework of measures to consolidate the results of the trade and economic talks in Geneva, He Yadong said, adding that new progress was also made in resolving mutual concerns in the trade and economic field between the two sides.
In the future, both sides are willing to make better use of the role of the China-US trade and economic consultation mechanism, continue to maintain consultations and dialogue, constantly strengthen consensus and reduce misunderstandings, and increase interaction to jointly promote the stable and long-term development of trade and economic relations between the two countries. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — The body of Zhedi, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, was cremated in Beijing on Thursday.
Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi bid farewell to Zhedi at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery on Thursday.
With mournful music playing, they slowly approached Zhedy’s body, stood in silent respect, and bowed three times to the body of the deceased. They also shook hands with Zhedy’s family members and expressed their condolences.
Zhedi died of illness at the age of 87 in Beijing on June 6.
Zhedi was recognized as an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a loyal fighter for the ideals of communism, an outstanding leader in the work on nationality affairs and in the development of the socialist legal system, and a worthy son of the Tibetan people.
Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and Hu Jintao either visited Zhedi during his hospital stay or expressed their deep sorrow and condolences to his relatives in various ways after his death. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HOHHOT, June 12 — The 110,000th China-Europe freight train exited China via northern Inner Mongolia’s Erenhot Port, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, on Thursday.
The train, loaded with 55 containers of home appliances, worth nearly 20 million yuan (about 2.79 million U.S. dollars), departed Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province on Tuesday. The train’s departure marks a major milestone in the high-quality development of the China-Europe freight train service.
The train is expected to reach its destination in Moscow, Russia, in about two weeks, according to the port.
As the only port of entry and exit on the middle corridor of the China-Europe freight train service, Erenhot Port now operates 73 China-Europe freight train routes. It connects China with over 70 hub stations in more than 10 countries and regions, including Germany, Poland and Russia.
The port has operated over 19,000 China-Europe freight trains since 2013. In the first five months of this year, the port handled 1,489 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains, transporting nearly 1.9 million tonnes, or 168,800 TEUs of goods, representing year-on-year growth of 5.3 percent, 8.2 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.
“With the regular operation of the China-Europe freight train service, the transportation time for our products to reach Europe has been shortened from 45 days to 15 days, and the logistics cost per tonne has been cut by approximately 600 yuan, laying a solid foundation for the development of the local agricultural product industry,” said Cui Xuesong, deputy manager of an international logistics park management committee located over 300 km from the port.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 — China has fully established a voluntary blood donation system and introduced a range of measures to ensure a safe blood supply, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
China has expanded its blood screening programs and improved testing technologies, effectively blocking the transmission of major infectious diseases through transfusion, Gao Guangming, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference on Thursday.
China’s overall blood safety level now ranks among the highest in the world, Gao said.
The country has strengthened its nationwide emergency response system for blood supply, enabling targeted cross-regional allocation to ensure adequate blood supply in key areas and during critical periods, he said.
To boost public awareness of voluntary blood donation, the NHC partnered with China Railway Group to display promotional videos and posters on 260,000 screens across more than 3,000 railway stations and over 4,200 high-speed trains nationwide, Gao said.
He added that Party and government organs, universities and colleges, enterprises and public institutions are encouraged to lead by example in blood donations, and help foster a culture of giving in society.
The country has a blood donation rate of 11.4 per 1,000 people, the NHC revealed at the press conference.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday met with the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde in Beijing, where he called for enhanced opening up and cooperation between the two sides.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), Li said China is willing to work with the EU to consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and jointly promote development and prosperity.
The economies of China and the EU are highly complementary, and China has the advantage of a super-large market and market potential that continues to be released, Li said, adding that there is great potential for cooperation between the two sides in many fields.
As two major economies and two major forces, China and the EU should enhance multilateral coordination, promote opening up and cooperation, and make greater contributions to promoting the recovery of the global economy and improving global governance, Li said.
He said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the ECB on the reform of the international monetary system, and China will firmly expand its opening up and share development opportunities with other countries.
Lagarde said tariff wars and trade wars will only lead to a lose-lose situation, and upholding multilateralism and strengthening the opening up and cooperation are the right options.
The ECB is pleased to establish a meeting mechanism of the central bank governors with China and hold its first meeting, and is committed to strengthening communication and coordination with Chinese financial institutions, expanding and deepening cooperation areas, and jointly addressing global challenges, Lagarde said.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael Naparstek, Associate Teaching Professor Religious Studies, University of Tennessee
A man plays the Chinese action role-playing game ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ during its launch day in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on Aug. 20, 2024.STR/AFP via Getty Images
Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.
Title of the course
Religion and Gameworlds
What prompted the idea for the course?
Most of my research is in Chinese religions, and I find it fascinating that popular video games – like many popular films before them – draw from the mythologies, cosmologies, unseen powers and heroic narratives found across the world’s religious traditions.
Recent examples such as “Black Myth: Wukong” and “Raji: an Ancient Epic” draw explicitly from mythologies and religious narratives of China and India, respectively, putting the player in direct contest against pantheons of gods. Meanwhile, games such as “Sid Meier’s CIV VI,” where players develop an historical civilization from the Stone Age to Space Age in a quest for global domination, explicitly utilize religion as ways to develop and conquer the world.
At the same time, the interactive experience of a video game makes it an especially interesting place to study religion. When your character uses magic, interacts with powerful deities, or even achieves godlike status themselves, the player also shares such experiences on some level as well. Sometimes, viewers’ experiences blur the lines between “real life” and on-screen.
Some churches have even used the game “Second Life” to offer worshippers the option of getting baptized using their digital avatar in the game. This kind of practice raises poignant questions about how we understand religion in our modern world.
What makes this course different from many others that utilize video games is that the student experience of playing the games influences how we frame our investigation of religion. Students wrestle with questions about how religion helps build the worlds they are experiencing.
We meet in the game lab as a class once a week to observe and analyze each other’s experiences playing different kinds of games.
We start the week with relevant theoretical and historical framing in the traditional classroom. For example, in our investigation of “Black Myth: Wukong,” a game inspired by the 16th-century novel “Journey to the West,” students first read selections from the work as they learn about its protagonist, the trickster monkey god Sun Wukong.
In the novel, Wukong picks fights with all the gods in an attempt to overthrow the cosmic order, only to eventually be violently put in his place by the highest gods of the Chinese pantheon. Our class discussions thus serve as a general introduction to Chinese religions, while we also get to discuss the theoretical basis for culturally defined ideas such as what makes a hero.
Playing as a descendant of Sun Wukong, students explore enchanted landscapes, interact with local spirits and engage in magical combat against the very gods that we learned about in class.
Each week, students note their observations, carefully detailing their experience playing the game, as well as the experience of watching others do the same. Students are also asked to analyze the ways in which religious themes, narratives and practices played a role in the game world they experienced.
We conclude the class with weekly reflections on the overall experience.
What will the course prepare students to do?
In 2024, the video game industry boasted over US$184 billion generated in market value. The global reach of games allows new audiences to experience and learn about religious narratives and practices in new ways.
Popular media has long been a powerful mode of cultural exchange. Video games are just a recent example, but the scale to which gamers around the world connect with each other through playing demands more attention.
The wild popularity following the 2024 release of the game “Black Myth: Wukong,” the first premier produced game out of China for an international audience, suggests that this kind of experience is truly a global phenomenon that will only continue to grow. It only makes sense that video games can serve as powerful pedagogical tools as well.
The goal of the course is to prepare students to better understand the broader contexts in which their shared experience of enjoying video games derives. Learning about the role of religion in shaping that experience allows students to better understand how religion shapes our modern world.
Michael Naparstek does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
People look at the debris of an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad of India’s Gujarat state, June 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
An Air India flight to London with 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 cabin crew members, crashed Thursday shortly after takeoff from an airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat, officials said.
The flight took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
According to Air India, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 13:38 local time and was carrying 242 passengers and crew members.
“Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals,” the airline said.
Air India has expressed condolences to the families of all those affected by this devastating event.
“With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event,” N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Air India, said in a statement.
Chandrasekaran said further updates will be shared as they receive more verified information.
People and rescuers are seen at a site of a plane crash in Ahmedabad of India’s Gujarat state, June 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
“An emergency center has been activated and support teams have been set up for families seeking information,” he further said.
Local media reports said the plane had reached approximately 825 feet when it suddenly descended. Police said the plane crashed on the building of a doctors’ hostel.
There were no reports of any survivors currently, and officials, so far, have not issued any statement on the number of casualties or injured in the crash.
“As per preliminary information, a London-bound Air India flight has crashed at the doctors’ hostel. Within 2-3 minutes, police and other agencies reached the spot. Almost 70-80 percent of the area has been cleared. All agencies are working here,” a police official told media.
Reports said the passenger aircraft went down in the Meghani area of the city.
According to officials, immediately after the crash, authorities rushed over two dozen ambulances to the spot to carry out rescue work.
Video footage from the site aired on television news channels shows thick columns of smoke rising from the ground.
Police have diverted traffic from the area, and a green corridor has also been established to ferry the injured quickly to the hospital.
It is “the policy of the United States to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans,” reads an executive order President Donald Trump issued on April 23, 2025. The executive order, titled Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth, signals that advancing AI literacy is now an official national priority.
This raises a series of important questions: What exactly is AI literacy, who needs it, and how do you go about building it thoughtfully and responsibly?
The implications of AI literacy, or lack thereof, are far-reaching. They extend beyond national ambitions to remain “a global leader in this technological revolution” or even prepare an “AI-skilled workforce,” as the executive order states. Without basic literacy, citizens and consumers are not well equipped to understand the algorithmic platforms and decisions that affect so many domains of their lives: government services, privacy, lending, health care, news recommendations and more. And the lack of AI literacy risks ceding important aspects of society’s future to a handful of multinational companies.
How, then, can institutions help people understand and use – or resist – AI as individuals, workers, parents, innovators, job seekers, students, employers and citizens? We are a policy scientist and two educationalresearchers who study AI literacy, and we explore these issues in our research.
What AI literacy is and isn’t
At its foundation, AI literacy includes a mix of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are technical, social and ethical in nature. According to one prominent definition, AI literacy refers to “a set of competencies that enables individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies; communicate and collaborate effectively with AI; and use AI as a tool online, at home, and in the workplace.”
AI literacy is not simply programming or the mechanics of neural networks, and it is certainly not just prompt engineering – that is, the act of carefully writing prompts for chatbots. Vibe coding, or using AI to write software code, might be fun and important, but restricting the definition of literacy to the newest trend or the latest need of employers won’t cover the bases in the long term. And while a single master definition may not be needed, or even desirable, too much variation makes it tricky to decide on organizational, educational or policy strategies.
Who needs AI literacy? Everyone, including the employees and students using it, and the citizens grappling with its growing impacts. Every sector and sphere of society is now involved with AI, even if this isn’t always easy for people to see.
Exactly how much literacy everyone needs and how to get there is a much tougher question. Are a few quick HR training sessions enough, or do we need to embed AI across K-12 curricula and deliver university micro credentials and hands-on workshops? There is much that researchers don’t know, which leads to the need to measure AI literacy and the effectiveness of different training approaches.
Ethics is an important aspect of AI literacy.
Measuring AI literacy
While there is a growing and bipartisan consensus that AI literacy matters, there’s much less consensus on how to actually understand people’s AI literacy levels. Researchers have focused on different aspects, such as technical or ethical skills, or on different populations – for example, business managers and students – or even on subdomains like generative AI.
A recent review study identified more than a dozen questionnaires designed to measure AI literacy, the vast majority of which rely on self-reported responses to questions and statements such as “I feel confident about using AI.” There’s also a lack of testing to see whether these questionnaires work well for people from different cultural backgrounds.
Moreover, the rise of generative AI has exposed gaps and challenges: Is it possible to create a stable way to measure AI literacy when AI is itself so dynamic?
In our research collaboration, we’ve tried to help address some of these problems. In particular, we’ve focused on creating objective knowledge assessments, such as multiple-choice surveys tested with thorough statistical analyses to ensure that they accurately measure AI literacy. We’ve so far tested a multiple-choice survey in the U.S., U.K. and Germany and found that it works consistently and fairly across these three countries.
There’s a lot more work to do to create reliable and feasible testing approaches. But going forward, just asking people to self-report their AI literacy probably isn’t enough to understand where different groups of people are and what supports they need.
Approaches to building AI literacy
Governments, universities and industry are trying to advance AI literacy.
Finland launched the Elements of AI series in 2018 with the hope of educating its general public on AI. Estonia’s AI Leap initiative partners with Anthropic and OpenAI to provide access to AI tools for tens of thousands of students and thousands of teachers. And China is now requiring at least eight hours of AI education annually as early as elementary school, which goes a step beyond the new U.S. executive order. On the university level, Purdue University and the University of Pennsylvania have launched new master’s in AI programs, targeting future AI leaders.
Despite these efforts, these initiatives face an unclear and evolving understanding of AI literacy. They also face challenges to measuring effectiveness and minimal knowledge on what teaching approaches actually work. And there are long-standing issues with respect to equity − for example, reaching schools, communities, segments of the population and businesses that are stretched or under-resourced.
Next moves on AI literacy
Based on our research, experience as educators and collaboration with policymakers and technology companies, we think a few steps might be prudent.
Building AI literacy starts with recognizing it’s not just about tech: People also need to grasp the social and ethical sides of the technology. To see whether we’re getting there, we researchers and educators should use clear, reliable tests that track progress for different age groups and communities. Universities and companies can try out new teaching ideas first, then share what works through an independent hub. Educators, meanwhile, need proper training and resources, not just additional curricula, to bring AI into the classroom. And because opportunity isn’t spread evenly, partnerships that reach under-resourced schools and neighborhoods are essential so everyone can benefit.
Critically, achieving widespread AI literacy may be even harder than building digital and media literacy, so getting there will require serious investment – not cuts – to education and research.
There is widespread consensus that AI literacy is important, whether to boost AI trust and adoption or to empower citizens to challenge AI or shape its future. As with AI itself, we believe it’s important to approach AI literacy carefully, avoiding hype or an overly technical focus. The right approach can prepare students to become “active and responsible participants in the workforce of the future” and empower Americans to “thrive in an increasingly digital society,” as the AI literacy executive order calls for.
Funding from Google Research helped to support part of the authors’ research on AI literacy.
Funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the funding code 16DHBKI051 helped to support part of the authors’ research on AI literacy.
Arne Bewersdorff does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — China is willing to continue efforts to review and approve eligible applications for rare earth metal-related export licenses, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said Thursday.
According to him, based on relevant laws and regulations, China has already completed the examination and approval of a certain number of applications in the above-mentioned field, taking into full account the needs and concerns of various countries in the civil use of rare earth products.
“We have repeatedly emphasized that rare earth metals and related products have dual-use properties that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, so introducing controls on their export is a recognized international practice,” He Yadong said.
China is ready to step up work on reviewing applications in this area that comply with the country’s legal norms, and to intensify contacts and dialogue with interested countries on export control issues in order to simplify trade activities within the framework of regulatory requirements, a representative of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China assured. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — China has appointed Sun Linjiang as the government’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Thursday.
He noted that Sun Linjiang, an experienced diplomat familiar with Eurasian affairs, will replace Li Hui in this post.
“We believe that Sun Linjiang will actively fulfill his duties and establish good working relations with all parties. He will make every effort to deepen the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Eurasian countries and promote the common development and prosperity of the region,” Lin said. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — China has delivered the first CKD6H series diesel-electric locomotives to a Kazakh customer, the Sichuanjingji ribao (Sichuan Economy Daily) newspaper reported.
The ceremony of handing over the diesel locomotives with a hybrid power plant took place on Wednesday at the Almaty station with the participation of representatives of the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy company and the Ziyang Carriage Building Company, which is their manufacturer.
The CKD6H series locomotives are designed for 1520 mm track gauge, which can meet the demand in Kazakhstan, Russia and other neighboring countries.
The CKD6H locomotives are adapted to the harsh climate of Central Asia. They are equipped with a hybrid power plant and an intelligent energy management system. In particular, the locomotive’s diesel engine complies with the EU Stage IIIA emission standard.
Compared to traditional diesel locomotives, the new locomotive reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 240 tons per year. As stated by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the commissioning of the CKD6H series locomotives marks a step towards a “green” future for rail transport in the country.
To date, Ziyang Carriage Building Company, which is based in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province /Southwest China/ and is part of China Locomotive Corporation /CRRC/, has delivered a total of more than 200 locomotives to Kazakhstan. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — The 110,000th China-Europe train passed through the Erenhot port on China’s border with Mongolia on Thursday morning, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The train departed from Qingdao City in East China’s Shandong Province on Tuesday and arrived in Ereenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday, passing through Jinan, Beijing, Ulan Qab and other cities.
At the Erenhot checkpoint, the train had its orange-red HXN3B diesel locomotive replaced, which is specially designed for transportation on the section between the Erenhot checkpoint and Zamyn-Uud.
The train, loaded with 55 containers of household appliances worth nearly 20 million yuan (about $2.78 million), including LCD monitors and refrigerators, will arrive in Moscow in 15 days.
Ereenhot is the largest land border crossing between China and Mongolia. To date, a total of 18,000 China-Europe trains have passed through it.
Currently, regular railway service via Ereenhot connects more than 60 Chinese cities and 70 cities and stations in more than 10 countries around the world.
According to Zhang Jianwei, deputy head of the customs office at the port, China mainly supplies high-value-added products to the international market through Ereenhot, including automobiles and auto parts, equipment and electronics. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — A “4S store” for robots with “embodied artificial intelligence” will be set up in Beijing, helping to build a service system covering the entire life cycle of the robot, according to the Beijing Economic Development Zone administration.
The store, which will combine sales of such intelligent robots, their maintenance, spare parts sales and information services, will reportedly appear at the World Conference on Robotics 2025.
This store will allow visitors and buyers to get acquainted with the characteristics of the products, and will also effectively meet their demand for repair, maintenance and assembly of robots.
At present, more than 100 companies in the robot industry have clearly expressed their intention to place their products in the store, including 30 companies related to humanoid robots. In particular, 10 leading companies specializing in robots with “embodied artificial intelligence” have signed a letter of intent to cooperate with the store.
The World Conference on Robotics 2025 will be held from August 8 to 12 in the Beijing Economic Development Zone. In April of this year, the world’s first half marathon involving humanoid robots was held in the same zone. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) — China State Railways Administration chief Fei Dongbin has been placed under investigation for serious violation of party discipline and the law.
Fei Dongbin is also the head of the party group of the leadership of the National Railway and a member of the party group of the leadership of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China.
He is being investigated by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, the statement released Thursday said. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LONDON, June 12 (Xinhua) — London’s Gatwick Airport has confirmed that flight AI171, which crashed while taking off from Ahmedabad, India on Thursday, was scheduled to land at Gatwick at 18:25 local time.
“Additional information will be released later,” the airport said on social media X.
An Air India plane with more than 200 people on board crashed on Thursday shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat, local media reported.
The plane was heading to Britain. Indian TV footage showed thick black smoke rising near the airport. –0–
